Sigmatropic rearrangements orbital symmetry rules

Because a [1,5] sigmatropic rearrangement involves three electron pairs (two ir bonds and one cr bond), the orbital-symmetry rules in Table 30.3 predict a suprafacial reaction. In fact, the 1,5] suprafacial shift of a hydrogen atom across... 

In any given sigmatropic rearrangement, only one of the two pathways is allowed by the orbital-symmetry rules the other is forbidden. To analyze this situation we first use a modified frontier-orbital approach. We will imagine that in the transition state the migrating H atom breaks away from the rest of the system, which we may treat as if it were a free radical. 

The orbital symmetry rules also help us to explain, as on pages 1083 and 1433, the unexpected stability of certain compounds. Thus, 102 could, by a thermal [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangement, easily convert to toluene, which of course is far more stable because it has an aromatic sextet. Yet 102 has been prepared and is stable at dry ice temperature and in dilute solutions. ... 

Thus, as predicted by the orbital symmetry rules, this thermal suprafacial [1,3] sigmatropic reaction took place with complete inversion at C-7. Similar results have been obtained in a number of other cases.426 However, similar studies of the pyrolysis of the parent hydrocarbon of 103, labeled with D at C-6 and C-7, showed that while most of the product was formed with inversion at C-7, a significant fraction (11 to 29%) was formed with retention.427 Other cases of lack of complete inversion are also known.428 A diradical mechanism has been invoked to explain such cases.429 There is strong evidence for a radical mechanism for some [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangements.430 Photochemical suprafacial [1,3] migrations of carbon have been shown to proceed with retention, as predicted.431... 

An intramolecular rearrangement of the conjugate acid of the triazene compound to form the oc-complex without an additional molecule of amine would correspond to a thermal [l,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. However, such a mechanism can be ruled out on the grounds of the antarafacial pathway required from orbital symmetry considerations (Woodward-Hoffmann rules). 

Besides the selection rules, which are based on the conservation of orbital symmetry, for sigmatropic rearrangements of order [ij] it is possible to demonstrate that the following correlations will always apply ... 

According to the generalized Woodward-Hoffmann rule, the total number of (4q + 2)s and (4r)0 components must be odd for an orbitally allowed process. Thus, Eq. (14) is an allowed, and Eq. (13) a forbidden sigmatropic rearrangement. The different fluxional characteristics of tetrahapto cyclooctatetraene (52, 138) and substituted benzene (36, 43, 125) metal complexes may therefore be related to orbital symmetry effects. 

The approach of the two orbitals on the same side of the surface is called supra , that on opposite sides is called antara . The above rules, 1 and 2, also apply in the case of sigmatropic rearrangements, since the changes of orbital symmetries are the same on going from a HOMO to a LUMO or from a chain of 4n to a chain of 4n + 2 tt electrons. 

The generalized orbital symmetry selection rules are given below. The bases of these rules are discussed for each of the major classes of sigmatropic rearrangements. 

The rules in Table 29.1 are for determining whether a given electrocyclic reaction is allowed by orbital symmetry. There are also selection mles to determine whether cycloaddition reactions (Table 29.3) and sigmatropic rearrangements (Table 29.4) are... 

Therefore, sigmatropic rearrangements are controlled by the same orbital symmetry considerations as cycloaddition reactions. Table 25.3 hsts the rules for thermal and photochemical sigmatropic rearrangements. 

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