Structural Distortion of Cycloalkynes Influences Cycloaddition Rates both by Strain and Interaction Energies

The reactivities of 2-butyne, cycloheptyne, cyclooctyne, and cyclononyne in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with methyl azide were evaluated through DFT calculations at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d)//M06-2X/6-31+G(d) level of theory. Computed activation free energies for the cycloadditions of cycloalkynes are 16.5–22.0 kcal mol⁻¹ lower in energy than that of the acyclic 2-butyne. The strained or predistorted nature of cycloalkynes is often solely used to rationalize this significant rate enhancement. Our distortion/interaction–activation strain analysis has been revealed that the degree of geometrical predistortion of the cycloalkyne ground-state geometries acts to enhance reactivity compared with that of acyclic alkynes through three distinct mechanisms, not only due to (i) a reduced strain or distortion energy, but also to (ii) a smaller HOMO–LUMO gap, and (iii) an enhanced orbital overlap, which both contribute to more stabilizing orbital interactions.     

Theoretical Study of 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Hydrazoic Acid to Substituted Ynamines

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of various substituted ynamines with hydrazoic acid were theoretically investigated with the high-accuracy CBS-QB3 method. Two regioisomers, 4-amine, and 5-amine substituted adducts, were obtained, with the former as the preferred yield. This regioselectivity is rationalized by the frontier molecular orbital theory. The reactivity and synchronicity are enhanced with the increase of the electron-withdrawing character of the substitute on ynamine fragment. The calculations also show that the effect of solvent increases the activation energy, and the reaction becomes even harder in polar solvent.     

Theory of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions: distortion/interaction and frontier molecular orbital models

Quantum chemical calculations of activation barriers and reaction energies for 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions by the high-accuracy CBS-QB3 method reveal previously unrecognized quantitative trends in activation barriers. The distortion/interaction model of reactivity explains why (1) there is a monotonic decrease of approximately 6 kcal/mol in the activation energy along the series oxides, imine, and ylide for the diazonium, nitrilium, and azomethine betaine classes of 1,3-dipoles; (2) nitrilium and azomethine betaines with the same trio of atoms have almost identical cycloaddition barrier heights; (3) barrier heights for the cycloadditions of a given 1,3-dipole with ethylene and acetylene have the same activation energies (mean absolute deviation of 0.6 kcal/mol) in spite of very different reaction thermodynamics (Delta DeltaH(rxn) range = 14-43 kcal/mol) and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energy gaps. The energy to distort the 1,3-dipole and dipolarophile to the transition state geometry, rather than FMO interactions or reaction thermodynamics, controls reactivity for cycloadditions of 1,3-dipoles with alkenes or alkynes. A distortion/interaction energy analysis was also carried out on the transition states for the cycloadditions of diazonium dipoles with a set of substituted alkenes (CH2CHX, X = OMe, Me, CO 2Me, Cl, CN) and reveals that FMO interaction energies between the 1,3-dipole and the dipolarophile differentiate reactivity when transition state distortion energies are nearly constant.     

To bend or not to bend! The dilemma of allenes

Allenes, though expected to be linear, are found to be bent in many examples, especially in the case of cyclic allenes. The bending of allene is attributed to the weakening of π-bond strength across the allene. However, tetrakis(dimethylamino)allene {((CH(3))N)(2)C═C═C(N(CH(3))(2))}, which is characterized by push-push interactions, has been shown to be linear, thus leading to doubts of the current understanding of the bent allenes. In this article, we report the ab initio MO/DFT, NBO based electronic structure analysis of R(2)C═C═CR(2) (R = H, NH(2)) with a gradual increase in the number of amino substituents. The results indicate that the allenic π-bond strength and bending potential decrease, with an increase in the amino substitution. Molecular orbital analysis provides necessary clues regarding the delicate balance between orthogonality of the π orbitals and the p orbitals on the central carbon, which dictates the bending potential of the allenes. The dilemma of to bend or not to bend is a unique feature of tetraaminoallenes (NH(2))(2)C═C═C(NH(2))(2) in comparison to isoelectronic heteroallenes (NH(2))(2)C═N═C(NH(2))(2)(+) and (NH(2))(2)C═B═C(NH(2))(2)(-).     

