Extremely facile ring inversion and rearrangement in fluorobicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes

cis-1,2,3,4,5,5-Hexafluorobicyclo[2.1.0]pentane and 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobicyclo[2.1.0]pentane have been synthesized from hexafluorobenzene. The former hydrofluorocarbon, which exists entirely in the endo configuration, rearranges to cis-1,2,3,3,4,5-hexafluorocyclopentene below room temperature (E_a = 21.9 kcal/mol, log A = 13.4). The latter undergoes degenerate ring inversion with extraordinary ease (ΔG^‡ = 6.8 ± 0.2 kcal/mol at −55 °C). Density functional calculations indicate that significant bonding between the bridgehead carbons is retained in the ring inversion transition state. Analogous calculations predict for hexafluorobicyclo[1.1.0]butane a considerably lower barrier for ring inversion and more 1,3-bonding in the transition state.     

Theoretical calculations of the effects of 2-heavier group 14 element and substituents on the singlet-triplet energy gap in cyclopentane-1,3-diyls and computational prediction of the reactivity of singlet 2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls

UDFT and CASSCF calculations with the 6-31G(d) basis set were performed to investigate the heavier group 14 element (M) effect on the ground-state spin multiplicity of cyclopentane-1,3-diyls and their reactivity. The calculations find that 2-metallacyclopentane-1,3-diyls (M = Si, Ge) that possess a variety of substituents (X = H, Me, F, OR, SiH(3)) at M(2) are singlet ground-state molecules. The energies of the 1,3-diphenyl-substituted singlet 2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls are calculated to be ca. 5 kcal/mol lower than those of the intramolecular ring-closure products, i.e., 1,4-diphenyl-5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes, at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The energy barrier for the disrotatory ring closure of singlet 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl-2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyl (lambda(calcd) = 757 nm, f = 1.01 at RCIS/6-31G(d)) to the corresponding 5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane is computed to be 11.6 kcal/mol, which is 13.1 kcal/mol lower in energy than that for the conrotatory ring-opening to a 3-silapenta-1,4-diene. The computational work predicts that singlet 1,3-diaryl-2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls are persistent molecules under conditions without trapping agents.     

2-Silyl group effect on the reactivity of cyclopentane-1,3-diyls. Intramolecular ring-closure versus silyl migration

Generation of singlet and triplet 2-silylcyclopentane-1,3-diyls and their reactivity have been investigated in the thermal and photochemical denitrogenation of 2,3-diaza-7-silylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene. 5-Silylcyclopentene (silyl migration product) is quantitatively obtained, while 5-silylbicyclo[2.1.0]pentane (intramolecular ring-closure product) is not detected in the denitrogenation reactions. Deuterium labeling studies clarify that 5-silylcyclopentene is formed by a suprafacial [1,2] silyl migration in singlet 2-silylcyclopentane-1,3-diyl. UDFT calculations closely reproduce the observed reactivity of the singlet diradical: The enthalpic barriers of the intramolecular ring-closure are calculated to be DeltaH++exo468 = 5.8 kcal/mol and DeltaH++endo468 = 6.7 kcal/mol, which are much higher than the energy barrier for the [1,2] silyl migration, DeltaH++468 = 2.7 kcal/mol. The notable effect of the silyl group on raising the energy barrier of the intramolecular cyclization is rationalized by an electronic configuration of the lowest singlet state of 2-silylcyclopentane-1,3-diyls.     

Synthesis and reactivity of trans-Tricyclo

The first synthesis of trans-tricyclo[4.2.0.0(1,3)]oct-4-ene (1), an ethenyl bridged spirohexane, was accomplished in four steps starting from Carpino et al. gem-dichloro ketone 6. An X-ray crystal structure of 1 with one substituent was obtained to provide geometry data on this novel ring system and to confirm the stereochemical assignment of the penultimate synthetic intermediate. Tricyclo[4.2.0. 0(1,3)]oct-4-ene is surprisingly stable. It reacts with glacial acetic acid but only slowly at 145 degrees C; the products were isolated and identified. A unimolecular rearrangement takes place at elevated temperatures (165 degrees C and higher), presumably, via a biradical intermediate to afford tricyclo[4.2.0.0(1,5)]oct-3-ene (23). The structure of this 1,5-bridged bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane derivative was established by NMR and an X-ray crystal structure of its Diels-Alder adduct with isobenzofuran. Tricyclo[4.2.0.0(1, 3)]oct-4-ene equilibrates with 23, so equilibrium constants and reaction rates were measured over a 20 degrees C temperature range from 180 degrees C to 200 degrees C. The difference in the heats of formation (DeltaDeltaH degrees (f) (23 - 1)) is -2.1 kcal/mol, which is in good agreement with ab initio (HF and MP2) calculations using the 6-31G(d) basis set (-1.9 (HF) and -1.4 (MP2) kcal/mol). Computations on trans-tricyclo[4.2.0.0(1,3)]octane and spirohexane also were carried out, and the structures and energies were compared.     

CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations on the cleavage and ring inversion of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane find that these reactions involve formation of a common twist-boat diradical intermediate.

(6/6)CASSCF and CASPT2/6-31G calculations have been performed to understand the experimental finding of Goldstein and Benzon (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 5119) that exo-bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-d(4) (1b) undergoes ring inversion to form endo-bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-d(4) (4b) faster than it undergoes cleavage to form cis,trans-1,5-hexadiene-d(4) (3b). Goldstein and Benzon also found that the latter reaction, which must occur via a chairlike transition structure (TS), is much faster than cleavage of 1b to trans,trans-1,5-hexadiene-d(4) (2b) via a boatlike TS. Our calculations reveal that all three of these reactions involve ring opening of 1, through a boat diradical TS (BDTS), to form a twist-boat diradical intermediate (TBDI). TBDI can reclose to 4 via a stereoisomeric boat diradical TS (BDTS'), or TBDI can cleave, either via a half-chair diradical TS (HCDTS) to form 3 or via a boat TS (BTS) to form 2. The calculated values of DeltaH(++) = 34.6 kcal/mol, DeltaS(++) = -1.6 eu, and DeltaH(++) = 35.2 kcal/mol, DeltaS(++) = 2.0 eu for ring inversion of 1 to 4 and cleavage of 1 to 3, respectively, are in excellent agreement with the values measured by Goldstein and Benzon. The higher value of DeltaH(++) = 37.6 kcal/mol, computed for cleavage of TBDI to 2, is consistent with the experimental finding that very little 2b is formed when 1b is pyrolyzed. The relationships between BDTS, HCDTS, and BTS and the chair and boat Cope rearrangement TSs (CCTS and BCTS) are discussed.     

Ab initio calculations of the potential surface for rearrangement of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoromethylenecyclopropane to 1-(difluoromethylene)-2,2-difluorocyclopropane

(4/4)CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations have been performed to understand the reason that addition of a second pair of geminal fluorines to methylenecyclopropane lowers the barrier to rearrangement by 6.7 kcal/mol more than addition of the first pair. Our calculations duplicate this experimental finding by Dolbier and co-workers. Our computational results confirm Dolbier's conjecture, that the non-additive lowering of Ea for the rearrangement of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoromethylenecyclopropane (9) to 1-(difluoromethylene)-2,2-difluorocyclopropane (11) is due to destabilization of 9 by the presence of the vicinal CF2 groups in this fluorocarbon. In the course of exploring the potential energy surface for the rearrangement of 9, we have located a bond-stretch isomer (20) that differs from 9 by inversion of both CF2 groups. The enthalpy of 20 is computed to be 21.9 kcal/mol higher than that of 9, but direct interconversion of these two "bond-stretch invertomers" requires passage over a TS whose enthalpy is calculated to be 11.7 kcal/mol higher than that of 20.     

MINDO-SCF-MO-berechnung der cis-trans-isomerisierung von N-methyl- und N-phenylazomethin

MINDO/2-SCF-MO calculations for the ground state properties of N-methyl- and N-phenyl-azomethin have been carried out. The calculated rotation barrier for the methyl group in N-methyl-azomethin was 0·8 kcal/mol, the eclipsed conformation being most stable. The calculated rotation barrier about the CN bond in the protonated methylazomethin was 27·9 kcal/mol. MINDO/1-SCF-MO treatment for the N-inversion barrier of the unprotonated species yielded 13·00 kcal/mol. Similar MINDO/2 calculations for N-phenylazomethin yielded 4·0 kcal/mol for the rotation barrier of the phenyl ring around the CN= bond, the perpendicular conformation of the ring to the CNC plane being most stable. For the corresponding N protonated derivative the value 27·3 kcal/mol was calculated for the rotation barrier around the CN bond. MINDO/1 treatment yielded an inversion barrier of 14·0 kcal/mol for N-phenylazomethin.     

