Elimination Of HCl Research Articles

Coordination chemistry in the solid state: synthesis and interconversion of pyrazolium salts, pyrazole complexes, and pyrazolate MOFs

Solid pyrazole reacts with HCl gas to form pyrazolium chloride [H2pz]Cl, which reacts in the solid state, under grinding, with metal chlorides MCl2 (M = Co, Zn, Cu) to form the pyrazolium tetrachlorometallate salts [H2pz]2[MCl4] (M = Co 1, Zn 3, Cu 5). Salt 5 cannot be made in solution, and upon standing at room temperature spontaneously emits HCl to give the coordination compound [CuCl2(Hpz)2] (6). Compounds 1 and 3 do not exhibit this behaviour, but can be ground together with bases such as KOH or K2CO3 to effect the elimination of HCl and afford their respective [MCl2(Hpz)2] compounds (M = Co 2, Zn 4). 2, 4 and 6 can also be synthesised in the solid-state by direct reaction of the appropriate metal chloride with pyrazole, or by reaction of a basic metal salt such as the carbonate or hydroxide with pyrazolium chloride. 4 and 6 {and their nickel analogue [NiCl2(Hpz)2]} can be ground with a further two equivalents of base to make the known polymeric metal pyrazolates [M(pz)2]n (M = Ni 7, Cu 8, Zn 9); the same reaction appears to work for the cobalt analogue 2, but the presumed product [Co(pz)2]n10 then decomposes by oxidation. The imidazolate complexes [M(im)2] (M = Ni, 11; Cu, 12; Zn, 13; Co, 14) were similarly prepared by grinding the appropriate [M(Him)2Cl2] precursor with KOH.

Unimolecular HCl and HF Elimination Reactions of 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Difluoroethane, and 1,2-Chlorofluoroethane: Assignment of Threshold Energies

The recombination of CH(2)Cl and CH(2)F radicals generates vibrationally excited CH(2)ClCH(2)Cl, CH(2)FCH(2)F, and CH(2)ClCH(2)F molecules with about 90 kcal mol(-1) of energy in a room temperature bath gas. New experimental data for CH(2)ClCH(2)F have been obtained that are combined with previously published studies for C(2)H(4)Cl(2) and C(2)H(4)F(2) to define reliable rate constants of 3.0 x 10(8) (C(2)H(4)F(2)), 2.4 x 10(8) (C(2)H(4)Cl(2)), and 1.9 x 10(8) (CH(2)ClCH(2)F) s(-1) for HCl and HF elimination. The product branching ratio for CH(2)ClCH(2)F is approximately 1. These experimental rate constants are compared to calculated statistical rate constants (RRKM) to assign threshold energies for HF and HCl elimination. The calculated rate constants are based on transition-state models obtained from calculations of electronic structures; the energy levels of the asymmetric, hindered, internal rotation were directly included in the state counting to obtain a more realistic measure for the density of internal states for the molecules. The assigned threshold energies for C(2)H(4)F(2) and C(2)H(4)Cl(2) are both 63 +/- 2 kcal mol(-1). The threshold energies for CH(2)ClCH(2)F are 65 +/- 2 (HCl) and 63 +/- 2 (HF) kcal mol(-1). These threshold energies are 5-7 kcal mol(-1) higher than the corresponding values for C(2)H(5)Cl or C(2)H(5)F, and beta-substitution of F or Cl atoms raises threshold energies for HF or HCl elimination reactions. The treatment presented here for obtaining the densities of states and the entropy of activation from models with asymmetric internal rotations with high barriers can be used to judge the validity of using a symmetric internal-rotor approximation for other cases. Finally, threshold energies for the 1,2-fluorochloroethanes are compared to those of the 1,1-fluorochloroethanes to illustrate substituent effects on the relative energies of the isomeric transition states.

