http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chem206/
Ph
Ph
OO O
CO2Me
CO2Me
CO2Me
MeO2C H
H
O
O
O
Ph
Ph
Chem 206D. A. Evans, T. B. Dunn
Matthew D. Shair Friday, October 11, 2002
a73 Reading Assignment for week:
Carey & Sundberg: Part A; Chapter 11Concerted Pericyclic Reactions
Pericyclic Reactions: Part–1
Chemistry 206
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Lecture Number 11
Pericyclic Reactions–1
a73 Introduction to Pericyclic Reactions
a73 Electrocyclic Reactions
a73 Sigmatropic Reactions
a73 Cycloaddition Reactions
a73 Other Reading Material:
Fleming: Chapter 4Thermal Pericyclic Reactions
a73 Woodward-Hoffmann Theory R. B. Woodward and R. Hoffmann, The Conservation of Orbital
Symmetry, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1970.
a73 Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory I. Fleming, Frontier Orbitals and Organic Chemical Reactions,
John-Wiley and Sons, New York, 1976.
a73 Dewar-Zimmerman Theory T. H. Lowry and K. S. Richardson, Mechanism and Theory in
Organic Chemistry, 3rd Ed., Harper & Row, New York, 1987.
a73 General Reference R. E. Lehr and A. P. Marchand, Orbital Symmetry: A Problem
Solving Approach, Academic Press, New York, 1972.
a73 Problems of the Day:
Huisgen, TL, 1964, 3381.
Predict the stereochemical outcome of this reaction.
a68
a68heat
Suggest a mechanism for the following reaction.
heat
Bloomfield, TL, 1969, 3719.
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn Pericyclic Reactions: Introduction
The Five Major Categories of Pericyclic Reactions
(1) ELECTROCYCLIC RING CLOSURE/RING OPENING:
Cyclobutene Butadiene 1,3,5-Hexatriene 1,3-Cyclohexadiene
Examples:
An electrocyclic ring closure is the creation of a new sigma bond at the expense of the terminal p orbitals of a conjugated pi system. There is a corresponding
reorganization of the conjugated pi system. We usually classify the reaction according to the number of electrons involved.
Pericyclic Reactions - Introduction/Definitions
A pericyclic reaction is characterized as a change in bonding relationships thattakes place as a continuous, concerted reorganization of electrons.
The term "concerted" specifies that there is one single transition state and therefore no intermediates are involved in the process. To maintain
continuous electron flow, pericyclic reactions occur through cyclictransition states.
More precisely: The cyclic transition state must correspond to an arrangementof the participating orbitals which has to maintain a bonding interaction
between the reaction components throughout the course of the reaction.
Pericyclic reactions are stereospecific:
A
A
AA
A
A
Reactions behave differently depending on the conditions used (i.e. thermal versus photochemical conditions):
A
The number of electrons involved has a profound influence on reactivity:
4 electrons
rarely observed
6 electrons
oftenobserved
Some factors to consider in our analysis:
The Theories:Three theories are commonly used to explain and predict pericyclic
reactions. We will only concern ourselves with two of these theories.
1) Fukui: Frontier Molecular Orbital Interactions
Much easier to use than the original orbital symmetry arguments
HOMO/LUMO interactions
2) Dewar-Zimmerman: Aromatic Transition States
The easiest to apply for all reaction types, but it is not as easy to understand why it it valid
Aromatic or antiaromatic transition states
a73
a73
a73
a73
On the three methods:
"There are several ways of applying the orbital-symmetry principle to cycloaddition reactions, three of which are used more frequently than others. Of these three, we will
discuss two: the frontier-orbital method and the M?bius-Hückel method. The third, called the correlation diagram method, is less convenient to apply than the other two."
