Nucleophile stereochemistry

One case in which complete retention by the nucleophile is observed has been given in Eq. (6) and a second example of the same stereochemistry for the nucleophile has been noted by Hendrickson i5). These results may be due to ion-pairing in the non-polar solvent used for the reaction. From the meager data available it appears that the nucleophilic stereochemistry will be similar to that expected from the coresponding solvolysis reaction under the particular conditions of the reaction. 

Scheme 8 illustrates one instance in which attack on the two con-formers 19a and 19b by the enamine of isobutaldehyde gives only Tj -olefin complexes 21 as a mixture of two conformers. To assert the importance of controlling the nucleophilic stereochemistry by the asymmetric CpMo(CO)NO fragment, the two diastereomers 22 and 24 were independently prepared and their alkylation reaction produced 23 and 25, respectively, consistent with the previous model. Notably, the steri-cally demanding phenyl group of 24 does not prevent cis addition to the NO group in the exo isomer. 

Figure 3-22 shows a nucleophilic aliphatic substitution with cyanide ion as a nucleophile, i his reaction is assumed to proceed according to the S f2 mechanism with an inversion in the stereochemistry at the carbon atom of the reaction center. We have to assign a stereochemical mechanistic factor to this reaction, and, clearly, it is desirable to assign a mechanistic factor of (-i-1) to a reaction with retention of configuration and (-1) to a reaction with inversion of configuration. Thus, we want to calculate the parity of the product, of 3 reaction from the parity of the... 

General problems with synthetic organic reactions are discussed together with some practical solutions for specific examples. These problems include 9 regio- and stereoselectivity by exploitation of the substrates stereochemistry (e.g., p. 20ff.) and differentiated nucleophilicity (p. 24f, 44f, 56ff.)... 

In his cephalosporin synthesis methyl levulinate was condensed with cysteine in acidic medium to give a bicyclic thiazolidine. One may rationalize the regioselective formation of this bicycle with the assumption that in the acidic reaction mixture the tMoI group is the only nucleophile present, which can add to the ketone. Intramolecular amide formation from the methyl ester and acid-catalyzed dehydration would then lead to the thiazolidine and y-lactam rings. The stereochemistry at the carboxylic acid a-... 

Formation of a Tr-allylpalladium complex 29 takes place by the oxidative addition of allylic compounds, typically allylic esters, to Pd(0). The rr-allylpal-ladium complex is a resonance form of ir-allylpalladium and a coordinated tt-bond. TT-Allylpalladium complex formation involves inversion of stereochemistry, and the attack of the soft carbon nucleophile on the 7r-allylpalladium complex is also inversion, resulting in overall retention of the stereochemistry. On the other hand, the attack of hard carbon nucleophiles is retention, and hence Overall inversion takes place by the reaction of the hard carbon nucleophiles. 

The stereochemistry of the Pd-catalyzed allylation of nucleophiles has been studied extensively[5,l8-20]. In the first step, 7r-allylpalladium complex formation by the attack of Pd(0) on an allylic part proceeds by inversion (anti attack). Then subsequent reaction of soft carbon nucleophiles, N- and 0-nucleophiles proceeds by inversion to give 1. Thus overall retention is observed. On the other hand, the reaction of hard carbon nucleophiles of organometallic compounds proceeds via transmetallation, which affords 2 by retention, and reductive elimination affords the final product 3. Thus the overall inversion is observed in this case[21,22]. 

Based on the above-mentioned stereochemistry of the allylation reactions, nucleophiles have been classified into Nu (overall retention group) and Nu (overall inversion group) by the following experiments with the cyclic exo- and ent/n-acetales 12 and 13[25], No Pd-catalyzed reaction takes place with the exo-allylic acetate 12, because attack of Pd(0) from the rear side to form Tr-allyl-palladium is sterically difficult. On the other hand, smooth 7r-allylpalladium complex formation should take place with the endo-sWyWc acetate 13. The Nu -type nucleophiles must attack the 7r-allylic ligand from the endo side 14, namely tram to the exo-oriented Pd, but this is difficult. On the other hand, the attack of the Nu -type nucleophiles is directed to the Pd. and subsequent reductive elimination affords the exo products 15. Thus the allylation reaction of 13 takes place with the Nu nucleophiles (PhZnCl, formate, indenide anion) and no reaction with Nu nucleophiles (malonate. secondary amines, LiP(S)Ph2, cyclopentadienide anion). 