TiCl4-Promoted Baylis−Hillman Reaction: Mechanistic Rationale toward Product Distribution and Stereoselectivity

The mechanism of TiCl(4)-promoted Baylis-Hillman reaction between methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and acetaldehyde, in the absence of any base, is studied using the mPW1K density functional theory. The study focuses on several mechanistic intricacies as well as selectivity issues at each step of the reaction. The minimum energy pathway for this reaction involves three major steps such as a chloride transfer resulting in a chloro-enolate, titanium-mediated aldol reaction, and elimination of HCl or HOTiCl(3). Both s-cis and s-trans conformers of MVK are considered along with various modes of chloride transfer involving different complexes between TiCl(4), aldehyde, and MVK. Chloride transfer is found to be kinetically more favored for s-cis-MVK than for s-trans-MVK. The diastereoselectivity in the next step, i.e., Ti-mediated aldol reaction between the enolate and aldehyde, is found to be dependent on the geometry of the enolate, wherein anti and syn BH products are predicted for Z and E enolates, respectively. An interesting secondary orbital interaction between the oxygen atoms of the enolate and aldehyde moieties in the transition states for the C-C bond formation is identified as one of the contributing factors toward the predicted diastereoselectivity in the formation of the alpha-chloromethyl aldol product (P2). It has earlier been reported that under different experimental conditions, any of the three products such as (i) a normal BH product (P1), (ii) 2-(chloromethyl)vinyl ketones (P3), and (iii) alpha-chloro methyl aldol could be generated (Scheme 1 ). The present study offers valuable insights toward rationalizing the observed product distribution as well as diastereoselectivity in TiCl(4)-promoted BH reaction under base-free conditions. The computed energetics indicate that when MVK is employed as the Michael acceptor, the formation of 2-(choromethyl)vinyl ketone is the preferred product rather than the corresponding normal BH product, consistent with the known experimental reports.

Chemical modification of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) by the substitution with nucleophiles

AbstractThe reaction of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with iodide, hydroxide, azide, and thiocyanate as nucleophiles (Nu) in ethylene glycol (EG) resulted in the substitution of Cl by Nu additional to the elimination of HCl, leading to the dehydrochlorination of the rigid PVC. High substitution rates were observed for hydroxide, azide and thiocyanate, while the addition of iodide accelerated predominately the elimination of HCl. The substitution by thiocyanate resulted at 150°C in both thiocyanate and isothiocyanate structures, whereas at 190°C, only isothiocyanate was observed in the polymer. The dehydrochlorination yield increased with an increasing molar SCN/Cl ratio, resulting in a maximum substitution at high molar SCN/Cl ratios. When EG was replaced by diethylene glycol (DEG) as solvent, the dehydrochlorination was found to be accelerated. It was assumed that DEG has a higher compatibility with PVC, making it easier to penetrate the rigid PVC particle. For triethylene glycol (TEG), the rapid dehydrochlorination resulted probably in the coverage of the surface of the PVC particle by methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene (MBS), preventing the penetration by the solution. The substitution/dehydrochlorination ratio decreased in the order of EG > DEG > TEG because of the declining polarity of the solvent, stabilizing the activated SN2 complex. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010

Chemical modification and dechlorination of polyvinyl chloride by substitution with thiocyanate as a nucleophile

AbstractThis study examined the chemical modification of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by substitution with SCN (thiocyanate) as a nucleophile. The effects of temperature, molar SCN/Cl ratio, and solvent on the substitution by SCN and the elimination of HCl were investigated. In SCN/EG (ethylene glycol) solution, the substitution/dechlorination ratio increased with decreasing temperature. The dechlorination yield increased with an increasing molar SCN/Cl ratio, favoring the substitution over the elimination. When N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions were used as solvents, DMF favored the substitution, whereas DMSO favored the elimination. In the SCN/DMF solution, the substitution yield and the substitution/dechlorination ratio increased with increasing temperature. Higher temperatures favored the substitution over the elimination in SCN/DMF. Furthermore, the reaction of PVC in SCN/tetrahydrofuran (THF)‐DMSO (1:2) proceeded at room temperature, favoring the substitution over elimination. The isomerization of SCN was observed, resulting only in NCS (isothiocyanate) at room temperature and SCN (thiocyanate) at 190°C. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers

Effect of a phase-transfer catalyst on the chemical modification of poly(vinyl chloride) by substitution with thiocyanate as a nucleophile

This study examined the effect of the phase-transfer catalysts tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBAHS) on the chemical modification of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by substitution with thiocyanate as a nucleophile. TBAB accelerated the dechlorination of PVC in SCN/ethylene glycol (EG) solution. Furthermore, the addition of TBAB to SCN/EG solution improved the substitution of the Cl in PVC with SCN in solution. The addition of TBAB or TBAHS to SCN/H 2O solution promoted the dechlorination of PVC, whereas dechlorination did not occur without the catalyst. The catalysts preferred substitution to the elimination of HCl in SCN/H 2O solution, and TBAB was slightly superior to TBAHS in terms of the degree and selectivity of the substitution. The addition of nitrobenzene to SCN/H 2O solution with TBAB increased the degree of substitution. Consequently, phase-transfer catalysts, particularly TBAB, were very effective at promoting the substitution of Cl in PVC with SCN in solution.

The photocatalytic decomposition of chloroform by tetrachloroaurate(III)

Near-UV irradiation of solutions of (Bu4N)AuCl4 in aerated ethanol-stabilized chloroform causes the continuous decomposition of chloroform, as evidenced by the production of many equivalents of HCl and peroxides. At the outset of irradiation, most of the AuCl4 − is reduced to AuCl2 −, but the reduction stops and is reversed. The same experiments done in ethanol-free chloroform cause chloroform decomposition only until the irreversible reduction of the gold is complete. In deoxygenated ethanol-free chloroform, irreversible reduction to AuCl2 − is accompanied by the formation of HCl and CCl4, while the main decomposition products in deoxygenated ethanol-stabilized chloroform are HCl and C2Cl6. It is proposed that, in ethanol-free chloroform, photoreduction of AuCl4 − begins with the concerted elimination of HCl from an association complex of CHCl3 with AuCl4 −, and that ethanol suppresses $$ \{ {\text{CHCl}}_{3} \cdot {\text{AuCl}}_{4}^{ - } \} $$ complex formation, leaving a slower radical process to carry out the photoreduction of AuCl4 − in ethanol-stabilized chloroform. In the presence of oxygen, the radical process causes a build-up of CCl3OOH, which reoxidizes AuCl2 − to AuCl4 − and allows the photodecomposition of CHCl3 to continue indefinitely.

Characterization of the Unimolecular Water Elimination Reaction from 1-Propanol, 3,3,3-Propan-1-ol-d3, 3,3,3-Trifluoropropan-1-ol, and 3-Chloropropan-1-ol

The unimolecular reactions of 1-propanol, 3,3,3-propan-1-ol-d3, 3,3,3-trifluoropropan-1-ol, and 3-chloropropan-1-ol have been studied by the chemical activation technique. The recombination of CH3, CD3, CF3, and CH2Cl radicals with CH2CH2OH radicals at room temperature was used to generate vibrationally excited CH3CH2CH2OH, CD3CH2CH2OH, CF3CH2CH2OH, and CH2ClCH2CH2OH molecules. The principal unimolecular reaction for propanol and propanol-d3 with 90 kcal mol(-1) of vibrational energy is 1,2-H2O elimination with rate constants of 3.4 x 10(5) and 1.4 x 10(5) s(-1), respectively. For CH2ClCH2CH2OH also with 90 kcal mol(-1) of energy, 2,3-HCl elimination with a rate constant of 3.0 x 10(7) s(-1) is more important than 1,2-H2O elimination; the branching fractions are 0.95 and 0.05. For CF3CH2CH2OH with an energy of 102 kcal mol(-1), 1,2-H2O elimination has a rate constant of 7.9 x 10(5) and 2,3-HF elimination has a rate constant of 2.6 x 10(5) s(-1). Density functional theory was used to obtain models for the molecules and their transition states. The frequencies and moments of inertia from these models were used to calculate RRKM rate constants, which were used to assign threshold energies by comparing calculated and experimental rate constants. This comparison gives the threshold energy for H2O elimination from 1-propanol as 64 kcal mol(-1). The threshold energies for 1,2-H2O and 2,3-HCl elimination from CH2ClCH2CH2OH were 59 and 54 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The threshold energies for H2O and HF elimination from CF3CH2CH2OH are 62 and 70 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The structures of the transition states for elimination of HF, HCl, and H2O are compared.