Jerry March in "Advanced Organic Chemistry"
A 4 e- electrocyclic reaction A 6 e- electrocyclic reaction
A
A
A
A
A A
A ? or hν ? or hνhν
First theory to explain and predict the outcome of many reactions
Correlation diagrams
3) Woodward-Hoffmann: Conservation of Orbital Symmetry
a73
a73
heat heat
heatheat
heat
[4+1]
[4+1]
[2+1]
R R
R1
R2
O O
S OO
O
CR2 R
R
C O
S
O
O
X
R
X
R
R
H
H R
N
N H
H R
R'
N2
H H
?
H
H
H R
H R'
R1 H
R2
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn Pericyclic Reactions: Major Classes
(2) CYCLOADDITION REACTIONS/CYCLOREVERSION REACTIONS:
+ [2+2]
+ [4+2]
A cycloaddition reaction is the union of two smaller, independent pi systems. Sigma bonds are created at the expense of pi bonds. A cycloaddition can occur
in an intramolecular sense, but it must be between two independent pi systems. Cycloaddition reactions are referred to as [m + n] additions when a system of m
conjugated atoms combines with a system of n conjugated atoms. A cycloreversion is simply the reverse of a cycloaddition.
Examples:
A 2+2 cycloaddition.The Paterno-Büchi
reaction.
A 4+2 cycloaddition.The Diels-Alder reaction.
(3) CHELETROPIC REACTIONS:
Cheletropic reactions are a special group of cycloaddition/cycloreversion reactions. Two bonds are formed or broken at a single atom. The
nomenclature for cheletropic reactions is the same as for cycloadditions.
+
+
+
Examples:
(4) SIGMATROPIC REARRANGEMENTS:
1
2
3 1
23[1,3]-shift [1,5]-shift1
2
3
4
5
A sigmatropic rearrangement is the migration of a sigma bond from one position in a conjugated system to another position in the system, accompanied by
reorganization of the connecting pi bonds. The number of pi and sigma bonds remains constant. The rearrangement is an [m,n] shift when the sigma bond
migrates across m atoms of one system and n atoms of the second system.
Examples:
[3,3]-shift3
21
3'1'
2'
3
21
3'1'
2'
X=CR2, Cope rearrangement
X=O, Claisen rearrangement
(5) GROUP TRANSFER REACTIONS:
In a group transfer reaction one or more groups get transferred to a second reaction partner.
Hydrogen Transfer:
Ene Reaction:
+ +
+ +
+
hν
Examples:
B
AA B A B
B
A
B
AA B A B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B A
B
Me
Me
Me H H Me
MeMe
HMe H Me
Me Me
Me
Me
?
?
Me Me
Me Me
H
MeH
Me
Me
H
Me
H
Me Me
hν hν
Me Me
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn Electrocyclic Reactions
Conrotatory Closure: The termini rotate in the same direction
The Stereochemical issues:
ELECTROCYCLIC RING CLOSURE/RING OPENING:
Ring closure can occur in two distinct ways. This has consequences with regard to:
a73 The orbital lobes that interacta73 The disposition of substituents on the termini
Disrotatory Closure: The termini rotate in opposite directions
Empirical Observations:
conrotation
conrotation
disrotation
disrotation
Butadiene to cyclobutene: A 4-electron (4q) system
Hextriene to cyclohexadiene: A 6-electron (4q+2) system
It was also noted that changing the "reagent" from heat to light reversed this reactivity pattern. Under photochemical conditions 4 electron
systems undergo disrotatory motion, while 6 electron systems undergo conrotatory motion.
controtationdisrotation
heat
heat
It was noted that butadienes undergo conrotatory closure under thermal conditions, while hexatrienes undergo disrotatory closure under thermal
conditions. The microscopic reverse reactions also occur with the same rotational sense (i.e. cyclobutenes open in a conrotatory sense when
heated, and cyclohexadienes open in a disrotatory sense when heated.)
C
Ψ1
Ψ1
Ψ2
Ψ3
Ψ4
Ψ2
Ψ3
pi
pi?
