Switching of reaction pathways due to methylene chain length effects
Published Apr 1, 1989 · R. Nakagaki, H. Sakuragi, K. Mutai
Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry
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Abstract
Reaction products of bifunctional chain molecules with structure X(CH2)nY may critically depend on the chain length n. When the chain length is short (n ≤ 5), reaction products particular to an intramolecular reaction can be dominant, while a process corresponding to an intermolecular reaction between XCH3 and H3CY may take place for higher homologues having large n (≥10). The reaction switching dependent on n is explained in terms of the encounter probability for both end groups (X and Y) with conformations pertinent to product formation. The reaction switching of this sort is discussed on the basis of a reactivity profile recorded as a function of the chain length. Similar reactivity profiles have been observed for thermal Friedel–Crafts cyclization and photo-Smiles rearrangement/photoredox reaction. It is anticipated that the magic methylene chain length of 7 may give rise to an appreciable decrease in reaction yields (e.g. ‘difficulty in medium-sized ring closure’) or an anomalous switching of reaction pathways due to chain length effects.