Asymmetric construction of 3-vinylidene-pyrrolidine derivatives containing allene moiety via Ag(I)/TF-BiphamPhos-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with diethyl 2-(3,3-diphenylpropa-1,2-dienylidene) malonate

Catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of various azomethine ylides with diethyl 2-(3,3-diphenylpropa-1,2-dienylidene)malonate has been developed successfully with good to excellent enantioselectivity for the effcient construction of 3-vinylidene-pyrrolidine derivatives containing a unique allene moiety.     

Regioselective intramolecular [3+2] annulation of allene-nitrones

The regioselective intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the phenylsulfonylallene-nitrone derivatives has been developed. This reaction showed that the distal double bond of the allene exclusively reacted with the nitrone group to produce the bicyclic isoxazolidine derivatives regardless of the substitution pattern on the allenyl moiety.     

Cover Picture

The cover picture shows a further example of the power of transition metal complexes in organic synthesis: the enantiopure imidozirconium complex, top left, reacts with 1,3- disubstituted racemic allenes (right) in a highly enantioselective, stepwise cycloaddition. Both the enantiomers of an allene react to give the same diastereopure azazirconacyclobutane complex, the structure of which is shown in the center of the picture as a space filling model with the molecular framework superimposed. The reaction with 1,2-propadiene (bottom center) releases the enantiopure allene from the metallacycle. The overall process couples kinetic resolution with the complete inversion of the absolute configuration of a 1,3-disubstituted allene. More about this unusual new method for enantiomer separation and enrichment is reported by R. G. Bergman et al. on page 2339 pp.     

Synthesis and reactivity of allenes substituted by selenenyl groups at 1- and 3-positions

1,3-Bis(methylseleno)- and 1,3-bis(benzylseleno)-1,3-diphenylpropadienes were synthesized by reaction of Ph(2)C(3) dianion, prepared from 1,3-diphenylpropyne and n-butyllithium, with dimethyl diselenide or benzylselenocyanate in the presence of TMEDA, and reaction of the dianion with a mixture of dimethyl diselenide and benzylselenocyanate yielded 1-benzylseleno-3-methylselenoallene along with the symmetric allenes. Diselenocyclic allenes and tetraselenocyclic bisallenes were also obtained by reacting the dianion with corresponding alkane diselenocyanates. The thermal reaction of the 1,3-bis(alkylseleno)allenes mainly afforded enediynes through radical pathway, and the nine-membered cyclic allene provided intramolecular cyclization product via an intramolecular rearrangement. Heating of the cyclic bisallenes gave compounds derived from intramolecular cyclization products together with a small amount of the enediynes. Irradiation of allenes caused rearrangement of the selenenyl group to give alkynes, and the alkynes also reacted photochemically to yield the enediynes.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition for selective synthesis of functionalized spiro[indoline-3,3'-pyrrolizines]

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of dimethyl hex-2-en-4-ynedioate with azomethine ylides derived from reaction of L-proline with various isatins in methanol selectively resulted in the formation of functionalized spiro[indoline-3,3'-pyrrolizine]acrylates as main products and spiro[indoline-3,3'-pyrrolizine]propiolates as minor products.This result indicated that the electron-deficient alkyne has higher reactivity than that of electron-deficient alkene in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of nonstabilized azomethine ylides to planar chalcones via regio- and stereoselective route: A three-component strategy

