The cyclopropyl group as a hypersensitive probe in the singlet oxygen ene reaction mechanism

Cyclopropyl-substituted olefins are employed as mechanistic probes in the singlet oxygen-alkene ene reaction. In MeOH and aprotic solvents [CHCl(3), (CH(3))(2)CO, CH(3)CN], only the allylic hydroperoxides bearing an intact cyclopropyl group are detected. The reaction mechanism is independent of solvent polarity. Our findings, to a certain experimental limit, exclude a biradical or dipolar intermediate.     

Solvent-dependent changes in the triazolinedione-alkene ene reaction mechanism

The influence of the solvent on the triazolinedione-alkene ene reaction mechanism has been investigated. Both inter- and intramolecular kinetic isotope effects with tetramethylethylenes and 2,2,2-(trideuterio)methyl-7-methyl-2,6-octadiene-[D3]-1,1,1 provide, for the first time, strong evidence for changes in the mechanism of the reaction on going from non-protic to polar protic solvents. In non-protic polar or apolar solvents, an aziridinium imide that equilibrates to an insignificant extent with an open intermediate (a dipolar or a polarized biradical) is formed irreversibly in the first, rate-determining step of the reaction, which is followed by fast hydrogen abstraction. On the contrary, in polar protic solvents, hydrogen abstraction is rate limiting, allowing the main dipolar intermediate to equilibrate with its open intermediate(s) as well as with the starting reagents.     

On the origin of geminal regioselectivity in the ene reaction of singlet oxygen with substituted alkenes

The geminal regioselectivity observed in the ene reaction between singlet oxygen and alkenes with anion-stabilizing groups is rationalized on the basis of a perepoxide intermediate, in which in analogy to the nucleophilic attack on protonated epoxides, the perepoxide is opened preferentially at the C---O bond weakened by the substituent.     

The 1deltag dioxygen ene reaction with propene: a density functional and multireference perturbation theory mechanistic study

This study aims to determine whether a balance between concerted and non-concerted pathways exists, and in particular to ascertain the possible role of diradical/zwitterion or peroxirane intermediates. Three non-concerted pathways, via 1) diradical or 2) peroxirane intermediates, and 3) by means of hydrogen-abstraction/radical recoupling, plus one concerted pathway (4), are explored. The intermediates and transition structures (TS) are optimized at the DFT(MPW1K), DFT(B3LYP) and CASSCF levels of theory. The latter optimizations are followed by multireference perturbative CASPT2 energy calculations. (1) The polar diradical forms from the separate reactants by surmounting a barrier (deltaE(++)(MPW1K)=12, deltaE++(B3LYP)=14, and deltaE(++)(CASPT2)=16 kcal mol(-1) and can back-dissociate through the same TS, with barriers of 11 (MPW1K) and 8 kcal mol(-1) (B3LYP and CASPT2). The diradical to hydroperoxide transformation is easy at all levels (deltaE(++)(MPW1K)<4, deltaE(++)(B3LYP)=1 and deltaE(++)(CASPT2)=1 kcal mol(-1)). (2) Peroxirane is attainable only by passing through the diradical intermediate, and not directly, due to the nature of the critical points involved. It is located higher in energy than the diradical by 12 kcal mol(-1), at all theory levels. The energy barrier for the diradical to cis-peroxirane transformation (deltaE(++)=14-16 kcal mol(-1)) is much higher than that for the diradical transformation to the hydroperoxide. In addition, peroxirane can very easily back-transform to the diradical (deltaE(++)<3 kcal mol(-1)). Not only the energetics, but also the qualitative features of the energy hypersurface, prevent a pathway connecting the peroxirane to the hydroperoxide at all levels of theory. (3) The last two-step pathway (hydrogen-abstraction by (1)O(2), followed by HOO-allyl radical coupling) is not competitive with the diradical mechanism. (4) A concerted pathway is carefully investigated, and deemed an artifact of restricted DFT calculations. Finally, the possible ene/[pi2+pi2] competition is discussed.     

