Addition of carbon-centered radicals to double bonds: influence of the alkene structure

The radical addition reaction to the double bond is well-recognized in organic chemistry as a powerful tool for C-C bond formation.The reactivity of three selected carbon centered radicals (aminoalkyl, methyl, and cyanomethyl) toward five double bonds, also representative of widespread monomers (vinyl ether, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, and ethylene), was examined in detail by using molecular orbital calculations. The observed reactivity is strongly influenced by the reaction exothermicity demonstrating that the energy barrier is governed in large part by the enthalpy term. The polar effect, as computed by molecular orbital calculations from the transition state structures, can drastically enhance the reactivity. A clear separation and quantification of the relative role of the polar and enthalpy effects in the different radical/double bond systems are obtained and the observed trend of reactivity is discussed. In addition to the effect of the charge-transfer configurations on the barrier, a large influence on the transition state geometry was evidenced.     

Influence of tetrahydrofuran on reactivity, aggregation, and aggregate structure of dimethylcuprates in diethyl ether

The comprehension of factors influencing the reactivity of organocuprates is still far from enabling a rational control of their reactions. Especially the degree of aggregation and structures of organocuprates are the focus of discussion about the factors affecting their reactivity. Therefore, this study combines kinetic measurements and NMR investigations to elucidate the influence of disaggregation via addition of tetrahydrofuran (THF) on the reactivity and aggregate structure of Gilman cuprates. As model systems, Me(2)CuLi.LiI (1.LiI) and Me(2)CuLi.LiCN (1.LiCN) in diethyl ether (DEE) were chosen; as model reaction, the 1,4-addition to 4,4-dimethylcyclohex-2-enone. The kinetic data show for 1.LiI a pronounced acceleration effect upon addition of distinct amounts of THF, whereas the reactivity of 1.LiCN continuously decreases with the addition of THF. Series of NMR diffusion measurements as well as (1)H-(7)Li heteronuclear Overhauser effect (HOE), and (1)H-(1)H nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) spectra show different structural influences of THF on 1.LiI and 1.LiCN. For 1.LiI, small salt units are separated from the cuprate aggregate by THF. In contrast to this, THF disaggregates the oligomeric structures of 1.LiCN, while the core structures remain intact with salt attached. Thus, the reactivity of 1.LiI seems to be fine-tuned through distinct amounts of salt or THF, whereas the decreasing reactivity of 1.LiCN correlates with the disaggregation of oligomers via THF. Thus, for synthetic chemists with reactivity problems in specific reactions of iododialkylcuprates, the addition of small amounts of THF might be useful to enhance the reactivity. In addition to these structure-reactivity studies, the CN(-) group is shown to be directly attached to the cuprate moiety via a combination of (1)H-(13)C HOE- and (1)H-(1)H NOEs. This represents the first direct experimental evidence in solution for the position of the CN(-) group relative to the cuprate moiety in cyano-Gilman cuprates.     

Intrinsic gas-phase electrophilic reactivity of cyclic N-alkyl- and N-acyliminium ions

The intrinsic gas-phase reactivity of cyclic N-alkyl- and N-acyliminium ions toward addition of allyltrimethylsilane (ATMS) has been compared using MS(2) and MS(3) pentaquadrupole mass spectrometric experiments. An order of electrophilic reactivity has been derived and found to agree with orders of overall reactivity in solution. The prototype five-membered ring N-alkyliminium ion 1a and its N-CH(3) analogue 1b, as well as their six-membered ring analogues 1c and 1d, lack N-acyl activation and they are, accordingly, inert toward ATMS addition. The five- and six-membered ring N-acyliminium ions with N-COCH(3) exocycclic groups, 3a and 3b, respectively, are also not very reactive. The N-acyliminium ions 2a and 2c, with s-trans locked endocyclic N-carbonyl groups, are the most reactive followed closely by 3c and 3d with exocyclic (and unlocked) N-CO(2)CH(3) groups. The five-membered ring N-acyliminium ions are more reactive than their six-membered ring analogues, that is: 2a > 2c and 3c > 3d. In contrast with the high reactivity of 2a, its N-CH(3) analogue 2b is inert toward ATMS addition. For the first time, the transient intermediates of a Mannich-type condensation reaction were isolated-the beta-silyl cations formed by ATMS addition to N-acyliminium ions-and their intrinsic gas-phase behavior toward dissociation and reaction with a nucleophile investigated. When collisionally activated, the beta-silyl cations dissociate preferentially by Grob fragmentation, that is, by retro-addition. With pyridine, they react competitively and to variable extents by proton transfer and by trimethylsilylium ion abstraction-the final and key step postulated for alpha-amidoalkylation. Becke3LYP/6-311G(d,p) reaction energetics, charge densities on the electrophilic C-2 site, and AM1 LUMO energies have been used to rationalize the order of intrinsic gas-phase electrophilic reactivity of cyclic iminium and N-acyliminium ions.     

