Heteroaromatic electrons

Figure 10.2 illustrates selected examples of these epoxide products. Aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes proved to be excellent substrates, regardless of steric or electronic effects, with the exception of pyridine carboxaldehydes. Yields of aliphatic and a,/ -unsaturated aldehydes were more varied, though the enantio-selectivities were always excellent. The scope of tosylhydrazone salts that could be reacted with benzaldehyde was also tested (Fig. 10.3) [29]. Electron-rich aromatic tosylhydrazones gave epoxides in excellent selectivity and good yield, except for the mesitaldehyde-derived hydrazone. Heteroaromatic, electron-poor aromatic and a,/ -unsaturated-derived hydrazones gave more varied results, and some substrates were not compatible with the catalytic conditions described. The use of stoichiometric amounts of preformed sulfonium salt derived from 4 has been shown to be suitable for a wider range of substrates, including those that are incompatible with the catalytic cycle, and the sulfide can be recovered quantitatively afterwards [31]. Overall, the demonstrated scope of this in situ protocol is wider than that of the alkylation/deprotonation protocol, and the extensive substrate...

Reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic rings are usually only found with highly reactive compounds containing strongly electron donating substituents or hetero atoms (e.g. phenols, anilines, pyrroles, indoles). Such molecules can be substituted by weak electrophiles, and the reagent of choice in nature as well as in the laboratory is usually a Mannich reagent or... 

The alkylpalladium intermediate 198 cyclizes on to an aromatic ring, rather than forming a three-membered ring by alkene insertion[161], Spirocyclic compounds are easily prepared[l62]. Various spiroindolines such as 200 were prepared. In this synthesis, the second ring formation involves attack of an alkylpalladium species 199 on an aromatic ring, including electron-rich or -poor heteroaromatic rings[l6.5]. 

In agreement with the theory of polarized radicals, the presence of substituents on heteroaromatic free radicals can slightly affect their polarity. Both 4- and 5-substituted thiazol-2-yl radicals have been generated in aromatic solvents by thermal decomposition of the diazoamino derivative resulting from the reaction of isoamyl nitrite on the corresponding 2-aminothiazole (250,416-418). Introduction in 5-position of electron-withdrawing substituents slightly enhances the electrophilic character of thiazol-2-yl radicals (Table 1-57). 

Table 7.9 Electronic Absorption Bands for Representative Chromophores Table 7.10 Ultraviolet Cutoffs of Spectrograde Solvents Table 7.11 Absorption Wavelength of Dienes Table 7.12 Absorption Wavelength of Enones and Dienones Table 7.13 Solvent Correction for Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy Table 7.14 Primary Bands of Substituted Benzene and Heteroaromatics Table 7.15 Wavelength Calculation of the Principal Band of Substituted Benzene Derivatives...

Photopolymerization reactions are widely used for printing and photoresist appHcations (55). Spectral sensitization of cationic polymerization has utilized electron transfer from heteroaromatics, ketones, or dyes to initiators like iodonium or sulfonium salts (60). However, sensitized free-radical polymerization has been the main technology of choice (55). Spectral sensitizers over the wavelength region 300—700 nm are effective. AcryUc monomer polymerization, for example, is sensitized by xanthene, thiazine, acridine, cyanine, and merocyanine dyes. The required free-radical formation via these dyes may be achieved by hydrogen atom-transfer, electron-transfer, or exciplex formation with other initiator components of the photopolymer system. 

In many cases, substituents linked to a pyrrole, furan or thiophene ring show similar reactivity to those linked to a benzenoid nucleus. This generalization is not true for amino or hydroxyl groups. Hydroxy compounds exist largely, or entirely, in an alternative nonaromatic tautomeric form. Derivatives of this type show little resemblance in their reactions to anilines or phenols. Thienyl- and especially pyrryl- and furyl-methyl halides show enhanced reactivity compared with benzyl halides because the halogen is made more labile by electron release of the type shown below. Hydroxymethyl and aminomethyl groups on heteroaromatic nuclei are activated to nucleophilic attack by a similar effect. 

The validity of the Hammett relationship log K/Ko = pa- has been extensively investigated for five-membered heteroaromatic compounds and their benzo analogues. The ratio Pheterocycie/Pbenzene is closest to Unity for thiophene. Judged from work on the polarographic reduction of nitro compounds, the ability to transmit electronic effects is HC=CH = S < O < NH. 

In this initial section the reactivities of the major types of azole aromatic rings are briefly considered in comparison with those which would be expected on the basis of electronic theory, and the reactions of these heteroaromatic systems are compared among themselves and with similar reactions of aliphatic and benzenoid compounds. Later in this chapter all the reactions are reconsidered in more detail. It is postulated that the reactions of azoles can only be rationalized and understood with reference to the complex tautomeric and acid-base equilibria shown by these systems. Tautomeric equilibria are discussed in Chapter 4.01. Acid-base equilibria are considered in Section 4.02.1.3 of the present chapter. 

