Neopentyl derivatives, rearrangement solvolysis

It is also evident from the data of Bly et al. (95), Jacobs and Macomber (91), and Garry and Vessiere (99) that neopentyl-type homoallenic systems do not yield cyclopropyl derivatives upon solvolysis, in contrast to the unsubstituted parent system. If they have no substituents at Cj or C3, neopentyl homoallenic substrates yield rearranged acyclic olefins and rearranged solvent-incorporated products exclusively. If they carry an alkyl substituent at Ci, they give both rearranged and unrearranged acyclic products. If a substituent is present on C3 besides the acyclic derivatives, cyclobutyl products also are formed. 

Dauben and coworkers observed unusual rate accelerations and ring-expansion rearrangements in the solvolysis of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-methyl / -nitrobenzoate, in agreement with Winstein s proposed nonclassical cyclobutylmethyl cations (Figure 3). ° Thus, the rate of the solvolysis of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-methyl p-nitrobenzoate is 7 x 10 times faster than that of the corresponding extrapolated rate for neopentyl derivative. The lack of scrambling of the label in the solvolysis of the 0-labeled... 

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