S-cis conformations

D-A rxns are sensitive to steric effects of the dienephiles, particularly at the I- and 2-postions. Steric bulk at the I-position may prevent approach of the dienophile while steric bulk at the 2-position may prevent the diene from adopting the s-cis conformation. 

The Diels-Alder cycloaddition is one example of a pencyclic reaction, which is a one step reaction that proceeds through a cyclic transition state Bond formation occurs at both ends of the diene system and the Diels-Alder transition state involves a cyclic array of six carbons and six tt electrons The diene must adopt the s cis conformation m the transition state... 

Conformation. The exact conformation of the isoprene molecule is stiU in doubt. It is generally accepted that rotation is restricted around the central C—C single bond. Isoprene may be considered as an equiHbrium of two conformations, namely a cisoid s-cis) conformation in which both vinyl groups are located on the same side of the C—C bond, and a transoid s-trans) one with the vinyl groups located on the opposite sides of the bond. The predominance of the trans-planar or nonplanar configuration has been supported by experimental data (10—14). 

Dienes would be expected to adopt conformations in which the double bonds are coplanar, so as to permit effective orbital overlap and electron delocalization. The two alternative planar eonformations for 1,3-butadiene are referred to as s-trans and s-cis. In addition to the two planar conformations, there is a third conformation, referred to as the skew conformation, which is cisoid but not planar. Various types of studies have shown that the s-trans conformation is the most stable one for 1,3-butadiene. A small amount of one of the skew conformations is also present in equilibrium with the major conformer. The planar s-cis conformation incorporates a van der Waals repulsion between the hydrogens on C—1 and C—4. This is relieved in the skew conformation. 

The case of a, -unsaturated caAonyl compounds is analogous to that of 1,3-dienes, in that stereoelectronic factors favor coplanaiity of the C=C—C=0 system. The rotamers that are important are the s-trans and s-cis conformations. Microwave data indicate that the s-trans form is the only conformation present in detectable amounts in acrolein (2-propenal). The equilibrium distribution of s-trans and s-cis conformations of a,fi-unsatuiated ketones depends on the extent of van der Waals interaction between substituents. Methyl vinyl ketone has minimal unfavorable van der Waals repulsions between substituents and exists predominantly as the s-trans conformer ... 

An unfavorable methyl-methyl interaction destabilizes the s-trans conformation of 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one relative to the s-cis conformation, and the equilibrium favors the s-cis form. 

How do orbital symmetry requirements relate to [4tc - - 2tc] and other cycloaddition reactions Let us constmct a correlation diagram for the addition of butadiene and ethylene to give cyclohexene. For concerted addition to occur, the diene must adopt an s-cis conformation. Because the electrons that are involved are the n electrons in both the diene and dienophile, it is expected that the reaction must occur via a face-to-face rather than edge-to-edge orientation. When this orientation of the reacting complex and transition state is adopted, it can be seen that a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the planes of the... 

Such a structure implies that there would be a barrier to rotation about the C(2)—C(3) bond and would explain why the s-trans and s-cis conformers lead to different excited states. Another result that can be explained in terms of the two noninterconverting excited states is the dependence of the ratio of [2 + 2] and [2 + 4] addition products on sensitizer energy. The s-Z geometry is suitable for cyclohexene formation, but the s-E is not. The excitation energy for the s-Z state is slightly lower than that for the s-E. With low-energy sensitizers, therefore, the s-Z excited state is formed preferentially, and the ratio of cyclohexene to cyclobutane product increases. ... 

The structure of the complex of (S)-tryptophan-derived oxazaborolidine 4 and methacrolein has been investigated in detail by use of H, B and NMR [6b. The proximity of the coordinated aldehyde and indole subunit in the complex is suggested by the appearance of a bright orange color at 210 K, caused by formation of a charge-transfer complex between the 7t-donor indole ring and the acceptor aldehyde. The intermediate is thought to be as shown in Fig. 1.2, in which the s-cis conformer is the reactive one. 

