Reversed Electron Apportionment in Mesolytic Cleavage: The Reduction of Benzyl Halides by SmI2

The paradigm that the cleavage of the radical anion of benzyl halides occurs in such a way that the negative charge ends up on the departing halide leaving behind a benzyl radical is well rooted in chemistry. By studying the kinetics of the reaction of substituted benzylbromides and chlorides with SmI₂ in THF it was found that substrates para‐substituted with electron‐withdrawing groups (CN and CO₂Me), which are capable of forming hydrogen bonds with a proton donor and coordinating to samarium cation, react in a reversed electron apportionment mode. Namely, the halide departs as a radical. This conclusion is based on the found convex Hammett plots, element effects, proton donor effects, and the effect of tosylate (OTs) as a leaving group. The latter does not tend to tolerate radical character on the oxygen atom. In the presence of a proton donor, the tolyl derivatives were the sole product, whereas in its absence, the coupling dimer was obtained by a S_N2 reaction of the benzyl anion on the neutral substrate. The data also suggest that for the para‐CN and CO₂Me derivatives in the presence of a proton donor, the first electron transfer is coupled with the proton transfer.     

Deciphering a 20‐Year‐Old Conundrum: The Mechanisms of Reduction by the Water/Amine/SmI2 Mixture

The reaction of SmI₂ with the substrates 3‐methyl‐2‐butanone, benzyl chloride, p‐cyanobenzyl chloride, and anthracene were studied in the presence of water and an amine. In all cases, the water content versus rate profile shows a maximum at around 0.2 M H₂O. The rate versus amine content profile shows in all cases, except for benzyl chloride, saturation behavior, which is typical of a change in the identity of the rate‐determining step. The mechanism that is in agreement with the observed data is that electron transfer occurs in the first step. With substrates that are not very electrophilic, the intermediate radical anions lose the added electron back to samarium(III) relatively quickly and the reaction cannot progress efficiently. However, in a mixture of water/amine, the amine deprotonates a molecule of water coordinated to samarium(III). The negatively charged hydroxide, which is coordinated to samarium(III), reduces its electrophilicity, and therefore, lowers the rate of back electron transfer, which allows the reaction to progress. In the case of benzyl chloride, in which electron transfer is rate determining, deprotonation by the amine is coupled to the electron‐transfer step.     

Quantification of the Interaction of SmI2 with Substrates and Ligands

The method developed and introduced here enables for the first time (to the authors’ knowledge), a quantitative assessment of the interaction of SmI₂ with substrates prior to the electron transfer stage. As a proof of concept, equilibrium constants for some model substrates including carbonyl compounds and aromatic nuclei are reported here. In addition, the first equilibrium constants with some common ligands were also determined. The equilibrium constants range from approximately 0.07 m ⁻¹ for diisopropyl ketone to 2500 m ⁻¹ for hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). It is shown that the data acquired by this method, which is based on the concept of shift reagents, can shed light on the most intimate details of the reaction mechanism, and this method is a useful tool for planning a synthetic process.     

Recent Developments in Samarium Diiodide Promoted Organic Reactions

In the early eighties, we introduced samarium diiodide for the transformation of various functional groups. Since then, this reducing agent has been extensively used for the reductive cleavage of single bonds, C‐C bond formations, C‐N bond formations, and β‐elimination reactions. In this Personal Account, we highlight our initial results, as well as some of the contributions from various research groups. Because of space limitations, we arbitrarily select some useful results that have recently been described in literature.     

单电子转移反应

本文对重要有机反应之一的单电子转移过程作了综述。单电子转移反应与极性反应的根本区别在于,前者每次只发生一个电子的转移,而后者通常每次发生一对电子的转移。影响这二种历程的主要因素是反应物的立体因素,电子结构及氧化还原能力。单电子转移按其反应方式又被细分(?)inner-sphere ET (?) outer-sphere ET 二种历程。一些典型的单电子转移反应已被分类介绍。     

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions by SmI2 in THF: luminescence quenching studies and mechanistic investigations

Photoluminescence quenching studies of SmI2 in dry THF were carried out in the presence of five different classes of compounds: ketone, alkyl chloride, nitrile, alkene and imine. The free energy change (DeltaG0) of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactions was calculated from the redox potentials of the donor (SmI2) and acceptors. The bimolecular quenching constants (k(q)) derived from the Stern-Volmer experiments parallel the free energy changes of the PET processes. The observed quenching constants were compared with the theoretically derived electron transfer rate constants (k(et)) from Marcus theory and found to be in good agreement when a value of lambda = 167 kJ mol(-1) (40 kcal mol(-1)) was used for the reorganization energy of the system. A careful comparison of the excited state dynamics of SmII in the solid state to the results obtained in solution (THF) provides new insight in to the excited states of SmII in THF. The activation parameters determined for the PET reactions in SmI2/1-chlorobutane system are consistent with a less ordered transition state and high degree of bond reorganization in the activated complex compared to similar ground state reactions. Irradiation studies clearly show that SmI2 acts as a better reductant in the excited state and provides an alternative pathway for rate enhancement in known and novel functional group reductions.     

