Resonance, steric inhibition

Secondary steric effects of nitro groups are more easily detected by comparing the reactivities with those of aza derivatives. For example, in structure 20 the rate depression on passing from methyl to -butyl is only 2.5-fold and can be attributed to an inductive effect, whereas in structure 21 a similar change involves the factor 16, which can be attributed in part to steric inhibition of resonance (S.I.R.) of thep-N02 group (reaction with piperidine). 

When a hydrogen atom is peri to an azine-nitrogen, there is no steric inhibition of resonance activation as there is in 1-nitronaph-thalene (4-methoxy-dechlorination of its 4-chloro derivative seems to be thereby decelerated only 2-fold in rate). Steric hindrance of nucleophihc substitution by the co-planar peri hydrogen is sometimes... 

De la Mare et al.260 measured the rates of chlorination of biphenyl, a wide range of its methyl derivatives, and anisole in acetic acid at 25 °C. Second-order rate coefficients (104 2) were biphenyl (6.40), 2-methylbiphenyl (3.20), 3-methyl-biphenyl (820), 4-methylbiphenyl (30.0), 2.2 -dimethylbiphenyl (4.40), 3.3 -dimethylbiphenyl (2,630), 4,4 -dimethylbiphenyl (70.0), 2,6 -dimethylbiphenyl (1,130), 3,4,3, 4 -tetramethylbiphenyl (19,300), anisole (12.5 x 104), and these results showed very clearly the effect of steric inhibition of resonance between the phenyl rings through the presence of ortho methyl groups260. Similar (but rather more emphatic) results were obtained262 in chlorination of the /-butyl derivatives for which the corresponding rate coefficients were 2-/-butylbiphenyl (1.0) 4-/-butylbiphenyl (25.7), 2,2 -di-/-butylbiphenyl (1.8), 4,4 -di-/-butylbiphenyl (70.0). 

Aside from the interaction of the radical with the solvent there are several factors that can make the ethane unstable or stabilize the resulting free radical. They are the stabilization of the radical by resonance, steric strain in the ethane, and dipole-dipole repulsion in the ethane. Steric inhibition of both resonance and solvation in the radical favor association to the dimer. 

Wepster, Prog. Siereochem. 1958, 2, 99-156, p. 125. For another example ot this type of steric inhibition of resonance, see Exner Folli Marcaccioli Vivarelli J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 1983, 757. 

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