Conservation of orbitals

The Woodward-Hoffmann method [52], which assumes conservation of orbital symmetry, is another variant of the same idea. In it, the emphasis is put on the symmetries of molecular orbitals. Longuet-Higgins and Abramson [53] noted the necessity of state-to-state correlation, rather than the orbital correlation, which is not rigorously justified (see also, [30,44]). However, the orbital symmetry conservation rules appear to be very useful for most themial reactions. 

Conservation of orbital symmetry is a general principle that requires orbitals of the same phase (sign) to match up in a chemical reaction. For example, if terminal orbitals are to combine with one another in a cyclixation reaction as in pattern. A, they must rotate in the same dii ection (conrotatory ovei lap). but if they combine according to pattern H. they must rotate in opposite directions (disrotatory). In each case, rotation takes place so that overlap is between lobes of the it orbitals that are of the same sign. 

Woodward, R.B. and Hoffmann, R. Conservation of Orbital Symmetry Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, ERG, 1970. 

R. B. Woodward and R. Hoffmann, The Conservation of Orbital Symmety, Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1970. 

Cycloaddition involves the combination of two molecules in such a way that a new ring is formed. The principles of conservation of orbital symmetry also apply to concerted cycloaddition reactions and to the reverse, concerted fragmentation of one molecule into two or more smaller components (cycloreversion). The most important cycloaddition reaction from the point of view of synthesis is the Diels-Alder reaction. This reaction has been the object of extensive theoretical and mechanistic study, as well as synthetic application. The Diels-Alder reaction is the addition of an alkene to a diene to form a cyclohexene. It is called a [47t + 27c]-cycloaddition reaction because four tc electrons from the diene and the two n electrons from the alkene (which is called the dienophile) are directly involved in the bonding change. For most systems, the reactivity pattern, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity are consistent with describing the reaction as a concerted process. In particular, the reaction is a stereospecific syn (suprafacial) addition with respect to both the alkene and the diene. This stereospecificity has been demonstrated with many substituted dienes and alkenes and also holds for the simplest possible example of the reaction, that of ethylene with butadiene ... 

Prior to the delineation of the concept of conservation of orbital symmetry by Woodward and Hoffmann, Bachmann and Deno reported that all Diels-Alder reactions... 

See e.g. R. B. Woodward, R. Hoee-MANN, The Conservation of Orbital Symmetry, Verlag Chemie 1970 (b) L. Elem-... 

An explanation for the finding that concerted [4 -I- 2] cycloadditions take place thermally, while concerted [2 + 2] cycloadditions occur under photochemical conditions, is given through the principle of conservation of orbital symmetry. According to the Woodw ard-Hofmann rules derived thereof, a concerted, pericyclic [4 -I- 2] cycloaddition reaction from the ground state is symmetry-allowed. 

The spin rule is satisfied, but the orbital angular momentum rule is not. The reaction is apparently fast at low ion energies (4) hence, if there is an important selection rule in the combination of reactants, it is seemingly the spin rule. Conservation of spin in combining reactants is probably more likely than conservation of orbital angular momentum, since the latter will be more strongly coupled to collision angular momentum. 

The names for these mechanisms vary throughout the literature. For example, the Sgi mechanism has also been called the Sp2, the Se2 (closed), and the Se2 (cyclic) mechanism. The original designations, Se 1, Se2, and so on, were devised by the Hughes-Ingold school. It has been contended that the SeI mechanism violates the principle of conservation of orbital symmetry (p. 1068), and that the Se2 (back) mechanism partially violates it Slack, D.A. Baird, M.C. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1976, 98, 5539. 

It must be emphasized once again that the rules apply only to cycloaddition reactions that take place by cyclic mechanisms, that is, where two s bonds are formed (or broken) at about the same time. The rule does not apply to cases where one bond is clearly formed (or broken) before the other. It must further be emphasized that the fact that the thermal Diels-Alder reaction (mechanism a) is allowed by the principle of conservation of orbital symmetry does not constitute proof that any given Diels-Alder reaction proceeds by this mechanism. The principle merely says the mechanism is allowed, not that it must go by this pathway. However, the principle does say that thermal 2 + 2 cycloadditions in which the molecules assume a face-to-face geometry cannot take place by a cyclic mechanism because their activation energies would be too high (however, see below). As we shall see (15-49), such reactions largely occur by two-step mechanisms. Similarly. 2 + 4 photochemical cycloadditions are also known, but the fact that they are not stereospecific indicates that they also take place by the two-step diradical mechanism (mechanism... 

In 15-58, we used the principle of conservation of orbital symmetry to explain why certain reactions take place readily and others do not. The orbital symmetry principle can also explain why certain molecules are stable though highly strained. For example, quadricyclane and hexamethylprismane are thermodynamically much less stable (because much more strained) than their corresponding isomeric dienes, norbomadiene and hexamethylbicyclo[2.2.0]hexadiene (108). Yet the... 

Woodward, R.B. Hoffmann, R. The Conservation of Orbital Symmetry Academic Press NY, 1970 p. 114. 

Hoffmann R, Woodward RB (1970) The conservation of orbital symmetry, Verlag Chimie/ Academic, New York... 

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