Are amines basic or nucleophilic catalysts for oxirane ring opening by proton-donating nucleophiles?

Abstract

The behavior of amines as catalysts for oxirane acidolysis and phenolysis has been studied using kinetic methods. The apparent catalytic and noncatalytic reaction rate constants have been estimated. It has been demonstrated that the noncatalytic pathway has almost no effect on the apparent reaction rate constant. In order to determine the character of the behavior of amines (bases/nucleophiles) in this reaction, their reactivity has been analyzed within the conceptions of basic and nucleophilic mechanisms of catalysis. Based on the quantitative amine structure—catalytic activity correlation, it has been shown by comparing the values of correlation coefficients (r) of equations describing mechanisms for various reaction systems that, in the reactions of oxiranes with proton donors (carboxylic acids and phenols), the catalytic activity of tertiary amines/pyridines is determined by their nucleophilicity rather than basicity.