Advancements in hydrochlorination of alkenes

The hydrochlorination of alkenes has been extensively studied in research and is commonly featured in organic chemistry textbooks as an exemplification of the Markovnikov rule. However, the application of this reaction is typically limited to specific alkenes, such as highly substituted ones, styrenes, or strained systems. Conversely, monosubstituted or 1,2-disubstituted alkenes do not readily react with HCl gas or solutions of HCl gas at practical rates. The challenges associated with hydrochlorination reactions for these "non-activated" alkenes have spurred considerable research efforts over the past 30 years, which constitute the primary focus of this review. The discussion begins with classical polar hydrochlorinations, followed by metal-promoted radical hydrochlorinations, and concludes with a brief overview of recent anti-Markovnikov hydrochlorinations.

Carbon Atom as an Extremely Strong Nucleophilic and Electrophilic Center: Dendritic Allenes Are Powerful Organic Proton and Hydride Sponges

Gas-phase proton affinities (PAs) and hydride affinities (HAs) of organic bases possessing an allene moiety and substituted with methyl, dimethylamino, cyano, and vinyl substituents were examined with the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) model. It was shown that a number of superbases and hyperbases can be obtained, as well as the potent hydride sponges. Methyl or dimethylamino substituents increased the proton affinity of the parent molecule, and the cyano substituents increased its hydride affinity. When the vinyl substituents are placed on allene, both the hydride and the proton affinities increased. A disubstituted allene with two dimethylamino groups is the smallest studied superbase, whereas the allene tetrasubstituted with four vinyl groups gives the smallest superbase possessing only alkene substituents. By introducing the vinyl group as a repeating subunit, one can obtain dendritic structures with the investigated substituents determining its properties. By changing the dimethylamino with the cyano group, a dendrimeric molecule can change from a hyperbase with a proton affinity of 324.6 kcal mol^-1 to a very strong hydride ion acceptor with a hydride affinity of 205.4 kcal mol^-1, while possessing the same proton or hydride ion attachment site.

Gas phase reactions of 1,3,5-triazine: proton transfer, hydride transfer, and anionic σ-adduct formation

The gas phase reactivity of 1,3,5-triazine with several oxyanions and carbanions, as well as amide, was evaluated using a flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube mass spectrometer. Isotopic labeling, H/D exchange, and collision induced dissociation experiments were conducted to facilitate the interpretation of structures and fragmentation processes. A multi-step (→ HCN + HC(2)N (2) (-) → CN(-) + 2 HCN) and/or single-step (→ CN(-) + 2 HCN) ring-opening collision-induced fragmentation process appears to exist for 1,3,5-triazinide. In addition to proton and hydride transfer reactions, the data indicate a competitive nucleophilic aromatic addition pathway (S(N)Ar) over a wide range of relative gas phase acidities to form strong anionic σ-adducts (Meisenheimer complexes). The significant hydride acceptor properties and stability of the anionic σ-adducts are rationalized by extremely electrophilic carbon centers and symmetric charge delocalization at the electron-withdrawing nitrogen positions. The types of anion-arene binding motifs and their influence on reaction pathways are discussed.

Physical origin of chemical phenomena: Interpretation of acidity, basicity, and hydride affinity by trichotomy paradigm

Some of the most important aspects of modeling in chemistry are discussed in detail. It is argued that the interpretive side of (quantum) chemistry is indispensable, since it gives sense to a myriad of experimental and computational results. The usefulness of some physical modeling is illustrated by the trichotomy approach in rationalizing acidity, basicity, and hydride affinities of neutral organic compounds. According to trichotomy paradigm, the simple chemical reaction of protonation and H- attachment can be decomposed into three separate sequential steps, which in turn mirror the initial-, intermediate-, and final-state effects. Ample evidence is given, which convincingly shows that the trichotomy approach has some distinct advantages in interpreting aforementioned properties that belong to the most important ones in chemistry and biochemistry.