Symmetry-allowed

Infrared Spectroscopy. The infrared spectroscopy of adsorbates has been studied for many years, especially for chemisorbed species (see Section XVIII-2C). In the case of physisorption, where the molecule remains intact, one is interested in how the molecular symmetry is altered on adsorption. Perhaps the conceptually simplest case is that of H2 on NaCl(lOO). Being homo-polar, Ha by itself has no allowed vibrational absorption (except for some weak collision-induced transitions) but when adsorbed, the reduced symmetry allows a vibrational spectrum to be observed. Fig. XVII-16 shows the infrared spectrum at 30 K for various degrees of monolayer coverage [96] (the adsorption is Langmuirian with half-coverage at about 10 atm). The bands labeled sf are for transitions of H2 on a smooth face and are from the 7 = 0 and J = 1 rotational states Q /fR) is assigned as a combination band. The bands labeled... 

The ordinary BO approximate equations failed to predict the proper symmetry allowed transitions in the quasi-JT model whereas the extended BO equation either by including a vector potential in the system Hamiltonian or by multiplying a phase factor onto the basis set can reproduce the so-called exact results obtained by the two-surface diabatic calculation. Thus, the calculated hansition probabilities in the quasi-JT model using the extended BO equations clearly demonshate the GP effect. The multiplication of a phase factor with the adiabatic nuclear wave function is an approximate treatment when the position of the conical intersection does not coincide with the origin of the coordinate axis, as shown by the results of [60]. Moreover, even if the total energy of the system is far below the conical intersection point, transition probabilities in the JT model clearly indicate the importance of the extended BO equation and its necessity. 

In a second example, the three CH bonds, three CH antibonds, CO bond and antibond, and three 0-atom non-bonding orbitals of the methoxy radical H3C-O also cluster into ai and e orbitals as shown below. In these cases, point group symmetry allows one to identify degeneracies that may not have been apparent from the structure of the orbital interactions alone. 

Figure 1.2. Endo and exo pathway for the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with methyl vinyl ketone. As was first noticed by Berson, the polarity of the endo activated complex exceeds that of the exo counterpart due to alignment of the dipole moments of the diene and the dienophile K The symmetry-allowed secondary orbital interaction that is only possible in the endo activated complex is usually invoked as an explanation for the preference for endo adduct exhibited by most Diels-Alder reactions.

Let us now examine the Diels-Alder cycloaddition from a molecular orbital perspective Chemical experience such as the observation that the substituents that increase the reac tivity of a dienophile tend to be those that attract electrons suggests that electrons flow from the diene to the dienophile during the reaction Thus the orbitals to be considered are the HOMO of the diene and the LUMO of the dienophile As shown m Figure 10 11 for the case of ethylene and 1 3 butadiene the symmetry properties of the HOMO of the diene and the LUMO of the dienophile permit bond formation between the ends of the diene system and the two carbons of the dienophile double bond because the necessary orbitals overlap m phase with each other Cycloaddition of a diene and an alkene is said to be a symmetry allowed reaction... 

Symmetry allowed reaction (Section 10 14) Concerted reac tion in which the orbitals involved overlap in phase at all stages of the process The conrotatory ring opening of cy clobutene to 1 3 butadiene is a symmetry allowed reaction... 

The 27T-electrons of the carbon-nitrogen double bond of 1-azirines can participate in thermal symmetry-allowed [4 + 2] cycloadditions with a variety of substrates such as cyclo-pentadienones, isobenzofurans, triazines and tetrazines 71AHC(13)45). Cycloadditions also occur with heterocumulenes such as ketenes, ketenimines, isocyanates and carbon disulfide. It is also possible for the 27r-electrons of 1-azirines to participate in ene reactions 73HCA1351). 

The reaction of carbon atoms with A-unsubstituted aziridines leads to alkenes and hydrogen cyanide (72IA3455), probably via extrusion from the initially formed adduct (285). The fragmentation does not appear to be concerted, although this would be a symmetry-allowed process, since only about half the alkene formed retains the aziridine stereochemistry in the case of cM-2,3-dimethylaziridine. 

Fig. 11.5. Correlation diagram for cyclobutene and butadiene orbitals (symmetry-allowed conrotatory reaction).

All-ci5-cyclononatetraene undergoes a spontaneous electrocyclic ring closure at 25°C to afford a single product. Suggest a structure for this product. Also, describe an alternative symmetry-allowed electrocyclic reaction that would lead to an isomeric bicyclononatriene. Explain why the product of this alternative reaction pathway is not formed. 

Fluorinated cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes are relatively easy to prepare because of the propensity of many gem-difluoroolefins to thermally cyclodimerize and cycloadd to alkenes and alkynes. Even with dienes, fluoroolefins commonly prefer to form cyclobutane rather than six-membered-ring Diels-Alder adducts. Tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, and l,l-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethyl-ene are especially reactive in this context. Most evidence favors a stepwise diradical or, less often, a dipolar mechanism for [2+2] cycloadditions of fluoroalkenes [S5, (5], although arguments for a symmetry-allowed, concerted [2j-t-2J process persist [87], The scope, characteristic features, and mechanistic studies of fluoroolefin... 

