Effect of cyclodextrin complexation in bromine addition to unsymmetrical olefins: evidence for participation of cyclodextrin hydroxyl groups

Multiple recognition by cyclodextrin in a bimolecular reaction, namely bromination of styrene, methyl cinnamate, phenylacetylene and allylbenzene, has been studied. Bromohydrin is obtained as a major product along with dibromide in the bromination of styrene and methyl cinnamate. The percentage of bromohydrin decreases as the cavity size increases. With phenylacetylene, bromophenylacetylene and phenacyl bromide are obtained in addition to the dibromides. In the bromination of cyclodextrin complexes of allylbenzene, the product distribution is the same as in solution bromination. The observed results demonstrate the efficiency of cyclodextrin in stabilizing the open carbocationic intermediate and thus provide chemical evidence for the participation of cyclodextrin hydroxyl groups.