Electronic properties of the nitrone substituent. Stabilization of benzylic carbocations
作者:Xavier Creary、Kresna Hartandi
DOI:10.1002/1099-1395(200102)14:2<97::aid-poc340>3.0.co;2-2
日期:2001.2
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.