Investigations of the Mechanism of Alternating Copolymerization with Charge-Transfer Interaction of the Monomers

The applicability of the method of Giese to the measurement of the influence of monomer reactivity is examined. The reaction of alkyl mercuric salts with sodium borohydride permits the production of alkyl (cyclohexyl and butyl) radicals. Since hydrogen radicals are present in high concentration, the addition of alkenes to the reaction mixture leads to radicals from the alkenes. Further addition of alkene (polymerization) can be nearly completely excluded in this way. The composition of the reaction products is determined by gas chromatography. The addition rate of the alkenes relative to styrene allows correlation with the e value of the Q-e scheme of Alfrey and Price. The method answers the question of how far addition of the monomer complex occurs in one step or as separate addition of both monomers during copolymerization in the presence of charge-transfer (CT) complexes of the monomers. The investigations are performed by using the styrene/acrylonitrile/ZnCl₂system, and it is demonstrated that the reactivity of the complexed     

自由基-氟代烯烃加成反应活性的理论研究

利用AMI半经验量化方法对一系列自由基-氟取代烯烃加成反应进行了计算，并用软硬酸碱规则的理论基础-广义微扰理论对计算结果进行了处理．发现该类烯烃与自由基加成的反应活性（以活化能来表示）可由该理论得到很好的解释、同时发现影响反应活性的主要因素是路易斯酸碱对之间的共价作用，而静电作用的影响则非常小。另外还发现，对于本文讨论的烯烃分子，两不饱和碳原子间存在有强的相互作用．     

1‐Alkynyltriazenes as Functional Analogues of Ynamides

The chemical reactivity of 1‐alkynyltriazenes has been investigated and is found to parallel the reactivity of ynamides. The similarity in reactivity of these two classes of compounds is demonstrated by addition reactions with acids, by cycloaddition reactions with ketenes, tetracyanoethene, and cyclopropanes, as well as by intramolecular cyclization reactions. The presence of reactive triazene groups in the products enables subsequent transformations. Overall, our results suggest that 1‐alkynyltriazenes should become valuable reagents in synthetic organic chemistry.     

Respective contributions of polar vs enthalpy effects in the addition/fragmentation of mercaptobenzoxazole-derived thiyl radicals and analogues to double bonds

The formation and the reactivity of three selected sulfur-centered radicals formed from mercaptobenzoxazole, mercaptobenzimidazole, and mercaptobenzothiazole toward four double bonds (methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, vinyl ether, and vinyl acetate) are investigated. The reversibility of the addition/fragmentation reaction in these widely used photoinitiating systems of radical polymerization was studied, for the first time, through the measurement of the corresponding rate constants by time-resolved laser spectroscopy. The combination of these results with quantum mechanical calculations clearly evidences that, contrary to previous studies on other aryl thiyl radicals, the addition rate constants (ka) are governed here by the polar effects associated with the very high electrophilic character of these radicals. However, interestingly, the back-fragmentation reaction (k-a) is mainly influenced by the enthalpy effects as supported by the relationship between the rate constants and the addition reaction enthalpy DeltaHR. The addition and fragmentation rate constants calculated from the transition state theory (TST) are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental ones. Therefore, molecular orbital (MO) calculations offered new opportunities for a better understanding of the sulfur-centered radical reactivity.     

Kinetics of epoxide resins formation from epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A

The kinetics of formation of epoxide resins based on epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A via synthesis with one- or two-step addition of alkali are considered. The kinetics of the reaction were studied by taking into account the consumption of the alkali added and the change of molecular mass and epoxide value of epoxide oligomers. The results obtained are satisfactorily explained within the framework of a model containing the following postulates: all the alkali is bound as phenolate ions; all phenolic groups are of equal reactivity; the reactivity of epichlorohydrin is higher than that of glycidyl ethers; the stage of dehydrochlorination of chlorohydrin ethers in the synthesis with one-step addition of alkali is rapid and does not limit the process; the first stage of the two-step synthesis is the formation of chlorohydrin ethers and the second stage their consumption. The factors leading to differences between the experimentally obtained parameters of the resulting epoxide resins (molecular weight, epoxide value) and their calculated values are discussed. The synthesis of epoxide resins with two-step alkali addition is shown to possess certain advantages over the one-step process.     

