Theoretical study on the gas‐phase reactivity of halogenated alkylperoxyl radicals toward alkenes

The electrophilic additions of hydroperoxyl (HO ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{⋅}}$), alkylperoxyl (RO ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{⋅}}$), and halogenated alkylperoxyl radicals to ethylene were studied using the AM1 and PM3 semiempirical MO methods at the SCF/UHF level. Reactantlike transition states were predicted for the title additions. The AM1 activation enthalpies (ΔH ${}_{\text{f}}^{\text{*}}$) were found to be increased in the order HO ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{⋅}}$<CH₃O ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{⋅}}$<C₂H₅O ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{⋅}}$<i‐C₃H₇O ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{⋅}}$. The reactivity of an alkylperoxyl radical toward ethylene was found to be increased as the degree of halogen substitution on the alkyl group increased. A good correlation was established between ΔH ${}_{\text{f}}^{\text{*}}$ and the Taft polar substituent constants, σ*. The Evans–Polanyi correlation between ΔH ${}_{\text{f}}^{\text{*}}$ and ΔH ${}_{\text{r}}^{\text{°}}$ was justified and the validity of the Hammond postulate was indicated. The calculated results were compared with the available experimental findings. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 71: 273–283, 1999