Calculations predict rapid tunneling by carbon from the vibrational ground state in the ring opening of cyclopropylcarbinyl radical at cryogenic temperatures

B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations have been performed on the ring opening of cyclopropylcarbinyl radical 1 to 3-buten-1-yl radical 2. The dynamics of the reaction have been computed with canonical variational transition state theory (CVT), both with and without inclusion of small-curvature tunneling (SCT). The CVT + SCT calculations predict that 1 should undergo rapid and temperature-independent ring opening to 2 at cryogenic temperatures, by tunneling from the lowest vibrational level of 1.     

Unusual temperature effects on the non-equivalence of geminal methyl groups

The geminal anisochronism (Δδ) of the isopropyl methyl groups in the ¹H n.m.r. spectrum of N-[2-methyl-1-(1-naphthyl)propylidene]benzylamine showed unusually pronounced temperature and solvent effects. It is noteworthy that both accidental and dynamic equivalences were encountered. Slow rotation around the naphthyl–imino bond is responsible for the diastereotopic nature of the geminal methyl groups, and possible reasons for the temperature and solvent effects are considered. Surprisingly, the temperature effect was not reflected in the ¹³C anisochronism of the methyl carbon nuclei. These observations underline the need for caution in drawing firm conclusions from variable temperature studies on geminal non-equivalence.     

Molecular orbital calculations of ring opening of the isoelectronic cyclopropylcarbinyl radical, cyclopropoxy radical, and cyclopropylaminium radical cation series of radical clocks

Detailed molecular orbital calculations were directed to the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical (1), the cyclopropoxy radical (2), and the cyclopropylaminium radical cation (3) as well as their ring-opened products. Since a considerable amount of data are published about cyclopropylcarbinyl radicals, calculations were made for this species and related ring-opened products as a reference for 2 and 3 and their reactions. Radicals 1-3 have practical utility as "radical clocks" that can be used to time other radical reactions. Radical 3 is of further interest in photoelectron-transfer processes where the back-electron-transfer process may be suppressed by rapid ring opening. Calculations have been carried out at the UHF/6-31G*, MP4//MP2/6-31G*, DFT B3LYP/6-31G*, and CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//QCISD/cc-pVDZ levels. Energies are corrected to 298 K, and the barriers between species are reported in terms of Arrhenius E(a) and log A values along with differences in enthalpies, free energies, and entropies. The CCSD(T)-calculated energy barrier for ring opening of 1 is E(a) = 9.70, DeltaG* = 8.49 kcal/mol, which compares favorably to the previously calculated value of E(a) = 9.53 kcal/mol by the G2 method, but is higher than an experimental value of 7.05 kcal/mol. Our CCSD(T)-calculated E(a) value is also higher by 1.8 kcal/mol than a previously reported CBS-RAD//B3LYP/6-31G* calculation. The cyclopropoxy radical has a very small barrier to ring opening (CCSD(T), E(a) = 0.64 kcal/mol) and should be a very sensitive time clock. Of the three series studied, the cyclopropylaminium radical cation is most complex. In agreement with experimental data, bisected cyclopropylaminium radical cation is not found, but instead a ring-opened species is found. A perpendicular cyclopropylaminium radical cation (4) was found as a transition-state structure. Rotation of the 2p orbital in 4 to the bisected array results in ring opening. The minimum onset energy of photoionization of cyclopropylamine was calculated to be 201.5 kcal/mol (CCSD(T)) compared to experimental values of between about 201 and 204 kcal/mol. Calculations were made on the closely related cyclopropylcarbinyl and bicyclobutonium cations. Stabilization of the bisected cyclopropylcarbinyl conformer relative to the perpendicular species is much greater for the cations (29.1 kcal/ mol, QCISD) compared to the radicals (3.10 kcal/mol, QCISD). A search was made for analogues to the bicyclobutonium cation in the radical series 1 and 2 and the radical cation series 3. No comparable species were found. A rationale was made for some conflicting calculations involving the cyclopropylcarbinyl and bicyclobutonium cations. The order of stability of the cyclopropyl-X radicals was calculated to be X = CH2 > X = O > X = NH2+, where the latter species has no barrier for ring opening. The relative rate of ring opening for cyclopropyl-X radicals X = CH2 to X = O was calculated to be 3.1 x 10(6) s(-1) at 298 K (QCISD).     

