Cycloadditions, radical cation cyclobutane

A cation radical chain cycloaddition-polymerization catalysed by tris(4-bromophenyl)aminium hexachloroantimonate has been reported to afford polymers with an average molecular weight up to 150000. Both cyclobutanation and Diels-Alder polymers were obtained. " The reactivity of the phospine radical cation towards nucleophiles was studied. Tributylphosphine reacted with l,l-dimethyl-4,4-bipyridinium (methyl viologen, MV) in the presence of an alcohol or thiol (RXH X = O, S), which resulted in the gradual formation of the one-electron reduced form... 

Detailed mechanistic information concerning an intramolecular arylalkene cycloaddition yielding cyclobutane derivatives via a radical cation process gener-... 

Intramolecular bond formations include (net) [2 + 2] cycloadditions for example, diolefin 52, containing two double bonds in close proximity, forms the cage structure 53. This intramolecular bond formation is a notable reversal of the more general cycloreversion of cyclobutane type olefin dimers (e.g., 15 + to 16 +). The cycloaddition occurs only in polar solvents and has a quantum yield greater than unity. In analogy to several cycloreversions these results were interpreted in terms of a free radical cation chain mechanism. 

Unlike thermal [2 + 2] cycloadditions which normally do not proceed readily unless certain structural features are present (see Section 1.3.1.1.), metal-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions should be allowed according to orbital symmetry conservation rules. There is now evidence that most metal-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions proceed stepwise via metallacycloalkanes as intermediates and both their formation and transformation are believed to occur by concerted processes. In many instances such reactions occur with high regioselectivity. Another mode for [2 + 2] cyclodimerization and cycloadditions involves radical cation intermediates (hole-catalyzed) obtained from oxidation of alkcnes by strong electron acceptors such as triarylammini-um radical cation salts.1 These reactions are similar to photochemical electron transfer (PET) initiated [2 + 2] cyclodimerization and cycloadditions in which an electron acceptor is used in the irradiation process.2 Because of the reversibility of these processes there is very little stereoselectivity observed in the cyclobutanes formed. 

One of the problems associated with thermal cyclodimerization of alkenes is the elevated temperatures required which often cause the strained cyclobutane derivatives formed to undergo ring opening, resulting in the formation of secondary thermolysis products. This deficiency can be overcome by the use of catalysts (metals Lewis or Bronsted acids) which convert less reactive alkenes to reactive intermediates (metalated alkenes, cations, radical cations) which undergo cycloaddilion more efficiently. Nevertheless, a number of these catalysts can also cause the decomposition of the cyclobutanes formed in the initial reaction. Such catalyzed alkene cycloadditions are limited specifically to allyl cations, strained alkenes such as methylenccyclo-propane and donor-acceptor-substituted alkenes. The milder reaction conditions of the catalyzed process permit the extension of the scope of [2 + 2] cycloadditions to include alkene combinations which would not otherwise react. 

Another mode for catalyzed cycloaddition involves the generation of radical cations from electron-rich alkenes with single-electron oxidants such as tris(4-bromophenyl)amminium hexachloroantimonate (TBAH). An equivalent reaction involves the photosensitized electron transfer (PET) process (see Section 1.3.2.3.). These processes have been recently reviewed,9 and are limited to electron-rich alkenes capable of producing radical cations. Furthermore, some of the cyclobutanes themselves undergo secondary isomerization under the oxidative conditions, e.g. formation of 31-35.10-12... 

There are a number of other mechanisms by which alkenes can undergo photochemical f2 + 2) cycloaddition, one of which works well for electron-rich alkenes and electron-acceptor sensitizers. The pathway is through the radical cation of the alkene, which attacks a second, ground-state alkene molecule and then cydizes and accepts an electron to give the product cyclobutane. Typical of this group of reactions is the formation of 1,2-dialkoxycydobutanes from alkoxy-ethylenes with drcyanonaphthalene as sensitizer 12.78). 

Among the electron transfer induced reactions of cyclobutane systems, cycloreversions are the most prominent. These reactions are the reverse of the cycloadditions discussed in Sect. 4.1. The reactivity of the corresponding radical cations depends on their substitution pattern. We have mentioned the fast two-bond cycloreversion of quadicyclane radical cation as well as the ready ring closure of a tetracyclic system (3, Sect. 4.1). A related fragmentation of cis-, trans-, cis-1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclobutane (84) can be induced by pulse radiolysis of 1,2-dichloro-ethane solutions. This reaction produces the known spectrum of trans-stilbene radical cation (85) without a detectable intermediate and with a high degree of... 

The formation and cleavage of cyclobutane systems have been discussed in Sect. 3.1 and 4.4. The structure of the intermediates is of major interest. The cyclobutane radical cation has been calculated by several groups. Bauld and coworkers [342] modeled the cycloaddition of ethene radical cation to ethene by the MNDO method. At this level of theory an unsymmetrical structure with one long one-electron C—C o-bond is of lowest energy (Scheme 10, type Q. 

