COPE REARRANGEMENT Meaning and
Definition
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Cope rearrangement refers to a chemical reaction that involves the reorganization of atoms within a molecule. Specifically, it refers to a specific class of intramolecular reactions known as sigmatropic rearrangements. In these reactions, a sigma bond undergoes migration, leading to the formation of a new sigma bond and the breaking of an existing sigma bond within the same molecule.
The term "cope rearrangement" is coined after the American chemist Arthur C. Cope, who extensively studied this type of rearrangement. Cope rearrangement is commonly observed in organic chemistry and is often used as a synthetic tool to form complex chemical structures.
Typically, cope rearrangements involve a cyclic transition state, where the migrating bond—usually a double bond or a carbon-carbon (C-C) bond—shifts from one atom to an adjacent atom. This rearrangement can occur due to the presence of certain electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents within the reactant molecule. The resulting product of a cope rearrangement may have altered stereochemistry, different functional groups, or increased molecular complexity.
Cope rearrangements are integral in the synthesis of natural products, pharmaceuticals, and other organic compounds. They enable chemists to manipulate molecular structures with high atom efficiency and selectivity. Understanding the mechanisms and applications of cope rearrangements is crucial in organic synthesis and drug discovery, as it allows scientists to access diverse chemical space and design new compounds with desired properties.
Etymology of COPE REARRANGEMENT
The term "cope rearrangement" is named after Arthur C. Cope, an influential American chemist. Arthur C. Cope was known for his extensive work in the field of organic chemistry, particularly in the area of rearrangement reactions. Cope rearrangement refers to a specific type of rearrangement reaction that involves the migration of a carbon-carbon double bond within a molecule. It was first described by Arthur C. Cope in 1937, and since then, the term "cope rearrangement" has been widely used in the scientific literature to refer to this specific reaction.
