Kinetic isotope effects in cycloreversion of rhenium (V) diolates

Cycloreversion of 4-methoxystyrene from the corresponding Tp'Re(O)(diolato) complex (Tp' = hydrido-tris-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) was measured competitively for various isotopomers at 103 degreesC. Primary (C-12/C-13) and seconclar / (H-1/H-2) kinetic isotope effects were determined. The primary KIEs were k(12C)/k(13C) = 1.041 +/- 0.005 at the alpha position and 1.013 +/- 0.006 at the beta position. Secondary KIEs were k(H)/k(D) = 1.076 +/- 0.005 at the alpha position and 1.017 +/- 0.005 at the beta position. Computational modeling (B3LYP/LACVP*+) located a transition state for concerted cycloreversion of styrene from TpRe(O)(OCH2CHPh) exhibiting dramatically different C-O bond lengths. A Hammett study on cycloreversions of substituted styrenes from a series of Tp'Re(O)(diolato) showed dichotomous behavior for electron donors and electron-withdrawing groups as substituents: rho = -0.65 for electron donors, but rho = +1.13 for electron-withdrawing groups. The data are considered in light of various mechanistic proposals. While the extrusion of 4-methoxystyrene is concluded to be a highly asynchronous concerted reaction, the Hammett study reflects a likelihood that multiple reaction mechanisms are involved.