Radical hydrogen atom transfer

Triplet carbenes have a singly occupied p orbital, as is the case for radicals, and hence react like those radicals. Hydrogen atom transfer reactions are fundamental reaction pathways of triplet carbenes. The reaction of a triplet carbene with a hydrocarbon is quite analogous to the free radical hydrogen atom transfer process (Scheme 9.6). 

The last three entries in Table 13 reflect a marked preference for a-methylene versus methyl proton transfer for electron-withdrawing a substituents. These amines are also unusual in that they react with t in nonpolar solvents and do not display exciplex fluorescence. While this unusual behavior was initially attributed to a free radical hydrogen atom transfer mechanism leading to the formation of exceptionally stable "merostabilized" a-aminoallyl radicals (115), our current view is that the high kinetic acidity of the a-C-H bond of these amines when complexed with t is responsible for their behavior. 

Photopolymerization reactions are widely used for printing and photoresist appHcations (55). Spectral sensitization of cationic polymerization has utilized electron transfer from heteroaromatics, ketones, or dyes to initiators like iodonium or sulfonium salts (60). However, sensitized free-radical polymerization has been the main technology of choice (55). Spectral sensitizers over the wavelength region 300—700 nm are effective. AcryUc monomer polymerization, for example, is sensitized by xanthene, thiazine, acridine, cyanine, and merocyanine dyes. The required free-radical formation via these dyes may be achieved by hydrogen atom-transfer, electron-transfer, or exciplex formation with other initiator components of the photopolymer system. 

The bicyclic product is formed by coupling of the two radical sites, while the alkene results from an intramolecular hydrogen-atom transfer. These reactions can be sensitized by aromatic ketones and quenched by typical triplet quenchers and are therefore believed to proceed via triplet excited states. 

FIGURE 24.21 A mechanism for the methylmalonyl-CoA mntase reaction. In the first step, Co is rednced to Co dne to homolytic cleavage of the Co —C bond in cobalamin. Hydrogen atom transfer from methylmalonyl-CoA yields a methylmalonyl-CoA radical that can undergo rearrangement to form a snccinyl-CoA radical. Transfer of an H atom regenerates the coenzyme and yields snccinyl-CoA. 

Vitamin E actually consists of a family of compounds, the most active of which is a-tocopherol. The mechanism of the vitamin s action is not completely certain, but it seems likely that it might undergo hydrogen atom transfer reactions with free radicals to give a stable radical (see also Chapter 17, Problem 7). 

It is important to emphasize that the hydroxy dithioketal cyclization can be conducted under mild reaction conditions and can be successfully applied to a variety of substrates.15 However, the utility of this method for the synthesis of didehydrooxocane-contain-ing natural products requires the diastereoselective, reductive removal of the ethylthio group. Gratifyingly, treatment of 13 with triphenyltin hydride and a catalytic amount of the radical initiator, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), accomplishes a homolytic cleavage of the C-S bond and furnishes didehydrooxocane 14 in diastereo-merically pure form (95 % yield), after hydrogen atom transfer. 

Thus, for radicals 19, there is a strong preference for 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer (Table 1.5).111 Although 1,6-transfer is also observed, the preference for 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer over 1,6-transfer is substantial even where the latter pathway would afford a resonance stabilized benzylie radical.111112 No sign of 1,2-, 1,3-, 1,4-, or 1,7-transfer is seen in these cases. Similar requirements for a co-lincar transition state for homolytic substitution on sulfur and oxygen have been postulated. S,6I)... 

Other postulated mechanisms for spontaneous initiation include electron transfer followed by proton transfer to give two monoradicals, hydrogen atom transfer between a charge-transfer complex and solvent,110 and formation of a di radical from a charge-transfer complex, JJ[Pg.111]

In contrast to phenols (Section 5,3.4), phenothiazine (39) is reported to be an excellent scavenger of both carbon-centered and oxygen-centered radicals by hydrogen atom transfer and is also used to stabilize monomers in storage.198... 

Benzene may react by addition as shown in Scheme 6.12 (this pathway is also open to other aromatic solvents). The cyclohexadienyl radical is a poor initiating species and may terminate a second chain by hydrogen atom transfer. According to this process, benzene is a retarder rather than a transfer agent. 

To avoid these stability problems, it is necessary to minimize the proportion of chains that terminate by radical-radical reaction. One way of achieving this is to conduct the polymerization in the presence of an appropriate chain transfer agent. For example, if polymerization is performed in the presence of a H-donor chain transfer agent, conditions can be chosen such that most chains terminate by hydrogen-atom transfer. Bagby et al.iA examined the thermal stability of PMMA formed with dodecanethiol. These polymer chains will then possess, more... 

AA sec acrylic acid abstraction sec hydrogen atom transfer abstraction v,v addition and micleophilicity 35 by aikoxy radicals 34-5, 124-5, 392 by alkoxycarbonyloxy radicals 103,127-8 by alkyl radicals 34 5, 113, 116 by f-amyloxy radicals 124 by arenethiyl radicals 132 by aryl radicals 35, 118 by benzovloxy radicals 35, 53, 120, 126 wilh MM a" 53, 120 by /-butovy radicals 35, 53, 55, 124 solvent effects 54, 55. 123 with alkenes 122 3 with ally I acrylates 122 wilh AMS 120, 123 wilh BMA 53, 123 with isopropenvl acetate 121 with MA 120 with MAN 121 with MMA 53, 55, 120.419 with VAc 121 with vinyl ethers 123... 

In cases where hydrogen atom transfer gives primarily reduced products, Bu3Sn-SnBu3 under photochemical generates the radical that can cyclize, but a halogen atom transfer agent such as iodoethane is usually present (see 15-44). 

Hydrogen-Atom Transfer. Many oxidation and reduction reactions are free-radical substitutions and involve the transfer of a hydrogen atom. For example, one of the two main propagation steps of 14-1 involves abstraction of... 

PEDRIELLI p, HOLKERi L M and SKIBSTED L H (2001b) Antioxidant activity of (+)-catechin. Rate constant for hydrogen atom transfer to peroxyl radicals, Eur Food Res Technol, 213, 405-8. 

These reactions result in iodine atom transfer and introduce a potential functional group into the product. The trialkylborane method of radical generation can also be used in conjunction with either tri-n-butyl stannane or fnT-(trimethylsilyl)silane, in which case the product is formed by hydrogen atom transfer. 

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