Interaction between Exocyclic s-cis-Butadiene and Homoconjugated Functions. Preparation and Diels-Alder Reactivity of Remotely Substituted 2,3-Dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octanes

The preparations of 5,6-dimethylidene-2exo-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol ( 8 ), its endo isomer 9 , 5,6-dimethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 10 ) and 2 exo, 3 exo-epoxy-5,6dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octane ( 11 ) are described. The kinetics of their cycloaddition to tetracyanoethylene has been measured in toluene at 25° together with those of 2,3-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octane ( 7 ) and 5,6-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (12). The effects of remote substitution on the Diels-Alder reactivity of 2,3-dimethyl idenebicyclo[2.2.2]octanes are compared with those observed in the 2,3-dimethylidenenorbornane series ( 1–6 ).     

The Circular Dichroism of 5,6-Dimethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.n]alky Esters. Chiral Exciton Coupling between Benzoate and Exocyclic s-cis-Butadiene Chromophores

The optically pure aryl-substituted 5,6-dimethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl benzoates 12–21 were prepared; their UV absorption and CD spectra are reported. The (?)-(1S,2S)-esters 17–21 with carbonyl groups in endo-position exhibit typical excitonsplit Cotton effects whereas the corresponding (?)-(1S,2R)-esters 12 - 16 with carbonyl groups in exo-position do not present such effects. The chiral exciton coupling between the exocyclic diene and a remote p-substituted benzoate chromophore can be used for unambiguous assignment of the absolute configuration of 5,6-dimethylidene-2-endo-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl derivatives. The method is applied to establish the absolute configuration of 5,6-dimethylidene-2-exo and -2-endo-bicyclo[2.2.2.]octyl p-bromobenzoates (?)- 24 and (?)- 25 .     

Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Additions of 2-Substituted 5,6-bis((E)-chloromethylidene)bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes

The preparation of 5,6-bis((E)-chlorommethylidene)bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene ( 13 ), 2,3-bis((E)-chloromethyl idene)-5exo,6exo- and -5endo,6endo-epoxybicyclo[2.2.2] octane ( 14 and 15 ), 5,6-bis((E)-chloromethylidene)-2exo- and -2endo-bicyclo[2.2.2] octanol ( 16 and 17 ) and 5,6-bis((E)-chloromethylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 18 ) are described. The face selectivity (endo-face vs. exo-face attack onto the exo-cyclic diene) of their cycloadditions to tetracyanoethylene has been determined in benzene at 20°. It is 78/22, 80/20, 60/40, 68/32, 3/97 and 30/70 for 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 and 18 , respectively.     

Interactions between Oxygen Lone-Pair Orbitals and Double-Bond π-Orbitals in β,γ-Unsaturated,Bicyclic Ketones; a PE-Spectroscopic Investigation

The HE(Iα) photoelectron (PE) spectra of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanone ( 12 ), 5,6-dimethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanone ( 14 ), 5,6-dimethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 16 ), and 5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 17 ) have been recorded, Comparison with the PE data of other β,γ-unsaturated ketones and parent alkenes, and with the result of ab initio STO-3G calculations, confirm the existence of significant interactions between the oxygen lone-pair orbital n_o and the double-bond π orbital(s). It is argued that the major contributions to the basis energy shifts and to the cross term between the n_o and π orbitals are due to a ‘through-bond’ mechanism.     

Exo- und endo-Tricarbonyleisenkomplexe von bicyclischen 2,3-Dimethylidenverbindungen

Exo- and endo-Tricarbonyliron Complexes of Bicyclic 2,3-Dimethylidene Compounds. The preparation of exo- and endo-tricarbonyliron complexes (exo- and endo- 5 , -6 , -8 , and 9 ) of 2,3-dimethylidene-5-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene( 1 ), -bicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane ( 2 ), -5-bicyclo[2.2.2]octene ( 3 ) and -bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ( 4 ) is described. The complexes are obtained by thermal reaction of the bicyclic butadienes with di-ironenneacarbonyl in hexane solution. exo- and endo- 5 are also formed photochemically from ironpentacarbonyl and 1 in pentane solution at ?35°. The structural assignment of exo- and endo -5 and -6 is based on their mass-spectra and on coordination shifts in ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR.-spectra exo- and endo -6 are correlated with exo- and endo -5 , respectively, by hydrogenation. Hydrogenation of the uncomplexed double bond in exo- and endo -5 occurs in both complexes from the exo side as shown by deuteration experiments. The free ligand 1 reacts in the same stereospecific manner.     

Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactivity of 5,6,7,8-Tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol and -octanone. Selective Oxidations of the Corresponding Bis(irontricarbonyl) Complexes

Hydroboration of the syn, anti-[Fe(CO)₃]₂ double complex 24 of the readily available 5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octene ( 22 ) gave the corresponding doubly complexed 2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol 25. CrO₃-oxidation furnished ketone 27 . The syn-Fe(CO)₃-groups in 25 and 27 were oxidized selectively with trimethyl-amine oxide and yielded the corresponding anti-Fe(CO₃)-monocomplexed tetraenes 26 and 28. The anti-Fe(CO)₃-group in 28 could be removed, and 5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 11 ) was obtained. NaBH₄-reduction of 11 afforded tetraenol 10. TCE-cycloadditions to 10 and 11 (k₁) were at least 10 times as fast as those (k₂) to the corresponding monoadducts 35/36 and 34 , respectively. This Diels-Alder reactivity difference vanishes (k₁ ≈ k₂) with methyl propynoate. The latter dienophile added to the anti-Fe(CO)₃-monocomplexed tetraenone 28 with ‘para’-regioselectivity.     

1H and 13C NMR study of the effects exerted by an oxirane ring in the epoxybicyclo-[2.2.2]octane series

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of 2,3-disubstituted exo-5,6- and endo-5,6-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, and the corresponding alkanes, have been investigated to determine the effects exerted by an oxirane ring. The ¹H NMR study showed that the anti protons, H-7a and H-8a, are significantly shielded and the syn protons, H-7s and H-8s, are deshielded, although to a smaller extent, by the exo-oxirane. An endo-oxirane has practically no effect on the same protons. The stereochemistry of epoxybicyclo[2.2.2]octanes is, thus, easily deduced from ¹H NMR data. The ¹³C NMR study of the epoxy compounds provided an estimate of the value of α, β, γ syn and γ anti effects (to the epoxide oxygen) of an oxirane ring. In these rigid bicyclic molecules, of known geometry, the γ syn and the γ anti effects are of the same value, even though the dihedral angles are very different (0° and 120°).     

Cyclodimerization of 1-(Dimethoxyniethyl)-5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene Induced by Nonacarbonyldiiron. Crystal Structure of (1RS, 2SR, 3RS, 4RS, 4aRS, 9aSR)- Tricarbonyl[C, 2,3, C-η-(1,4-epoxy-1,5-bis(dimethoxymethyl)-2,3-dimethylidene-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene)]iron

The transition-metal-carbonyl-induced cyclodimerization of 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene is strongly affected by substitution at C(1) While 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept–2-ene-l-methanol ( 7 ) refused to undergo [4 + 2]-cyclodimerization in the presence of [Fe₂(CO)⁹] in MeOH, 1-(dimethoxymethyl)-5,6-di-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ( 8 ) led to the formation of a 1.7:1 mixture of ‘trans’ ( 19, 21, 22 ) vs. ‘cis’ ( 20, 23, 24 ) products of cyclodimerization together with tricarbonyl[C, 5,6, C-η-(l-(dimethoxymethyl)-5,6-di-methylidenecyclohexa-1,3-diene)]iron ( 25 ) and tricarbonyl[C,3,4, C-η-(methyl 5-(dimethoxymethyl)-3,4-di-methylidenecyclohexa-1,5-diene-l-carboxylate)]iron ( 26 ). The structures of products 19 and of its exo ( 21 ) and endo ( 22 ) [Fe(CO)₃(1,3-diene)]complexes) and 20 (and of its exo ( 23 ) and endo (24) (Fe(CO)₃(1,3-diene)complexes) were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies of crystalline (1RS, 2SR, 3RS, 4RS, 4aRS, 9aSR)-tricarbonyl[C, 2,3, C-η-(1,4-epoxy-1,5-bis(dimethoxymethyl])-2,3-dimethylidene-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene)iron ( 21 ). In the latter, the Fe(CO)₃(1,3-diene) moiety deviates significantly from the usual local C_s symmetry. Complex 21 corresponds to a ‘frozen equilibrium’ of rotamers with η-alkyl, η³-allyl bonding mode due to the acetal unit at the bridgehead centre C(1).     

