Solvent‐Free Photooxidation of Alkanes by Dioxygen with 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone via Photoinduced Electron Transfer

Photooxidation of alkanes by dioxygen occurred under visible light irradiation of 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ) which acts as a super photooxidant. Solvent‐free hydroxylation of cyclohexane and alkanes is initiated by electron transfer from alkanes to the singlet and triplet excited states of DDQ to afford the corresponding radical cations and DDQ^??, as revealed by femtosecond laser‐induced transient absorption measurements. Alkane radical cations readily deprotonate to produce alkyl radicals, which react with dioxygen to afford alkylperoxyl radicals. Alkylperoxyl radicals abstract hydrogen atoms from alkanes to yield alkyl hydroperoxides, accompanied by regeneration of alkyl radicals to constitute the radical chain reactions, so called autoxidation. The radical chain is terminated in the bimolecular reactions of alkylperoxyl radicals to yield the corresponding alcohols and ketones. DDQ^??, produced by the photoinduced electron transfer from alkanes to the excited state of DDQ, disproportionates with protons to yield DDQH₂.     

Mechanism for the Nonadiabatic Photooxidation of Benzene to Phenol: Orientation‐Dependent Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer

An efficient catalytic one‐step conversion of benzene to phenol was achieved recently by selective photooxidation under mild conditions with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ) as the photocatalyst. Herein, high‐level electronic structure calculations in the gas phase and in acetonitrile solution are reported to explore the underlying mechanism. The initially populated ¹ππ* state of DDQ can relax efficiently through a nearby dark ¹nπ* doorway state to the ³ππ* state of DDQ, which is found to be the precursor state involved in the initial intermolecular electron transfer from benzene to DDQ. The subsequent triplet‐state reaction between DDQ radical anions, benzene radical cations, and water is computed to be facile. The formed DDQH and benzene‐OH radicals can undergo T₁→S₀ intersystem crossing and concomitant proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) to generate the products DDQH₂ and phenol. Two of the four considered nonadiabatic pathways involve an orientation‐dependent triplet PCET process, followed by intersystem crossing to the ground state (S₀). The other two first undergo a nonadiabatic T₁→S₀ transition to produce a zwitterionic S₀ complex, followed by a barrierless proton transfer. The present theoretical study identifies novel types of nonadiabatic PCET processes and provides detailed mechanistic insight into DDQ‐catalyzed photooxidation.     

Report on an Unusual Cascade Reaction between Azulenes and 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐Dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ)

The oxidation of 1‐(3,8‐dimethylazulen‐1‐yl)alkan‐1‐ones 1 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ) in acetone/H₂O mixtures at room temperature does not only lead to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 but also, in small amounts, to three further products (Tables 1 and 2). The structures of the additional products 3 – 5 were solved spectroscopically, and that of 3a also by an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Fig. 1). It is demonstrated that the bis(azulenylmethyl)‐substituted DDQ derivatives 5 yield on methanolysis or hydrolysis precursors, which in a cascade of reactions rearrange under loss of HCl into the pentacyclic compounds 3 (Schemes 4 and 7). The found 1,1′‐[carbonylbis(8‐methylazulene‐3,1‐diyl)]bis[ethanones] 4 are the result of further oxidation of the azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxylic acids (Schemes 9 and 10).     

5,5′‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐di­hydroxy‐3,3′‐methyl­enedibenz­aldehyde and 6,6′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐8,8′‐methyl­ene­bis­(spiro­[4H‐1,3‐benzodioxin‐2,1′‐cyclo­hexane])

Two related compounds containing p‐tert‐butyl‐o‐methyl­ene‐linked phenol or phenol‐derived subunits are described, namely 5,5′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐di­hydroxy‐3,3′‐methyl­ene­di­benz­aldehyde, C₂₃H₂₈O₄, (I), and 6,6′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐8,8′‐methyl­ene­bis­(spiro­[4H‐1,3‐benzo­di­oxin‐2,1′‐cyclo­hexane]), C₃₅H₄₈O₄, (II). Both compounds adopt a `butterfly' shape, with the two phenol or phenol‐derived O atoms in distal positions. Phenol and aldehyde groups in (I) are involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the two dioxin rings in (II) are in distorted half‐chair conformations.     