Reactions of (1,3,3-Trichloro-2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutyl)sulfenyl Chloride with Some S- and O-Nucleophiles

The sterically crowded 3,3-trichloro-2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanethione (2c) easily reacts with phosphorus pentachloride in CCl4 yielding the relatively stable (1,3,3-trichloro-2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutyl)sulfenyl chloride (3c). The reactions of 3c with benzylsulfane (4) and thiocamphor (5) occur with elimination of HCl leading to the unsymmetrical disulfanes 6 and 9. In the case of the sulfenates 10 and 12, which are formed as intermediates in the reactions of 3c with propargyl and allyl alcohol, respectively, the subsequent [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement yields the corresponding sulfoxides 11 and 13.

Structures and stability of Cl–M–N–H rings and cages (M = Si, Ge, Sn, Ti)

Structures and thermodynamic properties of amido and imido monomer and oligomer compounds as potential single-source precursors for group 14 nitrides have been obtained at the B3LYP/DZP level of theory. The thermodynamic analysis shows that Cl3MNH2 amido compounds are stable with respect to both HCl elimination and oligomerization processes. In contrast, Cl2MNH and ClMN species should undergo oligomerization. Formation of trimer compounds is more exothermic compared to the corresponding dimers. The M(IV) and M(II) cubanes are found to be the most promising precursors for group 14 nitrides: the ammonolysis reaction of cubanes is thermodynamically allowed in a wide temperature range for all M.

Regioselective Syntheses of 2- and 4-Formylpyrido[2,1-b]benzoxazoles

o-Acetaminophenols (2) reacted with Vilsmeier reagent under Meth-Cohn conditions to yield 2-formylpyrido[2,1-b]benzoxazoles (5) unexpectedly besides the known compounds 2-(benzoxazol-2'-yl)-3-dimethylaminoacroleins (4). Refluxing 4 in acetic anhydride gave 4-formylpyrido[2,1-b]benzoxazoles (6), an isomer of 5. Both 5a and 6a were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. A mechanism for the formation of 5 involving sequential chlorination, dimerization, intramolecular elimination of HCl to form the oxazole ring, formylation twice, and regioselective intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization to construct the pyridone ring is proposed.

Photodissociation dynamics of propionyl chloride in the ultraviolet region

Velocity imaging technique combined with (2+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) is used to detect primary photodissociation of propionyl chloride. In one-color experiments at 235 nm, the Cl and Cl(*) fragments are produced rapidly, leading to a fraction of translational energy release of 0.37 and 0.35, anisotropy parameters of 1.1 and 0.8, and quantum yield of 0.67 and 0.33, respectively, when initial excitation of the (1)(n, pi(*))(CO) band is coupled to the (1)(n(Cl), sigma(C-Cl)(*)) repulsive configuration. The resulting propionyl radical with sufficient internal energy may undergo secondary dissociation to yield CO that is characteristic of an isotropic distribution. The REMPI spectra of the CO (0,0) and (1,1) bands are measured, giving rise to a Boltzmann rotational temperature of 1200 and 770 K, respectively, and a Boltzmann vibrational temperature of 2800 K. A minor channel of HCl elimination is not detected, probably because of predissociation in two-photon absorption at 235 nm. In two-color experiments comprising an additional 248 nm photolyzing laser, Cl and Cl(*) are produced with a fraction of translational energy release of 0.43 and 0.40 and anisotropy parameters of 1.0 and 0.6, respectively. The secondary production of CO is not observed although the internal energy partitioned in the propionyl radical is in the proximity of the dissociation barrier. In either experimental scheme, a small component appearing in the center of the Cl and Cl(*) images is proposed to stem from ground state dissociation via internal conversion.

