Peralkynylated buta-1,2,3-trienes: Exceptionally low rotational barriers of cumulenic C=C bonds in the range of those of peptide C-N bonds

A variety of 1,1,4,4-tetraal kynylbutatrienes and 1,4-dialkynylbutatrienes was synthezized by dimerization of the corresponding gem-dibromoolefins. Both H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy indicated that the di- and tetraal-kynylated butatrienes are formed as a mixture of cis and trans isomers. Variable temperature NMR studies evidenced a facile cis-trans isomerization, thus preventing the separation of these isomers by gravity or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For 1,1,4,4-tetraalkynylbutatrienes, the activation barrier DeltaG(double dagger) was measured by magnetization transfer to be around 20 kcal mol(-1), in the range of the barrier for internal rotation about a peptide bond. Unlike the tetraalkynylated [3]cumulenes, 1,4-dialkynylbutatrienes are more difficult to isomerize and could, in one case, be obtained isomerically pure. Based on experimental data, the rotational barrier DeltaG(double dagger) for 1,4-dialkynylbutatrienes is estimated to be around 25 kcal mol(-1). The hypothesis of a stabilizing effect of the four alkynyl substituents on the proposed but-2-yne-1,4-diyl singlet diradical transition state of this cis-trans isomerization is further supported by a computational study.