Aromatic Monochlorination Photosensitized by DDQ with Hydrogen Chloride under Visible‐Light Irradiation

Photochlorination of aromatic substrates by hydrogen chloride with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐cyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ) occurs efficiently to produce the corresponding monochlorinated products selectively under visible‐light irradiation. The yields for the chlorination of phenol were 70 % and 18 % for p‐ and o‐chlorophenol, respectively, without formation of further chlorinated products. The photoinduced chlorination is initiated by electron transfer from Cl^? to the triplet excited state of DDQ. The radical intermediates involved in the photochemical reaction have been detected by time‐resolved transient absorption measurements.     

The bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene‐based ionic charge‐transfer complex with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone

In the ionic charge‐transfer (CT) complex composed of bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (ET) and 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ), C₁₀H₈S₈·C₈Cl₂N₂O₂, the donor and acceptor molecules both form centrosymmetric dimers associated by strong face‐to‐face π–π interactions. The disordered DDQ molecules form a one‐dimensional π‐stacked column, while the ET molecules form a two‐leg ladder through additional short S...S contacts between adjacent π–π‐bonded dimers. The crystal structure of ET–DDQ revealed in this study will provide a valuable example of the two‐leg spin ladder system, which has rarely been reported for ET‐based CT complexes.     

Complementary Iron(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Transformations of Allenes with Different Oxidants

Substituent‐ and oxidant‐dependent transformations of allenes are described. Given the profound influence of the substituent on the reactivity of allenes, the subtle differences in allene structures are manifested in the formation of diverse products when reacted with different electrophiles/oxidants. In general, reactions of nonsilylated allenes involve an allylic cation intermediate by forming a C?O bond, at the sp‐hybridized C2, with either DDQ (2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone) or TBHP (tert‐butyl hydroperoxide), along with FeCl₂?4 H₂O (10 mol %). In contrast, silylated allenes favor the formation of propargylic cation intermediates by transferring the allenic hydride to the oxidant, thus generating 1,3‐enynes (E1 product) or propargylic THBP ethers (S_N1 product). The formation of these different putative cationic intermediates from nonsilylated and silylated allenes is strongly supported by DFT calculations.     

EPR Study on the Complex Formed by Charge‐Transfer Process between Ground‐state Acceptor 2, 3‐Dicyano‐5, 6‐dichloro‐1, 4‐benzoquinone and Some Donors and on Cation Radical of Perylene (or Pyrene)

EPR study showed that the semi‐quinone radical anion of 2,3‐dicyano‐5,6‐dichloro‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) was formed in a charge transfer process between ground‐state DDQ as acceptor and each one of following ground state donors, i.e., 4‐methyl‐4′‐tridecyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridyl; 4‐methyl‐4′‐nonyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridyl; bis (2,2′‐bipyridyl) (4‐methyl‐4′‐heptadecyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(2+) perchlorate and perylene. EPR study also showed that there are perylene cation radical and pyrene cation radical in the following experimental conditions: (a) in 98% sulfuric add. (b) 10^?3 mol/L perylene (or pyrene) was dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid‐nitrobenzene (1: 1 V/V).     

Copper‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling Reaction between Allylic CH Bonds and α‐CH Bonds of Ketones or Aldehydes

A dehydrogenative cross‐coupling reaction between allylic C?H bonds and the α‐C?H bond of ketones or aldehydes was developed using Cu(OTf)₂ as a catalyst and DDQ as an oxidant. This synthetic approach to γ,δ‐unsaturated ketones and aldehydes has the advantages of broad scope for both ketones and aldehydes as reactants, mild reaction conditions, good yields and atom economy. A plausible mechanism using Cu(OTf)₂ as a Lewis acid catalyst was also proposed (DDQ=2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone; Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonate).     

