Deuterium kinetic isotope effect in elimination from phenethyl bromides in t-butyl alcohol

Abstract

Deuterium kinetic isotope effects (k₂^H/k₂^D) have been measured for the elimination of HBr from a series of substituted phenethyl bromides. No variation in the magnitude of the isotope effect was observed. The k₂^H values have been correlated by the Hammett equation to give ρ= 2·85. Some evidence for proton tunnelling has been obtained.