Title: Organic Chemistry Fifth Edition
 1Organic Chemistry II (Chem 234)Professor Duncan 
J. Wardrop
Spring 2004
University of Illinois at Chicago 
 216.9Preparation of EpoxidesA Review and a 
Preview 
 3Preparation of Epoxides
Epoxides are prepared by two major methods.Both 
begin with alkenes.
1. reaction of alkenes with peroxy acids such as 
meta-chloroperbenzoic acid(Section 6.18) 2. 
conversion of alkenes to vicinalhalohydrins, 
followed by treatmentwith base (Section 16.10) 
 416.10Conversion of Vicinal Halohydrinsto 
Epoxides 
 5Example
 Note trans relationship
H
NaOH
O
H2O
H
(81)
q. Why not elimination to form olefins?
 Intramolecular Williamson synthesis
a. pKa of OH group is much lower than C-H 
 6Epoxidation via Vicinal Halohydrins
Br
Br2
H2O
OH
antiaddition
inversion
- corresponds to overall syn addition ofoxygen to 
 the double bond
7Epoxidation via Vicinal Halohydrins
Br
H3C
Br2
H
NaOH
H2O
H
O
CH3
OH
antiaddition
inversion
- corresponds to overall syn addition ofoxygen to 
 the double bond
816.11Reactions of EpoxidesA Review and a 
Preview 
 9Reactions of Epoxides
-  All reactions involve nucleophilic attack at 
 carbon and lead to opening of the ring.
-  An example is the reaction of ethylene oxide 
 with a Grignard reagent (discussed in Section
 15.4 as a method for the synthesis of alcohols).
10Reaction of Grignard Reagentswith Epoxides
SN2 
 11Example 
CH2
H2C 
O
1. diethyl ether 2. H3O
(71) 
 12In general...
 The reactions of epoxides involve attack by a 
nucleophile and proceed with ring-opening to form 
alcohols
d
NuH 
d-
d
ethylene oxide
d- 
 13In general...
For epoxides where the two carbons of thering 
are differently substituted
Nuc -
Nuc-H/H
What factors control regioselectivity? 
 14Definintion
- Regioselective Term describing a reaction that 
 can produce two (or more) constitutional isomers
 but gives one of them in greater amounts than the
 other. A reaction that is 100 regioselective is
 termed regiospecific.
1516.12Nucleophilic Ring-OpeningReactions of 
Epoxides 
 16Example
NaOCH2CH3
CH3CH2OH
(50) 
 17Mechanism 
 18Example
KSCH2CH2CH2CH3
ethanol-water, 0C 
 19Stereochemistry
OCH2CH3
H
H
OH
(67)
-  Inversion of configuration at carbon being 
 attacked by nucleophile
-  Suggests SN2-like transition state
20Stereochemistry
CH3
H3C
R
R
H
NH3
H
OH
O
H2N
H
R
H2O
S
H
H3C
CH3
(70)
-  Inversion of configuration at carbon being 
 attacked by nucleophile
-  Suggests SN2-like transition state
21Stereochemistry
CH3
H3C
R
R
H
NH3
H
OH
O
H2N
H
R
H2O
S
H
H3C
CH3
(70)
H3C
H
?
?-
O
H3N
H
H3C 
 22Anionic nucleophile attacks less-crowded carbon
NaOCH3
CH3OH
(53)
- consistent with SN2-like transition state
23Anionic nucleophile attacks less-crowded carbon
1. diethyl ether 2. H3O 
 24Lithium aluminum hydride reduces epoxides
Hydride attacksless-crowdedcarbon
1. LiAlH4, diethyl ether 2. H2O 
 2516.13Acid-Catalyzed Ring-OpeningReactions of 
Epoxides 
 26Example
CH3CH2OH
CH3CH2OCH2CH2OH
H2SO4, 25C
(87-92)
-  CH3CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH3 formed only on heating 
 and/or longer reaction times
27Example
HBr
BrCH2CH2OH
10C
(87-92)
-  BrCH2CH2Br formed only on heating and/or longer 
 reaction times
28Mechanism 
 29Figure 16.6 Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of 
Ethylene Oxide
Step 1
H2C
CH2
O 
 30Figure 16.6 Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of 
Ethylene Oxide
Step 2 
 31Figure 16.6 Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of 
Ethylene Oxide
Step 3 
 32Acid-Catalyzed Ring Opening of Epoxides
Characteristics
- nucleophile attacks more substituted carbon of 
 protonated epoxide
- inversion of configuration at site of 
 nucleophilic attack
33Nucleophile attacks more-substituted carbon
CH3OH
H2SO4
- consistent with carbocation character at 
 transition state
34Stereochemistry
H
OH
HBr
H
Br
(73)
-  Inversion of configuration at carbon being 
 attacked by nucleophile
35Stereochemistry
CH3
H3C
R
R
H
H
OH
O
CH3O
H
R
S
H
H3C
CH3
(57)
-  Inversion of configuration at carbon being 
 attacked by nucleophile
36Stereochemistry
CH3
H3C
R
R
H
H
OH
O
CH3O
H
R
S
H
H3C
CH3
H3C
H
?