Simple and efficient strategies toward the synthesis of trisubstituted pyrrolizidines and disubstituted oxazolidine systems by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions using arylaldehydes and α-amino acids have been developed, followed by a one-pot, three-component strategy. Electron-deficient dipolarophiles, chalcones, were reacted with nonstabilized azomethine ylides derived from arylaldehyde and L-proline in dry dimethyl formamide, leading to substituted pyrrolizidines. The route to substituted oxazolidines involved cycloaddition to the C?O bond of a second molecule of the aldehyde. The structures and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts were established by infrared (IR), NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal x-ray crystallographic analyses. Condensed Fukui functions and local electrophilicity indices have been computed to characterize the reactive sites and predict the preferred interactions of azomethine ylides to planar chalcones. The softness-matching indices have been evaluated to determine the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition reactions. The theoretical predictions were found to be in complete agreement with the experimental results, implying that the density functional theory (DFT)-based reactivity indices correctly predict the regioselectivities of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine ylides to planar chalcones. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energies, electronic chemical potentials, chemical hardness, chemical softness, and global electrophilicity indices of azomethine ylides have been calculated at the DFT/B3LYP/6-31 + G (d, p) level of theory.     

A theoretical study on the regioselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions using DFT-based reactivity indexes

The regioselectivity for a series of four 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions has been studied using global and local reactivity indexes. The results of the theoretical analysis suggest that for asynchronous cycloadditions associated to polar processes, the regioselectivity is consistently explained by the most favorable two-center interactions between the highest nucleophilic and electrophilic sites of the reagents.     

A theoretical investigation of the regio- and stereoselectivities of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C-diethoxyphosphoryl-N-methylnitrone with substituted alkenes

A theoretical study of the regio- and stereoselectivities of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C-diethoxyphosphoryl-N-methylnitrone with substituted alkenes (allyl alcohol and methyl acrylate) is carried out using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The FMO analysis and DFT-based reactivity indices confirmed the experimental ortho regioisomeric pathway. Potential energy surface analysis shows that these 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions favor the formation of the ortho-trans cycloadduct in both cases. The obtained results are in agreement with experimental data.     

Structure and enhanced reactivity rates of the D5h Sc3N@C80 and Lu3N@C80 metallofullerene isomers: the importance of the pyracylene motif

In this paper we report enhanced reactivity of the D(5h) isomers in comparison with the more common I(h) isomers of Sc(3)N@C(80) and Lu(3)N@C(80) toward Diels-Alder and 1,3-dipolar tritylazomethine ylide cycloaddition reactions. Also, the structure of the D(5h) isomer of Sc(3)N@C(80) has been determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction on D(5h)-Sc(3)N@C(80).Ni(OEP).2benzene (OEP = octaethylporphyrin). The Sc(3)N portion of D(5h)-Sc(3)N@C(80) is strictly planar, but the plane of these four atoms is tipped out of the noncrystallographic, horizontal mirror plane of the fullerene by 30 degrees . The combination of short bond length and high degree of pyramidization for the central carbon atoms of the pyracylene sites situated along a belt that is perpendicular to the C(5) axis suggests that these are the sites of greatest reactivity in the D(5h) isomer of Sc(3)N@C(80). Consistent with the observation of higher reactivity observed for the D(5h) isomers, cyclic voltammetry and molecular orbital (MO) calculations demonstrate that the D(5h) isomers have slightly smaller energy gaps than those of the I(h) isomers. The first mono- and bis-adducts of D(5h) Sc(3)N@C(80) have been synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of tritylazomethine ylide. The NMR spectrum for the monoadduct 2b is consistent with reaction at the 6,6-ring juncture in the pyracylene unit of the D(5h) Sc(3)N@C(80) cage and is the thermodynamically stable isomer. On the other hand, monoadduct 2a undergoes thermal conversion to other isomeric monoadducts, and three possible structures are proposed.     

Regioselectivity in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of unsymmetric pyridinium dicyanomethylides with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and methyl propiolate: An example of dipole-dipole control of regioselectivity?

A study of the cycloaddition behavior of a series of unsymmetric pyridinium dicyanomethylides with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and methyl propiolate has been carried out. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition proceeds in good yield with high regioselectivity to produce the corresponding indolizines and 1:1 adducts. The reactions of isoquinolinium dicyanomethylide follow frontier orbital predictions. In contrast, polar 3-substituted pyridinium dicyanomethylides gave predominantly the corresponding 8-isomers regardless of the substituents. The results can be explained by dipole-dipole interactions.     

