With Lewis Acids

Reactions of organotin compounds with Lewis acids by have been carried out particularly with mercury(II) salts in mechanistic studies, with SnCl4 (the Kocheshkov reaction) for the preparation of alkyltin chlorides, and with lead tetraacetate. 

In reactions of mercury(II) salts, the reactivity follows the sequence Hg(OAc)2 HgCl2 Hgl2 and electron-attracting groups in the mercury carboxylates accelerate the reaction.41-42 The reactivity follows a steric sequence with respect to the group R being transferred (Me Et Pr Bu1 Peneo Pr1), and solvent and salt effects suggest an SE2(C)(open) mechanism. 

Radioactive Bu3113SnCl for environmental tracer studies has been prepared by this type of reaction.43 

The Kocheshkov reactions are discussed in Section 11.1.2 on organotin halides. 

---

Studies on solvent effects on the endo-exo selectivity of Diels-Alder reactions have revealed the importance of hydrogen bonding interactions besides the already mentioned solvophobic interactions and polarity effects. Further evidence of the significance of the former interactions comes from computer simulations" and the analogy with Lewis-acid catalysis which is known to enhance dramatically the endo-exo selectivity (Section 1.2.4). 

A combination of the promoting effects of Lewis acids and water is a logical next step. However, to say the least, water has not been a very popular medium for Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reactions, which is not surprising since water molecules interact strongly with Lewis-acidic and the Lewis-basic atoms of the reacting system. In 1994, when the research described in this thesis was initiated, only one example of Lewis-acid catalysis of a Diels-Alder reaction in water was published Lubineau and co-workers employed lanthanide triflates as a catalyst for the Diels-Alder reaction of glyoxylate to a relatively unreactive diene . No comparison was made between the process in water and in organic solvents. 

What is the effect of micelles on the aqueous Diels-Alder reaction Can micellar catalysis be combined with Lewis-acid catalysis In Chapter 5 these aspects will discussed. 

In summary, the work in this thesis provides an overview of what can be achieved with Lewis-acid and micellar catalysis for Diels-Alder reactions in water as exemplified by the reaction of3-phenyl-l-(2-pyridyl)-2-propene-l-ones with cyclopentadiene. Extension of the observed beneficial effect of water on rates and particularly enantioselectivities to other systems is envisaged. 

Perchloric acid (HCIO4 Ho —13.0), fluorosulfuric acid (HSO3F Ho — 15.1), and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF3SO3H Ho —14.1) are considered to be superacids, as is truly anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. Complexing with Lewis acidic metal fluorides of higher valence, such as antimony, tantalum, or niobium pentafluoride, greatly enhances the acidity of all these acids. 

When mixed with Lewis acids, dinitrogen pentoxide yields crystalline white solids, which were identified as the corresponding nitronium salts by their infra-red spectra. The reaction with boron trifluoride can be formulated in the following way... 

With Lewis acids as catalysts, compounds containing more than one alkoxy group on a carbon atom add across vinyl ether double bonds. Acetals give 3-alkoxyacetals since the products are also acetals, they can react further with excess vinyl ether to give oligomers (228—230). Orthoformic esters give diacetals of malonaldehyde (231). With Lewis acids and mercuric salts as catalysts, vinyl ethers add in similar fashion to give acetals of 3-butenal (232,233). 

Electrophilic Reactions. Perfluoroepoxides are quite resistant to electrophilic attack. However, they react readily with Lewis acids, for example SbF, to give ring-opened carbonyl compounds (20—22) (eq. 2). 

Lewis acid catalysts, such as AlCl or BF, coordinate strongly with non-bonded electron pairs but they iateract only weakly with bonded electron pairs. Therefore, n-donon reagents, such as alkyl haUdes, can react with Lewis acid catalysts even under complete exclusion of moisture or any other proton source ... 

Aromatic hydrocarbons with an unsaturated side chain undergo ring closure when heated with Lewis acids (56). 

Physical Properties. Both (1) and (2) are weak bases, showing 4.94 and 5.40, respectively. Their facile formation of crystalline salts with either inorganic or organic acids and complexes with Lewis acids is in each case of considerable interest. Selected physical data for quinoline and isoquinoline are given in Table 1. Reference 4 greatly expands the range of data treated and adds to them substantially. 

Lewis Acid Complexes. Sulfolane complexes with Lewis acids, such as boron trifluoride or phosphoms pentafluoride (17). For example, at room temperature, sulfolane and boron trifluoride combine in a 1 1 mole ratio with the evolution of heat to give a white, hygroscopic soHd which melts at 37°C. The reaction of sulfolane with methyl fluoride and antimony pentafluoride inhquid sulfur dioxide gives crystalline tetrahydro-l-methoxythiophenium-l-oxidehexafluoroantimonate, the first example of an alkoxysulfoxonium salt (18). 

Sodium borobydride reacts with Lewis acids in nonprotic solvents to yield diborane [19287-45-7] 2 6 which can then be used to generate other useful organoboranes such as amine boranes, alkyl boranes, and boron hydride clusters. 

Cationic polymerization with Lewis acids yields resinous homopolymers containing cycHc stmctures and reduced unsaturation (58—60). Polymerization with triethyl aluminum and titanium tetrachloride gave a product thought to have a cycHc ladder stmcture (61). Anionic polymeriza tion with lithium metal initiators gave a low yield of a mbbery product. The material had good freeze resistance compared with conventional polychloroprene (62). 

The most important reaction with Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride etherate is polymerization (Scheme 30) (72MI50601). Other Lewis acids have been used SnCL, Bu 2A1C1, Bu sAl, Et2Zn, SO3, PFs, TiCU, AICI3, Pd(II) and Pt(II) salts. Trialkylaluminum, dialkylzinc and other alkyl metal initiators may partially hydrolyze to catalyze the polymerization by an anionic mechanism rather than the cationic one illustrated in Scheme 30. Cyclic dimers and trimers are often products of cationic polymerization reactions, and desulfurization of the monomer may occur. Polymerization of optically active thiiranes yields optically active polymers (75MI50600). 

The other class of acrylic compatible tackifiers includes those based on ter-penes. Terpenes are monomers obtained by wood extraction or directly from pine tree sap. To make the polyterpene tackifiers, the monomers have to be polymerized under cationic conditions, typically with Lewis acid catalysis. To adjust properties such as solubility parameter and softening point, other materials such as styrene, phenol, limonene (derived from citrus peels), and others may be copolymerized with the terpenes. 

Fluorides with fluorine-phosphorus bonds also react with Lewis acids tert-Butylpentafluorocyclotriphosphazenes are arylated in the presence of aluminum chlonde [26] (equation 18)... 

---