Subject halogenated alkenes

Trifluoromethanesulfonates of alkyl and allylic alcohols can be prepared by reaction with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride in halogenated solvents in the presence of pyridine.3 Since the preparation of sulfonate esters does not disturb the C—O bond, problems of rearrangement or racemization do not arise in the ester formation step. However, sensitive sulfonate esters, such as allylic systems, may be subject to reversible ionization reactions, so appropriate precautions must be taken to ensure structural and stereochemical integrity. Tertiary alkyl sulfonates are neither as easily prepared nor as stable as those from primary and secondary alcohols. Under the standard preparative conditions, tertiary alcohols are likely to be converted to the corresponding alkene. 

Halohydrins are useful intermediates especially in the synthesis of epoxides. The main reaction is usually accompanied by the formation of a dihalide. When the reactions are performed in the presence of acetic acid, then acetates of the hydrins can be the predominant products. With several exceptions, alkenes with a nonfluorinated C = C bond have been subjected to halohydrinations. Halogen cations usually undergo addition to the substituted carbon of the C = C bond in (fluoroalkyl)ethenes. 

The stereochemistry of photodimerization in the solid state and solution has been reported for several halogenated derivatives of t-1 (Table 2) (59-62). Solid state photodimerization of stilbenes, like other alkenes, is subject to topochem-ical control viz, the two reactive double bonds must be parallel and separated by < 4.2 A (63). The photostability of t-1 in the solid state (39b,59) is consistent with its reported crystal packing (64). The halogenated stilbenes 15-20 serve to illustrate the variety of stereochemical outcomes observed for solution and solid state dimerization (eq. 11). 

PROBLEM 10.5 The two alkenes 2,3,3-trimethyl-1-butene and 1-octene were each subjected to allylic halogenation with A/-bromosuccinimide. One of these alkenes yielded a single allylic bromide, whereas the other gave a mixture of two constitutionally isomeric allylic bromides. Match the chemical behavior to the correct alkene and give the structure of the allylic bromide(s) formed from each. 

Free-radical reactions of tervalent phosphorus acids have been covered to some extent in Section II (addition of PX3 to alkenes, equation 15-17) and in Section IV (oxidations with molecular oxygen). Several other reactions occur via radicals, e.g. reactions with peroxides, certain disulphides and certain halogen compounds. However, these reactions are the subject of chapters by Bentrude and Danko wski in Vol. 1 of this series and will not be covered here. 

A vicinal dihalide (abbreviated rTtc-dihalide) is a compound bearing the halogens on adjacent carbons vicinus, Latin adjacent). Vicinal dihalides are also called 1,2-dihalides. A vicinal dibromide, for example, can be synthesized by addition of bromine to an alkene (Section 8.1). The w c-dibromide can then be subjected to a double dehydrohalogenation reaction with a strong base to yield an alkyne. 

Dihalogenation of alkynes gives a dihalogenated alkene, which is also susceptible to reaction with bromine, chlorine, or iodine. Tetrahalo derivatives are available from dihalogenated alkenes (vinyl dihalides). When 1-pentyne reacts with one molar equivalent of diatomic bromine. 111 is the product. Because alkenes are also subject to reaction with halogens. 111 can react with a second molar equivalent of bromine to give 1,1,2,2-tetrabromopentane, 112. 

Insertion of alkynes can also be used to form a carbon-carbon bond at the same time as the carbon-zirconium bond. This process, carbometallation, is useful for the stereospecific construction of trisubstituted alkenes (Scheme 5.63). The active reagent is formed by mixing zirconocene dichloride and trimethylaluminium. Both metals are required for the reaction to proceed. The vinyl organometallic 5.221 produced may be subjected to protonolysis or halogenation. An application with iodination can be found in Scheme 8.121. 

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