The biphenyl-monitored effective size of unsaturated functional or fluorinated ortho substituents

The size of a series of typical substituents has been probed by dynamic NMR measurements of the barriers to aryl-aryl rotation of the corresponding biphenyls. The resulting B values are meaningful because only mono-ortho substituted compounds were investigated and thus the results are not compromised by the non-additivity of multiple steric effects. On the basis of the chosen model system ethynyl and cyano groups were found to be slightly smaller than a phenyl ring. In contrast, vinyl and, in particular, formyl groups proved to be larger than phenyl. The latter difference is due to the loss of conjugation forces at the planar transition state. alpha-Hydroxyhexafluoroisopropyl is slightly more bulky than tert-butyl. Pentafluorophenyl and trifluoromethoxy exhibit nearly the same effective size as phenyl and methoxy, respectively Trifluoromethyl is somewhat smaller than isopropyl

Rotational barriers of biphenyls having heavy heteroatoms as ortho-substituents: experimental and theoretical determination of steric effects

The free energies of activation for the aryl-aryl rotation of 17 biphenyl derivatives, bearing a heavy heteroatom (S, Se, Te, P, Si, Sn) as ortho substituent, have been measured by variable temperature NMR. These numbers, so called B values, represent a meaningful measure of the steric hindrance exerted by the selected substituents. DFT computations match quite satisfactorily the experimental barriers and the ground state geometries as well (determined, in two cases, by X-ray diffraction). The present values extend the available list of B values and thus provide an enlarged basis for the compilation of the space requirements of standard substituents, based solely on experimental determinations

Nucleophilic Substitutions of Nitroarenes and Pyridines: New Insight and New Applications

At the beginning of this article an in-depth comparison of electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic and heterocyclic substitution processes examines their scopes of applicability in a new light. In the subsequent parts, recent progress in the area of halide and hydride displacement from pyridines is highlighted. Particular attention is paid to the leaving group aptitudes of fluoride and chloride, to the effect of 'passive' substituents on the reaction rates, and to the control of the relative reactivity at halogen-bearing 4-versus 2-(or 6-)positions

"Isoretinol" and retinal: an unorthodox but simple route to the vitamin A series

\"Isoretinol\" I was prepd. in 55% yield by methylation of II, obtained by reaction of III with the (chlorodihydrofuryl)copper IV. Oxidn. of I with Me2SO contg. N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide gave a stereoisomeric mixt. of retinal. Similarly, Me2C:CHCH2CH2CMe:CHCH:C:CMeCH2CH2OH was prepd. from geranyl bromide and IV and oxidized to give 4,5-dehydrofarnesal, Me2C:CHCH2CH2CMe:CHCH:CHCMe:CHCHO, which was reduced to give 4,5-dehydrofarnesol, Me2C:CHCH2CH2CMe:CHCH:CHCMe:CHCH2OH. [on SciFinder (R)

1-Oxa-2,3-cyclohexadiene (\"2H-isopyran\"): a strained heterocyclic allene undergoing cycloaddition reactions with characteristic typo-, regio- and stereoselectivities

1-Oxa-2,3-cyclohexadiene (I) can be readily generated by treatment of 5-bromo-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran with potassium tert-butoxide in the presence of 18-crown-6 and can be trapped with dienes or olefins. Thus, the treatment of I with furan gave 50% yield of Diels-Alder adduct II, whereas with 1,1-diphenylethylene I gave 43% of the [2+2]cycloadduct III. The remarkable regio- and stereoselectivities with which [4+2] and [2+2] adducts are formed suggests a concerted, non-radical cycloaddn. mechanism. [on SciFinder (R)

Professor Manfred Schlosser a tribute.

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