Cyclopropanes reaction with radicals

D. L. Phillips, W.H. Fang, and X. Zheng, Isodiiodomethane is the methylene transfer agent in cyclopropanation reactions with olefins using ultraviolet photolysis of diiodomethane in solutions a density functional theory investigation of the reactions of isodiiodomethane, iodomethyl radical, and iodomethyl cation with ethylene. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123(18), 4197-4203 (2001). 

Chapter 10 considers the role of reactive intermediates—carbocations, carbenes, and radicals—in synthesis. The carbocation reactions covered include the carbonyl-ene reaction, polyolefin cyclization, and carbocation rearrangements. In the carbene section, addition (cyclopropanation) and insertion reactions are emphasized. Recent development of catalysts that provide both selectivity and enantioselectivity are discussed, and both intermolecular and intramolecular (cyclization) addition reactions of radicals are dealt with. The use of atom transfer steps and tandem sequences in synthesis is also illustrated. 

As previously mentioned, Davis (8) has shown that in model dehydrocyclization reactions with a dual function catalyst and an n-octane feedstock, isomerization of the hydrocarbon to 2-and 3-methylheptane is faster than the dehydrocyclization reaction. Although competitive isomerization of an alkane feedstock is commonly observed in model studies using monofunctional (Pt) catalysts, some of the alkanes produced can be rationalized as products of the hydrogenolysis of substituted cyclopentanes, which in turn can be formed on platinum surfaces via free radical-like mechanisms. However, the 2- and 3-methylheptane isomers (out of a total of 18 possible C8Hi8 isomers) observed with dual function catalysts are those expected from the rearrangement of n-octane via carbocation intermediates. Such acid-catalyzed isomerizations are widely acknowledged to occur via a protonated cyclopropane structure (25, 28), in this case one derived from the 2-octyl cation, which can then be the precursor... 

Heteroatom-substituted carbene complexes are less electrophilic than the corresponding methylene, dialkylcarbene, or diarylcarbene complexes. For this reason cyclopropanation of electron-rich alkenes with the former does not proceed as readily as with the latter. Usually high reaction temperatures are necessary, with radical scavengers being used to supress side-reactions (Table 2.16). Also acceptor-substituted alkenes can be cyclopropanated by Fischer-type carbene complexes, but with this type of substrate also heating is generally required. 

In theoretical work, the initial steps in the polymerization of 1,1-dicyano-, 1,1-difluoro-, and 1,1-dimethyl-cyclopropanes by reaction with H, OH, and Me have been modelled by ab initio methods. " Other ab initio MO calculations for the reactions of H, Me, Ft, j-Pr, and r-Bu with a variety of silanes and germanes have been carried out. The results indicate that the attacking and leaving radicals adopt an almost co-linear arrangement. Bond distances and energy barriers were predicted for the reactions studied. 

We have mentioned that the structural parameters of C2H4 bridged compounds can vary over a wide range. Whereas most examples reported do not have metal-metal bonds, there is one conspicuous exception. Theopold and Bergman succeeded in synthesizing the propane-1,3-d iyl cobalt derivative 125 from the radical anion [(t) ,-C5H5)Co(/z-CO)12 and 1,3-dibromopropane (98, 295) in 40 5 yield. This compound is best described as a dimetallacyclopentane, and its chemistry (thermolysis and reaction with CO and phosphines Scheme 34) supports this view. Formation of cyclopropane (100°C or I2/25°C) is probably the most remarkable feature of this cyclic system. Simple C—C bond formation has never been observed before in ligand-induced or thermal reactions of either mono- or binuclear cyclopentadienylcobalt complexes. The architectural details of... 

Cubyl anion has been prepared by reacting (trimethylsilyl)cubane with fluoride ion in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer and its reactions with acids such as H2O, Me2NH, EtNH2, MeNH2, and NH3 have been monitored. The results suggest that cubane is thermodynamically more acidic than cyclopropane. The electron affinity of the cubyl radical and the C—H BDE for cubane have also been estimated.126... 

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