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Carbanions are units that contain a negative charge on a carbon atom. The negative
charge gives good nucleophilic properties to the unit that can be used in the formation of
new carbon carbon bonds. Carbanions thus act as nucleophiles in substitution reactions, in
carbonyl addition and substitution reactions, and in 1,4- addition (Michael) reactions.
R C R
R
a carbanion
Carbanions bear many substituents that can affect the structure and reactivity of the
carbanion, and can affect the acidity of a parent C-H precursor. Halogens stabilize
carbanions in the order of Br > Cl > F. A prominent I- repulsion between the F and
Carbanionic center causes some destabilization in alpha-fluorinated carbanions. The
magnitude of the destabilization depends on the carbanion structure. The destabiziation
maximizes as the carbanion structure approaces a planar configuration. Thus, fluorinated
carbanions possess pyramidal structues with high barriers to inversion.
Carbanion Structure
Carbanions are trivalent with sp3 hybridization. The lone pare of electrons occupies
one of the sp3 orbitals. The geometery is thus tetrahedral. The tetrahedron can undergo
inversion or retain its stereochemistry depending on the attached substitutents. A methy
carbanion has a barrier to inversion of about 2 kcal/ mole. The trifluoromethyl carbanion
has a barrier of 120 kcal/mole. A fluorine atom is however more stabilizing than a
hydrogen atom because of the fluorine electronegativity.
R R
inversion C R
C R
R R
R = H; barrier = 2 kcal/mole
R = F; barrier = 120 kcal/mole
tetrahedral carbanion
The rate of inversion in hydrocarbon system is slowed by incorporation of the
carbanion into a three membered ring.
N
SO2Ph
NH3
SO2Ph
Experiments involving the use of chiral substrates aids the study of carbanion
stereochemistry as inversion causes loss of optical activity. Cleavage of the methyl ketone
below with amide ion give a carbanion with a slow rate of inversion. The carbanion
abstracts a proton to give an optically active product. Carbanions that contain fluorine
atoms often show a slow rate of inversion.
F
NH2 - F F
H3 C Cl H2O
Cl Cl
Br
O Br H Br
When the rate of deuterium exchange at a chiral center is not equal to the rate of
racemization it shows that an intermediate is involved as an ion pair. Carbanion ion-pairs
are show to be present through labeling at a chiral center. The rate of d exchange is
different from the rate of inversion, indicating that the ion pair is encumbered with the cation
or the solvent.
k D-exchange
k racemization
D
N(CH3) 2
= 148
O
H3 C
Ph
= 0.5
Et
NC D
F CF3 F CF2 F
F F
F F
F 3C F 3C F
F
F O F O
k1
+ B + BH
Ph k-1 Ph
F O O
k2
+ F
Ph Ph
Acidity
R = Br 6090
R = Cl 3480
R=H 8.7
R D 1.0
R=F
The equilibrium expression below how the pKa is related to the basic medium where
H- is the base constant. Thus for compounds of weak acid strength (high pKa) a large base
constant is needed to form the carbanion.
[R-][base-H]
Ka =
[R-H][base]
[R-][base-H]
pKa = -log
[R-H][base}
pKa
OH Compounds
Hydrocarbons
PhCH2 -H 41 Ph2CH-H 33 CH3CH2-H 48
Ph3C-H 31 H 49
H
H 23 16
18 H
F 3C CF3
EtO OEt
H CF3
O O 16 F 3C
O 26 -2
CF3
H3C OEt
O
O O 14 F
F
O 11 F
H3C CH3 F
F 14
O O 13
F
Ph OEt Ph OEt
O O 10.7 O O 8.5
Several basicity constants are show below. When a system has a basicity constant
higher that the pKa of an acid then a reaction will occur to form a carbanion. Thus a
number of bases are now known that can be used for the generation of carbanions that are
then used in some synthetic process.
H-
Li+
6M KOH 16
NH Cs+ N
10 M KOH 17-18
40 40
Solvents and Bases
The formation of carbanions can occur in several solvent systems. Very strong
bases cannot be formed in protic solvents because they abstract a hydrogen atom from the
solvent to form a hydrocarbon.