Chem 206D. A. Evans, T. B. Dunn Conjugated pi systems
There are no nodal planes in the most stable bonding MO. With each higher MO, one additional nodal plane is added. The more nodes, the higher the orbital energy.bonding
2 p-orbitals
3 p-orbitals
4 p-orbitals
5 p-orbitals
6 p-orbitalsantibonding
nonbonding nonbonding
Ψ4
Ψ3
Me H H Me
hν
Me H H Me
H
MeH
Me
H
Me Me
H
MeHHMe
Me
H
H
Me
Me
HH
Me
Ψ1
Ψ2
Me H H Me
MeHHMe
Me
H
H
Me
Me
HH
Me
Ψ2 (HOMO)
Me H H Me
Ψ3 (HOMO)
H
MeH
Me
H
Me Me
H
Ψ1
Ψ4
Ψ3
Ψ2
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn
a73 FMO Treatment of Electrocyclic reactions.
a73 Examine the interactions that occur in the HOMO as the reaction proceeds.
a73 If the overlap is constructive (i.e. of the same phase) then the reaction is "allowed."
a73 If the overlap is destructive (i.e. of different phases) then the reaction is "forbidden."
Destructiveoverlap
Constructiveoverlap
Ψ2 (diene HOMO)
Ψ2 (diene HOMO)
Conrotatory Closure: (Allowed and observed)
Disrotatory Closure: (Forbidden and not observed)
Thermal Activation:
A similar analysis for the hexatriene system proves that under thermal conditions, disrotation is allowed and conrotation is
forbidden.
Photochemical Activation:
When light is used to initiate an electrocyclic reaction, an electron is
excited from Ψ2 to Ψ3. Treating Ψ3 as the HOMO now shows that
disrotatory closure is allowed and conrotatory closure is forbidden.
Photon absorption
Destructiveoverlap
ConstructiveoverlapΨ3 (new HOMO)
Conrotatory Closure: (Forbidden and not observed)
Disrotatory Closure: (Allowed and observed)
Ψ3 (new HOMO)
We have so far proven which ring closures are allowed and which are forbidden. Do we now have to go back and examine all the ring
openings? NO!
The principle of microscopic reversiblity says that if the reaction is allowed in one direction, it must be allowed in the other direction.
Electrocyclic Reactions: FMO Analysis
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn Electrocyclic Reactions: Dewar-Zimmerman
ConnectOrbitals
DisrotatoryClosure ConrotatoryClosure
Zero Phase Inversions
∴Hückel Topology
4 electrons in system
∴ Antiaromatic and
Forbidden
One Phase Inversion
∴M?bius Topology
4 electrons in system
∴ Aromatic and
Allowed
Note that I can change the phase of an abitrary orbital and the analysis is still valid!
ConnectOrbitals
DisrotatoryClosure ConrotatoryClosure
Two Phase Inversions
∴Hückel Topology
4 electrons in system
∴ Antiaromatic and
Forbidden
Three Phase Inversions
∴M?bius Topology
4 electrons in system
∴ Aromatic and
Allowed
The Dewar-Zimmerman analysis is based on identifying transition states as aromatic or antiaromatic. We will not go into the theory behind why
this treatment works, but it will give the same predictions as FMO or Orbital Symmetry treatments, and is fundamentally equivalent to them.
Using the Dewar-Zimmerman model:
a73 Choose a basis set of 2p atomic orbitals for all atoms involved (1s for hydrogen atoms).
a73 Assign phases to the orbitals. Any phases will suffice. It is not important to identify this basis set with any molecular orbital.
a73 Connect the orbitals that interact in the starting material, before the reaction begins.
a73 Allow the reaction to proceed according to the geometry postulated. Connect those lobes that begin to interact that were not
interacting in the starting materials.
a73 Count the number of phase inversions that occur as the electrons flow around the circuit. Note that a phase inversion within an orbital is
not counted.
a73 Based on the phase inversions, identify the topology of the system.