A transition-state structure was proposed on the basis of the solid-state structure of [Ni((R,R)-DBF0X)(H20)3](C104)2 (Fig. 1.8). The catalyst-dienophUe complex is thought to be a square-bipyramidal structure containing an octahedral nickel ion. The dienophile adopts an s-cis conformation with the si face shielded by a phenyl group. 

Absolute configurations of the isoxazolidines obtained in the nitrone cydoaddition reactions described in Schemes 7.21 and 7.22 were determined to be 3S,41 ,5S structure by comparison of the optical rotations as well as retention times in a chiral HPLC analysis with those of the authentic samples. Selection of the si face at C/ position of 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone in nitrone cydoadditions was the same as that observed in the Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene with 3-croto-noyl-2-oxazolidinone in the presence of the J ,J -DBF0X/Ph-Ni(C104)2-3H20 complex (Scheme 7.7), and this indicates that the s-cis conformation of the dipolaro-phile has participated in the reaction. 

The diene must adopt what is called an s-cis conformation, meaning "cis-like" about the single bond, to undergo a Diels-Alder reaction. Only in the s-cis conformation are carbons 1 and 4 of the diene close enough to react through a cyclic transition state. In the alternative s-trans conformation, the ends of the diene partner are too far apart to overlap with the dienophile p orbitals. 

Figure 14.9 Two dienes that can t achieve an s-cis conformation and thus can t undergo Diels-Alder reactions.

In contrast to those unreactive dienes that can t achieve an s-cis conformation, other dienes are fixed only in the correct s-cis geometry and are therefore highly reactive in the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. 1,3-Cyclopentadiene, for example, is so reactive that it reacts with itself. At room temperature, 1,3-cycIopentadiene dimerizes. One molecule acts as diene and a second molecule acts as dienophile in a self Diels-Alder reaction. 

Which of the following dienes have an s-cis conformation, and which have an s-trans conformation Of the s-trans dienes, which can readily rotate to s-cis ... 

Another reaction unique to conjugated dienes is the Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Conjugated dienes react with electron-poor aikenes (dienophiles) in a single step through a cyclic transition slate to yield a cyclohexene product. The reaction is stereospecific, meaning that only a single product stereoisomer is formed, and can occur only if the diene is able to adopt an s-cis conformation. 

For reactions of A-acyliminium ions with alkenes and alkynes one has to distinguish between A-acyliminium ions locked in an s-trans conformation and those which (can) adopt an s-cis conformation. The former type reacts as a (nitrogen stabilized) carbocation with a C —C multiple bond. Although there are some exceptions, the intramolecular reaction of this type is regarded as an anti addition to the 7t-nucleophile, with (nearly) synchronous bond formation, the conformation of the transition state determining the product configuration. 

The diastereofacial selectivity of this asymmetric [3C+2S] process is explained following a model similar to that described in Sect. 2.6.4.4 for the reaction of chiral alkenylcarbene complexes and 1,3-dienes. Thus, the proposed mechanism that explains the stereochemistry observed assumes a [4+2] cycloaddition reaction between the chromadiene system and the C=N double bond of the imine. The necessary s-cis conformation of the complex makes the imine... 

However, exo-selective Diels-Alder reactions are found when a,/J-unsatu-rated exocyclic carbene complexes are used as dienophiles. The fixed s-cis conformation of the vinylcarbene moiety of the complex seems to be responsible for the exo selectivity observed in this reaction. Moreover, the reaction of optically active carbene complexes with 2-morpholino- 1,3-butadienes allows the asymmetric synthesis of spiro compounds [99] (Scheme 53). 

Barluenga et al. have described novel vinylcarbene complexes containing a cyclic BF2 chelated structure which temporarily fixes the s-cis conformation of the exocyclic C=C and Cr=C double bonds. These boroxycarbene complexes behave as dienophiles with 2-amino-l,3-butadienes in a remarkably regio- and exo-selective way. Moreover, high degrees of enantioselectivity are reached by the use of chiral 2-aminodienes derived from (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine [101] (Scheme 54). 

