Gaseous SF(3)(+): An efficient electrophilic monofluorinating agent for five-membered heteroaromatic compounds

Reactions of gaseous SF(3)(+) ions with furan, thiophene, pyrrole, and several of their alkyl derivatives were performed via MS(2) experiments and found to occur readily both by electron abstraction and F(+) transfer. Then, by performing MS(3) experiments, the F(+) transfer products-the protonated monofluorinated molecules-were mass-selected and deprotonated by a second reaction with a stronger base. F(+) transfer from gaseous SF(3)(+) followed by deprotonation promotes therefore C-H by C-F replacement in five-membered heteroaromatic compounds and the efficient gas-phase synthesis of their neutral monofluorinated derivatives.     

Electron transfer NO 2 + +NO→N02+NO+ in aromatic nitration

A simple model for computing the electron transfer rate constant of a cross-reaction has been proposed in the framework of semiclassical theory and employed to investigate the electron transfer system NO ₂ ⁺ /NO. The encounter complex of electron transfer NO ₂ ⁺ +NO→N0₂+NO⁺ has been optimized at the level of UHF/6-31G. In the construction of diabatic potential energy surfaces the linear coordinate was used and the kinetic quantities, such as the activation energies and the electron transfer matrix elements, have been obtained. For comparison, the related selfexchange reactlon systems NO ₂ ⁺ /NO₂ and NO⁺/NO were kinetically investigated. The calculated activation energies for the electron transfer reactions of systems NO ₂ ⁺ /NO, NO ₂ ⁺ /NO₂, and NO⁺/NO are 81.4, 128.8, and 39.8 kJ.mol^-1, respectively. With the solvent effect taken into account, the contribution of solvent reorganization to the activation energy has been estimated according to the geometric parameters of the transition states. The obtained rate constants show that the activity of NO ₂ ⁺ as an oxidizing reagent in the aromatic nitration will be greatly decreased due to a high activation barrier contributed mainly from the change of bond angle ONO.     

The mechanism of aromatic nitration by tetranitromethane

Aromatic nitrations by tetranitromethane are shown to be photo-chemically initiated and are believed to proceed via trinitromethyl nitrite.     

Atom-efficient electrophilic aromatic nitration by dinitrogen pentoxide catalysed by zirconium(IV) 2,4-pentanedionate

An atom-efficient, non-acidic, catalytic process is described for the nitration of electron deficient arenes such as o-nitrotoluene using a dinitrogen pentoxide-zirconium(iv) 2,4-pentanedionate system in dichloromethane solvent. Kinetic studies showed the nitration process to be first-order with respect to the aromatic substrate and higher than first-order with respect to the catalyst. Addition of the catalyst at ca. 0.1-1 mol% compared with both N(2)O(5) and the organic substrate results in an increase in the first-order rate constant for nitration by a factor of approximately 5000 with a turnover number of at least 500. The orientation of the nitration products (2,4-/2,6-dinitrotoluenes) is consistent with attack of nitronium ion. The apparently high order of reaction with respect to the catalyst suggests a possible heterogeneous process.     

Unified mechanistic concept of electrophilic aromatic nitration: convergence of computational results and experimental data

The mechanism of electrophilic aromatic nitration was revisited. Based on the available experimental data and new high-level quantum chemical calculations, a modification of the previous reaction mechanism is proposed involving three separate intermediates on the potential energy diagram of the reaction. The first, originally considered an unoriented pi-complex or electron donor acceptor complex (EDA), involves high electrostatic and charge-transfer interactions between the nitronium ion and the pi-aromatics. It explains the observed low substrate selectivity in nitration with nitronium salts while maintaining high positional selectivity, as well as observed oxygen transfer reactions in the gas phase. The subsequent second intermediate originally considered an oriented "pi-complex" is now best represented by an intimate radical cation-molecule pair, C(6)H(6)(+)(*)()/NO(2), that is, a SET complex, indicative of single-electron transfer from the aromatic pi-system to NO(2)(+). Subsequently, it collapses to afford the final sigma-complex intermediate, that is, an arenium ion. The proposed three discrete intermediates in electrophilic aromatic nitration unify previous mechanistic proposals and also contribute to a better understanding of this fundamentally important reaction. The previously obtained ICR data of oxygen transfer from NO(2)(+) to the aromatic ring are also accommodated by the proposed mechanism. The most stable intermediate of this reaction on its potential energy surface is a complex between phenol and NO(+). The phenol.NO(+) complex decomposes affording C(6)H(6)O(+)(*)/PhOH(+) and NO, in agreement with the ICR results.     