Theoretical prediction of a perepoxide intermediate for the reaction of singlet oxygen with trans-cyclooctene contrasts with the two-step no-intermediate ene reaction for acyclic alkenes

B3LYP/6-31G* and CASMP2 calculations have been employed to study the ene reaction of singlet oxygen with trans-cyclooctene. These methods predict that the reaction involves a perepoxide intermediate, whereas alkenes such as tetramethylethylene are predicted by the same methods to occur by a two-step no-intermediate mechanism, with no perepoxide intermediate. The change in mechanism arises because the trans-cyclooctene imposes a substantial strain in the transition state for hydrogen abstraction. The perepoxide is formed through a polarized diradical intermediate that can lead to the observation of alkene isomerization. The polarized diradical also becomes a minimum because of the barrier to abstraction.     

An unprecedented gedunin rearrangement reaction converts a methyl group into the methylene group of a cyclopropyl ring

Herein we describe an unprecedented formation of a cyclopropane ring through the conversion of a methyl group that was not functionalized for the purpose. In a one-step reaction, 7-deacetoxy-7α-hydroxygedunin (4) afforded two new gedunin derivatives, namely 7-deacetoxy-13,14,18-cyclopropyl-7α,15β, 17ξ-trihydroxy-gedu-16-oic acid (7) and 7-deacetoxy-9,11-en-7α,15β-dihydroxygedunin (8) along with the known 7-deacetoxy-7,9-diene-15β-hydroxygedunin (5).     

Lanthanide shift reagents as a structural probe for alkenes

The utility of LSR for structural analysis of the AG⁺ complexes of 3,7-dimethylenebicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and its derivatives is demonstrated.     

Parahydrogen-based NMR methods as a mechanistic probe in inorganic chemistry

The study of reactions by NMR spectroscopy is normally limited by the poor detection limits offered by the method. An overview is presented of how chemical reactions can be studied using parahydrogen-assisted NMR spectroscopy, where detected signals can have strengths that exceed those normally available by factors that approach 31,000.     

The effect of the trimethylsilyl group on the regiochemistry of the ene reaction

The trimethylsilyl group has been found to have a profound effect on the regiochemistry of the ene reaction of E-1-methyl-2-trimethylsilyl olefins during the formation of [3.3.0] bicyclo-octanes.     

Size dependence of gaseous cluster reactivity as a mechanistic probe

The determination of the mechanisms of chemical and physical changes is one of the principal occupations of many chemists today. To accomplish this, the dependence of the change being examined on a number of intensive variables such as temperature, pressure, concentration of reactants as well as the pH is usually studied. In this account, we summarize our recent studies on the reactivity and dynamics of niobium gaseous clusters in which their changes with size are used as a new degree of freedom that assists in deducing the mechanism of the change studied.     

Oxidative diamination of alkenes with ureas as nitrogen sources: mechanistic pathways in the presence of a high oxidation state palladium catalyst

A first palladium-catalyzed intramolecular diamination of unfunctionalized terminal alkenes has recently been reported. This study investigates the details of its mechanistic course based on NMR titration, kinetic measurements competition experiments, and deuterium labeling. It concludes a two-step procedure consisting of syn-aminopalladation with an unligated palladium(II) catalyst state followed by oxidation to palladium(IV) and subsequent C-N bond formation to give the final products as cyclic diamines. Related reactions employing sulfamides give rise to aminoalkoxy-functionalization of alkenes. This process was investigated employing deuterated alkenes and found to follow an identical mechanism where stereochemistry is concerned. It exemplifies the importance of cationic palladium(IV) intermediates prior to the final reductive elimination from palladium and proves that the nucelophile for this step stems from the immediate coordination sphere of the palladium(IV) precursor. These results have important implications for the general development of alkene 1,2-difunctionalization and for the individual processes of aminopalladation and palladium-catalyzed C(alkyl)-N bond formation.     

