2- allyl cations

As shown in Figure 27, an in-phase combination of type-V structures leads to another A] symmetry structures (type-VI), which is expected to be stabilized by allyl cation-type resonance. However, calculation shows that the two shuctures are isoenergetic. The electronic wave function preserves its phase when tr ansported through a complete loop around the degeneracy shown in Figure 25, so that no conical intersection (or an even number of conical intersections) should be enclosed in it. This is obviously in contrast with the Jahn-Teller theorem, that predicts splitting into A and states. 

The allylstannane 474 is prepared by the reaction of allylic acetates or phosphates with tributyltin chloride and Sml2[286,308] or electroreduction[309]. Bu-iSnAlEt2 prepared in situ is used for the preparation of the allylstannane 475. These reactions correspond to inversion of an allyl cation to an allyl anion[3l0. 311], The reaction has been applied to the reductive cyclization of the alkenyl bromide in 476 with the allylic acetate to yield 477[312]. Intramolecular coupling of the allylic acetate in 478 with aryl bromide proceeds using BuiSnAlEti (479) by in situ formation of the allylstannane 480 and its reaction with the aryl bromide via transmetallation. (Another mechanistic possibility is the formation of an arylstannane and its coupling with allylic... 

Allylic carbocations are carbocations m which the positive charge is on an allylic car bon Allyl cation is the simplest allylic carbocation... 

A rule of thumb is that a C=C substituent stabilizes a carbocation about as well as two methyl groups Al though allyl cation (H2C=CHCH2 ) is a primary carbocation it is about as stable as a typical secondary carbocation such as isopropyl cation (CH3)2CH-"... 

Just as allyl cation is stabilized by electron delocalization so is allyl radical... 

Refer to the molecular orbital diagrams of allyl cation (Figure 10 13) and those presented earlier in this chapter for ethylene and 1 3 butadiene (Figures 10 9 and 10 10) to decide which of the following cycloaddition reactions are allowed and which are forbidden according to the Woodward-Floffmann rules... 

FIGURE 10 13 Their molecular orbitals of allyl cation The allyl cation has two IT electrons and they are in the orbital marked it. 

Molecular orbitals are useful tools for identifying reactive sites m a molecule For exam pie the positive charge m allyl cation is delocalized over the two terminal carbon atoms and both atoms can act as electron acceptors This is normally shown using two reso nance structures but a more compact way to see this is to look at the shape of the ion s LUMO (the LUMO is a molecule s electron acceptor orbital) Allyl cation s LUMO appears as four surfaces Two surfaces are positioned near each of the terminal carbon atoms and they identify allyl cation s electron acceptor sites... 

Allene (Section 10 5) The compound H2C=C=CH2 Allyl cation (Section 10 2) The carbocation... 

The carbocation is stabilized by delocalization of the tt electrons of the double bond and the positive charge is shared by the two CH2 groups Substituted analogs of allyl cation are called allylic carbocations Allyl group (Sections 5 1 10 1) The group... 

Some fundamental structure-stability relationships can be employed to illustrate the use of resonance concepts. The allyl cation is known to be a particularly stable carbocation. This stability can be understood by recognizing that the positive charge is delocalized between two carbon atoms, as represented by the two equivalent resonance structures. The delocalization imposes a structural requirement. The p orbitals on the three contiguous carbon atoms must all be aligned in the same direction to permit electron delocalization. As a result, there is an energy barrier to rotation about the carbon-carbon... 

Frontier orbital theory also provides the basic framework for analysis of the effect that the symmetiy of orbitals has upon reactivity. One of the basic tenets of MO theory is that the symmetries of two orbitals must match to permit a strong interaction between them. This symmetry requirement, when used in the context of frontier orbital theory, can be a very powerful tool for predicting reactivity. As an example, let us examine the approach of an allyl cation and an ethylene molecule and ask whether the following reaction is likely to occur. 

The positively charged allyl cation would be expected to be the electron acceptor in any initial interaction with ethylene. Therefore, to consider this reaction in terms of frontier orbital theory, the question we need to answer is, do the ethylene HOMO and allyl cation LUMO interact favorably as the reactants approach one another The orbitals that are involved are shown in Fig. 1.27. If we analyze a symmetrical approach, which would be necessary for the simultaneous formation of the two new bonds, we see that the symmetries of the two orbitals do not match. Any bonding interaction developing at one end would be canceled by an antibonding interaction at the other end. The conclusion that is drawn from this analysis is that this particular reaction process is not favorable. We would need to consider other modes of approach to analyze the problem more thoroughly, but this analysis indicates that simultaneous (concerted) bond formation between ethylene and an allyl cation to form a cyclopentyl cation is not possible. 

Fig. 1.28. MO diagram showing mutual perturbation of MOs of butadiene and allyl cation.

It is worth noting that in the case of the reactions of ediylene and butadiene with the allyl cation, the MO description has provided a prediction that would not have been recognized by a pictorial application of valence bond terminology. Thus, we can write an apparently satisfactory description of both reactions. 

Any structural effect which reduces the electron deficiency at the tricoordinate carbon will have flie effect of stabilizing the caibocation. Allyl cations are stabilized by delocalization involving the adjacent double bond. 

The 7t-electron delocalization requires proper orbital alignment. As a result, there is a significant barrier to rotation about the carbon-carbon bonds in the allyl cation. The results of 6-31G/MP2 calculations show the perpendicular allyl cation to be 37.8 kcal/mol higher than the planar ion. Related calculations indicate that rotation does not occur but that... 

Scheme 5.2. Rotational Energy Barriers for Allyl Cations (kcal/mol)"...

The addition of hydrogen halides to dienes can result in either 1,2- or 1,4-addition. The extra stability of the allylic cation formed by proton transfer to a diene makes the ion-... 

Fonnation of allylic products is characteristic of solvolytic reactions of other cyclopropyl halides and sulfonates. Similarly, diazotization of cyclopropylamine in aqueous solution gives allyl alcohol. The ring opening of a cyclopropyl cation is an electrocyclic process of the 4 + 2 type, where n equals zero. It should therefore be a disrotatory process. There is another facet to the stereochemistry in substituted cyclopropyl systems. Note that for a cri-2,3-dimethylcyclopropyl cation, for example, two different disrotatory modes are possible, leading to conformationally distinct allyl cations ... 

The disrotatory mode, in which the methyl groups move away from each other, would be more favorable for steric reasons. If the ring opening occurs through a discrete cyclopropyl cation, the W-shaped allylic cation should be formed in preference to the sterically less favorable U-shaped cation. This point was investigated by comparing the rates of solvolysis of the cyclopropyl tosylates 6-8 ... 

When the size of the fused ring permits ring opening to a fran -allylic cation, as in the case of compound 11, solvolysis proceeds at a reasonable rate ... 

A similar transformation results when trimethylsilyloxy-substituted allylic halides react with silver perchlorate in nitromethane. The resulting allylic cation gives cycloaddition reactions with dienes such as cyclopentadiene. The isolated products result from desilyla-tion of the initial adducts ... 

The stabilized fluorinated allylic cation, generated from cis- or trans-l-(p-methoxyphenyl)pentafluoropropene and antimony pentafluoride in sulfur dioxide, is solvolyzed by methanol to methyl 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)difluoroacrylate [36] (equation 37)... 

Polyfluoropropenes alkylate fluormated ethylenes in the presence of antimony pentafluoride This condensation proceeds by initial formation of an allyl cation [175] (equation 150)... 

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