A Reaction Path Bifurcation in an Electrocyclic Reaction: The Ring-Opening of the Cyclopropyl Radical

Following previous work [J. Chem. Phys. 139, 154108 (2013)] on a simple model of a reaction with a post-transition state valley ridge inflection point, we study the chem- ically important example of the electrocyclic cyclopropyl radical ring-opening reaction using direct dynamics and a reduced dimensional potential energy surface. The overall reaction requires con- or disrotation of the methylenes, but the initial stage of the ring opening involves substantial internal rotation of only one methylene. The reaction path bifurcation is then associated with the relative sense of rotation of the second methy- lene. Clear deviations of reactive trajectories from the disrotatory intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) for the ring-opening are observed and the dynamical mechanism is discussed. Several features observed in the model system are found to be preserved in the more complex and higher dimensional ring-opening reaction. Most notable is the sensitivity of the reaction mechanism to the shape of the potential manifested as a Newtonian kinetic isotope effect upon deuterium substitution of one of the methylene hydrogens. Dependence of the product yield on frictional dissipation representing external environmental effects is also presented. The dynamics of the post-transition state cyclopropyl radical ring-opening are discussed in detail and the use of low dimensional models as tools to analyze complicated organic reaction mechanisms is assessed in the context of this reaction.