The following are a set of practice problems in Pericyclic Mechanisms, prepared by Henry Rzepa for the for a second year course in Pericyclic Reactions at the Department of Chemistry, Imperial College. Each of these problems is intended to take between 1-3 hours to solve. They are NOT typical of examination questions! Please note also that the compound numbers are not consecutive between questions.
Qu. 1 When compound 1 is heated, a transient intermediate 2 is formed, rapidly rearranging to two new compounds 3 and 4. An aqueous workup of this mixture, in which traces of acid were present, showed that 4 had been converted to 5. Suggest structures for compound 2-4, and mechanisms for all the steps in this sequence.
Qu. 2 When compound A is heated, carbon dioxide and benzonitrile (PhCN) are eliminated and the final observed product is the indole G. It is thought that the mechanism of the reactions proceeds via a series of intermediates B - F, the structures of two of which (D and E) are shown below. Suggest probable structures for the other species B, E and F and mechanisms for all the reactions. Pay attention to why both C and D give the same intermediate E, any selection rules that may relate to individual steps and the nomenclature of each step.
Qu. 3. a) When molecules 1 and 2 (E = CO2Me) are heated together, the transient intermediates 3 and 4 are formed, with the eventual isolation of 5 and 6 as the two final products. Propose structures for 3 and 4 and a mechanism for the formation of 5 and 6.
b) Propose structures for A and B and mechanisms for the following transformations.
Qu. 4 Photolysis of compound 7 in benzene as solvent produces the triene 8, which then decomposes thermally to give butadiene and tetralin (12), via it is thought the intermediates 9, 10 and 11. Propose and classify the mechanisms for these transformations, and suggest a structure for 11.
Qu. 5. a). Suggest a mechanism for the following reaction which explains the observed stereochemistry;
b). Propose a structure for 1 consistent with the spectral evidence and classify the type of pericyclic reaction occuring, paying particular attention to the expected stereochemistry of the product. 1H nmr includes the following; d 1.43 (3H, s), 1.52 (3H, triplet, J 1.5Hz), 3.76 (1H, multiplet), 5.71 (1H, multiplet), 5.73 (1H, double doublet, J 10, 1.5Hz), 5.79 (1H, doublet, J 10Hz), 6.74 (1H) + phenyl protons. No carbonyl peak is evident from the infra-red spectrum and no cyclopropyl group is present in 1.
Qu. 6. Tropylium tetraborate can be reduced with Zn/Hg to ditropyl [A].
Ditropyl is in equilibrium with an isomer, which when refluxed with an excess of the dimethyl ester of acetylene dicarboxylic acid (DMAD= MeO2C-CC-CO2Me) reacts to give a single adduct [B] with the following nmr properties; d 6.0 (4H, t, 4Hz), 4.05 (4H, broad singlet), 3.75 (12H, s), 1.2 (4H, double doublet, 3Hz, 2Hz), 0.9 (2H, triplet, 3Hz). When [B] is subjected to flash vacuum pyrolysis at 600 (FVP) two compounds [C] and [D] are formed. Compound [D] is stable and has the following nmr spectrum; d 7.62 (8H, symmetrical multiplet), 3.90 (12H, s). The 1H nmr spectrum for compound [C] includes the presence of vinylic protons (4H), but on standing these slowly disappear and a signal at d 7.37 (6H) due to benzene takes their place. Suggest possible structures for [B] - [D], paying particular attention to possible isomeric forms, the mechanisms of their formation and their nmr spectral properties. There is no need to propose a mechanism for the conversion of [C] to benzene.
Qu 7. a) Propose a mechanism for the following transformation, identifying any intermediates that might be involved;
b) The following transformation can take place via two alternative pathways, one involving intermediates 2 and 3, the other involving a single intermediate 4. When 13C label is introduced into the reactant, the product can be shown to have the label distributed as shown. Suggest possible structures for the intermediates 2-4, and on the basis of the labelling information, indicate which mechanistic pathway is actually followed.
Qu 8. When compound 5 is photolysed in heptane, a solution of "x" is formed. This solution shows the following nmr properties. At -76° complex multiplets in the 1H nmr spectrum are seen at δ 6.3-4.8 and at 3.3- 1.4 ppm. As the temperature is raised, both multiplets are broadened and portions of each multiplet move together and coalesce to a single multiplet at d 3.82 at a temperature of 78°. The integral of this coalesced multiplet is 1/6 of the total proton integral. On recooling to -76°, the spectrum returns to its previous appearance. If the solution is subjected to catalytic hydrogenation, compound 7 is one of the products. If the solution is heated to 98°, "x" then reacts to form a new compound 6 in which the two vinyl groups are specifically trans.
Suggest possible structure(s) for the unknown "x", paying particular attention to stereochemistry and the nmr behaviour. Suggest a conformational explanation for why 6 has trans stereochemistry (Hint: what must the most stable conformation of the precursor to 6 be and how would you estimate this quantitatively?)
Qu. 9. Classify the type of thermal reaction occuring in the sequences below, indicating clearly any stereochemical implications.
Qu. 10. Classify the type of (thermal) pericyclic reaction occuring for each of the eight steps shown below, showing clearly how many electrons are involved in each step, and discuss any obvious (or indeed less obvious!) stereochemical implications and nomenclature.
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