Substituent Rate Effects in Sigmatropic Homodienyl [1,5]-Hydrogen Migrations

Abstract

The small but systematic polar substituent effect on the rates of [1,5]- homodienyl hydrogen migrations previously observed for the series of alkenylcyclopropane substrates (1) has been further explored through two additional substrate series (4) and (6) bearing the aryl probe at C4 and at the migration origin C1 respectively. However, negligible substituent effects were apparent at these positions. It now seems that the substituent effect originally observed at C5 reflects electronic perturbation by the substituent, rather than an inherent charge separation in the transition state for homodienyl rearrangement. The aryl group at C1 of the series (6) does, however, afford a substantial rate enhancement relative to the parent cis-1-methyl-2-vinylcyclopropane. In addition, exclusive formation of (1E,4Z)-1-arylhexa-1,4-diene rearrangement products is observed. These kinetic and stereochemical observations are interpreted in terms of a stereoelectronically favoured equatorial conformation for the aryl group in the transition state for rearrangement.