A REMARKABLE RATE-ACCELERATING METAL ION EFFECT ON THE INTRAMOLECULAR TRANSESTERIFICATION REACTION OF A PHOSPHODIESTER IN ACETONITRILE

The intramolecular transesterification reaction of 2-hydroxypropyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate is greatly accelerated (105–106 fold) by the addition of divalent metal ions such as Zn2+ and Cu2+ in MeCN without a base; the metal ion effect is quite sensitive to the content of H2O in MeCN.