Here we show that amides of bicyclic 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane are intrinsically nitrogen-pyramidal. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures of some relevant bicyclic amides, including the prototype N-benzoyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, exhibited nitrogen-pyramidalization in the solid state. We evaluated the rotational barriers about the amide bonds of various N-benzoyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes in solution. The observed reduction of the rotational barriers of the bicyclic amides, as compared with those of the monocyclic pyrrolidine amides, is consistent with a nitrogen-pyramidal structure of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane amides in solution. A good correlation was found between the magnitudes of the rotational barrier of N-benzoyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes bearing para-substituents on the benzoyl group and the Hammett's sigma(p)(+) constants, and this is consistent with the similarity of the solution structures. Calculations with the density functional theory reproduced the nitrogen-pyramidal structures of these bicyclic amides as energy minima. The calculated magnitudes of electron delocalization from the nitrogen nonbonding n(N) orbital to the carbonyl pi orbital of the amide group evaluated by application of the bond model theory correlated well with the rotational barriers of a variety of amides, including amides of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. The nonplanarity of the amide nitrogen of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes would be derived from nitrogen-pyramidalization due to the CNC angle strain and twisting of the amide bond due to the allylic strain.
Tetraaryl[5]cumulenes react with low-valent nickel complexes at the second double bond to produce novel [4]radialene derivatives that are head-to-head dimers of [5]cumulenes. The head-to-head dimers are also synthesized by a stepwise route. On the other hand, the nickel-catalyzed dimerization of [5]cumulenes with bulky substituents produces other types of extended [4]radialenes and [5]radialenones depending on the bulkiness of the terminal alkyl substituents. Thus, tetrakis-t-butyl[5]cumulene and 1,4-bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexylidene)[3]cumulene react at the central double bond to give the corresponding [4]radialene and [5]radialenone, whereas 1,4-bis(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentylidene)[3]cumulene and its benzo-annelated derivative react at the second double bond in a head-to-tail manner to afford the corresponding extended [4]radialenes. Tetrakis-t-butyl[5]radialenone was converted into [5]radialene by using a methylation–dehydration procedure. The extended [4]- and [5]radialenes and [5]radialenones have been fully characterized by spectroscopic analyses, X-ray crystallography, and/or independent chemical synthesis. The properties of these novel exocyclic π-electron systems have been investigated in detail. The aryl-substituted [4]radialenes exhibit facile bond rotation with low energy barriers. The [5]radialene and [5]radialenone form the corresponding cations easily by the addition of an acidic proton. The selectivity of the nickel-catalyzed dimerization of [5]cumulenes is discussed on the basis of theoretical calculations.
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