Water as efficient medium for mild decarbonylation of tertiary aldehydes

Decarbonylation of the tertiary aldehydes 4-ethyl-4-formyl-hexanenitrile (2) and 2-methyl-2-phenylpropanal (4) promoted by dioxygen occurs at room temperature only if suspended in water probably via the sequential acyl radical-CO liberation-tertiary radical that is promoted by an ‘on water’ process originating preferentially from the corresponding tertiary hydroperoxide.     

Reactions of aliphatic aldehydes under electron-impact

The mass spectra of hexanal, heptanal and nonanal variously labeled with deuterium confirm γ-hydrogen migration and β cleavage as the mechanism leading to [C₂H₄O]⁺˙ and [M ? C₂H₄O]⁺˙, although the data on the latter are complicated by contributions from other, related paths. In addition, they show that three other major primary decomposition products, [M ? C₂H₄]⁺˙, [M ? H₂O]⁺˙ and [C₃H₅O]⁺, all arise in large part by processes involving γ-hydrogen migration to the oxygen atom. The ethylene lost to yield the first of these products consists of the α and β methylene groups. The loss of ethylene most likely occurs by way of a cyclobutanol intermediate, which, via alternative reaction paths, may well contribute to the yields of the other two products as well. These findings further extend the range of parallelism between photochemical and electron-impact-induced reactions.     

The high-resolution mass spectra of aliphatic aldehydes

The mass spectra of the C₃ to C₉ n-alkanals and a number of branched aldehydes have been obtained at a resolution sufficient to resolve the O? CH₄ doublets. From the resolved spectra, a study of metastable transitions, and the spectrum of one deuterium-labelled alkanal, (n-hexanal-2,2-d₂) the major fragmentation reactions have been elucidated. Of particular interest are the γ-cleavage reaction, leading to [C₃H₅O]+ in the n-alkanals, which proceeds both by a simple cleavage and by cleavage preceded by hydrogen interchange, and the loss of C₂H₄, which involves loss of the C₂ and, probably C₃, carbons.     

Equilibrium cyclotrimerization of ether oxygen-substituted aliphatic aldehydes

This article describes the equilibrium cyclotrimerization of β-methoxypropionaldehyde (MPA), 4,7-dioxaoctanal (DOA), and n-octanal (OA) initiated by boron trifluoride etherate in toluene at a temperature range of ?10 to 25°C. The enthalpy and entropy changes corresponding to the conversion of 1 mole of the monomers to 1/3 mole of their cyclic trimers in toluene solution, at the initial monomer concentration of 1 mole/liter, were evaluated as follows: ΔH_ss = ?5.9 ± 0.3 kcal/mole and ΔS_ss = ?19.1 ± 1.3 cal/mole deg for the MPA system; ΔH_ss = ?7.4 ± 0.4 kcal/mole and ΔS_ss = ?24.1 ± 1.7 cal/mole deg for the DOA system; ΔH_ss = ?6.1 ± 0.4 kcal/mole and ΔS_ss = ?21.2 ± 1.5 cal/mole deg for the OA system. The comparison of these values with those in their polymerization indicates that the cyclotrimerization of aldehydes is thermodynamically of greater advantage than their polymerization. The effects of long and polar substituents are discussed from the view-point of the intermolecular interactions by the polar groups in monomers and their cyclic trimers.     

Montmorillonite clay-catalyzed cyclotrimerization and oxidation of aliphatic aldehydes

A temperature-dependent equilibrium is observed for the cyclotrimerization of aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of Montmorillonite K10 clay, while aerobic oxidation of aliphatic aldehydes to the corresponding carboxylic acids is favored at room temperature in the presence of Montmorillonite KSF clay.     

Condensation of gem-dinitroalkanes with aliphatic aldehydes and amines

Summary Gem-dinitroalkanes condense readily with acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and amines. The use of these aldehydes instead of formaldehyde extends the field of application of the Mannich reaction with nitro compounds.     

