Acidity measurements in THF. III. Aldimines and ketimines
The relative acidities of fiteen aldimines and ketimines have been measured in THF using either 13C nmr spectroscopy or trapping experiments with methyl iodide. The pKA's are found to vary over a range of more than four pK units. The effects of structure on acidity indicate the acid-weakening effect of alkyl substitution in ketimines to be due to steric effects. This interpretation is supported by the results of abinitio calculations. The data also permit a quantitative estimation of the preference for the syn configuration of lithiated imines to be at least four kcal/mol. The anti selectivity previously reported for the lithiation of endocyclic imines can be accounted for by angular constraints, as indicated by both abinitio calculations and pKa data on this class of imine.