SOME DEUTERIUM KINETIC ISOTOPE EFFECTS: IV. β-DEUTERIUM EFFECTS IN WATER SOLVOLYSIS OF ETHYL, ISOPROPYL, AND tert-BUTYL COMPOUNDS

The secondary β-deuterium isotope effects have been measured in the water solvolytic reaction of alkyl halides and sulphonates for primary, secondary, and tertiary species. In every case the kinetic isotope effect was greater than unity (kH/kD > 1). This isotope effect may be associated with varying degrees of hyperconjugation or altered non-bonding intramolecular forces. The experiments make it difficult to decide which effect is most important.