Solvolysis reactive intermediates

A bridged carbocation with a two-electron, three-centre bond was proposed as early as 1939 (Nevell et al., 1939) for the 2-norbornyl cation [lO ] as a reactive intermediate in the solvolysis of 2-norbornyl system (see also Winstein and Trifan, 1949). It has now been isolated as the SbFe salt and the bridged structure is accounted for using solid-state nmr studies... 

In the course of the tempestuous development of organophosphorus chemistry, interest has only recently been focused on compounds of formally quinquevalent phosphorus having coordination number 3, such as 1, 2, or 3, although one of the other species of this kind has long been postulated as reactive intermediate of solvolysis of phosphorylation reactions. Definite evidence of even proof of the existence of such coordinatively unsaturated phosphorus compounds, however, has been obtained only recently in mechanistic studies, by trapping reactions with suitable cycloaddends, or actually by direct isolation. 

While providing structural details and rates of intramolecular rearrangements-fragmentations, stable ion studies do not address questions relating to the reactivity of a carbocation with a second reagent, either with a solvent such as water or with some added nucleophile (Nu). Shown in Scheme 1.4 is the kinetic scheme for a limiting SnI solvolysis, that is, for a solvolysis that proceeds by way of a free carbocation. As is true for any reaction in which a reactive intermediate is formed as a stationary-state species, studies of this system cannot provide absolute rate con-... 

The study of carbocations has now passed its centenary since the observation and assignment of the triphenylmethyl cation. Their existence as reactive intermediates in a number of important organic and biological reactions is well established. In some respects, the field is quite mature. Exhaustive studies of solvolysis and electrophilic addition and substitution reactions have been performed, and the role of carbocations, where they are intermediates, is delineated. The stable ion observations have provided important information about their structure, and the rapid rates of their intramolecular rearrangements. Modem computational methods, often in combination with stable ion experiments, provide details of the stmcture of the cations with reasonable precision. The controversial issue of nonclassical ions has more or less been resolved. A significant amount of reactivity data also now exists, in particular reactivity data for carbocations obtained using time-resolved methods under conditions where the cation is normally found as a reactive intermediate. Having said this, there is still an enormous amount of activity in the field. 

The relative reaction rates and the stability of the aquo complex make it possible to identify the aquo complex as an intermediate and study the individual acts separately. However, if the solvento complex were less stable and the anation rate much faster than the solvolysis, it would not be possible to observe this intermediate, and the process would be kinetically indistinguishable from a unimolecular dissociative process. Both processes would exhibit overall first-order kinetics and the usual mass-law retardation and other competitive phenomena characteristic of an extremely reactive intermediate. 

Apparently, these results implied an inverse relationship between reactivity and selectivity, with the reactivity of the carbocation measured by the inverse of the rate constant for solvolysis. This indeed was not unexpected in the context of a general perception that highly reactive reagents, especially reactive intermediates such as carbocations, carbanions, or carbenes are unselective in their reactions.257 259 Such a relationship is consistent with a natural inference from the Hammond postulate258 and Bell-Evans-Polanyi relationship,260 and is illustrated experimentally by the dependence of the Bronsted exponent for base catalysis of the enolization of ketones upon the reactivity of the ketone,261,262 and other examples21,263 including Richard s careful study of the hydration of a-methoxystyrenes.229... 

An overview of the reactions over zeolites and related materials employed in the fields of refining, petrochemistry, and commodity chemicals reviewed the role of carbocations in these reactions.15 An overview appeared of the discovery of reactive intermediates, including carbocations, and associated concepts in physical organic chemistry.16 The mechanisms of action of two families of carcinogens of botanical origin were reviewed.17 The flavanoids are converted to DNA-reactive species via an o-quinone, with subsequent isomerization to a quinone methide. Alkenylbenzenes such as safrole are activated to a-sulfatoxy esters, whose SnI ionization produces benzylic cations that alkylate DNA. A number of substrates (trifluoroacetates, mesylates, and triflates) known to undergo the SnI reaction in typical solvolysis solvents were studied in ionic liquids several lines of evidence indicate that they also react here via ionization to give carbocationic intermediates.18... 

