A DFT study of the vibrational spectra of 1-, and 2-nitrotriphenylene

The infrared (IR) and Raman spectra, and intensities of triphenylene, 1-, and 2-nitrotriphenylene were investigated by the density functional theory (DFT, B3LYP method) with 6-311+G** basis set. Normal mode assignments are proposed with particular emphasis on the nitro group vibrations. Compared to 2-nitrotriphenylene (2-NTRP) 1-nitrotriphenylene (1-NTRP) is predicted to show asymmetric nitro stretches at higher frequencies. Through the vibrational study, the structure–spectroscopic relationships of these nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) are made, and possible insights into their differential mutagenic potencies correlated. The geometrical distortions of the TRP structure upon nitro group substitution and correlations between structural parameters and vibrational data as well as structure–function relationships related to the mutagenicity of this important class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are discussed.     

A fundamental study on the fluorescence-quenching effect of nitro groups in tetraphenylethene AIE dyes with electron-withdrawing groups

A nitro group is a common fluorescence quencher, but its quenching efficiency can be easily affected by the surrounding environment. To date, there has been no systematic study on the effects of electronwithdrawing groups on the quenching efficiency of nitro groups. Herein, by virtue of experimental validation and theoretical calculations, we found that strong electron-withdrawing groups, such as pyridinium and dicyanovinyl groups, are detrimental to the quenching effect of nitro groups. Decreasing the electron-withdrawing ability could restore the nitro group's quenching effect.     

Stoichiometric Reactions of Enamines Derived from Diphenylprolinol Silyl Ethers with Nitro Olefins and Lessons for the Corresponding Organocatalytic Conversions – a Survey

The stoichiometric reactions of enamines prepared from aldehydes and diphenyl‐prolinol silyl ethers (intermediates of numerous organocatalytic processes) with nitro olefins have been investigated. As reported in the last century for simple achiral and chiral enamines, the products are cyclobutanes ( 4 with monosubstituted nitro‐ethenes), dihydro‐oxazine N‐oxide derivatives ( 5 with disubstituted nitro‐ethenes), and nitro enamines derived from γ‐nitro aldehydes ( 6 , often formed after longer reaction times). The same types of products were shown to be formed, when the reactions were carried out with peptides H‐Pro‐Pro‐Xaa‐OMe that lack an acidic H‐atom. Functionalized components such as alkoxy enamines, nitro‐acrylates, acetamido‐nitro‐ethylene, or hydroxylated nitro olefins also form products carrying the diphenyl‐prolinol silyl ether as a substituent. All of these products must be considered intermediates in the corresponding catalytic reactions; the investigation of their chemical properties provided useful hints about the rates, the conditions, the catalyst resting states or irreversible traps, and/or the limitations of the corresponding organocatalytic processes. High‐level DFT and MP2 computations of the structures of alkoxy enamines and thermodynamic data of a cyclobutane dissociation are also described. Some results obtained with the stoichiometrically prepared intermediates are not compatible with previous mechanistic proposals and assumptions.     

Vibrational and Thermodynamic Properties of 2,2',4,4',6,6'-Hexanitroazobenzene and Its Derivatives: A Density Functional Theory Study

HNAB (2,2′,4,4′,6,6′‐hexanitroazobenzene) and its derivatives have been optimized to obtain their molecular geometries and electronic structures by using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level. Their IR spectra have been computed and assigned by vibrational analysis. The strongest peaks are attributed to the N? O asymmetric stretching of nitro groups. Its central position moves towards higher frequency as the number of nitro groups increases. It is obvious that there is hydrogen‐bonding between amino and nitro groups in amino derivatives. Based on the frequencies scaled by 0.96 and the principle of statistical thermodynamics, the thermodynamic properties have been evaluated, which are linearly related with the temperature, as well as the number of nitro and amino groups, respectively, obviously showing good group additivity. And the thermodynamic functions for the nitro derivatives increase much more than those for the amino derivatives with the increase of the number of substituents. The values of heat of formation (HOF) for the nitro derivatives increase gradually with n, while those of the amino derivatives decrease smoothly with n.     

