MINDO-Forces Study of Phenyl and Cyclopropyl Substituted Allyl Cations and Anions

Abstract

MINDO-force calculations have been performed on phenyl and cyclopropyl substituted allyl cations and anions with complete energy minimization. It is found that the phenyl ring destabilizes the allyl cations when substituted at the terminal and at the center carbon atom of the cation, while the cyclopropyl ring stabilizes the allyl cation when substituted at the terminal carbon atoms, but destabilizes the cation when substituted at the center carbon atom of the cation. These results agree with the experimental ones. In the case of the allyl anions, it is found that the phenyl ring destabilizes the allyl anions when substituted on the terminal and on the center carbon atoms of the allyl anions, while the cyclopropyl ring stabilizes the allyl anion when substituted on the terminal carbon atom but destabilizes the anion when substituted on the center carbon atom. Also, it is found that both the phenyl and cyclopropyl rings are electron withdrawing when substituted on the allyl anions, while they are electron donating when substituted on the allyl cations.