Spectroscopic study of hydrogen exchange processes and structure of intermediate complexes with intermolecular hydrogen bonds

The kinetics of hydrogen exchange in molecular systems with H-bonds has been studied by means of kinetic IR spectroscopy and low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The experimental values of the rate constants and activation energies for molecules capable of forming H-bonds as both proton donors and proton acceptor are collected and analyzed from the point of view of the influence of H-bond formation ability of the molecules-partners. The evidence available testifies to a molecular mechanism of the H-exchange reactions in inert solvents and in the gas phase via the formation of cyclic bimolecular intermediates. The different mechanisms and the structure of intermediate complex of molecular H-exchange process in inert media are discussed and the possible paths of experimental elucidation of reaction mechanism are offered. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.