Tunneling in the 1,5-hydrogen shift reactions of 1,3-cyclopentadiene and 5-methyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene

MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) calculations which include the effects of small curvature tunneling find that, around room temperature, thermally activated tunneling dominates the 1,5-hydrogen shift reactions of 1,3-cyclopentadiene (2a) and 5-methyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene (2c). The calculated temperature dependence of the H/D kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the latter rearrangement agrees well with experimental measurements that were published nearly 40 years ago. It is argued that the experimental KIEs provide prima facie evidence for tunneling in this reaction. The calculations also predict that it should be possible, at least in principle, to confirm this conclusion by observing curvature in the Arrhenius plot for the rearrangement of 2c.     

The Photoisomerization of 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethyl-5-vinyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene

The title compound 1 is shown to give, both upon direct irradiation at 254 nm and upon acetophenone-sensitized photolysis at 300 nm, the syn-vinyl-pentamethylhousene 5 , which spontaneously rearranges in a [3,3]0sigmatropic process to give the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadiene skeleton 2 . Based on the photochemical behaviour of selectively deuterated starting material, the suggestion is made that the direct photolysis produces the vinylhousene skeleton by a classic electrocyclization, whereas the sensitized reaction reaches the same target via a di-π-methane rearrangement. The bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadiene derivative 2 give pentamethylhomoprismane 3 upon prolonged irradiation at 254 nm.     

Two-step regio- and stereoselective synthesis of cis-vinylstannanes

Herein we describe a novel stereoselective synthesis of cis-vinylstannanes employing the widely established Li/Te exchange pathway. In contrast to previously reported methods of cis-selective hydrostannation (i.e., ZrCl4), this method demonstrates compatibility toward oxygenated substrates.     

Ring-expansion reactions in the thermal decomposition of tert-butyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene

The thermal decomposition of tert-butyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene has been investigated in single-pulse shock-tube studies at shock pressures of 182-260 kPa and temperatures of 996-1127 K. Isobutene (2-methylpropene), 1,3-cyclopentadiene, and toluene were observed as the major stable products in the thermolysis of dilute mixtures of the substrate in the presence of a free-radical scavenger. Hydrogen atoms were also inferred to be a primary product of the decomposition and could be quantitatively determined on the basis of products derived from the free-radical scavenger. Of particular interest is the formation of toluene, which involves the expansion of the ring from a five- to a six-membered system. The overall reaction mechanism is suggested to include isomerization of the starting material; a molecular elimination channel; and C-C bond fission reactions, with toluene formation occurring via radical intermediates formed in the latter pathway. These radical intermediates are analogous to those believed to be important in soot formation reactions occurring during combustion. Molecular and thermodynamic properties of key species were determined from G3MP2B3 quantum chemistry calculations and are reported. The temperature dependence of the product spectrum was fit with a detailed chemical kinetic model, and best-fit kinetic parameters were derived using a Nelder-Mead simplex minimization algorithm. Our mechanism and rate constants are consistent with and provide experimental support for the H-atom-assisted routes to the conversion of fulvene to benzene that have been proposed in the literature on the basis of theoretical investigations.     

Copolymerization of carbon monoxide with 1,3-cyclopentadiene by palladium complexes

Copolymerization of carbon monoxide with 1,3-cyclopentadiene (CPD) by palladium complexes, [Pd(CH₃CN)_4?n (PPh₃)n] (BF₄)₂, n = 1–3 (especially n = 1), was studied at 60°C. Results of elementary analysis, infrared spectra, and NMR spectra showed that copolymers containing ketone and ring structures were produced. Phosphorus compounds such as PPh₃ were found to be more effective stabilizing ligands for the catalytic activity compared to arsenic or nitric ligands. A higher activity of the catalyst for the copolymerization of CPD with carbon monoxide was observed in noncoordinating solvents such as CHCl₃ even at a pressure as low as 300 psi. The amount of 1,2 structure for the CPD-CO copolymer increased as the polarity of solvent increased. The copolymer was confirmed to be partially crystalline by the x-ray diffraction. TGA shows that weight loss of copolymer starts at 120°C and the maximum peak of decomposition occurs at 469°C. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Two-step,stereoselective synthesis of linalyl oxides by asymmetric allylic O-alkylation

Each of the four tetrahydrofuran linalyl oxides was prepared by a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of geranyl acetate with AD-mix-α or AD-mix-β, followed by a stereoselective palladium-mediated cyclization using the chiral ligand C₃-TunePhos.     

