Conjugate Addition
This particular process allows compounds to be changed and minipulated so that they can be used further for reactions.
- Conjugate addition can make alkenes electrophillic-this allows them to take part in reactions.This can be done since isolated carbon-carbon double bonds are nucleophillic.If they are conjugated with carbonyl groups are electrophillic
- Isolated C=C double bond are nucleophillic.The diagram below shows this
|- C=C double bonds as we know are in conjugation with carbonyl groups are electrophillic
Conjugate Addition has very important roles to play,none more important than the part it in the production of anti cancer drugs.This process invovles the conjugate addition of thiols.
For conjugate addition there are five requirements
- Thermodynamic control:high temperatures and long reaction times
- unreactive carbon oxygen double bond groups
- unhindered beta caronyl groups
- soft nucleophilles
- organocoppers
Author: Richard Johnson (document modification date: 15th may 2003)©