Polar solvents Polarity effects

Studies on solvent effects on the endo-exo selectivity of Diels-Alder reactions have revealed the importance of hydrogen bonding interactions besides the already mentioned solvophobic interactions and polarity effects. Further evidence of the significance of the former interactions comes from computer simulations" and the analogy with Lewis-acid catalysis which is known to enhance dramatically the endo-exo selectivity (Section 1.2.4). 

The effective dielectric constant can be included to model the effect of surrounding molecules (solvent) and the fact that interactions between distant sites may be through part of the same molecule, i.e. a polarization effect. A value of 1 for e... 

The susceptibility or mixing coefficients, pj and pj , depend upon the position of the substituent (indicated by the index, /) with respect to the reaction (or detector) center, the nature of the measurement at this center, and the conditions of solvent and temperature. It has been held that the p/scale of polar effects has wide general applicability (4), holding for substituents bonded to an sp or sp carbon atom (5) and, perhaps, to other elements (6). The or scale, however, has been thought to be more narrowly defined (7), holding with precision only for systems of analogous pi electronic frameworks (i.e., having a dependence on reaction type and conditions, as well as on position of substitution). 

In summary, all the experiments expressly selected to check the theoretical description provided fairly clear evidence in favour of both the basic electronic model proposed for the BMPC photoisomerization (involving a TICT-like state) and the essential characteristics of the intramolecular S and S, potential surfaces as derived from CS INDO Cl calculations. Now, combining the results of the present investigation with those of previous studies [24,25] we are in a position to fix the following points about the mechanism and dynamics of BMPC excited-state relaxation l)photoexcitation (So-Si)of the stable (trans) form results in the formation of the 3-4 cis planar isomer, as well as recovery of the trans one, through a perpendicular CT-like S] minimum of intramolecular origin, 2) a small intramolecular barrier (1.-1.2 kcal mol ) is interposed between the secondary trans and the absolute perp minima, 3) the thermal back 3-4 cis trans isomerization requires travelling over a substantial intramolecular barrier (=18 kcal moM) at the perp conformation, 4) solvent polarity effects come into play primarily around the perp conformation, due to localization of the... 

Contribution of solvent and solute polarization to overall polarization effects showing that polarization of the solvent is the main effect but the solute itself is polarized by the aqueous environment. 

The general or universal effects in intermolecular interactions are determined by the electronic polarizability of solvent (refraction index n0) and the molecular polarity (which results from the reorientation of solvent dipoles in solution) described by dielectric constant z. These parameters describe collective effects in solvate s shell. In contrast, specific interactions are produced by one or few neighboring molecules, and are determined by the specific chemical properties of both the solute and the solvent. Specific effects can be due to hydrogen bonding, preferential solvation, acid-base chemistry, or charge transfer interactions. 

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