Charge-transfer mechanism for electrophilic aromatic nitration and nitrosation via the convergence of (ab initio) molecular-orbital and Marcus-Hush theories with experiments

The highly disparate rates of aromatic nitrosation and nitration, despite the very similar (electrophilic) properties of the active species: NO(+) and NO(2)(+) in Chart 1, are quantitatively reconciled. First, the thorough mappings of the potential-energy surfaces by high level (ab initio) molecular-orbital methodologies involving extensive coupled-cluster CCSD(T)/6-31G optimizations establish the intervention of two reactive intermediates in nitration (Figure 8) but only one in nitrosation (Figure 7). Second, the same distinctive topologies involving double and single potential-energy minima (Figures 6 and 5) also emerge from the semiquantitative application of the Marcus-Hush theory to the transient spectral data. Such a striking convergence from quite different theoretical approaches indicates that the molecular-orbital and Marcus-Hush (potential-energy) surfaces are conceptually interchangeable. In the resultant charge-transfer mechanism, the bimolecular interactions of arene donors with both NO(+) and NO(2)(+) spontaneously lead (barrierless) to pi-complexes in which electron transfer is concurrent with complexation. Such a pi-complex in nitration is rapidly converted to the sigma-complex, whereas this Wheland adduct in nitrosation merely represents a high energy (transition-state) structure. Marcus-Hush analysis thus demonstrates how the strongly differentiated (arene) reactivities toward NO(+) and NO(2)(+) can actually be exploited in the quantitative development of a single coherent (electron-transfer) mechanism for both aromatic nitrosation and nitration.     

Perfluorinated rare earth metals catalyzed nitration of aromatic compounds

The nitration of aromatic compounds can be carried out in the presence of perfluorinated rare earth metal catalyst without halogenated organic solvent.     

Kinetics and mechanism of trichloroisocyanuric acid/NaNO2-triggered nitration of aromatic compounds under acid-free and Vilsmeier-Haack conditions

Kinetics and mechanism of nitration of aromatic compounds using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)/NaNO₂, TCCA-N,N-dimethyl formamide (TCCA-DMF)/NaNO₂, and TCCA-N,N-dimethyl acetamide (TCCA-DMA)/NaNO₂ under acid-free and Vilsmeier-Haack conditions. Reactions followed second-order kinetics with a first-order dependence on [Phenol] and [Nitrating agent] ([TCCA], [(TCCA-DMF)], or [(TCCA-DMA)] >> [NaNO₂]). Reaction rates accelerated with the introduction of electron-donating groups and retarded with electron-withdrawing groups, but did not fit well into the Hammett's theory of linear free energy relationship or its modified forms like Brown-Okamoto or Yukawa-Tsuno equations. Rate data were analyzed by Charton's multiple linear regression analysis. Isokinetic temperature (β) values, obtained from Exner's theory for different protocols, are 403.7 K (TCCA-NaNO₂), 365.8 K (TCCA-DMF)/NaNO₂, and 358 K (TCCA-DMA)/NaNO₂. These values are far above the experimental temperature range (303-323 K), indicating that the enthalpy factors are probably more important in controlling the reaction.     

Electrophilic aromatic nitration: understanding its mechanism and substituent effects

Theoretical calculations and gas-phase mass spectrometric studies were performed for the reaction of the naked (NO2+) and monosolvated (CH3NO2.NO2+) nitronium ion with several monosubstituted aromatic compounds. From these studies, we propose a general model for regioselectivity based on the single-electron transfer (SET) mechanism and an alternative mechanistic scheme for electrophilic aromatic nitration. This scheme considers the SET and the polar (Ingold-Hughes) mechanisms as extremes in a continuum pathway, the occurrence and extents of both mechanisms being governed mainly by the ability, or lack of ability, of the aromatic compound to transfer an electron to NO2+.     

