Mechanistic details of the domino reaction of nitronaphthalenes with the electron-rich dienes. A DFT study

Diels–Alder Polar Reactions of Azaheterocycles: A Theoretical and Experimental Study

A number of azaheterocycles (pyridines, pyrroles and indoles) have been properly functionalized so that they can act as dienophiles in cycloaddition Diels–Alder processes. This work analyzed the reactive behavior of these molecules through mechanistic analysis and the regioselectivity of the process using computational calculation tools. Based on this knowledge, a study was conducted on the influences of reaction variables, in particular solvent, catalyst and microwave irradiation, to achieve favorable changes—shorter reaction times, more acceptable temperatures and better yields. Theoretical calculations allowed the development of predictive approaches, which were later experimentally corroborated. This analysis allowed us to make reasonable assumptions related to reaction mechanisms, which allowed—through the analysis of corresponding transition states—us to consider such reactions at the boundary between pericyclic and polar processes.

Theoretical Investigation of the Kinetic Effect of the 1-Ethylpyridinium Trifluoroacetate Ionic Liquid in the Acceleration of Diels–Alder Reactions of Isoprene with Acrylic Acid and Acrylonitrile

The mechanism, the regioselectivity, the stereoselectivity and the kinetics of Diels–Alder reactions of isoprene with acrylic acid and acrylonitrile have been studied, at the B3PW91/6-31G(d,p) level of theory, both in the gas phase and in the presence of organic [dichloromethane (DCM)] and ionic liquid [1-ethylpyridinium trifluoroacetate (EPTFA)] solvents. Intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations show that these reactions take place through an asynchronous concerted mechanism leading to the endo para cycloadducts as the major products in the gas phase and to the exo para cycloadducts as the major products both in organic and in ionic liquid solvents. The explicit solvation model involving the coordination of one molecule of the solvent with the dienophiles shows a considerable decrease of the activation energy when passing from DCM to EPTFA. The enhancement of these cycloaddition reactions can be explained by the strong hydrogen bonding created between the ion pair of the ionic liquid and the oxygen atom of the dienophile reagents. Moreover, density functional theory-based reactivity indices also show an increase of the reaction polarity and consequently of the reaction rate, when replacing DCM solvent by EPTFA solvent. The results obtained give evidence that the ionic liquid EPTFA is an excellent solvent for Diels–Alder reactions in comparison with conventional organic solvents.

A polar nature of benzoic acids extrusion from nitroalkyl benzoates: DFT mechanistic study

Using DFT calculations at various theory levels, quantum-chemical simulations of decomposition paths were performed for a series of nitroalkyl benzoates. It was discovered, that these reactions proceed via polar, but one-step mechanism. It turned out that depending on the nature of the substituent in the ester molecule and on medium polarity, the studied reactions may take place via transition states with varied synchronicity—from E1-like structures, to E1cb-like structures. A purely ionic, two-stage mechanism was not identified in any of the cases.

Understanding the domino reaction between 3-chloroindoles and methyl coumalate yielding carbazoles. A DFT study

The molecular mechanism of the reaction between N-methyl-3-chloroindole and methyl coumalate yielding carbazole has been studied using DFT methods at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level in toluene. This reaction is a domino process that comprises three consecutive reactions: (i) a polar Diels-Alder (P-DA) reaction between indole and methyl coumalate yielding two stereoisomeric [2 + 4] cycloadducts (CAs); (ii) the elimination of HCl from these CAs affording two stereoisomeric intermediates; and (iii) the extrusion of CO2 in these intermediates, finally yielding the carbazole. This P-DA reaction proceeds in a completely regioselective and slightly exo selective fashion. In spite of the highly polar character of this P-DA reaction, it presents a high activation enthalpy of 21.8 kcal mol(-1) due to the loss of the aromatic character of the indole during the C-C bond formation. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that the P-DA reaction is the rate-determining step of this domino reaction; in addition, the initial HCl elimination in the formal [2 + 4] CAs is kinetically favoured over the extrusion of CO2. Although the P-DA reaction is kinetically and thermodynamically very unfavourable, the easier HCl and CO2 elimination from the [2 + 4] CAs together with the strong exergonic character of the CO2 extrusion makes the P-DA reaction irreversible. An ELF topological analysis of the bonding changes along the P-DA reaction supports a two-stage one-step mechanism. An analysis of the global DFT reactivity indices at the ground state of the reagents confirms the highly polar character of this P-DA reaction. Finally, the complete regioselectivity of the studied reactions can be explained using the Parr functions.

A new mechanistic insight on β-lactam systems formation from 5-nitroisoxazolidines

DFT calculations at various theory levels unequivocally show that conversion of 5-nitroisoxazolidines into β-lactams does not take place via a ring opening step (as hitherto suggested), but takes place according to a three-step, domino-type reaction.

A B3LYP/6-31G(d) study of Diels-Alder reactions between cyclopentadiene and (E)-2-arylnitroethenes

The B3LYP/6-31G(d) simulations of competing CDA and HDA reactions between cyclopentadiene and (E)-2-arylnitroethenes prove that regardless of the medium polarity, the processes leading to respective 5-nitro-6-aryl-bicyclo-[2,2,0]-hept-2-enes 3,4 (paths A and B) should be most favoured, and the more electrophilic (E)-2-(p-nitrophenyl)-nitroethene should be more reactive than the less electrophilic (E)-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-nitroethene. Asymmetry of the transition complexes on the favoured pathways increases with increase of medium polarity, but not sufficiently to enforce the zwitterionic mechanism. Analysis of competing pathways leading to HDA adducts proves that not all these compounds can be formed directly from the adducts. In particular, on the path C, the initially formed 5-nitro-6-aryl-bicyclo-[2,2,0]-hept-2-enes 3 is converted to 2-phenyl-4-aza-5-oxy-bicyclo-[3,4,0]-nona-3,7-diene N-oxides 5 as a result of a [3.3]-sigmatropic shift. On the paths D–F leading to 2-phenyl-4-aza-5-oxy-bicyclo-[3,4,0]-nonadienes N-oxides 6–8, the reaction proceeds according to a one-step mechanism.