The Thermolysis of 2,2-Dimethyl-1-vinylcyclobutane

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/P29870000365

The kinetics of thermolysis of 2,2-dimethyl-1-vinylcyclobutane have been investigated as a function of temperature from 263 to 301 deg C.Primary products produced in the reaction include isobutene and butadiene, 4,4-dimethylcyclohexene, 2-methylhepta-1,6-diene, and cis-2-methylhepta-1,5-diene. trans-2-Methylhepta-1,5-diene and 2,4-dimethylhexa-1,5-diene are produced from cis-2-methylhepta-1,5-diene by way of a 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement.The reaction obeys first-order kinetics and is unaffected by surface.Activation energies (kcal mol^-1) and (logA/s^-1) for the overall decomposition and for formation of the primary products are 45.73 +/- 0.3 (14.427 +/- 0.12), 47.71 +/- 0.7 (15.087 +/- 0.3), 44.35 +/- 1.6 (12.53 +/- 0.6), 45.0 +/-1.3 (12.24 +/- 0.5), and 38.38 +/- 1.7 (10.785 +/- 0.7), respectively.The regiochemistry observed in fragmentation and in the 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangement of the starting material is discussed in terms of substituent effects found in other cyclobutane and vinylcyclobutane thermolyses.The fragmentation process and the isomerization to 4,4-dimethylcyclohexene and 2-methylhepta-1,6-diene is believed to proceed through the intervention of 6-methylhept-1-ene-3,6-diyl. cis-2-Methylhepta-1,5-diene is formed from a concerted 1,5-sigmatropic rearrangement of the starting material.The factors which affect the stereochemistry of the 1,5-hydrogen shift are discussed.

Full text of DOI:10.1039/P29870000365

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