Hydrogen bonding solvent selectivity effects

The photodecomposition and thermodecomposition of nitromethane have been extensively studied as model systems in combustion, explosion and atmosphere pollution processes[l]. On another hand, nitromethane was selected as a model solvent in experiments aimed at examining non hydrogen-bonded solvent effects in a general acid-base theory of organic molecules [2.3]. This selection is based on the electronic and structural characteristics of nitromethane that has a high dielectric constant, and at the same time cannot form hydrogen bonds with solute molecules. 

B. Solvent Selectivity Effects—Non-Hydrogen-Bonding Systems... 

The solvent effect on the diastereofacial selectivity in the reactions between cyclopentadiene and (lR,2S,5R)-mentyl acrylate is dominated by the hydrogen bond donor characteristics of the solvent... 

Studies on solvent effects on the endo-exo selectivity of Diels-Alder reactions have revealed the importance of hydrogen bonding interactions besides the already mentioned solvophobic interactions and polarity effects. Further evidence of the significance of the former interactions comes from computer simulations" and the analogy with Lewis-acid catalysis which is known to enhance dramatically the endo-exo selectivity (Section 1.2.4). 

What is the effect of water on the rate and selectivity of the Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reaction, when compared to oiganic solvents Do hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions also influence the Lewis-acid catalysed process Answers to these questions will be provided in Chapter 2. 

Water has physical hemical properties that are very different from those of other solvents [1] and its role in enhancing the reactivity and selectivity of some organic reactions is still a debated question. Recent experimental studies [3e, 9] and computer simulations [10] seem to indicate, at least with respect to the rate enhancement of aqueous Diels Alder reactions, that the main effects are due to the enforced hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bond interactions. 

The symbols were defined in Section IV.B.) A full discussion of the ortfio-effect as revealed in this work would be inappropriate here. We must restrict ourselves to the more limited task of indicating the role of o-N02. We discuss first the work involving alcohols as solvents. To apply the extended Hammett equation, i.e. to determine the regression coefficients a, fi and

intercept term h, it is first necessary to select a set of substituents which can be expected to be well-behaved . Particular problems for or and v may be caused by conformational effects, and internal hydrogen-bonding may occur... 

Hydrogen-bond donors have the ability to enhance the selectivities and rates of organic reactions. Examples of catalytic active hydrogen-bond donor additives are urea derivatives, thiourea derivatives (Scheme 10, Tables 12 and 13) as well as diols (Table 14). The urea derivative 7 (Scheme 9) increases the stereoselectivity in radical allylation reactions of several sulphoxides (Scheme 10)171. The modest increase in selectivity was comparable to the effects exerted by protic solvents (such as CF3CH2OH) or traditional Lewis acids like ZnBr2172. It was mentioned that the major component of the catalytic effect may be the steric shielding of one face of the intermediate radical by the complex-bound urea derivative. 

In the previous part we showed that hydrogen bonding may lead to rate accelerations and increased selectivities. The effects of pure hydrogen bonding of suitable additives is most evident in non-polar solvents, because of the competition of H-bond accepting solvents and the reactants. Water exhibits some other solvent effects derived from its special properties, as discussed below. 

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