γ-Silyl-substituted norbornyl carbocations and carbenes

endo-2-Trimethylsilyl-anti-7-norbornyl triflate undergoes solvolysis reactions 1.8 × 10(4) faster than 7-norbornyl triflate in CD3CO2D and 1.3 × 10(5) times faster in CF3CH2OH. The exclusive substitution products with retained stereochemistry point to a significantly stabilized γ-trimethylsilyl carbocation intermediate. The endo-2-trimethylsilyl-7-norbornyl carbene gives a major rearrangement product where the trimethylsilyl-activated hydrogen migrates to the carbenic center. This rearrangement product implies stabilization of the carbene by the γ-trimethylsilyl group. Isodesmic computational studies (M062X/6-311+G**) indicate that the endo-2-trimethylsilyl-7-norbornyl cation is stabilized by 16.2 kcal/mol and that the endo-2-trimethylsilyl-7-norbornyl carbene is stabilized by a smaller factor of 1.8 kcal/mol. By way of contrast, anti-7-trimethylsilyl-endo-2-norbornyl mesylate undergoes solvolysis in CD3CO2D only 2.6 times faster than endo-2-norbornyl mesylate and 9.4 times faster in CF3CH2OH. The substitution products have only partially retained stereochemistry, and significant rearrangements are observed. The anti-7-trimethylsilyl-2-norbornyl carbene gives a rearrangement product via 1,3-hydrogen migration of the C6 hydrogen, which is completely analogous to the behavior of the unsubstituted 2-norbornyl carbene. Isodesmic calculations show that the anti-7-trimethylsilyl-2-norbornyl cation is stabilized by only 3.2 kcal/mol relative to the 2-norbornyl cation, and the corresponding anti-7-trimethylsilyl-2-norbornyl carbene is stabilized by a negligible 0.9 kcal/mol.