Tertiary Radicals Research Articles

Tacticity Changes during Controlled Degradation of Polypropylene

The controlled reactive degradation of polypropylene (CPP) in a twin-screw extruder has been investigated from the perspective of tacticity. CPP is initiated by the decomposition of a peroxide producing radicals that abstract hydrogen from the chain backbone creating tertiary radicals. Since C atoms with tertiary radicals have no longer sp3 configurations, they temporarily lose their stereospecificity. The C atoms resume stereospecificity upon termination, whereby methyl groups may assume a different orientation than before, causing a tacticity change. Degradation experiments in a twin-screw extruder of isotactic PP samples have been performed and tacticity changes are observed by C-13 NMR measurements revealing a decrease of isotactic mmmm pentads and increases of pentads with racemic sequence pairs. Statistical analysis of NMR data shows that the change of tacticity is nonrandom, i.e., units on the chain backbone are more likely to change orientation if they are close together. We attribute the nonrandomness to isomerization reactions, where through cyclic intermediates, a radical from one tertiary C carbon is transferred to another—radical chain walking. To validate this chain-walking hypothesis, a kinetic Monte Carlo simulation algorithm has been developed that predicts the change of the pentad distribution from the reactions taking place: initiation of tertiary radicals, transfer to polymer, chain walking, and termination by disproportionation. PP chains simulated consist of around 109 units with orientations of methyl groups inferred from the pentad distribution measured by NMR. Simulated pentad changes are compared to those measured from NMR, which reveal a relatively high racemic content. kMC simulations show that this can only be explained by assuming chain walking. Also, this isomerization via ring-shaped intermediates influences the patterns of changes in pentad distribution. These findings demonstrate that molecular weight changes are accompanied by tacticity changes. The kMC models confirmed by NMR data show that these tacticity changes are clustered locally along PP chains and that tacticity changes happen within the length scale of individual pentads. Chain-walking isomerization as a main cause of the tacticity changes is supported by predictions from the kMC model.

Addition of the tertiary radicals to electron-deficient 1,3-dienes using photoredox catalysis

The tertiary carbon radicals were created by an Ir-catalyzed photocatalyst. The addition of the created radicals to different substituted electron-deficient 1,3-dienes was carried out. New carbon centers append δ-substituted-β,γ-unsaturated scaffold were constructed through the 1,6-addition of tertiary carbon radicals to alkyl penta-2,4-dienoate derivatives or hexa-3,5-dien-2-one derivatives. Unlike the latter dienes, addition tertiary carbon radicals to cyclic ketonic electron-deficient dienes produced conjugated cycloalkenone. In each case, the stereoisomer majority was E stereoisomer while Z stereoisomer was observed as trace amounts.

Strongly Entangled Triplet Acyl-Alkyl Radical Pairs in Crystals of Photostable Diphenylmethyl Adamantyl Ketones.

Radical pairs generated in crystalline solids by bond cleavage reactions of triplet ketones offer the unique opportunity to explore a frontier of spin dynamics where rigid radicals are highly entangled as the result of short inter-radical distances, large singlet-triplet energy gaps (ΔEST), and limited spin-lattice relaxation mechanisms. Here we report the pulsed laser generation and detection of strongly entangled triplet acyl-alkyl radical pairs generated in nanocrystalline suspensions of 1,1-diphenylmethyl 2-ketones with various 3-admantyl substituents. The sought-after triplet acyl-alkyl radical pairs could be studied for the first time in the solid state by taking advantage of the efficient triplet excited state α-cleavage reactions of 1,1-diphenylmethyl ketones and the slow rate of CO loss from the acyl radicals, which would have to generate highly unstable phenyl and primary alkyl radicals or relatively unstable secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals. With the loss of CO prevented, the lifetime of the triplet acyl-alkyl radical pair intermediates is determined by intersystem crossing to the singlet radical pair state, which is followed by immediate bond formation to the ground state starting ketone. Experimental results revealed biexponential kinetics with long-lived components that account for ca. 87-92% of the transient population and lifetimes that extend to the range of 53-63 μs, the longest reported so far for this type of radical pair. Structural information inferred from the starting ketone will make it possible to analyze the affects of proximity and orientation of the singly occupied orbitals and potentially help set a path for the use of triplet radical pairs as qubits in quantum information technologies.

