Anionic radical processes

Besides solvation, a solvent can also participate in entrainment of ion-radical transformations. The reaction between tertiary aliphatic nitro compounds and the sodium derivative of nitromethane, NaCH2N02, is an example (Kornblum and Erickson 1981). To prepare NaCHjNOj, nitromethane is treated with sodium hydride. Then a tertiary aliphatic nitro compound is introduced into the solution formed. Several organic solvents were probed and CHjSOjCHj (DMSO) turned out to be the most effective. Kornblum and Erickson (1981) attributed this result to the formation of small amounts of NaCH2SOCH3 (sodium dimsyl) that was produced from DMSO as a result of its reaction with sodium hydride. Sodium dimsyl acts as a powerful one-electron reducer that induces the following chain anion-radical process ... 

Hexacyanobutadiene [5104-27-4] (4), 1,3-butadiene-1,1,2,3,4,4-hexacarbonitrile, is prepared in good yield by a two-step process from the disodium salt of tetracyanoethane (30). It is like TCNE in forming colored TT-complexes and an anion radical. 

The ability of a nltro group in the substrate to bring about electron-transfer free radical chain nucleophilic subsdnidon fSpj li at a saniratedcarbon atom is well documented. Such electron transfer reacdons are one of the characterisdc feanires of nltro compounds. Komblum and Russell have established ihe Spj l reaction independently the details of the early history have been well reviewed by them. The reacdon of -nitrobenzyl chloride v/ith a salt of nitro ilkane is in sharp contrast to the general behavior of the ilkyladon of the carbanions derived from nitro ilkanes here, carbon ilkyladon is predominant. The carbon ilkyladon process proceeds via a chain reacdon involving anion radicals and free radicals, as shovmin Eq. 5.24 and Scheme 5.4 fSpj l reacdoni. 

The overall two-electron mechanism has been generally reported to obey an ECE (Electrochemical-Chemical-Electrochemical) process where the chemical reaction is the generally fast chemical scission of the C—S bond of the sulphone anion radical. 

Here, the relative stability of the anion radical confers to the cleavage process a special character. Thus, at a mercury cathode and in organic solvents in the presence of tetraalkylammonium salts, the mechanism is expected16 to be an ECE one in protic media or in the presence of an efficient proton donor, but of EEC type in aprotic solvents. In such a case, simple electron-transfer reactions 9 and 10 have to be associated chemical reactions and other electron transfers (at the level of the first step). Those reactions are shown below in detail ... 

The relative importance of the disproportionation process (SET between two anion radicals) depends principally on the thermodynamic constant (K). It can be easily determined more or less accurately from the potential difference existing between the first cathodic peak and the second one. (An exact calculation would be possible from the thermodynamic potentials of the two reversible transfers in the absence of proton sources and at reasonable sweep rates so as to inhibit any undesirable chemical reaction.)... 

At this point, special mention37 should be made of the behaviour of highly conjugated ethylenic sulphones in weakly acidic media. For example, in the case when R1 =Ph (Z isomer), a fairly stable anion radical was obtained in dry DMF. However, either in aprotic (consecutive two one-electron transfer) or in protic media (ECE process, occurrence of the protonation step on anion radical), C—S bond cleavage is observed. The formation of the corresponding olefins by C—S bond cleavage may occur in high yield, and is nearly quantitative when R1 = H and R2 = Ph for an electrolysis conducted in... 

In aprotic solvents (e.g. in DMF), the reduction does not take place by an ECE-type mechanism. In the case of diphenyl sulphoxide75 it can be shown that a fast disproportionation process occurs at the stage of the substrate anion radical ... 

This review is concerned with the formation of cation radicals and anion radicals from sulfoxides and sulfones. First the clear-cut evidence for this formation is summarized (ESR spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis in particular) followed by a discussion of the mechanisms of reactions with chemical oxidants and reductants in which such intermediates are proposed. In this section, the reactions of a-sulfonyl and oc-sulfinyl carbanions in which the electron transfer process has been proposed are also dealt with. The last section describes photochemical reactions involving anion and cation radicals of sulfoxides and sulfones. The electrochemistry of this class of compounds is covered in the chapter written by Simonet1 and is not discussed here some electrochemical data will however be used during the discussion of mechanisms (some reduction potential values are given in Table 1). 

Helvenston MC, CE Castro (1992) Nickel(l) octaethylisobacteriochlorin anion. An exceptional nucleophile. Reduction and coupling of alkyl halides by anionic and radical processes. A model for factor F-430. JAm Chem Soc 114 8490-8496. 

The cleavage of C—S bonds in C—SO2R anion radicals plays an important role in SrnI tyP processes ". Kornblum and coworkers described a photostimulated electron transfer chain substitution at a saturated carbon where the leaving group is PhSOj ... 

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