Radical anions from ketones

Radical-anions can be characterised by esr-spectroscopy. Those derived from simple carbonyl compounds such as acetone or 3-methylbutan-2-one are highly reactive and can only be detected in a glassy matrix prepared by the alternate d o-sition of layers of sodium and the ketone at 77 K [4], lire radical-anion from the... 

The radical pair generated by proton transfer from tertiary amine radical cations to a,p-unsaturated ketone radical anions (e.g., 71) couple in the p position, forming... 

In the organic field the experiments using the rotating cryostat have been aimed at the preparation of the radical anions of some aliphatic compounds which had not been prepared previously namely, the radical anions from carboxylic acids and ketones. 

Cyclopropyl-substituted ketones are suitable substrates for generating distonic radical anions from ketyl radical anions. A series of cycloalkanone substrates with unsaturated side-chains, to trap the primary radical formed after cyclopropylcar-binyl ring opening, has been investigated (Scheme 31) [118, 119]. For the first electron-transfer step triethylamine is used as electron donor. The reaction sequence is terminated by proton or hydrogen transfer from the solvent or the a-amino radical formed after deprotonation of the amine radical cation. 

Early workers [103] detected benzilic acid formed during the reduction of benzophenone in dimethylformamide in the presence of carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide radical anion system is known to have E" = —2.2V (vs. SCE) [104] and will thus not be formed in preference to the ketone radical anion. Reaction occurs through trapping of aromatic carbonyl radical anions by carbon dioxide, and this has been developed into a convenient synthesis of aryllactic acids. The modern technological process uses constant current conditions. On a small scale, a divided cell with mercury cathode has been used to obtain benzilic acids from substituted benzophenones and carbon dioxide in 70-90% yields [105] and to convert 4-isopropylacetophenone to the corresponding phenyllactic acid in 85% yield [106]. On a technical scale, these reactions are best carried out in an undivided cell using a lead cathode and a sacrificial aluminum anode with dimethylformamide as solvent... 

Exploration of the reduction of dicarbonyl compounds has centered on attempts to achieve intramolecular coupling of radical intermediates to give a cyclic 1,2-diol. A mechanistic study of the production of cyclopropanediols, during the reduction of 1,3-dibenzoylpropane in acetonitrile, has been made [110]. It is suggested that the ratedetermining cyclization step is the addition of the radical anion from one ketone function onto the second carbonyl group in the same molecule. 

Electron transfer is an oxidation-reduction process that leads to the formation of an alkyl radical from the alkylmagnesium halide, and of a ketyl—a radical anion—from the ketone. 

Dianions of aryl ketones in aprotic solutions protonate to become secondary alcohols whereas those of cc-p unsaturated ketones form the corresponding saturated ketone. Radical anions derived from a-jS unsaturated carbonyl compounds cause extensive polymerisation of the substrate. Dimerisation at the )8-positions occurs in some systems with the formation of diketones. " ... 

The unique chemical behavior of KO2 is a result of its dual character as a radical anion and a strong oxidizing agent (68). The reactivity and solubiHty of KO2 is gready enhanced by a crown ether (69). Its usefiilness in furnishing oxygen anions is demonstrated by its appHcations in SN2-type reactions to displace methanesulfonate and bromine groups (70,71), the oxidation of benzyHc methylene compounds to ketones (72), and the syntheses of a-hydroxyketones from ketones (73). 

Two classes of charged radicals derived from ketones have been well studied. Ketyls are radical anions formed by one-electron reduction of carbonyl compounds. The formation of the benzophenone radical anion by reduction with sodium metal is an example. This radical anion is deep blue in color and is veiy reactive toward both oxygen and protons. Many detailed studies on the structure and spectral properties of this and related radical anions have been carried out. A common chemical reaction of the ketyl radicals is coupling to form a diamagnetic dianion. This occurs reversibly for simple aromatic ketyls. The dimerization is promoted by protonation of one or both of the ketyls because the electrostatic repulsion is then removed. The coupling process leads to reductive dimerization of carbonyl compounds, a reaction that will be discussed in detail in Section 5.5.3 of Part B. 

When saturated steroidal ketones are reduced in ammonia, an alcohol is usually present to act as a proton donor and high yields of steroidal alcohols are obtained. Under these conditions, reduction probably proceeds by protonation of the radical-anion (or ketyl) (61), which results from a one electron addition to the carbonyl group, followed by addition of a second electron and proton. Barton has proposed that reduction proceeds via protonation of the dianion (62) arising from addition of two electrons to the carbonyl group. This proposal implies that the ketyl (61) undergoes addition of a second electron in preference to undergoing protonation by the... 

We have seen similar radical anions generated from ketones in pinacol reduction with sodium or magnesium (p. 218), and also from esters with sodium in the acyloin condensation (p.218). 

The importance of radical ions and electron-transfer reactions has been pointed out in the preceding sections (see also p. 128). Thus, in linear hydrazide chemiluminescence (p. 103) or acridine aldehyde or ketone chemiluminescence, the excitation steps consist in an electron transfer from a donor of appropriate reduction potential to an acceptor in such a way that the electron first occupies the lowest antibonding orbital, as in the reaction of 9-anthranoyl peroxide 96 with naphthalene radical anion 97 142> ... 

Reductive Cross-Coupling of Nitrones Recently, reductive coupling of nitrones with various cyclic and acyclic ketones has been carried out electrochem-ically with a tin electrode in 2-propanol (527-529). The reaction mechanism is supposed to include the initial formation of a ketyl radical anion (294), resulting from a single electron transfer (SET) process, with its successive addition to the C=N nitrone bond (Scheme 2.112) (Table 2.9). 

Probably the most familiar radical reactions leading to 1,2-D systems are the so called acyloin condensation and the different variants of the "pinacol condensation". Both types of condensation involve an electron-transfer from a metal atom to a carbonyl compound (whether an ester or an aldehyde or a ketone) to give a radical anion which either dimerises directly, if the concentration of the species is very high, or more generally it reacts with the starting neutral carbonyl compound and then a second electron is transferred from the metal to the radical dimer species (for an alternative mechanism of the acyloin condensation, see Bloomfield, 1975 [29]). 

Electron-transfer initiation from other radical-anions, such as those formed by reaction of sodium with nonenolizable ketones, azomthines, nitriles, azo and azoxy compounds, has also been studied. In addition to radical-anions, initiation by electron transfer has been observed when one uses certain alkali metals in liquid ammonia. Polymerizations initiated by alkali metals in liquid ammonia proceed by two different mechanisms. In some systems, such as the polymerizations of styrene and methacrylonitrile by potassium, the initiation is due to amide ion formed in the system [Overberger et al., I960]. Such polymerizations are analogous to those initiated by alkali amides. Polymerization in other systems cannot be due to amide ion. Thus, polymerization of methacrylonitrile by lithium in liquid ammonia proceeds at a much faster rate than that initiated by lithium amide in liquid ammonia [Overberger et al., 1959]. The mechanism of polymerization is considered to involve the formation of a solvated electron ... 

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