Acidity-directed synthesis of substituted gamma-butyrolactones from aliphatic aldehydes

The strength of the Lewis or Br?nsted acids controls the formation of either beta,gamma-disubstituted-alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones or gamma-substituted-alpha-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones via the lactonization or oxonia cope rearrangement-lactonization, respectively, of the borate intermediates resulting from the crotylboration of aliphatic aldehydes with ester-containing crotylboronates, such as (E)-methyl 2-boramethyl-2-butenoates.     

Relaxation processes of some long chain aliphatic aldehydes

The dielectric absorption of seven aliphatic straight chain aldehydes has been examined in a polystyrene matrix between 80 and 325 K and in the 50 to 10⁵ Hz region. For each solute two sets of absorption curves were found, one around 100 K and the other in approximately the 200 – 300 K region. The relaxation data for the 100 K region has been identified with segmental rotation and probably, with rotation about the C  CHO bond as well. The higher temperature process, which involves relaxation of appreciably larger units, may well be an overlap of molecular and larger segmental rotation. n-Nonanal was examined in a polystyrene and a polypropylene matrix and in both cases gave low and high temperaure absorption curves. The parameters for the former were almost independent of the medium whereas those for the latter process exhibited considerable variation.     

Structure of 2-benzothiazolylhydrazones of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes

On the basis of data of ¹³C and ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, it was shown that 2-benzothiazolylhydrazones of aliphatic aldehydes were in solution as a mixture of E and Z isomers, and hydrazones of aromatic aldehydes were in solution only as E isomers. All investigated compounds existed in solution mainly in an amino tautomeric form, and the content of the imino form did not depend on the nature of the aldehyde fragment.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 550–558, April, 1993.     

Cyclocondensation of lower aliphatic aldehydes with arylamines and cyclopentadiene

Three-component condensation of lower aliphatic aldehydes (C₁-C₃) with arylamines and cyclopentadiene (the Povarov reaction) gave 3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro-3H-cyclopenta[c]-quinolines. Ozonization of their N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives afforded the corresponding ozonides. Cyclocondensation of 4-fluoroaniline with formaldehyde and cyclopentadiene gave earlier unknown 2-fluoro-3b,6,6a,7,9,9a,10,12a-octahydrobenzo[i,j]dicyclopenta[b,g]quinolizine.     

Determination of higher molecular weight aliphatic aldehydes and ketones

The visible absorption spectra have been measured for the reaction products formed by aldehydes and ketones with p-nitrobenzenediazonium fluoborate in a phosphoric acid-2-methoxyethanol solvent medium. The absorption maxima for the reaction products of higher molecular weight aldehydes and ketones are much more intense than those formed by formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone. This intensity effect has been used to analyze for propionaldehyde in mixtures also containing formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or acetone. The nature of the reaction products are considered.     

Photochemistry in solution-XX : Triplet reactivity of aliphatic aldehydes

The triplet self-quenching process of three aliphatic aldehydes has been investigated by inhibition with dienes (taking into account the singlet interaction with the dienes) and by laser flash photolysis. The results obtained for intersystem crossing, the setf-quenching process and product formation have been rationalized. The main reactivity observed for the three aldehydes is the self-quenching process which occurs from both the singlet and triplet state. The laser flash photolysis experiments carried out with butanal show two absorptions of a transient at 320 aod 355 nm; no evidence for two different species could be put forward. The similar decay of the two absorption maximas of the transient, as the concentration of aldehyde is increased, would be indicative of only one single absorbing species which could be either the triplet state of the aldehyde or a radical-pair formed by the self-quenching process or the 1,4-biradical resulting from γ-H abstraction. The fact that both the quenching experiments (by dienes or by 1-methylnaphthalene) and the laser flash measurements lead to about the same lifetime also indicates only one species.The products formed from the triplet setf-quenching process have also been obtained by a different method: excitation of benzophenone at 365 nm in the presence of butanal. The quantum yields for product formation is about the same as those obtained for the triplet by direct irradiation of butanal, except that of octane-4,5-dione which is increased if the photoreaction is carried out at 365 nm in the presence of beazophenone.     