Low temperature electrochemistry as a mechanistic probe for the partial reduction of heterocycles

The reduction of a series of electron deficient aromatic heterocycles has been examined using electrochemical techniques: the analysis was performed under anhydrous conditions at low temperature, so as to mimic typical synthetic reducing conditions.     

Synthesis of beta,beta-disubstituted vinyl boronates via the ruthenium-catalyzed Alder ene reaction of borylated alkynes and alkenes

Ruthenium-catalyzed Alder ene reactions between borylated alkynes and terminal alkenes give the corresponding beta,beta-disubstituted vinyl boronates with high selectivity for the branched isomer. The stereochemistry of the vinyl boronate moiety was the result of a formal trans addition of the ene subunit across the alkyne, which is the opposite stereochemical outcome observed for other internal alkynes.     

Double asymmetric induction as a mechanistic probe: conjugate addition for the asymmetric synthesis of a pseudotripeptide

Double asymmetric induction as a mechanistic probe indicates that, for the conjugate addition of (R)- and (S)-lithium N-benzyl-N--alpha-methylbenzylamide to (S)-3'-phenylprop-2'-enoyl-4-benzyloxazolidinone, the reactive conformation of the N-acyl oxazolidinone is the anti-s-cis form, facilitating the asymmetric synthesis of a pseudotripeptide.     

Metal-catalyzed aziridination of alkenes by organic azides: a mechanistic DFT investigation

Structural Chemistry - The DFT B3LYP/6–31G(d,p) approach is used to study alkene aziridination by azides through catalyzed routes involving a metal nitrenoid intermediate. The catalysts...     

Utilization of an oxonia-Cope rearrangement as a mechanistic probe for Prins cyclizations

An oxonia-Cope rearrangement was used as an internal clock reaction to probe the mechanism of the Prins cyclization reaction and the subsequent nucleophilic capture of the resultant tetrahydropyranyl cation. The oxonia-Cope rearrangement was shown to occur rapidly under typical Prins cyclization conditions when the oxocarbenium ion resulting from the rearrangement is similar to or lower in energy than the starting oxocarbenium ion. Oxonia-Cope rearrangements can be disfavored by destabilizing the resultant oxocarbenium ion or by stabilizing an intermediate tetrahydropyranyl cation. Stereoselectivity in the nucleophilic capture was dramatically affected by the reactivity of the nucleophile and electrophile. More reactive partners combined rapidly to give axial-substituted Prins products through a least-motion pathway. High selectivity for the equatorial-substituted tetrahydropyran was observed for less reactive nucleophiles and electrophiles.     

Palladium-NHC complexes do catalyse the diboration of alkenes: mechanistic insights

Novel catalytic activation of the B-B bond by palladium(II)-NHC complexes in presence of a mild base (NaOAc) and an excess of diboron reagent enables chemoselective 1,2-diboration of alkenes, suggesting the heterolytic cleavage of diboron rather than oxidative addition of a B-B bond to the metal.     

Efficient control of the diastereoselectivity and regioselectivity in the singlet-oxygen ene reaction of chiral oxazolidine-substituted alkenes by a remote urea NH functionality: comparison with dimethyldioxirane and m-chloroperbenzoic acid epoxidations

The singlet-oxygen ene reaction and the epoxidation by DMD of chiral oxazolidine-substituted alkenes, equipped with a free urea NH functionality and a conformationally fixed double bond, proceed in high like diastereoselectivity (up to >95:5); also a high regioselectivity was found for the (1)O(2) ene reaction. Capping of the free NH functionality by methylation erases this like selectivity for both oxidants and significantly reduces the regioselectivity in the ene reaction. These data demonstrate effective hydrogen bonding between the remote urea NH functionality and the oxidant that favors the like attack on the C-C double bond. For (1)O(2), the hydrogen bonding in the exciplex results in preferred hydrogen abstraction from the alkyl group cis to the directing urea functionality.