Cyclopropyl substrates nucleophilic

We have previously seen (p. 437) that this is the reason nucleophilic substitutions are not feasible at a cyclopropyl substrate. The reaction is often used to convert... 

Cyclic substrates. Cyclopropyl substrates are extremely resistant to nucleophilic attack.285 For example, cyclopropyl tosylate solvolyzes about 106 times more slowly than cyclobutyl tosylate in acetic acid at (WC.286 When such attack does take place, the result is generally not normal substitution (though exceptions are known,287 especially when an a stabilizing group such as aryl or alkoxy is present) but ring opening 288... 

Trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) ion is an exceptionally good leaving grov. It can be used for nucleophilic substitution reactions on unreactive substrates. Acetolysis of cyclopropyl triflate, for example, occurs 10 times faster than acetolysis of cyclopropyl tosylate. Table 5.11 gives a conqiarison of the triftate group with some other common leaving groups. 

Many cyclopropyl chlorides and bromides have been converted to alkoxycyclopropanes by treatment with a strong base, in most cases potassium rerf-butoxide, in an appropriate organic solvent (Table 13). Under such conditions, hydrogen halide elimination takes place, yielding strained cyclopropene intermediates, which are trapped by nucleophilic attack of the alkoxide. Overall, a simple substitution occurs when a bond is formed between the alkoxide group and the carbon atom to which the halide was attached. This is the case when l-chloro-5-methyl-exo-6-phenyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one (1) was reacted with potassium /ert-butoxide l-/er/-butoxy-5-methyl-ent/o-6-phenyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one (2) was isolated in 94% yield.If a C-O bond is established at the other olefinic carbon atom, a C H bond is concomitantly formed at the carbon atom, to which the halide was attached. The result is a double substitution which is discussed elsewhere (see Section 5.2.1.3 ). When the substrate contains more than one halogen atom, several elimination reactions usually take place. Thus, treatment of 1 -bromo-2-chloro-2-methylcyclopropane (3) with an excess of potassium /er/-butoxide gave l-ter/-butoxy-2-methylenecyclopropane (4) in 30% yield. 

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