A comparative mechanistic study of Cu-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions with N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline

A comparative mechanistic study of Cu-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline with different nucleophiles was conducted. Two previously reported combinations of catalyst and oxidant were studied, CuCl(2)·2H(2)O/O(2) and CuBr/tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). On the basis of a synthetic study with different nucleophiles, the electrophilicity of the intermediate iminium ion was estimated and differences between the two methods were revealed. The key intermediate in the aerobic method is shown to be an iminium ion, formed through oxidation by copper(II), which can react with any nucleophile of sufficient reactivity. The role of oxygen is the reoxidation of the reduced catalyst. In the CuBr/TBHP system, an α-amino peroxide is proposed as a true intermediate within the catalytic cycle, formed from the amine and TBHP by a Cu-catalyzed radical reaction pathway and acting as a precursor to the iminium ion intermediate.     

Reactivity of haloalkanes in their reactions with the chlorine atom

Experimental kinetic data on reactions of the chlorine atom with halogenated derivatives of methane and ethane (37 reactions) have been analyzed by the intersecting-parabolas method. The following five factors have an effect on the activation energy of these reactions: the enthalpy of reaction, triplet repulsion, the electronegativities of the reaction center atoms, the dipole–dipole and multidipole interactions between the reaction center and polar groups, and the effect of π electrons in the vicinity of the reaction center. The increments characterizing the contribution from each factor to the activation energy of the reaction have been calculated. The contribution from the polar interaction, ΔE _μ, to the activation energy depends on the dipole moment of the polar group and obeys the following empirical equation: ln(Δ_{E μ}/Σμ) = ?0.74 + 0.87(ΔE _μ/Σμ) ? 0.084(ΔE _μ/Σμ)².     

Synthesis and reactions of a stable 1,2-diaryl-1,2-dibromodisilene: a precursor for substituted disilenes and a 1,2-diaryldisilyne

Synthesis and isolation of the stable diaryldibromodisilene, Bbt(Br)SiSi(Br)Bbt, has been accomplished for the first time. The dibromodisilene underwent substitution reactions with organometallic reagents on the low-coordinated silicon atom to afford the corresponding substituted disilenes. Furthermore, the reaction of 1 with t-BuLi afforded the corresponding 1,2-diaryldisilyne, BbtSi[triple bond]SiBbt, the characters of which were revealed by spectroscopic and crystallographic analyses.     

Practical synthesis and mechanistic study of polysubstituted tetrahydropyrimidines with use of domino multicomponent reactions

The practical synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydropyrimidines 4 from but-2-ynedioates 1, amines 2, and formaldehyde 3 through a domino process of one-pot multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and the detailed mechanistic studies are described. The MCRs were performed under extremely mild reaction conditions and offered the desired products in excellent yields. The detailed studies on the mechanism of the MCRs proved that: (1) the proton-promoted domino sequence is composed of hydroamination, aza-ene-type reaction, nucleophilic addition, and dehydration-cyclization; (2) solvents could control the hydroamination stereoselectivity of 1 and 2: Z-isomers in proton solvents with Z/E up to 95:5 and E-isomers in non-proton solvents with E/Z up to 98:2, and Z-isomers are more stable than E-isomers; (3) Z- and E-enamine intermediates led to the same desired products via aza-ene-type reaction model. Calculations verified the aza-ene-type process in the MCRs.     

The initial stages of solid acid-catalyzed reactions of adsorbed propane. A mechanistic study by in situ MAS NMR

In situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy was employed to study the kinetics of hydrogen/deuterium exchange and scrambling as well as (13)C scrambling reactions of labeled propane over Al(2)O(3)-promoted sulfated zirconia (SZA) catalyst under mild conditions (30-102 degrees C). Three competitive pathways of isotope redistribution were observed during the course of the reaction: (1) a regioselective H/D exchange between acidic protons of the solid surface and the deuterons of the methyl group of propane-1,1,1,3,3,3-d(6), monitored by in situ (1)H MAS NMR; (2) an intramolecular H/D scrambling between methyl deuterons and protons of the methylene group, without exchange with the catalyst surface, monitored by in situ (2)H MAS NMR; (3) a intramolecular (13)C scrambling, by skeletal rearrangement process, favored at higher temperatures, monitored by in situ (13)C MAS NMR. The activation energy of (13)C scrambling was estimated to be very close to that of (2)H scrambling, suggesting that these two processes imply a common transition state, responsible for both vicinal hydride migration and protonated cyclopropane formation. All pathways are consistent with a classical carbenium ion-type mechanism.     

Theoretical study of halophilic reactions of stable silylenes with chloro- and bromocarbons

A theoretical study of the mechanism of the reaction of stable silylenes with halocarbons has been carried out using the B3LYP density functional method. The main findings are as follows: (1) Lewis acid-base complexes formed between silylenes and halocarbons do not play a role in silylene insertion chemistry into halocarbons; therefore, the acid-base complex mechanism proposed by West et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 4186) is not appropriate to describe the disilane formation reaction. (2) The disilane formation reactions follow the energetically favorable general reaction pathway (X = halogen): (i) Y2Si: + HCX3 --> TS1 --> Y2XSi-CHX2. (ii) Y2Si: + Y2XSi-CHX2 --> TS2 --> Y2XSi-SiY2CHX2. (3) The observed preference of stable silylenes to undergo C-X bond insertion rather than C-H bond has been investigated. The theoretical findings suggest that this preference is a result of the thermodynamic factor. (4) Stable silylenes prefer to insert into a C-Br rather than a C-Cl bond because the energy barrier to insertion is lower, and the reaction is more exothermic.     

Effect of cyano group substitution on metathetical reactions. IV. Substituent effects on the rates of cyanomethyl radical reaction with haloalkanes

Gamma radiation-induced free radical chain reactions in liquid mixtures of BrCH₂CN, eyelohexane (RH), and haloalkanes (XCCl₃) were studied. The kinetics of hydrogen and chlorine atom abstraction from CHCl₃, CH₃CCl₃, CH₂ClCCl₃, CHCl₂CCl₃, CF₃CCl₃, C₂Cl₆, CCl₃CN, and CCl₄ by CH₂CN radicals were investigated by a competitive method. The reactions investigated were Rate constant ratios k₃/k₂, k₅/k₆, k₇/k₂, and k₃/k₇ were determined at 180°C. In the CCl₄? RH? BrCH₂CN system k₃/k₂ was determined in the temperature range of 100–180°C, yielding log k₂ k₃ = ?0.11 ± 0.2 ?(3.34 ± 0.39/θ): where θ = 2.3RT in kcal/mol. The value E₂? E₃ was combined with existing data on E₃ to yield E₂(CCl₄) = 17.57 kcal/mol. The reactivity trend of CH₂CN is compared with that of R radicals. It is shown that in spite of a difference of about four orders of magnitude in k_Cl values, the reactive cyclohexyl radical is somewhat more selective than CH₂CN. It is proposed that the relative reactivities log[k₂(XCCl₃)/k₂(CH₃CCl₃)] can be correlated in terms of a dual-parameter Taft equation which takes into account both resonance and inductive substituent effects.     

Photodecarbonylation of alpha-diketones: a mechanistic study of reactions leading to acenes

Poly(acene)s are significant compounds for various electronic applications. A clean, one-step synthesis involves alpha-diketones (2-4), which undergo facile Strating-Zwanenburg photodecarbonylation producing the corresponding poly(acene)s (i.e., anthracene, hexacene, and heptacene, respectively). Compounds 2-4 show weak fluorescence (lambdaF=approximately 525-530 nm and PhiF=approximately 0.1-0.4%) and phosphorescence (lambdaPh=approximately 565-570 nm) and have a small singlet-triplet energy gap (S1-T1 gap, approximately 4 kcal/mol) that facilitates rapid intersystem crossing from the singlet to the triplet state. Both the singlet states (tauS=approximately 20-218 ps) and the triplet states (tauT=approximately 370 ps to <7 ns) of 2-4 are short-lived, while the decarbonylation of 2-4 is a rapid process occurring within 7 ns from both the singlet and the triplet manifolds. The nanosecond laser flash photolysis of 4 also reveals the T-T absorption of heptacene (580 nm, tau=approximately 11 micros).     

