Transcript MO Theory
CONJUGATED SYSTEMS
(CONTINUED)
Dr. Sheppard
CHEM 4201
OUTLINE
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Structure
Reactions
MO Theory
UV Spectroscopy
III. MOLECULAR ORBITAL THEORY
Sigma bonding
Electron density lies between the nuclei
Formed from overlap of hybrid orbitals
Hybrid orbitals formed from the combination of atomic orbitals
Another approach…
Molecular orbitals (MOs)
Produced when atomic orbitals on different atoms interact
The bonding molecular orbital is lower in energy than the
original atomic orbitals.
The antibonding MO is higher in energy than the atomic
orbitals
s BONDING MO
• Formation of a s
bonding MO
• When the 1s orbitals of
two hydrogen atoms
overlap in phase with
each other, they interact
constructively to form a
bonding MO
• The result is a
cylindrically symmetrical
bond (s bond)
s* ANTIBONDING MO
• Formation of a s*
antibonding MO
• When two 1s orbitals
overlap out of phase, they
interact destructively to
form an antibonding (*)
MO
• Result in node separating
the two atoms
H 2 : s—s OVERLAP
• Bonding MOs are
lower in energy than
the atomic orbitals
• Antibonding MOs
are higher in energy
than the atomic
orbitals
• In stable molecules,
bonding orbitals are
usually filled and
antibonding orbitals
are usually empty
PI BONDING
p molecular orbitals are the sideways overlap of p orbitals
p orbitals have two lobes
Plus (+) and minus (-) indicate the opposite phases of the wave
function, not electrical charges
When lobes overlap constructively (+ and +, or - and -), a p
bonding MO is formed
When + and - lobes overlap (destructive), waves cancel out
and a node forms; this results in an p* antibonding MO
Electron density is centered above and below the s bond
ETHYLENE PI MOs
The combination of two p orbitals gives two molecular
orbitals
Constructive overlap is a bonding MO
Destructive overlap is an antibonding MO
MOS OF 1,3-BUTADIENE
p orbitals on C1 through C4
Four MOs (2 bonding, 2 antibonding)
Represent by 4 p orbitals in a line
Larger and smaller orbitals are used to show which
atoms bear more of the electron density in a particular
MO
p 1 MO FOR 1,3-BUTADIENE
Lowest energy
All bonding
interactions
Electrons are
delocalized over
four nuclei
Contains first pair
of p electrons
p 2 MO FOR 1,3-BUTADIENE
Two bonding
interactions
One antibonding
interaction
One node
A bonding MO
Higher energy than
p 1 MO and not as
strongly bonding
Contains second pair of
p electrons
p 3 * MO FOR 1,3-BUTADIENE
Antibonding MO
Two nodes
Unoccupied in the
ground state
p 4 * MO FOR 1,3-BUTADIENE
Strongly antibonding
Very high energy
Unoccupied in ground
state
MO FOR 1,3-BUTADIENE AND ETHYLENE
The bonding MOs of
both 1,3-butadiene and
ethylene are filled
The antibonding MOs
are empty
Butadiene has lower
energy than ethylene
(stabilization of the
conjugated diene)
Frontier orbitals
Highest energy occupied
molecular orbital
(HOMO)
Lowest energy
unoccupied molecular
orbital (LUMO
PERICYCLIC REACTIONS AND MOs
How can MO Theory explain the products of pericyclic
reactions?
Theory of conservation of orbital symmetry
Woodward and Hoffmann (1965)
Frontier MOs must overlap constructively to stabilize the
transition state
Drastic changes in symmetry may not occur
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
Conrotatory vs. disrotatory
Thermal vs. photochemical
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
Motivation for conrotatory or disrotatory has to do
with overlap of outermost p lobes of MO
Orbitals that overlap when s bond formed
Two possibilities:
These lobes must rotate so like signs overlap
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
Which MO do you look at?
Thermal reactions = Ground state HOMO
Photochemical reactions = Excited state HOMO* (the
ground state LUMO)
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
MOs of 1,3,5-hexatriene (odd # electron pairs)
Conrotatory
(photochemical)
Disrotatory
(thermal)
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
MOs of 1,3-butadiene (even # electron pairs)
Disrotatory
(photochemical)
Conrotatory
(thermal)
ELECTROCYCLIC REACTIONS
DIELS-ALDER REACTION
Reactions are favored thermally or photochemically
Even # electron pairs (e.g. [2+2]) = photochemical
Odd # electron pairs (e.g. [4+2]) = photochemical
Reactions are either symmetry allowed or forbidden
Again, based on MOs of interacting lobes
Look at MOs of both reactants
Suprafacial vs. Antarafacial
SUPRAFACIAL AND ANTARAFACIAL
SYMMETRY-ALLOWED THERMAL [4+2]
CYCLOADDITION
Diene donates electrons from its HOMO
Dienophile accepts electrons into its LUMO
Butadiene HOMO and ethylene LUMO overlap with
symmetry (constructively)
Suprafacial
“FORBIDDEN” THERMAL [2+2]
CYCLOADDITION
Thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition of two ethylenes to
form cyclobutene has antibonding overlap of HOMO
and LUMO
For reaction to occur, one of the MOs would have to
change its symmetry (orbital symmetry is not
conserved)
Antarafacial
PHOTOCHEMICAL [2+2] CYCLOADDITION
Absorption of correct energy photon will promote an
electron to a higher energy level (excited state)
The ground state LUMO is now the HOMO* (HOMO
of excited molecule)
PHOTOCHEMICAL [2+2] CYCLOADDITION
LUMO of ground state
ethylene and HOMO* of
excited ethylene have
same symmetry
Suprafacial
The [2+2] cycloaddition
can now occur
The [2+2] cycloaddition
is photochemically
allowed, but thermally
forbidden
DIELS-ALDER REACTION
Update favored vs. non-favored chart:
Antarafacial reactions aren’t forbidden, just difficult
Exception: [2+2] geometry is too strained to twist, so
this thermal antarafacial reaction does not occur
[2+2] CYCLOADDITIONS AND SKIN CANCER
Dimerization of
thymine in DNA
Exposure of DNA to
UV light induces the
photochemical
reaction between
adjacent thymine
bases
Resulting dimer is
linked to development
of cancerous cells
http://chm234.asu.edu/reallife/332thymine/thymine.html
SIGMATROPIC REARRANGEMENT
These reactions also have suprafacial and
antarafacial stereochemistry
Suprafacial = migration across same face of p system
Antarafacial = migration across opposite face of p
system
Both are allowed, but suprafacial are easier
SUPRAFACIAL AND ANTARAFACIAL
Rules are the same as for Diels-Alder reactions:
SUMMARY OF PERICYCLIC REACTIONS
AND MOs
The electrons circle around
Thermal reactions with an
Even number of electron pairs are
Conrotatory or
Antarafacial