A theoretical and experimental study of unimolecular and biomolecular radical hydrogen transfer reactions

We have examined the intramolecular radical hydrogen transfer (RHT) reaction of the 2-(2-phenylethyl)cyclohexadienyl radical. Intramolecular hydrogen shift from the cyclohexadienyl ring to the ipso position of the phenyl ring, followed by {beta}-scission would have given benzene and ethylbenzene as products. Competing with this reaction is {beta}-scission to give benzyl radical and isotoluene, or hydrogen loss to give bibenzyl. Studies to date suggest a barrier for thermoneutral hydrogen transfer in the RHT reaction between aromatic systems of ca. 18 kcal/mole. None of the studies of RHT or equivalent mechanisms have attempted to directly observe H{sub 2}, and direct determination of Arrhenius parameters and a detailed examination of the pathway of the hydrogen transfer process remains to be carried out. To better understand the structural and energetic aspects of RHT, we have carried out a semiempirical molecular orbital study of bimolecular and intramolecular RHT reactions for a variety of aromatic systems. We also examined in detail the energetics of hydrogen transfer between ethyl radical and ethylene via RHT, an addition/metathesis/scission pathway, and a hybrid concerted'' pathway. 11 refs., 1 fig., 4 tabs.