Computational study and analysis of the kinetic isotope effects of the rearrangement of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to cis,cis-cycloocta-1,3-diene

[reaction: see text] On the basis of KIE experiments, the ring opening of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0.]oct-7-ene has been suggested as an anti-Woodward-Hoffmann reaction candidate. We hereby report the results of a high-level computational study of the alternate reaction pathways which proves that the energy profiles show a clear preference for the conrotatory (W-H allowed) ring opening followed by double-bond isomerization. Computed KIE values for the aforementioned mechanism are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Thermal isomerization of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane and bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene through the (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene intermediate

The thermal isomerization of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane and bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene was studied using ab initio methods at the multiconfiguration self-consistent field level. The lowest-energy pathway for thermolysis of both structures proceeds through the (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene intermediate. Ten transition states were located, which connect these three structures to the final product, (Z,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene. Three reaction channels were investigated, which included the conrotatory and disrotatory ring opening of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane and bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene and trans double bond rotation of (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene. The activation barrier for the conrotatory ring opening of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane to (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene was found to be 40 kcal mol(-1), while the disrotatory pathway to (Z,Z)-1,3-cyclohetpadiene was calculated to be 55 kcal mol(-1). The thermolysis of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene via a conrotatory pathway to (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene had a 35 kcal mol(-1) barrier, while the disrotatory pathway to (Z,Z)-1,3-cyclohetpadiene had a barrier of 48 kcal mol(-1). The barrier for the isomerization of (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene to bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene was found to be 12 kcal mol(-1), while that directly to (Z,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene was 20 kcal mol(-1).     

Deuterium kinetic isotope effects and mechanism of the thermal isomerization of bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to 1,3-cyclooctadiene

The thermal conversion of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene might involve a direct disrotatory ring opening, or it might possibly take place by way of cis,trans-1,3-cyclooctadiene. This cis,trans-diene might possibly form the more stable cis,cis isomer through a [1,5] hydrogen shift or a trans-to-cis isomerization about the trans double bond. Deuterium kinetic isotope effect determinations for the isomerizations of 2,2,5,5-d(4)-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene and 7,8-d(2)-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene rule out these two alternatives because the observed effects are much smaller than would be anticipated for these mechanisms: k(H)/k(D)(d(4)) at 250 degrees C is 1.17 (1.04 per D), and k(H)/k(D)(d(2)) at 238 degrees C is 1.20 (1.10 per D). The direct disrotatory ring opening route remains the preferred mechanism.     

Orbital topology. II. Orbital mapping of unsymmetrical molecules. A survey of the thermal isomerizations of dewar isomers of isoelectronically substituted benzenes,cyclopentadienes, and cyclopentadienyl ions

Orbital mapping analysis, based on EHT and CNDO/2 semiempirical molecular orbitals, has been used to survey the thermal, disrotatory, ring-opening isomerizations of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-dienes (Dewar benzenes), bicyclo[2.1.0]pent-2-enes, and bicyclo[2.1.0]pent-2-en-5-yl ions to their planar isomers. Results indicate that isoelectronic substitution (CH replaced by C^?, O⁺, N, NH⁺, etc.) in the molecular framework may favor allowed thermal reactions in some cases, in contrast to the disallowed reaction predicted for the parent hydrocarbons.     

Theoretical calculations of the effects of 2-heavier group 14 element and substituents on the singlet-triplet energy gap in cyclopentane-1,3-diyls and computational prediction of the reactivity of singlet 2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls

UDFT and CASSCF calculations with the 6-31G(d) basis set were performed to investigate the heavier group 14 element (M) effect on the ground-state spin multiplicity of cyclopentane-1,3-diyls and their reactivity. The calculations find that 2-metallacyclopentane-1,3-diyls (M = Si, Ge) that possess a variety of substituents (X = H, Me, F, OR, SiH(3)) at M(2) are singlet ground-state molecules. The energies of the 1,3-diphenyl-substituted singlet 2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls are calculated to be ca. 5 kcal/mol lower than those of the intramolecular ring-closure products, i.e., 1,4-diphenyl-5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes, at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The energy barrier for the disrotatory ring closure of singlet 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl-2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyl (lambda(calcd) = 757 nm, f = 1.01 at RCIS/6-31G(d)) to the corresponding 5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane is computed to be 11.6 kcal/mol, which is 13.1 kcal/mol lower in energy than that for the conrotatory ring-opening to a 3-silapenta-1,4-diene. The computational work predicts that singlet 1,3-diaryl-2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls are persistent molecules under conditions without trapping agents.     

