title: Solvent-dependent changes in the triazolinedione-alkene ene reaction mechanism.
abstract: The influence of the solvent on the triazolinedione-alkene ene reaction mechanism has been investigated. Both inter- and intramolecular kinetic isotope effects with tetramethylethylenes and 2,2,2-(trideuterio)methyl-7-methyl-2,6-octadiene-[D3]-1,1,1 provide, for the first time, strong evidence for changes in the mechanism of the reaction on going from non-protic to polar protic solvents. In non-protic polar or apolar solvents, an aziridinium imide that equilibrates to an insignificant extent with an open intermediate (a dipolar or a polarized biradical) is formed irreversibly in the first, rate-determining step of the reaction, which is followed by fast hydrogen abstraction. On the contrary, in polar protic solvents, hydrogen abstraction is rate limiting, allowing the main dipolar intermediate to equilibrate with its open intermediate(s) as well as with the starting reagents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Voutes 71003, Heraklion, Crete (Greece).
authors.forename: Georgios C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Vougioukalakis
authors.forename: Manolis M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Roubelakis
authors.forename: Mariza N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orfanopoulos