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Zimmerman-Traxler Model

  • Page ID
    92184
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    Howard E. Zimmerman and his undergraduate student Marjorie Traxler proposed a stereochemical model to explain the outcome of Ivanov reaction and mechanistically similar Reformatsky Reaction.

    Zimmerman-Ivanov.jpg

    Notice that the streochemistry of the products shown are relative and not absolute. Zimmerman-Traxler's seminal publication on this model, however, fails to show the most stable transition state to rationalize the reaction outcome. The transition state used in the paper had a clear unfavorable 1,3-pseudo-diaxial interaction (shown in red circles).

    wrong Z-T model.jpg

    Reference

    1. Zimmerman, H. E.; Traxler, M. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1957, 79, 1920.

    Contributors


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