The Acetolysis of exo- and endo-5,6-Dimethylidene-2-Norbornyl p-Bromobenzenesulfonates and of their Optically Active and Deuterium-Labelled Derivatives

The buffered (AcOK) acetolyses of exo, (11) and endo-5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (12) yielded exo5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl (16) and (3-methylidene-2-nortricyclyl)methyl acetates (18) . Endo-5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl (17) and 2-methylidene-3-tricyclo [3.2.1.0^3,6]octyl acetates (20) could not be detected. The titrimetric rate constants of the acetolysis of 11 (k_t(exo)=4.49 ± 0.02) · 10^?5 s^?1 at 25°, ΔH^≠=23.6 ±0.7 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=0.7 ±2 calmol^?1 K^?1 and 12 (k_t(endo)=1.9 ±0.08) · 10^?9 s^?1 at 25°, ΔH^≠=27 ±1 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=-8 ±2.5 calmol^?1 K^?1) were measured and compared with the polarimetric rate constants (k_α/k_(exo)=6.8 at 25°,(k_α/k_(exo)=1.0 at 121°) of the buffered acetolyses of the optically active brosylates (+)- 11 and (+)- 12 . Neither a common-ion (KOBs) nor a special ion effect (LiClO₄) on k_t(endo) could be detected, although external return might well intervene as some exo-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl tosylate (21) was formed upon solvolysis in the presence of KOTs. Acetolysis of (+)- 11 yielded completely racemized products, whereas (+)- 12 led to incomplete racemization. The buffered acetolysis of exo-(3exo-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (24) furnished (3exo-D)-( 26 :37.5%), exo-(7syn-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (27 : 37.5%) and [(5anti-D)-3-methylidene-2-nortricyclyl]methyl acetates (28 : 25 %). The acetolysis of endo-(2exo-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (25) yielded (2endo-D)-( 29 : 54%), exo-(1-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl ( 30 : 36%) and [(6-D)-3-methylidene-2-nortricyclyl]methyl acetates ( 31 : 10%). Product analysis and deuterium label distribution was established by a combination of GC., ¹H-NMR., ²H-{¹H}-NMR. and MS. techniques. The results are rationalized by invoking anchimerically assisted ionization of the exo-brosylate 11 to symmetrical ion-pairs (cyclopropylcarbinyl cation intermediates) which undergo internal (and probably also external) return. Acetolysis of the endo-brosylate 12 is not anchimerically assisted and leads initially to non-symmetrical ion pairs. These evolve to symmetrical ion pair intermediates or, to a minor extent, are intercepted by solvent.     

Circular Dichroism of Tricarbonyl(diene)iron Complexes. The Octant Rule Applied to Ketones Perturbed by Remote Fe(CO)3 Groups. Crystal Structure of (±)-Tricarbonyl[(1RS,4RS,5RS,6SR)-C5,6,C-η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone)]iron

The preparation and the CD spectra of optically pure (+)-trans-μ-[(1R,4S,5S,6R,7R,8S)-C,5,6,C -η : C,7,8,C-η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo [2.2.2]octanone)]bis(tricarbonyliron) ((+)- 7 ) and (+)-tricarbonyl[(1S,4S,5S,6R)-C-5,6,C-η-(5,6,7,8,-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone)]iron ((+)- 8 ), and of its 3-deuterated derivatives (+)-trans-μ-[(1R,3R,4S,5S,6R,7R,8S)-C,5,6,C-η : C,7,8,C-η-5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene(3-D)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]-(octanone)]bis(tricarbonyliron) ((+)- 11 ) and (+)-tricarbonyl[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-C-5,6,C- η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene(3-D)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone)]iron ((+)- 12 ) are reported. The chirality in (+)- 7 and (+)- 8 is due to the Fe(CO)₃ moieties uniquely. The signs of the Cotton effects observed for (+)- 7 and (+)- 8 obey the octant rule (ketone n→π*_CO transition). Optically pure (?)-3R-5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene(3-D)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ((?)- 10 ) was prepared. Its CD spectrum showed an ‘anti-octant’ behaviour for the ketone n→π*_CO transition of the deuterium substituent. The CD spectra of the alcoholic derivatives (?)-trans-μ-[(1R,2R,4S, 5S,6R,7R,8S)-C,5,6,C-η : C,7,8,C- η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol)]bis(tricarbonyliron) ((?)- 2 ) and (?)-tricarbonyl- [(1S,2R,4S,5S,6R)- C,5,6,C- η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol)]iron ((?)- 3 ) and of the 3-denterated derivatives (?)- 5 and (?)- 6 are also reported. The CD spectra of the complexes (?)- 2 , (?)- 3 , (+)- 7 , and (+)- 8 were solvent and temperature dependent. The ‘endo’-configuration of the Fe(CO)₃ moiety in (±)- 8 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Control of Diels-Alder Addition,Stereo- and Regioselectivity by Remote Substituents and Tricarbonyl(diene)iron Moieties

