Access to “Friedel–Crafts-Restricted” tert-Alkyl Aromatics by Activation/Methylation of Tertiary Benzylic Alcohols
摘要:
Herein we describe a two-step protocol to prepare m-tert-alkylbenzenes. The appropriate tertiary benzylic alcohols are activated with SOCl2 or concentrated HCl and then treated with trimethylaluminum, affording the desired products in 68-97% yields (22 examples). This reaction sequence is successful in the presence of a variety of functional groups, including acid-sensitive and Lewis-basic groups. In addition to t-Bu groups, 1,1-dimethylpropyl and 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl groups can also be installed using this method.
Electronic properties of the nitrone substituent. Stabilization of benzylic carbocations
摘要:
The nitrone substituent CH=N(O) t-Bu is electron-withdrawing with a Taft sigma (1) value of 0.20. It also retards the solvolysis rate of a cumyl chloride when placed in the meta-position (sigma (+) = 0.20). However, CH=N(O) t-Bu becomes weakly cation stabilizing when placed in the para-position of a cumyl cation (sigma (+) = -0.04). This weak cation stabilization is a result of a conjugative interaction which delocalizes charge and offsets the inductive effect of the nitrone. When the nitrone is placed in the para-position, but then twisted out of conjugation with the aromatic ring by incorporation of flanking 3,5-dimethyl groups, it again retards solvolysis rates. Computational studies (B3LYP/6-31G*) show that the nitrone substituent stabilizes a para-substituted benzyl cation relative to the meta-substituted analog by a conjugative interaction. However, the calculated stabilization greatly overestimates the cation stabilization seen in solvolytic reactions. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.