Direct α-Tertiary Alkylations of Ketones in a Combined Copper-Organocatalyst System.

Herein, we report an efficient method for the tertiary alkylation of a ketone by using an α-bromocarbonyl compound as the tertiary alkyl source in a combined Cu-organocatalyst system. This dual catalyst system enables the addition of a tertiary alkyl radical to an enamine. Mechanistic studies revealed that the catalytically generated enamine is a key intermediate in the catalytic cycle. The developed method can be used to synthesize substituted 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds containing quaternary carbons bearing various alkyl chains.

Direct α‐Tertiary Alkylations of Ketones in a Combined Copper–Organocatalyst System

AbstractHerein, we report an efficient method for the tertiary alkylation of a ketone by using an α‐bromocarbonyl compound as the tertiary alkyl source in a combined Cu‐organocatalyst system. This dual catalyst system enables the addition of a tertiary alkyl radical to an enamine. Mechanistic studies revealed that the catalytically generated enamine is a key intermediate in the catalytic cycle. The developed method can be used to synthesize substituted 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds containing quaternary carbons bearing various alkyl chains.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Radical Cyclization/meta-Selective C–H Alkylation of Arenes via σ-Activation Strategy

Free radical cyclization has emerged as one of the most important reaction types, which is widely used in natural product synthesis, pharmaceutical chemistry, and materials science. This report described the combination of radical cyclization and ruthenium-catalyzed meta-selective C–H functionalization for the synthesis of arylpyrrolidone derivatives. This method exhibited the highly meta-site selectivity of the primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals formed by intramolecular addition. A wide spectrum of directing groups bearing diversified N-heterocycles performed well, including biologically active molecules. Density functional theory calculations provided a theoretical basis for the high meta-selectivity and the favored reaction pathway of an intramolecular cyclization.

Iron-Catalyzed Tertiary Alkylation of Terminal Alkynes with 1,3-Diesters via a Functionalized Alkyl Radical.

Direct oxidative C(sp)-H/C(sp3 )-H cross-coupling offers an ideal and environmentally benign protocol for C(sp)-C(sp3 ) bond formations. As such, reactivity and site-selectivity with respect to C(sp3 )-H bond cleavage have remained a persistent challenge. Herein is reported a simple method for iron-catalyzed/silver-mediated tertiary alkylation of terminal alkynes with readily available and versatile 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. The reaction is suitable for an array of substrates and proceeds in a highly selective manner even employing alkanes containing other tertiary, benzylic, and C(sp3 )-H bonds alpha to heteroatoms. Elaboration of the products enables the synthesis of a series of versatile building blocks. Control experiments implicate the in situ generation of a tertiary carbon-centered radical species.

Photocatalytic Giese-Type Reaction with Alkylsilicates Bearing C,O-Bidentate Ligands.

Herein, a photocatalytic Giese-type reaction with alkylsilicates bearing C,O-bidentate ligands as stable alkyl radical precursors has been reported. The alkylsilicates were prepared in one step from organometallic reagents. Not only primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals, but also elusive methyl radicals, could be generated by using the present reaction system. The generated radicals were trapped by electron-deficient olefins bearing various functional groups to give the desired alkyl adducts. The silicon byproduct can be recovered after the photoreaction. The radical generation process was investigated by theoretical calculations, which provided an insight into the facile generation of methyl radicals from methylsilicate bearing C,O-bidentate ligands.

L-Tryptophan Interactions with the Horseradish Peroxidase-Catalyzed Generation of Triplet Acetone.

Triplet carbonyls generated by chemiexcitation are involved in typical photobiochemical processes in the absence of light. Due to their biradical nature, ultraweak light emission and long lifetime, electronically excited triplet species display typical radical reactions such as isomerization, fragmentation, cycloaddition and hydrogen abstraction. In this paper, we report chemical reactions in a set of amino acid residues induced by the isobutanal/horseradish peroxidase (IBAL/HRP) system, a well-known source of excited triplet acetone (Ac3* ). Accordingly, quenching of Ac3* by tryptophan (Trp) unveiled parallel enzyme damage and inactivation, likely explained by scavenging of IBAL tertiary radical reaction intermediate and Ac3* -derived 2-hydroxy-i-propyl radical. Quenching constants were calculated from Stern-Volmer plots, and the structure of radical adducts was revealed by mass spectrometry. As expected, a concurrent Schiff-type adduct was found to be one of the reaction by-products. These findings draw attention to potential structural and functional changes in enzymes involved in the electronic chemiexcitation of their products.