Denitrohydrogenation of aliphatic nitro compounds and a new use of aliphatic nitro compounds as radical precursors

Aliphatic nitro groups are replaced by hydrogen on treatment with tributyltin hydride which proceeds via free radical chain processes. As the nitro group is selectively denitrated and other reducible groups are not affected with tributyltin hydride, this reaction can be used as a method for removing the nitro group from polyfunctional compounds. The radical intermediates generated via denitration can be also used for the carbon-carbon bond forming reactions.     

Two dominant factors influencing the impact sensitivities of nitrobenzenes and saturated nitro compounds

The factors governing the impact sensitivity (H(50)) of nitrobenzenes and saturated nitro compounds were studied. It was observed that the oxygen balances (OB(100)) and nitro group charge (Q(NO2)) are two important factors influencing the stability of these nitro compounds. Employing the square of nitro group charge (Q(NO2)2) and OB(100) as the parameters, a good quantitative model was built for predicting H(50) of the above two sorts of nitro compounds. The predictive ability of the model was assessed by the cross-validation method (i.e., leave-one-out cross-validation). The cross-validation result shows that the model is significant and stable, and the predicted accuracy is within 0.21 m. This quantitative model may be a useful tool for the design of high-energy-density materials.     

Catalyst‐Free Reductive Coupling of Aromatic and Aliphatic Nitro Compounds with Organohalides

A rare reductive coupling of nitro compounds with organohalides has been realized. The reaction is initiated by a partial reduction of the nitro group to a nitrenoid intermediate. Therefore, not only aromatic but also aliphatic nitro compounds are efficiently transformed into monoalkylated amines, with organohalides as the alkylating agent. Given the innate reactivity of the nitrenoid, a catalyst is not required, resulting in a high tolerance for aryl halide substituents in both starting materials.     

Theoretical studies on the vibrational spectra, thermodynamic properties, detonation properties, and pyrolysis mechanisms for polynitroadamantanes

To look for high energy density materials (HEDM), the relationships between the structures and the performances of polynitroadamantanes (PNAs) were studied. The assigned infrared spectra of PNAs obtained at the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-31G level were used to compute the thermodynamic properties on the basis of the principle of statistical thermodynamics. The thermodynamic properties are linearly related with the number of nitro groups as well as with the temperatures. Detonation properties of PNAs were evaluated by using the Kamlet-Jacobs equation based on the calculated densities and heats of formation for titled compounds, and it is found that only when the number of nitro groups of PNA is equal to or more than eight can it be possible for PNAs to be used as HEDMs. The relative stabilities of PNAs were studied by the pyrolysis mechanism using the UHF-PM3 method. The homolysis of the C-NO2 bond is predicted to be the initial step of thermal decomposition. The activation energies (Ea) for the homolysis decrease with the number of nitro groups being increased on the whole. The stability order of dinitroadamantane isomers derived from the interactions among nitro groups is consistent with what is determined by Ea. The relations between the Ea's and the electronic structure parameters were discussed. In combination with the stability, PNA (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-) is recommended as the target of HEDM with insensitivity.     

Effect of ortho substitution on the charge localization of dinitrobenzene radical anions

Optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies were used to study the radical anions of several m-dinitrobenzenes and p-dinitrobenzenes with substituents on ortho positions relative to the nitro groups. 1,4-Dinitrobenzene, 1,4-dimethyl-2,5-dinitrobenzene, and 2,5-dinitrobenzene-1,4-diamine radical anions are delocalized (class III) mixed valence species, but in the dinitrodurene radical anion the nitro groups are forced out of the ring plane due to the steric hindrance, which results in localization of the charge. The radical anions m-dinitrobenzene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, and dinitromesitylene are all localized (class II) mixed valence species, as is common for m-dinitrobenzenes, and the rate of intramolecular electron transfer reaction strongly decreases with the number of methyl substituents. The same mechanism of rotation of the nitro groups out of the ring plane due to steric hindrance caused by neighboring methyl groups is also responsible for slowing the reaction. However, 2,6-dinitroaniline radical anion and 2,6-dinitrophenoxide radical dianion are charge-delocalized because the strong electron releasing amino and oxido groups increase the conjugation between the two charge-bearing units.     

