Metal Ion Photoinitiated Addition of Acetonitrile and Methanol to Olefins

Joseph W. Bruno, Tobin J. Marks*, Frederick D. Lewis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Irradiation of norbornene and silver or thallium trifluoromethanesulfonate in acetonitrile solution results in the efficient formation of exo-2-(cyanomethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Investigation of the scope of this reaction established that (a) copper(I or II) salts are not effective, (b) propionitrile and methanol give analogous norbornene-solvent adducts, and (c) acetonitrile addition is observed for several cyclic and acyclic olefins. Investigation of the mechanism of solvent addition indicates that the reaction is initiated by photoinduced electron transfer to silver(I) from coordinated norbornene. Reaction of the resulting norbornene cation radical with acetonitrile yields norbornyl cation and cyanomethyl radical. Free-radical chain addition of the cyanomethyl radical to norbornene then leads to product formation. In ethereal solvents, metal ion catalyzed photodimerization of norbornene has previously been reported for copper(I) salts. This reaction can also be effected by copper(II) and silver(I) salts, but not by Tl(I) salts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5580-5585
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume104
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - 1982

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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