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A pericyclic reaction refers to the continuous flow of electrons with π -bonds in the cyclic transition state. There are four types of pericyclic reactions.
A chemical reaction is the essence of chemistry. Two or more chemicals react together to produce an entirely different product. In inorganic chemistry, there are four main types of reactions. These are combination, decomposition, single-displacement and double-displacement reactions.
Likewise, in organic chemistry, reactions are classified based on their mechanism. These three categories are Ionic, Radical and Pericyclic. You might have heard of the other two, but what about pericyclic reactions? How do they happen?
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What Is A Pericyclic Reaction?
The word ‘peri’ means around, and ‘cyclic’ means circle. Thus, a pericyclic reaction refers to the continuous flow of electrons with π -bonds in the cyclic transition state (TS). The bond-breaking and bond-forming processes take place in concert, without forming an intermediate.
For the reaction to be pericyclic, a concerted system of bond formation is necessary. The bond-breaking and bond-forming take place at the same time, but not necessarily to the same extent or at the same rate. In most cases, the π-bonds enter the cyclic transition state.
Pericyclic reactions are initiated either by heat (thermal) or light (photo). These reactions are stereospecific. The stereochemistry of the product depends on the reactant’s stereochemistry. Thus, the reaction initiated by heat and light processes will yield results with opposite stereochemistry.
The Diels–Alder reaction is an ideal example of a pericyclic reaction. In this reaction, acrolein (diene) and Methyl vinyl ether (dienophile) react together to form Glutaraldehyde. Here, three π-bonds break and form two σ-bonds and one π-bond in the product.
Also Read: What Is Resonance?
What Are The Types Of Pericyclic Reactions?
Though there are four basic types of pericyclic reactions, all follow the same trait of a concerted cyclic shift of electrons. The types of pericyclic reactions are cycloadditions, electrocyclic reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements and group transfer.
1. Electrocyclic Reaction
In an electrocyclic reaction, the π-bond terminals of the reactant form a σ-bond to complete the ring. Conversely, a σ-bond breaks to make an open ring system. This is a retro-electrocyclic reaction. All electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions.
Based on the stereochemistry of the reactants, the product of the same electron system may differ in electrocyclic reactions.
2. Cycloaddition Reaction
In cycloaddition reactions, two or more components with π electrons react to form a ring. Each reactant loses a π-bond to create two new σ-bonds, which close the ring. The resulting cyclic product has two σ bonds and one π-bond.
In the above reaction, buta-1,3-diene (diene) reacts with ethene (dienophile) to produce cyclohexane. The Diels-Adler reaction is a cycloaddition reaction. The reactants join through a cyclic transition state to break the π-bonds of diene and dienophile and form two σ-bonds simultaneously.
3. Sigmatropic Rearrangements
A concerted rearrangement involves shifting electrons linked by a σ-bond to the terminal π-bond electron. This reaction is known as a sigmatropic rearrangement. It is because the σ-bond appears to move within the electron system during the reaction. The number of π and σ bonds remains unchanged.
The reaction is characterized by the double number system, i.e., [i,j]. The first number indicates the original position of the σ bond and, the second number denotes the new position of the migrating σ bond. For example, the [1,5] sigmatropic rearrangement.
In this reaction, the migrating atom linked by a σ-bond to allylic carbon is numbered-1. The migrating atom-1 shifts to atom-5 of the alkenyl chain. Thus, the reaction is known as a [1,5] sigmatropic rearrangement.
A sigmatropic rearrangement can occur by two stereochemical processes. In the supraficial process, the migrating σ bond moves to the same side of the molecule, whereas, in the antarafacial process, the migrating σ-bond moves to the opposite side of the molecule.
4. Group Transfer
As the name suggests, this is a reaction in which one or more atoms or groups transfer from one molecule to another. The molecule is linked by a σ-bond. They might appear similar to sigmatropic reactions and cycloaddition reactions. However, it is a bimolecular reaction and does not lose a π -bond to form a ring by σ-linkage.
There are two kinds of group transfer reactions: ene reactions and diimide reductions. In an ene reaction, the alkene having an allylic hydrocarbon (ene) undergoes a thermal reaction with an enophile. Enophiles are compounds containing multiple bonds. In this reaction, the hydrogen atom of allylic carbon migrates from the alkene to the enophile.
The π-bond of the enophile gets replaced by two σ bonds with an alkene.
Diimide reduction is another type of group transfer reaction. In this reaction, an unsaturated hydrocarbon reduces to form an alkane by reacting with diimide (H2N2). During the reaction, diimide gets oxidized to form nitrogen (N2).
Also Read: 10 Fascinating Chemical Reactions That Will Blow Your Mind
Theories That Predict The Pericyclic Reactions
There are three main theories to rationalize pericyclic reactions: The Conservation of Orbital symmetry, Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) method, and the Huckel-Mobius (HM) theory.
1. Conservation Of Orbital Symmetry
In 1965, Robert Woodward and Roald Hoffmann proposed the principle of Conservation of Orbital Symmetry. It states that in concerted reactions, the orbital symmetry remained conserved. This is also known as the Woodward-Hoffmann rule.
2. Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory
In 1952, Kenichi Fukui proposed the Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory (FMO). It focuses on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Such molecular orbitals are frontier molecular orbitals.
3. Huckel-Mobius (HM) Theory
The theory states that in an aromatic transitional state, a pericyclic reaction occurs thermally, while the photochemical pericyclic reaction takes place in an anti-aromatic transitional state. HM theory is also known as the perturbational molecular orbital theory (PMO).
Conclusion
Pericyclic reactions have a significant role in several life processes. For example, chorismate in Escherichia coli undergoes a cycloaddition reaction to form prephenate. A [1,7]-sigmatropic reaction occurs in the epidermis to synthesize Vitamin D. Thus, studying pericyclic reactions can increase our understanding of the biochemical processes in various organisms.
