The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl 2-chloro-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranoside

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of methyl 2-chloro-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside have been determined in hydrochloric acid solutions over a range of acid concentrations and temperatures. Chloro substitution reduces the rate by a factor of 35 compared with the hydroxy analogue. Application of the Hammett criterion indicates a unimolecular (A-1) mechanism of hydrolysis, as does application of the Bunnett criterion. The entropy of activation, however, is considerably smaller than that observed for the hydrolysis of methyl β-d-glucopyranoside. This is interpreted as being indicative of partial A-2 character.