The ene reaction of singlet oxygen with (Z)-4-methylpent-3-en-2-ol-2,5,5,5-d
4 (1-OH-d4) in nonpolar
solvents exhibits a 90% threo diastereoselectivity in the adduct derived from the major syn
perepoxide intermediate, but also a moderate threo diastereoselectivity in the adduct derived from
the minor anti perepoxide. Photooxygenation of 2,4-dimethylpent-3-en-2-ol (2) exhibits a significant
solvent dependence in the syn/anti methyl stereoselectivity, with nonpolar solvents promoting syn
methyl reactivity, while polar solvents promote anti methyl reactivity. These results are in
agreement with a steering effect between hydroxyl and singlet oxygen in the rate-determining step
of the reaction. N-Phenyltriazolinedione addition to the chiral allylic alcohol 4-methylpent-3-en-2-ol (1-OH) is highly threo diastereoselective in nonpolar solvents, with a solvent dependent
variation in the threo/erythro ene products. On the other hand, the nonfunctionalized chiral alkene
2,4-dimethyl-2-hexene (1-Et) exhibits poor diastereoselectivity. Reaction of PTAD with 1-OH-d4
in nonpolar solvents, exhibits a significant threo diastereoselectivity from the syn aziridinium imide
intermediate, and a moderate threo diastereoselectivity from the anti intermediate. These results
are consonant with a steering effect between the hydroxyl and the electrophile, as proposed in the
case of singlet oxygen addition to allylic alcohols 1-OH and 2. In contrast to the analogous 1O2 ene
reaction, a solvent independent ratio syn/anti ∼ 50/50 was found in the addition of MTAD to 2.
The intermolecular kinetic isotope effect in the reaction of 2 with MTAD (k
H/k
D = 1.15 ± 0.02), is
consistent with formation of the intermediate in fast step, indicative that the steering effect during
the formation of aziridium imide is not important in the reaction kinetics. This energetic profile is
in contrast to triazolinedione addition to the secondary allylic alcohol 1-OH, where the high threo
selectivity and the slight inverse kinetic isotope effect of k
H/k
D = 0.98 ± 0.02 are consonant with
the formation of the intermediate in the rate-determining step. An explanation for the increased
reactivity of the syn methyl in the addition of MTAD to 2 (∼50%) is offered.