Allyl anion, resonance stabilization

It has been contended that here too, as with the benzene ring (Ref 6), the geometry is forced upon allylic systems by the a framework, and not the 7t system Shaik, S.S. Hiberty, P.C. Ohanessian, G. Lefour, J. Nouv. J. Chim., 1985, 9, 385. It has also been suggested, on the basis of ab initio calculations, that while the allyl cation has significant resonance stabilization, the allyl anion has little stabilization Wiberg, K.B. Breneman, C.M. LePage, T.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 61. 

Extensive theoretical studies have been carried out to probe the nature of the allyl anion. These studies supplement and extend the experimental results. Allyl anion is of special interest because it is the simplest 7r-delocalized carbanion with 4 electrons and 3 Pjr-centers. Much recent theoretical discussion has concerned the role of resonance in the stabilization of such conjugated systems, a stabilization defined as the enthalpy difference between the localized double-bonded system and its conjugated state. The stabilization of allyl anion has generally been attributed to the delocalization of charge associated... 

Even the allyl anion can be seen as an example of resonance-enhanced coordination. As shown in Section 4.9.2, r -CsHs- complexation is accompanied by a shift toward the localized H2C —CH=CH2 resonance structure that places maximum anionic character at the metal-coordinated carbon atom. In effect, the carbanionic lone pair nc is shared between intramolecular nc 7icc (allylic resonance) and intermolecular nc—>-n M (metal coordination) delocalizations, and the former can be diminished to promote the latter, if greater overall stabilization of the metal-ligand complex is achieved thereby. 

The reaction of methylenesulphones with allyl halides in the presence of quaternary ammonium salts produces the 1-allyl derivatives [52], unlike the corresponding reaction in the absence of the catalyst in which the SN- product is formed (Scheme 6.5). In contrast, alkylation of resonance stabilized anions derived from allyl sulphones produces complex mixtures [51] (Scheme 6.6). Encumbered allyl sulphones (e.g. 2-methylprop-2-enyl sulphones) tend to give the normal monoalkyl-ated products. Methylene groups, which are activated by two benzenesulphonyl substituents, are readily monoalkylated hydride reduction leads to the dithioacetal and subsequent hydrolysis affords the aldehyde [61]. 

Resonance stabilization is also responsible for the increased acidity of a C-H group situated adjacent to a carbonyl group. The anion is stabilized through delocalization of charge, similar to that seen with the allyl anion derived from propene but this system is even more favourable, in that delocalization allows... 

Unfortunately, while it is clear that the allyl cation, radical, and anion all enjoy some degree of resonance stabilization, neither experiment, in the form of measured rotational barriers, nor higher levels of theory support the notion that in all three cases the magnitude is the same (see, for instance, Gobbi and Frenking 1994 Mo el al. 1996). So, what aspects of Hiickel theory render it incapable of accurately distinguishing between these three allyl systems ... 

A particularly strong type of resonance stabilization is found for those compounds which form an aromatic ring upon removal of a proton. The enhanced aromatic stability of the conjugate base translates into a large increase in acidity of the acid. Whereas the doubly ally lie proton of 1,4-pentadiene is predicted to have a pKa % 40 due to resonance stabilization of the anion, the doubly allylic proton in cyclopentadiene has a pKa = 16 because the resulting anion produces an aromatic jt system. 

Shaik and Bar102 demonstrated that allyl anion has a distortive jr-component but at the same time exhibits a rotational barrier. This analysis was reaffirmed later for allyl radical.5 Subsequently, Gobbi and Frenking93 pointed out that the total distortion energy of allylic species is very small because it reflects the balance of jr-distortivity opposed by the a-symmetrizing propensity. They further argued that along with this jr-distortivity, the allylic species enjoys resonance stabilization which is the source of the rotational barrier. A detailed VB analysis by Mo et al.149 established the same tendency. 

In the catalytic presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride, a trimethylsilyl group is cleaved from AKtrimethylsilyl)rnethylbenzylimine to form the resonance-stabilized 2-aza-allyl anion which undergoes a Michael addition reaction with, for example, methyl acrylate, giving y-aminoesters.333 These types of aminoesters serve as a starting material for the elaboration of diversely substituted pyrrolidones.334... 

Although free-radical halogenation is a poor synthetic method in most cases, free-radical bromination of alkenes can be carried out in a highly selective manner. An allylic position is a carbon atom next to a carbon-carbon double bond. Allylic intermediates (cations, radicals, and anions) are stabilized by resonance with the double bond, allowing the charge or radical to be delocalized. The following bond dissociation enthalpies show that less energy is required to form a resonance-stabilized primary allylic radical than a typical secondary radical. 

Ring opening to allyl anion 7-25 would be less likely, because 7-25 would be considerably less stable than enolate anion 7-24, which is resonance-stabilized. 

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