Addition of the phenoxathiin cation radical to alkenes and nonconjugated dienes. Formation of (E)- and (Z)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkenes and (E)- and (Z)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)dienes on basic alumina.

Addition of phenoxathiin cation radical (PO*+) to acyclic alkenes in acetonitrile (MeCN) solution occurred stereospecifically to form bis(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkane adducts. Stereospecific trans addition is ascribed to the intermediacy of an episulfonium cation radical. The alkenes used were cis- and trans-2-butene, cis- and trans-2-pentene, cis- and trans-4-methyl-2-pentene, cis- and trans-4-octene, trans-3-hexene, trans-3-octene, trans-5-decene, cis-2-hexene, and cis-2-heptene. The erythro bisadducts (compounds 6) were obtained with trans-alkenes, while threo bisadducts (compounds 7) were obtained with cis-alkenes. The assigned structures of 6 and 7 were consistent with their NMR spectra and, in one case, 6c (the adduct of trans-4-methyl-2-pentene) was confirmed with X-ray crystallography. Additions of PO*+ to 1,4-hexa-, 1,5-hexa-, 1,6-hepta-, and 1,7-octadiene gave bis(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkenes (compounds 8), the assigned structures of which were consistent with their NMR spectra. Each of these adducts lost a proton and phenoxathiin (PO) when treated with basic alumina in MeCN solution. Compounds 6 (from trans-alkenes) gave mixtures of (Z)- (9) and (E)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkenes (10) in which the (Z)-isomers (9) were dominant. On the other hand, compounds 7 (from cis-alkenes) gave mixtures of 9 and 10 in which, with one exception (the adduct 7c of cis-4-methyl-2-pentene), compounds 10 were dominant. The path to elimination is discussed. The alkenes 9 and 10 were characterized with NMR spectroscopy and, in one case (9a), with X-ray crystallography. Reactions of 8b-d with basic alumina gave mixtures of (E)- (13) and (Z)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)dienes (14), in which compounds 13 were dominant. The configuration of the product from 8a (the adduct of 1,4-hexadiene) could not be settled. Noteworthy features in the coupling patterns and chemical shifts in the NMR spectra of some of the adducts and their products are discussed and related to adduct conformations.

Reaction of thianthrene and phenoxathiin cation radicals with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene. Chemical and electrochemical studies.

Thianthrene cation radical tetrafluoroborate (Th*+ BF4-) has been found to add to 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (DMB) at 0 degrees C and -15 degrees C. The adduct, 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-(5,10-thianthreniumdiyl)butane ditetrafluoroborate (12), was isolated at -15 degrees C, and its 1H NMR spectrum was recorded at that temperature. The adduct was stable in CD3CN solution at -15 degrees C but decomposed slowly at 0 degrees C and quickly at 23 degrees C, forming the salt of 2,4,4,5,5-pentamethyl-2-oxazoline (8) with loss of thianthrene (Th). These results explain why earlier attempts to prepare 12 and detect its formation at room temperature with NMR spectroscopy were not successful. Reaction of Th*+ with DMB was followed with cyclic voltammetry and was found to exhibit redox catalysis in which Th was regenerated. With the faster scanning techniques of cyclic voltammetry, the formation of 12 was detectable, with a reduction potential of about -1.0 V at 25 degrees C and 3 degrees C. The observed reduction potential was in harmony with reduction potentials of a number of other, stable monoadducts. Thus, the redox catalysis involved the rapid formation of 12 and its rapid decomposition into 8 and Th, the newly formed Th being responsible for the observed enhanced oxidation currents. In contrast, 8 appears to be formed directly by oxidation of DMB by PO*+PF6-.

Decomposition of alkene adducts of thianthrene cation radical in nitrile solvents. Formation of alkyl-2-oxazolines and a new class of four-component products: 5-[(1-alkoxyalkylidene)ammonio]alkylthianthrenium diperchlorates.

The monoadducts (4a-d) of thianthrene cation radical perchlorate (1a) and isobutene, 2-methylbutene, 2-methyl-2-butene, and 2-methylpentene decompose spontaneously in acetonitrile (MeCN) solution, with the formation of thianthrene (Th). Decomposition of 4a (1,2-(5,10-thianthreniumdiyl)-2-methylpropane diperchlorate) and 4a', the corresponding dihexafluorophosphate, was studied in depth and extensively with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Decomposition of 4a was found to involve the solvent itself as well as water in the solvent, remaining from incomplete drying, and gave, apart from Th, successively, the perchlorate salts of 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-oxazoline (6) and 2-amino-2-methylpropyl acetate (7). These salts, 6-HClO(4) and 7-HClO(4), respectively, were prepared and used in understanding the reactions of 4a as well as the relationships among 6, 7, and 2-(acetylamino)-2-methyl propanol (8) in acidified MeCN solution. Decompositions of 4a-d in MeCN and other nitriles (RCN) containing an added alcohol (R'OH) led to new products, 5-[(1-alkoxyalkylidene)ammonio]alkylthianthrenium diperchlorates (5a-u). These compounds were identified with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and, in part, with X-ray crystallography and elemental analysis. The mechanisms of formation of 5-7 are discussed.