Regioselective rearrangement of bridgehead-methyl-substituted radical cations derived from bicyclo[2. 1. 0]pentanes and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2. 2. 1]hept-2-enes through photoinduced electron transfer and radiolytic oxidation. Product distribution and matrix ESR studies

Cyclopentane-1,3-diyl radical cations were generated from the 1-methyl- and 1,4-dimethyl substituted bicyclo-[2.1.0]pentanes 1b,c through photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and radiolytic oxidation. The unsymmetrical bridgehead-substituted bicyclopentane 1b rearranged spontaneously and exclusively to the 3-methylcyclopentene 3b under PET conditions. ESR studies showed similarly that 3b[sup [sm bullet]+] was the only final oxidation product of 1b; the initial radical cation 1b[sup [sm bullet]+] was not detected because it rearranges rapidly and stereoselectively by a 1,2-hydrogen shift to 3b[sup [sm bullet]+], even at 80 K, and no trace of the more stable 1-methylcyclopentene radical cation 3a[sup [sm bullet]+] was observed. This contra-thermodynamic regioselectivity is rationalized in terms of essential localization of positive charge at the tertiary center as the reaction proceeds in the 1,3-diyl radical cation 1b[sup [sm bullet]+]. The symmetrical dimethyl derivative 1c rearranged much more reluctantly than 1b despite its lower oxidation potential, and this is attributed to the greater persistence of radical cation 1c[sup [sm bullet]+] through its reluctance to undergo a 1,2-H shift. The oxidation of these azoalkanes generates highly reactive transients, presumably diazenyl radical cations, which readily denitrogenate and undergo 1,2-H shifts in either a consecutive or concerted manner to form olefin radical cations. 25 refs., 6 figs., 2more » tabs.« less