Radicals, abstraction transition metals

Most of the free-radical mechanisms discussed thus far have involved some combination of homolytic bond dissociation, atom abstraction, and addition steps. In this section, we will discuss reactions that include discrete electron-transfer steps. Addition to or removal of one electron fi om a diamagnetic organic molecule generates a radical. Organic reactions that involve electron-transfer steps are often mediated by transition-metal ions. Many transition-metal ions have two or more relatively stable oxidation states differing by one electron. Transition-metal ions therefore firequently participate in electron-transfer processes. 

Studies in the photoinitiation of polymerization by transition metal chelates probably stem from the original observations of Bamford and Ferrar [33]. These workers have shown that Mn(III) tris-(acety]acetonate) (Mn(a-cac)3) and Mn (III) tris-(l,l,l-trifluoroacetyl acetonate) (Mn(facac)3) can photosensitize the free radical polymerization of MMA and styrene (in bulk and in solution) when irradiated with light of A = 365 at 25°C and also abstract hydrogen atom from hydrocarbon solvents in the absence of monomer. The initiation of polymerization is not dependant on the nature of the monomer and the rate of photodecomposition of Mn(acac)3 exceeds the rate of initiation and the initiation species is the acac radical. The mechanism shown in Scheme (14) is proposed according to the kinetics and spectral observations ... 

Abstraction of a halogen has been studied much less, but the order of reactivity is RI > RBr > RCl 3> RF. There are now many cases where free-radical reactions are promoted by transition metals. ... 

Abstract Recent advances in the metal-catalyzed one-electron reduction reactions are described in this chapter. One-electron reduction induced by redox of early transition metals including titanium, vanadium, and lanthanide metals provides a variety of synthetic methods for carbon-carbon bond formation via radical species, as observed in the pinacol coupling, dehalogenation, and related radical-like reactions. The reversible catalytic cycle is achieved by a multi-component catalytic system in combination with a co-reductant and additives, which serve for the recycling, activation, and liberation of the real catalyst and the facilitation of the reaction steps. In the catalytic reductive transformations, the high stereoselectivity is attained by the design of the multi-component catalytic system. This article focuses mostly on the pinacol coupling reaction. 

The four hitherto known routes of the C-H insertion are shown in Scheme 1. In general, the insertion by singlet carbenes proceeds via route a in one step, whereas the reaction by triplet carbenes proceeds sequentially via route b, i.e., hydrogen abstraction followed by recombination of the radical pairs.4 Other stepwise mechanisms are hydride abstraction (route c) and proton abstraction (route d), both being followed by the recombination of ion pairs. However, extended study on routes c and d for synthetic purposes had not been done before we started, except for a few earlier studies on carbanion-promoted P C-H insertion reactions.5,6 Recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed... 

Not all C-H activation chemistry is mediated by transition metal catalysts. Many of the research groups involved in transition metal catalysis for C-H activation have opted for alternative means of catalysis. The activation of methane and ethane in water by the hexaoxo-/i-peroxodisulfate(2—) ion (S2O82) was studied and proceeds by hydrogen abstraction via an oxo radical. Methane gave rise to acetic acid in the absence of external carbon monoxide, suggesting a reaction of a methyl radical with CO formed in situ. Moreover, the addition of (external) CO to the reaction mixture led to an increase in yield of the acid product (Equation (ll)).20... 

Abstract In this chapter different types of domino-processes are described which consist of the combination of cationic, anionic, radical, pericyclic and transition metal-catalyzed as well other reactions. The methodology is used for the highly effective synthesis of carbocycles and heterocycles as well as of natural products and other interesting materials. It is also employed as an efficient tool in combinatorial chemistry. 

As exemplified in Figure 2, Type 1 mechanism, electron transfer from L to sens yields two radicals, the substrate radical, L", and the sensitizer radical anion (sens ). In the next step, the lipid radical may induce a chain peroxidation cascade involving propagation reactions -The sensitizer radical anion may also start a sequential one-electron reduction of 2 generating HO in the presence of reduced transition metals. As a result, this may lead to abstraction of a lipid allylic hydrogen with subsequent generation of a carbon-centered lipid radical, L, that is rapidly oxidized to a peroxyl radical (vide supra). 

Many of the limitations of C—C bond formation by C —H insertion outlined for intermolecular reactions (Section 1.2.1.) can be overcome by making the reaction intramolecular. Thus, hydrogen atom abstraction followed by intramolecular radical-radical coupling or radical addition to an alkene are increasingly popular processes. Two-electron carbene insertions, either thermal or transition metal catalyzed, have also been used extensively. In either case, ring construction involves net C—C bond formation at a previously unactivated C-H site. 

Dr. Halpem But all that is necessary to explain your observation is that this intermediate be fairly long lived and then that two of these ultimately combine. There is some evidence for a similar phenomenon in the case of free radicals. J. K. Kochi and F. F. Rust (9) have shown that transition metal ions, among them Fe(II), catalyze the recombination of free radicals by what appears to be substantially this kind of mechanism—i.e., the transition metal stabilizes the radical against abstraction presumably by forming a complex with it, which then lives long enough to combine with another one. 

The persulfate ion S2OI-, with or without various transition metal ions, is a particularly effective oxidant, especially for the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids.535 In the presence of silver(I), persulfate oxidation to silver(II) readily occurs and for aliphatic carboxylic acids the decarboxylation mechanism given in Scheme 4 has been established. The aliphatic radicals produced may then disproportionate, abstract hydrogen or be further oxidized to an alcohol. In... 

Oxidation of Styrene. Until now we have considered only olefins which have allylic hydrogen available for radical abstraction. Most of the evidence in these systems suggests the formation of allylic hydroperoxides and their subsequent reaction to form stable oxidation products in the presence of various transition metal complexes. It has not been necessary to postulate novel catalytic activation of oxygen to explain our... 

Metal alkyl or alkoxy radicals in which the unpaired electron is localized on carbon, a or /3 to the metal, are known for Li, Mg, B, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, and As (for a selection, see Table II) but not at present for a transition metal. Methods of generating such species are by y-irradiation of the solid at low temperature or by hydrogen abstraction, for example by Ph2C—6 or Bu O radicals, or the addition of a metal-centered radical (e.g., by photolysis of the metal hydride with Buj02) to an unsaturated substrate ... 

Abstract This review summarizes the current status of transition metal catalyzed reactions involving radical intermediates in organic chemistry. This part focuses on radical-based methods catalyzed by group 8 and group 9 metal complexes. Reductive and redox-neutral coupling methods catalyzed by low-valent metal complexes as well as catalytic oxidative C-C bond formations are reviewed. 

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