Catalytic Isofunctional Reactions—Expanding the Repertoire of Shuttle and Metathesis Reactions

Transfer hydrogenation, alkene metathesis, and alkyne metathesis possess great value to the synthetic chemistry community. One of the key features of these processes is their reversibility, which can be attributed to the presence of the same number and type of functional groups in both the reactants and products, making these reactions isofunctional. These classic reactions have recently inspired the development of novel shuttle and metathesis reactions that offer great promise for synthetic chemistry. This Review describes and systematically categorizes both recent and older examples of shuttle and metathesis reactions other than transfer hydrogenation and alkene/alkyne metathesis.     

Kinetic Relationships between Reactions in the Gas Phase and in Solution

Some recent examples of reactions proceeding both in the gas phase and in solution have been investigated to determine their kinetics and mechanisms. The ratio of the corresponding rate constants, k_G and k_L, of the elementary processes studied has been found to be about unity for unimolecular reactions and between 1 and 10 for bimolecular reactions. The mechanisms, overall rates, rate constants, and activation energies have been determined for the homogeneous gas reaction NOCl + Cl₂O = NO₂Cl + Cl₂ and the reaction NOCl + N₂O₅ = NO₂Cl + 2 NO₂, carried out in C₂F₃Cl₃.     

Modeling formation of molecules in the interstellar medium by radical reactions with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Adsorptions of CH°₂, CH°₃, NH°₂, and OH° radicals and molecule formation on a partially hydrogenated surface of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) (C₂₄H₂₇⁺) were modeled. It was found that radical adsorptions are feasible with important modifications of surface bond strengths and bond distances. Adsorbed hydrogen may diffuse due to adsorbate‐surface interactions. Formations of CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, CH₃NH₂, and CH₃OH were studied by Eley‐Rideal (ER) and Langmuir‐Hishelwood (LH) mechanisms. Potential energetic surfaces were performed for both mechanisms and the ER presents lower reaction energy barriers than the LH one, in all cases. Parametric quantum program (CATIVIC) was employed and comparisons with DFT results were performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110:2560–2572, 2010     

Reactivity of the metal-silicon bond in organometallic chemistry

The reactivity of molecules containing a metal-silicon bond is currently attracting considerable attention owing to its relevance to a number of important stoichiometric and catalytic transformations. The focus of this review concerns those stoichiometric reactions involving the metal-silicon bond which result in isolable Si-containing metal complex(es). Catalytic reactions are therefore only considered when strong evidence for M---Si intermediate complexes is provided. Reactions in which the silicon atom leaves the metal complex are not examined. For convenience, the reactions will be classified into insertion and migration reactions, although this terminology does not necessarily have a mechanistic implication and is somewhat arbitrary since many reaction products could belong to one or the other section.     

Ring‐Opening of Benzocyclobutenol with Mild Bases and Trapping with Dieneophiles

The treatment of benzocyclobutenol with a mild base has been investigated. This reaction results in an electrocyclic opening of the cyclobutene to the corresponding o‐quinodimethane, which has been successfully treated with aldehydes and electron‐deficient alkenes to form benzolactols and benzocyclohexenes respectively.     

Epoxidation of styrenes with the peroxidase from the cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum

An enzyme concerned with the epoxidation of styrenes was isolated from cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum. The enzyme had peroxidase activity as well as epoxidation activity, and its amino acid sequence showed 89% homology in their 9 amino acid overlap with horseradish peroxidase. In the enzymatic reaction, hydrogen peroxide and p-cresol were necessary and molecular oxygen was the source of the oxygen atom of the epoxide. The enzymatic reaction using a spin trap reagent and monitoring of the reaction with ESR indicated that the epoxidation reaction of styrenes proceeded by a radical mechanism with peroxidase.     

Derailed Ohira-Bestmann Reaction of γ,δ-Unsaturated Aldehydes for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopenta[c]pyrazoles

The synthesis of cyclopenta[c]pyrazoles from γ,δ-unsaturated aldehydes by a domino sequence involving one-carbon homologation and intramolecular azomethine imine 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is disclosed. The fused pyrazoles bearing aromatic and aliphatic substituents are obtained in good yields and excellent diastereomeric purity. Additionally, the synthetic utility of the pyrazole products generated by this method has been highlighted in a series of functionalization reactions. The method presented opens strategic opportunities for the synthesis of pyrazole-containing biologically active compounds.     

