Reactivity of alkenes

Yamase and Usami were the first to report the oxidation of alkenes by polyoxometalate excited states [51]. In thorough work involving product distribution, flash photolysis, ESR, NMR, and NMR 

Both Ru02 and Pt(0) hydrogen evolution catalysts were used in this work [51].Similar rates of attack by the excited state decatungstate and t-butoxy radical on cyclohexene by Hou and Hill were consistent with the radical nature of the substrate attack process [75, 88], 

Before dealing with double bond reactivity in the particular environment of a long chain molecule it is worthwhile to summarize the general features of the reactivity of alkenes. The main points to be borne in mind are itemized below. 

The peculiar reactions of alkenes stem entirely from the presence of the double bond although at points away from the double bond the alkene can also behave as an alkane. 

The double bond consists of a strong a bond and a weak w bond. 

The IT bond electrons, which lie in clouds above and below the plane of the atoms are less tightly held than the r bond 

These tt bond electrons will tend to react with substances deficient in electrons, i.e. agents attracted to electrons (electrophilic agents, acids), by the process of electrophilic addition. 

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Table 6.3. Relative Reactivity of Alkenes toward Halogenation...

Oxidative cleavage of alkenes using sodium periodate proceeds effectively in a monophasic solution of acetic acid, water, and THF with very low osmium content or osmium-free. The orders of reactivity of alkenes are as follows monosubstituted trisubstituted >1,2 disub-stituted > 1,1-disubstituted > tetrasubstituted alkynes.100 Cleavage with polymer-supported OSO4 catalyst combined with NaI04 allows the reuse of the catalyst.101... 

Pyramidalization is also a well-established indicator of increased reactivity of alkenes where the 7r-type HOMO makes the major contribution to the reaction.12 This increased reactivity is specific to the more open (convex) face, and contributes to the well-known exo-selectivity of attack on bicyclo[2,2,l]hept-2-enes [60]. The electron density distribution of a derivative of [60] showed a measurable displacement of the electron-density maximum of the double bond in the exo direction (Irngartinger et al.,... 

The many successful applications of nitrile oxide cycloadditions in synthesis are intimately linked with theory, both the simple FMO variety as well as the more sophisticated ab initio treatment, where the work of Sustmann and subsequently of Houk and his group has been seminal. We, the practitioners, have thus been supplied with a consistent view on the nature of 1,3-dipoles, their reactivity toward dipolarophiles, and the origin and interpretation of stereoselectivity of cycloaddition chemistry. It is of course desirable that our understanding of the relative reactivities of alkenes as well as of many 1,3-dipoles would be also improved, thereby leading to simple, extended recipes for the chemist practicing synthetics. We hope that this account will stimulate further advances in this field of cycloaddition chemistry and promote further uses of nitrile oxides in organic synthesis. 

Extreme cases were reactions of the least stabilized, most reactive carbene (Y = CF3, X = Br) with the more reactive alkene (CH3)2C=C(CH3)2, and the most stabilized, least reactive carbene (Y = CH3O, X = F) with the less reactive alkene (1-hexene). The rate constants, as measured by LFP, were 1.7 x 10 and 5.0 X lO M s, respectively, spanning an interval of 34,000. In agreement with Houk s ideas,the reactions were entropy dominated (A5 —22 to —29e.u.). The AG barriers were 5.0 kcal/mol for the faster reaction and 11 kcal/ mol for the slower reaction, mainly because of entropic contributions the AH components were only —1.6 and +2.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Despite the dominance of entropy in these reactive carbene addition reactions, a kind of de facto enthalpic control operates. The entropies of activation are all very similar, so that in any comparison of the reactivities of alkene pairs (i.e., ferei)> the rate constant ratios reflect differences in AA//t, which ultimately appear in AAG. Thus, car-benic philicity, which is the pattern created by carbenic reactivity, behaves in accord with our qualitative ideas about structure-reactivity relations, as modulated by substiment effects in both the carbene and alkene partners of the addition reactions. " Finally, volumes of activation were measured for the additions of CgHsCCl to (CH3)2C=C(CH3)2 and frani-pentene in both methylcyclohexane and acetonitrile. The measured absolute rate constants increased with increasing pressure Ayf ranged from —10 to —18 cm /mol and were independent of solvent. These results were consistent with an early, and not very polar transition state for the addition reaction. 

