A homoallyl radical rearrangement. Kinetics of the isomerization of the 2,2-dimethyl-3-buten-1-yl radical to the 1,1-dimethyl-3-buten-1-yl radical

Abstract

Rate constants for the overall rearrangement of the 2,2-dimethyl-3-buten-1-yl radical to the 1,1 -dimethyl-3-buten-1-yl radical, kC=C, have been measured from −145 °C to −101 °C by kinetic epr spectroscopy and at 40 °C by spin trapping with 1-methyl-4-nitroso-3,5-diphenylpyrazole. The temperature dependence can be represented by[Formula: see text]where θ = 2.3RT kcal mol−1. This rearrangement, which must proceed via a 2,2-dimethylcyclopropylcarbinyl radical as an intermediate, is one of the fastest rearrangements involving a primary alkyl radical. At 25 °C, kC=C = 4.3 × 107 s−1, which makes this rearrangement about 10 000 times faster than the rearrangement of the simplest homoallyl radical, 3-buten-1-yl. This rate enhancement is attributed to steric acceleration of ring closure by the gem dimethyl groups (Thorpe–Ingold effect).