Cross‐Conjugated Hexaphyrins and Their Bis‐Rhodium Complexes

A cross‐conjugated hexaphyrin that carries two meso‐oxacyclohexadienylidenyl (OCH) groups 9 was synthesized from the condensation of 5,10‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)tripyrrane with 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The reduction of 9 with NaBH₄ afforded the Möbius aromatic [28]hexaphyrin 10 . Bis‐rhodium complex 11 , prepared from the reaction of 10 with [{RhCl(CO)₂}₂], displays strong Hückel antiaromatic character because of the 28 π electrons that occupy the conjugated circuit on the enforced planar structure. The oxidation of 11 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) yielded complexes 12 and 13 depending upon the reaction conditions. Both 12 and 13 are planar owing to bis‐rhodium metalation. Although complex 12 bears two meso‐OCH groups at the long sides and is quinonoidal and nonaromatic in nature, complex 13 bears 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl and OCH groups and exhibits a moderate diatropic ring current despite its cross‐conjugated electronic circuit. The diatropic ring current increases upon increasing the solvent polarity, most likely due to an increased contribution of an aromatic zwitterionic resonance hybrid.     

Linearly ‐π‐ extended porphyrins: Synthesis of novel tetrabenzoylporphyrins

The π‐extended porphyrins 11a – c with a λ_max = 644, 643 and 639 nm were synthesized by an acid catalysed reaction of the dipyrrolylmethane 10 with different aldehydes followed by oxidation with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐quinone (DDQ). In a second approach, 10 was decarboxylated to yield 12, which was treated with DMF and benzoylchloride to give the diformyl compound 13. Acid catalysed reaction of 12 and 13 led to the porphyrin 11a after oxidation.     

Synthesis of 3,8‐Dichloro‐6‐ethyl‐1,2,5,7‐tetramethyl–BODIPY from an Asymmetric Dipyrroketone and Reactivity Studies at the 3,5,8‐Positions

The asymmetric BODIPY 1 a (BODIPY=4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene), containing two chloro substituents at the 3,8‐positions and a reactive 5‐methyl group, was synthesized from the asymmetric dipyrroketone 3 , which was readily obtained from available pyrrole 2 a . The reactivity of 3,8‐dichloro‐6‐ethyl‐1,2,5,7‐tetramethyl‐BODIPY 1 a was investigated by using four types of reactions. This versatile BODIPY undergoes regioselective Pd⁰‐catalyzed Stille coupling reactions and/or regioselective nucleophilic addition/elimination reactions, first at the 8‐chloro and then at the 3‐chloro group, using a variety of organostannanes and N‐, O‐, and S‐centered nucleophiles. On the other hand, the more reactive 5‐methyl group undergoes regioselective Knoevenagel condensation with an aryl aldehyde to produce a monostyryl‐BODIPY, and oxidation with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) gives the corresponding 5‐formyl‐BODIPY. Investigation of the reactivity of asymmetric BODIPY 1 a led to the preparation of a variety of functionalized BODIPYs with λ_max of absorption and emission in the ranges 487–587 and 521–617 nm, respectively. The longest absorbing/emitting compound was the monostyryl‐BODIPY 16 , and the largest Stokes shift (49 nm) and fluorescence quantum yield (0.94) were measured for 5‐thienyl‐8‐phenoxy‐BODIPY 15 . The structural properties (including 16 X‐ray structures) of the new series of BODIPYs were investigated.     

Stable [48]‐, [50]‐, and [52]Dodecaphyrins(1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0): The Largest Hückel Aromatic Molecules

[52]Dodecaphyrin(1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0) was quantitatively oxidized with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) to the corresponding [50]dodecaphyrin. Further oxidation of [50]dodecaphyrin with MnO₂ quantitatively afforded [48]dodecaphyrin. Of the three, [50]dodecaphyrin showed Hückel aromatic character as the largest aromatic molecule reported to date. Protonation of [50]dodecaphyrin with methanesulfonic acid (MSA) led to the formation of a planar tetraprotonated species that displayed a sharp and intense Soret‐like band at 906 nm with ε=6.5×10⁵ M ^?1 cm^?1 and Q‐band‐like bands at 1346 and 1600 nm.     

