Aromatic ring hydrogenation mechanism

The results are consistent with the rate-determining step being addition of the aryl radical to the aromatic ring, Eq. (9). Support for this mechanism is derived from the results of three other studies (a) When A -nitrosoacetanilide is decomposed in pyridine, the benzene formed by abstraction of hydrogen from pyridine by phenyl radical accounts for only 1 part in 120 of the reaction leading to phenyl-pyridines. (b) 9,9, 10,lCK-Tetrahydro-10,10 -diphenyl-9,9 -bianthryl is formed in the reaction between phenyl radicals and anthracene, probably by the addition mechanism in Eq. (11). Adducts are also formed in the reactions of benzyl radicals with anthracene- and acridine. ... 

Figure 16.5 The mechanism of electrophilic suifonation of an aromatic ring. An electrostatic potential map of the reactive electrophile H0S02+ shows that sulfur and hydrogen are the most positive atoms (blue. ...

The mechanism of side-chain oxidation is complex and involves reaction of C-J-l bonds at the position next to the aromatic ring to form intermediate ben-zylic radicals, tert- Butyl benzene has no benzylic hydrogens, however, and is therefore inert. 

The Mayo mechanism involves a thermal Diels-AIder reaction between two molecules of S to generate the adduct 95 which donates a hydrogen atom to another molecule of S to give the initiating radicals 96 and 97. The driving force for the molecule assisted homolysis is provided by formation of an aromatic ring. The Diels-AIder intermediate 95 has never been isolated. However, related compounds have been synthesized and shown to initiate S polymerization."110... 

In addition to the already described benzylic and phenylic cleavages (Chap. 6.4), phenylalkanes may undergo alkene loss by a mechanism that is perfectly analogous to the true McLafferty rearrangement, provided the alkyl substituent fulfills all requirements. The y-hydrogen is transferred to the ortto-position where the aromatic ring serves as the accepting double bond ... 

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