Ab initio quantum chemical study of selenium dioxide mediated allylic hydroxylation of alkenes

Abstract

The aim of the project was to study an organic reaction using ab-initio quantum chemical tools and apply the general ideas of physical chemistry to it. Selenium dioxide mediated allylic hydroxylation is a known reaction used to substitute hydroxyl group at allylic position of an alkene. The proposed mechanism of this reaction was verified for a simple substrate. This involved location of transition states on Potential Energy Surface (PES) and subsequently the energy profile of the reaction was constructed using the energies of the transition states. Furthermore an experimental study employing the same reaction showed a particular stereochemical preference amongst the isolated products. This particular observation was explained by applying the notion of thermodynamic and kinetic control to a constituent part of the reaction.