Chapter 4a – The cyclopentanes

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the acyclic chemistry of cyclopentanes. This includes general synthesis, conformational analyses, stability of cyclo alkanes, thermolysis of alicyclic compounds, and the radiation chemistry of cyclo alkanes. The chapter also describes general approaches to cyclopentenones synthesis. The cyclization reactions leading to cyclopentanes, cyclopentanes, cyclopentane ring synthesis is presented with examples. The relative energies of cyclopentenyl, and other cycloalkyl, free radicals are determined by the decarbonlation of the corresponding acyl radicals and the results are shown to be significantly different from those using other methods of investigation. Cyclization reactions leading to cyclopentanes cyclopentanes and general cyclopentane ring synthesis are reviewed with examples. A general cyclopentenone synthesis using aldol methodology involves a three-step reaction scheme catalyzed by copper between enols and α-diazo ketones. Similarly, the cyclopentenones and cyclopentenones by ring expansion and ring contraction reactions reviews are presented. Reactions involving cyclopentanes, cyclopentanes and their simple derivatives are also illustrated.