Interplay of orbital symmetry and nonstatistical dynamics in the thermal rearrangements of bicyclo[n.1.0]polyenes.

CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations have been carried out on some of the thermal rearrangements of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentene (BCP), bicyclo[4.1.0]hepta-2,4-diene (BCH), bicyclo[6.1.0]nona-2,4,6-triene (BCN), and 9,9-dicyanobicyclo[6.1.0]nona-2,4,6-triene (DCBCN). In addition, experiments have been conducted to determine the stereoselectivity and temperature dependence of the nondegenerate rearrangement of 9,9-dicyanobicyclo[6.1.0]nona-2,4,6-triene-exo-15N. The calculations and experiments allow a consistent picture to be drawn for these reactions. The principal conclusions are as follows. (1) The ring-walk rearrangements of BCP, BCN, and DCBCN are pericyclic reactions occurring with a strong preference for inversion of configuration at the migrating carbon. However, the ring-walk rearrangement of BCH is a nonpericyclic reaction. (2) The rearrangement of DCBCN to 9,9-dicyanobicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4,7-triene occurs with a preferred stereochemistry corresponding to a 1,3 migration with retention. However, this reaction is not a pericyclic process; the stereoselectivity is probably of dynamic origin. (3) Cyano substituents can significantly reduce the activation energy for a reaction occurring via a singlet biradical, but they do not necessarily cause the intermediate to sit in a deeper local minimum on the potential energy surface.     

A computational study of the factors controlling triplet-state reactivity in 1,4-pentadiene

The triplet-state reactions of 1,4-pentadiene have been investigated using density functional theory (UB3LYP) and ab initio (CASSCF) calculations with a 6-31G basis set. Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloadditions and three different reaction pathways leading to vinylcyclopropane have been examined. The computed results are in good agreement with the experimental observations, predicting the dominant product to be vinylcyclopropane produced by a di-pi-methane rearrangement, and the favored [2 + 2] cycloaddition product to be bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane. Reaction pathways involving initial C-C or C-H bond cleavage were found to be too high in energy to be significant. Both the [2 + 2] cycloadditions and the di-pi-methane rearrangement proceed through cyclic biradical intermediates formed on the triplet surface. The relative rates of formation of these triplet biradicals are found to depend on three factors: biradical stability, the geometry of the transition structure, and orbital interactions through bonds.     

The 4,4'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bisbenzyl biradical: its generation, detection, and (photo)chemical behavior in solution

The 4,4'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bisbenzyl biradical (2) is clearly and efficiently generated by photolysis of [3.2]paracyclophane-2-one (8) in cyclohexane solution. This intermediate is also formed via two-photon processes from [2.2]paracyclophane (3) and 1,2-bis(4-chloromethylphenyl)ethane (4). The products arising thermally from biradical 2 are [2.2]paracyclophane and [2.2.2.2]paracyclophane (11) (under high-intensity conditions). Furthermore, two-laser two-color flash photolysis shows that biradical 2 is photostable in solution at room temperature. Thus, formation of p-xylylene (1) from 2 occurs neither thermally nor photochemically.     

Trapping of 1,8-biradical intermediates by molecular oxygen in photocycloaddition of naphthyl-N-(naphthylcarbonyl)carboxamides; formation of novel 1,8-epidioxides and evidence of stepwise aromatic cycloaddition.

The photocycloaddition reaction of naphthyl-N-(naphthylcarbonyl)carboxamides (1) was examined under argon and oxygen atmospheres. In addition to the [2 + 2] and [4 + 4] cycloadducts, 3 and 4, respectively, novel 1,8-epidioxides (5) were formed under oxygen atmosphere. The transient absorption at lambda max of 360 nm with the lifetime of 360 ns was observed by laser flash photolysis of 1c and was interpreted as the absorption of biradical intermediate 2. On the basis of the anti stereochemistry of 5, which was different from that of the major [4 + 4] cycloadducts, syn-4, it was deduced that equilibrium between biradical intermediates syn-2 and anti-2 would exist. Retro [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 3 was responsible for the efficient trapping of the biradical intermediate with molecular oxygen. The photocycloaddition of the anthryl derivatives, 9-anthryl-N-(methylethyl)-N-(naphthylcarbonyl)carboxamides (7), afforded the [4 + 4] cycloadducts (8) exclusively in a quantitative yield even under oxygen atmosphere. The absence of trapping with molecular oxygen was interpreted to be due to the lack of retro [4 + 4] cycloaddition of 8.     

