Pericyclic Reactions, Volume 1 covers the theoretical approaches to pericyclic reactions and pericyclic reactions of reactive intermediates and of particular reaction types. The book discusses the operational criteria for evaluation of concertedness in potential pericyclic reactions; and the Mobius-Hückel treatment of organic systems and reactions and molecular orbital following as a technique in organic chemistry. The text also describes some pericyclic reactions of carbenes and carbanions. Physicists and people involved in the study of pericyclic reactions will find the book invaluable.

List of Contributors Preface Contents of Volume II1 Operational Criteria for Evaluation of Concertedness in Potential Pericyclic Reactions I. Introduction II. Kinetic and Thermodynamic Criteria for Concertedness in Potential Pericyclic Reactions III. Applications of Stereochemical Probes to Elucidation of Reaction Pathways in Possible Concerted Reactions IV. Applications of Labeling Experiments to the Elucidation of Pericyclic Reaction Pathways V. Miscellaneous Methods VI. Conclusions References 2 The Möbius-Hückel Treatment of Organic Systems and Reactions and MO Following as a Technique in Organic Chemistry I. Introduction II. The Frost Mnemonic Device. Hückel MO Energies III. Principles of the Methods IV. The Mobius-Huckel Method V. MO Following VI. Near Crossings; Minimization of Forbiddenness VII. Conclusion References 3 Some Pericyclic Reactions of Carbenes I. Introduction: Scope II. Theory of Additions, Insertions, and 1,2-Rearrangements of Singlet Carbenes III. Interconversion of Vinylcarbenes and Cyclopropenes IV. Carbene-Carbene Rearrangements V. Interconversion of Oxirenes and 1H-Azirines and Their Isomeric Acyclic Carbenes VI. Intramolecular Reactions of Cyclopropylidenes References 4 Pericyclic Reactions of Carbanions I. Introduction II. Rotational Barriers in Carbanions III. Electrocyclic Reactions IV. Sigmatropic Reactions V. Cycloaddition and Cycloreversion Reactions VI. Photochemical Rearrangements References Author Index Subject Index