Instantaneous SmI2/H2O/amine-mediated reductions in THF

The SmI(2)-mediated reductions of ketones, imines, and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters have been shown to be instantaneous in the presence of H(2)O and an amine in THF. The SmI(2)-mediated reductions are not only shown to be fast and quantitative by the addition of H(2)O and an amine, but the workup procedures are also simplified. Competing experiments with SmI(2)/H(2)O/amine confirmed that alpha,beta-unsaturated esters could be selectively reduced in the presence of ketones or imines. Comparison of analogue ligands showed that nitrogen and phosphorus ligands are superior to oxygen and sulfur ligands in these reductions. The trialkylphosphine 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (DMPE) provided a primary kinetic isotope effect, yielding a k(H)/k(D) of 4.5.     

氮-二供电子链取代邻苯二甲酰亚胺衍生物的光诱导单电子转移环化反应

含有较短硫醚链和较长聚乙氧基醚链的邻苯二甲酰亚胺衍生物在甲醇溶剂中发生光诱导单电子转移环化反应(SET),以很高的反应区域选择性和很高的产率得到由较短的硫醚链参与构成的环状化合物.所有新化合物均经NMR和EI-MS确定其结构.     

Gold(II) Porphyrins in Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions

In the context of solar-to-chemical energy conversion, inspired by natural photosynthesis, the synthesis, electrochemical properties and photoinduced electron-transfer processes of three novel zinc(II)-gold(III) bis(porphyrin) dyads [Zn^II(P)–Au^III(P)]⁺ are presented (P: tetraaryl porphyrin). Time-resolved spectroscopic studies indicated ultrafast dynamics (k >10¹⁰ s⁻¹) after visible-light excitation, which finally yielded a charge-shifted state [Zn^II(P ^{⋅ +})–Au^II(P)]⁺ featuring a gold(II) center. The lifetime of this excited state is quite long due to a comparably slow charge recombination (k ≈3×10⁸ s⁻¹). The [Zn^II(P ^{⋅ +})–Au^II(P)]⁺ charge-shifted state is reductively quenched by amines in bimolecular reactions, yielding the neutral zinc(II)–gold(II) bis(porphyrin) Zn^II(P)–Au^II(P). The electronic nature of this key gold(II) intermediate, prepared by chemical or photochemical reduction, is elucidated by UV/Vis, X-band EPR, gold L₃-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and paramagnetic ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as by quantum chemical calculations. Finally, the gold(II) site in Zn^II(P)–Au^II(P) is thermodynamically and kinetically competent to reduce an aryl azide to the corresponding aryl amine, paving the way to catalytic applications of gold(III) porphyrins in photoredox catalysis involving the gold(III/II) redox couple.     

二碘化钐在有机合成中的应用研究

综述了1998年以来二碘化钐在有机合成中的应用研究，主要涉及羰基化合物、 不饱和烃、卤代物、腈及含氧族元素化合物的特殊反应．     

2种添加剂在电有机合成中的应用

通过电解实验分别考察了5个阴极电还原反应和1个阳极电氧化反应在加入添加剂前后电流效率和转化率的变化。所选择的6个反应可以分为2类,一类是原料以分子形式存在于电解液中的反应,另一类是原料以离子形式存在于电解液中的反应。实验间二硝基苯电还原制间苯二胺,3-甲基吡啶氧化制烟酸和邻硝基酚电还原制邻氨基酚(酸性条件下)属于前一类反应,加入添加剂后,它们的电流效率分别由原来的65.69%、28.00%和45.09%变为66.15%、28.45%和37.07%,说明添加剂对原料以分子形式存在的反应没有作用或有抑制作用。实验邻硝基酚电还原制邻氨基酚(碱性条件下),丁二酸的电解全盛和水杨酸电还原制水杨醛属于后一类反应,加入添加剂后,它们的电流效率分别从原来的49.37%、65.06%和24.55%提高到75.80%、78.60%和30.06%,说明添加剂能够提高原料以离子形态存在的反应的电流效率。     

Triquinoline- versus Fullerene-Based Cycloparaphenylene Ionic Complexes: Comparison of Photoinduced Charge-Shift Reactions

A triquinoline cationic moiety (TQ⋅H⁺) has recently been designed as a novel molecular unit for supramolecular chemistry. In addition to some useful features, TQ⋅H⁺ has strong electron-acceptor properties, which renders the molecular cation a unique element in nanochemistry. TQ⋅H⁺ is found to form complexes with coronene (COR) and cycloparaphenylene (CPP). In this work, we report a computational study of photoinduced electron transfer in supramolecular complexes TQ⋅H⁺-COR, TQ⋅H⁺⊂[12]CPP and (TQ⋅H⁺-COR)⊂[12]CPP. The electron-transfer rates are estimated by using the semi-classical approach. The results are compared with the data previously obtained for a structurally similar inclusion complex Li⁺@C₆₀⊂[10]CPP. In particular, we found a red solvatochromic shift for charge-shift bands in the TQ⋅H⁺-complexes unlike a blueshift showed by Li⁺@C₆₀⊂[10]CPP. This distinction is explored in terms of electronic and structural features of the systems.     

