Multiple isotope effects on the acyl group transfer reactions of amides and esters

Acyl group transfer reactions, especially those to amides and esters, are important in biochemistry. Multiple kinetic isotope effects for the atoms at the reactive center of these molecules have provided the most detailed bonding picture of the transition state to date. These kinetic isotope effect studies are reviewed for several reactions of formamide, methyl benzoate, and methyl formate. In these cases all the evidence is consistent with a stepwise mechanism, involving tetrahedral intermediates. In the case of p-nitrophenyl acetate, the change to an excellent leaving group causes the tetrahedral intermediates to become kinetically unstable; the kinetic isotope effects are best fitted to a concerted mechanism.