Zirconium and hafnium complexes of the thio(bisphenolato) ligand: synthesis, structural characterization and testing as 1-hexene polymerization catalysts

Thio(bisphenolato) complexes of the type [M2(mu-tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2Cl4] [M = Zr 1, Hf 2 and tbop = 2,2-thiobis{4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-butyl)phenolate}] were prepared by HCl elimination from tbopH2 and MCl4. Substitution of the chlorides in 1 and 2 by 2,6-diisopropylphenolato groups (dipp) generates new compounds [M2(mu-tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2(dipp)4] (M = Zr 3, Hf 4). The structures of 1-4 were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy; complexes 3 and 4 were further investigated by X-ray crystallography. These studies showed 1-4 to be dimers either in the solid state or in solution and to have metal centers adopting distorted octahedral geometry. However treatment of MCl4 with [Al2(mu-OEt)2(tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2] or [Al2(mu-tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2Me2] gave heterotrinuclear complexes [M(tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2Cl2(mu-AlX2)2] (M = Zr, X = Cl 5, X = Me 7 and M = Hf, X = Cl 6, X = Me 8) for which the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showed zirconium and hafnium centers to have eight-coordinate dodecahedral geometry. Complexes 1-6 after activation with aluminium alkyls and supporting on MgCl2 showed a lack of activity in the ethene polymerization process and moderate activity towards 1-hexene producing high molecular weight atactic poly(1-hexenes).

Crystalline Intermediates during Polycondensation Reactions in the C-N-Cl System - The Paddle-Wheel Molecule N(C6N7Cl2)3

Solid state metathesis reactions between cyanuric chloride and C–N–H or alkali metal–(B–)C–N compounds, respectively, were carried out in the temperature range between 150 °C to 500 °C, studying intermediate stages of reactions and targeting the formation of carbon nitride materials by elimination of HCl or alkali metal chlorides. Although cyanuric chloride was reacted with quite a number of different reaction partners such as melamine, cyanamide, lithium nitride, lithium or sodium carbodiimide, lithium nitridoborate or sodium dicyandiamide, always the same intermediate compounds appeared in the reactions mixtures. Colorless, needle-shaped crystals of the tertiary amine N(C3N3Cl2)3 (1) were obtained at temperatures around 200–250 °C. Temperatures as high as 400 °C yielded yellow, plate-like crystals of the heptazine compound C6N7Cl3 (2). At even higher temperatures, the reaction products were of poorer crystallinity, but evidence of the formation of another crystalline intermediate was given by X-ray powder diffraction and electron diffraction experiments. This third intermediate is assumed to be a tertiary amine, quite similar to 1, however, having heptazine ligands instead of triazine ligands and is assigned with the formula N(C6N7Cl2)3 (3). Theoretical calculations were performed for the structures and the vibrational spectra of 1 and 3. Theoretical calculations and a structure refinement based of X-ray powder diffraction data yielded a plausible structural model for compound 3.

Synthesis and Characterization of New Silicon and Titanium Derivatives of Bis(anilino)phosphine Oxide

The reactions of bis(anilino)phosphine oxide (C 6 H 5 NH) 2 P(O) H with (C 5 H 5 )2TiCl2 or Me2SiCl2 in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF results in the isolation of new phosph(V)azane complexes (C5H5)2Ti[(N C6H5)2P(O)H] (1) or Cl 2 Si[(N C 6 H 5 )2P(O)H] (2), respectively. In these reactions, HCl or CH4 elimination occurs and N-Ti or N-Si bonds form directly between a bis(anilino)phosphine oxide ligand and organotitanium or organosilicon compounds. The products(1) and (2) have been fully characterized by elemental analysis as well as 1 H, 31 P, 29 Si NMR, and IR spectroscopy.

