• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.354-364
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• 1983

Confonmation of (Z)-cinnamonitrile have been studied by molecular orbital theoretically using extended Huckel theory(EHT) and CNDO/2 molecular orbital calculation methods. The results indicate that the stability of conformation is(Z)-gauch>(Z)-planar. The rate constants for alkalie hydrolysis of cinnamonitrile at pH 7.0-14.0 range have been determined by ultra-violet spectrophotometry in 50% methanol at $25^{\circ}C$ and the following rate equation which can be applied over wide pH range was obtained; $${\therefore}k=({\frac{1.41{\times}10^{-14}+1.21{\times}10^7/[H_3O^+]}{2.65{\times}10^{-7}+1.64/[H_3O^+]})+9.14{\times}10^9/[H_3O^+]$$ The rate equation reveals that, at pH 7.0-10.0, the reaction is initiated by the addition of water molecule to unsaturated cabon-carhon double bond of cinnamonitrile and ${\alpha}C-{\beta}C$ bond scission follow subsequently in neutral and alkalie media. At pH 12.0-14.0, in strong alkalie solution, that so-called Michael type nucleophilic addition that the over-all rate constants is only dependent upon the concentration of hydroxide ion occurs competitively and are very complicated. Hence, the reaction mechanism of alkalie hydrolysis of cinnamonitrile which did not carefully before can be fully explained.