Ab initio calculations find 2,2-disilylcyclopentane-1,3-diyl is a singlet diradical with a high barrier to ring closure

Ab initio calculations on the lowest singlet and triplet states of 2,2-disilylcyclopentane-1,3-diyl find that the singlet lies well below the triplet. The C ₂ singlet diradical is calculated to be a minimum on the potential energy surface with an enthalpic barrier to ring closure of ΔH ^‡ ₂₉₈ = 13.5 kcal/mol at the CASPT2/6-31G* level of theory. The energy of the 1,3-divinyl-substituted singlet diradical is calculated to be only 0.8 kcal/mol higher than that of 5,5-disilyl-1,3-divinylbicyclo[2.1.0]pentane at this level of theory, but the transition state for their equilibration is computed to be 12.8 kcal/mol above the diradical in energy. Received: 2 July 1998 / Accepted: 4 August 1998 / Published online: 16 November 1998     

Transition states for the dimerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene: a DFT, CASPT2, and CBS-QB3 quantum mechanical investigation

Quantum mechanical calculations using restricted and unrestricted B3LYP density functional theory, CASPT2, and CBS-QB3 methods for the dimerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (1) reveal several highly competitive concerted and stepwise reaction pathways leading to [4 + 2] and [2 + 2] cycloadducts, as well as a novel [6 + 4] ene product. The transition state for endo-[4 + 2] cycloaddition (endo-2TS, DeltaH(double dagger)(B3LYP(0K)) = 28.7 kcal/mol and DeltaH(double dagger)(CBS-QB3(0K)) = 19.0 kcal/mol) is not bis-pericyclic, leading to nondegenerate primary and secondary orbital interactions. However, the C(s) symmetric second-order saddle point on the B3LYP energy surface is only 0.3 kcal/mol above endo-2TS. The activation enthalpy for the concerted exo-[4 + 2] cycloaddition (exo-2TS, DeltaH(double dagger)(B3LYP(0K)) = 30.1 kcal/mol and DeltaH(double dagger)(CBS-QB3(0K)) = 21.1 kcal/mol) is 1.4 kcal/mol higher than that of the endo transition state. Stepwise pathways involving diallyl radicals are formed via two different C-C forming transition states (rac-5TS and meso-5TS) and are predicted to be competitive with the concerted cycloaddition. Transition states were located for cyclization from intermediate rac-5 leading to the endo-[4 + 2] (endo-2) and exo-[2 + 2] (anti-3) cycloadducts. Only the endo-[2 + 2] (syn-3) transition state was located for cyclization of intermediate meso-5. The novel [6 + 4] "concerted" ene transition state (threo-4TS, DeltaH(double dagger)(UB3LYP(0K)) = 28.3 kcal/mol) is found to be unstable with respect to an unrestricted calculation. This diradicaloid transition state closely resembles the cyclohexadiallyl radical rather than the linked cyclohexadienyl radical. Several [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement transition states were also located and have activation enthalpies between 27 and 31 kcal/mol.     

NMR.-Study of nitrogen inversion and conformation of 1,5-dihydro-isoalloxazines ("reduced flavin"). Studies in the flavin series, XIX

The pyramidal inversion of the N(5)-centre of several reduced flavins was measured by NMR. The inversion barrier was found to be ～10 kcal/mol in acetone solutions and to be independent of the size of the N(5) substituent. An increase of the inversion barrier of ～5 kcal/mol was observed in the case where the N(5) substituent could only be in axial position, and an increase of ～3.5 kcal/mol was observed for an acyl-like N(5) substituent. In aqueous solution the inversion barrier increases by ～3 kcal/mol. The stereochemistry of reduced flavin and its potential relevance in flavin-dependent biological dehydrogenations is discussed.     

Theoretical investigation of lone pair inversions, ring openings, and hydride shifts in O-methylated epoxides

Mechanisms associated with the isomerization of the O-methylethylene oxonium ion and its tetramethyl-substituted analogue have been explored using correlated electronic structure calculations. The minima and transition states associated with inversion at the oxygen atom, as well as those associated with opening of the epoxide ring, have been characterized. The calculated barrier to inversion at the oxygen atom for the O-methylethylene oxonium ion, 15.7 kcal/mol, agrees well with the experimentally determined value, 10+/-2 kcal/mol. Our calculations indicate that a significantly higher barrier exists for the ring-opening mechanism that leads to more thermodynamically stable structures. This work includes the first known calculations on the O-methyl-2,3-dimethyl-2-butene oxonium ion along with transition states and intermediates associated with ring opening and inversion at the oxygen atom. Results show that there is a significantly lower barrier to ring opening as compared to the O-methylethylene oxonium ion species, leading to a lower probability of isolating this species. The effects of basis sets and correlation techniques on these ions were also analyzed in this work. Our results indicate that the B3LYP/6-31G* level is reliable for obtaining molecular geometries for both minima and transition states on the C3H7O+ and C7H15O+ potential energy surfaces.     

