Replacement reactions, mechanisms

Replacement reactions, mechanisms of, in carbohydrate chemistry, IX, 1-57 Rhamnose,... 

An interesting rearrangement of the (4-methyl-2-thiazolyl)thioureas (263) has recently been reported (Scheme 160) (303). The reaction mechanism is currently under investigation. This reaction does not occur if the 4-methyl substituent in the thiazole ring of 263 is replaced by an hydrogen, which suggests an electrophilic attack on C-5 as the mechanism of this reaction. 

Treatment of cyclic carbonates of 1,2-diols with thiocyanate ion at temperatures of 100 °C or higher yields thiiranes (Scheme 145) (66CRV297, 75RCR138). Thiourea cannot replace thiocyanate satisfactorily, and yields decrease as the carbonate becomes more sterically hindered. The reaction mechanism is similar to the reaction of oxiranes with thiocyanate (Scheme 139). As Scheme 145 shows, chiral thiiranes can be derived from chiral 1,2-diols (77T999, 75MI50600). 

A special type of substituent effect which has proved veiy valuable in the study of reaction mechanisms is the replacement of an atom by one of its isotopes. Isotopic substitution most often involves replacing protium by deuterium (or tritium) but is applicable to nuclei other than hydrogen. The quantitative differences are largest, however, for hydrogen, because its isotopes have the largest relative mass differences. Isotopic substitution usually has no effect on the qualitative chemical reactivity of the substrate, but often has an easily measured effect on the rate at which reaction occurs. Let us consider how this modification of the rate arises. Initially, the discussion will concern primary kinetic isotope effects, those in which a bond to the isotopically substituted atom is broken in the rate-determining step. We will use C—H bonds as the specific topic of discussion, but the same concepts apply for other elements. 

Consider a reactant molecule in which one atom is replaced by its isotope, for example, protium (H) by deuterium (D) or tritium (T), C by C, etc. The only change that has been made is in the mass of the nucleus, so that to a very good approximation the electronic structures of the two molecules are the same. This means that reaction will take place on the same potential energy surface for both molecules. Nevertheless, isotopic substitution can result in a rate change as a consequence of quantum effects. A rate change resulting from an isotopic substitution is called a kinetic isotope effect. Such effects can provide valuable insights into reaction mechanism. 

The original Sonogashira reaction uses copper(l) iodide as a co-catalyst, which converts the alkyne in situ into a copper acetylide. In a subsequent transmeta-lation reaction, the copper is replaced by the palladium complex. The reaction mechanism, with respect to the catalytic cycle, largely corresponds to the Heck reaction.Besides the usual aryl and vinyl halides, i.e. bromides and iodides, trifluoromethanesulfonates (triflates) may be employed. The Sonogashira reaction is well-suited for the synthesis of unsymmetrical bis-2xy ethynes, e.g. 23, which can be prepared as outlined in the following scheme, in a one-pot reaction by applying the so-called sila-Sonogashira reaction ... 

We said in Section 17.4 that carboxylic acids are reduced by L1AIH4 to give primary alcohols, but we deferred a discussion of the reaction mechanism at that time. In fact, the reduction is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction in which —H replaces -OH to give an aldehyde, which is further reduced to a primary alcohol by nucleophilic addition. The aldehyde intermediate is much more reactive than the starting acid, so it reacts immediately and is not isolated. 

With these results, we named the new enzyme as phenylacetaldoxime dehydratase (EC 4.99.1.7). It was also suggested that the enzyme utilizes FMN as an electron acceptor, because the value was increased about five times under anaerobic condition and the sulfite ion could replace FMN, although the enzyme requires oxidized form of FMN. It was revealed that the enzyme is a quite unique enzyme whose apparent function is to catalyze a dehydration reaction. The reaction mechanism is of much interest. 

Amino acid formation in the Urey-Miller experiment and almost certainly in the prebiotic environment is via the Stecker synthesis shown in Figure 8.3. This reaction mechanism shows that the amino acids were not formed in the discharge itself but by reactions in the condensed water reservoir. Both HCN and HCO are formed from the bond-breaking reactions of N2 and H2O in a plasma, which then react with NH3 in solution. The C=0 group in formaldehyde or other aldehydes is replaced by to form NH and this undergoes a reaction with HCN to form the cyano amino compound that hydrates to the acid. The Strecker synthesis does not provide stereo-control over the carbon centre and must result in racemic mixtures of amino acids. There is no room for homochirality in this pathway. 

A similar reaction mechanism was proposed by Chin et al. [32] for the hydrolysis of the biological phosphate monoester adenosine monophosphate (AMP) by the complex [(trpn) Co (OH2)]2+ [trpn = tris(ami-nopropyl)amine]. Rapid cleavage is observed only in the presence of 2 equiv metal complex. It is evident from 31P NMR spectra that on coordination of 1 equiv (trpn)Co to AMP a stable four-membered chelate complex 4 is formed. The second (trpn)Co molecule may bind to another oxygen atom of the substrate (formation of 5) and provide a Co-OH nucleophile which replaces the alkoxy group. The half-life of AMP in 5 is about 1 h at pD 5 and 25 °C. 

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