Estimation of Reactivity Ratios from Multicomponent Copolymerizations

Abstract

The composition of the copolymer formed from n monomers in addition polymerization can be expressed in terms of the monomer feed composition and n(n - 1) binary reactivity ratios, according to the familiar simple copolymer model. Reactivity ratios are determined experimentally from cor-responding feed and monomer compositions in binary co-polymerizations. This article reports methods for deriving such reactivity ratios directly from multicomponent polymerization data. Analytical solution of the multi-component copolymer equations is not feasible because of the limited number of experimental points and experimental uncertainty in the copolymer composition. Computer-assisted procedures have been developed to estimate re-activity rates by optimizing the fit of predicted and experimental copolymer compositions, given the monomer feed composition and preliminary values of the reactivity ratios. All n(n - 1) reactivity ratios are adjustable. The methods are demonstrated for styrene/methacrylonitrile/ a-methylstyrene, butadiene/styrene/2-methyl- 5-vinyl- pyridine and acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate/& methylstyrene systems. Binary reactivity ratios predict ternary copolymer compositions generally well in these cues. Reasons are suggested why reactivity ratios from multicomponent experiments may not match the corresponding parameters from binary copolymerizations.     

Enantioselective and regioselective indium(III)-catalyzed addition of pyrroles to isatins

The indium(III)-catalyzed enantioselective and regioselective addition of pyrroles to isatins is described. The effects of metal and solvent on the reactivity and selectivity are compared and discussed, demonstrating that the indium(III)-indapybox complex provides the most effective catalyst. A case of divergent reactivity between pyrroles and indoles is presented.     

Search for high reactivity and low selectivity of radicals toward double bonds: the case of a tetrazole-derived thiyl radical

The search for new radical structures having both low selectivity and high reactivity toward the addition reaction onto alkenes can be of interest in organic synthesis or polymer chemistry and has led us to propose a new tetrazole-derived thiyl radical. The reactivity of this sulfur-centered structure is compared to that of an aminoalkyl radical also efficient for alkene addition Worthwhile results are obtained; the new structure is more reactive on the complete range of alkenes with addition rate constants higher than 107 M(-1) s(-1) for both electron-deficient (acrylonitrile, ...) or electron-rich (vinylether, ...) double bonds. Quantum mechanical calculations have allowed a better understanding of this unique feature.     

Tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (TTMSS)-derived radical reactivity toward alkenes: a combined quantum mechanical and laser flash photolysis study

The reactivity of the tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (TTMSS)-derived radical is studied through an approach combining laser flash photolysis and quantum mechanical calculations. The results obtained for TTMSS are compared both to a classical silyl radical derived from triethylsilane and to a previously studied carbon-centered structure. Different worthwhile results are obtained: (i) the addition and hydrogen abstraction rate constants are directly measured, (ii) the high reactivity and the low selectivity of TTMSS toward the addition to alkenes are perfectly explained by antagonist polar and enthalpy effects, (iii) efficient hydrogen abstraction reactions from antioxidants such as vitamin E are observed, and (iv) TTMSS is seen to also act as an efficient initiator for the polymerization of an acrylate monomer.     

Understanding the Diels-Alder reactivity of 1,2-azaborine analogues

The Diels-Alder reactivity of 1,2-heteroborines (H₄C₄B(H)X, X?=?NH, PH, AsH; O, S, Se) has been computationally explored by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The influence of the HB?=?X fragment on the reactivity of the system has been quantitatively analyzed in detail by means of the so-called Activation Strain Model (ASM) of reactivity. It is found that the interaction between these species and the dienophile is significantly stronger than that computed for their all-carbon isoelectronic counterpart, benzene. In addition, the strain energy plays a key role in the observed reactivity trends. The role of the aromaticity strength of these heteroarenes on the reactivity is also assessed.     

The Reactivity of the Porphyrin Ligand

The physical properties and the chemical reactivity of the porphyrin macrocycle, whose formation can be rationalized by a simple statistical argument, are related in many respects to those of aromatic hydrocarbons. The reactivity of the porphyrin ligand in its metal complexes varies within wide limits because of the difference in the inductive effects of different central metal ions on the conjugated π-electron system. One-electron reactions, phlorin formation by addition of hydrogen or oxygen to the methine bridges, and the formation of π complexes predominate. The biochemical reactivity of the porphyrin ligand largely corresponds to its in-vitro chemistry.     

Alternating copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers in the presence of zinc chloride. I. Propagation and initiation of the copolymerization of acrylonitrile with styrene copolymer

Copolymerization of acrylonitrile with styrene spontaneously occurred on addition of zinc chloride without addition of any other radical initiator. The composition of the copolymer approached that of strictly alternating copolymer as zinc chloride added to the copolymerization system increased. The significance of the apparent monomer reactivity ratios of this copolymerization system was studied from a kinetic point of view, and it was shown that the monomer sequence distribution is indicated by the apparent monomer reactivity ratios. Further, equations which represent the relation between the apparent monomer reactivity ratios and Q,e values at a given salt concentration were derived. These equations reasonably accounted for the decrease of the apparent monomer reactivity ratios of the copolymerization of acrylonitrile with styrene in the presence of zinc chloride and the behavior of the other acrylonitrile copolymerization systems in the presence of zinc chloride. The initiation step of the spontaneous radical copolymerization of acrylonitrile with styrene in the presence of zinc chloride was explained by a cross-initiation mechanism.     

