A KINETIC STUDY BY NMR OF THE BENZOIN CONDENSATION CATALYZED BY THIAZOLIUM SALTS IN MILD BASIC CONDITIONS - A SECOND ORDER PROCESS IN BOTH ALDEHYDE AND PRE-CATALYST

摘要

A kinetic study of the benzoin condensation catalyzed by thiazolium cations in mild basic conditions monitored by H-1-NMR shows that the reaction is a complex process of second order in both aldehyde and thiazolium cation. These data strongly support our previous mechanistic proposal that the actual catalytic species in that reaction are the bis(thiazolin-2-ylidene)s. Consequences for the biochemical processes mediated hy thiamin are also discussed. [References: 23]