Cyclopropene

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Cyclopropene
Cyclopropene 2D skeletal.svg
Skeletal formula of cyclopropene with implicit hydrogens shown Cyclopropene.png
Skeletal formula of cyclopropene with implicit hydrogens shown
Ball and stick model of cyclopropene Cyclopropene-3D-balls.png
Ball and stick model of cyclopropene
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Cyclopropene [1]
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
MeSH cyclopropene
PubChem CID
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C3H4/c1-2-3-1/h1-2H,3H2 X mark.svgN
    Key: OOXWYYGXTJLWHA-UHFFFAOYSA-N X mark.svgN
  • C1C=C1
Properties
C3H4
Molar mass 40.065 g·mol−1
Boiling point −36 °C (−33 °F; 237 K)
Thermochemistry
51.9-53.9 J K−1 mol−1
-2032--2026 kJ mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
X mark.svgN  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Cyclopropene is an organic compound with the formula C3H4. It is the simplest cycloalkene. Because the ring is highly strained, cyclopropene is difficult to prepare and highly reactive. This colorless gas has been the subject for many fundamental studies of bonding and reactivity. [2] It does not occur naturally, but derivatives are known in some fatty acids. Derivatives of cyclopropene are used commercially to control ripening of some fruit.

Contents

Structure and bonding

The molecule has a triangular structure. The reduced length of the double bond compared to a single bond causes the angle opposite the double bond to narrow to about 51° from the 60° angle found in cyclopropane. [3] As with cyclopropane, the carbon–carbon bonding in the ring has increased p character: the alkene carbon atoms use sp2.68 hybridization for the ring. [4]

Synthesis of cyclopropene and derivatives

Early syntheses

The first confirmed synthesis of cyclopropene, carried out by Dem'yanov and Doyarenko, involved the thermal decomposition of trimethylcyclopropylammonium hydroxide over platinized clay at approximately 300 °C. [5] This reaction produces mainly trimethylamine and dimethylcyclopropyl amine, together with about 5% of cyclopropene. Later Schlatter improved the pyrolytic reaction conditions using platinized asbestos as a catalyst at 320–330 °C and obtained cyclopropene in 45% yield. [6]

Cyclopropene can also be obtained in about 1% yield by thermolysis of the adduct of cycloheptatriene and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. [7]

Modern syntheses from allyl chlorides

Allyl chloride undergoes dehydrohalogenation upon treatment with the base sodium amide at 80 °C to produce cyclopropene in about 10% yield. [8]

The major byproduct of the reaction is allylamine. Adding allyl chloride to sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in boiling toluene over a period of 45–60 minutes produces the targeted compound in about 40% yield with an improvement in purity: [9]

1-Methylcyclopropene is synthesized similarly but at room temperature from methallylchloride using phenyllithium as the base: [10]

Syntheses of derivatives

Treatment of nitrocyclopropanes with sodium methoxide eliminates the nitrite, giving the respective cyclopropene derivative. The synthesis of purely aliphatic cyclopropenes was first illustrated by the copper-catalyzed additions of carbenes to alkynes. In the presence of a copper catalyst, ethyl diazoacetate reacts with acetylenes to give cyclopropenes. 1,2-Dimethylcyclopropene-3-carboxylate arises via this method from 2-butyne. Copper, as copper sulfate and copper dust, are among the more popular forms of copper used to promote such reactions. Rhodium acetate has also been used.

Reactions of cyclopropene

Studies on cyclopropene mainly focus on the consequences of its high ring strain. At 425 °C, cyclopropene isomerizes to methylacetylene (propyne).

Attempted fractional distillation of cyclopropene at –36 °C (its predicted boiling point) results in polymerization. The mechanism is assumed to be a free-radical chain reaction, and the product, based on NMR spectra, is thought to be polycyclopropane.

Cyclopropene undergoes the Diels–Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene to give endo-tricyclo[3.2.1.02,4]oct-6-ene. This reaction is commonly used to check for the presence of cyclopropene, following its synthesis. [9]

CyclopropeneDielsAlder.PNG

Related Research Articles

In chemistry, amines are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines, trimethylamine, and aniline. Inorganic derivatives of ammonia are also called amines, such as monochloramine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclopropane</span> Chemical compound

Cyclopropane is the cycloalkane with the molecular formula (CH2)3, consisting of three methylene groups (CH2) linked to each other to form a ring. The small size of the ring creates substantial ring strain in the structure. Cyclopropane itself is mainly of theoretical interest but many of its derivatives are of commercial or biological significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allyl group</span> Chemical group (–CH₂–CH=CH₂)