?
?
H
O
CH3O
H
H
H3C 
 37anti-Hydroxylation of Alkenes 
 38Suggested Problems
Problems 16.23, 16.24, 16.26, 16.28, 16.29-16.33,
 16.35 -------------------------------------------
---------- Office Hour Today, 315 p.m., SES 
4446 ---------------------------------------------
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 39Analytical Chemistry
Can be divided into two sections Separation of 
mixtures and Identification of Components 
 40High Performance Liquid Chromatography
 6 has highest affinity for column
 1 has lowest affinity for column
Retention Time
Mobile Phase Solvent Under High 
Pressure Stationary Phase Polymer Microspheres 
 41Gas Chromatography
Retention Time
Mobile Phase Gas (Helium or Hydrogen) 
 Stationary Phase Silicone Polymer (Grease) 
 42Structural Determination
INFORMATION REQUIRED TO DETERMINE MOLECULAR 
STRUCTURE Molecular Formula and Mass (Mass 
Spectrometry) Types of Functional Groups Present 
in the Molecule (Infrared Spectroscopy) Number 
of Protons and Types of Protons (1H Nuclear 
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) Number of 
Carbons and Types of Carbon Atoms (13C Nuclear 
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) 
 43Mass Spectrometry Mass and Molecular Formula 
The Mass of a Charged Particle Can Be Measured In 
A Mass Spectrometer
Sample Molecule Held in Gas Phase
Radical Cations are High Energy Species and Are 
Capable of Undergoing Fragmentation 
 44Mass Spectrometer - General Layout
Typical Mass Spectrum
Only charged particles are deflected by the Magnet 
 45Mass Spectrum of Toluene
BASE PEAK m/z  91 C7H7. 
PARENT ION P m/z  92 C7H8.
PEAKS DUE TO PARENT ION FRAGMENTATION DAUGHTER 
IONS
P1 m/z  93 12C613C1H8 
i) The P1 Peak is Approximately 1 of the 
Intensity of the Parent Ion. Why? ii) The Level 
of Fragmentation is Quite Low. Why? 
 46Fragmentation of Toluene Parent Ion
C7H8. m/z  92
Benzyl cations are stabilized by resonance 
Positive charge smeared across 7 carbon atoms 
 47Different Molecules Can Have the Same Molecular 
Weight!
In most cases we dont know the formula of our 
molecule ahead of time. SO How can we 
distinguish between A and B?
A
B 
 48Accurate Mass Measurement is the Solution!
A
B
Mass Spectrometers are accurate enough to 
distinguish between molecules which have the same 
molecular formula 
 49Parent Ions Undergo Fragmentation
Parent Peaks (M.)
Daughter Peaks
Each Molecule Has a Unique Fragmentation Pattern 
 50Mass Spectrometer - Location of Fragmentation
Fragmentation Occurs Here
Typical Mass Spectrum
Only charged particles are deflected by the Magnet 
 51The Course of Fragmentation is Directed by 
Daughter Ion Stability 
 52Fragmentation Patterns - Formation of Acylium 
Cations 
 53Fragmentation Patterns - Formation of Acylium 
Cations
Parent Peak m/z  142
Base Peak C4H9 m/z  57
C5H9O m/z  85 
 54The Course of Fragmentation is Directed by 
Daughter Ion Stability (Alkenes)
m/z  72
Remember 3o gt 2o gtgt 1o cations
No Parent Peak at m/z  72! WHY? 
 55Fragmentation Patterns - Elimination of Water
No Parent Peak at m/z  74! WHY?a
See Page 273 for Review of E1 Elimination 
Reactions 
 56Fragmentation Patterns - McLafferty Rearrangement 
 57McLafferty Rearrangement of Butyraldehyde
C3H4O, m/z  44
C4H8O, m/z  72
M1
You can recognize a McLafferty Rearrangement by 
loss of 44 mass units (ethylene)