Benzyl radical resonance

The unpaired electron in benzyl radical is shared by the benzylic carbon and by the nng carbons that are ortho and para to it as shown by the spin density surface in Figure 119 Delocalization of the unpaired electron from the benzylic carbon to the ortho and para positions can be explained on the basis of resonance contributions from the fol lowing structures... 

The stabilizing effects of vinyl groups (in allylic radicals) and phenyl groups (in benzyl radicals) are very significant and can be satisfactorily rationalized in resonance terminology ... 

The absolute rate of dissociation of the radical anion of /i-nitrobenzyl chloride has been measured as 4 x 10 s . The w-nitro isomer does not undergo a corresponding reaction. This is because the meta nitro group provides no resonance stabilization of the benzylic radical. 

The chain propagation step consists of a reaction of allylic radical 3 with a bromine molecule to give the allylic bromide 2 and a bromine radical. The intermediate allylic radical 3 is stabilized by delocalization of the unpaired electron due to resonance (see below). A similar stabilizing effect due to resonance is also possible for benzylic radicals a benzylic bromination of appropriately substituted aromatic substrates is therefore possible, and proceeds in good yields. 

Draw resonance structures for the benzyl radical, C6H5CH2-, the intermediate produced in the NBS bromination reaction of toluene (Problem 10.27). 

Reaction occurs exclusively at the benzylic position because the benzylic radical intermediate is stabilized by resonance. Figure 16.20 shows how the benzyl radical is stabilized by overlap of its p orbital with the ring 77 electron system. 

Figure 16.20 A resonance-stabilized benzylic radical. The spin-density surface shows that the unpaired electron (blue) is shared by the ortho and para carbons of the ring.

Sjsj2 reaction and, 377-378 Benzylic radical, resonance in, 578 spin-density surface of, 578 Benzylpenicillin, discovery of, 824 structure of, 1 Benzyne, 575... 

Resolution (enantiomers), 307-309 Resonance, 43-47 acetate ion and, 43 acetone anion and. 45 acyl cations and, 558 allylic carbocations and, 488-489 allylic radical and, 341 arylamines and, 924 benzene and, 44. 521 benzylic carbocation and, 377 benzylic radical and, 578 carbonate ion and. 47 carboxylate ions and, 756-757 enolate ions and, 850 naphthalene and, 532 pentadienyl radical and. 48 phenoxide ions and, 605-606 Resonance effect, 562 Resonance forms, 43... 

The amount of the resonance stabilization is similar to that for the benzyl radical. In radicals formed from monomers having C=0 or C=N groups conjugated with the carbon-carbon double bonds, the corresponding resonance structures... 

II), and its formation therefore is more probable. If the substituent X possesses unsaturation conjugated with the free radical carbon, as for example when X is phenyl, resonance stabilization may be fairly large. The addition product (I) in this case is a substituted benzyl radical. Comparison of the C—I bond strengths in methyl iodide and in benzyl iodide, and a similar comparison of the C—H bond strengths in methane and toluene, indicate that a benzyl radical of type (I) is favored by resonance stabilization in the amount of 20 to 25 kcal. 

That resonance stabilization of intermediate biradicals is important in determining the efficiency of decarbonylation follows from the following examples yielding benzyl radicals upon loss of carbon monoxide(57) ... 

Figure 21.7 Stabilization of a benzylic radical by resonance with the unsaturated ring...

A corresponding correlation is obtained for the rate constants of a,a -phenyl substituted alkanes 26 (R1 = C6H5, R2 = H, R3 = alkyl) (see Fig. 1 )41). It has, however, a different slope and a different axis intercept. When both correlations are extrapolated to ESp = 0, a difference of about 16 kcal/mol in AG is found. This value is not unexpected because in the decomposition of a,a -phenyl substituted ethanes (Table 5, no. 22—27) resonance stabilized secondary benzyl radicals are formed. From Fig. 1 therefore a resonance energy of about 8 kcal/mol for a secondary benzyl radical is deduced. This is of the expected order of magnitude54. ... 

Stabilized by resonance delocalization indeed, they are even more stable than tertiary radicals. In the presence of a suitable initiator, bromine dissociates to bromine atoms that will selectively abstract an allylic or a benzylic hydrogen from a suitable substrate, generating the corresponding allyl and benzyl radicals. 

A benzylic radical is generated if a compound like toluene reacts with bromine or chlorine atoms. Hydrogen abstraction occurs from the side-chain methyl, producing a resonance-stabilized radical. The... 

Benzyl chloride undergoes further chlorination to give di- and tri-chloro derivatives, though it is possible to control the extent of chlorination by restricting the amount of chlorine used. As indicated above, it is easier to mono-brominate than it is to mono-chlorinate. The particular stabilization conferred on the benzylic radical by resonance is underlined by the reaction of ethylbenzene with halogens. 

The propagation steps involve removal of a hydrogen atom from one of the methyl substituents on the benzene ring. Abstraction from the methyl group is favourable because it generates a resonance-stabilized benzylic radical, in which the unpaired electron can be delocalized into the aromatic ring system. 

One-electron oxidation of toluene results in the formation of a cation radical in which the donor effect of the methyl group stabilizes the unit positive charge. Furthermore, the proton abstraction from this stabilized cation radical leads to the conjugate base, namely, the benzyl radical. This radical also belongs to the it type. Hence, there is resonance stabilization in the benzyl radical. This stabilization is greater in the benzyl radical than in the tt cation radical of toluene. As a result, the proton expulsion appears to be a favorable reaction, and the acid-base equilibrium is shifted to the right. This is the main cause of the acidylation effects that the one-electron oxidation brings. 

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