Intermediates in the formation and thermolysis of peroxides from oxidations with singlet oxygen
- Herein we describe the recent mechanistic understandings of the singlet oxygen ene reaction to give hydroperoxides and the [4+2] cycloaddition affording endoperoxides. Both experimental findings and theoretical work conclude in the formation of intermediates structurally similar to perepoxides during the ene reaction. Such intermediates mainly control the regio- and stereoselectivities of this reaction class. For the [4+2] cycloaddition, both a synchronous concerted reaction (benzene, naphthalenes) and a stepwise reaction with a non-symmetric zwitterionic intermediate (larger acenes) have been found. The thermolysis of endoperoxides derived from acenes proceeds stepwise for anthracenes, but in a concerted manner for less stable adducts such as naphthalene.
