Br⁺ and I⁺ Transfer from the Halonium Ions of Adamantylideneadamantane to Acceptor Olefins. Halocyclization of 1,ω-Alkenols and Alkenoic Acids Proceeds via Reversibly Formed Intermediates

Abstract

The kinetics of the transfer of X+ from the bromonium and iodonium ions of adamantylideneadamantane (1-Br+ and 1-I+) to some 1,ω-alkenols and alkenoic acids in ClCH2CH2Cl at 25 °C was investigated. In all cases, the expected products of halocyclization were observed. For the iodonium ion transfer the reaction kinetics are second order overall, first order in both 1-I+ and acceptor olefin. Transfer of the bromonium ion from 1-Br+ to these acceptor olefins exhibits different kinetic characteristics. In most cases, the rate of the Br+ transfer is subject to strong retardation in the presence of added parent olefin (AdAd), suggestive of a common species rate depression. In some cases, such as 4-penten-1-ol (2b) and 4-pentenoic acid (4b), the reaction can be completely suppressed at high [AdAd]. In other cases, such as 3-buten-1-ol (2a), 5-hexen-1-ol (2c), cyclohexene, 4-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexene (3), and 5-endo-carboxynorbornene (5), added AdAd does not suppress the reaction completely. In the cases of the 1,ω-alkenols, the reactions appear to exhibit kinetic terms that are greater than first order in alkenol. In these cases, alcohols such as 1-pentanol also accelerate the reaction, pointing to the involvement of the hydroxyl group of the second alkenol as a catalytic species. A unifying mechanism consistent with the data that involves two reversibly formed intermediates is presented.