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A Variable-Pressure 2D 1H-NMR Study of the Mechanism of Trimethyl Phosphate Intermolecular Exchange and cis/trains-Isomerisation of Tetrachlorobis(trimethyl phosphate)zirconium(IV)

✍ Scribed by Urban Frey; Lothar Helm; André E. Merbach


Publisher
John Wiley and Sons
Year
1990
Tongue
German
Weight
255 KB
Volume
73
Category
Article
ISSN
0018-019X

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✦ Synopsis


Abstract

In chloroform, [ZrCl~4~·2(MeO)~3~PO] exists in both cis‐ and trans‐isomeric forms. Three reactions can be envisaged in the presence of excess (MeO)~3~PO = L: (1) cis‐[ZrCl~4~·2L] + *L⇆cis‐[ZrCl~4~·L*L]+ L; (2) trans‐[ZrCl~4~·2L] + *L ⇆ trans‐[ZrCl~4~·L*L] + L; (3) cis‐[ZrCl~4~·2L]⇆ trans‐[ZrCl~4~·2L]. To distinguish between these possible reaction pathways, we have used 2D ~1~H‐NMR spectroscopy. For the first time, variable‐pressure 2D exchange spectra were used for mechanistic assignments. cis/trans‐Isomerisation was found to be the fastest reaction (in CHCl~3~/CDCl~3~), with a small acceleration at higher pressure: it is concluded to be an intramolecular process with a slightly contracted six‐coordinate transition state. The intermolecular (MeO)~3~PO exchange on the cis‐ and trans‐isomer are second‐order processes and are strongly accelerated by increased pressure: I~a~ mechanisms are suggested without ruling out limiting A mechanisms.