The mechanism for the rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylation of aldehydes: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The mechanism for the rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylation of aldehydes was investigated by experimental techniques (Hammett studies and kinetic isotope effects) and extended by a computational study (DFT calculations). For both benzaldehyde and phenyl acetaldehyde derivatives, linear Hammett plots were obtained with positive slopes of +0.79 and +0.43, respectively, which indicate a buildup of negative charge in the selectivity-determining step. The kinetic isotope effects were similar for these substrates (1.73 and 1.77 for benzaldehyde and phenyl acetaldehyde, respectively), indicating that similar mechanisms are operating. A DFT (B3LYP) study of the catalytic cycle indicated a rapid oxidative addition into the C(O)-H bond followed by a rate-limiting extrusion of CO and reductive elimination. The theoretical kinetic isotope effects based on this mechanism were in excellent agreement with the experimental values for both substrates, but only when migratory extrusion of CO was selected as the rate-determining step.     

A new spot test for aliphatic aldehydes and ketones

A new spot test for aliphatic aldehydes and ketones has been developed utilizing free-radical formation. Aliphatic aldehydes are detected in the range of 0.2–200 μg while aliphatic ketones are detected from 100–2000 μg. Benzaldehyde was the only other compound tested that gave a positive result.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of aliphatic aldehydes by peroxomonosulphate

The kinetics of the oxidation of aliphatic aldehydes, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, n-butyraldehyde, and trichloroacetaldehyde by Peroxomonosulphate (PMS) was carried out in aqueous perchloric acid medium (0.1–1 M H⁺) at constant ionic strength of 1.2 M in the temperature range 10°–60°C. The reactions of all the aldehydes were found to obey a total second-order kinetics, first order each with respect to [Peroxomonosulphate] and [aldehyde]. Acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and n-butyraldehyde exhibited acid catalysis with the concurrent occurrence of acid-independent reaction path conforming to the rate law Formaldehyde was found to undergo oxidation only by acid-dependent path (k_b = 0) and trichloroacetaldehyde exhibited only the acid-independent reaction path (k_a = 0). The products of oxidation were found to be the respective carboxylic acids in each case. The stoichiometry of the reaction, [Peroxomonosulphate]:[Aldehyde] = 1:1, indicated the absence of carbonyl-assisted decomposition and self-decomposition of peroxomonosulphate. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters evaluated pointed to the mechanism of a fast nucleophilic attack of the oxidant on the aldehyde followed by slow acid catalyzed and/or uncatalyzed decomposition of the intermediate to product. A sharp comparison is made with the corresponding reactions of the similar peroxides, S₂O and H₂PO.     

Kinetics of the reactions of hydroxyl radical with aliphatic aldehydes

Rate coefficients for OH reactions with the 2–5 carbon aliphatic aldehydes have been measured under pseudo first-order conditions in OH. OH was generated by flash photolysis of H₂O at wavelengths greater than 165 nm and its concentration monitored using time-resolved resonance fluorescence spectroscopy. Two reactions were studied only at 298 K while five reactions were studied over the temperature range 250–425 K; negative activation energies were observed for all five reactions. Aldehyde reactivity toward OH is nearly independent of the identity of the hydrocarbon side chain. Our results are compared with those obtained in previous studies of OH-aldehyde reaction kinetics and their mechanistic implications are discussed.     

Thin-layer chromatography of the MBTH derivatives of some aliphatic aldehydes

A rapid, simple method for resolution and detection of mixtures of aliphatic aldehyde by thin-layer chromatography of their MBTH derivatives is proposed. Less than 1 mg l . levels of each aldehyde in the original aqueous solution can be detected.