Halides bond dissociation energies

The heats of formation of the gaseous atoms, 4, are not very different clearly, it is the change in the bond dissociation energy of HX, which falls steadily from HF to HI, which is mainly res ponsible for the changes in the heats of formation. 6. We shall see later that it is the very high H—F bond energy and thus the less easy dissoeiation of H—F into ions in water which makes HF in water a weak aeid in comparison to other hydrogen halides. 

FIGURE 2.18 The bond dissociation energies of the hydrogen halide molecules in kilojoules per mole of molecules. Note how the bonds weaken as the halogen atom becomes larger. 

The bond dissociation energy of fluoromethane is 115 kcal mol , which is much higher than the other halides (C-Cl, C-Br and C-1, respectively 84, 72 and 58 kcal mol ) [6], Due to its strength, the carbon-fluorine (C-F) bond is one of the most challenging bonds to activate [7], A variety of C-F bond activation reactions have been carried out with different organometallic complexes [8], Among them, nickel [9] and ruthenium complexes have proven to proceed selectively under mild conditions [10],... 

The validity of equation (12) has been checked for several families of alkyl halides for which D and E /x- are known (Ref. 32, see particularly figure 6 therein). It was thus found that for v = 0.1 V s the constant is equal to 0.3 eV at 20°C (expressing D in eV and the potentials in V). Equation (12) was then applied to the approximate determination of unknown BDEs in several series of compounds undergoing dissociative electron transfer, namely, TV-halosultams,32 sulfonium cations,33 vicinal dihalides,34 1,3-dihaloadamantes, 1,4-dihalo-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, and l,3-dihalobicyclo[l.l.l]pentanes.35 In the latter case, the mutual influence of the two halogens could be rationalized thanks to the conversion of the peak potential data to bond dissociation energies. 

The next question which presents itself is whether we can explain why in some systems solvent co-catalysis occurs, whereas in others, apparently similar, it does not. Let it be said first that in fact there is very little experimental evidence on this point. From the thermochemical point of view one can say that alkyl halide co-catalysis is the more probable, the lower the heterolytic bond dissociation energy of the alkyl halide, the more stable the cation derived from the monomer, and the smaller the anion derived from the metal halide. It must, however, be remembered that the non-occurrence of alkyl halide co-catalysis may be due to a kinetic prohibition, i.e., an excessively high activation energy for a reaction which is thermodynamically possible. 

Figure 1 Bond dissociation energies for some methyl and substituted methyl halides...

Average bond dissociation energies for a selection of metal halides... 

Similar decomposition is observed in p-bromoacetophenone, o-bromo-, p-bromo, and p,p -dibromobenzophenone, and p-iodobenzophenone44 but not in the fluoro- and chloro-substituted compounds. This order of reactivity follows the bond dissociation energies for aromatic halides which are about 90 kcal/mole for chlorobenzene, 70 kcal/mole for bromobenzene, and 60 kcal/ mole for iodobenzene. The lowest-lying triplet of p-bromoacetophenone is 71.2 kcal45 while that of the substituted benzophenones is slightly lower since benzophenone itself has a lower triplet energy than acetophenone. p,p Dibromobenzophenone was the least reactive of the compounds that photoeliminated halogen atoms. 

In aprotic solvents, the radical anion, RX , for aryl halides has been detected as intermediate. In cyclic voltammetry of aryl halides, though an irreversible two-electron reduction occurs at low scan rate, a reversible one-electron reduction occurs at high scan rate. Thus, it is possible to get the values of the standard potential ( °) for the RX/RX couple and the rate constant (k) for RX -> R (therefore, the lifetime of RX ). In Fig. 8.18, the relation between ° and log k for aryl bromides in DMF is linear with a slope of 0.5 [5If], It is apparent that the lifetime of RX , obtained by 1/k, increases with the positive shift of E0. In contrast, the existence of RX for alkyl monohalides has never been confirmed. With these compounds, it is difficult to say whether the two processes, i.e. electron transfer and bond cleavage, are step-wise or concerted (RX+e -> R +X ). According to Sa-veant [5le], the smaller the bond dissociation energy, the larger the tendency for the concerted mechanism to prevail over the step-wise mechanism. 

The formation of molecular complexes between aluminum trihalides and pyridine or alkylpyridines has been the subject of systematic studies.35,36 Calorimetric data yield bond dissociation energies D(X3Al—py) of 323, 308 and 264 kJ mol-1 for X = C1, Br and I, respectively, and this same order is found for alkylpyridine adducts, although the A1—N bond is weakened in the case of lutidine by the effects of steric hindrance. For gallium halides the values of D(X3M—py) are smaller 248, 237 and 195 kJ mol-1 for chloride, bromide and iodide adducts, respectively. 

Fig. 17.12 Bond dissociation energies and bond lengths of the hydrogen halides, methyl halides, and halogen molecules. Note that this figure, which is taken directly from Politzcr s work, portrays in a different way relationships that are closely rebled to Fig. 9.7. (From Politzer. P. J. Am. Chetn. See. 1969. 91.6235. Reproduced with permission.)...

The cationic polymerization of isobutylene (12) and styrene (13) is initiated readily by Et2AlCl in the presence of an alkyl halide, RC1. The interaction of the catalyst and cocatalyst is presumed to produce the carbonium ion R+, which initiates polymerization, and the corresponding gegenion Et2AlCl2". Alkyl halides with low R-Cl bond dissociation energies—e.g. tertiary, substituted allylic, and benzylic halides—are among the most effective cocatalysts. 

Of this group only benzyl chloride is not an aryl halide its halogen is not attached to the aromatic ring but to an. v/r -hybridized carbon. Benzyl chloride has the weakest carbon-halogen bond, its measured carbon-chlorine bond dissociation energy being only 293 kJ/mol (70 kcal/mol). Homolytic cleavage of this bond produces a resonance-stabilized benzyl radical. 

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