A stereoselective synthesis of tricarbonyl-[((1RS,2RS,4RS,5RS,6RS)-C-5,6,C-η-(5,6,7,8,-tetramethylidenbicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ol)]iron ( 11 ),and of its tosylate 12 and benzoate 13 is reported. The bulk of the ‘endo’-Fe(CO))³ moiety and of the ester groups in 13 renders its Diels-Alder additions to methyl propynoate ( 15 )), butynone ( 16 ), and 1-cyanovinyl acetate highly ‘para’ regioselective. The cycloadditions of diene-alcohol 11 are either ‘meta’- or ‘para’-regioselective depending on the nature of the dienophile. In the presence of BF ₃. Et ₂O, the addition of 11 to methyl vinyl ketone is highly stereo- (Alder mode) and ‘para’-regioselective, giving adduct 52 (tricarbonyl [((1 RS,4RS,8RS,9RS,10RS,12RS)-C,9,10,C-η-(12-hydroxy-9,10-dimethylidenetricyclo[6.2.2.0^2,7]dodec-2(7)-en-4 yl methyl ketone)]iron) whose structure has been established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Chemo- and Stereoselective Coordination of 5,6-Dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene by d8- and d6-Metal Carbonyls. Diels-Alder reactivity of Dienes Perturbed by Remote Olefin Complexation

The endocyclic double bond C(2), C(3) in 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene ( 1 ) can he coordinated selectively on its exo-face before complexation of the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety. Irradiation of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ or Os₃(CO)₁₂ in the presence of 1 gave tetracarbonyl [(1R,2R, 3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene)]ruthenium ( 6 ) or -osmium ( 8 ). Similarly, irradiation of Cr(CO)₆ or W(CO)₆ in the presence of 1 gave pentacarbonyl[(1R, 2R, 3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]chromium (10) or -tungsten (11) . Irradiation of complexes 6 and 11 in the presence of 1 led to further CO substitution giving bed-tricarbonyl-ae-bis[(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]ruthenium ( 7 ) and trans-tetracarbonyl[(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]tungsten (12) , respectively. The diosmacyclobutane derivative cis-m?-[(1R,3R,3S,4S)-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,3-diyl)]bis(tetracarbonyl-osmium) (Os-Os) (9) wa also obtained. The Diels-Alder reactivity of the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety in complexs 7 and 8 was found to be significantly higher than that of the free triene 1 .     

Face selectivity of the Diels-Alder additions and cheletropic additions of sulfur dioxide to 2- vinyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives

Racemic 6-ethenyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 23 ), 5-ethenyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 25 ) and their ethylene acetals 24 and 26 , respectively, were derived from the Diels-Alder adduct of furan to 1-cyanovinyl acetate ( 27 ). The Diels-Alder additions of 26 to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, to methyl propynoate, to N-phenylmaleimide, and to methyl acrylate were highly exo-face selective, as were the cycloadditions of methyl propynoate to dienones 23 and 25 and of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to ethylenedioxy-diene 24 . The cheletropic additions of SO₂ to 23 – 26 gave exclusively the corresponding sulfolenes 57 – 60 resulting from the exo-face attack of the semicyclic dienes under conditions of kinetic and thermodynamic control.     