Thermal disrotatory electrocyclic isomerization of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene

[reaction: see text] The ratio of observed rate constants, k/k', for thermal isomerizations of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene and its 2,2,5,5-d(4) analogue to cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadienes at 250 degrees C is 1.17, indicative of a secondary, not a primary, deuterium kinetic isotope effect. The reaction does not occur through a [1,5] hydrogen shift from the transient cis,trans-1,3-cyclooctadiene intermediate to form the observed cis,cis-diene product.     

A theoretical study of cyclohexyne addition to carbonyl-Cα bonds: allowed and forbidden electrocyclic and nonpericyclic ring-openings of strained cyclobutenes

The mechanism of cyclohexyne insertion into a C(O)-C(α) bond of cyclic ketones, explored experimentally by the Carreira group, has been investigated using density functional theory. B3LYP and M06-2X calculations were performed in both gas phase and THF (CPCM, UAKS radii). The reaction proceeds through a stepwise [2 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclohexyne to the enolate, followed by three disparate ring-opening possibilities of the cyclobutene alkoxide to give the product: (1) thermally allowed conrotatory electrocyclic ring-opening, (2) thermally forbidden disrotatory electrocyclic ring-opening, or (3) nonpericyclic C-C bond cleavage. Our computational results for the model alkoxide and potassium alkoxide systems show that the thermally allowed electrocyclic ring-opening pathway is favored by less than 1 kcal/mol. In more complex systems containing a potassium alkoxide (e-f), the barrier of the allowed conrotatory ring-opening is disfavored by 4-8 kcal/mol. This suggests that the thermodynamically more stable disrotatory product can be formed directly through a "forbidden" pathway. Analysis of geometrical parameters and atomic charges throughout the ring-opening pathways provides evidence for a nonpericyclic C-C bond cleavage, rather than a thermally forbidden disrotatory ring-opening. A true forbidden disrotatory ring-opening transition structure was computed for the cyclobutene alcohol; however, it was 19 kcal/mol higher in energy than the allowed conrotatory transition structure. An alternate mechanism in which the disrotatory product forms via isomerization of the conrotatory product was also explored for the alkoxide and potassium alkoxide systems.     

Recent advances in "formal" ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of diynes to alkenes

"Formal" and standard RuII-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to alkenes gave bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes in relatively good yields. When terminal 1,6-diynes 1 were used, two isomeric bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 or 6 were obtained, depending on the acyclic or cyclic nature of the alkene partner. When unsymmetrical substituted 1,6-diynes 7 were used, the reaction with acyclic alkenes took place regio- and stereoselectively to afford bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 8. A cascade process that behaves as a "formal" RuII-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition explained these results. Initially, a Ru-catalyzed linear coupling of 1,6-diynes 1 and 7 with acyclic alkenes occurs to give open 1,3,5-trienes of type 3, which after a thermal disrotatory 6e(-) pi-electrocyclization led to the final 1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 and 8. When disubstituted 1,6-diyne 10 was used with electron-deficient alkenes, new exo-methylene cyclohexadienes 12 arose from a competitive reaction pathway.     

Ab initio study of the pathways and barriers of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptene isomerization

The thermal isomerization of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptene has been studied using computational chemistry with structures determined at the MCSCF level and energies at the MRMP2 level. Both the allowed conrotatory and forbidden disrotatory pathways have been elucidated resulting in cycloheptatriene isomers. Four reaction channels are available for the conrotatory pathway depending on which bond breaks first in the bicyclobutane moiety leading to enantiomeric pairs of (E,Z,Z)-1,3,5-cycloheptatriene and (Z,E,Z)-1,3,5-cycloheptatriene intermediates. The activation barrier is calculated to be 31.3 kcal·mol?1 for two channels and 37.5 kcal·mol?1 for the other two. The lower activation barrier leading to the (E,Z,Z)-1,3,5-cycloheptatriene enantiomeric pair is proposed to be due to resonance within the transition state. The same behavior was observed for the disrotatory pathway with activation barriers of 42.0 kcal·mol?1 and 55.1 kcal·mol?1 for the two channels, again with one transition state resonance stabilized. The barriers for trans double bond rotation of the intermediate cycloheptatrienes are determined to be 17.1 and 17.4 kcal·mol?1, about 5 kcal·mol?1 more than that for the seven carbon diene (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene. The electrocyclic ring closure of the trans cycloheptatrienes have been modeled and barriers determined to be 11.1 and 11.9 kcal·mol?1 for the formation of bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-2,6-diene. This structure was previously reported as the end product for thermolysis of the parent tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptene. The thermodynamically more stable cycloheptatriene can be formed from bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-2,6-diene through a two step process with a calculated pseudo first-order barrier of 36.4 kcal·mol?1. The trans-cycloheptatrienes reported herein are the first characterization of a small seven-membered ring triene with a trans double bond.     

