Le rôle du catalyseur dans la cyclisation des esters glutamiques

Lactam formation from glutamic acid diesters is subject to catalysis by carbo‐xylic acids in general and to base catalysis in alcohols. Kinetic measurements prove that catalysis by carboxylic acids is based on a push‐pull mechanism provoked by the undissociated acid molecule and that the base catalysed reaction is due to the alcoholate anion and is therefore absent in aprotic solvents. Carboxylic acids exhibit catalysis as well as ‐ at higher concentration ‐ inhibition.