Odd number of phase inversions: M?bius topology Even number of phase inversions: Hückel topology
a73 Assign the transition state as aromatic or antiaromatic, based on the number of electrons present.
System Aromatic AntiaromaticHückel 4q + 2 4q
M?bius 4q 4q + 2
a73 If the transition state is aromatic, then the reaction will be allowed thermally. If the transition state is antiaromatic, then the reaction will
be allowed photochemically.
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn [1,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangements: FMO Analysis
The Stereochemical issues:
The migrating group can migrate across the conjugated pi system in
one of two ways. If the group migrates on the same side of the system,
it is said to migrate suprafacially with respect to that system. If the
group migrates from one side of the pi system to the other, it is said to
migrate antarafacially with respect to that system.
A B
A B
BA
BAA B A B
Suprafacial migration: The group moves across the same face.
A B
A B A B
A
B BA BA
Antarafacial migration: The group moves from one face to the other.
a73 If the overlap is constructive at both termini then the reaction is allowed. If the overlap is destructive at either terminus then the
reaction is forbidden.
a73 Imagine the two pieces fragmenting into a cation/anion pair, (or a pair of radicals) and examine the HOMO/LUMO interaction.
a73 If the migrating atom is carbon, then we can also entertain the possiblity of the alkyl group migrating with inversion of configuration
(antarafacial on the single atom).
a73 The suprafacial migration is forbidden and the bridging distance too great for the antarafacial migration. Hence, [1,3] hydrogen migrations
are not observed under thermal conditions.
Antarafacial GeometrySuprafacial Geometry
bonding
Ψ2 (allyl anion HOMO)
antibondingbonding bonding
a73 Construct TS by considering an allyl anion and the proton (or radical pair):
a73 [1,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangements (H migration)
Y X YX
a73 Under photochemical conditions, the [1,3] rearrangement is allowed suprafacially. How would you predict this using FMO?
H
a73 The analysis works if you consider the other ionic reaction, or consider a radical reaction. In each case it is the same pair of orbitals
interacting.
Proton 1S (LUMO)
XX
HH
Y YX Y??
a73 If the migrating atom is hydrogen, then it cannot migrate with inversion.
H
XX
HH
Y YX Y
a73 Sigmatropic Rearrangements: FMO Analysis
H
H
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn [1,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangements
Ψ2 (allyl anion HOMO)
a73 Construct TS by considering an allyl anion and the methyl cation:
a73 Under photochemical conditions, the [1,3] rearrangement is allowed suprafacially with retention of stereochemistry.
a73 The stereochemical constraints on the migration of carbonwith inversion of configuration is highly disfavored on the basis of strain.
Such rearrangements are rare and usually only occur in highly strained systems.
bonding bonding
Inversion at carbon
Suprafacial on allyl fragment
Retention at carbon
bonding
antibonding
Suprafacial on allyl fragment
C H
HX H
C
HH
YHXY H
H
H H2p on Carbon
a73 The analysis works if you consider the other ionic reaction, or consider a radical reaction. In each case it is the same pair of orbitals interacting.
Using a similar analysis, one can prove that [1,5] hydrogen and alkyl shifts should be allowed when suprafacial on the pi component and
proceeding with retention. Please refer to Fleming for more applications of FMO theory to [1,n] sigmatropic shifts.
a73 Sigmatropic Rearrangements: Dewar-Zimmerman
The [1,5] shift of a hydrogen atom across a diene.
H H
Orbital interactions in the parent system
The basis set of s and p orbitals with arbitrary phase:
Completing the circuit across the bottom face
Zero Phase InversionsHückel Topology
Six ElectronsAllowed thermally
Dewar-Zimmerman also predicts the [1,3] suprafacial migration to be forbidden.
