The Side Chain

Hammen equation A correlation between the structure and reactivity in the side chain derivatives of aromatic compounds. Its derivation follows from many comparisons between rate constants for various reactions and the equilibrium constants for other reactions, or other functions of molecules which can be measured (e g. the i.r. carbonyl group stretching frequency). For example the dissociation constants of a series of para substituted (O2N —, MeO —, Cl —, etc.) benzoic acids correlate with the rate constant k for the alkaline hydrolysis of para substituted benzyl chlorides. If log Kq is plotted against log k, the data fall on a straight line. Similar results are obtained for meta substituted derivatives but not for orthosubstituted derivatives. 

The term vitamin K2 was applied to 2-methyl-3-difarnesyl-l,4-naphthoquinone, m.p. 54 C, isolated from putrefied fish meal. It now includes a group of related natural compounds ( menaquinones ), differing in the number of isoprene units in the side chain and in their degree of unsaturation. These quinones also appear to be involved in the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. 

A likely exit path for the xenon was identified as follows. Different members of our research group placed the exit path in the same location and were able to control extraction of the xenon atom with the tug feature of the steered dynamics system without causing exaggerated perturbations of the structure. The exit path is located between the side chains of leucines 84 and 118 and of valine 87 the flexible side chain of lysine 83 lies just outside the exit and part of the time is an obstacle to a linear extraction (Fig. 1). 

The comparison of both data sources qualitatively shows a similar picture. Regions of high mobflity are located especially between the secondary structure elements, which are marked on the abscissa of the plot in Figure 7-17. Please remember that the fluctuations plotted in this example also include the amino acid side chains, not only the protein backbone. This is the reason why the side chains of large and flexible amino acids like lysine or arginine can increase the fluctuations dramatically, although the corresponding backbone remains almost immobile. In these cases, it is useful to analyze the fluctuations of the protein backbone and side chains individually. 

When an aromatic compound having an aliphatic side chain is subjected to oxidation, fission of the side chain occurs between the first and second carbon atoms from the benzene ring, the first carbon atom thus becoming part of a carboxyl ( -COOH) group. For example ... 

In the following preparation, the oxidation of benzyl chloride instead of toluene is therefore given in order to reduce the time required. It should be borne in mind, however, that the procedure is othenvise independent of the nature of the side chain. 

TTie true ketones, in which the >CO group is in the side chain, the most common examples being acetophenone or methyl phenyl ketone, C HjCOCH, and benzophenone or diphenyl ketone, C HjCOC(Hj. These ketones are usually prepared by a modification of the Friedel-Crafts reaction, an aromatic hydrocarbon being treated with an acyl chloride (either aliphatic or aromatic) in the presence of aluminium chloride. Thus benzene reacts with acetyl chloride... 

The student should note that ketones in class (1), t.c., those having the >CO group in the side chain, will form additive compounds with sodium bisulphite only if this >CO group is not directly joined to the benzene ring acetophenone therefore will not form such compounds, whereas benzyl methyl ketone, CaHsCHjCOCH, will do so. Many quinones, particularly ortho quinones such as phenanthraquinone, form additive compounds with sodium bisulphite. 

In the absence of catalysts, toluene when treated with chlorine (or bromine) at the boiling point, preferably with exposure to sunlight or other bright light source, undergoes halogenation in the side chain. The entrance of the first chlorine atom, for example, proceeds at a much faster rate than the entrance of the second chlorine atom so that in practice the major portion of the toluene is converted into benzyl chloride before appreciable chlorination of benzyl chloride occurs ... 

The last example illustrates nitration by means of fuming nitric acid with retention of the side chain. 

It has been tentatively suggested that one mechanism underlies the Willgerodt reaction and the Kindler modification of it. A labile intermediate is first formed which has a carbon—carbon bond in the side chain. The scheme is indicated below it postulates a series of steps involving the addition of ammonia or amine (R = H or alkyl), elimination of water, re addition and eUmination of ammonia or amine until the unsaturation appears at the end of the chain then an irreversible oxidation between sulphur and the nitrogen compound may occur to produce a thioamide. 

Another variation on this technique is to hrst optimize the side chains and then keep the side chains hxed while optimizing the backbone. In an extreme case, representing these hxed side chains as large polygons with some net interaction potential can increase the calculation speed even more. 

Represent the side chains as cylinders with a net interaction potential. 

The best-known equation of the type mentioned is, of course, Hammett s equation. It correlates, with considerable precision, rate and equilibrium constants for a large number of reactions occurring in the side chains of m- and p-substituted aromatic compounds, but fails badly for electrophilic substitution into the aromatic ring (except at wi-positions) and for certain reactions in side chains in which there is considerable mesomeric interaction between the side chain and the ring during the course of reaction. This failure arises because Hammett s original model reaction (the ionization of substituted benzoic acids) does not take account of the direct resonance interactions between a substituent and the site of reaction. This sort of interaction in the electrophilic substitutions of anisole is depicted in the following resonance structures, which show the transition state to be stabilized by direct resonance with the substituent ... 

The exocyclic 1,3-dioxolane ring is much more vulnerable to acid hydrolysis than the ring connected with the acetal group. Partial deprotection of the side-chain is easily achieved by treatment with sulfurie acid. 

Stigmasterol from soy bean extracts can be selectively ozonolyzed on the side-chain double bond. The 20-formyl group formed is converted to the enamine with piperidine. This can be oxidized to progesterone. 

Unexpectedly, a completely different reaction took place in the oxidation of 2-(l-propenyl)phenol (111) with PdCh. Carpanone (112) was obtained in one step in 62% crude yield. This remarkable reaction is explained by the formation of o-quinone, followed by the radical coupling of the side-chain. Then the intramolecular cycloaddition takes place to form carpanone[131]. 

The reactivity of alkylthiazoles possessing a functional group linked to the side-chain is discussed here neither in detail nor exhaustively since it is analogous to that of classical aliphatic and aromatic compounds. These reactions are essentially of a synthetic nature. In fact, the cyclization methods discussed in Chapter II lead to thiazoles possessing functional groups on the alkyl chain if the aliphatic compounds to be cyclized, carrying the substituent on what will become the alkyl side chain, are available. If this is not the case, another functional substituent can be introduced on the side-chain by cyclization and can then be converted to the desired substituent by a classical reaction. 

With a side-chain of three or more carbon atoms in the 5-position an intense peak is obtained at m-(R-14), resulting from /3 cleavage of the side-chain. Thus the highest intensity peak for 2,4-dimethyl-5-propylthiazole occurs at m/e 126 (m-29). Secondary ions have been demonstrated by Clark (115), especially at m/e 45. 

Hydrogenation of the side chain double bond of an alkenylbenzene is much easier than hydrogenation of the aromatic ring and can be achieved with high selectivity leav mg the ring unaffected... 

---