Dithiadiazolyl radicals are typically prepared by reduction of the corresponding cations with SbPh3. They are unstable with respect to isomerization to the 1,2,3,5-isomers both in solution " and in the solid state. The isomerization is a photochemically symmetry-allowed process, which is thermally symmetry forbidden. A bimolecular head-to-tail rearrangement has been proposed to account for this isomerization (Scheme 11.1). This rearrangement process is conveniently monitored... 

The Diels-Alder Reaction. A Symmetry Allowed Process 273... 

According to the Woodw ard-Hofmann rules the concerted thermal [2n + 2n] cycloaddition reaction of alkenes 1 in a suprafacial manner is symmetry-forbidden, and is observed in special cases only. In contrast the photochemical [2n + 2n cycloaddition is symmetry-allowed, and is a useful method for the synthesis of cyclobutane derivatives 2. 

An explanation for the finding that concerted [4 -I- 2] cycloadditions take place thermally, while concerted [2 + 2] cycloadditions occur under photochemical conditions, is given through the principle of conservation of orbital symmetry. According to the Woodw ard-Hofmann rules derived thereof, a concerted, pericyclic [4 -I- 2] cycloaddition reaction from the ground state is symmetry-allowed. 

The photochemical cycloaddition of a carbonyl compound 1 to an alkene 2 to yield an oxetane 3, is called the Patemo-Buchi reaction - This reaction belongs to the more general class of photochemical [2 + 2]-cycloadditions, and is just as these, according to the Woodward-Hofmann rules, photochemically a symmetry-allowed process, and thermally a symmetry-forbidden process. 

If the symmetries of reactant and product orbitals match up, or correlate, the reaction is said to be symmetry-allowed. If the symmetries of reactant and product orbitals don t correlate, the reaction is symmetry-disallowed. 

Symmetry-allowed reactions often occur under relatively mild conditions, but symmetry-disallowed reactions can t occur by conceited paths. Either they take place by nonconcerted, high-energy pathways, or they don t take place at all. 

Problem 30.3 fra/is-3,4-Dimethylcyclobutene can open by two conrotatory paths to give either (2 ,4 )-2,4-hexadiene or (2Z,4Z)-2,4-hexadiene. Explain why both products are symmetry-allowed, and then account for the fact that only the 2 ,4 isomer is. obtained in practice. 

A cycloaddition reaction is one in which two unsaturated molecules add to one another, yielding a cyclic product. As with electrocyclic reactions, cycloadditions are controlled by the orbital symmetry of the reactants. Symmetry-allowed... 

Note that both suprafacial and antarafacial cycloadditions are symmetry-allowed. Geometric constraints often make antarafacial reactions difficult, however, because there must be a twisting of the it orbital system in one of the reactants. Thus, suprafacial cycloadditions are the most common for small tt systems. 

Both suprafacial and antarafacial sigmatropic rearrangements are symmetry-allowed, but suprafacial rearrangements are often easier for geometric reasons. The rules for sigmatropic rearrangements are identical to those for cycJoaddition reactions (Table 30.3). 

Both these 1,51 hydrogen shifts occur by a symmetry-allowed suprafacial rearrangement, as illustrated in Figure 30.12. In contrast with these thermal [L,51 sigmatropic hydrogen shifts, however, thermal [1,3 hydrogen shifts are unknown. Were they to occur, they would have to proceed by a strained antarafacial reaction pathway. 

Symmetry-allowed, symmetry-disallowed (Section 30.2) A symmetry-allowed reaction is a pericyclic process that lias a favorable orbital symmetry for reaction through a concerted pathway. A symmetry-disallowed reaction is one that does not have favorable orbital symmetry for reaction through a concerted pathway. 

Dipolar diazo compounds may undergo a thermal symmetry allowed [1,7]-, 87r-electrocycli-zation, followed by [1,5]- H shifts70 (cf. Section 4.1.3.1.1.2.1., p346ff). 

On irradiation the diazepinone 7 rearranges to the bicyclic ketone 8 by a symmetry allowed disrotatory 4rc-electrocyclization.9 5... 

The Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopropenes with 1,2,4,5-tetrazines (see Vol.E9c, p 904), a reaction with inverse electron demand, gives isolable 3,4-diazanorcaradienes 1, which are converted into 4H-1,2-diazepines 2 on heating. The transformation involves a symmetry allowed [1,5] sigmatropic shift of one of the bonds of the three-membered ring, a so-called walk rearrangement , followed by valence isomerization.106,107... 

Cyclizations of doubly unsaturated diazo compounds containing a thiophene ring within rather than at the end of the diene system to yield thicnodiazepines have also been reported. Thus, thermolysis of the sodium salt 7 gives the l//-thieno[3,2-r/]-2,3-diazepine 9. The intermediate 8 rearranges to the more stable product 9 by a symmetry allowed [1,5] shift of hydrogen.14,1... 

Ar-Arylbenzimidoyl)tetrazoles t, prepared from JV-arylbenzimidoyl chlorides and 5-(dimethylamino)- or 5-aryltetrazole, give 3//-l,3,4-benzotriazepines 4 on thermolysis. It has been proposed that the reaction proceeds by way of the dipolar compounds 2, which undergo [l,7]-antarafacial 871-electrocyclization to 3. The process is completed by a symmetry-allowed [1.5]-hydrogen shift. Selected examples are given.349-350... 

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