Conformers transoidal

The 1,4-addition of acetylenic alanes to conjugated enone systems proceeds through a cyclic transition state and is therefore limited to enones which are able to achieve a cw-conformation, transoid olefins giving the 1,2-adduct. 

Theoretical work by the groups directed by Sustmann and, very recently, Mattay attributes the preference for the formation of endo cycloadduct in solution to the polarity of the solvent Their calculations indicate that in the gas phase the exo transition state has a lower energy than the endo counterpart and it is only upon introduction of the solvent that this situation reverses, due to the difference in polarity of both transition states (Figure 1.2). Mattay" stresses the importance of the dienophile transoid-dsoid conformational equilibrium in determining the endo-exo selectivity. The transoid conformation is favoured in solution and is shown to lead to endo product, whereas the cisoid conformation, that is favoured in the gas phase, produces the exo adduct This view is in conflict with ab initio calculations by Houk, indicating an enhanced secondary orbital interaction in the cisoid endo transition state . 

Conformation. The exact conformation of the isoprene molecule is stiU in doubt. It is generally accepted that rotation is restricted around the central C—C single bond. Isoprene may be considered as an equiHbrium of two conformations, namely a cisoid s-cis) conformation in which both vinyl groups are located on the same side of the C—C bond, and a transoid s-trans) one with the vinyl groups located on the opposite sides of the bond. The predominance of the trans-planar or nonplanar configuration has been supported by experimental data (10—14). 

In a definitive study of butadiene s reaction with l,l-dichloro-2,2-difluoio-ethylene, Bartlett concluded that [2+4] adducts of acyclic dienes with fluorinated ethylenes are formed through a mixture of concerted and nonconcerted, diradical pathways [67] The degree of observed [2+4] cycloaddition of fluorinated ethylenes IS related to the relative amounts of transoid and cisoid conformers of the diene, with very considerable (i.e., 30%) Diels-Alder adduct being observed in competition with [2+2] reaction, for example, in the reaction of 1,1 -dichloro-2,2-difluoro-ethylene with cyclopentadiene [9, 68]... 

For a discussion of the mechanistic course of the reaction, many aspects have to be taken into account. The cisoid conformation of the diene 1, which is in equilibrium with the thermodynamically more favored transoid conformation, is a prerequisite for the cycloaddition step. Favored by a fixed cisoid geometry are those substrates where the diene is fitted into a ring, e.g. cyclopentadiene 5. This particular compound is so reactive that it dimerizes easily at room temperature by undergoing a Diels-Alder reaction ... 

In case of a Z,Z-configurated diene 6, the transoid conformation is favored, because of unfavorable steric interactions of substituents at C-1 and C-4 in the... 

Solvent polarity is also important in directing the reaction bath and the composition and orientation of the products. For example, the polymerization of butadiene with lithium in tetrahydrofuran (a polar solvent) gives a high 1,2 addition polymer. Polymerization of either butadiene or isoprene using lithium compounds in nonpolar solvent such as n-pentane produces a high cis-1,4 addition product. However, a higher cis-l,4-poly-isoprene isomer was obtained than when butadiene was used. This occurs because butadiene exists mainly in a transoid conformation at room temperature (a higher cisoid conformation is anticipated for isoprene) ... 

The diene must be in the cisoid conformation. If it is frozen into the transoid conformation, as in 84, the reaction does not take place. The diene either must be frozen into the cisoid conformation or must be able to achieve it during the reaction. 

N-Benzoyl-Lalanine methyl ester is in turn about eight times more reactive than is its D enantiomer). The open-chain compounds may not bind to the enzyme in the same manner, however, as does the locked substrate. The conformation around the amido bond of the open-chain compounds, for example, can be transoid rather than cisoid (81). In addition, if equatorial 24 is considered to be the reactive conformer for both the Dand L enantiomers, and if the alanine methyl group is attracted to the hydrophobic aromatic binding subsite, then structures 34 and 38 would result. The L enantiomer of N-benzoyl-phenylalanine methyl ester 38 in this representation has approximately the same conformation as equatorial L-24. But attraction of the methyl of the D enantiomer to the location occupied by the methyl group of the L enantiomer causes the carbomethoxy group to move from the position it occupies in D-24. 

D. Restricted Rotation.—A study on solvent and stereochemical effects on the restricted rotation of the stabilized ylides (35) has shown that although the cisoid (Z) conformation (35a) is generally predominant there is an increase in the amount of the transoid ( ) conformation (35b) as the size... 

Cyclic dienes which are locked in the cisoid conformation, e.g. (82), are found to react very much faster than acyclic dienes in which the required conformation has to be attained by rotation about the single bond (the transoid conformation is normally the more stable of the two). Thus cyclopentadiene (82) is sufficiently reactive to add to itself to form a tricyclic dimer, whose formation—like most Diels-Alder reactions—is reversible. 

Dienes in quasi-s-fraws conformation are found only in cyclic structures where perfect planarity is hindered. The DR also holds valid for this kind of conformation, as demonstrated by the considerations of Section II.D.l.a and also confirmed by all the reported calculations. Indeed, contrary to what is sometimes found for cisoid systems, the rotational strength evaluated by many types of calculation is invariably found to follow the diene rule for transoid systems. However, very small skew angles are usually found in real molecules and this implies that the main contribution to the observed optical activity cannot come from the weak intrinsic distortion, but is more likely to stem from the dissymmetric perturbations, notably of the allylic axial substituents. 

Although the main-chain conformations of polysilanes have been described as random coil, 73- (deviant helical), 157 (transoid helical), and 2i (all anti, planar) structures, it is now generally accepted that most polysilanes tend to adopt helical main-chain structures, regardless of side groups and temperature.39 It... 

Figure 12 Ladder H HOMO coefficients for conformers of Si31 Me64 with cisoid (C) or gauche (G) kinks in an all-transoid chain (amplitude shown by bar length and sign by fill).228 Adapted with permission from Schepers, T. Michl, J. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2002, 15, 490-498. 2002 John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Single crystal analysis of polysilanes is rare, since the structural variations in polymer samples usually preclude the formation of crystals of sufficient quality and size, although there are a few reports. The structure of l,6-bis[(i )-2-phenylpropyl]dodecapropylhexasilane, 5(R), with terminal chiral groups has been reported 15 the conformation is M-screw sense all-transoid with backbone dihedral angles in the range —172° to —177°, and was described as a 157 helix the structure is shown in Figure 21. 

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