Reduced classical trajectory equations for electronically non-adiabatic transition on photochemical pericyclic reactions

It may be difficult to use the classical trajectory equations (CTE) for the estimation of electronically non-adiabatic transition probabilities in photochemical pericyclic reactions because of many nuclear degrees of freedom. In order to avoid this difficulty, the CTE were reformulated in terms of the reaction path coordinates, and the reduced CTE were derived, in which the system was restricted to move one-dimensionally along the postulated reaction path. As an application, the non-adiabatic decay from the lowest excited state to the ground state was investigated for the conrotatory and disrotatory processes of the photochemical electrocyclic reaction of 1,3-cis-butadiene to form cyclobutene.     

Thermal isomerization of cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.3.0.0(2,7)]undec-3-ene to endo-tricyclo[5.2.2.0(2,6)]undec-8-ene

[reaction: see text] The gas-phase thermal isomerization of cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.3.0.0(2,7)]undec-3-ene (1) to endo-tricyclo[5.2.2.0(2,6)]undec-8-ene (2) at 315 degrees C occurs cleanly through a symmetry-forbidden [1,3] suprafacial,retention (sr) pathway.     

Computational and Experimental Evidence of Two Competing Thermal Electrocyclization Pathways for Vinylheptafulvene

The thermal electrocyclic ring‐closure reaction of vinylheptafulvene (VHF) to form dihydroazulene (DHA) is elucidated herein by using DFT and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Two different transition states were found computationally; one corresponds to a disrotatory pathway, which is allowed according to the Woodward–Hoffmann selection rules, whereas the other corresponds to a conrotatory pathway. The conrotatory pathway is found to be zwitterionic in the transition state, whereas the disrotatory transition state varies in zwitterionic character depending on solvent and substituents in the molecular framework. The conrotatory and disrotatory transition states are found to have similar energy and their relative stability varies with solvent polarity and functionalization at the C1 position. To support these findings, we chemically ring‐opened diastereomerically pure 1‐(benzothiazol‐2‐yl)‐DHA to give the VHF form, then subsequently thermally reconverted the VHF to DHA in a range of solvents with various polarities. We found that, depending on solvent polarity, different ratios of anti‐ and syn‐diastereoisomers of DHA were formed in a systematic manner, which supports the existence of two distinct thermal ring‐closure pathways for VHF.     

Carbolithiation for the generation of cyclooctadienyl anions and tandem electrocyclization/alkylation to functionalized cis-bicyclo[3.3.0]octenes

A powerful cascade reaction process for the construction of functionalized cis-bicyclo[3.3.0]octenes has been developed. Carbolithiation of 3-methylene-1,4-cyclooctadiene with 1 degrees , 2 degrees , or 3 degrees alkyllithium reagents leads to cyclooctadienyl anions, which undergo disrotatory electrocyclization and subsequent trapping with carbon, oxygen, sulfur, or silicon electrophiles to provide functionalized cis-bicyclo[3.3.0]octenes. Transmetalation of the allyllithium intermediates allowed access to the cuprate manifold of reactivity. The rapid construction of a linear triquinane using this methodology demonstrates the potential for synthetic applications.     

Valence-bond isomer chemistry. Part 11 [1]. Thermal rearrangement of the Diels-Alder adduct of hexafluorobicyclo-[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene and 2,3-Dimethylbuta-1,3-diene: a [1,3] sigmatropic shift of fluorine

Flow pyrolysis of the Diels-Alder adduct of hexafluorobicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene gives an unusual product, the Diels-Alder adduct of hexafluorobenzene and 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene, and thence via an exclusive [1,3] sigmatropic fluorine shift, its isomeric triene. Loss of hydrogen fluoride from the unusual Diels-Alder adduct readily affords 1,2,3,4-tetrafluoro-6,7-dimethylnaphthalene.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-mycoepoxydiene and related natural product (-)-1893A: application of one-pot ring-opening/cross/ring-closing metathesis to construct their 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene skeleton

The total syntheses of (+)-mycoepoxydiene and (-)-1893A have been completed. The present synthetic strategy features the use of one-pot ring-opening/cross metathesis (ROM/CM) followed by a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction, allowing for the concise construction of the 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene framework from a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivative and 1,3-butadiene. The sequential metathesis product was converted into (+)-mycoepoxydiene through the oxidative rearrangement of a furfuryl alcohol to a pyranone, thereby establishing its absolute stereochemistry. From the common intermediate, a structurally related natural product (-)-1893A was also synthesized via the vinylogous aldol reaction.     

