Halogenated Terpenoids. XXIX The 1-Bromo 1-Bromomethyl Cyclohexyl System

Abstract

Bromination of methylene groups exocyclic to cyclohexyl systems normally affords two isomeric products; the axial 1-bromo equatorial 1-bromomethyl compound and the axial 1-bromomethyl equatorial 1-bromo derivative. Free energy differences between these two isomers, and the conformations adopted by the axial 1-bromomethyl group, have been explored by n.m.r. spectroscopy, by X-ray crystallography and by MM3 calculations. Evidence is presented to show that the ax-bromomethyl group exists primarily as those rotamers which site the bromine atom synclinal to the vicinal bromine. The A value for a bromomethyl group in this system is then similar to that of an unsubstituted methyl group.