N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylanilines by the benzotriazole N-oxyl radical: evidence for a two-step electron transfer-proton transfer mechanism.

The reaction of the benzotriazole N-oxyl radical (BTNO) with a series of 4-X-N,N-dimethylanilines (X = CN, CF(3), CO(2)CH(2)CH(3), CH(3), OC(6)H(5), OCH(3)) has been investigated in CH(3)CN. Product analysis shows that the radical, 4-X-C(6)H(4)N(CH(3))CH(2)(), is first formed, which can lead to the N-demethylated product or the product of coupling with BTNO. Reaction rates were found to increase significantly by increasing the electron-donating power of the aryl substituents (rho(+) = -3.8). With electron-donating substituents (X = CH(3), OC(6)H(5), OCH(3)), no intermolecular deuterium kinetic isotope effect (DKIE) and a substantial intramolecular DKIE are observed. With electron-withdrawing substituents (X = CN, CF(3), CO(2)CH(2)CH(3)), substantial values of both intermolecular and intramolecular DKIEs are observed. These results can be interpreted on the basis of an electron-transfer mechanism from the N,N-dimethylanilines to the BTNO radical followed by deprotonation of the anilinium radical cation (ET-PT mechanism). By applying the Marcus equation to the kinetic data for X = CH(3), OC(6)H(5), OCH(3) (rate-determining ET), a reorganization energy for the ET reaction was determined (lambda(BTNO/DMA) = 32.1 kcal mol(-1)). From the self-exchange reorganization energy for the BTNO/BTNO(-) couple, a self-exchange reorganization energy value of 31.9 kcal mol(-1) was calculated for the DMA(+)/DMA couple.