RESUMO
NHC-catalysed enantioselective cycloaddition of ketenes to 3-aroylcoumarins to yield dihydrocoumarin-fused dihydropyranones has been investigated using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G* and MPWB1K/6-311G** computational levels. Two plausible mechanisms have been studied: the "ketene-first" mechanism A and the "coumarin-first" mechanism B. An analysis of the activation Gibbs free energies involved in the two competitive pathways makes it possible to rule out the pathway associated with the "coumarin-first" mechanism B. The first step of the "ketene-first" mechanism A is the formation of zwitterionic intermediate IN1-Zvia a nucleophilic attack of NHC 1 on ketene 2. A [4 + 2] cycloaddition through the nucleophilic attack of enolate IN1-Z on the conjugated double bond of the benzoyl group of coumarin 3, viaTS3-SS-a2 or TS3-RR-a2, yields IN3. Finally, the extrusion of the catalyst through TS5 leads to the final products, either 4-SS or 4-RR. Enantioselectivity observed in the experimental results is determined in the transition states TS3-SS-a2/TS3-RR-a2. In this pathway, the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding between the hydroxyl group of the IN1-Z adduct and the carbonyl oxygen of the original ketene group directs the final stereochemistry throughout the entire process.
RESUMO
A new mechanism for the classic internal nucleophilic substitution reactions SNi by means of computational studies in the gas-phase, DCM and acetonitrile is reported. Despite the importance of the SNi mechanism, since the mid-1990s this mechanism has remained unexplored. This study focused mainly on the comparison between the mechanisms postulated to date for the SNi reactions and a new mechanism suggested by us that fits better the experimental observations. This comparative study has been applied to the conversion of ethyl, neopentyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl chlorosulfites into the corresponding alkyl chlorides. This new mechanism occurs through two transition structures. For primary and secondary substrates, the first transition structure is a 6-center syn-rearrangement of the alkanesulfonyl chloride that produces the corresponding olefin by simultaneous expulsion of HCl and SO2. The olefin, HCl and SO2 form a molecular complex. The final syn-addition of HCl to the olefin leads to alkyl chloride with the retention of configuration. For tertiary substrates, a variation of the previous mechanism is postulated with the intervention of contact ion pairs. It is of great importance to emphasize that this new mechanism is able to explain some experimental observations such as the presence of olefins in these types of reactions and the low reactivity of some systems such as neopentyl chlorosulfite. Our results pave the way to a new mechanistic perspective in similar reactions which will need further studies and validation.
RESUMO
The molecular mechanism of ene reactions has been characterised by DFT methods at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Most reactions take place along a two-stage one-step mechanism in which the C-C bond formation takes place before the hydrogen transfer process. A very good correlation between the polar character of the reaction measured by the global electron density transfer at the transition state and the activation energy has been found. This behaviour allows establishing a useful classification of ene reactions in N-ene having a very high activation energy, P-ene reactions having activation energies between 35 and 20 kcal mol(-1), and H-ene reactions having activation energies below 20 kcal mol(-1). ELF topological analysis allows the characterisation of the two-stage one-step mechanism associated with a two-centre nucleophilic/electrophilic interaction. Formation of the C-C single bond is achieved by the C-to-C coupling of two pseudoradical centres formed at the two interacting carbon atoms in the first stage of the reaction. This topological analysis establishes that bonding changes are non-concerted. Finally, a DFT reactivity analysis makes it possible to characterise the electrophilic/nucleophilic behaviour of the reagents involved in ene reactions, and consequently, to predict the feasibility of ene reactions.
