ISSN:
0020-7608
Keywords:
Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling
;
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
An analysis of the pathways and intermediates for the epoxidation of olefins using a Ru(IV)-oxo model complex is presented. Simple bonding concepts, coupled with INDO/1 semiempirical MO calculations, provide a description of the metal-oxo/olefin interaction that agrees well with experimental facts. Concerted [1 + 2] and [2 + 2] pathways are investigated and found to lead to unfavorable orbital interactions as with organic analogues. Nonconcerted process (those in which one bond is formed before the second), which connect the two concerted pathways, are preferred. A nonconcerted [1 + 2] pathway is preferred over a nonconcerted [2 + 2] pathway on the basis of less steric repulsions between the olefin and the metal ligands. Also, all open structures (those with one C—O bond formed) investigated minimized to bound epoxides. In the most favorable pathway, a nonconcerted [1 + 2] pathway, radical cation character on the terminal carbon increases as the nonconcerted process is induced. Preference for the bound epoxide intermediate over the oxometallocycle is simply explained by partial charge considerations.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/qua.560360609