Electrochemical Conversions of 2-Methyl-3-nitro-4-phenylquinoline, Its Quinolinium Salts, and Hydrogenated Derivatives

Classical polarography, cyclic voltammetry, and EPR spectroscopy was used to study electrochemical reduction and oxidation of 3-nitro derivatives of 2-methyl-4-phenylquinoline, the corresponding quinolinium perchlorates, and 1,2- and 1,4-dihydroquinolines. The nitro derivatives of quinoline and 1,2-dihydroquinoline are reduced in the first step at the nitro group; the quinolinium cations are reduced at the heterocycle followed by reduction of the nitro group; and in 1,4-dihydroquinolines, the nitro group is not reduced. Electrochemical reduction processes associated with electron transfer in the heterocycle mainly display the same behavior as established for pyridine derivatives. But important differences were observed in electrochemical oxidation: the N-methyl derivative of 1,4-dihydroquinoline is oxidized significantly more easily than the corresponding N-unsubstituted derivative of 1,4-dihydroquinoline (in the 1,4-dihydropyridine series, the difference in pot! enti als is fairly small), and even more easily than the corresponding N-methyl derivative of 1,2-dihydroquinoline.     

Ortho effect of the nitro group in the fragmentation of 1-phenyl-3-nitrophenyl-2-pyrazolines

Electron impact mass spectra and mass-analysed ion kinatic energy spectra of the title compounds are discussed. The characteristic fragment ions of the ortho isomer are shown by high resolution and kinetic energy release measurements to involve the transfer of hydrogen to the nitro group and oxygen from the nitro group to the pyrazoline carbon.     

Contemplation on Detonation Pressures of Nitramines and ­Nitro Aromatics

A physical model and a mathematical theory for the detonation pressures of explosives materials were developed. The pressure values are expressed as function of the detonation velocity (D) and the average mass (m) of the gaseous products, and are applied for various nitramines and aromatic nitro compounds including nitro pyrimidines and nitro triazines. Some regression equations were obtained and discussed. The pressure values show poor linear dependence on the average mass of the products but good dependence on the detonation velocities alone or Dm. Moreover, for the same Dm value nitramines should produce more pressure than aromatic nitro compounds. This work deals with pressure developed by explosion products and interrelates it with detonation pressure within the constraints of certain assumptions and pays attention to so far unnoticed relationships at least under certain circumstances.     

Silylation as a new strategy of the use of aliphatic nitro compounds in organic synthesis

Silylation of aliphatic nitro compounds is considered as a versatile multistage process. Due to activation of the - and -carbon atoms of the initial nitro substrates, these reactions give rise to a series of products untypical of the traditional chemistry of nitro compounds. A new redox process proposed in the present study involves controlled incomplete reduction of the nitro group with simultaneous oxidation of the carbon skeleton of the initial aliphatic nitro compound.     

interaction of nitro compounds with radicals: a quantum chemical study

Photoreduction of nitro compounds is accompanied by formation of various radical products that can react with the starting nitro compound, thus causing deviation of the decomposition kinetics from the first-order kinetics with respect to the nitro compound. The results of quantum chemical modeling of the reactions of nitro compounds with radicals and the pathways of further transformations of radical adducts formed in the reactions are presented. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 202–206, February, 2006.     