Commonly Used Solvents
The strongest bases are obtained from the reaction of metal with organohalogen
compounds to give reagents known as Grignard reagents or organolithium reagents.
Bases
Organolithium reagents
cold
Bu-Br + 2 Li Bu-Li + LiBr
ether or hexane
The organolithium reagents tent to exist as tetramers because of the covalent nature
of lithium to carbon bonds. The tetramers are still very strong bases and stong
nucleophiles, and can be converted to even stronger bases on coordination with
tetramethylethylenediamine as shown.
R (H 3C)2N N(CH3) 2
Li Li R
(H 3C)2N N(CH3) 2
R Li
Li R R Li
Li
R (H 3C)2N N(CH3) 2
tetramer
Postassium tert-butoxide, commercially available, and lithium diisopropamide
(LDA), easily prepared in the lab, are frequently used for reaction with the alpha hydrogen
of carbonyl compounds to produce enolates.
Stabilization of Carbanions
C C C C
O O O O O O
C C C C C C C C C
O O O
base
CH3C-CH3 CH2C-CH3 CH2=C-CH 3
ketone enolate
O O
O
and/or
kinetic thermodynamic
LDA 71 29
t-BuOK 20 80
O O O
and/or
LDA 99 1
t-BuOK 12 88
O O O
and/or
LDA 99 1
t-BuOK 26 74
Fluorine atoms alpha to a carbonyl group oppose the normal polarization of the
carbonyl which contains positive charge on the carbon and negative charge on the oxygen.
Thus fluorinated aldehydes and ketones show higher enol content than the hydrogen
counterparts.
H2O
CH3CH=O CH3CH-O CH3CH-OH
CH2CH=O CH2CH=O
CH2CH=O an aldol
Some examples of the aldol condensation from aldehydes and ketones are shown
below.
Aldehyde
OH CH3CH2CH-OH
CH3CH2CH=O CH3CHCH=O
H2O CH3CHCH=O
Ketone
O O O O
H2O
OH
+
OH
second
molecule
The aldol products react readily with acid to undergo dehydration and give ,-
unsaturated carbonyl compounds that are also very useful in synthetic organic and
biological chemistry.
O + O
H
OH
Intramolecular aldol condensations are useful in the formation of cyclic ,-
unsaturated ketones.
O O O O
OH 2) H+
O O
H3C OH CH3
Crossed-Aldol Condensation
The main aldol condensation involves reaction between two aldehydes or
ketones of the same structure. But, the procedure can be modified so that the enolate can
react with another aldehyde of different structure. The requirement is that the other
aldehyde has to be more reactive than the first and it contains no a-hydrogens.
Formaldehyde, CH2C=O, and benzaldehyde, PhCH=O, both meet these requirements and
are useful in this procedure called the crossed-aldol condensation. All three of the -
hydrogens in acetaldehyde can react in a crossed-aldol condensation with formaldehyde.
OH CH2=O
CH3CH=O CH2CH=O HOCH2 -CHCH=O
H2O
HOCH2
OH
CH3CH=O + 3 CH2=O HOCH2 CCH=O
HOCH2
Aromatic ketones bearing -hydrogens give aldol reaction products readily, but in
this case the aldol product spontaneously loses water to form the unsaturated ketone.
When benzaldehyde is used in the crossed-aldol condensation the final product is the
unsaturated aldehyde or ketone. Conjugation of the double bond with the aromatic ring is
the reason for the spontaneous dehydration.
O O
CH3-C-CH3 CH3CH=O
PhCH=CHCH=O PhCHO PhCH=CH-C-CH3
OH OH
The carbanion for ethyl fluoroacetate reacts readily with benzaledhyde in a cross-
aldol reaction to give the fluorinated alcohol. Alpha fluorinated carbonyl compounds are
often very toxic materials because biologically they are converted to fluoroacetate which is
toxic to the Krebs cycle. Thus extreme care is needed when using these compounds.
O
O F
LDA
F OEt
OEt PhCHO
HO Ph
Esters
Claisen Condensation
Esters, like aldehydes and ketones, give an aldol-type reaction. The a-hydrogen of
the ester is removed by base to give the enolate. The enolate reacts with another molecule of
the ester in an addition-elimination reaction characteristic of esters, which appears as
displacement of the alkoxide. The resulting product is a -ketoester. The reaction is known
as the Claisen condensation.
