Of cyclopropanes

If you calculate the electrostatic potential for cyclopropane, three minima occur in regions that bisect the carbon-carbon bonds. This result IS consistent with protonalion of cyclopropane occurring along Ih e bond bisector. 

Calculate the energy change En tor isomerization of cyclopropane to propene in the gaseous state at 0 K... 

Nu = malonate anion, amines, thiolate anion, enamines, cuprates (usually requires double activation of cyclopropane)... 

The growing importance of cyclopropane derivatives (A. de Meijere, 1979), as synthetic intermediates originates in the unique, olefin-like properties of this carbocycle. Cyclopropane derivatives with one or two activating groups are easily opened (see. p. 69f.). Some of these reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective (E. Wenkert, 1970 A, B E. J. Corey, 1956 A, B, 1975 see p. 70). Many appropriately substituted cyclopropane derivatives yield 1,4-difunctional compounds under mild nucleophilic or reductive reaction conditions. Such compounds are especially useful in syntheses of cyclopentenone derivatives and of heterocycles (see also sections 1.13.3 and 4.6.4). 

The hydrogenolyaia of cyclopropane rings (C—C bond cleavage) has been described on p, 105. In syntheses of complex molecules reductive cleavage of alcohols, epoxides, and enol ethers of 5-keto esters are the most important examples, and some selectivity rules will be given. Primary alcohols are converted into tosylates much faster than secondary alcohols. The tosylate group is substituted by hydrogen upon treatment with LiAlH (W. Zorbach, 1961). Epoxides are also easily opened by LiAlH. The hydride ion attacks the less hindered carbon atom of the epoxide (H.B. Henhest, 1956). The reduction of sterically hindered enol ethers of 9-keto esters with lithium in ammonia leads to the a,/S-unsaturated ester and subsequently to the saturated ester in reasonable yields (R.M. Coates, 1970). Tributyltin hydride reduces halides to hydrocarbons stereoselectively in a free-radical chain reaction (L.W. Menapace, 1964) and reacts only slowly with C 0 and C—C double bonds (W.T. Brady, 1970 H.G. Kuivila, 1968). 

At one time all cycloalkanes were believed to be planar It was expected that cyclopentane would be the least strained cycloalkane because the angles of a regular pentagon (108°) are closest to the tetrahedral angle of 109 5° Heats of combustion established that this is not so With the exception of cyclopropane the rings of all cycloalkanes are nonplanar... 

Cyclopropyl chlonde has been prepared by the free radical chlorination of cyclopropane Wnte a stepwise mechanism for this reaction... 

Wnte structural formulas or make molecular models for all the compounds that are tnchloro derivatives of cyclopropane (Don t forget to include stereoisomers ) Which are chiraL Which are achiral" ... 

This reaction is called the Smmons-Smith reaction and is one of the few methods avail able for the synthesis of cyclopropanes Mechanistically the Simmons-Smith reaction seems to proceed by a single step cycloaddition of a methylene (CH2) unit from lodomethylzmc iodide to the alkene... 

FIGURE 1.15 Isomers of cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxyUc acid, (a) Trans isomer b) meso isomer. 

Alkali metal and other iodides are effective catalysts in reactions involving aUphatic chloro and bromo compounds, such as the preparation of cyclopropane from 1,3-dichloropropane andmetaUic 2inc (141). 

Historical Inhalation Agents. Diethyl ether produces excellent surgical anesthesia, but it is flammable (see Ethers). Chloroform is a nonflammable, sweet smelling, colorless Hquid which provides analgesia at nonanesthetic doses and can provide potent anesthesia at 1% (see Chlorocarbons AND CHLOROHYDROCARBONs). However, a metabohte causes hepatic cell necrosis. Tdlene, a nonflammable colorless Hquid, has a slower onset and recovery and a higher toxicity and chemical reactivity than desirable. Cyclopropane is a colorless gas which has rapid induction (2 —3 min) and recovery characteristics and analgesia is obtained in the range of 3—5% with adequate skeletal muscle relaxation (see Hydrocarbons). The use of cyclopropane has ceased, however, because of its flammabiHty and marked predisposition to cause arrhythmias. 

In other cases, sulfenic acid elimination can involve y-hydrogen atoms with the formation of cyclopropane derivatives. y-Klimination is favored when DMSO is the reaction solvent. An example involving l-methylsulfinyl-2-ethyl-3-phenyl propane [14198-15-3] is shown in equation 13 (45) ... 

Chiral Alcohols and Lactones. HLAT) has been widely used for stereoselective oxidations of a variety of prochiral diols to lactones on a preparative scale. In most cases pro-(3) hydroxyl is oxidized irrespective of the substituents. The method is apphcable among others to tit-1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) derivatives of cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclohexane, and cyclohexene. Resulting y-lactones are isolated in 68—90% yields and of 100% (164,165). 

While these rearrangements are used most often to prepare large rings, it should be noted that the expansion of cyclopropane derivatives to azetidines is also practical (Scheme 6 Section 5.09.3.3.3.a). 

Later there was an attempt by ab initio calculation to fit the electron structure of diazirine into the Walsh model of cyclopropane (69MI50800). According to these SCF-LCAO-MO calculations three MOs add to the description of the lone electron pairs, all of which also contribute to some extent to ring bonding. As to strain, 7r-character and conjugative effect, the term pseudo-rr-character was used. 

In laser-impulse experiments with chlorophenyldiazirine the carbene could be observed by UV spectroscopy. On addition of defined amounts of alkene the rate of cyclopropanation was measured directly. The rate constants with various alkenes were (lO moF s ) 1-hexene, 1.3 ( )-2-pentene, 34 2-methyl-2-butene, 77 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, 130 (80JA7576>. 

Photochemically produced chloromethoxycarbene revealed ambiphilicity. Relative rates of cyclopropanation showed that electron donating as well as electron attracting substituents favor the reaction (Scheme 2) (79JA4736). 

PFAU - PLATTNER Cyclopropane synthesis DIazoalkane insertion Into olelins wtth lormation of cyclopropanes or ring enlargement ol aromatics to cydoheptatnenes see also lormation ol pyrazoHnes (von Pechman). 

Incorporation of stereogenic centers into cyclic structures produces special stereochemical circumstances. Except in the case of cyclopropane, the lowest-eneigy conformation of the tings is not planar. Most cyclohexane derivatives adopt a chair conformation. For example, the two conformers of cis-l,2-dimethylcyclohexane are both chiral. However, the two conformers are enantiomeric so the conformational change leads to racemization. Because the barrier to this conformational change is low (lOkcal/mol), the two enantiomers arc rapidly interconverted. 

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