Catalysis of ester aminolysis by cyclodextrins. The reaction of alkylamines with p-nitrophenyl alkanoates

The effects of four cyclodextrins (alpha-CD, beta-CD, hydroxypropyl-beta-CD, and gamma-CD) on the aminolysis of p-nitrophenyl alkanoates (acetate to heptanoate) by primary amines (n-propyl to n-octyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl) in aqueous solution have been investigated. Rate constants for amine attack on the free and CD-bound esters (k(N) and k(cN)) have ratios (k(cN)/k(N)) varying from 0.08 (retardation) to 180 (catalysis). For the kinetically equivalent process of free ester reacting with CD-bound amine (k(Nc)), the ratios k(Nc)/k(N) vary from 0.2 to 28. Either way, there is evidence of catalysis in some cases and retardation in others. Changes in reactivity parameters with structure indicate more than one mode of transition state binding to the CDs. Short esters react with short alkylamines by attack of free amine on the ester bound by its aryl group, but for longer amines, free ester reacts with CD-bound amine. Reaction of long esters with long amines, which is catalyzed by beta-CD and gamma-CD, involves inclusion of the alkylamino group and possibly the ester acyl group. The larger cavity of gamma-CD may allow the inclusion of the ester aryl group, as well as the alkylamino group, in the transition state. Reaction between an ester bound to the CD by its acyl group and free amine appears not to be important.