Cyclohexane reaction with oxygen atoms

More recently, photochemical reactions of 138 with cyclic and acyclic olefins have been described. When 138 is irradiated (Pyrex) with cyclo-heptatriene, [4 + 4]- and [4 + 6]-adducts (247-250, Scheme 16) are obtained in addition, photodimer 242 and o-dibenzoylbenzene (140) were isolated. The ratio of the [4 + 6]-adducts to the [4 + 4]-adducts [(249 + 250)/(247 + 248)] is increased in air-saturated benzene solutions compared with oxygen-free benzene solutions, and enhanced in heavy atom solvents (e.g., chloroform compared with cyclohexane) furthermore, this ratio is decreased in the presence of the triplet quencher azulene. These observations suggest that [4 + 6]- and [4 + 4]-adducts are formed by different mechanisms. 

Besides the oxygen atom reactions discussed earlier, we studied those involving I.2-C2H4CI2,66 NH3,66 and acetylene, cyclohexane, and benzene. At first attempts were made to find an O atom reaction that would be similar and at the same time essential for all substances. This is the ease, for example, for hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl. Hydrogen reacts with saturated hydrocarbons by abstraction of the H atom, and with unsaturated hydrocarbons by addition as well. Hydroxyl is believed to react with hydrocarbons by abstraction of the H atom and formation of water. 

Such metal-complexed nitrenes were also generated by the reaction of (tosyliminoio-do)benzene (106) with Mn(m)- or Fe(n)-tetraphenylporphyrin, 107, in a mimic of cytochrome P-450 but with a tosylimino group instead of an oxygen atom on the metals (108) [179]. It was able to functionalize cyclohexane solvent, by nitrogen insertion into a C-H bond to form 109. Furthermore, the metalloporphyrins also catalyzed an intramolecular nitrogen insertion converting 110 into 111 [180]. 

In the 1470-A. photolysis of cyclohexane-nitrous oxide solutions, nitrous oxide reacts with excited cyclohexane molecules to form nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The reaction of N20 with photoexcited 2,2,4-trimethylpentane molecules is much less efficient than with cyclohexane. In the radiolysis of these solutions, G(N2) is the same for different alkanes at low 5 mM) N20 concentrations. At higher concentrations, G(N2) from the radiolysis of cyclohexane is greater than G(N2) from the radiolysis of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane solutions. The N2 yields from 2,2,4-trimethylpentane are in excellent agreement with the theoretical yields of electrons expected to be scavenged by N20. The yield of N2 in the radiolysis of cyclohexane which is in excess of that formed from electrons is attributed to energy transfer from excited cyclohexane molecules to nitrous oxide. 

A wasteful side reaction which sometimes occurs in the alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is the formation of the 0-alkylated product. For example, reaction of the sodium salt of cyclohexan-l,3-dione with butyl bromide gives the 0-alkylated product (37%) and only 15 % of the C-alkylated 2-butylcyclohexan-1,3-dione. In general, however, 0-alkylation competes significantly with C-alkylation only with reactive methylene compounds in which the equilibrium concentration of enol is relatively high (as in 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds). The extent of C- versus 0-alkylation for a particular 1,3-dicarbonyl compound depends on the choice of cation, solvent and electrophile. Cations (such as Li+) that are more covalently bound to the enolate oxygen atom or soft electrophiles (such as alkyl halides) favour C-alkylation, whereas cations such as K+ or hard electrophiles (such as alkyl sulfonates) favour 0-alkylation. 

These oxidative carbonylations also occur with alkanes, although with low conversions of alkane and relatively low turnover numbers. Fujiwara reported that cyclohexane reacts with CO and K S Oj in the presence of palladium acetate and copper acetate in trifluoroacetic acid to form cyclohexane carboxylic acid with about 20 turnovers and about 4% yield based on alkane (Equation 18.24). Fujiwara also reported the carboxylation of methane with KjSjOj as oxidant with V(0)(acac)j as catalyst (Equation 18.25). This reaction occurred in 93% yield based on methane and with 18 turnovers. Sen reported a palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of methane with hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Subsequently, he showed that RhClj catalyzes the conversion of methane, CO, and oxygen to acetic acid at 100 °C in water (Equation 18.26). Periana has reported a somewhat related transformation of methane to acetic acid, although the reaction is conducted in the absence of CO, and both carbon atoms of the acetic acid arise from methane (Equation 18.27). In this case, the CO appears to arise from oxidation of the methaiie, as shown in Scheme 18.5. 

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