Ironcarbonyl Complexes of 5,6-Dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene Derivatives. Synthesis of Substituted Tricarbonyl(ortho-quinodimethane)iron Complexes and 2-Indanones

The l-dimethoxymethyl-5,6-dimethyldene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ( 9 ) has been prepared. On treatment with Fe₂(CO)₉, the endocyclic double bond C(2)?C(3) was coordinated first giving the corresponding exo-Fe(CO)₄ complex 10 . The latter reacted with Fe₂(CO)₉ and afforded cis-heptacarbonyl-μ-[1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS,6SR-2,3-η: C5,6,C-η-(1-(dimethoxymethyl)-5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]diiron ( 11 ) as a major product. On heating, 11 underwent deoxygenation of the 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene moiety yielding tricarbonyl[C,5,6,C-η-(1-(dimethoxymethyl)-5,6-dimethylidenecyclohexa-1,3-diene)]iron ( 13 ). In MeOH, a concurrent, regioselective methoxycarbonylation was observed giving tricarbonyl[C,3,4,C-η-(methyl 5-(dimethoxymethyl)-3,4-dimethylidenecyclohexa-1,5-diene-1-carboxylate)]iron ( 14 ). Oxidative removal of the Fe(CO)₃ moiety in 13 and 14 did not afford the expected ortho-quinodimethane derivatives but led to CO insertions giving 2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1Hindene-4-carbaldehyde ( 20 ) and methyl 7-formyl-2-3-dihydro-2-oxo-lH-indene-5-carboxylate ( 21 ), respectively.     

Crystal and Molecular Structure of Tricarbonyl-[(1R*, 4S*, 4aS*, 9aR*)-1,4-epoxy-2, 3-dimethylidene-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene]iron

The thermal cyclodimerization of 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene assisted by Fe₂ (CO)₉ gives the title complex 1 , a precursor for the synthesis of antitumoral anthracyclinones. The crystal structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction: a = 11.188 (1); c = 26.968 (3) Å; space group tetragonal, P4₁2₁2, Z = 8; R = 0.041; R_W = 0.033. The tricarbonyliron group is in the exo-position and the coordination polyhedron is tetragonal pyramidal. The NMR coupling constants are well-related to the observed dihedral angles between the non-aromatic protons and now give a reliable criterion for assigning the stereochemistry of the metal in d⁸-complexes of 2,3-dimethylidene-7-oxanorbornane derivatives.     

Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Reaction of Hexadienone Moieties Grafted onto the Bicyclo[2.2.2]octene Skeleton and Perturbed by a Remote Tricarbonylbutadieneiron Group

Selective oxidations of bis(tricarbonyliron) complexes of methyl (3,7,8-trimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ylidene)methyl ketones 15 – 17 afforded selectively the tricarbonyl {(1RS,4SR,7SR,8RS)-C,7,8,C-η-[methyl (3,7,8-trimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-(2Z)-2-ylidene)methyl ketone]}iron ( 12 ), the corresponding (2E)-derivative 13 and the tricarbonyl{(1RS,2RS,3SR,4SR)-C,2,3,C-η-[methyl (3,7,8-trimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-(2Z)-2-ylidene)methyl ketone]}iron ( 18 ). The stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder reactions of the uncomplexed (Z)- and (E)-hexadienone 12 and 13 , respectively, was established. The face of the diene syn with respect to the C(5), C(6) etheno bridge was preferred for the cycloadditions of N-phenyltriazolinedione (NPTAD). In contrast, the reactions of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) and methyl propynoate showed a slight preference for addtion to the face of the hexadienones anti with respect to the etheno bridges of 12 and 13 . The crystal structure of the adduct 25 resulting from the cycloaddition of NPTAD to 12 is reported.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of bi- and tricycloalkanes at 299 ± 2 K: Effects of ring strain

Relative rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of bi- and tricyclic alkanes have been determined at 299 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of OH radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane of 7.57 × 10^?12 cm³/molec·s, the rate constants obtained are (× 10¹² cm³/molec·s): bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 5.53 ± 0.15; bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 14.8 ± 1.0; bicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 11.1 ± 0.6; cis-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 17.3 ± 1.3; trans-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 17.8 ± 1.3; cis-bicyclo[4.4.0]decane, 20.1 ± 1.4; trans-bicyclo[4.4.0]decane, 20.6 ± 1.2; tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decane, 11.4 ± 0.4; and tricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane, 23.2 ± 2.1. These data show that overall ring strain energies of ?4–5 kcal mol^?1 have no significant effect on the rate constants, but that larger ring strain results in the rate constants being decreased, relative to those expected for the strain-free molecules, by ratios which increase approximately exponentially with the overall ring strain.     

