Stereochemical progression

Having established the three-dimentional structure of carbocations as planar, we can now study the stereochemical progression of Sk 1 reactions as compared to Sk2 reactions. As shown in Scheme 5.6, the stereochemical course of an Sk2 reaction is well defined because nucleophilic displacement of a leaving group proceeds with inversion of stereochemistry. Thus, the stereochemical outcome is defined by the stereochemistry of the starting material. As for SnI reactions, since the step required for initiation of these reactions involves formation of a planar species, incoming nucleophiles have equal access to both sides of the reactive carbocation. As shown in Scheme 5.7, this results in complete elimination of... 

The question of stereochemical control has been a theme running throughout the programme and as you progress to more comphcated molecules it becomes more important. This is very clear from many of the syntheses described in Fleming. 

It would be reasonable to expect that the decomposition of the N,N-dimethylimino ester chlorides proceeds via a bimolecular mechanism already demonstrated for the thermal decomposition of simple imino ester salts (79). In the carbohydrate series, where an isolated secondary hydroxyl group is involved, such a process would result in chlorodeoxy sugar derivatives with overall inversion of configuration, provided that the approach of the chloride ion is not sterically hindered. Further experiments are in progress in this laboratory utilizing additional model substance to establish the scope and stereochemical course of the chlorination reaction. 

Some quantities associated with the rates and mechanism of a reaction are determined. They include the reaction rate under given conditions, the rate constant, and the activation enthalpy. Others are deduced reasonably directly from experimental data, such as the transition state composition and the nature of the rate-controlling step. Still others are inferred, on grounds whose soundness depends on the circumstances. Here we find certain features of the transition state, such as its polarity, its stereochemical arrangement of atoms, and the extent to which bond breaking and bond making have progressed. 

An obvious extension of the studies on photodimerization of crystalline olefins is to solid-state vinyl polymerization (with light, if absorbed, or y-irradiation), with the aim of achieving stereoregular polymers. In fact, an immense effort has been made in this direction, but with singular lack of success. The explanation is that, for various reasons, the lattice in the vicinity of the chain front becomes progressively more damaged as polymerization proceeds, so that after relatively few steps there is loss of stereochemical control. 

The major obstacle confronting the implementation of such biomimetic syntheses has been associated with the stereochemical aspects of the aldol process. Over the past few years considerable progress has been made in the development of stereoregulated aldol condensations. This chapter attempts to survey this aspect of the topic. For a more general treatment of the subject the reader is referred to several other excellent reviews (1). 

This gap was filled by the development of NMR spectroscopy. It is Bovey s merit to have demonstrated the potentiality of this technique in the macromo-lecular field and, in particular, its sensitivity to the stereochemical environment. The applications of this technique, the methods of investigation, and the type of problem that can be solved are closely connected with the progress made in NMR instmmentation in the last quarter century. From low magnetic field spec-... 

It is clear from the preceding material that stereochemical applications of VCD are developing rapidly. This has been made possible by a growing body of VCD spectra from which the salient features relating to stereochemical details in molecules have been extracted. Progress in the area of ROA is somewhat more modest, in part due to the greater complexity of the relationship between the theoretical description of ROA intensities and molecular stereochemistry (14). 

It is the purpose of this section to provide the modern vocabulary required for the description of stereoselective reactions. This also implies the description of stereochemical aspects of starting materials and products, i.e., aspects of static stereochemistry. The material has been arranged in logical progression and, whenever possible, rules and directions for use or explicit definitions of important terms are given. 

It took some time to adopt a similar view of other heterogeneous elimination and substitution reactions. Most efficient experimental tools have been found in stereochemical studies, correlation of structure effects on rates and measurement of deuterium kinetic isotope effects. The usual kinetic studies were not of much help due to the complex nature of catalytic reactions and relatively large experimental error. The progress has been made possible also by the studies of surface acid—base properties of the solids and their meaning for catalysis (for a detailed treatment see ref. 5). 

Factors which influence the stereoselectivity of organic reactions have been under intense investigation recently because of the increasing requirement and profitability of producing stereoisomerically pure compounds. A great deal of progress has been made, but even more remains to be accomplished. The specific contributors to stereoselectivity in individual reactions will be discussed as they are encountered. At this point it is important to be aware of the stereochemical variations that are possible. 

Determination of the stereochemical course of the reactions catalyzed by the exonucleases from snake venom and bovine spleen and by Staphylococcal nuclease is in progress. 

Further progress on the problem of the stereochemical specificity of cyclitol oxidation by A. suboxydans will depend on the isolation of the enzyme or enzymes involved. Cell-free preparations capable of oxidizing wn/o-inositol have been obtained,43 44 but these have not been further purified. The enzyme is apparently a true dehydrogenase, since it can couple with diaphorase.44... 

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