Reaction of methyl radicals with haloalkanes

The kinetics of reactions involving halogen atom abstraction from haloalkanes by methyl radicals have been studied in the gas phase. Arrhenius parameters for halogen atom transfer were determined relative to those for methyl radical combination:

Rate constants and atmospheric lifetimes for the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with haloalkanes

Rate constants for the reactions of Cl atoms and OH radicals with haloalkanes were measured using the relative rate technique. From these values the atmospheric lifetimes of the organics with respect to Cl atoms and OH radicals were calculated. Cl atoms were produced by the photolysis of chlorine gas, and photolysis of methyl nitrite was the source of OH radicals. The rate constants were measured for a series of brominated and chlorinated alkanes for which measurements have not yet been reported excepting: k(Cl + 1-chloropropane) and k(OH + 1-chloropropane, 2-chloropropane, and bromoethane). The organics studied were 1-chloropropane, 2-chloropropane, 1,3 dichloropropane, 2-chloro 2methylpropane, bromoethane, 1-bromopropane, 2-bromopropane, 1-bromobutane, 1-bromopentane, and 1-bromohexane. Cl atom reactions were measured at 298 K, the OH radical reactions were measured at temperatures between 298–308 K. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A kinetic and mechanistic study of the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with 3,3,3-trifluoropropanol under atmospheric conditions

Product distribution studies of the OH radical and Cl atom initiated oxidation of CF3CH2CH2OH in air at 1 atm and 298 +/- 5 K have been carried out in laboratory and outdoor atmospheric simulation chambers in the presence and absence of NOx. The results show that CF3CH2CHO is the only primary product and that the aldehyde is fairly rapidly removed from the system. In the absence of NOx the major degradation product of CF3CH2CHO is CF3CHO, and the combined yields of the two aldehydes formed from CF3CH2CH2OH are close to unity (0.95 +/- 0.05). In the presence of NOx small amounts of CF3CH2C(O)O2NO2 were also observed (<15%). At longer reaction times CF3CHO is removed from the system to give mainly CF2O. The laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence technique was used to determine values of k(OH + CF3CH2CH2OH) = (0.89 +/- 0.03) x 10(-12) and k(OH + CF3CH2CHO) = (2.96 +/- 0.04) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). A relative rate method has been employed to measure the rate coefficients k(OH + CF3CH2CH2OH) = (1.08 +/- 0.05) x 10(-12), k(OH + C6F13CH2CH2OH) = (0.79 +/- 0.08) x 10(-12), k(Cl + CF3CH2CH2OH) = (22.4 +/- 0.4) x 10(-12), and k(Cl + CF3CH2CHO) = (25.7 +/- 0.4) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The results from this investigation are discussed in terms of the possible importance of emissions of fluorinated alcohols as a source of fluorinated carboxylic acids in the environment.     

A mechanistic and synthetic study of organocopper substitution reactions with some homoallylic and cyclopropylcarbinyl substrates : Application to isoprenoid synthesis

The double bond of cholesteryl and 5-norbornen-2-yl tosylates and the cyclopropane ring of cyclopropylmethylcarbinyl tosylate participate in organocuprate substitution reactions; retention of configuration at the nucleofugal sp³-C atom and skeletal reorganizations are observed. A plausible mechanism for these reactions is discussed. Coupling of homogeranyl iodide with a four-carbon, functionalized, vinylic cuprate reagent is applied to stereospecific synthesis of trans, trans-farnesol.     

