Theoretical studies on the C-H bond insertion reaction of CX2 (X = H, F, Cl) with methyl isopropyl ether

The insertion reactions of CX2(X = H, F, Cl) with C-H bond in methyl isopro pyl ether have been studied at MP2/6-31G(d) level by using ab initio molecu lar orbital theory. The insertion barriers of CCl2 with C-H bonds of differ ent a-carbon are 117.2 kJ/mol (in methyl group) and 20.6 kJ/mol(in isopropy l group) respectively, and that of CFB with C-H bond in isopropyl group is 120.0 kJ/mol. The insertion of CF2 with C-H bond in methyl group can make C -O bond broken. No barrier is present in both insertion reaction of CH2 wit h C-H bond of two alpha-carbons. The comparison between different C-H bonds in dimethyl ether, methyl isopropyl ether and benzyl methyl ether shows th at both methyl group and phenzyl group promotes C-H bond insertion by carbe ne at its neighboring alpha-carbon more easily.