AM1 STUDY OF THE CHIRAL STABILITIES OF KETENIMINES

AM1 semi-empirical SCF MO calculations are used to investigate the con figurational racemization energies and structural properties of keteni mines 1a-r; these calculations show that stereoisomerization proceeds through nitrogen atom inversion and rotation around the C=C or C=N bon d, and that it requires about 40 to 60 kJ mol(-1) more energy than nit rogen inversion alone.