Differential Activation Energy and NBO Interaction Approaches to Torquoselectivity and Its Dependence on the Conformational Profile of the Substituent

31 December 2020, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

The torquoselectivity of ring opening of 3-CF3-cyclobutene, 3-CHF2-cyclobutene, 3-CH2F-cyclobutene, 3-CF3-oxetene and perfluoro-3-CH3-cyclobutene have been studied at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level of theory and the results analysed by using the differential activation energy approach and also differential NBO interactions of the breaking ring bond with the substituent bonds. The outward or inward ring opening that has lower activation energy in the differential activation energy approach or larger interaction in the differential NBO interaction approach constitutes the preferred mode. The predictions from the two approaches are largely found to be contradicting each other, specifically when the substituent is electron-deficient. The CHF2 and CH2F substituents on cyclobutene and oxetene can adopt three distinct conformations with respect to the cleaving ring bond. It has been discovered that each conformer exhibits a distinct level of torquoselectivity and some may even contribute to the overall selectivity substantially. The conformational profile of the substituent, therefore, is recommended to be taken into account in any serious treatment of the subject. The experimental torquoselectivity, if otherwise, is a likely consequence of secondary reactions, specifically equilibration through reaction reversal while honouring the relative thermodynamic stabilities of the ring opened products.

Keywords

torquoselectivity
3-fluoromethylcyclobutenes
2-fluoromethyloxetenes
3-methylperfluorocyclobutene
differential activation energy
differential NBO interaction
conformational effects

Supplementary materials

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Description
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Title
SI 30122020
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