A detailed study of the competition between C−C, C−H, and
C−Si bond fragmentation in a series
of 4-methoxy-α-substituted toluene radical cations
(1
•
+
), involving both
product studies and kinetic analysis,
is presented. C−C bond fragmentation occurs with several radical
cations in acetonitrile. The rate constants
for such processes, determined by laser flash photolysis, varied from
2.8 × 104
(1c
•
+
) to 1.53 ×
106
(1f
•
+
)
s-1.
The activation parameters for C−C bond fragmentation are
characterized by low activation enthalpies on the
order of 30 kJ mol-1 and negative activation
entropies in the range −34 to −55 J mol-1
K-1. Deprotonation
of the radical cations is always a second-order process induced by
nucleophiles [cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate
(CAN) or nitrate anion], with second-order rate constants from 7.7 ×
107
(1h
•
+
) to 8.8 ×
108
(1i
•
+
)
M-1
s-1
in neat acetonitrile (CAN assisted) and from 0.4 × 108
(1j
•
+
) to 7.1 ×
108
(1i
•
+
)
M-1 s-1 in the
presence of
nitrate anion. The rate constant for nitrate-induced
decarboxylation was higher, 13.6 × 108
M-1 s-1
(1d
•
+
).
In a few cases C−C
(1e
•
+
,
1f
•
+
) and C−Si
(1g
•
+
) fragmentations
occurred, also as second-order processes
induced by nitrate, with rate constants from 4.4 × 108
(1f
•
+
) to 8.2 ×
108
(1g
•
+
)
M-1 s-1.
ΔH
⧧ and ΔS
⧧
had
opposing influences on C−H and C−C fragmentation, and in the case
of 1e
•
+
a
temperature-dependent product
distribution was obtained. The activation parameters for the
observed C−H, C−C, and C−Si fragmentations
have been compared, and suggest a rationale for the mechanisms and
selectivity of such processes in radical
cations.