Chemical modification of poly(vinyl chloride) by nucleophilic substitution

The reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in nucleophile (Nu)/ethylene glycol (EG) or Nu/ N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution was found to result in the substitution of Cl in PVC with Nu from solution, in addition to the straight elimination of HCl, both of which led to the dechlorination of PVC. Examined Nu − were I −, SCN −, OH −, N 3 −, and the phthalimide anion. For the Nu/EG solution, elimination was favoured over substitution for all Nu −. The ratio of substitution to dechlorination was notable, descending in the order OH − > SCN − = N 3 − > phthalimide anion > I −. For the Nu/DMF solution, the ratio of substitution to dechlorination was high, in the order SCN − > N 3 − > I − > phthalimide anion. In both cases, the orders of the ratios were similar to those of the nucleophilic reactivity constant, I − > SCN − > N 3 − > phthalimide anion, except for I −. The low ratio for I − was attributable to the elimination of HI after the substitution of Cl in PVC with I in solution, because I − is a strong nucleophile, as well as an excellent leaving group. Comparing the effect of EG and DMF on the substitution of Cl in PVC with Nu in solution, the ratio of substitution to dechlorination was higher for I −, SCN −, N 3 −, and the phthalimide anion in DMF than in EG. The substitution of Cl in PVC with Nu in solution was found to occur preferentially in DMF versus EG.

A comparative study of enol aldehyde formation from betamethasone, dexamethasone, beclomethasone and related compounds under acidic and alkaline conditions

Enol aldehydes are one type of key degradation and metabolic intermediates from a group of corticosteroids containing the 1,3-dihydroxyacetone side chain on their D-rings, such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, beclomethasone, and related compounds. The formation of enol aldehydes from these corticosteroids is via acid-catalyzed β-elimination of water from the side chain, a process known as Mattox rearrangement. It was recently reported by our group that enol aldehydes could also be formed directly from the corresponding 17,21-diesters of these corticosteroids but only under alkaline condition, which was proposed to follow a variation pathway of the original Mattox rearrangement. In this paper, we report the results of a comparative study of enol aldehyde formation from these structurally similar corticosteroids (under the original acidic Mattox condition) and their 17,21-diesters (under the alkaline Mattox variation condition), respectively. In general, enol aldehydes were found to be formed under both conditions; however, the ratios of the E- and Z-isomers of the enol aldehyde were different in each case. The only exception was beclomethasone 17,21-diester under the alkaline condition, where a competing elimination of HCl from the 9,11-positions became predominant. These results can be explained by their structural differences with regard to the Mattox mechanism and its variation pathway. Lastly, solvent effect under acidic condition was studied between an aprotic and a protic solvent and the result suggests that enol aldehyde formation is greatly favored in an aprotic environment.

William von Eggers Doering’s Many Research Achievements during the First 65 Years of his Career in Chemistry

