Radical mechanism for

FIGURE 4 21 The initiation and propagation steps in the free radical mechanism for the chlorination of methane Together the two propaga tion steps give the overall equation for the reaction... 

It might be noted that most (not all) alkenes are polymerizable by the chain mechanism involving free-radical intermediates, whereas the carbonyl group is generally not polymerized by the free-radical mechanism. Carbonyl groups and some carbon-carbon double bonds are polymerized by ionic mechanisms. Monomers display far more specificity where the ionic mechanism is involved than with the free-radical mechanism. For example, acrylamide will polymerize through an anionic intermediate but not a cationic one, A -vinyl pyrrolidones by cationic but not anionic intermediates, and halogenated olefins by neither ionic species. In all of these cases free-radical polymerization is possible. 

In the next three sections we consider initiation, termination, and propagation steps in the free-radical mechanism for addition polymerization. One should bear in mind that two additional steps, inhibition and chain transfer, are being ignored at this point. We shall take up these latter topics in Sec. 6.8. 

Both modes of ionic polymerization are described by the same vocabulary as the corresponding steps in the free-radical mechanism for chain-growth polymerization. However, initiation, propagation, transfer, and termination are quite different than in the free-radical case and, in fact, different in many ways between anionic and cationic mechanisms. Our comments on the ionic mechanisms will touch many of the same points as the free-radical discussion, although in a far more abbreviated form. 

Certain monomers crystallize in a conformation such that they can be zipped together without changing the symmetry of the crystal lattice. In the crystalline state, the arrangement of monomers is strictly determined by crystal packing. Polymerization is usually initialed by irradiation with UV, X- or y-rays and is assumed to proceed by a radical mechanism. For example, muconic acid esters (25, 27, 29) and ammonium salts (26,28, 30) can be stcrcospccifically polymerized in the crystalline state to high conversion.224-227228 This form of... 

A second theoretical inconsistency with a radical mechanism for the biochemical reaction was described by Finke. Although cleavage of the methyl-Co(II) bond is very efficient and rapid process, he argued that homolysis of methyl-Co does not occur in enzymes because reduction of CHs-Co requires too low a potential for biochemically relevant electron donors (<-1.0 V vs NHE) (195). For example, the mid-... 

Efforts to achieve a retardation of cross-linking in elastomers are based on the general assumption of a radical mechanism for retardation cross-linking and the possibility of its inhibition by a deactivation of the reactive macromolecular radical [33]. These compounds generally contain one or more labile hydrogen atoms, which after, donation of this atom, will form relatively inactive radicals. Typical antirad agents are quinones, hydroquinones, and aromatic amines (phenyl and napthylamines). 

FIGURE 6.6 Hypothetical radical mechanism for the formation of 5a-a-tocopheryl henzoate (11) hy reaction of a-tocopherol (1) with dibenzoyl peroxide. 

FIGURE 6.12 Suggested radical mechanism for oxidation of alkanes.33 36 55... 

Further supporting evidence for the occurrence of diradicals was obtained by Reich and Cram when they heated [2.2]paracyclophane with either dimethyl maleate or fumarate esters at 200 °C for 40 h in the absence of air. The cis- and trans-2,3-dicarboxymethyl[4.2]paracyclophanes 162 and 163 were formed in about equal amounts, irrespective of the configuration of the olefin employed. Other similar reactions would also suggest a radical mechanism for this reaction furthermore, a concerted addition of the olefinic double bond to 2, or to the postulated intermediate diradical 157, can be ruled out because of lack of stereospecificity of insertion. 

The yields of the first two products are insensitive to changes in solvent polarities. The yield of the third (the last) product increases with changing the solvent from CD2CI2 to CDjCN and, especially, addition of LiC104 to CD3CN reaction medium. Obviously, the third product is formed on a parallel reaction having ion-radical mechanism (for details, see Painter and Blackstock 1995). The dependence of reaction kinetics on ionic strength can supposedly be an indicator of ion-radical participation in rate control. 

To discern the ion-radical nature of reactions, the so-called intramolecular and intermolecular proton/deuterium isotope effects may be of use. Baciocchi et al. (2005) revealed ion-radical mechanism for A-demethylation of A,A-dimethylanilines, (CH3)2NAr, by phthalimide-A-oxyl radical (Scheme 4.14). In this reaction, ( e/ D)intra values were derived for reactivity of (CD3)(CH3)NAr, whereas ( H/ D)inter was referred for the reactivity of (CD3)2NAr. The values of (A e/ D)intra were found to be always different and higher than These results, although are incompat-... 

The anion-radical mechanism for these syntheses is based on the following facts. The reactions require photo- or electrochemical initiation. Oxygen inhibits the reactions totally, even with photoirradiation. Indoles are formed from o-iodoaniline only the meta isomer does not give rise to indole. Hence, the alternative aryne mechanism (cine-substitution) is not valid. What remains as a question is the validity of the ion-radical mechanism exclusively to the substitution of the acetonyl group for the halogen atom in o-haloareneamine or also for intramolecular condensation. 

Write the free radical mechanism for the polymerisation of ethene. 

Problem 6.39 Suggest a chain-propagating free-radical mechanism for addition of HBr in which Br- attacks the alkene to form the more stable carbon radical. M... 

Problem 16.20 Suggest a typical free-radical mechanism for the Hunsdiecker reaction which requires the initial formation of an acyl hypobromite. RC—OBr, from the Ag salt and Br,. ... 

Thus, as predicted by the orbital symmetry rules, this thermal suprafacial [1,3] sigmatropic reaction took place with complete inversion at C-7. Similar results have been obtained in a number of other cases.426 However, similar studies of the pyrolysis of the parent hydrocarbon of 103, labeled with D at C-6 and C-7, showed that while most of the product was formed with inversion at C-7, a significant fraction (11 to 29%) was formed with retention.427 Other cases of lack of complete inversion are also known.428 A diradical mechanism has been invoked to explain such cases.429 There is strong evidence for a radical mechanism for some [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangements.430 Photochemical suprafacial [1,3] migrations of carbon have been shown to proceed with retention, as predicted.431... 

All available evidence points to a radical mechanism for nitration, but many aspects of the reaction are not fully understood. Mixtures are obtained nitration of propane gives not only 1- and 2-nitropropanes but nitroethane and nitromethane ... 

Exercise 10-24 Write two different radical mechanisms for peroxide-initiated addition of hydrogen chloride to alkenes and consider the energetic feasibility for each. 

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