Cyclization reactions propagation

After the first dehydration step, the reaction propagates by successive dehydration-methanolation steps, competing with poly-merization-cyclization-aromatization processes. The existence of dehydration-methanolation mechanism is inferred from the constant presence of a small amount of methanol (from in situ C-NMR observation) on the catalyst. Further evidence has been acquired in favor of the carbenium ion chain-growth mechanism from the l C-NMR study of CO incorporation into the products during the conversion of methanol (46). 

Some free-radical cyclization reactions require only a catalytic amount of BusSnH or Bu3SnSnBu3. Such a reaction, instead of replacing a C-X bond with a OH bond, simply relocates the X atom. These atom transfer cyclizations differ from more conventional free-radical cyclizations in that the last step in the propagation involves abstraction of X- from a C-X bond not by -SnBu3 but by the cyclized starting material. The last step is kinetically viable only when a stronger bond is made from a weaker one. In the following example, a Si-1 bond is made at the expense of a OI bond. 

For more than three decades chemists have been attempting to mimic cationic cyclization reactions [54,55]. This work has lead to the reaUzation that cationic cyclization reactions can be divided into three distinct steps initiation, propagation and termination. Each of these steps must be rigidly controlled if one wishes to precisely organize the reaction outcome. 

The mechanisms of intramolecular free-radical cyclization reactions are no different from their intermolecular counterparts. The propagation part of the mechanism usually involves (1) abstraction of -Br, T, or -SeR by Bu3Sn- to give an alkyl radical, (2) one or more additions of an alkyl radical to a tt bond, and... 

Under the conditions of a kinetically controlled polycondensation reaction, cyclization reactions compete with propagation steps. The extent of cyclization depends on the flexibility of the polymer chain and on the concentration of the active species. Blends of PES with its homologous macrocyclic oligomers show greatly lowered melt viscosities in comparison to the corresponding original PES. 

Cyclization reactions are expected with the assumption fliat the probability of eyelization is proportional to the number of loeal pendant vinyl groups conneeted to the thiyl radical centers. The cyclization reaction is arbitrarily truncated at a critical size, N, in that only cycles with sizes less than N are allowed during gelation. The relative rate constant of cyclization with respect to propagation was calculated using the kinetic model and the experimental gelation data obtained for a thiol-ene system consisting of divinyl... 

Formation of cyclic oligomers in cationic polymerization of highly strained four-membered cyclic ethers, oxetanes, seems to proceed in parallel with propagation and virtually stops when monomer is consumed. The equilibrium is not attained probably because the active species of propagation are not stable and their terminated forms, like protonated polymer, formed after finished polymerization, are not effective in starting any cyclization reactions, unless a new portion of monomer is added. 

Cyclizations involving iodine-atom transfers have been developed. Among the most effective examples are reactions involving the cyclization of 6-iodohexene derivatives. The 6-hexenyl radical generated by iodine-atom abstraction rapidly cyclizes to a cyclo-pentylmethyl radical. The chain is propagated by iodine-atom transfer. 

Wawzonek et al. first investigated the mechanism of the cyclization of A-haloamines and correctly proposed the free radical chain reaction pathway that was substantiated by experimental data. "" Subsequently, Corey and Hertler examined the stereochemistry, hydrogen isotope effect, initiation, catalysis, intermediates, and selectivity of hydrogen transfer. Their results pointed conclusively to a free radical chain mechanism involving intramolecular hydrogen transfer as one of the propagation steps. Accordingly, the... 

The previously outlined mechanistic scheme, postulating reversible propagation and cyclization, was simplified by neglecting the de-cyclization because in the very short time of the studied reaction the extent of de-cyclization is negligible. The rate constants appearing in the appropriate differential equations were computer adjusted until the calculated conversion curves, shown in Fig. 7, fit the experimental points. The results seem to be reliable inspite of the stiffness of the differential equations. 

The most studied catalyst family of this type are lithium alkyls. With relatively non-bulky substituents, for example nBuLi, the polymerization of MMA is complicated by side reactions.4 0 These may be suppressed if bulkier initiators such as 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium are used,431 especially at low temperature (typically —78 °C), allowing the synthesis of block copolymers.432,433 The addition of bulky lithium alkoxides to alkyllithium initiators also retards the rate of intramolecular cyclization, thus allowing the polymerization temperature to be raised.427 LiCl has been used to similar effect, allowing monodisperse PMMA (Mw/Mn = 1.2) to be prepared at —20 °C.434 Sterically hindered lithium aluminum alkyls have been used at ambient (or higher) temperature to polymerize MMA in a controlled way.435 This process has been termed screened anionic polymerization since the bulky alkyl substituents screen the propagating terminus from side reactions. 

In the gluco case (Scheme 13) the radical cyclization, with its requirement for the formation of a czs-fused ring junction [129,130], takes place uneventfully on the opposite face of the alkene radical cation to the one shielded by the phosphate anion, whereas in the manno series cyclization is severely retarded by the presence of the phosphate group above the face of the radical cation on which cyclization must occur. This steric retardation of the cyclization step results in a breakdown of chain propagation and results in the longer reaction times observed. Furthermore, the retardation of the radical cyclization step in the manno case enables the alkene radical cation to take... 

The cyclization of 8, s-unsaturated acyl radicals has been the research subject of several groups [27]. The propagation steps for the prototype reaction are illustrated in Scheme 7.4. The 5-exo 6-endo product ratio varies with the change of the silane concentration due to the competition of hydrogen abstraction from the silane with the ring expansion path. 

It was proposed that an initially generated silyl radical 3, by reaction of i-BuO radical and polysilane 2, attacks another silicon atom in the same backbone to give a cyclic polysilane that contains an acyclic chain and another silyl radical (Scheme 8.1) [12]. The last silyl radical can either cyclize or abstract a hydrogen atom from another macromolecule, thus propagating the chain degradation. The reaction in Scheme 8.1 is an example of intramolecular homolytic substitution (ShO, a class of reactions discussed in Chapter 6. 

The importance of intramolecular cyclization was emphasized when Butler and coworkers found that the radical polymerization of N, N, N, /V-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) gave soluble, uncrosslinked polymers with little or no unsaturation (Eq. 6-101) [Butler and Angelo, 1957 Butler and Ingley, 1951 Wandrey et al., 1999]. There is a very low tendency for radical IV to propagate intermolecularly and undergo crosslinking. The predominant reaction is intramolecular cyclization, and the product is a linear product with cyclic structures in the backbone. The reaction is referred to as alternating intra/intermolecular polymerization or cyclopolymerization. 

Secondary reactions usually proceed in addition to template polymerization of the system template-monomer-solvent. They influence both kinetics of the reaction and the structure of the reaction products. Depending on the basic mechanism of reaction, typical groups of secondary reactions can take place. For instance, in polycondensation, there are such well known reactions as cyclization, decarboxylation, dehydratation, oxidation, hydrolysis, etc. In radical polymerization, usually, in addition to the main elementary processes (initiation, propagation and termination), we have the usual chain transfer to the monomer or to the solvent which change the molecular weight of the product obtained. Also, chain transfer to the polymer leads to the branched polymer. 

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