Enders and coworkers <96AG(E)1725> have developed an interesting general one-pot method for the asymmetric epoxidation of enones with oxygen in the presence of diethylzinc and (l ,/ )-N-methylpseudoephedrine (30), which provides a, P - epoxyketones in very high yield and high enantiomeric excess (e.g., 33 —> 34). The actual reactive species is believed to be the chirally modified alkoxy(ethylperoxy)zinc 31, which attacks the si face of the s-cis conformation of the (E) enones (cf. 32). 

The diene needs to be able to adopt the S-cis conformation in order to react, e.g. no reaction is observed for 2,4-hexadiene because of steric hindrance. 

The reaction shows a dependence on the E- or Z-stereochemistry of the enolate. Z-enolates favor anti adducts and E-enolates favor syn adducts. These tendencies can be understood in terms of an eight-membered chelated TS.299 The enone in this TS is in an s-cis conformation. The stereochemistry is influenced by the s-cis/s-trans equilibria. Bulky R4 groups favor the s-cis con former and enhance the stereoselectivity of the reaction. A computational study on the reaction also suggested an eight-membered TS.300... 

Another type of steric effect results from interactions between diene substituents. Adoption of the s-cis conformation of the diene in the TS brings the d.v-oricnlcd 1- and 4-substituents on a diene close together. /(-1,3-Pcnladicnc is 103 times more reactive than 4-methyl-l,3-pentadiene toward the very reactive dienophile tetracyanoethylene. This is because the unfavorable interaction between the additional methyl substituent and the C(l) hydrogen in the s-cis conformation raises the energy of the TS.20... 

The presence of a /-butyl substituent on both C(2) and C(3), however, prevents attainment of the s-cis conformation, and D-A reactions of 2,3-di-(/-butyl)-1,3-butadiene have not been observed.21... 

A similar study was done with methyl acrylate as the dienophile.28 The uncatalyzed and catalyzed TSs are shown in Figure 6.7. As with propenal, the catalyzed reaction is quite asynchronous with C(2)-C(3) bonding running ahead of C(l)-C(6) bonding. In this system, there is a shift from favoring the exo-s-cis TS in the thermal reaction to the endo-s-trans TS in the catalyzed reaction. A large component in this difference is the relative stability of the free and complexed dienophile. The free dienophile favors the s-cis conformation, whereas the BF3 complex favors the s-trans conformation. 

The reactivity of diazo carbonyl compounds appears to be related to the conformational equilibria between s-cis and s-trans conformations. A concerted rearrangement is favored by the s-cis conformation.237 The /-butyl compound 19, which exists in the s-trans conformation, gives very little di-/-butylketene on photolysis.238 A similarly... 

Flash photolysis of benzoyl and naphthoyl diazomethane, which should exist in the s-cis conformation, led to ketene intermediates within the duration of the pulse ( 20 ns).241... 

Rhodium hydride addition to the enone s-cis conformer through a six-centered transition structure accounts for stereospecific Z(0)-enolate forma-... 

As shown in Table VII, [2 + 4] cycloaddition is the most common reaction pathway followed by Me2Si=C(SiMe3)2, but it is usually accompanied by significant quantities of the product of an ene reaction. As the diene becomes more sterically hindered in its s-cis conformation, as in cis/trans-2,4-hexadiene, the product of an ene reaction predominates. With butadiene, where minimal steric effects are to be expected, the exclusive product of the reaction was found to be the [2 + 4] cycloaddition... 

We also performed a single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of this lead compound. The solid state structure of this compound depicted in Fig. 3-15 shows a half-boat-like ( sofa ) conformation with the 9-phenanthryl group in a quasi-axial or r/Mf/.v/-flagpole position, and the a, 3-unsaturated exocyclic ester in a s-cis conformation. This cleft-like conformation is advantageous for the creation of centers with a high recognition ability, since one enantiomer fits in better than the other thus leading to selectivity. 

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