Codimerization of norbornene and 1,3-cyclopentadiene: quantum chemical and experimental research

A comprehensive theoretical and experimental research of the diene synthesis involving norbornene (1) and 1,3-cyclopentadiene (2) was carried out. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were evaluated by quantum chemical methods, and the structures of stereoisomeric products and the quantitative estimation of their ratio were predicted. The results of quantum chemical analysis were experimentally confirmed. The structures of codimers of 1 with 2 and their ratio were determined by a number of physicochemical methods. A strategy combining the theoretical and experimental studies and enabling to optimize the search for objects for the synthesis and reaction conditions was proposed.     

Quantum chemical studies on structure, conformation and isomerization of nitroso, nitro substituted benzene and 1,3-cyclopentadiene

The molecular structure, conformational stability and isomerization of nitroso, nitro substituted benzene and 1,3-cyclopentadiene in gas phase have been investigated using ab initio and density functional theory methods. The molecular geometries and energetics of possible conformers were obtained by employing MP2, B3LYP and B3PW91 levels of theory implementing 6-31G* basis set. The relative stabilities of the conformations were evaluated from the energy differences of the structure. Chemical hardness (η) and chemical potential (μ) were calculated at HF/6-31G* level of theory for all the positional and geometrical isomers to study the maximum hardness principle. Each optimized structure has been tested against the imaginary frequencies at MP2/6-31G* level of theory in order to be sure they are located at energy minimum.     

Thermal transformations of tetrafluoroethylene in the presence of 1,3-cyclopentadiene and hydrogen chloride

Conclusions The thermal transformations of tetrafluoroethylene under flow conditions at atmospheric pressure and 600–710°C in the presence of cyclopentadiene and hydrogen chloride as carbene acceptors lead to the formation of phenyltrifluoromethane in 3.6% yield in the former case and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluorochloroethane in 9.1% yield in the latter case in addition to other products. These results indicate the possibility of an olefin-carbene isomerization of tetrafluoroethylene to trifluoromethylfluorocarbene under these conditions. Hence, the formation of hexafluoropropylene in the thermolysis of tetrafluoroethylene may be the result of the recombination of difluorocarbene with trifluoromethylfluorocarbene.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1433–1436, June, 1989.     

Albumin-controlled stereoselective reduction of 1,3-diketones to anti-diols

An unprecedented combination of high chemo- and stereoselectivity in the NaBH4 reduction of 1:1 complexes between albumin and aromatic 1,3-diketones results in the formation of anti 1,3-diols with de up to 96%.     

Effect of the medium on the rate of the degenerate rearrangement of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene

Conclusions The rate of the 1,2 hydrogen atom shift in the degenerate rearrangement of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene is only slightly sensitive to variation in the medium.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimlcheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2622–2624, November, 1985.     

Highly stereoselective addition reactions of metallated trans-1,3-dithiane-1,3-dioxide to aldehydes

The sodium anion of trans-1,3-dithiane-1,3-dioxide reacts with unhindered aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes to give adducts with 95:5 to 97:3 diastereoselectivity.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-aminoalcohols via Mannich reactions

Diastereoselective synthesis of β-amino ketones by a one-pot Mannich reaction and their subsequent reduction afforded sterically congested enantiomerically pure 1,3-aminoalcohols in high diastereoselectivity: dr up to >98:<2 over two steps. The absolute configurations of the newly created stereogenic centers were assigned by NMR spectroscopy and chemical correlation.