A dyotropic reaction (from the Greek dyo, meaning two) in organic chemistry is a type of organic reaction and more specifically a pericyclic valence isomerization in which two sigma bonds simultaneously migrate intramolecularly. The reaction type is of some relevance to organic chemistry because it can explain how certain reactions occur and because it is a synthetic tool in the synthesis of organic molecules for example in total synthesis. It was first described by Manfred T. Reetz in 1971 In a type I reaction two migrating groups interchange their relative positions and a type II reaction involves migration to new bonding sites without positional interchange.
Type I rearrangements
In type I rearrangements (Y-A-B-X conversion to X-A-B-Y) the two migrating groups are oriented trans to each other and as a result of the rearrangement they migrate to opposite sides. The first example of a dyotropic rearrangement involving a carbon-carbon bond was reported by Cyril A. Grob and Saul Winstein. They observed the interconversion of 2 bromine atoms in a certain steroid.
In a straightforward example the two bromine atoms in 3-tert-butyl-trans-1,2-dibromohexane mutarotate by heating. In the transition state both bromine atoms connect symmetrically to both carbon atoms on opposite sides and the reaction is concerted. Stepwise mechanisms in dyotropic reactions have also been investigated.
In organic synthesis an important application is the conversion of 4-substituted-gamma-lactones to butyrolactones. Type I dyotropic rearrangements also occur around carbon-oxygen bonds, such as the thermal equilibration of (R3Si)R2C-O-SiR3 to (R3Si)R2C-O-SiR3. The 1,2-Wittig rearrangement can also be considered an example of this reaction type. More dyotropic reactions are found involving N-O bonds and N-N bonds.
Type II rearrangements
Type II rearrangements often involve double hydrogen migration in a carbon skeleton. This reaction type can be found in certain transfer hydrogenations. An example is hydrogen transfer in syn-sesquinorbornene disulfones.
References
- Dyotropic Reactions: Mechanisms and Synthetic Applications Israel Fernandez Fernando P. Cossıo and Miguel A. Sierra Chem. Rev. 2009, Article ASAP doi:10.1021/cr900209c
- Dyotropic Rearrangements, a New Class of Orbital-Symmetry Controlled Reactions. Type I Manfred T. Reetz Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English 1971 Volume 11 Issue 2, Pages 129 - 130 doi:10.1002/anie.197201291
- Dyotropic Rearrangements, a New Class of Orbital-Symmetry Controlled Reactions. Type II Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English 1971 Volume 11, Issue 2, Date: February 1972, Pages: 130-131 Manfred T. Reetz doi:10.1002/anie.197201311
- Organische und biologische Chemie Mechanismus der Mutarotation von 5,6-Dibromcholestan C.A. Grob, S. Winstein Helvetica Chimica Acta Volume 35 Issue 3, Pages 782 - 802 1952 doi:10.1002/hlca.19520350315
- Substituent effects on the formation and equilibration of trans-1,2-dibromocyclohexanes P. L. Barili, G. Bellucci, G. Berti, F. Marioni, A. Marsili, I. Morelli, J. Chem. Soc. D, 1970, (21),1437-1438 doi:10.1039/C29700001437
- Reetz, M.T. (1977). "Dyotropic Rearrangements and Related σ-σ Exchange Processes". Advances in Organometallic Chemistry. 16: 33–65. doi:10.1016/S0065-3055(08)60557-2. ISBN 9780120311163.
- Quantitation of proximity effects on rate. A case study involving dyotropic hydrogen migration within syn-sesquinorbornene disulfones carrying central substituents having different spatial demands Leo A. Paquette, Mark A. Kesselmayer, Robin D. Rogers J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112 (1), pp 284–291 doi:10.1021/ja00157a044
- Intramolecular reaction rate is not determined exclusively by the distance separating reaction centers. The kinetic consequences of modulated ground state strain on dyotropic hydrogen migration in systems of very similar geometric disposition Leo A. Paquette, George A. O'Doherty, Robin D. Rogers J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1991, 113 (20), pp 7761–7762 doi:10.1021/ja00020a048