Reaction of o-benzyne with tropothione involving biradical processes

A benzyne-tropothione reaction was studied experimentally and computationally. Three isomeric products were detected by a careful experiment using two benzyne sources. The three equimolar products were identified. The expected symmetry-allowed [4+2] or [8+2] cycloadduct was not detected. In order to explain the unexpected products, density functional calculations and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations were carried out. The benzyne is, first, added to the tropothione via one-center C-S bond formation. Then a singlet biradical intermediate is formed. In the biradical, an alpha hydrogen atom of the tropothione moiety is moved to the benzyne moiety. A closed-shell intermediate is generated. This allene-type intermediate is isomerized to the second intermediate. The intramolecular proton shift in the latter leads to the three products. The biradical character of the benzyne has a key role in the present reaction and was discussed in reference to other benzyne reactions.     

Biradical intermediate in the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of dienes and alkenes to [60]fullerene

The photocycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes to C60 yields stereospecifically a five-membered [60]fullerene adduct. These results suggest a biradical intermediate of the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition between dienes or arylalkenes and C60. An electron transfer between the triplet excited state of C60 and the unsaturated substrates precedes the formation of the intermediate.     

Novel methodology for the preparation of five-, seven-, and nine-membered fused rings on C60

[reaction: see text] The photocycloaddition of dienyl cyclopropanes to C(60) gives a new synthetic approach to yield stereospecifically five-, seven-, and nine-membered [60]fullerene adducts. Our results suggest the formation of a biradical intermediate between the dienyl substrate and C(60). An electron transfer between the triplet excited state of C(60) and the dienyl substrate precedes the formation of the intermediate.     

The pyridine n-oxide group. A potent radical stabilizing function

The rate of the methylenecyclopropane rearrangement is greatly enhanced by the 4-pyridyl N-oxide group due to spin delocalization in the transition state which imparts nitroxide radical character to the biradical intermediate.     

Preparation and reactions of 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyls that feature an amino substituent and/or a carbonyl group

The preparation and properties of a 1-amino-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl and a 1-benzoyl-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl, which can be regarded as functionalized cyclic biradical derivatives, were investigated. Hydrolysis of 1-diisopropylamino-3-methyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (7), which is formed by reaction of Mes*C[triple chemical bond]P (4; Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2)) with lithium diisopropylamide and iodomethane, resulted in ring-opening of the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl skeleton, as well as de-aromatization of one of the Mes* rings. 3-Oxo-1,3-diphosphapropene 8 and 7-phosphabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(8),2,4-triene 9 were the resultant products, and these were subsequently characterized. Isomerization and oxidation of 7 occurred in the presence of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxy) to give the first example of a cyclic dimethylenephosphorane derivative, namely 3-oxo-1,3-diphospha-1,4-diene 10. 1-Benzoyl-3-tert-butyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (12) was isolated and characterized from the reaction of 4 with tert-butyllithium and benzoyl chloride. Compound 12 was subsequently heated and underwent rearrangement of the benzoyl group and ring-expansion to afford 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 13. Reaction of 4 with lithium diisopropylamide and benzoyl chloride afforded the 2H-[1,2,4]oxadiphosphinine 15, which was probably formed through the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl intermediate 14. Thermolysis of 15 afforded 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 16 in an Arbuzov-type rearrangement.     

