Baldwin's rules
Baldwin's rules in organic chemistry classify various addition cyclization reactions, and predict when those cyclizations may experience severe steric hindrance during the cyclization step. They were first proposed by Jack Baldwin in 1976.[1][2]
Classification
[edit | edit source]Baldwin's rules assume that the cyclization is driven by a reactive intermediate, localized to a particular atom. That atom then attacks elsewhere in the molecule (typically, but not necessarily, a multiple bond), breaking one bond and forming a new one. The result is also a less-reactive intermediate localized to one end of the broken bond.
In such cases, three pieces of information suffice to determine geometric constraints on the orbital overlap during the attack:
- the number of atoms in the newly formed ring
- the precise regioselectivity of the attacked atom: endo if it is on the ring and exo if not
- the coordination geometry at the attacked atom: digonal (linear), trigonal, or tetrahedral.
Baldwin assumed a second-row atom, and so did not address higher coordination numbers. Indeed, Baldwin's rules often fail for rings containing atoms from later periods.[citation needed]
Examples
[edit | edit source]The following ring closure is 5-exo-trig:
In the following tandem reaction, the first step is a 5-exo-dig addition reaction (the second is a Claisen rearrangement):[3]
Gold(I) Lewis acid coordination activates this allene-alkyne for a 6-endo-dig cyclization (and subsequent Nazarov annulation):[4]
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The synthesis of (+)-Preussin contains a 5-endo-dig ring closure:[5]
Forbidden cyclizations
[edit | edit source]Baldwin discovered that orbital overlap requirements for the formation of bonds favour only certain combinations of ring size and the exo/endo/dig/trig/tet parameters. These rules are based on empirical evidence and exhibit numerous exceptions.[6][7][8]
In the case of nucleophilic attack, the requirements follow from the well-understood mechanism geometry. Nucleophiles prefer to attack at 180° (Walden inversion) for exo-tet reactions, 109° (Bürgi–Dunitz angle) for exo-trig reaction, and 120° for endo-dig reactions.[9]
Baldwin's rules also apply to radical intermediates,[10][11] but cations often disobey Baldwin's rules.[citation needed]
Baldwin's original analysis of dig cyclizations has been superseded as inaccurate. The modern rules are as follows:[12]
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||||
| type | exo | endo | exo | endo | exo | endo | exo | endo | exo | endo |
| tet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ||
| trig | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| dig | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Despite the name, these are relative guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. A disfavoured reaction occurs too slowly to effectively compete with an alternative favoured reaction. However, the disfavoured product may be observed, if no alternate reactions are more favoured.
Aldol cyclization
[edit | edit source]Baldwin also noted a further constraint on aldol cyclizations.[13][14] Two new descriptors need to be defined: enolendo and enolexo, which refer to whether both carbons of the enolate C-C fragment are (respectively) incorporated into the ring formed or not. Baldwin found that enolendo cyclizations can only occur in rings with at least 6 members.[15]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).(Open access)
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Li, X.; Kyne, R. E.; Ovaska, T. V. Synthesis of Seven-Membered Carbocyclic Rings via a Microwave-Assisted Tandem Oxyanionic 5-exo dig Cyclization−Claisen Rearrangement Process, J. Org. Chem., 2007, 72, 6624 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Guan-You Lin, Chun-Yao Yang, and Rai-Shung Liu. Gold-Catalyzed Synthesis of Bicyclo[4.3.0]nonadiene Derivatives via Tandem 6-endo-dig/Nazarov Cyclization of 1,6-Allenynes J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 6753-6757 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ J. Clayden, N. Greeves, S. Warren, Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed., OUP Oxford, 2012, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ J. E. Baldwin, J. Cutting, W. Dupont, L. Kruse, L. Silberman, R. C. Thomas. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1976, 736-738. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Finding the right path: Baldwin "Rules for Ring Closure" and stereoelectronic control of cyclizations. Alabugin, I. V.; Gilmore, K. Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, 11246 – 11250. http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2013/cc/c3cc43872d
- ^ Gilmore, K.; Alabugin, I. V. Cyclizations of Alkynes: Revisiting Baldwin's Rules for Ring Closure. Chem. Rev. 2011. 111, 6513–6556. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Alabugin, I. Gilmore, K.; Manoharan, M. Rules for Anionic and Radical Ring Closure of Alkynes. J. Am. Chem.Soc. 2011, 133, 12608-12623, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ The Baldwin Rules: Revised and Extended. Gilmore, K; Mohamed, R. K.; Alabugin, I. V. WIREs: Comput. Mol. Sci. 2016, 6, 487–514. http://wires.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WiresArticle/wisId-WCMS1261.html Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ M. B. Smith, J. March, March’s Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, 6th ed., Wiley-Interscience, 2007, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).