Small shift values for CH or CHr protons may indicate cyclopropane units. Proton shifts distinguish between alkyne CH (generally Sh = 2.5 - 3.2), alkene CH (generally 4, = 4.5-6) and aro-matic/heteroaromatic CH (Sh = 6 - 9.5), and also between rr-electron-rich (pyrrole, fiiran, thiophene, 4/ = d - 7) and Tt-electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds (pyridine, Sh= 7.5 - 9.5). 

In contrast to H shifts, C shifts cannot in general be used to distinguish between aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds on the one hand and alkenes on the other (Table 2.2). Cyclopropane carbon atoms stand out, however, by showing particularly small shifts in both the C and the H NMR spectra. By analogy with their proton resonances, the C chemical shifts of k electron-deficient heteroaromatics (pyridine type) are larger than those of k electron-rieh heteroaromatic rings (pyrrole type). 

Substituent effects (substituent increments) tabulated in more detail in the literature demonstrate that C chemical shifts of individual carbon nuclei in alkenes and aromatic as well as heteroaromatic compounds can be predicted approximately by means of mesomeric effects (resonance effects). Thus, an electron donor substituent D [D = OC//j, SC//j, N(C//j)2] attached to a C=C double bond shields the (l-C atom and the -proton (+M effect, smaller shift), whereas the a-position is deshielded (larger shift) as a result of substituent electronegativity (-/ effect). 

The reversed polarity of the double bond is induced by a n electron-accepting substituent A (A = C=0, C=N, NO2) the carbon and proton in the p-position are deshielded (-A/effect, larger shifts). These substituents have analogous effects on the C atoms of aromatic and heteroaromatic rings. An electron donor D (see above) attached to the benzene ring deshields the (substituted) a-C atom (-/ effect). In contrast, in the ortho and para positions (or comparable positions in heteroaromatic rings) it causes a shielding +M effect, smaller H and C shifts), whereas the meta positions remain almost unaffected. 

Apart from the A-methyl group, three double-bond equivalents and three multiplets remain in the chemical shift range appropriate for electron rich heteroaromatics, Sh = 6.2 to 6.9. A-Methyl-pyrrole is such a compound. Since in the multiplets at Sh = 6.25 and 6.80 the Jhh coupling of 4.0 Hz is appropriate for pyrrole protons in the 3- and 4-positions, the pyrrole ring is deduced to be substituted in the 2-position. 

The heteroaromatic compounds can be divided into two broad groups, called n-excessive and n-deficient, depending on whether the heteroatom acts as an electron donor or an electron acceptor. Furan, pyrrole, thiophene, and other heterocyclics incorporating an oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atom that contributes two n electrons are in the rr-exeessive group. This classification is suggested by resonance structures and confirmed by various MO methods. ... 

The classical Vilsmeier-Haack reaction is one of the most useful general synthetic methods employed for the formylation of various electron rich aromatic, aliphatic and heteroaromatic substrates. However, the scope of the reaction is not restricted to aromatic formylation and the use of the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent provides a facile entry into a large number of heterocyclic systems. In 1978, the group of Meth-Cohn demonstrated a practically simple procedure in which acetanilide 3 (R = H) was efficiently converted into 2-chloro-3-quinolinecarboxaldehyde 4 (R = H) in 68% yield. This type of quinoline synthesis was termed the Vilsmeier Approach by Meth-Cohn. ... 

The observations that heteroaromatic amino compounds are not easily diazotized, are quite readily hydrolyzed,and often do not form Schiff bases with aldehydes have all been incorrectly interpreted as indications that these compounds exist principally in the imino form, whereas these observations can reasonably be attributed to the fact that the amino groups in compounds of the type of 4-aminopyridine are electron deficient as a result of the contribution of structures of type 36. ... 

The electronic effects (8+ on carbon and S on nitrogen) that favor the hydration of heteroaromatic molecules and of Schiff bases to give Dimroth bases are the same as those that would favor the ringopening of the hydrated heteroaromatic molecules and cleavage of the C—bond in Dimroth compounds. 

The term aromatic will be used in a strict non-historical sense to mean possessing a cyclic 7r-electron system (6 and 10 electrons for the mono- and bi-cyclic rings discussed in this review). Heteroaromatic compounds, like carboaromatics, have widely different degrees and types of electronic dissymmetry and polarizabihty. Consequently, their reactivity varies tremendously with any one reagent and their relative reactivity changes drastically with the type of reagent. In this sense, aromatic compounds show differences in reactivity but not in aromaticity. The virtues of this qiuilitative concept of aromaticity and the pitfalls of trying to use it as a quantitative concept in modern context have been ably presented by Peters and by Balaban and Simon. ... 

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