In organic chemistry, an allyl group is a substituent with the structural formula −CH2−HC=CH2. It consists of a methylene bridge attached to a vinyl group. The name is derived from the scientific name for garlic, Allium sativum. In 1844, Theodor Wertheim isolated an allyl derivative from garlic oil and named it "Schwefelallyl". The term allyl applies to many compounds related to H2C=CH−CH2, some of which are of practical or of everyday importance, for example, allyl chloride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ene reaction</span> Reaction in organic chemistry

In organic chemistry, the ene reaction is a chemical reaction between an alkene with an allylic hydrogen and a compound containing a multiple bond, in order to form a new σ-bond with migration of the ene double bond and 1,5 hydrogen shift. The product is a substituted alkene with the double bond shifted to the allylic position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simmons–Smith reaction</span>

The Simmons–Smith reaction is an organic cheletropic reaction involving an organozinc carbenoid that reacts with an alkene to form a cyclopropane. It is named after Howard Ensign Simmons, Jr. and Ronald D. Smith. It uses a methylene free radical intermediate that is delivered to both carbons of the alkene simultaneously, therefore the configuration of the double bond is preserved in the product and the reaction is stereospecific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring strain</span> Instability in molecules with bonds at unnatural angles

In organic chemistry, ring strain is a type of instability that exists when bonds in a molecule form angles that are abnormal. Strain is most commonly discussed for small rings such as cyclopropanes and cyclobutanes, whose internal angles are substantially smaller than the idealized value of approximately 109°. Because of their high strain, the heat of combustion for these small rings is elevated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borazine</span> Boron compound

Borazine, also known as borazole, is a non-polar inorganic compound with the chemical formula B3H6N3. In this cyclic compound, the three BH units and three NH units alternate. The compound is isoelectronic and isostructural with benzene. For this reason borazine is sometimes referred to as “inorganic benzene”. Like benzene, borazine is a colourless liquid with an aromatic smell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide</span> Chemical compound

Sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide is the organosilicon compound with the formula NaN(Si 3)2. This species, usually called NaHMDS, is a strong base used for deprotonation reactions or base-catalyzed reactions. Its advantages are that it is commercially available as a solid and it is soluble not only in ethers, such as THF or diethyl ether, but also in aromatic solvents, like benzene and toluene by virtue of the lipophilic TMS groups.

In chemistry, dehydrohalogenation is an elimination reaction which removes a hydrogen halide from a substrate. The reaction is usually associated with the synthesis of alkenes, but it has wider applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclopropanation</span> Chemical process which generates cyclopropane rings

In organic chemistry, cyclopropanation refers to any chemical process which generates cyclopropane rings. It is an important process in modern chemistry as many useful compounds bear this motif; for example pyrethroids and a number of quinolone antibiotics. However, the high ring strain present in cyclopropanes makes them challenging to produce and generally requires the use of highly reactive species, such as carbenes, ylids and carbanions. Many of the reactions proceed in a cheletropic manner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organocopper chemistry</span> Compound with carbon to copper bonds

Organocopper chemistry is the study of the physical properties, reactions, and synthesis of organocopper compounds, which are organometallic compounds containing a carbon to copper chemical bond. They are reagents in organic chemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fluorobenzene</span> Chemical compound

Fluorobenzene is the chemical compound with the formula C6H5F, often abbreviated PhF. A colorless liquid, it is a precursor to many fluorophenyl compounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allyl acetate</span> Chemical compound

Allyl acetate is an organic compound with formula C3H5OC(O)CH3. This colourless liquid is a precursor to especially allyl alcohol, which is a useful industrial intermediate. It is the acetate ester of allyl alcohol.

In chemistry, decarbonylation is a type of organic reaction that involves the loss of carbon monoxide (CO). It is often an undesirable reaction, since it represents a degradation. In the chemistry of metal carbonyls, decarbonylation describes a substitution process, whereby a CO ligand is replaced by another ligand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodocene</span> Organometallic chemical compound

Rhodocene is a chemical compound with the formula [Rh(C5H5)2]. Each molecule contains an atom of rhodium bound between two planar aromatic systems of five carbon atoms known as cyclopentadienyl rings in a sandwich arrangement. It is an organometallic compound as it has (haptic) covalent rhodium–carbon bonds. The [Rh(C5H5)2] radical is found above 150 °C (302 °F) or when trapped by cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures (−196 °C [−321 °F]). At room temperature, pairs of these radicals join via their cyclopentadienyl rings to form a dimer, a yellow solid.