Theoretical Study on Second‐order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Substituted Thiazole Derivatives

On the basis of ZINDO program, we have designed a program to calculate the nonlinear second‐order polarizability β_yk and β_μ according to the SOS expression. The second‐order nonlinear optical properties of 4‐nitro‐4′‐dimethylamino‐stilbene and a series of its thiazole derivatives were studied. The calculated results were that: When replacing a benzene ring in 4‐nitro‐4′‐dimethylamino‐stilbene by a thiazole ring, the influence on β values depends on the position of thiazole ring. When the thiazole ring connects with nitro group (acceptor), the β values increase significantly compared with corresponding stilbene derivatives. The β values of 2‐(p‐donor‐β‐styryl)‐5‐nitro‐thiazole derivatives (2–7) are larger than those of 2‐(p‐nitro‐β‐styryl)‐5‐donor‐thiazole derivatives (8–13) and 2‐(p‐donor‐phenyl)‐azo‐5‐nitro‐thiazole derivatives (14–19). The 2‐(p‐donor‐β‐styryl)‐5‐nitro‐thiazole derivatives (2–7) are good candidates as chromophores duo to their high nonlinearities and potential good thermal stability.     

Routes to N‐vinyl‐nitroimidazoles and N‐vinyl‐deazapurines

The preparations of 4‐ and 5‐nitro‐1‐vinylimidazole ( 2 and 7 ) are described. Selective reduction of the nitro group using Fe/dil.HCl is achieved for the 4‐nitro derivative but this is not effective when ethoxymethylenemalononitrile is used to trap the amine. For 5‐nitroimidazole studies the N‐vinyl substituent is kept masked as a 2‐chloroethyl group, which remains unchanged during catalytic reduction of the nitro function (Pd/C), and is revealed by HCl elimination at a later stage. In this way, the 1‐deazapurine 13 and the tricyclic derivative 14 have been prepared.     

4-(1-Haloalkyl)-3-nitrotetrahydrofurans as versatile scaffolds for the synthesis of diversely functionalized tetrahydrofurans

4-(1-Haloalkyl)-3-nitrotetrahydrofurans, which are accessible by tandem oxidative oxa-Michael addition/radical cyclization/ligand transfer reactions, can be processed to diversely substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives. Selective epimerization at the nitro function provides tetrahydrofuran diastereomers, which cannot be prepared by the tandem process. Intramolecular alkylations furnish interesting bridgehead nitro oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane derivatives in high yields. Intermolecular substitution reactions of the halide functions succeed only with nucleophiles, which are not basic enough to trigger intramolecular alkylations. The aryl substituent in 2-aryl-3-nitrotetrahydrofurans can be selectively oxidatively transformed to carboxylic acid derivatives using catalytic Ru(III) and NaIO₄ without affecting the nitro group. Reduction and hydrogenation reactions provide differently substituted 3-aminotetrahydrofuran derivatives depending on the conditions with moderate to good chemoselectivity.     

A DFT analysis of the vibrational spectra of nitrobenzene

Raman and FTIR, spectra of nitrobenzene, nb, and its isotopomers, nb-¹⁵N, nb-¹³C₆ and nb-d₅, were obtained and the fundamental vibrational modes assigned with the aid of a B3LYP/6-311+G** calculation, without the need for scaling of the force constants. The changes in vibrational coupling between the nitro and benzene groups upon certain isotopic substitutions are well modelled by the calculation, which is able to reproduce the isotopic shifts in frequencies for the nitro vibrations, as well as changes in IR intensities.     

Étude D'une Série de Phénoxazines et D'azaphénoxazines par Spectrométrie de Masse

Mass spectra of substituted phenoxazines and azaphenoxazines have been determined and are discussed here. These compounds are characterised by hydrogen on the heterocyclic nitrogen and aromatic rings with nitro groups and chlorine as substituents. The fragmentation patterns are explained by known mechanisms. An interpretation of almost all the peaks is offered. The presence of the substituents causes a complete change in the fragmentation patterns compared with the unsubstituted phenoxazine. This is due to changes in charge localisation, caused by the substituents. Isomerisation of the nitro group to the nitroso group gives rise to a particular fragmentation route.