Formation of a 1-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl anion and an experimental determination of the acidity and C-H bond dissociation energy of 3-tert-butylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane

Decarboxylation of 1-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanecarboxylate anion does not afford 1-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl anion as previously assumed. Instead, a ring-opening isomerization which ultimately leads to 1,4-pentadien-2-yl anion takes place. A 1-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl anion was prepared nevertheless via the fluoride-induced desilylation of 1-tert-butyl-3-(trimethylsilyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane. The electron affinity of 3-tert-butyl-1-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl radical (14.8 plus minus 3.2 kcal/mol) was measured by bracketing, and the acidity of 1-tert-butylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (408.5 +/- 0.9) was determined by the DePuy kinetic method. These values are well-reproduced by G2 and G3 calculations and can be combined in a thermodynamic cycle to provide a bridgehead C-H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of 109.7 +/- 3.3 kcal/mol for 1-tert-butylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane. This bond energy is the strongest tertiary C-H bond to be measured, is much larger than the corresponding bond in isobutane (96.5 +/- 0.4 kcal/mol), and is more typical of an alkene or aromatic compound. The large BDE can be explained in terms of hybridization.     

Low-temperature 1H and 13C NMR spectra of N-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indoles

The temperature-dependent (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of 2-(2-butynyl)-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole (4) (as a representative example of 1-9) in CFCl(3) + CD(2)Cl(2) solution are described and discussed. Below 183 K, the hexahydropyrazine ring inversions become slow on the NMR time-scale and 4 exists in principle as two conformational diastereomers. In fact, only one was observed with the N-2 substituent in an equatorial position as shown by a low-temperature NOESY experiment. The energy barrier for conformational interchange was calculated from NMR data to be 8.3 kcal mol(-1) (1 kcal = 4.184 kJ), in agreement with quantum chemical calculations. Unambiguous assignments for all proton and carbon resonances of 1-9 were made using 1D (APT, DEPT, NOE difference) and 2D (COSY, NOESY, gHMQC, gHMBC) NMR techniques.     

Properties of stable organic bond-stretched non-Lewis molecules

The conditions required for the existence of a stable bond-stretched singlet isomer of hetero derivatives of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane (which is a cyclopentane-1,3-diyl derivative) are discussed. Such species are non-Lewis systems with a ruptured C-C bond (formally diradicals), in which two electrons occupy the nonbonding orbital. A high-level calculation shows that in contrast with the carbon substituted compounds, in which the open form is a transition state between two classical-bonded closed bicyclic forms, in the heterosubstituted molecules, the open form is calculated to be a stable minimum. The ionization potentials of the open forms are considerably lower than those of their bicyclic isomers and also of regular organic radicals/diradicals. Nitrogen atoms are found to be more effective than oxygen or sulfur in stabilizing the open isomer. In this case, the open isomer is calculated to be a little more stable than the bicyclic compound, and a barrier of approximately 40 kcal/mol is computed for the ring closing reaction. Thus, the open isomer is both thermodynamically and kinetically stable. This result rationalizes some experimental observations that indicated the existence of non-Lewis singlet species.     

The ozonolysis of acetylene--a quantum chemical investigation.

The ozonolysis of acetylene was investigated using CCSD(T), CASPT2, and B3LYP-DFT in connection with a 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set. The reaction is initiated by the formation of a van der Waals complex followed by a [4pi + 2pi] cycloaddition between ozone and acetylene (activation enthalpy DeltaH(a)(298) = 9.6 kcal/mol; experiment, 10.2 kcal/mol), yielding 1,2,3-trioxolene, which rapidly opens to alpha-ketocarbonyl oxide 5. Alternatively, an O atom can be transferred from ozone to acetylene (DeltaH(a)(298) = 15.6 kcal/mol), thus leading to formyl carbene, which can rearrange to oxirene or ketene. The key compound in the ozonolysis of acetylene is 5 because it is the starting point for the isomerization to the corresponding dioxirane 19 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 16.9 kcal/mol), for the cyclization to trioxabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane 10 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 19.5 kcal/mol), for the formation of hydroperoxy ketene 15 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 20.6 kcal/mol), and for the rearrangement to dioxetanone 9 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 23.6 kcal/mol). Compounds 19, 10, 15, and 9 rearrange or decompose with barriers between 13 and 16 kcal/mol to yield as major products formanhydride, glyoxal, formaldehyde, formic acid, and (to a minor extent) glyoxylic acid. Hence, the ozonolysis of acetylene possesses a very complicated reaction mechanism that deserves intensive experimental studies.     