O
O O
C2 H5 O CH3C-OC2H5
CH3C-OC2H5 CH2C-OC2H5
O O O O
CH3C-CH2C-OC2H5 CH3C CH2C-OC2H5
OC2H5
The -hydrogens in the product -ketoester are more acidic than the -hydrogens
in the starting ester. Thus a new enolate is formed that is more stable than the first enolate,
thus helping the reaction go to completion.
O O O
C2 H5 O
CH3C-CH2-CO2 C2H5 CH3C-CH-CO 2C2 H5 CH3C=CH-CO2 C2H5
O
H+
CH3C-CH2-CO2 C2H5
O O + O O
H
CH3CH2O-C CHC-OC2 H5 H C CHC-OC2 H5
H R R
Claisen condensation of ethyl benzoate with ethyl acetate affords ethyl
benzoylacetate in the crossed-Claisen method.
O O O O
CH2CH3 CH3C-OCH 2CH3 CH2CH3
O O
CH3CH2O Na+
O O _ O O
O OEt
F + EtO OEt
OEt EtO OEt
F
90 %
Dieckmann condensation
O O
CH3
O O
CH3I CH3
+
major minor
The fluorinated oxazine below is alkylated easily with benzyl bromide. After
reduction and hydrolysis a fluoro aldehyde is obtained. This is a fluoro modification of the
Meyers synthesis.
O
O 1) NaBH4 F
F H
N 2) H3O+
Ph
51%
Ph
Alkylation of Ethyl Acetoacetate and Diethyl Malonate
-Keto esters have earned a special place in organic chemistry for their value as
compounds used in the synthesis of new carbon-carbon bonds. The general method for
their use involves a) formation of the enolate between the carbonyl groups, b) reaction of
the enolate in an SN2 reaction with an alkyl halide, and c) removal of one of the carbonyl
groups by decarboxylation. The result is the formation of methyl ketones or acetic acid
derivatives.
O O O O
base
CH3C-CH2-C-OCH 2CH3 CH3C-CH-C-OCH2 CH3
Ethyl Acetoacetate
O O O O
base
CH3CH2O-C-CH 2-C-OCH 2CH3 CH3CH2O-C-CH-C-OCH2 CH3
Diethyl Malonate
Ethyl Acetoacetate
The a-hydrogens of ethyl acetoacetate are acidic enough (pKa =11) to be removed
by a variety of bases. The enolate anion can be used to displace a halogen in an alkyl
halide. Hydrolysis of the product gives a -ketoacid which loses CO2 on mild heating. A
derivative of acetone is the final product.
O O O
C2 H5 O R-X
CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5 CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5 CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5
R
O O
H3O+ heat
CH3CCHCO 2H CH3CCH2
R - CO2 R
substituted acetone
CH3
O CH3 CH3
CO2
R H O O
O R H R
O
Double alkylation of ethyl acetoacetate in sequential steps can provide a synthesis
of highly branched derivatives of acetone after the hydrolysis and decarboxylation steps.
O O O
C2 H5 O C H -Br
CH3CCH2CO2 C2H5 CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5 2 5
CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5
OCH3 O C2 H5
1) C2 H5 O H3O +
CH3CCCO2C2 H5 CH3CCHCH 3
2) CH3Br heat
C2 H5 C2 H5
Diethyl malonate
Diethyl malonate also possess acidic -hydrogens and may be used instead of
ethyl acetoacetate in the above sequence. The difference is found in the final product that
contains an acetic acid structural unit instead of an acetone structural unit.
O O O O
C2 H5 O
C2 H5 OCCH2 COC2 H5 C2 H5 OCCHCOC2H5
O O +
RBr H3O
C2 H5 OCCHCOC2H5 CH2COOH
R heat
R
-CO2
substituted
acetic acid
Michael Reaction
O
O O 1) O O
CH3
C2 H5 OCCHCOC2H5 C2 H5 OCCHCOC2H5
2) H+
CH2CH2CCH3
O
O O
1) CH2=CHCN
CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5 CH3CCHCO 2C2 H5
2) H2O
CH2CH2CN
Enamine Additions
Enamines, the products of the acid-catalyzed addition of secondary amines to
aldehydes or ketones, can be viewed as weakly nucleophilic enolate anions. Enamines will
react with a,b-unsaturated carbonyl systems in the Michael reaction in method that permits
introduction of new carbon-carbon bonds adjacent to the carbonyl group.
