Approaching a persistent favorskii zwitterion

2-Phenalanone has been synthesized via a double Curtius procedure and converted to the conjugate acid of 2-phenalenylium oxide, a potential persistent Favorskii zwitterion.     

Mechanistic aspects of the substrate ionization step in aminium salt catalyzed cyclopropanation

The cyclopropanations of a series of m- and p-substituted trans-β-methylstyrenes (3) by ethyl diazoacetate (4), catalyzed by tris(4-bromophenyl)aminium hexachloroantimonate (1 ^·+) and also by tris(2,4-dibromphenyl) aminium hexachloroantimonate (2 ^·+) have been studied by competition kinetics. For the reactions catalyzed by the milder aminium salt (1 ^·+), the Hammett-Brown ρ values and the fact that the absolute rates are independent of the concentration of 4 establish that ionization to 3 ^·+ is not reversible, but rate-determining. The dependence of the magnitude of ρ upon the absolute concentration of 3 indicates the operation of competing chain and catalytic mechanisms, i.e. the ionization of 3 by both product cation radicals and by the catalyst. The extremely low ρ value observed in the reactions catalyzed by 2 ^·+ indicates the exclusive operation of a relatively unselective chain mechanism. These mechanistic assignments are further supported by the observation of the formation of the same products under electrochemical conditions, in the absence of a chemical catalyst, in closely comparable diastereoisomer ratios and with ρ values which correspond nicely with the ρ values observed for equipotential aminium salt catalysts.     

Polymers for catalytic cation radical chemistry

Cation radical polymers which have cation radical functions at up to 5% of the poly(styrene) monomer sites have been prepared, and their effectiveness in catalyzing the cation radical Diels-Alder reaction is demonstrated.     

Anion radical [2 + 2] cycloaddition as a mechanistic probe: stoichiometry- and concentration-dependent partitioning of electron-transfer and alkylation pathways in the reaction of the Gilman reagent Me2CuLi.LiI with bis(enones)

Exposure of easily reduced aromatic bis(enones) 1a-1e to the methyl Gilman reagent Me(2)CuLi.LiI at 0 degrees C in tetrahydrofuran solvent provides the products of tandem conjugate addition-Michael cyclization, 2a-2e, along with the products of [2 + 2] cycloaddition, 3a-3e. Complete partitioning of the Gilman alkylation and [2 + 2] cycloaddition pathways may be achieved by adjusting the loading of the Gilman reagent, the rate of addition of the Gilman reagent, and the concentration of the reaction mixture. The Gilman alkylation manifold is favored by the rapid addition of excess Gilman reagent at higher substrate concentrations, while the [2 + 2] cycloaddition manifold is favored by slow addition of the same Gilman reagent at lower concentrations and loadings. Notably, [2 + 2] cycloaddition to form 3a-3e is catalytic in Gilman reagent. Kinetic data reveal that the ratio of 2a and 3a changes such that the cycloaddition pathway becomes dominant upon increased consumption of Gilman reagent. These data suggest a concentration-dependent speciation of the Gilman reagent and differential reactivity of the aggregates present at higher and lower concentrations. While the species present at higher concentration induce Gilman alkylation en route to products 2a-2e, the species present at lower concentration provide products of catalytic [2 + 2] cycloaddition, 3a-3e. Moreover, upon electrochemical reduction of the bis(enones) 1a-1e, or chemically induced single-electron transfer from arene anion radicals, the very same [2 + 2] cycloadducts 3a-3e are formed. The collective data suggest that [2 + 2] cycloadducts 3a-3e arising under Gilman conditions may be products of anion radical chain cyclobutanation that derive via electron transfer (ET) from the Me(2)CuLi.LiI aggregate(s) present at low concentration. These observations provide a link between the Gilman alkylation reaction and related ET chemistry and suggest these reaction paths are mechanistically distinct. This analysis is made possible by the recent observation that easily reduced bis(enones) are subject to intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition upon cathodic reduction or chemically induced ET from arene anion radicals, and is herewith showcased as a novel method of testing for the intermediacy of enone anion radicals.     

Shape resonances in slow electron scattering by aromatic molecules. I. Anthraquinone derivatives

A series of anthraquinone (C(14)O(2)H(8)) derivatives has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and AM1 quantum chemical calculations. Mean lifetimes of molecular negative ions M(-.) (MNI) have been measured. The mechanism of long-lived MNI formation in the epithermal energy region of incident electrons has been investigated. A simple model of a molecule (a spherical potential well with the repulsive centrifugal term) has been applied for the analysis of the energy dependence of cross sections at the first stage of the electron capture process. It has been shown that a temporary resonance of MNI at the energy approximately 0.5 eV corresponds to a shape resonance with lifetime 1-2.10(-13) s in the f-partial wave (l = 3) of the incident electron. The next resonant state of MNI at the energy approximately 1.7 eV has been associated with the electron excited Feshbach resonance (whose parent state is a triplet npi* transition). In all cases the initial electron state of the MNI relaxes into the ground state by means of a radiationless transition, and the final state of the MNI is a nuclear excited resonance with a lifetime measurable on the mass spectrometry timescale. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anion radical chain cycloaddition of tethered enones: intramolecular cyclobutanation and Diels-Alder cycloaddition

[reaction: see text] The anion radicals of certain bis(enones), generated by cathodic reduction, are observed to participate in intramolecular cyclobutanation, yielding bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane derivatives through an anion radical chain mechanism. Evidence for stepwise cycloaddition involving distonic anion radical intermediates is presented. In addition to the novel anion radical cyclobutanations, an unprecedented intramolecular anion radical Diels-Alder product is observed. Parallel trends in substrate scope vis-à-vis the Co-catalyzed bis(enone) cyclobutanation are discussed.     

Imperfection sensitivity of axially compressed stringer reinforced cylindrical sandwich panels

This paper presents some numerical results of the effects of several nondimensional parameters on the buckling and initial post buckling behaviors of shallow sandwich panels under axial compression. Results are presented that show these effects due to transverse shearing resistance of the core material, different face-sheet thicknesses, and different core thicknesses. Further effects on the buckling and initial postbuckling behaviors of sandwich panels are presented due to the torsional resistance of longitudinal edge stiffeners.The results show that the range of flatness parameter, δ/d, for which sandwich panels remain imperfection-insensitive increases with increases in transverse shearing resistance of the core material and with larger core thicknesses. These results also indicate that this range of δ/d is smallest when the face-sheet thicknesses are equal. Finally, as in the case of homogeneous panels, torsional resistance of the longitudinal edge stiffeners has the effect of making the sandwich panel less imperfection-sensitive.     

A theoretical comparison of cationic and anionic homoaromaticity: Reinforcement of cationic homoaromaticity by σ-nonclassical effects

A MINDO/3 study of homoaromaticity in the 3-cyclobutenyl cation and the Mobius 3-cyclobutenyl anion has been used to evaluate cationic and anionic homoaromaticity quantitatively. π Homodelocalization energies of the two are found equal in isostructural planar comparisons. In planar optimized structures, the homodelocalization energy of the cation is slightly (about 4 kcal) greater than that of the anion, a consequence of the greater 1,3 distance in the latter. Full optimization produces a highly puckered and further stabilized cation, but engenders no change in the Mobius anion. The total stabilization of the cation relative to the anion is 13 kcal, in accord with the generalization that cationic homoaromaticity is more potent than the anionic variety. The fully optimized cation is revealed to actually have a much smaller π homodelocalization energy than the optimized anion, in contrast to the order of overall stabilities. σ-Nonclassical effects, which are stabilizing in the cation but destabilizing in the Mobius anion, provide the rationale for the above.