Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
The reactions of O(3P) with terminal alkenes: the H2CO channel via 3,2 H-atom shift
Hongmei Su1, Shaolei Zhao, Kunhui Liu
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, People's Republic of China. hongmei@iccas.ac.cn
Abstract:
The step-scan time-resolved FTIR emission spectroscopy is used to characterize systematically the H(2)CO channel for the reactions of O((3)P) with various alkenes. IR emission bands due to the products of CO, CO(2), and H(2)CO have been observed in the spectra. H(2)CO is identified to be the primary reaction product whereas CO and CO(2) are secondary reaction products of O((3)P) with alkenes. A general trend is observed in which the fraction yield of the H(2)CO product increases substantially as the reactant alkene varies from C(2)H(4), C(3)H(6), 1-C(4)H(8), iso-C(4)H(8), to 1-C(5)H(10). The formation mechanism of the H(2)CO is therefore elucidated to arise from a 3,2 H-atom shift followed by breaking of the C(1)-C(2) bond in the initially formed energized diradical RCH(2)CHCH(2)O*. The 3,2 H-atom shift may become the dominant process with the more rapid delocalization of the energy when the hydrocarbon chain of the alkene molecule is lengthened.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Mechanism
The mechanism starts with chain initiation, which involves two steps. In the first chain initiation step, a weak peroxide bond is homolytically cleaved upon mild heating to form two alkoxy radicals. In the second initiation step, a hydrogen atom is abstracted by the alkoxy radical...
Introduction to Electrophilic Addition Reactions of Alkenes
Addition and elimination reactions can be...
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group. The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2, depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
π Molecular Orbitals of the Allyl Cation and Anion

