Deuterium isotope effects in the oxidation of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene via the bromohydroperoxide, by singlet oxygen and by triphenyl phosphite ozonide

The partially deuterated alkenes (CH 3 ) 2 C = C(CD 3 ) 2 (1b) and CH 3 CD 3 C = CCH 3 CD 3 (1c) were prepared and converted to the corresponding allylic hydroperoxides by the routes shown in the title. Two bromohydroperoxides were formed from 1b in a 1.6:1 ratio with the major isomer having the OOH group on the carbon bearing the CH 3 's. On treatment with base at 0° this mixture formed two allylic hydroperoxides in a 2.2:1 ratio with the major isomer having the OOH group on the carbon bearing the CD 3 's, showing migration of the OOH group. This isomer predominated in a 1.4:1 ratio when 1b was oxidized with singlet oxygen at 15 or −52° and in a 1.6:1 ratio when 1b was oxidized with triphenyl phosphite ozonide at −70°. Under the same conditions C—H bond breaking also predominated in the oxidation of 1c, by 2.1:1 via the bromohydroperoxide, by 1.4:1 with singlet oxygen, and by 1.3:1 with triphenyl phosphite ozonide. Migration of the OOH group in the reaction of the bromohydroperoxide of 1b does not occur by way of a 1,2-dioxetane. A perepoxide may be the intermediate. Neither perepoxides nor 1,2-dioxetanes are involved in the singlet oxygen oxidation of 1b and c. At −70° the triphenyl phosphite ozonide oxidations do not proceed by way of these intermediates, either, or by way of singlet oxygen. The intermolecular deuterium isotope effect in the singlet oxygen oxidation of both cis- and trans-2,3-diphenyl-2-butene was found to be 1.1.