Abstract

G3(MP2)-RAD calculations provide activation energies for intramolecular homolytic substitution in the 4-(alkylselenoxo)butyl and 4-(alkylselendioxo)butyl radicals ranging from 21–39 kJ mol−1, and 143–170 kJ mol−1 for the selenoxide and selenone, respectively. Arrhenius data translate into rate constants for ring-closure of 1.5×105−2.5×108 s−1 (80°) for the selenoxides, and 5.4×10−14−5.1×10−11 s−1 (80°) for the corresponding selenones. NBO analyses show alkyl radicals are electrophilic during homolytic substitution at selenoxide selenium. The dominant orbital interaction in the transition state is worth 2413 kJ mol−1 and involves the SOMO and the lone-pair of electrons on selenium. The corresponding selenones are calculated to ring-close through transition states in which alkyl radicals are nucleophilic, but involve weak (SOMO--> σ* and SOMO--> π*) interactions. Consequently, this chemistry is not viable for selenones because of the lack of lone-pairs of electrons on the chalcogen.