Abstract

The AM1 “in silico tool box” is capable of correctly predicting the preferred stereochemistry and the stereoenhancement effects of Lewis acids during free radical hydrogen transfer reactions for a series of chiral non-racemic organostannanes to several prochiral radicals. While other methods overestimate the difference in energy involved, the accuracy of the predicted magnitude, using the above-mentioned process, for observed enantioselectivities of certain cases is noteworthy. The methodology has shown a remarkable adaptability to various structurally diverse chiral non-racemic hydrides and given reproducibility of the trends in enantioselectivity observed by several independent experimental studies.

Keywords: Free Radical Chemistry, “in silico”, stereochemistry, ab initio, molecular modelling