Concerted reactions sigmatropic rearrangements

Pericyclic processes comprise a broad and important class of concerted reactions of both theoretical and practical interest. These transformations, which are especially useful in the construction of carbon-carbon bonds,93 include electrocyclic reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements, and cycloadditions. Because they are not typically subject to general acid-general base chemistry but can be highly sensitive to strain and proximity effects, they are attractive targets for antibody catalysis. 

The Claisen rearrangement is the concerted pericyclic sigmatropic rearrangement which occurs when allyl aryl ethers are heated at high temperatiure without catalysts [1,2]. If an ortho position is unfilled, the reaction leads to o-allylphenols (Figure 1). 

Pericyclic reactions are concerted processes that occur by way of a cyclic transition state in which more than one bond is formed or broken within the cycle. The classic example of such a process is the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction, one of the most common and useful synthetic reactions in organic chemistry. Cycloaddition reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements and electrocyclic reactions all fall into the category of pericyclic processes, representative examples of which are given in Schemes 3.1-3.3. This chapter will discuss these reactions and their use in synthesis. 

Classify the following reactions as electrocyclizations, sigmatropic rearrangements, cycloadditions, etc., and give the correct symbolism for the electrons involved in each concerted process. Some of the reactions proceed by two sequential processes. 

This reaction proceeds by a concerted, [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement (cf. the Claisen rearrangement) where one carbon-carbon single bond breaks, while the new one is formed. It is a reversible reaction the thermodynamically more stable isomer is formed preferentially ... 

For the mechanistic course of that reaction two pathways are discussed " a concerted [l,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, and a pathway via an intermediate diradical species. Experimental findings suggest that both pathways are possible. The actual pathway followed strongly depends on substrate structure the diradical pathway appears to be the more important. 

In certain cases the reaction may proceed by a concerted mechanism. With allyl ethers a concerted [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement via a five-membered six-electron transition state is possible " ... 

Chapter 6 looks at concerted pericyclic reactions, including the Diels-Alder reaction, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, [3,3]- and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements, and thermal elimination reactions. The carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions are emphasized and the stereoselectivity of the reactions is discussed in detail. 

As a result of these heavy-atom KIE experiments the principal features of the benzidine rearrangements have now been firmly established. The two main products arise from two parallel reactions one of which is concerted and the other is not. Other concerted processes have been identified and all of the concerted processes can be readily classified in the terminology of sigmatropic rearrangements within the general class of percyclic reactions. 

A plateau on the PE hypersurface is not the only feature that can serve to muddy the distinction between concerted and stepwise reactions. Another occurs when an intermediate, even one in a quite deep PE well, is located off the direct path from reactant to product. An example comes from the nominal [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of 1,2,6-heptatriene. If heated alone, in the gas phase, the reactant rearranges cleanly to the [3,3] product, 3-methylene-1,5-hexadiene. However, Roth et al. showed that an intermediate could be trapped when the reaction was conducted in high-pressure oxygen ( ). They postulated that the intermediate was the... 

The other major reaction pathway for oxonium ylide is [l,2]-shift (Stevens rearrangement). Compared with [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, which is an orbital symmetry-allowed concerted process, the [l,2]-shift has higher activation barrier, [1,2]-Shift is generally considered as stepwise process with radical pair as possible intermediates. 

Pericyclic reactions are concerted reactions that take place in a single step without any intermediates, and involve a cyclic redistribution of bonding electrons. The concerted nature of these reactions gives fine stereochemical control over the generation of the product. The best-known examples of this reaction are the Diels-Alder reaction (cyclo-addition) and sigmatropic rearrangement. 

This procedure illustrates a general method for the preparation of rearranged allylic amines from allylic alcohols.2,3 The method is experimentally simple and has been used to prepare a variety of allylic prim-, sec-, and tert-carbonyl amines as illustrated in Table I. The only limitation encountered so far is a competing ionic elimination reaction which becomes important for tri-chloroacetimidic esters of 3-substituted-2-cyclohexen-l-ols.3 4 The rearrangement is formulated as a concerted [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement on the basis of its stereo- and regiospecificity3,5 which are... 

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