Unveiling the Stereoselectivity and Regioselectivity of the [3+2] Cycloaddition Reaction between N-methyl-C-4-methylphenyl-nitrone and 2-Propynamide from a MEDT Perspective

Abstract

[3+2] cycloaddition reactions play a crucial role in synthesizing complex organic molecules and have significant applications in drug discovery and materials science. In this study, the [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of N-methyl-C-4-methyl phenyl-nitrone 1 and 2-propynamide 2, which have not been extensively studied before, were investigated using molecular electron density theory (MEDT) at the B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) level of theory. According to an electron localization function (ELF) study, N-methyl-C-4-methyl phenyl-nitrone 1 is a zwitterionic species with no pseudoradical or carbenoid centers. Conceptual density functional theory (CDFT) indices were used to predict the global electronic flux from the strong nucleophilic N-methyl-C-4-methyl phenylnitrone 1 to the electrophilic 2-propynamide 2 functions. The 32CA reactions proceeded through two pairs of stereo- and regioisomeric reaction pathways to generate four different products: 3, 4, 5, and 6. The reaction pathways were irreversible owing to their exothermic characters: −136.48, −130.08, −130.99, and −140.81 kJ mol−1, respectively. The enthalpy of the 32CA reaction leading to the formation of cycloadduct 6 was lower compared with the other path owing to a slight increase in its polar character, observed through the global electron density transfer (GEDT) during the transition states and along the reaction path. A bonding evolution theory (BET) analysis showed that these 32CA reactions proceed through the coupling of pseudoradical centers, and the formation of new C-C and C-O covalent bonds did not begin in the transition states.

Theoretical insight into the mechanism and selectivity of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of N-methyl-1-phenylmethanimine oxide and bicyclopropylidene from the MEDT perspective

“…In the past four years, MEDT has effectively analyzed the experimental results of numerous 32CA reactions [26][27][28][29]. Recently, MEDT has been utilized to evaluate the experimental outcomes of strain-promoted and catalyzed 32CA reactions and the reported chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective production of spiroisoxazolines [30,31]. Based on their electronic structure, the three-atom components (TACs) that play a role in 32CA reactions are classified as pseudodiradical, pseudo(mono)radical, carbenoid, and zwitterionic.…”