Polymerization reactions, regioselectivity

The use of catalysts for a Diels-Alder reaction is often not necessary, since in many cases the product is obtained in high yield in a reasonable reaction time. In order to increase the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity (e.g. to obtain a particular endo- or exo-product), Lewis acids as catalysts (e.g. TiCU, AICI3, BF3-etherate) have been successfully employed." The usefulness of strong Lewis acids as catalysts may however be limited, because they may also catalyze polymerization reactions of the reactants. Chiral Lewis acid catalysts are used for catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions. ... 

Regioselectivity in the polymerization reactions. The currently accepted mechanism for the reactions used to synthesise the polymers described in the present paper involves three key steps (13) ... 

Under optimized conditions regarding the choice of Br0nsted acid (mandelic acid 20), stoichiometry (1 1 ratio 9 and mandelic acid 20), solvent (the respective alcohol neat conditions), temperature (rt or 50°C), and catalyst loading (lmol% 9 and lmol% mandelic acid 20) electron-rich and electron-deficient styrene oxides underwent alcoholysis with simple aliphatic, stericaUy demanding as well as unsaturated and acid-labile alcohols. The completely regioselective (>99%) alcoholysis was reported to produce the corresponding P-aUcoxy alcohols 1-10 in moderate (41%) to good (89%) yields without noticeable decomposition or polymerization reactions of acid-labile substrates (Scheme 6.27). Notably, aU uncatalyzed reference experiments showed no conversion even after two weeks under otherwise identical conditions. 

Substituted 1,3-anhydroglucopyranoses undergo regioselective ringopening polymerization reactions in the presence of acid catalysts to give (1 - 3)-/l-D-glucopyranans.75 77... 

The principal advantage of the Mannich reaction is that it enables two different molecules to be bonded together in one step, as depicted in Eq. 1 (Fig. 3), whereas Eq. 2 stresses the alternatives connected with regioselectivity in polyfunctional substrates, which, on the other hand, also allow interesting cyclization or polymerization reactions to be performed. When the amino group is present in the substrate (Eq. 3), intramolecular Mannich reactions leading to cyclic products or to polymeric derivatives may occur. 

Alkyl Co oxime complexes have been used as chain transfer catalysts in free radical polymerizations.866,867 Regioselective hydronitrosation of styrene (with NO in DMF) to PhCMe=NOH is catalyzed by Co(dmg)2(py)Cl in 83% yield.868,869 Catalytic amounts of the trivalent Co(dmg2tn)I2 (192) (X = I) generate alkyl radicals from their corresponding bromides under mild reaction conditions, allowing the selective preparation of either saturated or unsaturated radical cyclization products.870... 

It can be assumed that, upon irradiation, tautomer 5-40-II reacts with the alkene 5-41 in a highly regioselective [2+2] cycloaddition to give the cyclobutane 5-42 as an intermediate. Subsequent retro-aldol-type reaction and hemiacetal formation produces 5-44 via 5-43. After addition of the Lewis acid (BF3-Et20), cyclization takes place to give the desired products. It should be noted that the excess of alkene must be removed under reduced pressure before addition of the Lewis acid in order to avoid polymerization. 

In this method, attack by an anionic initiator ( -BuLi, potassium alkoxides/cryptand[2.2.2],62 or silyl anions in benzene)63 occurs regioselectively on the less hindered silicon of 9, resulting in an anionically terminated disilanyl-lithium which then attacks another monomer at the less hindered silicon atom. The process continues rapidly (the reaction is usually complete within a few minutes) in a living polymerization fashion to yield 10 on alcohol workup. 

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