DFT study on the nucleophilic addition reaction of water and ammonia to the thymine radical cation

The nucleophilic addition reactions of water and ammonia molecules toward the C5-C6 double bond of thymine radical cations were investigated using density functional theory. We predicted that the nucleophilic addition favored the C5-site of thymine radical cations, in contrast to the previous experimental observations in bulk solution where the addition product to the C6-site was dominant. Considering the molecular orbital factors, we estimated the relative reactivity of the C5- and C6-sites of thymine radical cations for the nucleophilic addition of ammonia. We found that the C5 was more reactive than the C6 for the small-size clusters of Thy1(NH3)n+, n = 0-2, in the gas phase and even in aqueous solution, though the difference in the reactivity between the two sites became smaller as the number of ammonia molecules increased. This variation of the reactivity was attributed to the electron density redistribution within the thymine radical cations induced by the ammonia molecules as a nucleophile. We suggest that the dominance of the C6-addition product in bulk solution is mainly due to the higher stability of the C6-addition product by solvation, rather than to the higher reactivity of the C6-site for the nucleophilic addition.     

A DFT study of the amination of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes: reactivity and curvature

The first principles density functional theory (DFT) approach (GGA-PW91/DNP) was used to study the addition reaction of methylamine to fullerenes C(50) and C(60) or single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) (5,5) and (10,0). To understand the relationship between reactivity and curvature, various addition sites have been investigated for comparisons. The DFT calculation results showed that the reaction energy of the addition of methylamine onto C(60) or the closed caps of (5,5) and (10,0) is rather low. Moreover, the reaction at a few sites even appears exothermic. However, the reaction on the perfect sidewall of the nanotubes is always endothermic, and the reaction energy is much higher than that on the caps. The energetically preferable addition sites are the carbon atoms located at the vertexes formed with five-, five-, six-membered rings on C(50) or five-, five-, seven-membered rings on defects of nanotubes. The systematic theoretical study revealed that the pyramidalization and pi-orbital misalignment could result in an increased reactivity of these pentagon-pentagon fusion sites. The reactivity depends on the pyramidalization angle, which is a quantitative measurement of the local curvature and strain of the reaction center.     

Stimulation on the addition reactivity of fluorinated vinyl monomers—Facile carbon-carbon bond formation by the aid of fluorine substituents

The high addition reactivity of fluorinated vinyl compounds toward radical and anionic species was demonstrated to afford facile methods for the carbon-carbon bond formation by the aid of fluorinated substituents of vinyl groups. Some of the reactions are proved to be applicable to the preparation of polymers by radical or anionic polyaddition reaction mechanism. The investigation on the anionic reactivity order of fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates may contribute to the development in the field of the estimation by the computer chemistry to determine which effect of the fluorine-substitution would control the reactions.     

Reactivity of Gold Complexes towards Elementary Organometallic Reactions

For a while, the reactivity of gold complexes was largely dominated by their Lewis acid behavior. In contrast to the other transition metals, the elementary steps of organometallic chemistry—oxidative addition, reductive elimination, transmetallation, migratory insertion—have scarcely been studied in the case of gold or even remained unprecedented until recently. However, within the last few years, the ability of gold complexes to undergo these fundamental reactions has been unambiguously demonstrated, and the reactivity of gold complexes was shown to extend well beyond π‐activation. In this Review, the main achievements described in this area are presented in a historical context. Particular emphasis is set on mechanistic studies and structure determination of key intermediates. The electronic and structural parameters delineating the reactivity of gold complexes are discussed, as well as the remaining challenges.     

Highly Diastereoselective and Enantiospecific Allylation of Ketones and Imines Using Borinic Esters: Contiguous Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

3,3‐Disubstituted allylic boronic esters are not sufficiently reactive to react with ketones and imines. However, they can be converted into the corresponding borinic esters by the sequential addition of nBuLi and TFAA. These reactive intermediates possess the perfect balance between reactivity and configurational stability. Their enhanced reactivity allows the highly selective allylation of both ketones and ketimines, and facile access to adjacent quaternary stereocenters with full stereocontrol. The versatility of the methodology is demonstrated in the construction of all possible stereoisomers of a quaternary‐quaternary motif and by the allylation of the heterocycles, dihydroisoquinoline and indole.