Activation Enthalpies and Entropies for the Microscopic Rate Constants of Acetate-Catalyzed Isomerization of 5-Androstene-3,17-dione

Both acetic acid and acetate catalyze the isomerization of 5-androstene-3,17-dione (1) to its conjugated isomer, 4-androstene-3,17-dione (3), through a dienol(ate) intermediate. The temperature dependence of the overall isomerization rate constants and of the microscopic rate constants for this isomerization was determined, and the Arrhenius plots give the activation enthalpy and entropy for each step. The source of the activation energy for the overall isomerization and for each of the individual steps is predominantly enthalpic, with a moderate to low entropic penalty. Additionally, the entropy and enthalpy for the keto-enol equilibrium of 1 and dienol were determined; this equilibrium is entirely controlled by enthalpy with no entropic contribution. The relevance of these results to the mechanism of the isomerization of 1 catalyzed by the enzyme 3-oxo-Delta(5)-steroid isomerase is discussed.