Theoretical studies on the electrocyclic reactions of bis(allene) and vinylallene. Role of allene group

The reaction mechanisms of the electrocyclic ring closure of bis(allene) and vinylallene were studied by ab initio MO methods. The conrotatory and disrotatory pathways of the electrocyclic reactions from bis(allene) to bis(methylene)cyclobutene were determined by a CASSCF method. The transition state on the conrotatory pathway is 26.8 kcal/mol above bis(allene) and about 23 kcal/mol lower than that on the disrotatory pathway at a MRMP calculation level. The activation energy on the conrotatory pathway is lower by 23 kcal/mol than that of the electrocyclic reaction of butadiene. This lower energy barrier comes from the interactions of the "side pi orbitals" of the allene group. The interaction of the "vertical pi orbitals" of the allene group is predominant at the early stage of the reaction. The activation energy of the electrocyclic reaction of vinylallene is about 8.5 kcal/mol higher than that on the conrotatory pathway of bis(allene).     

Orbital topology. I. A basic topological model for chemical systems,an orbital mapping technique,and analyses of model,thermal electrocyclic reactions

A topological model which provides a unifying framework for chemical reactions and molecular structure is proposed. Such basic concepts as overlap, orthogonality, reaction continuity, reaction reversibility, and orbital correspondence are incorporated into the model in a logical fashion. A chemical reaction pathway is regarded as a function that transforms a reactant topological space into its equivalent product space. The unique character usually ascribed to reactants, products, and their wavefunctions is superfluous. The model also allows considerable approximation of the wavefunctions and the reaction pathway without affecting the overall result. A simple orbital mapping technique consistent with the model which traces the transformation of orbitals using intermolecular overlaps of the orbitals is also proposed. The suitability of a given pathway (“allowed” or “forbidden”) can be deduced explicitly without invoking symmetry (or other) rules and without resorting to detailed calculation of reaction energy surfaces. The validity of the mapping procedure has been confirmed by several thermal electrocyclic reactions: the ring-opening isomerizations of substituted cyclopropyl cations, cyclopropyl anion, cyclopropanone, cyclobutene, benzocyclobutene, Dewar benzenes, and 1,3-cyclohexadiene. Orbital mapping with EHT and CNDO/2 MOs correctly predicts the reaction stereochemistry (conrotatory or disrotatory) in every case.     

"Formal" ruthenium-catalyzed [4+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to 1,3-dienes: formation of cyclooctatrienes vs vinylcyclohexadienes

[reaction: see text] A new "formal" Ru-catalyzed [4+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to 1,3-dienes giving conjugated 1,3,5-cyclooctatrienes and vinylcyclohexadienes is described. This formal cycloaddition is really a tandem process, the Ru(II)-catalyzed formation of (Z)-tetraenes or vinyl-(Z)-trienes followed by a pure thermal conrotatory 8 pi- or disrotatory 6 pi-electrocyclization. The proposed mechanism allows the differences in product ratio to be explained in terms of steric and stereochemical considerations.     

A solvolysis route to a macrobicyclic allene

One of our objectives was to develop further access to large bicyclic tetrasubstituted olefins by cationic rearrangement. Among other things, such olefins can serve as valuable precursors to bicyclic tetrasubstituted allenese, and we report one such conversion by a new route that provided the first symmetrical member of this rare class of compounds. We synthesized the bicyclic trisubstituted olefins(Z)-bicyclo [10.5.0]heptadec-1(17)-ene (11) and (Z)-bicyclo[10.6.0]octadec-1(18)-ene (17) via an intramolecular Wittig reaction and a titanium mediated intramolecular reductive coupling, respectively. Olefins 11 and 17 were isomerized under acidic conditions to their tetrasubstituted counterparts (Z)-bicyclo[10.5.0]heptadec-1(12)-ene (12) and (Z)-bicyclo[10.6.0]octaladec-1(12)-ene (18). respectively. The previously reported tetrasubstituted olefin (Z)-bicyclo[11.11.0]tetracos-1(13)-ene (19) was further elaborated in a three step sequence to the allene bicyclo[11.11.0]pentacosa-1(25).13(25)-diene (22). Our approach involved dichlorocyclopiopanation of olefin 19 to cyclopropyl adduct 25,25-dichloro-tricyclo[11.11.1.0]pentacosane (20), silver assisted solvolysis of 20 to 25-chloro-1-methoxy-bicyclo[11.11.1]pentacos-13(25)-ene (21), and reductive elimination of 21 with zinc to allene 22.