Alkenes, / -substituted, radical cations

The effects of alkyl substitution in substituted ethenes decrease in the order 1,2-dialkyl < 2-alkyl < 2,2-dialkyl - trialkyl < tetraalkyl. This indicates that both electronic and steric factors are important in determining the nucleophilicity of the alkene toward radical cations. For example, alkyl substitution increases the nucleophilicity of the alkene, thus rendering 2,2-dialkyl and tetraalkylalkenes more reactive toward styrene radical cations than less-substituted alkenes such as 1-hexene. On the other hand, the kinetic acceleration that results fiom electronic effects of additional alkyl groups is offset by steric hindrance, as demonstrated by the low reactivity of 1,2-dialkyl-... 

Aromatic ethers and furans undergo alkoxylation by addition upon electrolysis in an alcohol containing a suitable electrolyte.Other compounds such as aromatic hydrocarbons, alkenes, A -alkyl amides, and ethers lead to alkoxylated products by substitution. Two mechanisms for these electrochemical alkoxylations are currently discussed. The first one consists of direct oxidation of the substrate to give the radical cation which reacts with the alcohol, followed by reoxidation of the intermediate radical and either alcoholysis or elimination of a proton to the final product. In the second mechanism the primary step is the oxidation of the alcoholate to give an alkoxyl radical which then reacts with the substrate, the consequent steps then being the same as above. The formation of quinone acetals in particular seems to proceed via the second mechanism. ... 

Crich D, Brebion F, Suk D-H (2006) Generation of Alkene Radical Cations by Heterolysis of -Substituted Radicals Mechanism, Stereochemistry, and Applications in Synthesis. 263-. 1-38... 

At one time considered as two distinct reactions occurring by different mechanisms [51], the fragmentations of Scheme 2 and the rearrangments of Scheme 5 are now seen as different facets of the same fundamental heterolysis of -substituted alkyl radicals into alkene radical cations, with the eventual outcome determined by the reaction conditions [52],... 

An alternative substrate design, in which the alkene radical cation is substituted only at the internal position, forces the nucleophilic cyclization into the endocyclic mode, leading overall to bicyclic systems with a bridgehead nitrogen (Scheme 31) [139,140]. 

Electron transfer from the alkene leads to a radical cation that can undergo coupling (Scheme la). The radical cation can also react with the nucleophilic heteroatom of a reagent to afford addition or substitution products (Scheme lb). Adducts can be likewise obtained by oxidation of the nucleophile to a radical that undergoes radical addition. Reactions between alkenes and nucleophiles can be realized too with chemical oxidants that are regenerated at the anode (mediators) (see Chapter 15). Finally, cycloadditions between alkenes can be initiated by a catalytic anodic electron transfer. These principal reaction modes are subsequently illustrated by selected conversions. 

Allylic CH bonds Aliphatic alkenes frequently undergo allylic substitution by oxidation of the double bond to a radical cation that undergoes deprotonation at the allylic position and subsequent oxidation of the resulting allyl radical to a cation, which finally combines with the nucleophiles from the electrolyte [21, 22]. The selectivity is mostly low. Regioselec-tive allylic substitution or dehydrogenation is, however, found in some cases with activated alkenes, for example, -ionone that reacts to (1) (Fig. 5) as a major product [23], menthone enolacetate that yields 90% (2) [24], and 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-l-ol... 

Acetoxylation proceeds mostly via the radical cation of the olefin. Aliphatic alkenes, however, undergo allylic substitution and rearrangement predominantly rather than addition [224, 225]. Aryl-substituted alkenes react by addition to vic-disubstituted acetates, in which the dia-stereoselectivity of the product formation indicates a cyclic acetoxonium ion as intermediate [226, 227]. In acenaphthenes, the cis portion of the diacetoxy product is significantly larger in the anodic process than in the chemical ones indicating that some steric shielding through the electrode is involved [228]. 

In general, radical cations of alkenes or cyclopropanes produce nonconjugated radicals, while those of dienes give rise to allyl radicals, and those of vinylcyclopropane or vinylcyclobutane systems generate either allylic or nonconjugated radicals with an additional element of unsaturation. In contrast to the most thoroughly characterized nucleophilic substitution of appropriate neutral molecules. 

Radical cations of n donors are derived typically from substrates containing one or more N, O, or S atoms they are substituted frequently with alkene or arene moieties. Among these systems, we mention only a few examples, including two radical ions derived from l,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (2) and the tricyclic tetraaza compound (3). For both ions, ESR as well as OS/PES data were measured. The bicyclic system (an = 1-696 mT, 2N ah = 0-734 mT, 12H) ° shows... 

Alkene radical cations may transfer protons to cyanoaromatic radical anions, followed by coupling of the resulting radicals. For example, 1,4-dicyanobenzene and other cyano-aromatic acceptors form substitution products (e.g., 73) with 2,3-dimethylbutene via coupling and loss of... 

Resctions with Alkenes and Aromatics. Unsymmetrically substituted olefins form head-to-head dimers selectively. We mention the classic vinylcarba-zole," vinyl ethers,indenes, and p-methoxystyrene. The regio-chemistry of the addition is compatible with a stepwise mechanism proceeding via a singly linked 1,4-bifunctional radical cation, in which spin and charge are separated (see above). Several dimerizations have quantum yields greater than... 

RBSctions of Radical Anions With Radicals. The coupling of arene or alkene radical anions with radicals is an important reaction, and one that has significant synthetic potential. For example, radicals formed by nucleophilic capture of radical cations couple with the acceptor radical anion, resulting in (net) aromatic substitution. Thus, the l-methoxy-3-phenylpropyl radical (113 R = H) couples with dicyanobenzene radical anion loss of cyanide ion then generates the substitution product 132.2 + ... 

One of the problems associated with thermal cyclodimerization of alkenes is the elevated temperatures required which often cause the strained cyclobutane derivatives formed to undergo ring opening, resulting in the formation of secondary thermolysis products. This deficiency can be overcome by the use of catalysts (metals Lewis or Bronsted acids) which convert less reactive alkenes to reactive intermediates (metalated alkenes, cations, radical cations) which undergo cycloaddilion more efficiently. Nevertheless, a number of these catalysts can also cause the decomposition of the cyclobutanes formed in the initial reaction. Such catalyzed alkene cycloadditions are limited specifically to allyl cations, strained alkenes such as methylenccyclo-propane and donor-acceptor-substituted alkenes. The milder reaction conditions of the catalyzed process permit the extension of the scope of [2 + 2] cycloadditions to include alkene combinations which would not otherwise react. 

A number of electrocyclic reactions under PET conditions have been reported. In this way, A-benzyl-2.3-diphcnylaziridinc (40) underwent a 3 + 2-cycloaddition with alkene and alkyne dipolarophiles to afford substituted pyrrole cycloadducts (41) via the radical cation intermediate (42) see Scheme 7.80 Elsewhere, novel arylallenes have been used as dienophiles in a radical cation-catalysed Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction with 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluromethylcyclopentadiene, which often occurred with peri-, chemo-, facial- and stereo-selectivity.81... 

In DNA, H-abstraction at C(4 ) leads to strand breakage and the same products as reported here are formed in the course of this process (Chap. 12.4). In this reaction, an alkene radical cation/phosphate anion pair is formed. The dynamics of this reaction has been studied in some detail with the help of adequately substituted model systems (Crich and Huang 2001). 

Generation of Alkene Radical Cations by Heterolysis of -Substituted Radicals ... 

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