Octyl bromide, reduction

Cyclohexyl xanthate has been used as a model compound for mechanistic studies [43]. From laser flash photolysis experiments the absolute rate constant of the reaction with (TMS)3Si has been measured (see Table 4.3). From a competition experiment between cyclohexyl xanthate and -octyl bromide, xanthate was ca 2 times more reactive than the primary alkyl bromide instead of ca 50 as expected from the rate constants reported in Tables 4.1 and 4.3. This result suggests that the addition of silyl radical to thiocarbonyl moiety is reversible. The mechanism of xanthate reduction is depicted in Scheme 4.3 (TMS)3Si radicals, initially generated by small amounts of AIBN, attack the thiocarbonyl moiety to form in a reversible manner a radical intermediate that undergoes (3-scission to form alkyl radicals. Hydrogen abstraction from the silane gives the alkane and (TMS)3Si radical, thus completing the cycle of this chain reaction. 

Yoon and Kim have prepared potassium triphenylborohydride (KPhjBH) and examined the reducing ability toward alkyl halides. n-Octyl iodide is reduced within 1 h at 0 °C, whereas n-octyl bromide takes 24 h for complete reduction. Secondary bromides are inert under these conditions. 

The occurrence of a radical intermediate is also indicated in the reduction of 2-octyl iodide by LiAlD4 since, in contrast to the chloride or bromide, extensive racemization accompanies reduction. 

Sodium telluride and ditelluride are readily generated in situ from Te by reduction with thiourea dioxide, and subsequent treatment with alkyl halide provides the corresponding dialkyl tellurides and ditellurides. E Thiourea dioxide and NaOH in 1 1 water/THF added to Te under N2, the mixture refluxed for 1 h, n-octyl halide and a little cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in THF added, and refluxing continued for 1 h - dioctyl telluride. Y 85%. The method is cheap, simple and does not require very dry conditions. F.e. and sym. ditellurides s. J.T.B. Ferreira et al., Synth. Commun. 19, 239-44 (1989) prepn. of Na2Te from ultra-pure Te-ingots/Na-naphthalenide, or from Te/Na and a little naphthalene, s. K.T. Higa, D.C. Harris, Organometallics 8, 1674-8 (1989). 

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