Bauld and coworkers studied the [2+2] cycloaddition of A-vinyl carbazoles 86a and electron-rich styrenes 86b catalyzed by iron(III) catalysts A or B in the presence of 2,2 -bipyridine as a ligand, which was reported originally by Ledwith and coworkers (Fig. 21) [142, 143]. Deuterium-labeling studies provided support for the stepwise nature of the process, consisting of reversible SET oxidation of the electron-rich olefin to a radical cation 86 A. Nucleophilic addition of excess 86 leads to distonic radical cation 86B, which cyclizes to cyclobutane radical cation 86C. Back electron transfer affords cyclobutanes 87 and regenerates the catalyst. Photoelectron transfer catalysis gave essentially the same result, thus supporting the pathway. 

Returning to the effect of solvents, two reasons for the frequently observed dominance of [2 + 2] cycloadditions in nonpolar solvents can be proposed. Less polar solvents will be less effective in stabilizing the radical cation species, thus giving rise to formation of CIP with the reduced sensitizer and more likely and more exothermic BET. Additionally, forward electron transfer might not favorable in all cases. The thermodynamically disfavored ET in nonpolar solvents increases the probability of a direct photoexcitation of the substrate, leading to the cyclobutane adduct via the normal Woodward-Hoffman dictated excited-state process. ... 

Whereas a [2 + 2] pericyclic reaction is essentially forbidden in the ground state, a [2+1] open-shell reaction is feasible. In this respect, the radical cations detected in this context represent distinct stages of pericyclic, radical-cation catalyzed cycloaddi-tions/cycloreversions. In Fig. 7.11, three distinct stages, a tight (cyclobutane-like), an extended (bis ethene), and a trapezoid, of a hole- (or radical-cation) catalyzed cycloaddition/cycloreversion are presented in a schematic way. °... 

For pagodane-related carbon skeletons 4C/3e radical cations with tight and extended geometries could be established by spectroscopy (predominately EPR) and quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level of theory. Such structures resemble frozen stages of cycloadditions/cycloreversions on the hyper energy surface of the hole-catalyzed cyclobutane formation. 

Recent studies [382] have provided rate data for cycloaddition reactions. Accordingly, steric effects at the electrophile site, and the capacity of the added unsaturated component RCH=CH2 to stabilize radicals and cations, play a vital role, the importance of which is reflected in a rate decrease for R = Ph OR > vinyl > alkyl by a factor of 100-300. In principle, the observed trends follow those for addition of car-bocations to alkenes [292]. A study of the [2-1-1] cycloaddition of 4-methoxystyrene also emphasizes the importance of the rapid one-electron reduction of the intermediate dimer radical cation [383]. A direct view of 4-center 3-electron cyclobutane [384] and bisdiazene-oxide [385] radical cations has been obtained with polycyclic, rigid systems. 

Cycloadditions only proceeding after electron transfer activation via the radical cation of one partner are illustrated by the final examples. According to K. Mizono various bis-enolethers tethered by long chains (polyether or alkyl) can be cyclisized to bicyclic cyclobutanes using electron transfer sensitizer like dicyanonaphthalene or dicyano-anthracene. Note that this type of dimerization starting from enol ethers are not possible under triplet sensitization or by direct irradiation. Only the intramolecular cyclization ci the silane-bridged 2>. s-styrene can be carried out under direct photolysis. E. Steckhan made use of this procedure to perform an intermolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of indole to a chiral 1,3-cyclohexadiene. He has used successfully the sensitizer triphenylpyrylium salt in many examples. Here, the reaction follows a general course which has been developed Bauld and which may be called "hole catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction". 

Cycloaddition reactions of alkene radical cations have been the subject of a number of mechanistic studies and are potentially useful synthetic reactions. - - - Most of the initial work on radical cation mediated cycloadditions focused on the dimerization of arylalkenes. with one of the first examples being Ledwith s report of the chloranil-sensitized dimerization of M-vinylcarba-zole to generate a diarylcyclobutane. This work led to the development of the mechanism outlined in Scheme 2, in which addition of the radical cation to neutral alkene generates an acyclic 1,4-radical cation as the primary intermediate. This intermediate cyclizes to a cyclobutane radical cation that is then reduced by the neutral alkene and regenerates a second radical cation to carry the chain. 

Despite the demonstrated utility of alkene radical cation cycloadditions, little kinetic data for these reactions are currently available. However, two recent studies have provided rate constants for the initial step in the cyclobutanation or Diels-Alder reactions of a number of styrene radical cations.Previous work by Bauld had shown that the rrradical cation reacts with a variety of alkenes to generate either cyclobutane or Diels—Alder adducts (Eqs. 23, 24) 110 j, g [jnetic data for the styrene radical cation cycloadditions, in combination with the dimerization results discussed above, provide a detailed assessment of the effects of radical cation and alkene structure on dimerization and cross addition reactions. 

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