Mechanism of electrophilic fluorination of aromatic compounds with NF-reagents

Kinetic isotope effects H/D in electrophilic fluorination of aromatic compounds with NF-reagents were investigated. The small values of k _H/k _D (0.86–1.00) are in agreement with the polar reaction mechanism where the Wheland complex decomposition is not the limiting stage. The fluorination of 1,3,5-trideuterobenzene was established by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy to occur with a 1,2-migration of a hydrogen (deuterium) atom. The analysis of Brown-Stock relationship demonstrated that the activity of NF-reagents exceeded that of many known electrophilic systems including halogenation, but it was essentially less than the activity of elemental fluorine.     

Uncatalyzed polymerization of bistriazolinediones with electron-rich aromatic compounds via electrophilic aromatic substitution

The reaction of 4-substituted-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-diones(4R-TD's), i.e., MeTD(4-methyl substituted) and PhTD(4-Phenyl substituted) with electron rich aromatic compounds were investigated. N,N-Dimethylaniline undergoes reaction instantaneously with MeTD and PhTD. Electrophilic aromatic substitution occurred at room temperature at the para position without use of any catalyst. N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-m-phenylenediamine (TMPDA) undergoes reaction with 2 mol of PhTD and MeTD which lead to the formation of 2:1 adducts in high yields. These compounds were fully characterized by IR, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR and elemental analysis and were used as model compounds. The reaction of bistriazolinediones with TMPDA was performed in dimethylformamid at room temperature. The reactions are exothermic, fast, and gave novel polymer structures via electrophilic aromatic substitution. Some physical properties and structural characterization of these new polymers have been studied, and will be reported.     

Reactions of NO2+ and solvated NO2+ ions with aromatic compounds and alkanes

The rate constants and modes of reaction of NO₂⁺ and C₂H₅ONO₂NO₂⁺ with aromatic compounds and alkanes have been determined in a pulsed ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Both ions undergo competing charge transfer and substitution reactions (NO₂⁺ + M → MO⁺ + NO; C₂H₅ONO₂NO₂⁺ + M → MNO₂⁺ + C₂H₅ONO₂) with aromatic molecules. In both cases, the probability that a collision results in charge transfer increases with increasing exothermicity of that process. The C₂H₅ONO₂NO₂⁺ ion does not undergo charge transfer with molecules having an ionization potential greater than about 212 kcal/mol (9.2 eV); this observation leads to an estimate of 13 kcal/mol for the binding energy between NO₂⁺ and C₂H₅ONO₂. The importance of the substitution reaction depends on the number of substituents on the aromatic ring and the molecular structure, and, in the case of C₂H₅ONO₂NO₂⁺ ions, on the energetics of the competing charge transfer process. Both NO₂⁺ and C₂H₅ONO₂NO₂⁺ undergo hydride transfer reactions with alkanes. For both these ions, k(hydride transfer)/k (collision) increases with increasing exothermicity of reaction, but in both cases the rate constants of reaction are unusually low when compared with other hydride transfer reactions of comparable exothermicity which have been reported in the literature. This is interpreted as evidence that the attack on the alkane preferentially involves the nitrogen atom (where the charge is localized) rather than one of the oxygen atoms of NO₂⁺.     

