Arenes reactivities

Arenes spontaneously form intermolecular 1 1 complexes with a wide variety of electrophiles, cations, acids, and oxidants that are all sufficiently electron-poor to be classified as electron acceptors. Spectral, structural, and thermodynamic properties of these donor/ acceptor associates are described within the context of the Mulliken charge-transfer (CT) formulation. The quantitative analyses of such CT complexes provide the mechanistic basis for understanding arene reactivity in different thermal and photochemical processes. 

Charge transfer as depicted by Mullilcen provides a single unifying basis for predicting arene reactivity based on the spectral, structural (both molecular and electronic), and thermodynamic properties of their intermolecular complexes, from stable organometallic derivatives to non-bonded collision complexes with very short lifetimes. 

Several research groups have also used theoretical methods in an effort to understand the activating and deactivating effects of the substituents in S Ar reactions. For example, Galabov and coworkers have developed a computational approach for determining electrophile affinity, Ea, as a measure to determine arene reactivity and positional selectivity in S Ar reactions [36]. Other recent approaches to this problem include the development of reactive hybrid orbital analysis [37], the topological analysis of electron localization function [38], the calculations of electrostatic potentials at the arene carbons [39], and several other methods. A comprehensive summary of this area is beyond the scope of this chapter however, the interested reader may consult one of the recent reviews of this topic [40]. 

It is interesting to point out the relationship between the structure of compound 306 and that of other 7r-arene complexes of Pd and Pt involved in M-G bond formation or cleavage processes." " " " The ability of macrocyclic ligands to stabilize previously undetected nickel 7r-arene reactive complexes is further evidenced by the isolation and characterization of compound 308, which readily undergoes cr-Ni-C bond formation to give 309 (Equation (120))." ... 

Aryltrifluoromethyl ketones are prepared by reaction of an aryl-lithium with a,a,a-trifluoro-N,N-dimethylacetamide. 2-Acyloxypyridines and N-acylimidazoles, " in conjunction with trifluoroacetic acid, acylate arenes in good yield without the need for a classical Friedel-Crafts catalyst or a preformed mixed anhydride. However, imidazole in trifluoroacetic anhydride is reported to form 2-aryl-Af,JV -diacyl-4-imidazolines with arenes reactive towards electrophilic attack. These adducts are readily hydrolysed by sodium hydroxide to the corresponding aldehyde [equation (14)]. This sequence may offer advantages over the Vilsmeier method of formylation, in that the aldehyde is introduced in a protected form. 

This result represents the first example of a synthetic cycle for arene borylation facihtated by an f-element. The authors investigated the reaction mechanism and proposed a concerted direct B—H attack on an aromatic C—H bond, which resulted in the formation of the B—C bond and the release of one molecule of H2. This type of reactivity resembles a-bond metathesis if boron is considered a metal center. Albeit uranium was not directly involved in the borylation of the arene C—H bond, the formation of the diuranium arene inverse-sandwich complex plays an important role. The arene, i.e., benzene or naphthalene, is partially reduced upon coordination to uranium,which makes it more susceptible to attack by an electrophile such as borane. Therefore, although uranium is not direcdy involved in the C—H bond activation step, this example illustrates that f-elements can render arenes reactive in nonmetal-mediated transformations by forming activated arene metal complexes. 

In the complexes, [FeCp(ti -arene)][PF6], the arene ligand undergoes reactions resulting from Umpolung of the arene reactivity [45], i.e. the benzyUc groups are easily deprotonated [46], the chloride arene substituent is easily substimted by... 

The oxidative coupling of thiophene, furan[338] and pyrrole[339,340] is also possible. The following order of reactivity was observed in the coupling of substituted furans[338] R = H > Me > CHO > CO Me > CH(OAc)i > CO2H. The cross-coupling of furans and thiophenes with arene is possible, and 4-phenylfurfural (397) is the main product of the cross-coupling of furfural and benzene[341]. 

Chlorination is carried out m a manner similar to brommation and provides a ready route to chlorobenzene and related aryl chlorides Fluormation and lodmation of benzene and other arenes are rarely performed Fluorine is so reactive that its reaction with ben zene is difficult to control lodmation is very slow and has an unfavorable equilibrium constant Syntheses of aryl fluorides and aryl iodides are normally carried out by way of functional group transformations of arylammes these reactions will be described m Chapter 22... 

Sulfonation (Section 12 4) Sulfonic acids are formed when aromatic compounds are treated with sources of sulfur trioxide These sources can be concentrated sulfuric acid (for very reactive arenes) or solutions of sulfur trioxide in sulfuric acid (for ben zene and arenes less reactive than ben zene)... 

Halogenation (Section 12 5) Chlorination and bromination of arenes are carried out by treatment with the appropriate halogen in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst Very reactive arenes undergo halogenation in the absence of a catalyst... 

Carbocations usually generated from an alkyl halide and aluminum chloride attack the aromatic ring to yield alkylbenzenes The arene must be at least as reactive as a halobenzene Carbocation rearrangements can occur especially with primary alkyl hal ides... 

What are the reasons for the reactivity differences observed in Table 11.1 Why do some reactants appear to be much more "nucleophilic" than others The answers to these questions aren t straightforward. Part of the problem is that the term micleophilicit > is imprecise. The term is usually taken to be a measure of the affinity of a nucleophile for a carbon atom in the SN2 reaction, but the reactivity of a given nucleophile can change from one reaction to the next. The exact nucleophilicity of a species in a given reaction depends on the substrate, the solvent, and even the reactant concentrations. Detailed... 

Arylamines are converted by diazotization with nitrous acid into arenediazonium salts, ArN2+ X-. The diazonio group can then be replaced by many other substituents in the Sandmeyer reaction to give a wide variety of substituted aromatic compounds. Aryl chlorides, bromides, iodides, and nitriles can be prepared from arenediazonium salts, as can arenes and phenols. In addition to their reactivity toward substitution reactions, diazonium salts undergo coupling with phenols and arylamines to give brightly colored azo dyes. 

The 2-methyl group of 2-methyl-3T/-azepines, e.g. 11, is surprisingly reactive and undergoes rapid deuterium exchange and, in the presence of base, aldol condensation with areneal-dehydes to yield styryl derivatives, e.g. 12.76108... 

Reactions of the Cp ring similar to the arene s ligand but less reactive... 

Abstract The photoinduced reactions of metal carbene complexes, particularly Group 6 Fischer carbenes, are comprehensively presented in this chapter with a complete listing of published examples. A majority of these processes involve CO insertion to produce species that have ketene-like reactivity. Cyclo addition reactions presented include reaction with imines to form /1-lactams, with alkenes to form cyclobutanones, with aldehydes to form /1-lactones, and with azoarenes to form diazetidinones. Photoinduced benzannulation processes are included. Reactions involving nucleophilic attack to form esters, amino acids, peptides, allenes, acylated arenes, and aza-Cope rearrangement products are detailed. A number of photoinduced reactions of carbenes do not involve CO insertion. These include reactions with sulfur ylides and sulfilimines, cyclopropanation, 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, and acyl migrations. 

Arenes are unsaturated but, unlike the alkenes, they are not very reactive. Whereas alkenes commonly take part in addition reactions, arenes undergo predominantly substitution reactions, with the TT-bonds of the ring left intact. For example, bromine immediately adds to a double bond of an alkene but reacts with benzene only in the presence of a catalyst—typically, iron(III) bromide—and it does not affect the bonding in the ring. Instead, one of the bromine atoms replaces a hydrogen atom to give bromobenzene, C H Br ... 

Distinguish alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and arenes by differences in bonding, structure, and reactivity. 

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