Hiickel calculations enolate ions

Whereas the allyl anion, with a plane of symmetry through the central atom, has a node at that atom in j/ j, amides, esters, enamines, enol ethers and enolate ions do not have a node precisely on the central atom. Taking planar A V-dimethylviny-lamine and the enolate of acetaldehyde as examples, simple Hiickel calculations give the n orbitals in Fig. 2.15, which includes the allyl anion for comparison. 

Fig. 2.15 n Orbital energies and coefficients from simple Hiickel calculations of the allyl anion, enamine and enolate ion (orbital energies in kJ moP1 relative to a)... 

However, if we look at the LUMO, we find that it has the form 4.65, namely that of ift4 of benzene, but polarised by the nitrogen atom. This polarisation has reduced the coefficient at C-3, and the coefficient at C-4 is larger than that at C-2, as can be seen from the simple Hiickel calculation for pyridine itself in Fig. 4.11, which gives LUMO coefficients of 0.454 and —0.383, respectively, and an energy of 0.56/3 (compare benzene with 1/3 for this orbital). Thus, soft nucleophiles should attack at C-4, where the frontier orbital term is largest. Again this is the case cyanide ion, bisulfite, enolate ions, and hydride delivered from the carbon atom of the Hantsch ester 4.67 react faster at this site. 

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