Nitrenes are nitrogen analogues of carbenes that contain no charge and are highly reactive and electrophilic. They exist in both singlet and triplet states, with the triplet state being more stable due to the presence of unpaired electrons. Nitrenes can be generated from acyl and alkyl azides, from sulphinylamine, or through insertion reactions. Important reactions involving nitrenes include the Beckmann rearrangement, Hofmann bromamide reaction, Curtius rearrangement, Lossen rearrangement, and Schmidt rearrangement.
2. Bebeto G Nitrenes 26/09/2019
Nitrenes
Nitrogenous analogue of carbene
Monovalent nitrogen species
Contains no charge
Electron deficient
Electrophile
Highly reactive
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4. Stability
Triplet > Singlet
Presence of unpaired electrons in each orbital
Only 33KJ/mol Energy
Usually present in Ground state
Bebeto G Nitrenes 26/09/2019
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