Singlet-triplet energy separation of cyclobutylidene

Ab initio (MP2, CCSD(T)) and density functional theory (BLYP, B3LYP) calculations provide insight concerning novel aspects of structure and bonding in cyclobutylidene (1). Singlet cyclobutylidene ((1)1) adopts a bicyclobutane-like structure (C(s) symmetry) that includes a weak, transannular bonding interaction between the carbene carbon and the opposing CH(2) group. Conformational ring inversion in (1)1 occurs through a transition state of C(2)(v)() symmetry (TS(1)1) with an enthalpy barrier of approximately 3 kcal/mol. Stabilization afforded the singlet state by the transannular interaction appears to be largely offset by a loss of hyperconjugative stabilization from the adjacent C-H bonds. Triplet cyclobutylidene ((3)1) exhibits a C(2)(v)() structure and conventional bonding. The triplet state lies 5.9 kcal/mol above the singlet ground state at the CCSD(T)/TZP//CCSD(T)/DZP level of theory. The singlet-triplet energy gap of cyclobutylidene (-5.9 kcal/mol) lies between that of an acyclic analogue, dimethylcarbene (-1.6 kcal/mol), and a highly strained analogue, cyclopropylidene (-13.8 kcal/mol). The magnitude of the energy gap suggests that triplet cyclobutylidene ((3)1) will be thermally accessible under a variety of experimental conditions.     

Informational rigidity in mesitylene-based calix[4]arenes adopting a 1,3-alternate conformation

Two chiral derivatives of a mesitylene-based calix[4]arene known to exist in the 1,3-alternate conformation were prepared by the attachment of homochiral residues to the four exo-hydroxy groups. Thus, the enantiotopic protons of the central scaffold became diastereotopic, leading to a doubling of their ¹H NMR signals in one example. From the temperature independence of the NMR spectrum, a lower limit of 24.2 kcal/mol could be estimated for the barrier of ring inversion. MM3 calculations confirm the 1,3-alternate conformation as the energy minimum, and estimate a barrier of 25.7 kcal/mol for the 1,3-alternate-to-1,3-alternate* interconversion process. This high barrier is due to the repulsive steric interactions between exo-methyl groups at vicinal rings when these groups pass each other.     

Theoretical studies on the elimination of hydrogen fluoride from alkyl fluoride and its substituent effect

The reaction mechanism of the α, α and α, β elimination of hydrogen fluorides from alkyl fluorides has been studied theoretically. For fluoroethane as a reactant, the transition state (TS) optimized at the level of the 6-31G** basis set shows that the α, β elimination proceeds via a four membered-ring TS with a barrier height 64.6 kcal/mol, while the α, α elimination, via a three-membered ring TS with a 83.7 kcal/mol barrier. Four substituents, CH₃, CN, F, and NH₂, were used to investigate the substituent effect of elimination by using the 3-21G basis set. The calculated barriers show that NH₂-substituted alkyl fluorides favor both the α, α and α, β elimination and these two reactions would be expected to proceed simultaneously. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemo- and periselectivity in the addition of [OsO2(CH2)2] to ethylene: a theoretical study

Quantum chemical calculations by using density functional theory at the B3LYP level have been carried out to elucidate the reaction course for the addition of ethylene to [OsO2(CH2)2] (1). The calculations predict that the kinetically most favorable reaction proceeds with an activation barrier of 8.1 kcal mol(-1) via [3+2] addition across the O=Os=CH2 moiety. This reaction is -42.4 kcal mol(-1) exothermic. Alternatively, the [3+2] addition to the H2C=Os=CH2 fragment of 1 leads to the most stable addition product 4 (-72.7 kcal mol(-1)), yet this process has a higher activation barrier (13.0 kcal mol(-1)). The [3+2] addition to the O=Os=O fragment yielding 2 is kinetically (27.5 kcal mol(-1)) and thermodynamically (-7.0 kcal mol(-1)) the least favorable [3+2] reaction. The formal [2+2] addition to the Os=O and Os=CH2 double bonds proceeds by initial rearrangement of 1 to the metallaoxirane 1 a. The rearrangement 1-->1 a and the following [2+2] additions have significantly higher activation barriers (>30 kcal mol(-1)) than the [3+2] reactions. Another isomer of 1 is the dioxoosmacyclopropane 1 b, which is 56.2 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than 1. The activation barrier for the 1-->1 b isomerization is 15.7 kcal mol(-1). The calculations predict that there are no energetically favorable addition reactions of ethylene with 1 b. The isomeric form 1 c containing a peroxo group is too high in energy to be relevant for the reaction course. The accuracy of the B3LYP results is corroborated by high level post-HF CCSD(T) calculations for a subset of species.