Selective alkane transformations via radicals and radical cations: insights into the activation step from experiment and theory

Methane activation by metal-free radical cations: experimental insight into the reaction intermediate

A precise jab to methane: The SO(2)(*+) radical cation (see figure) effectively activates CH(4) at room temperature through a [H(3)C(*)...HOSO(+)] methyl intermediate isolated in the gas phase by mass spectrometry. Methanol and ionized methyl hydrogen sulfoxylate, CH(3)OSOH(*+), are formed by selective, direct attack of the incipient methyl radical at the O atom of the intermediate. The reaction shows radical and charge effects in the activation of methane by metal-free radical cations.

Alkanes to carboxylic acids in aqueous medium: metal-free and metal-promoted highly efficient and mild conversions

A convenient and clean route to transform, in aqueous medium, various alkanes to carboxylic acids via single-pot carboxylation with CO and water, under mild conditions, has been achieved, proceeding efficiently and selectively even without any metal catalyst and any acid additive, at low temperatures; the relevant hydroxylating role of H(2)O and radical mechanisms are disclosed by radical-trap, H(2)(18)O and DFT studies.

Copper-catalyzed coupling of tertiary aliphatic amines with terminal alkynes to propargylamines via C-H activation

We have developed a convenient and efficient method for coupling of tertiary aliphatic amines with terminal alkynes to propargylamines via C-H activation. The protocol uses CuBr as the catalyst, NBS as the free radical initiator, CH(3)CN as the solvent, and the alkynylation was selectively performed on the methyl of tertiary aliphatic amines at 80 degrees C. This is an economical and practical method for the synthesis of propargylamines.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mononuclear Ruthenium(III) Pyridylamine Complexes and Mechanistic Insights into Their Catalytic Alkane Functionalization withm-Chloroperbenzoic Acid

A series of mononuclear RuIII complexes [RuCl2(L)]+, where L is tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) or one of four TPA derivatives as tetradentate ligand, were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, and electrochemical measurements. The geometry of a RuIII complex having a non-threefold-symmetric TPA ligand bearing one dimethylnicotinamide moiety was determined to show that the nicotine moiety resides trans to a pyridine group, but not to the chlorido ligand. The substituents of the TPA ligands were shown to regulate the redox potential of the ruthenium center, as indicated by a linear Hammett plot in the range of 200 mV for RuIII/RuIV couples with a relatively large rho value (+0.150). These complexes act as effective catalysts for alkane functionalization in acetonitrile with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) as terminal oxidant at room temperature. They exhibited fairly good reactivity for oxidation of cyclohexane (C--H bond energy 94 kcal mol(-1)), and the reactivity can be altered significantly by the electronic effects of substituents on TPA ligands in terms of initial rates and turnover numbers. Catalytic oxygenation of cyclohexane by a RuIII complex with 16O-mCPBA in the presence of H2 18O gave 18O-labeled cyclohexanol with 100% inclusion of the 18O atom from the water molecule. Resonance Raman spectra under catalytic conditions without the substrate indicate formation of a RuIV==O intermediate with lower bonding energy. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in the oxidation of cyclohexane suggest that hydrogen abstraction is the rate-determining step and the KIE values depend on the substituents of the TPA ligands. Thus, the reaction mechanism of catalytic cyclohexane oxygenation depends on the electronic effects of the ligands.

Mechanism of the diphenyldisulfone-catalyzed isomerization of alkenes. Origin of the chemoselectivity: experimental and quantum chemistry studies

Polysulfone- and diphenyldisulfone-catalyzed alkene isomerizations are much faster for 2-alkyl-1-alkenes than for linear, terminal alkenes. The mechanism of these reactions has been investigated experimentally for the isomerization of methylidenecyclopentane into 1-methylcyclopentene, and theoretically [CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations] for the reactions of propene and 2-methylpropene with a methanesulfonyl radical, MeSO2*. On heating, polysulfones and (PhSO2)2 equilibrate with sulfonyl radicals, RSO2*. The latter abstract allylic hydrogen atoms in one-step processes giving allylic radical/RSO2H pairs that recombine within the solvent cage producing the corresponding isomerized alkene and RSO2*. The sulfinic acid, RSO2H, can diffuse out from the solvent cage (H/D exchange with MeOD,D2O) and reduce an allyl radical. Calculations did not support other possible mechanisms such as hydrogen exchange between alkenes, electron transfer, or addition/elimination process. Kinetic deuterium isotopic effects measured for the (PhSO2)2-catalyzed isomerization of methylidenecyclopentane and deuterated analogues and calculated for the H abstraction from 2-methylpropene and deuterated analogues by CH3SO2* are consistent also with the one-step hydrogen transfer mechanism. The high chemoselectivity for this reaction is not governed by an exothermicity difference but by a difference in ionization energies of the alkenes. Calculations for CH3SO2* + propene and CH3SO2* + 2-methylpropene show a charge transfer of 0.34 and 0.38 electron, respectively, from the alkenes to the sulfonyl radical in the transition states of these hydrogen abstractions.

Oxidation of some cage hydrocarbons by dioxiranes. Nature of the transition structure for the reaction of C-H bonds with dimethyldioxirane: a comparison of B3PW91 density functional theory with experiment

Dimethyl- (DMD) and methyl(trifluoromethyl)-dioxiranes were used for oxyfunctionalization of spiro{1',7-cyclopropan-(E)-2-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane} (), tricyclo[3.2.2.0(2,4)]nonane (), exo-endo-endo- () and exo-exo-exo- () heptacyclo[9.3.1.0(2,10).0(3,8).0(4,6).0(5,9).0(12,14)]pentadecane, yielding tertiary alcohols as the main products. The rate constants for oxidation of by DMD were measured and the Arrhenius parameters determined. The DFT theory (B3LYP and B3PW91) using restricted and unrestricted methods was employed to study the oxidation reaction of the C-H bond of cage hydrocarbons , adamantane, and acetone with DMD. The kinetic isotopic effect calculated using unrestricted methods agreed with experiment. The reaction mechanism in terms of the concerted oxygen insertion vs. the radical part is discussed.

Characteristics in oxidative degradation by ozone for saturated hydrocarbons in soil contaminated with diesel fuel

Although alkanes are relatively less reactive to chemical oxidation compared to alkenes, the chemical oxidation of alkanes has not been adequately explored in the context of environmental remediation efforts. Laboratory-scale column experiments were therefore conducted with soil artificially contaminated by diesel fuel as a surrogate for alkanes of environmental relevance. Particular attention was paid to saturated hydrocarbons refractory to volatilization. Reaction conditions involve 1485mgkg(-1) of the initial concentration of diesel range organics (DRO) and a constant ozone concentration of 119+/-6mgl(-1) at the flow rate of 50mlmin(-1). The observed removal of DRO reached 94% over 14h of continuous ozone injection. Ozone oxidation demonstrated effective removal of non-volatile DRO in the range of C(12)-C(24). Each alkane compound displayed comparable degradation kinetics, suggesting virtually no selectivity of ozone reactions with alkanes in soil. A pseudo-first order kinetic model closely simulated the removal kinetics, yielding a reaction rate constant of 0.213 (+/-0.021)h(-1) and a half-life of 3.3 (+/-0.3)h under the experimental conditions used in this study. An estimate of ozone demand was 32mg of O(3) (mgDRO)(-1).