Enamine Addition
O
NH +
N N
H+
enamine
CN
CH2=CHCN +
N N
CN
H3O+
O
Robinson Reaction
O
OH
O O O CH3
CH3
Michael
O
2) H+
O CH2
O
aldol
The dithane system is capable of stablizing the carbanion by dispersal of the charge
into the d orbitals of the sulfur atoms. When the dithiane carbanion is used as a
nucleophile, the dithiane unit can be hydrolyzed to a carbonyl group. This the dithane
functions as a masked aldehyde.
S S S S S S
CH3CH2Br Hg2+, H2O
CH3CH2CHO
S S S S
Organometallics
Organometallic reagents are well-know in organic chemistry. The Grignard reagent
(RMgX), organo lithium reagents and organozinc reagents are used as nucleophiles in the
addition to carbonyl groups , in SN2 reaction and in Michael reactions. A few examples of
their counterparts in organofluorine chemistry are shown here.
The trifluormethyl anion is prepared from by reaction of trifluoromethyl
trimethylsilane with fluoride ion. The strong affinity of fluoride for silane drives this
reaction toward the trifluoromethy anion. The anion behaves like a good nucleophile in
many reaction. Addition to a carbonyl group is shown here.
CF3SiMe3 + F- FSiMe3 + CF3-
OH
O
CF3-
CF3
CF3Br + Cu [CF3Cu]
ArI + [CF3Cu] ArCF3
Trifluorovinyl lithium is produced from chlorotrifluoroethene and butyl lithium.
The lithium reagent adds easily to carbonyl groups.
n-BuLi n-BuLi
CF2=CFCl CF2=CFLi CF3CH2F
CF2=CFLi
PhCHO PhCH(OH)CF=CF2
Reformatsky Reaction
Instead of forming the enolate from an -hydrogen, an -bromine atom can also be
used. Zinc reacts with ethyl -bromoacetate to form a zinc enolate that reacts at the
carbonyl function of aldehydes and ketones to produce ,-hydroxyester. The method is
made easier by addition of the bromoester to a mixture of zinc and the carbonyl compound.
Reformatsky Reaction
Zn
BrCH2CO2C2 H5 BrZn CH2CO2C2 H5
ether
H3O HO CH2CO2C2 H5
H3C CH3
Keto-Enol Equilibrium
Ketones can exist as two equilibrated molecules. One molecule is the often written
ketone structure while the other structure is a tautomer known as an enol. In some cases the
enol contribution can be large. When fluorine atoms are present in the ring, the electron
withdrawl by fluorine around the carbonyl increases the positive charge at the carbonyl.
The molecule responds by forming the enol.
O OH
10-7
O OH
10-7
O O O OH
10-4
O O OH
O
20
O O O OH
>50
O OH
O OH
infinity
t-Bu CH3
t-Bu
OH O
Rearrangements of Carbanions
Homoallylic rearrangements
The structures below represent allylic, homoallylic and homobenzylic. The homo means
that there is one additional carbon atom. Some interesting rearrangements occur with the
homoallylic systems.
The examples below show a homobenzylic rearrangement where the carbanion interacts
with the aromatic ring. The carbanion appears to insert between the ring and the carbon
containing the two methyl groups. The mechanism of the rearrangement is proven by
isolation of the cyclopropane structure when a para phenyl group is present.
H3C H 3C H3C
1) CO2
COOH
2) H+
CH3
H3C
Ph Ph
COOH
H3C H3C
CH3 CH3
The examples below represent some well known reactions.
n-BuLi
Ph-CH2-O-CH3 Ph-CH-O Wittig
CH3
Ph-CH-O-CH3
CH3 SCH3
PhCH2-S-CHPh PhCH2-CHPh Stevens
CH2-N(CH3)2 Sommelet-Hauser
CH3
CH2
CH2-N(CH3)2
O2 O2
S Br S
- SO2 Ramburg-Backland