Synthetic and Mechanistic Implications of Chlorine Photoelimination in Nickel/Photoredox C(sp3)-H Cross-Coupling.

In recent years, the development of light-driven reactions has contributed numerous advances in synthetic organic chemistry. A particularly active research area combines photoredox catalysis with nickel catalysis to accomplish otherwise inaccessible cross-coupling reactions. In these reactions, the photoredox catalyst absorbs light to generate an electronically excited charge-transfer state that can engage in electron or energy transfer with a substrate and the nickel catalyst. Our group questioned whether photoinduced activation of the nickel catalyst itself could also contribute new approaches to cross-coupling. Over the past 5 years, we have sought to advance this hypothesis for the development of a suite of mild and site-selective C(sp3)-H cross-coupling reactions with chloride-containing coupling partners via photoelimination of a Ni-Cl bond.On the basis of a report from the Nocera laboratory, we reasoned that photolysis of a Ni(III) aryl chloride species, generated by single-electron oxidation of a typical Ni(II) intermediate in cross-coupling, might allow for the catalytic generation of chlorine atoms. Combining this with the ability of Ni(II) to accept alkyl radicals, we hypothesized that photocatalytically generated chlorine atoms could mediate hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) with C(sp3)-H bonds to generate a substrate-derived alkyl radical that is captured by the Ni center in cross-coupling. A photoredox catalyst was envisioned to promote the necessary single-electron oxidation and reduction of the Ni catalyst to facilitate an overall redox-neutral process. Overall, this strategy would offer a visible-light-driven mechanism for chlorine radical formation enabled by the sequential capture of two photons.As an initial demonstration, we developed a Ni/photoredox-catalyzed α-oxy C(sp3)-H arylation of cyclic and acyclic ethers. This method was extended to a mild formylation of abundant and complex aryl chlorides through selective 2-functionalization of 1,3-dioxolane. Seeking to develop a suite of reactions that introduce carbon at all different oxidation states, we explored C(sp3)-H cross-coupling with trimethyl orthoformate, a common laboratory solvent. We found that trimethyl orthoformate serves as a source of methyl radical for a methylation reaction via β-scission from a tertiary radical generated upon chlorine-mediated HAT. Since chlorine radical is capable of abstracting unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds, our efforts have also been directed at cross-coupling with a range of feedstock chemicals, such as alkanes and toluenes, along with late-stage intermediates, using chloroformates as coupling partners. Overall, this platform enables access to valuable synthetic transformations with (hetero)aryl chlorides, which despite being the most ubiquitous and inexpensive aryl halide coupling partners, are rarely reactive in Ni/photoredox catalysis.Little is known about the photophysics and photochemistry of organometallic Ni complexes relevant to cross-coupling. We have conducted mechanistic investigations, including computational, spectroscopic, emission quenching, and stoichiometric oxidation studies, of Ni(II) aryl halide complexes common to Ni/photoredox reactions. These studies indicate that chlorine radical generation from excited Ni(III) is operative in the described C(sp3)-H functionalization methods. More generally, the studies illustrate that the photochemistry of cross-coupling catalysts cannot be ignored in metallaphotoredox reactions. We anticipate that further mechanistic understanding should facilitate new catalyst design and lead to the development of new synthetic methods.

Stochastic Modeling of Poly(acrylate) Distributions Obtained by Radical Polymerization under High‐Temperature Semi‐Batch Starved‐Feed Conditions: Investigation of Model Predictions versus Experimental Data

AbstractSecondary reactions significantly affect acrylate polymerization rates as well as the architecture of polymer produced by high‐temperature solution radical polymerization. This impact is amplified under the semi‐batch starved‐feed policy used to keep monomer concentration low. Thus, the importance of intramolecular chain transfer (backbiting) is significantly increased, generating a tertiary radical center capable of termination, propagation, and scission. In this investigation, a comprehensive stochastic model is formulated to represent results from an experimental study designed to increase the fraction of reactive terminal double bonds (TDB) in the poly(butyl acrylate) product. Model predictions generated using three sets of literature kinetic parameters for backbiting and scission are compared. While each provides reasonable predictions of some reaction characteristics (e.g., free monomer levels, polymer molecular weights, polymer TDB content), none provide an adequate representation of all aspects of the polymerization. It is concluded that other reaction pathways might be needed to represent the system under semi‐batch conditions, thus explaining the discrepancies seen among the current parameter estimates.