Direct dynamics simulation of dioxetane formation and decomposition via the singlet [middle dot]O-O-CH(2)-CH(2)[middle dot] biradical: Non-RRKM dynamics

Electronic structure calculations and direct chemical dynamics simulations are used to study the formation and decomposition of dioxetane on its ground state singlet potential energy surface. The stationary points for (1)O(2) + C(2)H(4), the singlet [middle dot]O-O-CH(2)-CH(2)[middle dot] biradical, the transition state (TS) connecting this biradical with dioxetane, and the two transition states and gauche [middle dot]O-CH(2)-CH(2)-O[middle dot] biradical connecting dioxetane with the formaldehyde product molecules are investigated at different levels of electronic structure theory including UB3LYP, UMP2, MRMP2, and CASSCF and a range of basis sets. The UB3LYP∕6-31G? method was found to give representative energies for the reactive system and was used as a model for the simulations. UB3LYP∕6-31G? direct dynamics trajectories were initiated at the TS connecting the [middle dot]O-O-CH(2)-CH(2)[middle dot] biradical and dioxetane by sampling the TS's vibrational energy levels, and rotational and reaction coordinate energies, with Boltzmann distributions at 300, 1000, and 1500 K. This corresponds to the transition state theory model for trajectories that pass the TS. The trajectories were directed randomly towards both the biradical and dioxetane. A small fraction of the trajectories directed towards the biradical recrossed the TS and formed dioxetane. The remainder formed (1)O(2) + C(2)H(4) and of these ～ 40% went directly from the TS to (1)O(2) + C(2)H(4) without getting trapped and forming an intermediate in the [middle dot]O-O-CH(2)-CH(2)[middle dot] biradical potential energy minimum, a non-statistical result. The dioxetane molecules which are formed dissociate to two formaldehyde molecules with a rate constant two orders of magnitude smaller than that predicted by Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory. The reaction dynamics from dioxetane to the formaldehyde molecules do not follow the intrinsic reaction coordinate or involve trapping in the gauche [middle dot]O-CH(2)-CH(2)-O[middle dot] biradical potential energy minimum. Important non-statistical dynamics are exhibited for this reactive system.     

The effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the methylenecyclopropane rearrangement

The CF₃ group, in conjunction with an electron donor group, can enhance the rate of the methylenecyclopropane rearrangement. This is attributed to captodative radical stabilization of the intermediate biradical.     

Computational study on the reaction mechanism of the key thermal [4 + 4] cycloaddition reaction in the biosynthesis of epoxytwinol A

[reaction: see text] The key [4 + 4] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of epoxytwinol A has been established by theoretical calculations to comprise of three processes. The first step is formation of the C8-C8' bond generating a biradical intermediate. Next, rotation about the C8-C8' bond occurs, and finally the C1-C1' bond is formed. Biradicals stabilized by conjugation and two hydrogen bonds are essential for realization of this rare thermal [4 + 4] cycloaddition.     

Crystal structure of methyl endo-8-cyano-exo-8-methyl-3-oxo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene-6-carboxylate.

A photochemical cycloaddition reaction of methyl 2-pyrone-5-carboxylate with methacrylonitrile mainly gave a [4 + 2] cycloadduct, assigned as methyl endo-8-cyano-exo-8-methyl-3-oxo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene-6-carboxylate, whose structure was determined by an X-ray diffraction study. The formation of the cycloadduct was reasonably explained by considering a biradical intermediate having a less steric hindrance between the methoxycarbonyl group and the cyano group.     

Reaction of carboryne with styrene and its derivatives

Reaction of carboryne generated from 1-I-2-Li-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ with styrene and its derivatives has been studied. In addition to [2+2] cycloaddition reaction and/or ene reaction, an extra-annular [4+2] cycloaddition reaction is also observed, depending upon the substituents on the vinyl unit. The resulting [4+2] cycloaddition intermediates are so reactive that they immediately undergo rearomatization via either a formal 1,3-hydrogen rearrangement or dehydrogenation initiated by hydrogen abstraction with carboryne in biradical form, to give 3,4-dihydronaphtho[1,2]-o-carboranes and naphtho[1,2]-o-carboranes, respectively. In sharp contrast to that of benzyne, further additions of carboryne onto the primary cycloadducts are not observed.     

