Intermolecular methyl transfer vs. the endocyclic reaction via an eight-membered cyclic transition state
Abstract
Formation of the betaine (5) from methyl 4-(dimethylamino)butanesulphonate (4) proceeds by an intermolecular pathway and not by way of a cyclic eight-membered ring transition state; it is estimated that the effective concentration for the cyclic process is < 10–5M.