Theoretical study of methoxy group influence in the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of methoxyalkyl chlorides

The unimolecular gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐methoxy‐1‐chloroethane, 3‐methoxy‐1‐chloropropane, and 4‐methoxyl‐1‐chloroburane has been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) methods to propose the most reasonable mechanisms of decomposition of the aforementioned compounds. Calculation results of 2‐methoxy‐1‐chloroethane and 3‐methoxy‐1‐chloropropane suggest dehydrochlorination through a concerted nonsynchronous four‐centered cyclic transition state (TS) to give the corresponding olefin. In the case of 4‐methoxyl‐1‐chloroburane, in addition to the 1,2‐elimination mechanism, the anchimeric assistance by the methoxy group, through a polar five‐centered cyclic TS, provides additional pathways to give 4‐methoxy‐butene, tetrahydrofuran and chloromethane. The bond polarization of the C? Cl, in the direction of C^δ+ ··· Cl^δ?, is the limiting step of these elimination reactions. The significant increase in rate together with the formation of a cyclic product tetrahydrofuran in the gas‐phase elimination of 4‐methoxyl‐1‐chloroburane is attributed to neighboring group participation of the oxygen of the methoxy group in the TS. The theoretical calculations show a good agreement with the reported experimental results. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011