Applicability and mathematical verification of thereactivity–selectivity principle in the oxidation of thioanisolesby oxo(salen)manganese(V) complexes

The second-order rate constants for the oxidation of various para-substituted thioanisoles with substituted oxo(salen)manganese(V) complexes have been measured spectrophotometrically in acetonitrile at 25 °C. Electron-withdrawing substituents in thioanisoles and electron-releasing substituents in oxo(salen)MnV complexes decrease the rate of oxidation. Correlation analyses show the presence of an inverse relationship between reactivity and selectivity in the reactions of various thioanisoles with a given oxo(salen)MnV complex and also in various oxo(salen)MnV complexes with a given thioanisole. Mathematical treatment of the results has also been carried out.