Radical-nucleophilic aromatic substitution

Some of the reactions in this chapter operate by still other mechanisms, among them an addition-elimination mechanism (see 13-15). A new mechanism has been reported in aromatic chemistry, a reductively activated polar nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The reaction of phenoxide with p-dinitrobenzene in DMF shows radical features that cannot be attributed to a radical anion, and it is not Srn2. The new designation was proposed to account for these results. 

Aromatic nitro compounds undergo nucleophilic aromatic substitutions with various nucleophiles. In 1991 Terrier s book covered (1) SNAr reactions, mechanistic aspects (2) structure and reactivity of anionic o-complexes (3) synthetic aspects of intermolecular SNAr substitutions (4) intramolecular SNAr reactions (5) vicarious nucleophilic substitutions of hydrogen (VNS) (6) nucleophilic aromatic photo-substitutions and (7) radical nucleophilic aromatic substitutions. This chapter describes the recent development in synthetic application of SNAr and especially VNS. The environmentally friendly chemical processes are highly required in modem chemical industry. VNS reaction is an ideal process to introduce functional groups into aromatic rings because hydrogen can be substituted by nucleophiles without the need of metal catalysts. 

In recent years, the importance of aliphatic nitro compounds has greatly increased, due to the discovery of new selective transformations. These topics are discussed in the following chapters Stereoselective Henry reaction (chapter 3.3), Asymmetric Micheal additions (chapter 4.4), use of nitroalkenes as heterodienes in tandem [4+2]/[3+2] cycloadditions (chapter 8) and radical denitration (chapter 7.2). These reactions discovered in recent years constitute important tools in organic synthesis. They are discussed in more detail than the conventional reactions such as the Nef reaction, reduction to amines, synthesis of nitro sugars, alkylation and acylation (chapter 5). Concerning aromatic nitro chemistry, the preparation of substituted aromatic compounds via the SNAr reaction and nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen (VNS) are discussed (chapter 9). Preparation of heterocycles such as indoles, are covered (chapter 10). 

The functionalization of electron rich aromatics rings is often accomplished by electrophilic aromatic substitution. However, electrophilic substitutions require stringent conditions or fail entirely with electron deficient aromatic rings. Nucleophilic aromatic substitutions are commonly used but must usually be conducted under aprotic conditions. In contrast, nucleophilic radicals can add to electron deficient aromatic rings under very mild conditions. 

Nucleophilic aromatic substitutions are more difficult in principle. Here, three types of mechanisms are discussed (Scheme 6.3) addition-elimination mechanism (SNAr), elimination-addition mechanism (SN1) and aryne mechanism. In addition, radical-type mechanisms are also possible. 

A variation on the aryne mechanism for nucleophilic aromatic substitution (discussed above, Scheme 2.8) is the SrnI mechanism (see also Chapter 10). Product analysis, with or without radical initiation or radical inhibition, played a crucial role in establishing a radical anion mechanism [21]. The four isomeric bromo- and chloro-trimethylbenzenes (23-X and 25-X, Scheme 2.9) reacted with potassium amide in liquid ammonia, as expected for the benzyne mechanism, giving the same product ratio of 25-NH2/23-NH2 = 1.46. As the benzyne intermediate (24) is unsymmetrical, a 1 1 product ratio is not observed. 

Equation 2.1). Three propagation steps then follow, including dissociation of the radical anion to an aryl radical and X- (Equation 2.2). In contrast, the corresponding alternative SN1 reaction would lead to the much less stable aryl cation (the empty p-orbital is part of the a-framework, and so cannot be stabilised by the n -electrons). The aryl radical then reacts rapidly with another nucleophile (Y in general or NH2- in this case) to give another radical anion (Equation 2.3) then electron transfer from one radical anion to another reactant molecule (Equation 2.4) initiates another chain. The overall consequence of the three propagation steps is nucleophilic aromatic substitution (Equation 2.5). 

Kita and Tohma found that exposure of p-substituted phenol ethers to [bis(tri-fluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene 12 in the presence of some nucleophiles in polar, less nucleophilic solvents results in direct nucleophilic aromatic substitution [Eq. (84)] [156]. Involvement of a single-electron transfer (SET) from phenol ethers to A3-iodane 12 generating arene cation radicals was suggested by the detailed UV-vis and ESR studies. SET was involved in the oxidative biaryl coupling of phenol ethers by 12 in the presence of BF3-Et20 [157]. 