Esr studies of the ring opening of cyclopropane radical cations in freon matrices

The radical cations of cyclopropane and several of its methyl derivatives have been characterized by ESR spectroscopy following their generation by γ irradiation of dilute solutions of the parent compounds in Freon matrices at 77 K. In the CFCl₃, CF₃CCl₃, and CF₂ClCCl₃, matrices, only the ring-closed species is usually observed in the accessible temperature range up to ca 160 K. In the CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrix, however, the ring-closed radical cations initially formed at 77 K undergo ring opening between 83 and 110 K, the more highly substituted radical cations requiring a higher temperature for this transformation. The ring-closed radical cations are ²A₁ species for C_2v symmetry, the most substituted cyclopropane C-C bond being elongated with the spin density largely confined to the basal carbons in a face-to-face (90°, 90°) structure. In the ring-opened radical cations, the radical center is localized on the most substituted carbon atom following the breaking of the weakened C-C bond of the ring-closed species. The radical conformations of the ring-opened species have been determined, the RCH₂CH₂· center produced from cyclopropane having a bisected conformation while the RCH₂CMe₂· center obtained from 1,1,2,2-tetramethylcyclopropane is eclipsed, as expected for the presence of α-methyl substituents at the radical site. The nature of the putative carbocation center in the ring-opened radical cations is discussed with reference to recent proposals that this center is strongly coordinated to an electrophile (Cl^- or RCl) thereby negating the requirement for an orthogonal structure. Consideration of the strong matrix dependence of the ring-opening reaction suggests a possible solvation effect, however, in which the CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrix assists the twisting of one of the CR₁R₂ groups at the most substituted bond, leading to the rupture of this one-electron σ bond. A strong solvation effect also explains why ring-opening can occur in a suitable polar solvent despite theoretical calculations of unfavourable energetics for a similar gas-phase reaction. Experiments are also described on spiro[2.5]octane, the cyclopropane ring undergoing scission at the CH₂-CH₂ bond of this radical cation to give an RCH₂· radical center. this radical then undergoes a H-atom abstraction with a neutral spiro[2.5]octane molecule in the CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrix at higher temperature to give the spiro[2.5]oct-6-yl radical.     

Determination of the rate constant for ring opening of an alpha-cyclopropylvinyl radical

The rate constant for ring opening of the 1-(trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)ethen-1-yl radical, 4, generated by photolysis of the corresponding vinyl iodide 2, is reported. The value of the rate constant was determined by the tin hydride method and was found to be (1.6+/-0.2)x10(10) s-1, one order of magnitude smaller than the rate constant for rearrangement of the trans-2-phenylcyclopropylcarbinyl radical.     

Substituent effects in pericyclic reactions of radical cations: the ring opening of 3-substituted cyclobutene radical cations

The substituent effects on the ring-opening reaction of cyclobutene radical cations have been studied at the Becke3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. The effect on the reaction energies and activation energies of the concerted and stepwise pathways of electron-donating substituents such as methyl and methoxy as well as electron-withdrawing substituents such as nitrile and carboxaldehyde in the 3-position of the cyclobutene is discussed. The exothermicity of the reaction correlates well with the ability of the substituent to stabilize the 1,3-butadiene radical cation by electron donation or conjugation. The relative stability of the (E) and (Z) isomers of the resulting 1,3-butadiene radical cations depends largely on steric effects. Similarly, steric effects are responsible for the relative energies of the different diastereomeric transition structures. The cyclopropyl carbinyl intermediate of the stepwise pathway resembles the nonclassical carbocation and is stabilized by electron-donating substituents. In the case of electron-donating substituents, this species becomes a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface, whereas unstabilized or destabilized cyclopropyl carbinyl radical cations are not minima on the hypersurface. The stabilization of the cyclopropyl carbinyl radical cation by substituents correlates qualitatively with the Brown-Okamoto substituent parameter sigma+. However, in all cases studied here, the concerted mechanism is the lowest energy pathway.     

The influence of α-trialkylsilyloxy groups on the rate of ring opening of cyclopropylmethyl radicals

The rate of ring opening of α-trialkylsilyloxycyclopropylmethyl radicals is about ten times slower than of the cyclopropylmethyl radical at 298K.     

Exo ring opening in methyl pheophorbide a 132-amide derivatives under the action of amines

Russian Chemical Bulletin - A reaction of methyl pheophorbide a 132-amide derivatives with amines was studied to explore a possibility of using this reaction in the synthesis of new macrocyclic...     

Effects of chlorophosphines on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The effect of chlorophosphines (phosphorus trichloride, dichlorophenylphosphine, chlorodiphenylphosphine) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was investigated in benzene solution. The polymerization was carried out at 50°C by the standard solution method, α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile being used as an initiator. These chlorophosphines accelerated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate but did not affect the rate of decomposition of α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile. Ultraviolet and infrared spectral data suggested that the acceleration effect was due to the complex formation of methyl methacrylate with each chlorophosphine. From the result of a copolymerization with styrene, it was found that the reactivity of methyl methacrylate monomer increased in the presence of dichlorophenylphosphine.     

