Nitrogen-directed free radical rearrangements

• Main Author: Bebbington, Magnus W. P.
• Other Authors: Hodgson, David M.
• Published: University of Oxford 2002
• Subjects: 546; Free radical reactions : Bicyclic compounds
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.270247

This thesis describes efforts to develop new methods for the synthesis of bridged azacycles using nitrogen-directed free radical rearrangements. Free radical addition to 7-azanorbornadienes were carried out to give 7-substituted 2- azanorbornenes (Scheme a.l, X-Y = RS-H or PhSe-H). [illustration in text ...] Scheme a. 1 Nitrogen-directed homoallylic radical rearrangement via intermolecular radical addition. A conceptually novel and theoretically interesting nitrogen-directed neophyl rearrangement (Scheme a.2) was developed into a synthesis of 2- azabenzonorbornanes 2. [illustration in text ...] Scheme a.2 Nitrogen-directed neophyl-like rearrangement to 2-azabenzonorbornanes. In this case the radical 1 was generated by Barton deoxygenation of 7- azabenzonorbornanols. The effect on rearrangement of bicyclic core substitution and of aromatic ring electronics was probed in some detail, and the process was synthetically useful for a wide range of substrates. Variation of the protecting group on nitrogen was investigated and the product profiles from neophyl-like rearrangement were consistent with a process driven by the stability of a radical α to nitrogen as a result of SOMO-lone pair orbital interaction. The kinetics and mechanism of these processes are examined where appropriate, leading to estimates of rate constants for the rearrangements.