Wheel of Mitsunobu Reactions

The mighty Mitsunobu reactions!


The Mitsunobu reaction (or Mitsunobu displacement) mechanism is complicated but related to the (aliphatic) nucleophilic substitution (SN2) (inter- and intramolecular) and can convert alcohols into various products using different nucleophiles (Nu) (mildly acidic).

EWG-N=N-EWG may be DEAD (Diethyl azodicarboxylate).



Wheel of Mitsunobu reactions: Click/tap to enlarge the image

Nu (on the infographic):

  1. Nucleophiles, pKa < 13
  2. Alkanes
  3. Carboxylic acids
  4. Phenols, alcohols
  5. Thiols, Thioacetic acid/thiols/aryl mercaptans
  6. Secondary amine, N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-4-toluenesulfonamide/EWG2NH/Thalimide
  7. Hydrazoic acid
  8. Zinc halide

Inversion of configuration takes place if an ester is formed using the Mitsunobu reaction while retention of stereochemistry occurs if an ester is formed using the Fischer-Speier esterification or Fischer esterification.

What other wheel(s) 🎡 of organic reactions would you like to see❓ Questions Let Chemaficionado know in the comments below or at mychemistryhomework@gmail.com

Reference:

Valiulin, R. Organic Chemistry: 100 Must-Know Mechanisms; De Gruyter: Berlin, 2023.

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