NMR isotope shifts in the 2-methyl-2-bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl cation and related systems

NMR isotope shifts at ¹³C nuclei due to deuteriation in the 2-methyl-2-bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl cation are reported. Comparisons are made to the 2-methyl-2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl and 2-methyl-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl cations, and also to neutral molecules containing the bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl framework. The combination of isotope effects with temperature dependence of ¹³C chemical shifts allows predictions of the shapes of the energy surfaces along the bending coordinate corresponding to bridging in these cations.     

Conformational Analysis of Endoperoxides Grafted onto Bicyclo[2.2.n]alkanes as a Test of the Rigidity of the Bicyclic Skeleton. Photo-oxidation of [2.2.2] Hericene and 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.n]alkanes

The photo-oxidation of [2.2.2]hericene ( 6 ) gave successively the endoperoxides 11 (9,10,11,12-tetramethylidene-4,5-dioxatricyclo[6.2.2.0^2,7]dodec-2(7)-ene), the bis-endoperoxide 16 (15,16-dimethylidene-4,5,11,12-tetraoxatetracyclo[6.6.2.0^2,7.o^9,14]hexadeca-2(7),9(14)-diene), and the tris-endoperoxide 19 (4,5,11,12,17,18-hexaoxapentacyclo[6.6.6.0^2,7.0^9,14.0^15,20]icosa-2(7),9(14),15(20)-triene). The endoperoxides 11, 16 , and 19 were formed in the presence or in the absence of a dye sensitizer. The sensitized photo-oxidations of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octane ( 4 ), 5,6,7,8-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene ( 5 ), 2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane ( 7 ), and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( 8 ) gave successively the corresponding mono-endoperoxides 9, 10, 12 , and 13 and the bis-endoperoxides 14, 15, 17 , and 18 , respectively. Low-temperature NMR spectra of the bis-endoperoxides 14 and 16 indicated that their C₂ and C_s conformers have the same stability. Similarly, there was no difference in the enthalpy of the D₃ and C₂ conformers of the tris-endoperoxide 19 . The following reactivity sequence was observed for the sensitized photo-oxidations of 6–8 and 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ( 23 ): 6 + ¹O₂→ 11 > 7 + ¹O₂→ 12 > 8 + ¹O₂→ 13 > 23 + ¹O₂→ 24 , a trend parallel with that reported for the ethylenetetracarbonitrile (TCNE) cycloadditions to the same polyenes. The rate-constant ratios k₁/k₂ and k₂/k₃ for the three successive photo-oxidations of [2.2.2]hericene ( 6 ) did not differ significantly from unity, in contrast with the Diels-Alder additions of 6 . Similarly, the rate-constant ratios k₁/k₂ for the two successive photo-oxidations of tetraenes 7 and 8 were significantly smaller than those reported for the successive TCNE cycloadditions to 7 to 8 . The endoperoxide formations are not sensitive to the change in the exothermicity of the reactions but they are sensitive to the electronic properties (IP's) of the polyenes.     

Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Reaction of 5,6-Bis((D)methylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octene

The face selectivity (endo-face vs. exo-face attack onto the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety) of the [4+2]cycloadditions of 5,6-bis((D)methylidene)-2-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octene ( 11 ) to strong dienophiles has been determined in benzene at 25°. It is ca. 95/5, 75/5, 70/30, 60/40 and 50/50 for N-phenyltriazolinedione (NPTAD), tetracyanoethylene (TCE), dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), maleic anhydride (MA) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂), respectively. The endo-face preference is probably due to a participation of the homoconjugated double bond at C(2), C(3) which makes the etheno bridge more polarizable than the ethano bridge in 11. The absence of face selectivity with ¹O₂ is consistent with an entropy-controlled mechanism involving the intermediacy of an exciplex.