The reaction of vinyloxiranes with malonate proceeds regio- and stereose-lectively. The reaction has been utilized for the introduction of a 15-hydroxy group in a steroid related to oogoniol (265)(156]. The oxirane 264 is the J-form and the attack of Pd(0) takes place from the o-side by inversion. Then the nucleophile comes from the /i-side. Thus overall reaction is sT -StM2 type, in the intramolecular reaction, the stereochemical information is transmitted to the newly formed stereogenic center. Thus the formation of the six-membered ring lactone 267 from 266 proceeded with overall retention of the stereochemistry, and was employed to control the stereochemistry of C-15 in the prostaglandin 268[157]. The method has also been employed to create the butenolide... 

An advantage that sulfonate esters have over alkyl halides is that their prepara tion from alcohols does not involve any of the bonds to carbon The alcohol oxygen becomes the oxygen that connects the alkyl group to the sulfonyl group Thus the configuration of a sulfonate ester is exactly the same as that of the alcohol from which It was prepared If we wish to study the stereochemistry of nucleophilic substitution m an optically active substrate for example we know that a tosylate ester will have the same configuration and the same optical purity as the alcohol from which it was prepared... 

Illustrate the stereochemistry associated with unimolecular nucleophilic substitution by con structmg molecular models of cis 4 tert butylcyclohexyl bromide its derived carbocation and the alcohols formed from it by hydrolysis under S l conditions... 

Example You could explore the possible geometries of two molecules interacting in solution and guess at initial transition structures. For example, if molecule Aundergoes nucleophilic attack on molecule B, you could impose a distance restraint between the two atoms that would form a bond, allowing the rest of the system to relax. Simulations such as these can help to explain stereochemistry or reaction kinetics and can serve as starting points for quantum mechanics calculations and optimizations. 

You can interpret the stereochemistry and rates of many reactions involving soft electrophiles and nucleophiles—in particular pericyclic reactions—in terms of the properties of Frontier orbitals. This applies in particular to pericyclic reactions. Overlap between the HOMO and the LUMO is a governing factor in many reactions. HyperChem can show the forms of orbitals such as HOMO and LUMO in two ways a plot at a slice through the molecule and as values in a log file of the orbital coefficients for each atom. 

Substituted 2-haloaziridines are also known to undergo a number of reactions without ring opening. For example, displacement of chlorine in (264) with various nucleophilic reagents has been found to occur with overall inversion of stereochemistry about the aziridine ring (65JA4538). The displacements followed first order kinetics and faster rates were noted for (264 R = Me) than for (264 R = H). The observed inversion was ascribed to either ion pairing and/or stereoselectivity. 

Electrophilic attack on the sulfur atom of thiiranes by alkyl halides does not give thiiranium salts but rather products derived from attack of the halide ion on the intermediate cyclic salt (B-81MI50602). Treatment of a s-2,3-dimethylthiirane with methyl iodide yields cis-2-butene by two possible mechanisms (Scheme 31). A stereoselective isomerization of alkenes is accomplished by conversion to a thiirane of opposite stereochemistry followed by desulfurization by methyl iodide (75TL2709). Treatment of thiiranes with alkyl chlorides and bromides gives 2-chloro- or 2-bromo-ethyl sulfides (Scheme 32). Intramolecular alkylation of the sulfur atom of a thiirane may occur if the geometry is favorable the intermediate sulfonium ions are unstable to nucleophilic attack and rearrangement may occur (Scheme 33). 

A very important relationship between stereochemistry and reactivity arises in the case of reaction at an 5 carbon adjacent to a chiral center. Using nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group as an example, it can be seen that two diastereomeric products are possible. The stereoselectivity and predictability of such reactions are important in controlling stereochemistry in synthesis. 

The points that we have emphasized in this brief overview of the S l and 8 2 mechanisms are kinetics and stereochemistry. These features of a reaction provide important evidence for ascertaining whether a particular nucleophilic substitution follows an ionization or a direct displacement pathway. There are limitations to the generalization that reactions exhibiting first-order kinetics react by the Sj l mechanism and those exhibiting second-order kinetics react by the 8 2 mechanism. Many nucleophilic substitutions are carried out under conditions in which the nucleophile is present in large excess. When this is the case, the concentration of the nucleophile is essentially constant during die reaction and the observed kinetics become pseudo-first-order. This is true, for example, when the solvent is the nucleophile (solvolysis). In this case, the kinetics of the reaction provide no evidence as to whether the 8 1 or 8 2 mechanism operates. 

Attack by a nucleophile or the solvent can occur at either of the ion pairs. Nucleophilic attack on the intimate ion pair would be expected to occur with inversion of configuration, since the leaving group would still shield the fiont side of the caibocation. At the solvent-separated ion pair stage, the nucleophile might approach fiom either fece, particularly in the case where solvent is the nucleophile. Reactions through dissociated carbocations should occur with complete lacemization. According to this interpretation, the identity and stereochemistry of the reaction products will be determined by the extent to which reaction occurs on the un-ionized reactant, the intimate ion pair, the solvent-separated ion pair, or the dissociated caibocation. 