Lewis Acid Activation of Fragment-Coupling Reactions of Tertiary Carbon Radicals Promoted by Visible-Light Irradiation of EDA Complexes.

The addition of tertiary carbon radicals generated from N-(acyloxy)phthalimide esters to cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones and lactones is markedly enhanced by the addition of substoichiometric amounts of a Ln(OTf)3. The reaction is accomplished by irradiation with visible light in the absence of a photosensitizer and is suggested to proceed by excitation of a ternary electron donor-acceptor complex between the NHPI ester, Hantzsch ester, and a Ln(OTf)3.

Cross-Coupling Reactions of Persistent Tertiary Carbon Radicals

Abstract The scope of cross-coupling reactions using tertiary carbon-centered radicals has expanded rapidly over the past decade. In this review, we outline the development of the cross-coupling reactions that involve persistent tertiary carbon-centered radicals as a powerful toolbox to synthesize molecules containing quaternary carbon(s) and/or tetra-substituted carbon(s). In particular, we focus on persistent tertiary carbon-centered radicals derived from carbonyl- or related compounds. We first describe the historical background and structural characterization of these radicals, and their reactivity/selectivity relationships. We then present selected recent examples of cross-coupling reactions involving tertiary carbon-centered radicals, categorized according to the originally proposed reaction mechanism, to showcase their versatile synthetic utility for structural diversification of small molecules.

Ab initio rate coefficients for reactions of 2,5-dimethylhexyl isomers with O2: temperature- and pressure-dependent branching ratios

Chemical kinetics of O2-addition to alkyl radicals (R), termed first O2-addition in the oxidation mechanism of alkanes, are of central importance to next-generation combustion strategies designed for operations in the low- to intermediate-temperature region (<1000 K). In the present work, stationary points on potential energy surfaces (PES), temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients, and branching fractions of product formation from R + O2 reactions initiated by the addition of molecular oxygen (3O2) to the three alkyl radicals of a branched alkane, 2,5-dimethylhexane, are reported. The stationary points were determined utilizing ab initio/DFT methods and the reaction energies were computed using the composite CBS-QB3 method. Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM)/master equation (ME) calculations were employed to compute rate coefficients, from which branching fractions were determined over the pressure range of 10-3-20 atm and the temperature range of 400-900 K on three different surfaces. The quantum chemistry results reveal several distinct features. For the addition of O2 to the tertiary alkyl radical 2,5-dimethylhex-2-yl, the most energetically favorable channel leads to the formation of 2,2,5,5,-tetramethyl-tetrahydrofuran, a cyclic ether intermediate formed coincident with OH in a chain-propagating step from the decomposition of tertiary-tertiary hydroperoxyalkyl (QOOH). On the R + O2 surface of the secondary radical, 2,5-dimethylhex-3-yl, the pathways for the formation of methyl-propanal + iso-butene + OH via concerted C-C and O-O bond scission of tertiary QOOH and that of cyclic ether + OH are the most energetically favorable pathways. The R + O2 surface for the reaction of the primary radical, 2,5-dimethylhex-1-yl, reveals two competitive chain-propagation channels, leading to 2-iso-propyl-4-methyl-tetrahydrofuran + OH and 2,2,5-trimethyltetrahydropyran + OH. Below 100 Torr, the formation of the aforementioned species dominates the respective total R + O2 rate coefficient, while at pressures above 1 atm collisionally stabilized alkylperoxy (ROO) dominates at the temperatures considered here. The results of this study are in very good agreement with the experimentally measured intermediates and products of the 2,5-dimethylhexyl radical + O2 reaction.

Synthesis of quaternary centres by single electron reduction and alkylation of alkylsulfones.

A new method for the generation of tertiary radicals through single electron reduction of alkylsulfones promoted by Zn and 1,10-phenanthroline has been developed. These radicals could be employed in the Giese reaction, affording structurally diverse quaternary products in good yields. With the high modularity and functional group compatibility of sulfones, the utility of this method was demonstrated by intramolecular and iterative reactions to give complex structures. The radical generation process was investigated by control experiments and theoretical calculations.

