Transition state cations

Figure 31 shows the proposed Longuet-Higgins loop for the cyclopentadienyl cation. It uses the type-VI Ai anchors, with the type-VII B structures as transition states between them. This situation is completely analogous to that of the radical (Fig. 23). Since the loop is phase inverting, a conical intersection should be located at its center—as required by the Jahn-Teller theorem.

Another quantitative approach to the reactivity of thiazole (381) in reactions involving a cationic transition state, though not exactly of the electrophilic substitution type, deserves to be mentioned here because of... 

The transition state is closer m energy to the carbocation (tert butyl cation) so Its structure more closely resembles the carbocation than it resembles tert butyloxonium ion The transition state has considerable carbocation character meaning that a significant degree of positive charge has developed at carbon... 

The transition state for this step involves partial bond formation between tert butyl cation and chloride ion... 

The major difference between the two mechanisms is the second step The second step m the reaction of tert butyl alcohol with hydrogen chloride is the ummolecular dis sociation of tert butyloxonium ion to tert butyl cation and water Heptyloxonium ion however instead of dissociating to an unstable primary carbocation reacts differently It IS attacked by bromide ion which acts as a nucleophile We can represent the transition state for this step as... 

FIGURE 5 8 Methyl migration in 1 2 2 tnmethylpropyl cation Structure (a) is the initial second ary carbocation structure (b) is the transition state for methyl migration and structure (c) is the final tertiary carbocation... 

Successive introduction of two methyl groups at ring carbon increases the hydrolysis rate by a factor of 10 in each step, indicating cation formation in the transition state as in acetal hydrolysis. Equilibrium protonation before hydrolysis becomes evident from an increasing rate of hydrolysis with a decreasing pH value (Table 3). Below pH 3 no further increase of rate is observed, so that protonation is assumed to be complete. 

These results indicate an energy profile for the 3-methyl-2-butyl cation to 2-methyl-2-butyl cation rearrangement in which the open secondary cations are transition states, rather than intermediates, with the secondary cations represented as methyl-bridged species (comer-protonated cyclopropanes) (Fig. 5.10). 

Fig. 5.11. Contrasting potential energy diagrams for stable and unstable bridged norbomyl cation. (A) Bridged ion is a transition state for rearrangement between classical structures. (B) Bridged ion is an intermediate in rearrangement of one classical structure to the other. (C) Bridged nonclassical ion is the only stable structure.

Let us now return to the question of solvolysis and how it relates to the stracture under stable-ion conditions. To relate the structural data to solvolysis conditions, the primary issues that must be considered are the extent of solvent participation in the transition state and the nature of solvation of the cationic intermediate. The extent of solvent participation has been probed by comparison of solvolysis characteristics in trifluoroacetic acid with the solvolysis in acetic acid. The exo endo reactivity ratio in trifluoroacetic acid is 1120 1, compared to 280 1 in acetic acid. Whereas the endo isomer shows solvent sensitivity typical of normal secondary tosylates, the exx> isomer reveals a reduced sensitivity. This indicates that the transition state for solvolysis of the exo isomer possesses a greater degree of charge dispersal, which would be consistent with a bridged structure. This fact, along with the rate enhancement of the exo isomer, indicates that the c participation commences prior to the transition state being attained, so that it can be concluded that bridging is a characteristic of the solvolysis intermediate, as well as of the stable-ion structure. ... 

The factors that determine whether syn or anti elimination predominates are still subject to investigation. One factor that is believed to be important is whether the base is free or present in an ion pair. The evidence is that an ion pair promotes syn elimination of anionic leaving groups. This effect can be explained by proposing a transition state in which the anion functions as a base and the cation assists in the departure of the leaving group. 

The second step in acetal and ketal hydrolysis is conversion of the hemiacetal or hemiketal to the carbonyl compound. The mechanism of this step is similar to that of the first step. Usually, the second step is faster than the initial one. Hammett a p plots and solvent isotope effects both indicate that the transition state has less cationic character than... 

If the transition state resembles the intermediate n-complex, the structure involved is a substituted cyclohexadienyl cation. The electrophile has localized one pair of electrons to form the new a bond. The Hiickel orbitals are those shown for the pentadienyl system in Fig. 10.1. A substituent can stabilize the cation by electron donation. The LUMO is 1/13. This orbital has its highest coefficients at carbons 1, 3, and 5 of the pentadienyl system. These are the positions which are ortho and para to the position occupied by the electrophile. Electron-donor substituents at the 2- and 4-positions will stabilize the system much less because of the nodes at these carbons in the LUMO. 

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