Steric and electronic control of the dissociative hydrolysis of 4-hydroxybenzoate esters
Abstract
The introduction of two ortho methyl substituents changes the propensity of 4-hydroxybenzoates to react via the oxo-ketene pathway by nearly one million-fold; the increased reactivity of the hindered conjugate base over that of the parent is assigned to enhanced internal nucleophilicity of the 4-oxyanion.