Temperature-Dependent Reactivity of a Non-heme FeIII(OH)(SR) Complex: Relevance to Isopenicillin N Synthase.

Non-heme iron complexes with cis-FeIII(OH)(SAr/OAr) coordination were isolated and examined for their reactivity with a tertiary carbon radical. The sulfur-ligated complex shows a temperature dependence on •OH versus ArS• transfer, whereas the oxygen-ligated complex does not. These results provide the first working model for C-S bond formation in isopenicillin N synthase and indicate that kinetic control may be a key factor in the selectivity of non-heme iron "rebound" processes.

Synthesis of gem-Difluoroalkenes via Zn-Mediated Decarboxylative/Defluorinative Cross-Coupling.

An efficient and mild Zn-mediated decarboxylative/defluorinative alkylation of α-trifluoromethyl alkenes using N-hydroxyphthalimide esters as radical precursors was developed. Several α-trifluoromethyl alkenes were readily coupled to a wide range of primary, secondary, and tertiary radicals, affording the desired gem-difluoroethylenes in moderate to excellent yields. This reaction protocol was also successfully applied to the construction of complex molecules such as the bioactive natural dehydroabietic acid and glycosyl groups bearing the gem-difluoroethylene moiety.

Visible‐Light‐Induced C2 Alkylation of Heterocyclic N‐Oxides with N‐Hydroxyphthalimide Esters under Metal‐Free Conditions

AbstractA visible‐light‐induced site selective C−H alkylation of heterocyclic N‐oxides with N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters was developed using Eosin Y as the photocatalyst in the presence of Cs2CO3 under redox‐neutral and mild conditions. Using N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters as the radical precursors, quinoline and pyridine N‐oxides were readily coupled with a wide range of primary, secondary, and tertiary radicals to afford the desired alkylated heterocyclic N‐oxides in moderated to excellent yields. Importantly, this reaction protocol also successfully demonstrated its applications for the construction of glycosyl or bioactive natural dehydroabietic acid containing heterocyclic N‐oxides, as well as the pharmaceutical and agrochemical active alkylated quinine‐based functional molecules (potential antimalarial drug).magnified image

Radical Dehydroxylative Alkylation of Tertiary Alcohols by Ti Catalysis.

Deoxygenative radical C-C bond-forming reactions of alcohols are a long-standing challenge in synthetic chemistry, and the current methods rely on multistep procedures. Herein, we report a direct dehydroxylative radical alkylation reaction of tertiary alcohols. This new protocol shows the feasibility of generating tertiary carbon radicals from alcohols and offers an approach for the facile and precise construction of all-carbon quaternary centers. The reaction proceeds with a broad substrate scope of alcohols and activated alkenes. It can tolerate a wide range of electrophilic coupling partners, including allylic carboxylates, aryl and vinyl electrophiles, and primary alkyl chlorides/bromides, making the method complementary to the cross-coupling procedures. The method is highly selective for the alkylation of tertiary alcohols, leaving secondary/primary alcohols (benzyl alcohols included) and phenols intact. The synthetic utility of the method is highlighted by its 10-g-scale reaction and the late-stage modification of complex molecules. A combination of experiments and density functional theory calculations establishes a plausible mechanism implicating a tertiary carbon radical generated via Ti-catalyzed homolysis of the C-OH bond.

Comparison of radical processes in non-aged and radiation-aged polyethylene unprotected or protected by antioxidants

Silane cross-linked polyethylene was examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy before and after gamma-irradiation at a dose rate of 77.7 Gy/h to a dose of 374 kGy, which corresponds to approximately 40 years of radiation aging in nuclear power plants (NPP). Radicals generated after post-aging by gamma radiation at 77 K (10 kGy, 2.2 kGy/h) were identified in a polymer unprotected, doped with phenolic antioxidant, thioether antioxidant or both. The radical processes in non-aged and long-term aged polyethylene differed significantly. In the second case, peroxyl radicals dominated at lowest temperatures, while the content of secondary alkyl radicals increased gradually during thermal annealing to 220 K, whereas above ambient temperature tertiary or primary alkyl radicals appeared. The stability of alkyl radicals was related to the rapid consumption of oxygen and, consequently, its depletion in earlier stages of radical processes. Phenolic antioxidant suppressed the above effects and protected the cross-linked structure of the polymer matrix.