Abstract
Electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups were characterized in combination with hydrogen-bond interactions in three polyols (i.e., CF 3CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CF3, 1; (CF3) 2C(OH)C(OH)(CF3)2, 2; ((CF3) 2C(OH)CH2)2CHOH, 3) by pKa measurements in DMSO and H2O, negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy and binding constant determinations with Cl-. Their catalytic behavior in several reactions were also examined and compared to a Brønsted acid (HOAc) and a commonly employed thiourea ((3,5-(CF 3)2C6H3NH)2CS). The combination of inductive stabilization and hydrogen bonds was found to afford potent acids which are effective catalysts. It also appears that hydrogen bonds can transmit the inductive effect over distance even in an aqueous environment, and this has far reaching implications.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 9525-9530 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 135 |
Issue number | 25 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 26 2013 |