Secondary Kinetic Isotope Effects in Bimolecular Nucleophilic Substitutions. V. The Role of the Solvent in the Reaction Between Methyl Iodide and Pyridine

Abstract

Secondary kinetic deuterium isotope effects are presented for the reaction of methyl-d3 iodide and pyridine in four different solvents. Calculations on mass and moment of inertia change with deuteration in the initial state and an assumed tetrahedral transition state, together with internal rotational effects, are used to rationalize the inverse isotope effects. It is concluded from the variation of the isotopic rate ratio, that the transition state structure varies with solvent.