Nucleophilic substitution in cyclohexyl systems is quite slow and is often accompanied by extensive elimination. The stereochemistry of substitution has been determined with the use of a deuterium-labeled substrate (entry 6). In the example shown, the substitution process occurs with complete inversion of configuration. By NMR amdysis, it can be determined that there is about 15% of rearrangement by hydride shift accon any-ing solvolysis in acetic acid. This increases to 35% in formic acid and 75% in trifiuoroacetic acid. The extent of rearrangement increases with decreasing solvent... 

Evidently, since there is no appreciable rate acceleration, this participatimi is not very strong at the transition state. Nevertheless, the participation is strong enough to control stereochemistry. When mote nucleophilic solvents are used (e.g., acetic acid), participation is not observed, and the product is 100% of inverted configuration. 

The order of reactivity of the hydrogen halides is HI > HBr > HCl, and reactions of simple alkenes with HCl are quite slow. The studies that have been applied to determining mechanistic details of hydrogen halide addition to alkenes have focused on the kinetics and stereochemistry of the reaction and on the effect of added nucleophiles. The kinetic studies often reveal complex rate expressions which demonstrate that more than one process contributes to the overall reaction rate. For addition of hydrogen bromide or Itydrogen... 

If the addition of Br to the alkene results in a bromonium ion, the anti stereochemistry can be readily eiqilained. Nucleophilic ring opening by bromide ion would occur by backside attack at carbon, with rupture of one of the C—Br bonds, giving overall anti addition. 

The first three chapters discuss fundamental bonding theory, stereochemistry, and conformation, respectively. Chapter 4 discusses the means of study and description of reaction mechanisms. Chapter 9 focuses on aromaticity and aromatic stabilization and can be used at an earlier stage of a course if an instructor desires to do so. The other chapters discuss specific mechanistic types, including nucleophilic substitution, polar additions and eliminations, carbon acids and enolates, carbonyl chemistry, aromatic substitution, concerted reactions, free-radical reactions, and photochemistry. 

The cleavage reaction occurs in three steps O protonation of the epoxide, Sn2 nucleophilic attack on the protonated epoxide, and deprotonation of the ring-opened product. Draw the complete mechanism. How many intermediates are there Which step determines diol stereochemistry ... 

The product of nucleophilic attack can be anticipated by examining the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) on protonated cyclopentene oxide. From which direction (top or bottom) would a nucleophile be more likely to approach each epoxide carbon in order to transfer electrons into this orbital Explain. Does one carbon contribute more to the LUMO, or is the orbital evenly spread out over both epoxide carbons Assuming that LUMO shape dictates product stereochemistry, predict which stereoisomers will be obtained, and their approximate relative amounts. Is the anticipated kinetic product also the thermodynamic product (Compare energies of 1,2-cyclopentanediol stereoisomers to tell.)... 

Stereoselective epoxidation can be realized through either substrate-controlled (e.g. 35 —> 36) or reagent-controlled approaches. A classic example is the epoxidation of 4-t-butylcyclohexanone. When sulfonium ylide 2 was utilized, the more reactive ylide irreversibly attacked the carbonyl from the axial direction to offer predominantly epoxide 37. When the less reactive sulfoxonium ylide 1 was used, the nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl was reversible, giving rise to the thermodynamically more stable, equatorially coupled betaine, which subsequently eliminated to deliver epoxide 38. Thus, stereoselective epoxidation was achieved from different mechanistic pathways taken by different sulfur ylides. In another case, reaction of aldehyde 38 with sulfonium ylide 2 only gave moderate stereoselectivity (41 40 = 1.5/1), whereas employment of sulfoxonium ylide 1 led to a ratio of 41 40 = 13/1. The best stereoselectivity was accomplished using aminosulfoxonium ylide 25, leading to a ratio of 41 40 = 30/1. For ketone 42, a complete reversal of stereochemistry was observed when it was treated with sulfoxonium ylide 1 and sulfonium ylide 2, respectively. ... 

The smooth intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of biphenyl carboxylic acids leading to benzocoumarins (See Section II.A.) inspired also investigation of the behavior of similar diphenyl ether, diphenyl sulfide and A-methyldiphenyl amine derivatives 458 under similar conditions. However, all these attempts to achieve cyclization to tricyclic compounds 459 were unsuccessful, probably due to the unfavorable stereochemistry for the formation of the required seven-mem-bered transition states and also to the presence of the deactivating bridge groups X (Eq. 42) [68JCS(C)1030]. 

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