Acid-catalysed solvolysis of N-aryl phosphoramidates is characterised by the negative value of the reaction constant (p = -1.2).These inversed substituent effects illustrate two points discussed before. First, if the N-protonated form repre -sents the reactive intermediate in solvolysis of (2), much stronger dependence of the protonation preequilibrium on the effect of N-substitution is expected. Secondly, if the resonance effects are poorly transmitted to the P atom through the -NH- bridge, structural variation in the N-aryl substituent should have weak effect upon the ability of phosphorus to accept a nucleophile. 

The generally observed identity of the r value for solvolysis reactivity and gas-phase stability AAG(c+> of the corresponding carbocation leads to an important prediction concerning the solvolysis transition state. In a typical (limiting) two-step SnI mechanism with a single dominant transition state, the r values of transition states for the various nucleophile-cation reactions should be essentially controlled by the intrinsic resonance demand of the intermediate cation the substituent effect should be described by a single scale of substituent constants (a) with an r value characteristic of this cation. In a recent laser flash-photolysis study (Das, 1993) on the recombination of stable trityl and benzhydryl cations with nucleophiles and solvents, McClelland et al. (1986, 1989) have treated the substituent effects on solvent-recombination processes by (2). 

In pursuing the fate of diol epoxides in spontaneous and acid catalysed solvolysis reactions (in dioxane-water, 0.1 M NaC104). Islam et al [156] have conclusively proved that the reactive intermediate in the rate-limiting step of spontaneous hydrolysis is a triol carbocation (TC). Trapping by the strong nucleophiles, aside and N-acetylcysteine anions rules out the possibility of a zwitterionic intermediate. While this is a certainty for syn-... 

The hydrolysis of hydroxamoyl chlorides, observed by Souchay et a/.( ), also occurs via an elimination sequence, with formation of the corresponding nitrile oxide intermediate. Likewise, solvolysis of N,N -disubstituted chloroformamidines may involve the carbodiimide as the reactive intermediate. 

The dlenophlle, 3-acetyl-2(3H)-oxazolane, Is an attractive Intermediate for the synthesis of vicinal aminoalcohols with cIs configurations. It reacts with 1,3-dienes, even under quite mild conditions, to form (4+2) cycloadducts. Its high reactivity with deactivated 1,3-dienes Is noteworthy. This property is present also in 2(3H)-oxa201one which can be obtained easily through solvolysis of 3-acetyl-2(3H)-oxa2olone In methanol. 3-Acetyl-2(3H)-oxazolone, on UV irradiation In the presence of a sensitizer, combines easily with olefins to form (2+2) cycloadducts, the hydrolysis of which leads to the class of cis-2-aminocyclobutanols. 

Let us now return to the question of solvolysis and how it relates to the stracture under stable-ion conditions. To relate the structural data to solvolysis conditions, the primary issues that must be considered are the extent of solvent participation in the transition state and the nature of solvation of the cationic intermediate. The extent of solvent participation has been probed by comparison of solvolysis characteristics in trifluoroacetic acid with the solvolysis in acetic acid. The exo endo reactivity ratio in trifluoroacetic acid is 1120 1, compared to 280 1 in acetic acid. Whereas the endo isomer shows solvent sensitivity typical of normal secondary tosylates, the exx> isomer reveals a reduced sensitivity. This indicates that the transition state for solvolysis of the exo isomer possesses a greater degree of charge dispersal, which would be consistent with a bridged structure. This fact, along with the rate enhancement of the exo isomer, indicates that the c participation commences prior to the transition state being attained, so that it can be concluded that bridging is a characteristic of the solvolysis intermediate, as well as of the stable-ion structure. ... 

A detailed study of the solvolysis of L has suggested the following mechanism, with the reactivity of the intermediate M being comparable to that of L. Evidence for the existence of steps ki and k 2 was obtained fiom isotopic scrambling in the sulfonate M when it was separately solvolyzed and by detailed kinetic analysis. Derive a rate expression which correctly describes the non-first-order kinetics for the solvolysis of L. 

Fig. 1 A hypothetical plot of azide ion selectivity (M ) against the reactivity of the carbocation intermediate of solvolysis of R-X in aqueous solution (Scheme 4). The descending limb on the left hand side of this plot is for reactions where the value of ks(s ) is increasing relative to the constant value of s ) for diffusion-limited addition of...

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