Absolute Rate Constants for the Addition of the 1‐(tert‐Butoxy)carbonylethyl Radical onto Cyclic Alkenes in Solution

Absolute rate constants are reported for the addition of the 1‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]ethyl (= 2‐(1,1‐dimethylethoxy)‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoethyl) radical ^.CHMeCO₂(t‐Bu) to several cyclic and monosubstituted alkenes in MeCN as obtained by time‐resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The activation energies for the addition of this alkyl radical are mainly governed by the addition enthalpy but are also substantially lowered by the ambiphilic effect and by relief of cyclic strain.     

Kinetic study of H‐atom transfer in imidazoline‐, imidazolidine‐, and pyrrolidine‐based alkoxyamines: Consequences for nitroxide‐mediated polymerization

The H‐atom transfer reaction was studied for a series of imidazoline, imidazolidine, and pyrrolidine‐based alkoxyamines containing either isobutyrate‐2‐yl or 1‐phenylethyl alkyl fragments. The C O bond homolysis rate constants and activation energies were determined by ¹H NMR product analysis as a function of temperature. Inter‐ and intramolecular H‐atom transfer reactions were distinguished by examination of alkoxyamine thermolysis products in the absence and in the presence of a radical scavenger (thiophenol or deuterated styrene). A correlation between the structure of the nitroxyl fragment of alkoxyamine and the H‐transfer reaction was found. The high steric demands of the substituents on the nitroxyl part of the isobutyrate‐2‐yl alkoxyamine decrease both types of reaction. For alkoxyamines containing the 1‐phenylethoxyamines, neither inter‐ nor intramolecular H‐atom transfer was observed. Controlled polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated with imidazoline‐based alkoxyamine was observed, although the polymer obtained was not living. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6579–6595, 2009     

SG1 based alkoxyamines as radical initiators for the synthesis of lactones and lactames

Recently, it has been shown that alkoxyamines can be used as radical initiators in tin-free radical chemistry. Thus, it prompted us to develop the preparation of highly valuable alkoxyamines via ionic chemistry and the radical cyclization was triggered by thermal initiation. Following that procedure, bicyclic, spiro and eight-membered lactones were easily prepared in good yields with very high stereoselectivity.     

Computational Studies on Intramolecular Cycloadditions of Azidoenynes and Azidobutenenitriles to Give 6H‐Pyrrolo[1,2‐c][1,2,3]triazoles and 5H‐Pyrrolo[1,2‐d]tetrazoles

Energetics of intramolecular cycloadditions of azidoenynes and azidobutenenitriles to give 6H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐c][1,2,3]triazoles and 5H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐d]tetrazoles have been calculated at the B3LYP/6.311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory in ideal gas and in H₂O as solvent. Stabilities of the corresponding anions, tautomers, and isomers are discussed. Transition states of the cyclization of parent compounds are determined at the same level of theory.     

EPR, NMR, and Thermodynamic Evidences for Forced Nuclear Spin–Electron Spin Interactions in the Case of 1-Phenyl-2-Methylpropyl-1,1-Dimethyl-2-Nitroxide (TIPNO) Attached to Permethylated β-Cyclodextrin

In a recent paper (Bardelang et al. in J Org Chem 71:7657–7667, 2006), the deep inclusion of the TIPNO (1-phenyl-2-methylpropyl-1,1-dimethylethyl-2-nitroxide) free radical attached to a permethylated β-cyclodextrin (TRIMEB) into its cavity was questioned. In the present paper it is shown that the results of X-band and W-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of the TIPNO–TRIMEB in the presence of competitors of complexation (1-adamantanol, methyl orange and 1-adamantylamine) are consistent with a situation where the nitroxide is capping the small cavity entrance. The inclusion of the incoming guest was proven by ¹H NMR, whereas no changes in EPR spectra were noticed whatever the competitors’ concentrations. These observations are rationalized in terms of an equilibrium between a nitroxide-capped cyclodextrin (weak complex) and a non-self included form, both species involving competitors’ inclusion without significant EPR spectral changes. These results not only confirm our preliminary findings, but also point out to the peculiar role of the cyclodextrin methoxy crown of the primary rim stabilizing the appended guest by means of weak interactions.     

Persilylated phosphoranyl radicals: the first persistent noncyclic phosphoranyl radicals

Persistent noncyclic phosphoranyl radicals have been prepared and observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) for the first time. They were obtained by UV-photolysis of a solution containing a bis(trialkylsilyl) peroxide (R = Me, Et) and a tris(trialkylsilyl) phosphite (R = Me, Et, iPr). EPR parameters (a(P) approximately 100 mT) are typical of phosphoranyl radicals exhibiting a trigonal-bipyramidal structure, with the odd electron in an equatorial site. Analysis of the pseudo-first-order decay shows that these phosphoranyl radicals decay by S(H)2 homolytic substitution on the bis(trialkylsilyl) peroxide and by loss of a trialkylsilyloxyl radical (alpha-scission reaction). Both the S(H)2 and alpha-scission reactions depend on the steric bulk of the alkyl groups, that is, the bulkier the alkyl group, the slower the S(H)2 and alpha-scission reactions.     

Chemically triggered C–ON bond homolysis in alkoxyamines. Part 7. Remote polar effect

In a recent work (Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 358–361), we showed that the activation by benzylation of alkoxyamine 1 (diethyl (1‐(tert‐butyl(1‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethoxy)amino)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl)phosphonate) afforded a surprisingly large C–ON bond homolysis rate constant k_d. Taking advantage of the easy preparation of para‐X‐benzyl‐activated alkoxyamines 2 and of the presence of a shielding methylene group between the two aromatic moieties, we investigated the long range (10 bonds between the X group and the C–ON bond) polar effect for X = H, F, OMe, CN, NO₂, NMe₂, ⁺NHMe₂,Br^?. It was observed that the effect was weak (4‐fold) and mainly due to the zwiterionic mesomeric forms generated by the presence of group X on the para position, i.e. k_d increased for CN and NO₂ and decreased for OMe, NMe₂ and ⁺NMe₂H,Br^?. DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level were performed to determine orbital interactions (natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis), Mulliken and NBO charges which support the reactivity described. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.