Ketyl radical-anion

Rapid purification Check for peroxides (see Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 for test under ethers). Pre-dry with CaCl2 or better over Na wire. Then reflux the pre-dried solvent over Na (1 % w/v) and benzophenone (0.2% w/v) under an inert atmosphere until the blue colour of the benzophenone ketyl radical anion persists. Distil, and store over 4A molecular sieves in the dark. 

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). 

After formation of an O-coordinated ketyl radical anion and a cis coordinated tyrosin via hydrogen abstraction, a rapid intramolecular one-electron redox reaction occurs with release of the product aldehyde and formation of the fully reduced active site containing a Cu(I) ion, which then reacts with 02 to give H202 and the active enzyme. The above sequence represents Nature s mechanistic blueprint for coordination chemists. 

Scheme 11.16 Diastereocontrol via chelate effect stereoselective 5-exo-trig cyclization on to a cumulated Jt-bond of a chelated ester-substituted ketyl radical anion 50 [74]. a 94 6 mixture of diastereomers.

The previous chapter covered radical cation cyclization reactions that were a consequence of single-electron oxidation. In the following section, radical anion cyclization reactions arising from single-electron reduction will be discussed. In contrast to the well documented cyclization reactions via carbon-centered free radicals [3, 4], the use of radical anions has received limited attention. There are only a few examples in the literature of intramolecular reductive cyclization reactions via radical anions other than ketyl. Photochemi-cally, electrochemically or chemically generated ketyl radical anions tethered to a multiple bond at a suitable distance, have been recognized as a promising entry for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds. 

The electroreductive cyclization reaction of 6-heptene-2-one 166, producing CIS-1,2-dimethylcyclopentanol 169, was discovered more than twenty years ago [166]. In agreement with Baldwin s rules, the 5-exo product is obtained in a good yield. Since that time, the mechanism of this remarkable regio- and stereoselective reaction has been elucidated by Kariv-Miller et al. [167-169]. Reversible cyclization of the initially formed ketyl radical anion 167 provides either the cis or the trans distonic radical anion. Subsequent electron transfer and protonation from the kinetically preferred 168 leads to the major cis product 169. The thermodynamically preferred 170 is considered as a source of the trace amounts of the trans by-product 171 (Scheme 32). 

Apart from PET-reductive cyclization, chemical reduction has also been applied to the total synthesis of natural products such as capnellenediol 186 [184]. Naphthalene sodium is shown to be a suitable oxidant for generating ketyl radical anions which cyclize efficiently in a 5-exo-dig mode. In contrast, electroreductive cyclization of 184 does not lead to 185, but exclusively to the thermodynamically preferred 5-exo isomer with a remaining double bond in the endocyclic position [185] (Scheme 35). The steroid precursor 4.5-secocholes-tan-5-one 187, in which the lOa-side chain is varied, has been cyclized under the same conditions [186-188] (Scheme 36). Reduction with naphthalene sodium or sodium in ether exclusively produces the A B-cis steroid 188 with an exo double... 

The 77-SCF MO Cl method has also been used446 to interpret spectral transitions of a series of possible intermediates in the reaction of uracil and cytosine with the solvated electrons eaq, produced by radiolysis of water. Experimentally this reaction has been investigated by Hayon,447 who used the technique of flash radiolysis. Hayon measured the optical-absorption spectra of the transient species in the UV range to obtain information on the site of attack of eaq on the pyrimidine base. At pH 5.0 the solvated electrons react with the pyrimidine molecules mainly at the C-2 and C-4 carbonyls, and the intermediates are rapidly protonatcd to give the corresponding ketyl radicals. For uracil Hayon found two absorption maxima (at 305 and < 280 nm) at pH 5.1 and one peak at 310 nm at pH 11.7. In this last case, on ionization of one of the chromophores the ketyl radical anion of the other nondissociated carbonyl is formed. Several species, 44, 45, 46, have been suggested by... 

The ketyl radical-anion, also, may transfer an electron to alkyl107 or aryl halides.1 In these reactions, an alkyl or aryl radical is formed, and this then propagates a chain. 

The electrocarboxylation of aldehydes and ketones leads to the corresponding a-hydroxycarboxylic acids that can easily be converted into carboxylic acids via a hydrogenation reaction [7]. It has been reported that the electrocarboxylation of aromatic ketones occurs through the reaction of C02 onto the activated carbon atom of the carbonyl group of the ketyl radical anion generated upon electron transfer to the ketone [7]. Otherwise, the aforementioned intermediate is likely to be a resonance hybrid (see Equation 12.23), and its electrophilic reaction with C02 may take place both at the carbon or the oxygen atom [42, 43]. 

The reaction of the ketyl radical anion with the oxidized rhenium complex is the energy-releasing electron transfer step. This reaction cannot be carried out separately. While ketyl radical anions are stable species, the oxidized complex is not stable and must be generated as short-lived intermediat. ... 

Dissolving metals initially convert aldehydes, ketones, and esters into radical anions. Subsequently, proton donors may react with the latter, which leads to neutral radicals. This mode of reaction is used, for example, in the drying of THF or ether with potassium in the presence of the indicator benzophenone. Potassium and benzophenone react to give the deep-blue potassium ketyl radical anion A (Figure 14.45). Water then protonates ketyl A to the hydroxylated radical B as long as traces of water remain. Further potassium reduces B via another electron transfer to the hydroxysubstituted organopotassium compound C. C immediately tautomerizes to the potassium alkox-ide D. Once all the water has been consumed, no newly formed ketyl A can be pro-tonated so that its blue color indicates that drying is complete. 

Ketyl Radical Anions from Carbonyl Groups... 

Studies on the reduction of carbonyl compounds using low-valent metallic reagents, including Sml2, have led to an understanding of the mechanism involved. Single electron transfer to the aldehyde or ketone generates a metal ketyl radical anion 3 that can form dimeric or polymeric ion pairs 4 (Scheme 4.4).10... 

In the presence of a proton source, the O-M bond of the metal ketyl radical anion is protonated to form a carbinol radical 5. Further reduction then forms a hydroxyalkyl carbanion 6 and protonation gives an alcohol product (Scheme 4.5). Competing processes include dimerisation of the metal ketyl radical anion to give pinacol products or disproportionation to give an enolate and an alkoxide (Scheme 4.5).10... 

In a detailed kinetic study, Flowers showed that the rate of ketone reduction is directly related to the pof the alcohol proton source used in the reaction and that the proton source must be sufficiently acidic to protonate the ketyl radical anion intermediate 3.11 Interestingly, when H20 is used as a proton... 

---