Understanding the Molecular Mechanism of the Rearrangement of Internal Nitronic Ester into Nitronorbornene in Light of the MEDT Study

The characterization of the structure of nitronic esters and their rearrangement into nitronorbornene reactions has been analyzed within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) computational level. Quantum-chemical calculations indicate that this rearrangement takes place according to a one-step mechanism. The sequential bonding changes received from the Bonding Evolution Theory (BET) analysis of the rearrangement of internal nitronic ester to nitronorbornene allowed us to distinguish seven different phases. This fact clearly contradicts the formerly-proposed concerted pericyclic mechanism.

Sequential Diels–Alder/[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reactions of β-nitrostyrene with 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene

The tin(IV)-catalyzed reaction of β-nitrostyrene with (E)-3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene in toluene afforded two major nitronic ester cycloadducts in 27% and 29% yield that arise from the reaction at the less substituted diene double bond. Also present were four cycloadducts from the reaction at the higher substituted diene double bond, two of which were the formal cycloadducts of (Z)-3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene. A Friedel–Crafts alkylation product from the reaction of the diene, β-nitrostyrene, and toluene was also obtained in 10% yield. The tin(IV)-catalyzed reaction of β-nitrostyrene with (Z)-3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene in dichloromethane afforded four nitronic ester cycloadducts all derived from the reaction at the higher substituted double bond. One cycloadduct was isolated in 45% yield and two others are formal adducts of the E-isomer of the diene. The product formation in these reactions is consistent with a stepwise mechanism involving a zwitterionic intermediate. The initially isolated nitronic ester cycloadducts underwent tin(IV)-catalyzed interconversion, presumably via zwitterion intermediates. Cycloadducts derived from the reaction at the less substituted double bond of (E)-3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene underwent a [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement on heating to afford 4-nitrocyclohexenes. Cycloadducts derived from the reaction at the higher substituted diene double bond of either diene failed to undergo a thermal rearrangement. Rates and success of the rearrangement are consistent with a concerted mechanism possessing a dipolar transition state. An initial assessment of substituent effects on the rearrangement process is presented.

Photochemical Nitration by Tetranitromethane. XXIX. Adduct Formation in the Photochemical Reaction of Tetranitromethane and 1,5-Dimethylnaphthalene; Allylic Rearrangements of Adducts

Photolysis of the 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene/tetranitromethane charge-transfer complex yields the triad of 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene radical cation, nitrogen dioxide and trinitromethanide ion. Recombination of this triad gives predominantly the epimeric 4,8-dimethyl-1-nitro-4-trinitromethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalenes (18) and (27), the epimeric 1,5-dimethyl-1-nitro-4-trinitromethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalenes (20) and (21), 4,8-dimethyl-r-1-nitro-t-2-trinitromethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (19), 4,8-dimethyl-t-2-trinitromethyl-1,2-dihydronaph-thalen-r-1-ol (23), nitro cycloadduct (22), hydroxy cycloadduct (24), nitronic ester (25) and 4,8-dimethyl-1-nitronaphthalene (26). Adduct (19) is formed substantially by allylic rearrangement of 4,8-dimethyl-1-nitro-4-trinitromethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalene (18), and adduct (23) and indirectly nitronic ester (25) by allylic rearrangement of a postulated intermediate 4,8-dimethyl-t-4-trinitromethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-r-1-ol (32). Adducts (18), (19), (23), (25) and (27) are formed by attack of trinitromethanide ion at C 1 of the 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene radical cation, while adducts (20)-(22) and (24) are formed by the corresponding attack at C4, the reaction pathways being determined by the relative energies of the intermediate delocalized carbon radicals. Adduct formation is substantially suppressed for a photolysis when trifluoroacetic acid (0.7 M) is added to the dichloromethane solvent at 20°, 1,5-dimethyl-4-nitronaphthalene (26) being formed close to quantitatively. In contrast, photolysis of the 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene/tetranitromethane charge-transfer complex in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol gave substantial amounts of adduct (19), together with 1,5-dimethyl-4-nitronaphthalene (26) as the major product. Allylic rearrangements of 1-methoxy-4-nitro-1-trinitromethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalene (34) and the epimeric 1,4,5,8-tetramethyl-1-nitro-4-trinitromethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalenes (38) are seen as the mode of formation of 4-methoxy-r-1-nitro-t-2-trinitromethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (33) and the epimeric 1,4,5,8-tetramethyl-1-nitro-2-trinitromethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalenes (36), respectively. X-Ray crystal structure determinations are reported for adducts (19), (20), (22), (24) and (28), the last compound being formed only on chromatography of reaction mixtures.