Reactions Involving Free Radicals
Free radical reactions involve one electron species, frequently generated by homolysis (shown below)
Radical reactions can be divided into three steps: 1) Initiation 2) Propagation 3) Termination
Weaker bonds are more readily cleaved by homolysis
Some bonds can be cleaved by heating
Radical Initiators AIBN Benzoyl Peroxide Link
Radical Bromination
Link
Allylic (and benzylic) bromination with NBS (N-Bromosuccinimide)
NBS is regarded as a source of trace amounts of Br 2 via the mechanism shown below.
Reductions utilizing tributyltin hydride as a hydrogen atom donor The Sn-H bond is relatively weak (82 kcal/mole), relative to the C-H bond (99 kcal/mole) By contrast, tin forms stronger bonds to bromine, iodine, and sulfur than does carbon. Sn-S 111 kcal Sn-Br132 Kcal Sn-I56 kcal C-S65 kcal C-Br68 kcal C-I51 kcal
The Barton-McCombie Deoxygenation
Mechanism
Radical Reaction with Allyltributylstannane
The Barton Decarboxylation
Free Radical Polymerization Link