Some recent studies of the mechanisms of dehydration reactions of solids

Thermal Analysis, the central topic of this conference, is a technique that is widely used for the measurement of reaction rates and from which deductions can be made concerning the identity of the bond redistribution steps contributing to the chemical change being investigated. The mechanistic insights obtained from such studies enable us to identify the factors that determine reactivity and to understand theoretically the controls operating in chemical reactions. The present article points out, however, that kinetic data alone do not usually provide sufficient information to enable detailed identification of the sequence of steps through which reactants are converted into products.This review discusses recent research concerned with characterizing mechanisms within a group of solid state processes that has been the subject of extensive kinetic investigations (including thermal analyses): the dehydrations of crystalline hydrates. Conclusions from previous studies of reactions of this type have contributed extensively to the more general understanding of solid-state reactions. Here we discuss some mechanistic conclusions from a number of recent studies in the field and emphasize the value of complementing rate measurements with other relevant observations, including microscopic examinations of the textural modifications that accompany chemical changes.The sincere thanks of the author to all his collaborators cited in the reference list and to M. E. Brady for his helpful contributions during the preparation of this review.     

Accommodation of the actual solid-state process in the kinetic model function

The degree of coordination between the kinetic information from the thermonalytical measurements and the kinetic theory of the solid-state reactions was investigated through the microscopic study of the thermal dehydration of several inorganic salt hydrates. An accommodation function was applied to the conventional kinetic model functionsf(α), in an attempt to reduce the disagreement between the actual process and the idealized one assumed in formulatingf(α). The significance of the non-integral kinetic exponent in the kinetic model function was discussed with its physico-chemical meanings. In celebration of the 60^th birthday of Dr. Andrew K. Galwey     

Kinetic investigations on the photopolymerization of di- and tetrafunctional methacrylic monomers in polymeric matrices. ESR and calorimetric studies. II. Postpolymerization reactions

The reaction kinetics in the dark of photopolymerized mono- and dimethacrylates in a polymeric binder has been studied. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) provided useful information regarding the nature of the radicals involved in postpolymerization reactions. Computer simulations were performed to study the decay of the propagating radicals by considering normal bimolecular termination and transfer reactions of the radicals to the binder. Differences were found in the termination reactions for mono- and difunctional monomers when they were photopolymerized in a solid medium. Absolute kinetic constants for H-transfer reaction with the binder, relative kinetic rate constants for radical–radical coupling, and average lifetimes for the radicals have been calculated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2785–2791, 1998     

Convenient ‘one-pot’ synthesis of 3,4-substituted tetrahydrothiophenes through tandem Michael-Henry and Michael-Michael reactions

In situ generated nitro alkenes underwent tandem Michael-Henry and Michael-Michael sequences leading to the ‘one-pot’ formation of 3,4-substituted tetrahydrothiophenes using the commercially available 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol (the dimer of mercaptoacetaldehyde) or its 4-mercapto-2-butenoates derivatives as suitable bifunctional partners, respectively.     

Radical and Radical–Ionic Multicomponent Processes

All in one pot! Radical, radical–ionic, and radical–organometallic MCR are highly convergent processes, representing a useful pathway to molecular and structural diversity (see scheme). This concept article highlights recent developments in the field and shows the potential of the strategy for the economical elaboration of various kinds of organic substrates.

     

Aspects of the chemistry of 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

Mesylation and elimination from dimethyl 3-hydroxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2,8-dicarboxylate gave a conjugated alkenyl ester. Reduction of the mesyloxy ester by di-isobutylaluminium hydride was also accompanied by elimination giving an unsaturated aldehyde. Treatment of the mesylate of the corresponding monoprotected diol with potassium tert-butoxide gave a 2-unsubstituted alkene via a Grob fragmentation but a different alkene was obtained using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in acetonitrile. Epoxidation of both the protected hydroxy-alkene and the free hydroxy-alkene was stereoselective in favour of epoxidation from the exo-face, and ring-opening of the hydroxy-epoxide using hydrogen bromide gave the diaxial bromohydrin. Treatment of a 2-iodomethyl-3-oxo-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane with tert-butyllithium gave a cyclopropane, whereas the corresponding iodo-alcohol gave the 1-azatricyclo[5.3.0.0^4,10]decan-2-one as the major product.