Anomalous Behavior of the Ethyl Group in the Aminolysis of S-Phenyl Acetate with Benzylamine in Acetonitrile

The rates of the aminolysis of S-phenyl substituted-acetate series $(RC(=O)SC_6H_4Z$, with R=Me, Et, i-Pr, t-Bu and Bn) with benzylamines $(XC_6H_4CH_2NH_2)$ are not correlated simply with the Taft's polar $({\sigma}^{\ast})$ and/or steric effect constants $(E_s)$ of the substituents due to abnormally enhanced rate of the substrate with R=Et. Furthermore, the cross-interaction constant, ${\rho}x_z$ , is the largest with R=Et. These anomalous behaviors can only be explained by invoking the vicinal bond $({\sigma})$-antibond $({\sigma}^{\ast})$ charge transfer interaction between C-$C{\alpha}$ and C-S bonds. In the tetrahedral zwitterionic intermediate, $T^{\pm}$ , formed with R=Et the vicinal ${\sigma}_{c-c}-{\sigma}^{\ast}_{c-s}$ delocalization is the strongest with an optimum antiperiplanar arrangement and a narrow energy gap, ${\Delta}{\varepsilon}={\varepsilon}_{{\sigma}^{\ast}}-{\varepsilon}_{\sigma}$. Due to this charge transfer interaction, the stability of the intermediate increases (with the concomitant increase in the equilibrium constant K (= $k_a/k_{-a}$)) and also the leaving ability of the thiophenolate leaving group increases (and hence $k_b$ increases) so that the overall rate, $k_n\;=\;Kk_b$, is strongly enhanced. Theoretical support is provided by the natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses at the B3LYP/6-31+$G^{\ast}$ level. The anomaly exhibited by R=Et attests to the stepwise reaction mechanism in which the leaving group departure is rate limiting.