The reaction of substituted N-phenacyl-pyridinium bromides in the pyridine ring with DABCO and DBU in water and DMSO. Kinetics and DFT studies

The rate constants have been measured for deprotonation reaction of substituted N-phenacyl-pyridinium bromides, in the pyridine ring, with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane in water and DMSO, and some with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene. The dependence of the rate constant, k; on pKa of substituted pyridines is made of two distinct linear branches obtained for the salts with electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents, respectively. The structures of four salts have been determined by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory and compared with the available X-ray structure. The effect of the substituent and solvent on k values has been discussed. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.