The Buchner ring expansion is a two-step organic C-C bond forming reaction used to access 7-membered rings. The first step involves formation of a carbene from ethyl diazoacetate, which cyclopropanates an aromatic ring. The ring expansion occurs in the second step, with an electrocyclic reaction opening the cyclopropane ring to form the 7-membered ring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclopentadienyliron dicarbonyl dimer</span> Chemical compound

Cyclopentadienyliron dicarbonyl dimer is an organometallic compound with the formula [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]2, often abbreviated to Cp2Fe2(CO)4, [CpFe(CO)2]2 or even Fp2, with the colloquial name "fip dimer". It is a dark reddish-purple crystalline solid, which is readily soluble in moderately polar organic solvents such as chloroform and pyridine, but less soluble in carbon tetrachloride and carbon disulfide. Cp2Fe2(CO)4 is insoluble in but stable toward water. Cp2Fe2(CO)4 is reasonably stable to storage under air and serves as a convenient starting material for accessing other Fp (CpFe(CO)2) derivatives (described below).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methylenecyclopropane</span> Organic compound, (CH₂)₂C=CH₂

Methylenecyclopropane is an organic compound with the formula (CH2)2C=CH2. It is a hydrocarbon which, as the name suggests, is derived from the addition of a methylene substituent to a cyclopropane ring. It is a colourless, easily condensed gas that is used as a reagent in organic synthesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Activation of cyclopropanes by transition metals</span>

In organometallic chemistry, the activation of cyclopropanes by transition metals is a research theme with implications for organic synthesis and homogeneous catalysis. Being highly strained, cyclopropanes are prone to oxidative addition to transition metal complexes. The resulting metallacycles are susceptible to a variety of reactions. These reactions are rare examples of C-C bond activation. The rarity of C-C activation processes has been attributed to Steric effects that protect C-C bonds. Furthermore, the directionality of C-C bonds as compared to C-H bonds makes orbital interaction with transition metals less favorable. Thermodynamically, C-C bond activation is more favored than C-H bond activation as the strength of a typical C-C bond is around 90 kcal per mole while the strength of a typical unactivated C-H bond is around 104 kcal per mole.

In organic chemistry, methylenation is a chemical reaction that inserts a methylene group into a chemical compound:

References

  1. ↑ "cyclopropene - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 27 March 2005. Identification and Related Records. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Carter, F. L.; Frampton, V. L. (1964). "Review of the Chemistry of Cyclopropene Compounds". Chemical Reviews. 64 (5): 497–525. doi:10.1021/cr60231a001.
  3. ↑ Staley, S. W.; Norden, T. D.; Su, C.-F.; Rall, M.; Harmony, M. D. (1987). "Structure of 3-cyanocyclopropene by microwave spectroscopy and ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Evidence for substituent-ring double bond interactions". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 109 (10): 2880–2884. doi:10.1021/ja00244a004.
  4. ↑ Allen, F. H. (1982). "The geometry of small rings: Molecular geometry of cyclopropene and its derivatives". Tetrahedron. 38 (5): 645–655. doi:10.1016/0040-4020(82)80206-8.
  5. ↑ Hart, Harold; Karabatsos, G. J. (1966). Advances in Alicyclic Chemistry. Vol. 1. New York and London: Academic Press Inc. p. 55. ISBN   9781483224206.
  6. ↑ Schlatter, Maurice J. (1941-06-01). "The Preparation of Cyclopropene". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 63 (6): 1733–1737. doi:10.1021/ja01851a068. ISSN   0002-7863.
  7. ↑ de Meijere, Armin, ed. (1997). Houben-Weyl. Methods of Organic Chemistry – Cyclopropanes, Authors Index, Compound Index. Vol. E 17d. Stuttgart, New York: George Thieme Verlag. pp. 2712–2713. ISBN   978-3-13-101644-7.
  8. ↑ Closs, G.L.; Krantz, K.D. (1966). "A Simple Synthesis of Cyclopropene". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 31 (2): 638. doi:10.1021/jo01340a534.
  9. 1 2 Binger, P.; Wedermann, P.; Brinker, U. H. (2000). "Cyclopropene: A New Simple Synthesis and Its Diels-Alder reaction with Cyclopentadiene". Organic Syntheses . 77: 254.; Collective Volume, vol. 10, p. 231
  10. ↑ Clarke, T. C.; Duncan, C. D.; Magid, R. M. (1971). "An Efficient and Convenient Synthesis of 1-Methylcyclopropene". J. Org. Chem. 36 (9): 1320–1321. doi:10.1021/jo00808a041.
  11. ↑ Beaudry, R.; Watkins, C. (2001). "Use of 1-MCP on Apples". Perishable Handling Quarterly. University of California (108): 12.
  12. ↑ Trinchero, G. D.; Sozzi, G. O.; Covatta, F.; Fraschina, A. A. (May 2004). "Inhibition of ethylene action by 1-methylcyclopropene extends postharvest life of "Bartlett" pears". Postharvest Biology and Technology. 32 (2): 193–204. doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2003.11.009.
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