Semiconducting polymers from triphenylamine derivatives‐benzaldehyde polymers by oxidization with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ)

4‐Tolyldiphenylamine (TDPA) and N,N′‐diphenyl‐N,N′‐bis(4‐methylphenyl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diamine (TPD), were reacted with benzaldehyde (BA) using p‐toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst to yield linear polymers. The polymers were reacted with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature. ¹H‐NMR showed that all the methine protons in the residue of BA were completely removed at the mole ratio of repeating unit : DDQ, 2 : 1. The resulting polymers showed good solubility in chloroform or THF. The reacted TDPA‐BA and TPD‐BA polymers gave new UV absorption peaks at 697.0 and 722.5 nm and showed reversible redox potentials about 0.994 and 1.021 V, respectively. Direct current (d.c.) conductivity of the reacted polymers was in the range of 10^?11 S/cm, which is more than two orders higher than the unreacted polymers. The polymer showed pentad split electron spin resonance (ESR) signal, whose concentration was one in 670 or 230 repeating unit for TDPA‐BA and TPD‐BA polymers, respectively. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel Intramolecular Cyclization of 2‐(Buta‐1,3‐dienyl)benzyl Anions to 6,7(9)‐Dihydro‐5H‐benzocycloheptenyl Anions Leading to Successive Formation of 1,2‐Dihydrocyclopropa[a]naphthalenes

When treated with LiNⁱPr₂ (LDA) at ?78°, 1‐[(methylsulfanyl)methyl]‐2‐[(1Z,3E)‐4‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐dien‐1‐yl]benzene easily cyclized to form benzocycloheptenyl anion, which successively underwent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution to give a cyclopropanaphthalene. Similar LDA‐mediated cyclization also occurred for 4‐phenyl‐ or 4‐methyl‐substituted 1‐[2‐(methoxymethyl)phenyl]buta‐1,3‐dienes to furnish the corresponding benzocycloheptenes and cyclopropanaphthalenes. A 4‐tert‐butyl analog also underwent LDA‐mediated cyclization to give a benzocycloheptene, but not a cyclopropanaphthalene.     

Metal‐Free Oxidative B−N Coupling of nido‐Carborane with N‐Heterocycles

A general method for the oxidative substitution of nido‐carborane (7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₂^?) with N‐heterocycles has been developed by using 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidant. This metal‐free B?N coupling strategy, in both inter‐ and intramolecular fashions, gave rise to a wide array of charge‐compensated, boron‐substituted nido‐carboranes in high yields (up to 97 %) with excellent functional‐group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. The reaction mechanism was investigated by density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations. A successive single‐electron transfer (SET), B?H hydrogen‐atom transfer (HAT), and nucleophilic attack pathway is proposed. This method provides a new approach to nitrogen‐containing carboranes with potential applications in medicine and materials.     

SO2‐Extrusion of an 8‐thiabicylo[3.2.1]octa‐2,6‐diene 8,8‐dioxide and rearrangement of the resulting cycloheptatriene