Nitrosation of N-methylhydroxylamine by nitroprusside. A kinetic and mechanistic study

The kinetics of the reaction between aqueous solutions of Na(2)[Fe(CN)(5)NO].2H(2)O (sodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(ii), nitroprusside, SNP) and MeN(H)OH (N-methylhydroxylamine, MeHA) has been studied by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, using complementary solution techniques: FTIR/ATR, EPR, mass spectrometry and isotopic labeling ((15)NO), in the pH range 7.1-9.3, I = 1 M (NaCl). The main products were N-methyl-N-nitrosohydroxylamine (MeN(NO)OH) and [Fe(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-), characterized as the [Fe(CN)(5)(pyCONH(2))](3-) complex (pyCONH(2) = isonicotinamide). No reaction occurred with Me(2)NOH (N,N-dimethylhydroxylamine, Me(2)HA) as nucleophile. The rate law was: R = k(exp) [Fe(CN)(5)NO(2-)] x [MeN(H)OH] x [OH(-)], with k(exp) = 1.6 +/- 0.2 x 10(5) M(-2) s(-1), at 25.0 degrees C, and DeltaH(#) = 34 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(#) = -32 +/- 11 J K(-1) mol(-1), at pH 8.0. The proposed mechanism involves the formation of a precursor associative complex between SNP and MeHA, followed by an OH(-)-assisted reversible formation of a deprotonated adduct, [Fe(CN)(5)(N(O)NMeOH)](3-), and rapid dissociation of MeN(NO)OH. In excess SNP, the precursor complex reacts through a competitive one-electron-transfer path, forming the [Fe(CN)(5)NO](3-) ion with slow production of small quantities of N(2)O. The stoichiometry and mechanism of the main adduct-formation path are similar to those previously reported for hydroxylamine (HA) and related nucleophiles. The nitrosated product, MeN(NO)OH, decomposes thermally at physiological temperatures, slowly yielding NO.     

Photochemical reactions of stable phenoxyl radicals with oxygen

Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry -     

Rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions of triazoles with organoselenium compounds – a combined experimental and mechanistic study

Herein, we report on our studies on the reaction of organoselenium compounds with triazoles under thermal conditions using simple Rh(ii) catalysts. These reactions do not provide the product of classic rearrangement reactions. Instead two different cascade reactions were uncovered. While allyl selenides react in a cascade of sigmatropic rearrangement and selenium-mediated radical cyclization reaction to give dihydropyrroles, cinnamyl selenides undergo a double rearrangement reaction cascade involving a final aza-Cope reaction to give the product of 1,3-difunctionalization. Theoretical and experimental studies were conducted to provide an understanding of the reaction mechanism of these cascade reactions. The former provide an important insight into fundamental question on the nature of the ylide intermediate in rearrangement reactions and reveal that organoselenium compounds take up multiple roles in rearrangement reactions and mediate a free ylide reaction mechanism.

Herein, we report on our studies on the reaction of organoselenium compounds with triazoles under thermal conditions using simple Rh(ii) catalysts.     

A mechanistic study of the H/D exchange reactions of protonated arginine and arginine-containing Di- and tripeptides

The gas-phase H/D exchange reactions of arginine (R) and arginine-containing di- and tri-peptide (gly-arg (GR), arg-gly (RG), gly-gly-arg (GGR), gly-arg-gly (GRG) and arg-gly-gly (RGG)) [M+H]⁺ ions with deuterated ammonia (ND₃) were investigated by using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR), ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), ab initio and density functional theory-based molecular orbital calculations and molecular modeling. Three exchanges are observed for arginine and arginine-containing tri-peptide [M+H]⁺ ions, whereas the di-peptide [M+H]⁺ ions undergo a single H/D exchange. In addition, C-terminal methylation blocks H/D exchange of arginine and the arginine-containing peptide [M+H]⁺ ions, and a single H/D exchange is observed for N-terminal acetylated arginine [M+H]⁺ ions. A general mechanism for H/D exchange involving a collision complex that is best described as a “solvated salt-bridge” structure is proposed.