Harold Kwart and Joel Slutsky
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1972, 1182-1183
DOI:
10.1039/C39720001182,
Paper
A maximum kinetic deuterium isotope effect, corresponding to ΔEa, the difference in zero point C–D and C–H vibrational energies and Δ(ΔS‡)= 0, determined for both t-butyl and ethyl ester thermolysis, is interpreted as evidence supporting only a symmetrical, non-heterolytic, transition state which is non-planar and analogous to that of other pericyclic fragmentations.