硝基苯还原反应的机理探讨

硝基苯在不同的还原剂及不同的介质中可以被还原成亚硝基苯、苯胲、偶氮苯、氧化偶氮苯、氢化偶氮苯等不同产物。这一性质深刻揭示了还原剂的还原能力除了与本身的性质有关之外,还与反应介质密切相关。由于这些还原产物结构复杂,相应反应的机理在国内外常见经典有机化学教科书中鲜有描述,给初学者的学习理解造成了困难。本文从氧化还原反应中电子守恒原理出发,探讨了这一组还原反应的可能机理,并导出了完整的化学反应方程式。     

On the Role of Pre‐ and Post‐Electron‐Transfer Steps in the SmI2/Amine/H2O‐Mediated Reduction of Esters: New Mechanistic Insights and Kinetic Studies

The mechanism of the SmI₂‐mediated reduction of unactivated esters has been studied using a combination of kinetic, radical clocks and reactivity experiments. The kinetic data indicate that all reaction components (SmI₂, amine, H₂O) are involved in the rate equation and that electron transfer is facilitated by Brønsted base assisted deprotonation of water in the transition state. The use of validated cyclopropyl‐containing radical clocks demonstrates that the reaction occurs via fast, reversible first electron transfer, and that the electron transfer from simple Sm(II) complexes to aliphatic esters is rapid. Notably, the mechanistic details presented herein indicate that complexation between SmI₂, H₂O and amines affords a new class of structurally diverse, thermodynamically powerful reductants for efficient electron transfer to carboxylic acid derivatives as an attractive alternative to the classical hydride‐mediated reductions and as a source of acyl‐radical equivalents for C?C bond forming processes.     

Simultaneous Photoinduced ATRP and CuAAC Reactions for the Synthesis of Block Copolymers

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions, both utilizing copper(I) (Cu(I)) complexes, make a tremendous progress in synthetic polymer chemistry. Independently or in combination with other polymerization processes, they give access to the synthesis of polymers with well‐defined structures, desired molecular architectures, and a wide variety of functionalities. Here, a novel in situ photoinduced formation of block copolymers is described by simultaneous ATRP and CuAAC processes. This approach relies on the direct reduction of initially charged copper(II) complexes to Cu(I) complexes to trigger both ATRP and CuAAC reactions coinciding under UV light at ambient temperature in one pot. Its synthetic utility is demonstrated on a model block copolymerization process by photoinduced ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using an initiator possessing acetylene functionality and concomitant click reaction between thus formed α‐acetylene‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (Ac‐PMMA) and independently prepared azide functional polystyrene (PS‐N₃). Successful formation of PS‐b‐PMMA block copolymer is confirmed by FT‐IR and ¹H NMR spectral analysis and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements.

     

助剂对L-脯氨酸催化直接不对称Aldol反应的影响

在L-脯氨酸催化的芳香醛与丙酮直接不对称aldol反应体系中添加二醇或二酚类助剂可有效提高反应活性.助剂的使用降低了该反应体系中L-脯氨酸的用量.特别是以邻苯二酚为助剂时,最佳反应条件下,仅用5mol％L-脯氨酸与1mol％助剂催化2-硝基苯甲醛与丙酮直接不对称aldol反应,aldol产物产率高达90％,对映选择性为...     

High‐Affinity Proton Donors Promote Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer by Samarium Diiodide

The relationship between proton‐donor affinity for Sm^II ions and the reduction of two substrates (anthracene and benzyl chloride) was examined. A combination of spectroscopic, thermochemical, and kinetic studies show that only those proton donors that coordinate or chelate strongly to Sm^II promote anthracene reduction through a PCET process. These studies demonstrate that the combination of Sm^II ions and water does not provide a unique reagent system for formal hydrogen atom transfer to substrates.     

邻苯二甲酰二肽的光诱导单电子转移环化反应合成哌嗪酮类化合物

邻苯二甲酰化的二肽(1)在光照下,经过单电子转移形成分子内双自由基(5),自由基(5)分子内耦合成环得到含哌嗪酮的化合物.此反应产率较好,可以成为合成哌嗪酮类化合物的新方法.所有新化合物均经NMR和MS确定其结构.