Fig. 5.53. Mechanistic aspects I of nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of aryldiazonium salts via radicals introduction of Nu=Cl, Br, CN or N02 according to Figure 5.52. Following step 2 there are two alternatives either the copper(II) salt is bound to the aryl radical (step 3) and the compound Ar-Cu(III)NuX decomposes to Cu(I)X and the substitution product Ar-Nu (step 4), or the aryl radical reacts with the cop-per(II) salt in a one-step radical substitution reaction yielding Cu(I)X and the substitution product Ar-Nu.

Fig. 5.55. Mechanistic aspects III of nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of aryldiazonium salts via radicals introduction of Nu = I through reaction of aryldiazonium salts with KI. In this (chain) reaction the radical I2 —apart from its role as chain-carrying radical—plays the important role of initiating radical. The scheme shows how this radical is regenerated the initial reaction by which it presumably forms remains to be provided, namely (1) Ar-N =N + I -> Ar- N=N + h ...

In the original process using tin amides, transmetallation formed the amido intermediate. However, this synthetic method is outdated and the transfer of amides from tin to palladium will not be discussed. In the tin-free processes, reaction of palladium aryl halide complexes with amine and base generates palladium amide intermediates. One pathway for generation of the amido complex from amine and base would be reaction of the metal complex with the small concentration of amide that is present in the reaction mixtures. This pathway seems unlikely considering the two directly observed alternative pathways discussed below and the absence of benzyne and radical nucleophilic aromatic substitution products that would be generated from the reaction of alkali amide with aryl halides. 

Fig. 5.45. Mechanism of the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of Figure 5.44. The radical I2 plays the role of the chain-carrying radical and also the important role of the initiating radical in this chain reaction. The scheme shows how this radical is regenerated. It remains to be added how it is presumably formed initially (1) Ar—N+=N + I- ->...

Dioxanes have been synthesized from l-O-allyl-l,2-diols by radical addition of per-fluoroalkyl iodides and subsequent nucleophilic cyclization.561 With sodium hydride, elimination occurs from iodides such as 1.3 other bases also give unsatisfactory results, whereas N-bromosuccinimide seems to be the reagent of choice for the cyclization to 1,4-dioxane 14. Similar results arc obtained with dibromodimethylhydantoin.561 Dihydrobenzofurans are synthesized by cyclodehydration utilizing the Vilsmeier reagent (chloromethylene)dimethylam-monium chloride is most practical.562 Nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with catechol derivatives also give the six-membered heterocycles.563 564 1.4-Dioxan-2-ones arc pre-... 

This equation also describes the overall reaction of either an 5 2 or a nucleophilic aromatic substitution process. In some cases, the only way to distinguish an reaction from these processes is that an is inhibited by radical inhibitors. Another distinguishing feature is that the order of the relative leaving group abilities of halides are opposite that found for nucleophilic aromatic substitution by the addition-elimination mechanism (see Chapter 3). 

The fact that reactions in both (a) and (b) require light suggests that a radical mechanism is involved for each of them. This rules out a simple Si.,2 substitution in part a or a nucleophilic aromatic substitution by an addition-elimination reaction in part b. When substitution occurs under basic conditions in the presence of light, the most likely mechanism is SrnI-... 

One way of carrying out nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions under mild conditions is the Ar RNl process, which is initiated by (usually, but not necessarily, photoinduced) electron transfer to an aryl halide, e.g., from an enolate Cleavage of the resulting aryl radical anion with loss of a halide anion gives an aryl radical that combines with the enolate, thus forming the desired aryl-carbon bond. 

An early report of the beneficial influence of 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE) on the yields of alkylaryl ether obtained in the reaction of diaryliodonium salts with sodium alkoxides showed that radical chain reactions compete efficiently with the 0-arylation reaction. By contrast, addition of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl, a stable free radical species, had no significant influence on the yields of products obtained in e absence of additives. In this case, the 0-arylation reaction was considered to be a direct nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction, without the involvement of any transient covalent intermediate. (Table 2.11)... 

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