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Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes
Published on: February 6, 2019
On the Mechanism of the Formal [2+2] Cycloaddition - Retro-electrocyclization (CA-RE) Reaction
Jonathan Kirschner Solberg Hansen1, Christian G Tortzen1, Preben Graae Sørensen1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
The [2+2] cycloaddition - retro-electrocyclization (CA-RE) reaction is a "click-like" protocol for facile synthesis of donor-acceptor chromophores from an alkyne and tetracyanoethylene. Herein we shed light on the mechanism of this reaction by detailed kinetics studies using 1 H NMR spectroscopy. By considering several experiments simultaneously, a variety of mechanistic models was evaluated. Surprisingly, a model in which the final 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene product promoted the first step was the only one that described well the experimental data. This autocatalysis model also involved a non-concerted, stepwise formation of the cyclobutene cycloaddition adduct. By proper choice of conditions, we were able to generate the transient cyclobutene in sufficient amount to verify it as an intermediate using 13 C NMR spectroscopy. For its final retro-electrocyclization step, simple first-order kinetics was observed and only minor solvent dependence, which indicates a concerted reaction.
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