The catalyzed reaction of acetylenic esters and alkenes can lead to ene products and/or cis [2 + 2]cycloaddition. The relative reactivity of alkenes established by reactions with dienes is 1,1-disubstituted > trisubstituted > monosubstituted and 1,2-disubstituted. Ene reactions predominate with alkenes containing two substi tuents on one carbon.1... 

Useful for homogeneous reduction of alkenes. As a consequence of the reagent bulk, it is understandable that the reactivity of alkene reduction is dependent on substitution the less-substituted alkenes react faster. Also, reduction occurs from the less-hindered face in a cis-stereochemistry. Many other functional groups are tolerated by conditions. 

In this and other conventional acid-catalyzed reactions the key is the reactivity of alkenes, giving on protonation alkyl cations that then readily react with excess alkene, giving the alkylate cations. These carbocations then abstract hydrogen from the isoalkane, yielding the product alkylate and forming a new alkyl cation to reenter the reaction cycle. Chapter 5 discusses acid-catalyzed alkylations and their mechanism. 

Since reactivity of alkenes increases with increasing alkyl substitution, hydration is best applied in the synthesis of tertiary alcohols. Of the isomeric alkenes, cis compounds are usually more reactive than the corresponding trans isomers, but strained cyclic isomeric olefins may exhibit opposite behavior. Thus, for example, frans-cyclooctene is hydrated 2500 times faster than cw-cyclooctene.6 Similar large reactivity differences were observed in the addition of alcohols to strained trans cycloalkenes compared with the cis isomers. frans-Cycloheptene, an extremely unstable compound, for instance, reacts with methanol 109 faster at —78°C than does the cis compound.7... 

The acylperoxy radical was found to epoxidize olefins much faster than peracids also formed under reaction conditions. The result ruled out the role of the latter.267 The addition of RCO3 was observed to occur 105 faster than that of ROO. The relative reactivity of alkenes suggests a strongly electrophilic radical forming the polar transition state 30 ... 

The reactivity of alkenes towards singlet oxygen strongly depends on the electron density of the n bond, with increasing alkyl substitution bringing about increasing reactivity380 [Eq. (9.84)381] ... 

The relative reactivity of alkenes toward reduction by diimide depends on the degree of substitution. Increasing alkyl substitution results in decreasing reactivity, and strained alkenes exhibit higher reactivity than nonstrained compounds 187... 

Cationic polymerization of alkenes involves the formation of a reactive carbo-cationic species capable of inducing chain growth (propagation). The idea of the involvement of carbocations as intermediates in cationic polymerization was developed by Whitmore.5 Mechanistically, acid-catalyzed polymerization of alkenes can be considered in the context of electrophilic addition to the carbon-carbon double bond. Sufficient nucleophilicity and polarity of the alkene is necessary in its interaction with the initiating cationic species. The reactivity of alkenes in acid-catalyzed polymerization corresponds to the relative stability of the intermediate carbocations (tertiary > secondary > primary). Ethylene and propylene, consequently, are difficult to polymerize under acidic conditions. 

The initial coordination of reactants has indeed been proposed to explain the selective oxidation of alkenes in the presence of saturated hydrocarbons. It was argued that, owing to the hydrophobic nature of titanium silicates, the concentration of both hydrocarbons inside the catalyst pores is relatively high and hence the alkenes must coordinate to TiIv. Consequently, the titanium peroxo complex will be formed almost exclusively on Tilv centers that already have an alkene in their coordination sphere, and will therefore oxidize this alkene rather than an alkane which may be present in the catalyst (Huybrechts et al., 1992). Objections to this proposal are based on the fact that the intrinsically higher reactivity of alkenes with respect to saturated hydrocarbons is sufficient to account for the selectivity observed (Clerici et al., 1992). But coordination around the titanium center of an alcohol molecule, particularly methanol, is nevertheless proposed to explain the formation of acidic species, as was previously discussed. In summary, coordination around Tiiv could play a more important role than it does in solution chemistry as a consequence of the hydrophobicity of the environment where the reactions take place. 

