Issue 16, 2021

Understanding the different reactivity of (Z)- and (E)-β-nitrostyrenes in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. An MEDT study

Abstract

The experimental reactivity of isomeric (Z)- and (E)-β-nitrostyrenes participating in [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions has been analysed on the basis of molecular electron density theory (MEDT) at the HF/6-311G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and ωB97X-D/6-311G(d,p) computational levels. It was found that the polar zw-type 32CA reactions with 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide proceed via a one-step mechanism, characterised by the attack of the nucleophilic oxygen centre of the nitrone on the electrophilically activated β-position of these nitrostyrenes. This behaviour is completely understood by means of the analysis of the conceptual DFT reactivity indices. These 32CA reactions present low activation enthalpies of 4.4 (Z) and 5.0 (E) kcal mol−1, and are exo (Z) and endo (E) stereoselective (B3LYP), as well as completely meta regioselective (ωB97X-D, B3LYP). The less stable (Z)-β-nitrostyrene is more reactive than the (E)-one (HF). ELF and AIM topological analyses of the reagents and TSs show the great similitude between their electronic structures. Finally, NCI allows explaining the exo stereoselectivity found in the reaction of (Z)-β-nitrostyrene. The present MEDT study explains the different reactivity, selectivity and competitiveness in the title reactions.

Graphical abstract: Understanding the different reactivity of (Z)- and (E)-β-nitrostyrenes in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. An MEDT study

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 fev 2021
Accepted
21 fev 2021
First published
04 mar 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2021,11, 9698-9708

Understanding the different reactivity of (Z)- and (E)-β-nitrostyrenes in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. An MEDT study

M. Ríos-Gutiérrez, L. R. Domingo and R. Jasiński, RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 9698 DOI: 10.1039/D1RA00891A

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