Rapid Ni, Zn, and Cu ion-promoted alcoholysis of N,N-bis(2-picolyl)- and N,N-bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)-p-nitrobenzamides in methanol and ethanol.

The methanolysis and ethanolysis of the Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II) complexes of N,N-bis(2-picolyl)-p-nitrobenzamide (1) and N,N-bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)-p-nitrobenzamide (2) were studied under pH-controlled conditions at 25 °C. Details of the mechanism were obtained from plots of the kobs values for the reaction under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of [M2+]. Such plots give saturation kinetics for the Cu(II)-promoted reactions of 1 and 2 in both solvents, the Zn(II)-promoted reaction of 1 in methanol, and the Zn(II)- and Ni(II)-promoted reactions of 2 in methanol and ethanol. Logs of the maximal observed rate constants obtained from the latter plots, (kobs(max)), when plotted versus s(s)pH, are curved downward only for the Cu(II) complexes of 1 and 2 in both solvents and the Zn(II) complex of 1 in methanol. Despite differences in the metal-binding abilities and pKa values for formation of the active form, there is a common reaction mechanism, with the active form being 1:M(II):(–OR) and 2:M(II):(–OR), where M(II):(–OR) is the metal-bound alkoxide. The acceleration provided by the metal ion is substantial, being 10(14)–10(19) relative to the k2(¯OMe) value for the alkoxide-promoted alcoholysis of the uncomplexed amide.