Polar effects, stereochemistry affected

Although the nature of the general polar effect suggested by Kamernitzsky and Akhrem " to account for axial attack in unhindered ketones is not clear, several groups have reported electrostatic interactions affect the course of borohydride reductions. Thus the keto acid (5a) is not reduced by boro-hydride but its ester (5b) is reduced rapidly further, the reduction of the ester (6b) takes place much more rapidly than that of the acid (6a). Spectroscopic data eliminate the possibility that in (5a) there is an interaction between the acid and ketone groups (e.g. formation of a lactol). The results have been attributed to a direct repulsion by the carboxylate ion as the borohydride ion approaches. " By contrast, House and co-workers observed no electrostatic effect on the stereochemistry of reduction of the keto acid (7). However, in this compound the acid group may occupy conformations in which it does not shield the ketone. Henbest reported that substituting chlorine... 

In contrast with other electrophilic additions, the peracid epoxidation is syn-stereospecific. With sterically strongly hindered alkenes the reaction takes place on the less sterically hindered side. In other cases, the stereochemistry of the reaction is affected by polar effects or the geometry of the transition state. Important conclusions regarding the mechanism of the reaction can be drawn from the steric pathways in the synthesis of the oxiranes. This has been dealt with comprehensively by Berti, who reviewed the topic up to 1971, with special emphasis on the peracid oxidation. A noteworthy account of the topic of peracid epoxidation is given in a review by Rebek. ... 

The stereoselectivity of some Diels-Alder reactions was also strongly affected in water.26 At low concentrations, in which both components were completely dissolved, the reaction of cyclopentadiene with butenone gave a 21.4 1 ratio of endo/exo products when they were stirred at 0.15 M concentration in water, compared to only a 3.85 1 ratio in excess cyclopentadiene and an 8.5 1 ratio with ethanol as the solvent. Aqueous detergent solution had no effect on the product ratio. The stereochemical changes were explained by the need to minimize the transition-state surface area in water solution, thus favoring the more compact endo stereochemistry. The results are also consistent with the effect of polar media on the ratio.27... 

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