Orbital interactions in the parent system Completing the circuit across the bottom face
Two Phase InversionsHückel Topology
Four ElectronsForbidden thermally
CH3
XX
CH3CH3
Y YX Y??
a73 [1,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangements (C migration)
H H
X
Z
X
Z Z
X
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn
[3,3] Rearrangements:
A thermally allowed reaction in either of two geometries, the "chair" or the "boat" geometry. Depicted below is the "chair" geometry. You
should be able to work out the details of the "boat" geometry yourself.
Two Phase InversionsHückel Topology
Six ElectronsAllowed Thermally
?
X & Z = C, O, N etc
The FMO Analysis:
Bring two Allyl radicals together to access for a possible bonding interaction between termini.
?
?
?
bonding
bondingThe nonbonding
allyl MO
The Dewar-Zimmerman Analysis:
a73 The Toggle Algorithm:
The toggle algorithm is a simple way to take one reaction of each class that you remember is allowed (or forbidden) and derive if the
reaction is allowed or forbidden under new conditions.
a73 How does it work?
All of the various parameters of the pericyclic reaction are the input variables, the "switches."
The output is either "allowed" or "forbidden."Write out all the relevant parameters of a reaction together with
the known result.Each time you change a parameter by one incremental value
("toggle a switch"), the output will switch.This is the prediction of the reaction under the new parameters.
a73 So it's nothing really new, is it?
No, its just a convenient way to rederive predictions without memorizing a table of selection rules.
An Example:
Rearrangement
[1,3]
[1,3]
[1,3]
[1,5]
Conditions
Heat
Heat
Light
Heat
Component 1
Suprafacial
Antarafacial
Antarafacial
Suprafacial
Component 2
Suprafacial
Suprafacial
Suprafacial
Suprafacial
Output
Forbidden
Allowed
Forbidden
?
Take the [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of an alkyl group. We know this is forbidden under thermal conditions in a supra-supra
manner, and so we make it the first entry in the table.
Each incremental change in the "input" registers changes the "output" register by one. Multiple changes simply toggle the output back and
forth. What is the prediction in the last line?
[3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangements
HOMO HOMO
Chem 206D. A. Evans, B. Breit, T. B. Dunn
The [2+2] Cycloaddition: FMO Analysis
Cycloaddition Reactions
The Stereochemical issues:
In a cycloaddition, a pi system may be attacked in one of two distinct ways. If the pi system is attacked from the same face, then the reaction
is suprafacial on that component. If the system is attacked from opposite faces, then the reaction is antarafacial on that component.
Suprafacial attack Antarafacial
attack
For the [2+2] cycloaddition two different geometries have to be considered.
Suprafacial/Suprafacial Antarafacial/Suprafacial
bonding
antibondingbonding
bondingLUMO LUMO
Forbidden Allowed
The simplest approach (Supra/Supra) is forbidden under thermal activation. The less obvious approach (Antara/Supra) is allowed
thermally but geometrically rather congested. It is believed to occur in some very specific cases (e.g. ketenes) where the steric congestion is
reduced.
The [4+2] Cycloaddition: Dewar-Zimmerman
The most well known cycloaddition is the Diels-Alder reaction between a four pi component (the diene) and a two pi component (the
dienophile). An exhaustive examination of this reaction is forthcoming, so we will limit ourselves to a simple examination.
Summary:
a73 There are three fundamentally equivalent methods of analyzing pericyclic reactions: Two are much simpler than the third.
a73 Fukui Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory a73 Dewar-Zimmerman Hückel-M?bius Aromatic Transition States
a73 Woodward-Hoffmann Correlation Diagrams
a73 Some methods are easier to use than others, but all are equally correct and no one is superior to another. Conclusions drawn from
the correct application of one theory will not be contradicted by another theory.
a73 The principle of microscopic reversibility allows us to look at a reaction from either the forward direction or the reverse direction.
a73 There is a general trend that reactions will behave fundamentally different under thermal conditions and photochemical conditions.
Zero Phase InversionsHückel Topology
Six ElectronsAllowed thermally