Ligand Effects on Rates and Regioselectivities of Rh(I)-Catalyzed (5 + 2) Cycloadditions: A Computational Study of Cyclooctadiene and Dinaphthocyclooctatetraene as Ligands

The first theoretical study on the effects of ligands on the mechanism, reactivities, and regioselectivities of Rh(I)-catalyzed (5 + 2) cycloadditions of vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs) and alkynes has been performed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Highly efficient and selective intermolecular (5 + 2) cycloadditions of VCPs and alkynes have been achieved recently using two novel rhodium catalysts, [Rh(dnCOT)]+SbF6– and [Rh(COD)]+SbF6–, which provide superior reactivities and regioselectivities relative to that of the previously reported [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 catalyst. Computationally, the high reactivities of the dnCOT and COD ligands are attributed to the steric repulsions that destabilize the Rh-product complex, the catalyst resting state in the catalytic cycle. The regioselectivities of reactions with various alkynes and different Rh catalysts are investigated, and a predictive model is provided that describes substrate–substrate and ligand–substrate steric repulsions, electronic effects, and nonc...