SYNTHETIC APPLICATIONS OF INTRA-MOLECULAR INSERTION IN ARYLCARBENES .I. ORTHO-ALKYLPHENYLCARBENES AND 1-(ORTHO-ALKYLPHENYL)ETHYLIDENES

A series of phenylcarbenes and 1-phenylethylidenes, substituted in the ortho-position by alkyl chains of 1-4 carbon atoms, has been generated in the gas phase and pyrolysed at 250-750°/0. 05-0. 10 mm. Apart from o-tolylcarbene, the phenylcarbenes show efficient insertion to form five- and six-membered rings, the former predominating. In the phenylethylidenes, Bamford-Stevens insertion into the adjacent methyl group competes with cyclization to an extent which decreases with chain length. At the same time, five-membered ring formation is greatly increased over six-membered ring formation, due to facilitation of out-of-plane twisting of the carbene atom. The mechanistic implications of the results are discussed in terms of an angular approach of the carbene p-orbital to the hydrogen atom under attack. © 1979 Australian Journal of Chemistry, All rights reserved.