Radicaloid intermediates in the photochemistry of 6-cyanophenanthridine N-oxide

Irradiation of 6-cyanophenanthridine $\text{N}$-oxide in the presence of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene resulted in a novel type of photoaddition with rearrangement to give 2-cyano-8,8,9,9-tetramethyl-[d,f]-dibenzo-1,3-oxazonin and 6-(2-cyano-1,1,2-trimethylpropyloxy)phenanthridine as a minor product, which is regarded as strong evidence for an initial photochemical generation of a biradical, and not an oxaziridine as previously suggested.     

Photorearrangement of 4,4-Dimethylcyclohex-2-enones with Alkyl or Fluoro Substituents at C(5) and C(6): In Search of the Mechanism

The photorearrangement of cyclohex-2-enones 4a-h to bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones 5 and cyclopent-2-enones 6 (λ = 350 nm, MeCN) was investigated. Both the quantum yield (Φ_?4 = 0.004– 0.024) and the product ratio ( 5/6 = 65:35–31:69) vary only over a rather small range, indicating the rearrangement to be relatively insensitive to substituents on C(5) or C(6). Compounds 4b, 4c , and 4g with just one alkyl group at either C(6) or C(5) rearrange selectively to the diastereoisomer 5 with alkyl group and three-membered ring in trans-configuration, while 6-fluorocyclohex-2-enones 4d and 4f afford mixtures of diastereoisomeric bicyclohexanones. Mechanistic conclusions regarding an intermediate trimethylene biradical are presented.     

The Rearrangement of 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐[(E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]cyclopropane to 3,4,4‐Triphenylcyclopent‐1‐ene: a DFT Analysis

A computational study on the rearrangement of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐[(E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]cyclopropane ( 1 ) is presented, using density functional theory (DFT), (U)B3LYP with the 6‐31G* basis set (DFT1) and (U)M05‐2X with the 6‐311+G** basis set (DFT2). In agreement with a biradical character of the transition structure (TS) or intermediate, the potential‐energy hypersurface is lowered by the influence of three conjugated Ph groups. Surprisingly, two conformations of the geminal diphenyl group (different twist angles) induce two different minimum‐energy pathways for the rearrangement. Independent of the functional used, the first hypersurface harbors true biradical intermediates, whereas the second energy surface is a flat, slightly ascending slope from the starting material to the TS. The functional (U)M05‐2X with the basis set 6‐311+G** provides realistic energies which seem to be close to experiment. The activation energy for racemization of enantiomers of 1 is lower than that of rearrangement by 2.5 kcal mol^?1, in agreement with experiment.     

The Relationship of Cycloaddition Reactions to Spontaneous Vinyl Polymerizations

The zwitterionic–biradical tetramethylene proposed by Huisgen as the key intermediate in stepwise [2+2] cycloaddition reactions has been shown to be the crucial intermediate in spontaneous vinyl polymerizations as well. Predominantly biradical tetramethylenes initiate free‐radical copolymerizations, while predominantly zwitterionic tetramethylenes initiate cationic or anionic homopolymerizations. Stepwise cycloaddition is viewed as a spontaneous polymerization lacking a propagation step. These tendencies could be correlated in the form of an ‘organic chemist's Periodic Table’, which has recently been put on a quantitative basis. Huisgen also showed experimentally that [4+2] Woodward–Hoffman‐allowed cycloadditions are completely concerted. Spontaneous copolymerizations accompanying these cycloadditions, therefore, were ascribed to the s‐trans diene form. This concept was given support by kinetics studies, as well as by exclusive cycloaddition from s‐cis cyclopentadiene, and exclusive copolymerization from s‐trans verbenene.     

Intramolecular nucleophile-induced photorearrangements and silene formation from an o-(methoxymethyl)phenylsilacyclobutane

Direct photolysis of 1-(o-(methoxymethyl)phenyl)-1-phenylsilacyclobutane yields three isomeric products attributed to intramolecular trapping of an initially formed silicon-carbon biradical intermediate by migration of the benzylic methoxy group to silicon, along with the (expected) intramolecularly ether-stabilized silene due to formal [2 + 2]-cycloreversion.