The effect of fluorine substitution on the structure of oxiranes and on the energetics of the oxiranylcarbinyl radical ring opening

Fluorine substituent effects on the structure of oxirane and on the kinetic behavior of oxiranylcarbinyl radicals, as determined by DFT calculations, have been found to be similar to those observed for the analogous fluorinated cyclopropylcarbinyl radical systems. A structural and energetic analysis showed that a stereoelectronic effect involving preferential interaction of the semi-occupied atomic orbital of the radical with the weaker ring bond is the major factor that contributes to the regiochemistry of the ring opening of fluorinated oxiranylcarbinyl radicals. With low and potentially zero activation barriers, 3,3-difluorooxiranylcarbinyl radical and cation undergo ring opening with CO bond cleavage and CC cleavage, respectively.     

Graphene oxide as an acid catalyst for the room temperature ring opening of epoxides

The minute amount of hydrogen sulfate groups introduced into the graphene oxide (GO) obtained by Hummers oxidation of graphite renders this material as a highly efficient, recyclable acid catalyst for the ring opening of epoxides with methanol and other primary alcohols as nucleophile and solvent.     

Topography of cyclopropyl radical ring opening to allyl radical on the CASSCF(3,3) surface: valley-ridge inflection points by Newton trajectories

Valley-ridge inflection points (VRI) on the potential energy surface for the ring opening of the cyclopropyl radical to the allyl radical are determined using the tool of Newton trajectories (NTs) (Quapp and Schmidt in Theor Chem Acc 128:47, 2011). The UHF surface is treated in a former paper (Quapp et?al. in Theor Chem Acc 129:803, 2011). This paper is the extension to the more expensive CASSCF(3,3) surface. We compare the results on the UHF surface with the more appropriate calculation: there are quantitative as well as qualitative changes, of course. But many fundamental relations are the same on both surfaces. However, we could detect new pathways on the CASSCF(3,3) surface which highlight the bifurcation problem of this radical. VRIs play a role in the understanding of bifurcating reactions. The region where the bifurcation takes place is governed by a VRI point. Because the transition state of the ring opening is not symmetric, the steepest descent (SD) from the transition state is not along a symmetry axis either, and in this case the SD usually fails a downhill VRI point. The SD from the transition state of the ring opening goes to the disrotatory minimum of the allyl radical. In contrast, we find some pathways which end at the conrotatory minimum, and which go along so-called non steepest descent paths, at least in parts. The region of interest (around the SP of the ring opening) is crossed by electronic intersection seams. Conical intersection points on the seam can be detected by NTs. We use the possibility to explore parts of the intersection seam of the lower CAS surface and we determine connected VRI points being the corner stones of the possible ring opening channels in the disrotatory and the conrotatory case.     

Theoretical study on SH2 reaction of methyl radical with three‐membered ring

Bimolecular homolytic substitution (S_H2) reactions of the methyl radical with a series of three‐membered ring compounds have been given a systematic theoretical study. These reactions proceed predominantly via the backside displacement. The formation of the new radical product is thermodynamically favorable probably due to the release of the ring strain. Natural bond orbital analysis reveals that SOMO → σ*(C‐X) (X= C, N, O) interaction plays a major role in these S_H2 reactions, which shows the methyl radical mainly acts as a nucleophilic radical. In addition, according to the activation strain model analysis, an expected single correlation has not been obtained between the reactant distortion enthalpies and the overall activation enthalpies. However, these reactions can be divided into three groups and each group exhibits a good linear correlation. Marcus theory can thoroughly account for this phenomenon. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Isobaric temperature dependence of radical generation in poly(methyl methacrylate)

In this study the effect of temperature on the generation of free radicals accompanying the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide in poly(methyl methacrylate) was studied. The concentration of the chain-end radicals was determined by the ESR method. The known nine-line spectrum of the chain-end radicals of poly(methyl methacrylate) was observed. This spectrum was affected by the contribution of chain radicals at higher temperatures. The dependence of the chain-end radical concentration on the annealing temperature of polymer found for different pressures gives information on the conditions under which free radicals arise and decay in the temperature range between 90 and 170°C at pressures ranging from 2000 to 12000 atm.     

Regioselectivity in the ring opening of non-activated aziridines

In this critical review, the ring opening of non-activated 2-substituted aziridines via intermediate aziridinium salts will be dealt with. Emphasis will be put on the relationship between the observed regioselectivity and inherent structural features such as the nature of the C2 aziridine substituent and the nature of the electrophile and the nucleophile. This overview should allow chemists to gain insight into the factors governing the regioselectivity in aziridinium ring openings (81 references).