The reactivity of alkenes increases with their nucleophilic nature in the order tetra-substituted>trisubstituted>disubstituted>monosubstituted. Further, the epoxidation rate V = /c2X[alkene][complex]/(l + J [alkene]) shows that decomposition of the alkene-metal complex represents the rate determining step in this reaction. 

In nonprotic solvents, alkenes are stoichiometrically oxidized by Vv-peroxo complexes to epoxides and consecutive oxidative cleavage products in a nonstereoselective fashion. For example, cis-2-butene gave an approximately 2 1 mixture of cis- and trans-epoxides (equation 37). The reactivity of alkenes increases with their nucleophilic nature. Alkenes containing phenyl substituents such as styrene, a- and jS-methylstyrene are also very reactive and mainly give oxidative cleavage products. 

Addition of pyridine bases to the catalytic system caused a considerable increase in the rate and selectivity of the reaction, reaching 80% yield of styrene oxide for 100% styrene conversion (r.t., 30 min). In the presence of this pyridine-modified system, the reactivity of alkenes is in the order styrene > trisubstituted > cis-disubstituted > trans-disubstituted> monosubstituted. The epoxidation of alkenes is not stereoselective. In the absence of pyridine, cis-stilbene was converted into a 1.8 1 trans cis epoxide mixture, whereas the cis isomer prevails in the presence of excess pyridine ligands. Neither chlorohydrins nor pyridine N-oxides are involved in this catalytic system. Attempts to isolate the reactive intermediate led to the characterization of a relatively stable... 

This method has been applied also to mannosyl bromide and galactosyl bromide.4 Because alkoxyalkyl radicals are nucleophilic radicals, only alkenes with electron-withdrawing substituents can be usedJ The 1,5-anhydroglycitol side product 11 Is formed in amounts that increase with the decreasing reactivity of alkene 4. 

The rate constants of the reaction of 2,6-dimethyloct-7-en-2-ol separately with ozone and hydroxyl radical, in the gas phase, have been determined. The OH radical can either abstract hydrogen or add to the double bond. Ozone adds to the double bond. The formation of acetone, 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal, ethanedial, and 2-oxopropanal was discussed.191 The rate laws and activation parameters for the ozone oxidation of alcohols in aqueous solution have been determined and explained on the basis of formation of an ozone-alcohol complex.192 The reactivity of alkenes towards ozone, in aqueous solution, correlates well with Taft s equation.193... 

Recall that alkyl substituents on the double bond increase the reactivity of alkenes toward electrophilic addition. Propene therefore reacts faster than ethylene with sulfuric acid, and the mixture of alkyl hydrogen sulfates is mainly isopropyl hydrogen sulfate, and the alcohol obtained on hydrolysis is isopropyl alcohol. 

Discuss the chemical reactivity of alkenes. Why are they chemically reactive or unreactive ... 

The C=Cbond is stronger (152 kcal mol-1) and shorter (1.33A) than a C-C single bond (88 kcal mol-1 and 1.54. A respectively). A C = C bond contains one o bond and one ir bond, with the n bond being weaker than the o bond. This is important with respect to the reactivity of alkenes. 

The photochemical reactivity of alkenes is also of great interest [1,2]. Studies in this area have led to an expansion of the synthetic utility of these substances. Typical photochemical reactions include cis-trans isomeriza-tions, inter- and intramolecular cycloadditions, photooxidations, and electrocyclic ring opening and closing of conjugated dienes and polyenes. Many of these photoreactions have thermal counterparts. In contrast,... 

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