Cycloadditions of Oxacyclic Allenes and a Catalytic Asymmetric Entryway to Enantioenriched Cyclic Allenes

The chemistry of strained cyclic alkynes has undergone a renaissance over the past two decades. However, a related species, strained cyclic allenes, especially heterocyclic derivatives, have only recently resurfaced and represent another class of valuable intermediates. We report a mild and facile means to generate the parent 3,4‐oxacyclic allene from a readily accessible silyl triflate precursor, and then trap it in (4+2), (3+2), and (2+2) reactions to provide a variety of cycloadducts. In addition, we describe a catalytic, decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation performed on an α‐silylated substrate, to ultimately permit access to an enantioenriched allene. Generation and trapping of the enantioenriched cyclic allene occurs with complete transfer of stereochemical information in a Diels–Alder cycloaddition through a point‐chirality, axial‐chirality, point‐chirality transfer process.     

Stereoselective Rhodium‐Catalysed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Linear Allene–Ene/Yne–Allene Substrates: Reactivity and Theoretical Mechanistic Studies

Allene–ene–allene ( 2 and 5 ) and allene–yne–allene ( 3 and 7 ) N‐tosyl and O‐linked substrates were satisfactorily synthesised. The [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction catalysed by the Wilkinson catalyst [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] was evaluated. Substrates 2 and 5 , which bear a double bond in the central position, gave a tricyclic structure in a reaction in which four contiguous stereogenic centres were formed as a single diastereomer. The reaction of substrates 3 and 7 , which bear a triple bond in the central position, gave a tricyclic structure with a cyclohexenic ring core, again in a diastereoselective manner. All cycloadducts were formed by a regioselective reaction of the inner allene double bond and, therefore, feature an exocyclic diene motif. A Diels–Alder reaction on N‐tosyl linked cycloadducts 8 and 10 allowed pentacyclic scaffolds to be diastereoselectively constructed. The reactivity of the allenes on [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions was studied for the first time by density functional theory calculations. This mechanistic study rationalizes the order in which the unsaturations take part in the catalytic cycle, the reactivity of the two double bonds of the allene towards the [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction, and the diastereoselectivity of the reaction.     

Synthesis of fullerene building blocks bearing alkyne or azide groups and their subsequent functionalization by the copper mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

C₆₀ derivatives bearing either terminal alkyne or azide functional groups have been prepared and used as building blocks under the copper mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition conditions. In general, the reactivity of C₆₀ toward azides does not significantly compete with the cycloaddition leading to the desired 1,2,3-triazole derivatives and good yields can be obtained when fullerene derivatives with reasonable solubility are used as starting materials. The electrochemical properties of the new fullerene derivatives have also been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Osteryoung Square Wave Voltammetry (OSWV).     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Regioselective synthesis of heterocycles and theoretical studies

We report a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between a oxazolium 5-oxide derivative with chloroacrylonitrile or ethyl propiolate as dipolarophiles, in order to obtain substituted pyrrolizidines. Experimentally we found that the reaction is regiospecific with chloroacrylonitrile and regioselective with ethyl propiolate. The secondary attractive orbital interactions from the Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory, the differences in stability of the possible biradical intermediaries postulated for the reaction and some hindrance effects, explain the regioselectivity observed experimentally.     

Special features of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of n-methylazomethinylid to nitrobenzazoles

Synthetic approaches to 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-methylazomethinylid to mononitrobenzazole are described. The geometric and electronic structures have been studied by quantum chemical methods (HF/STO-3 G and B3LYP/6-31 G*) and the reactivity indexes of compounds have been estimated. It was shown that 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-methylazomethinylid to the dipolarophile has a polar character and proceeds in accordance with the normal (noninversion) electronic distribution.