Symmetry, conservation

The Woodward-Hoffmann method [52], which assumes conservation of orbital symmetry, is another variant of the same idea. In it, the emphasis is put on the symmetries of molecular orbitals. Longuet-Higgins and Abramson [53] noted the necessity of state-to-state correlation, rather than the orbital correlation, which is not rigorously justified (see also, [30,44]). However, the orbital symmetry conservation rules appear to be very useful for most themial reactions. 

Which of the following reactions are allowed according to the orbital symmetry conservation rules Explain,... 

For the discussion of the rearrangements in section III only stepwise reaction sequences will be considered. We must note, however, that many of these transformations may just as well result from concerted processes in accordance with the rules for orbital symmetry conservation,... 

Molecular Orbital Symmetry Conservation in Transition Metal Catalysis Frank D. Mango... 

Keywords historical background, discovery of Diels-Alder reaction, discovery of orbital symmetry, conservation rule... 

Diels-Alder Reaction Dienophiles Difluoroallene Dioxoindoles Dioxolanyliums Discovery of Diels-Alder reaction Discovery of orbital symmetry conservation rule Diterpenes Domino Drtmane sesquiterpenes Compilation 0031, 9804, 9742, 9741. 9737, 9705, 9410, 9406, 9306, 9218, 9118 9126 9705 9833, 9604 9222 9222 0003 0033, 0024, 9835, 9014 9116... 

This is an example of the Wigner spin conservation rule (p. 316). Note that spin conservation is something entirely different from symmetry conservation. 

The stereochemistry of these cyclopropyl cleavages is governed by the principle of orbital symmetry conservation (for a discussion, see p. 1434). 

Let us turn now to a reaction surface that has been studied in more detail, that is, the surface for the addition of methylene to ethylene (11). Figure 5 shows the various approaches of the two fragments, b) is the most symmetric approach, but the correlation diagram shows that the reaction is symmetry-forbidden for the ground configuration singlet methylene along this path. In Fig. 5 c the levels have been classified as symmetric or antisymmetric with respect to the xz plane, which is the relevant symmetry element for use of the symmetry conservation rales. 

If a four-membered ring peroxide (1.2-dioxetane) is involved in a reaction, its concerted bond cleavage into two carbonyl moieties should yield one of these in its excited electronic state on the basis of the orbital symmetry conservation rules of R. B. Woodward and R. Hoffmann ... 

The principles of orbital symmetry conservation establish that concerted suprafacial [3, 3]-sigmatropic arrangements are allowed processes. Based on these principles and the results of numerous experiments their stereochemistry is highly predictable. 

For reason of symmetry conservation, a thermal concerted [2-1-2]-cycloaddition is forbidden as far as D2h symmetry can be assumed for the activated complex. This is not necessarily the case for the concerted dimerization of iminoboranes, in which the symmetry requirements seem to be essentially lowered. Nevertheless, a two-step mechanism according to Eq. (21) must be taken into account. The assumed intermediate in Eq. (21) contains a sextet boron atom with a linear... 

EXPONENTIAL BREAKDOWN SYMBOLIC COMPUTING Symmetry-conserving allosteric model, MONOD-WYMAN-CHANGEUX MODEL SYMPORT Symproportionation,... 

Theoretical analyses of the reaction path of photocyclization point to the same conclusion. Thus the qualitative state correlation procedure clearly indicates that photocyclization takes place by a conrotatory process in the Orbital Symmetry Conservation sense requiring a C2 molecular symmetry in 7 and in its symmetric congeners. The same conclusion were reached in the subsequent numerical analysis of the photocyclization of 7 and of 44 The detailed molecular structures of these two molecules and of 61 have been calculated by semi-empirical energy minimization procedures (cf also Ref. ). 

These reactions are characterized by the phenomenon that the frontier orbitals of the reactants maintain a defined stereochemical orientation throughout the w hole reaction. Most noteworthy in this respect, is the principle of orbital symmetry conservation ( Woodward-Hoffmann rules la), but the phenomenon is much more general, as shown by the following examples of Self-Immolative Stereoconversion or Chirality Transfer . This term describes processes by which a stereocenter in the starting material is sacrificed to generate a stereocenter in the product in an unambiguous fashion. This is, of course, the case in classical SN2-displacements. 

Unlike thermal [2 + 2] cycloadditions which normally do not proceed readily unless certain structural features are present (see Section 1.3.1.1.), metal-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions should be allowed according to orbital symmetry conservation rules. There is now evidence that most metal-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions proceed stepwise via metallacycloalkanes as intermediates and both their formation and transformation are believed to occur by concerted processes. In many instances such reactions occur with high regioselectivity. Another mode for [2 + 2] cyclodimerization and cycloadditions involves radical cation intermediates (hole-catalyzed) obtained from oxidation of alkcnes by strong electron acceptors such as triarylammini-um radical cation salts.1 These reactions are similar to photochemical electron transfer (PET) initiated [2 + 2] cyclodimerization and cycloadditions in which an electron acceptor is used in the irradiation process.2 Because of the reversibility of these processes there is very little stereoselectivity observed in the cyclobutanes formed. 

Although thermal [2 + 2] cycloadditions are forbidden as concerted reactions by the orbital symmetry conservation rules the same structural features which promote intermolecular cy-cioadditions will also promote intramolecular reactions. In addition, the proximity between two alkene moieties dictated by the tether length and rigidity would make these processes entropically favorable. A few reports have documented thermal intramolecular cycloadditions to cyclopropenes and activated alkenes. The thermal Cope rearrangement of allylcyclopropenes apparently proceeds by a two-step mechanism in which intramolecular [2 + 2] adducts have been observed.72-73... 

The rearrangement occurs at least partially with antarafacial allylie participation and was estimated to be concerted in the sense of orbital-symmetry conservation control. Transition-structures appropriate to concerted pathways were judged likely to have exorbitantly high energies as a result of poor orbital overlap and unfavorable steric interactions. 

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