Bond dissociation energies and structures of CuNO(+) and Cu(NO)(2)(+)

The bond dissociation energies of CuNO(+), Cu(NO)(2)(+), and CuAr(+) are determined by means of guided ion beam mass spectrometry and quantum chemical calculations. From the experiment, the values D(0)(Cu(+)-NO) = 1.13 +/- 0.05, D(0)(ONCu(+)-NO) = 1.12 +/- 0.06, D(0)(Cu(+)-Ar) = 0.50 +/- 0.07, and D(0)(Cu(+)-Xe) = 1.02 +/- 0.06 eV are obtained. The computational approaches corroborate these results and provide additional structural data. The relative values of D(0)(Cu(+)-NO) and D(0)(Cu(+)-Xe) are consistent with the approximately thermoneutral formation of CuXe(+) upon interacting CuNO(+) with xenon. The sequential bond dissociation energies of Cu(NO)(2)(+) exhibit a trend similar to those of other Cu(I) complexes described in the literature. Although metathesis of nitric oxide to N(2) and O(2) is of considerable interest, no evidence for N-N- or O-O-bond formations in Cu(NO)(n)(+) ions (with n up to 3) is obtained within the energy range studied experimentally.     

Design of ionic liquid 3-methyl-1-sulfonic acid imidazolium nitrate as reagent for the nitration of aromatic compounds by in situ generation of NO(2) in acidic media

3-Methyl-1-sulfonic acid imidazolium nitrate ([Msim]NO(3)) as a new Br?nsted acidic ionic liquid and nitrating agent was prepared and used for the efficient nitration of aromatic compounds (even aniline derivatives). The dramatic effect of this reagent by in situ generation of nitrogen dioxide as a radical on aromatic compounds to give nitroarenes has been studied.     

Salt effects and the mechanism of electrophilic mercuration of unsaturated compounds

The kinetics of the addition of Hg(OAc)₂ to strained and unstrained alkenes was studied in MeOH solution in the presence of NaOAc. Based on salt effects, the HgOAc ion was shown to be the actual reagent in the reaction of the unstrained alkenes, whereas Hg(OAc)₂ was the reagent in the case of the strained alkenes. The mechanisms of the solvomercuration of alkenes of various structures were proposed.For the previous report seeIzv. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Khim., 1994, 819 [Russ. Chem. Bull., 1994,43, 760 (Engl. Transl.)].Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 344–352, February, 1995.     

Salt effects and the mechanism of electrophilic mercuration of unsaturated compounds

The reaction of Hg(OAc)₂ with bornylene in THF-H₂O and CH₃CN-H₂O mixed solvents (75 25, v/v) was studied. The effects of the addition of NaOAc on the reaction rate and the composition of products were investigated. In the CH₃CN-H₂O mixture, the addition of NaOAc decreases the amount of the rearranged product, fundamentally changes the ratio between the regioisomeric solvoadducts, and promotes the formation of products of Hg(OAc)₂ addition. The reaction proceedsvia an ion pair and free mercurinium ion; the cation of the ion pair and the free mercurinium ion have dissimilar structures.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 544–548, March, 1995.     

Formation of charge-transfer complexes in systems containing substituted aromatic hydrocarbons and electron-donating organic compounds

Binary systems of monosubstituted benzene derivatives of type C₆H₅X (X=CN, NO₂, COMe, F, Cl, Br, I) and furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, and piperidine are analyzed physicochemically by a refractometric method.From deviations from additivity of n (V) isotherms for systems containing furan plus C₆H₅CN, C₆H₅NO₂, or C₆H₅COMe, conclusions can be drawn about interactions of components leading to formation of charge-transfer complexes (CTC) of 21 composition.With pyrrole possible intermolecular interaction must be confirmed by other methods of physicochemical analysis.Almost all of the systems containing tetrahydrofuran investigated, differ by showing more marked interaction between the components, giving CTC of 11 composition.n (V) isotherms for systems containing pyridine and C₆H₅NO₂ are slightly concave to the composition axis. At the same time piperidine clearly reacts with C₆H₅CN and C₆H₅NO₂, giving a 21 complex with the former, and a colored mixture with the latter, (formation of a complex in this case requires confirmation by other methods).All the thiophene binary systems investigated are characterized by linear refractive index isotherms, i.e., they are refractometrically ideal.The electron-donor properties of the heterocyclic compounds investigated vis a vis the aromatic ring with a lowered-electron density lie in the order tetrahydrofuran > furan > piperidine > pyrrole > thiophene.For Part III see [6].