This Account highlights William von Eggers Doering's important discoveries in many fields of chemistry. His synthetic and mechanistic studies have contributed to areas including non-benzenoid aromatics, carbenes, pericyclic reactions, and diradical intermediates. Doering's synthesis with L. H. Knox of the highly stable tropylium ion and their investigation of its reactivity were the starting point for the development of the field of non-benzenoid aromatics. Working with A. K. Hoffmann, Doering demonstrated the synthesis of dichloro- and dibromocarbene by base-induced alpha elimination of HCl or HBr from CHCl3 or CHBr3 under anhydrous conditions. These results allowed for the synthesis of a variety of cyclopropanes and derivatives including allenes. Using 14C labeling experiments, Doering and Prinzbach showed that the mechanism of insertion of singlet methylene into a C-H bond was a concerted process.In their work on the Cope rearrangement, Doering and Roth's outstanding stereochemical analysis showed that the rearrangement of acyclic 1,5-hexadienes proceeds concertedly, passing over a chairlike transition state. This work has had an enormous impact on the understanding of stereochemical control in synthetic organic chemistry, and many fruitful applications in synthesis have stemmed directly from this finding. Transition-state resonance structures analogous to those for ground-state aromatics can qualitatively explain the relatively large substituent effects on the rate of the Cope rearrangement. However, quantum chemical calculations have quantitatively described these effects. The rapid degenerate Cope rearrangements in the cis-divinylcyclopropane units of 3,4-homotropilidene, barbaralone, and bullvalene establish these molecules as having fluxional structures. The unique molecule bullvalene has more than 1.2 million possible structures interconnected by degenerate Cope rearrangements, which average all H and all C atoms. Doering has also examined stepwise thermal reorganizations that pass through intermediary 1,3- or 1,4-diradicals and do not show conformational equilibration as would be expected for classical intermediates. Doering calls these processes "not-obviously concerted". He discusses "continuous diradicals" as transition states and rationalizes the course of these reactions through the concept of a "caldera" (a flat surface with small energy wells as found on the top of volcanoes).The understanding of fundamental chemical reactions remains the focus of Doering's research. In his terms, "understanding" means not only gaining deep insight but also the intellectual control that allows researchers to predict a reaction's course. Because the interplay between theory and experiment has led to great progress in this predictive ability, Doering's experimental work has provided an important input for computational chemistry and to the essential understanding of chemical reactions.

Dechlorination of poly(vinylidene chloride) in NaOH/ethylene glycol as a function of NaOH concentration, temperature, and solvent

The wet dechlorination treatment of poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC) was evaluated at atmospheric pressure in a solution of NaOH in ethylene glycol (EG), as a function of NaOH concentration, temperature, and solvent. Hydroxide ion from NaOH was required for dechlorination with EG acting solely as a solvent. The wet treatment exhibited significantly enhanced dechlorination efficiency over traditional thermal techniques, with a reaction efficiency as high as 92.8% in 1.0 M NaOH at 190 °C. Dechlorination reactions of PVDC in both NaOH/EG and NaOH/H 2O were expressed by an apparent first-order reaction. At 190 °C, the apparent rate constant in 1.0 M NaOH/EG was approximately 1.4 times larger than in 1.0 M NaOH/H 2O, with an apparent activation energy of 82.8 kJ mol −1, indicating that the reaction proceeded under chemical control. The degree of dechlorination increased with increasing reaction temperature, favouring the elimination of HCl over the hydroxyl substitution of chloride.

Unimolecular Elimination of HF and HCl from Chemically Activated CF 3CFClCH 2Cl

The unimolecular reactions of CF3CFClCH2Cl molecules formed with 87 kcal mol(-1) of vibrational energy by recombination of CF3CFCl and CH2Cl radicals at room temperature have been characterized by the chemical activation technique. The 2,3-ClH and 2,3-FH elimination reactions, which have rate constants of (2.5 +/- 0.8) x 10(4) and (0.38 +/- 0.11) x 10(4) s(-1), respectively, are the major reactions. The 2,3-FCl interchange reaction was not observed. The trans (or E)-isomers of CF3CFCHCl and CF3CClCHCl are favored over the cis (or Z)-isomers. Density functional theory at the B3PW91/6-31G(d',p') level was used to evaluate thermochemistry and structures of the molecule and transition states. This information was used to calculate statistical rate constants. Matching the calculated to the experimental rate constants for the trans-isomers gave threshold energies of 62 and 63 kcal mol(-1) for HCl and HF elimination, respectively. The threshold energy for FCl interchange must be 3-4 kcal mol(-1) higher than for HF elimination. The results for CF3CFClCH2Cl are compared to those from CF3CFClCH3; the remarkable reduction in rate constants for HCl and HF elimination upon substitution of one Cl atom for one H atom is a consequence of both a lower E and higher threshold energies for CF3CFClCH2Cl.