The reaction of 3,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐thio‐phene 1‐oxide ( 8 ) with tetrachlorocyclopropene provided 6,7‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,3,4,4‐tetrachloro‐8‐thia‐bicylo[3.2.1]octa‐2,6‐diene 8‐oxide ( 10 ), which was oxidized to the corresponding 8,8‐dioxide 16 by m‐chloroperbenzoic acid. The thermolysis of 16 in refluxing chlorobenzene, xylene, or octane gave 5‐tert‐ butyl‐1,2‐dichloro‐3‐[(1,1‐dich‐loro‐2,2‐dimethyl)‐pro‐ pyl]‐benzene ( 18 ) with extrusion of SO₂ and 2‐tert‐butyl‐4,5,6‐trichloro‐9,9‐dimethylbicyclo[5.2.0]nona‐1,3,5‐triene ( 19 ) with extrusion of SO₂ and HCl in 73–78% combined yields. On the other hand, the thermolysis of 16 in the presence of triethylamine gave 19 as the sole product in 98% yield. A mechanism that involves the initial formation of 4,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,2,7,7‐tetrachlorocycloheptatriene ( 17 ) is proposed to ex‐ plain the observed products. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:132–222, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20079     

Effect of solvent on the dehydrogenation of poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene): Formation and characteristics of benzoquinone–aromatic hydrocarbon charge‐transfer complexes

The effect of solvent on the dehydrogenation of poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene) (PCHD) with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) [or 2,3,5,6‐tetrachloro‐1,4‐(p‐)‐benzoquinone (TCQ)] was examined to improve the reactivity of benzoquinones for this dehydrogenation reaction. The dehydrogenation of PCHD with DDQ (or TCQ) was strongly affected by the type of solvent, and aromatic hydrocarbon based solvents were appropriate for this dehydrogenation reaction. A charge‐transfer complex between DDQ (or TCQ) and aromatic hydrocarbons was formed in the reaction mixture, and the reactivity of the complex was much higher than that of free DDQ (or TCQ). The formation of a DDQ–aromatic hydrocarbon complex, which has a large diamagnetic shift of the ¹³C NMR signals with respect to DDQ, was the primary factor for improvement of the reactivity of DDQ. For the TCQ–aromatic hydrocarbon complex, the existence of an electron‐withdrawing group on the aromatic hydrocarbon was the major factor for improvement of the reactivity of TCQ. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 342–350, 2010     

An Electron‐Deficient Porphyrin Tape

Hexakis(pentafluorophenyl)‐substituted meso–meso‐linked Zn^II–diporphyrin ( 9 ), which was prepared by the acid‐catalyzed cross‐condensation of 1,1,2,2‐tetrapyrroethane ( 5 ) with dipyrromethane dicarbinol ( 6 ), was converted into meso–meso,β‐β,β‐β triply linked Zn^II–diporphyrin 3 by oxidation with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) and Sc(OTf)₃. Beside the red‐shifted absorption spectrum and split first oxidation potential that are common to the triply‐linked Zn^II–diporphyrins, diporphyrin 3 exhibited considerably improved chemical stability owing to a lowered HOMO and good solubility in common organic solvents. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section and S₁‐state lifetime of compound 3 were 1700 GM and 3.3 ps, respectively.     

Synthesis of tetracyclic system of 2,4‐di(tert‐butyl)‐6,7‐dihydrofuro[2′,3′:3,4]cyclohepta[1,2‐b]indole

For the first time, tetracyclic compounds, namely, furo[2′,3′:3,4]cyclohepta[1,2‐b]indoles were synthesized by recyclization of ortho‐substituted aryldifurylmethanes containing tert‐butyl groups at C5 positions of the furan rings. It was shown that [2‐(benzoylamino)phenyl]bis(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐furyl)methanes 12 are transformed into tetracycles 15 at room temperature under treatment with POCl₃ in benzene solution containing some drops of water. The reaction proceeds via the intermediate formation of 1‐benzoylamino‐3‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐furyl)‐2‐(4,4‐dimethyl‐3‐oxopentyl)indoles 14 which can be isolated from the reaction mixture. The method is very simple but its application is restricted due to side reactions if electron‐releasing groups are present in 12 . On the other hand, the decrease of electron density on furan ring in the starting compounds (for example, the use of [2‐X‐phenyl]difurylmethanes (where X = tosylamino or hydroxy group) prevents cyclization under the studied reaction conditions. As a result, corresponding ketones are formed as products of recyclization. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).