Regio- and stereoselectivity of the [3+2] cycloaddition of nitrones with methyl-acetophenone: A DFT investigation

A theoretical study of the regio- and stereoselectivities of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrones with substituted alkene (methyl acetophenone) is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and carried out at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. The reactivity of these cycloadditions is rationalized by FMO model, activation energy calculations, and philicity indexes. The electronic populations have been calculated from natural orbital, which based on charges by using NBO analysis, MK and CHelpG electrostatic population. The four possible pathways, fused and bridged regioisomeric modes, and the two stereoisomeric approaches endo and exo for the cycloaddition reactions are analyzed and discussed. Analysis of TS geometries and bond lengths demonstrate that these reactions follow a one-step mechanism with asynchronous transition states. The activation energy indicated a favored endo approach along the four reaction pathways.

Solvent effects on cycloaddition reactions of potent spin-trapping probe N-tert-butylmethanimine N-oxide: A DFT study

[Formula: see text]-tert-butylmethanimine [Formula: see text]-oxide is a potent spin-trapping probe for biologically important radicals, and this nitrone undergoes complete regioselective cycloadditions to less electron-deficient monosubstituted olefins. In the present study, solvent effects on the cycloaddition of this nitrone to styrene have been theoretically studied in terms of the global properties of the reactants, electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr function analysis and the activation and reaction energies of located transition states and products. Formation energies of optimized radical adducts were computed to determine their stabilities in different solvents. The cycloaddition is predicted to be completely ortho regioselective which is in complete agreement with experiments and involved earlier C–C bond formation owing to the insufficient depopulation of [Formula: see text]-conjugated carbon atom in styrene and shows varying asymmetry indices in different solvents. Decrease in activation parameters and increase in stability of cycloadducts are predicted with decreasing solvent polarity. Aqueous media destabilize the radical adducts as predicted from the calculated formation energy, enthalpy and free energy of reaction. Hydroxyl as well as methyl radical adducts are predicted to be more stable than superoxide anion radical adducts. These predictions are in complete agreement with the experiments.

Acyclic and cyclic nitrone cycloadditions to 1-cinnamoyl-1-piperidine: A DFT study

DFT studies have been carried out for the cycloaddition reactions of a cyclic nitrone, 1-pyrroline-1-oxide and an acyclic nitrone, C,N-diphenyl nitrone to an unsymmetrically disubstituted dipolarophile, 1-cinnamoyl-1-piperidine. These reactions proved to be opposite to each other with respect to the electron demand character predicted by the electronic chemical potentials, electrophilicities and charge transfer at the transition states. The regio- and stereoselectivities have been predicted from DFT based reactivity indices, interaction energy calculations using a perturbative orbital independent theoretical model and the activation parameters of the located transition states. Two different concepts have been used for the evaluation of interaction energies. The selectivities were found to be in conformity with the experimental findings. The time gaps between the formations of C – C and C – O bonds were evaluated from single trajectory simulations. The asynchronicity of bond formation process was analyzed from the wiberg bond indices, atom–atom overlap weighted NAO bond orders and the calculated asymmetry indices of the transition states.