7-Membered rings reactivity

The N-basicity of the commonly used amines (pyrrolidine > piperidine > morpholine) drops by 2-3 orders of magnitude as a consequence of electron pair delocalization in the corresponding enamines. This effect is most pronounced in morpholino enamines (see table below). Furthermore there is a tendency of the five-membered ring to form an energetically favorable exocyclic double bond. This causes a much higher reactivity of pyrroUdino enamines as compared to the piperidino analogues towards electrophiles (G.A. Cook, 1969). 

The TT-allylpalladium complexes 241 formed from the ally carbonates 240 bearing an anion-stabilizing EWG are converted into the Pd complexes of TMM (trimethylenemethane) as reactive, dipolar intermediates 242 by intramolecular deprotonation with the alkoxide anion, and undergo [3 + 2] cycloaddition to give five-membered ring compounds 244 by Michael addition to an electron-deficient double bond and subsequent intramolecular allylation of the generated carbanion 243. This cycloaddition proceeds under neutral conditions, yielding the functionalized methylenecyclopentanes 244[148], The syn-... 

Unlike most ethers epoxides (compounds m which the C—O—C unit forms a three membered ring) are very reactive substances The principles of nucleophilic sub stitution are important m understanding the preparation and properties of epoxides... 

Isoprene is highly reactive both as a diene and through its allyhc hydrogens, and its reactions are similar to those of butadiene (qv) (8). Apart from polymerisation, the most widely investigated isoprene reactions are the formation of six-membered rings by the Diels-Alder reaction ... 

Ethylene oxide is a highly reactive compound, and so is used iudustriaHy as an iatermediate for many chemical products. The three-membered ring is opened iu most of its reactions. These reactions are very exothermic because of the tremendous ring strain iu ethylene oxide, which has been calculated (39). Reviews of ethylene oxide reactions are given iu References 40 and 41. 

Of the legion of partially saturated six-membered ring heterocycles, an idea of their stability, or lack of it, can normally be gained by consideration of the thermodynamic stability of the various components which can be identified in them. Thus, those rings which contain ester or amide functions can be expected to possess the chemical reactivity and the... 

Reactivity of Five-membered Rings with One Heteroatom... 

The five-membered ring heterocycles possess Diels-Alder reactivity of varying degree. This is most pronounced in the case of furan and benzo[c] fused heterocycles such as isoindole. In this capacity they are functioning as heterocyclic analogues of cyclopentadiene, and high Diels-Alder reactivity can be correlated with low aromaticity. 

The reactivity of five-membered rings with one heteroatom to electrophilic reagents has been quantitatively compared in a variety of substitution reactions. Table 2 shows the rates of substitution compared to thiophene for formylation by phosgene and iV,AT-dimethylfor-mamide, acetylation by acetic anhydride and tin(IV) chloride, and trifluoroacetylation with trifluoroacetic anhydride (71AHC(13)235). 

---