Palladium‐Catalyzed para‐Selective Alkylation of Electron‐Deficient Arenes

Intermolecular alkylations of electron‐deficient arenes proceed with good para selectivity. Palladium catalysts were used to generate nucleophilic alkyl radicals from alkyl halides, which then directly add onto the arenes. The arene scope and the site of alkylation are opposite to those of classical Friedel–Crafts alkylations, which prefer electron‐rich systems.     

Spectroscopy of Single Dibenzoterrylene Molecules in para‐Dichlorobenzene

We study single dibenzoterrylene (DBT) molecules embedded in 1,4‐dichlorobenzene (para‐dichlorobenzene, pDCB) at 1.2 K. Due to the relatively low melting point of pDCB (53 °C), this host‐guest system can be easily prepared from the molten phase. Narrow linewidths, stable molecular lines and high saturation count rates of single DBT molecules were observed. For this reason, we consider this host‐guest system a promising candidate for the study of interactions of single molecules with other small objects such as waveguides or nanoparticles.     

The para‐didehydropyridine,para‐didehydropyridinium,and related biradicals—a contribution to the chemistry of enediyne antitumor drugs

Structure and stability of seven singlet (S) biradicals formed by Bergman cyclization from enediynes are investigated with unrestricted DFT using B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) and B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df,3pd). The corresponding triplets (T) are also calculated and compared with their S states utilizing the on‐top pair density and the S‐T difference on‐top pair density. A relationship between the geometry of a S biradical, its stability, and its biradical character is established using the on‐top pair density and calculated S‐T splittings. Through‐bond coupling between the single electrons of the S biradical can be enhanced by the incorporation of a N atom into para‐didehydrobenzene 1 due to lowering of antibonding orbitals, shortening of ring bonds by anomeric effect, and increased overlap between the interacting orbitals. Strong through‐bond interactions lead to a stabilization of the S state and an increase of the S‐T splitting. Because through‐bond interactions also determine the degree of coupling between the single electrons, stabilization of the S biradical, and an increase of the S‐T splitting always means a lowering of the biradical character and the H abstraction ability, which is relevant for the use of N‐containing enediynes and their biradicals in connection with the design of new antitumor drugs. The S para‐didehydropyridine biradical 2 is strongly stabilized and, therefore, has only reduced biradical character. However, the latter can be enhanced by protonation, because this always leads to a lengthening of ring bonds and a reduction of the overlap between interacting orbitals. In the weakly acidic medium of a tumor cell, S biradicals containing an amidine group can be protonated to yield S biradicals with high biradical character (low S‐T splittings, small changes in bond alternation relative to the T state), which will abstract H atoms from the DNA of a tumor cell. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 216–229, 2001     

Synthesis and mechanical properties of para‐aramid nanofibers

Scalable, bottom‐up chemical synthesis and electrospinning of novel Cl‐substituted poly(para‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) nanofibers are herein reported. To achieve Cl‐PPTA nanofibers, the chemical reaction between the monomers was precisely controlled, and dissolution of the polymer into solvent was tailored to enable anisotropic solution formation and sufficient entanglement molecular weight. Electrospinning processing parameters were studied to understand their effects on fiber formation and mat morphology and then optimized to yield consistently high quality fibers. Importantly, the control of relative humidity during the fiber formation process was found to be critical, likely because water promotes hydrogen bond formation between the PPTA chains. The fiber and mat morphologies resulting from different combinations of chemistry and spinning conditions were observed using scanning electron microscopy, and observations were used as inputs to the optimization process. Tensile properties of single Cl‐PPTA nanofibers were characterized for the first time using a nanomanipulator mounted inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and fiber moduli measuring up to 70 GPa, and strengths exceeding 1 GPa were achieved. Given the excellent mechanical properties measured for the nanofibers, this chemical synthesis procedure and electrospinning protocol appear to be a promising route for producing a new class of nanofibers with ultrahigh strength and stiffness. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 563–573     

Kinetic study of triphenylphosphine addition to para‐benzoquinone

Kinetics of the addition reaction of triphenylphosphine to para‐benzoquinone in 1,2‐dichloroethane as solvent was studied. Initial rate method was used to determine the order of the reaction with respect to the reactants. Pseudo‐first‐order method was also used to calculate the rate constant. This reaction was monitored by UV‐vis spectrophotometry at 520 nm by variable time method. On the basis of the obtained results, the Arrhenius equation of this reaction was obtained: The activation parameters, E_a, ΔH^#, ΔG^#, and ΔS^# at 300 K were 5.701, 6.294, 19.958 kcal mol^?1 and ?45.853 cal mol^?1 K^?1, respectively. This reaction is first and second order with respect to triphenylphosphine and para‐benzoquinone, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36:472–479, 2004     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed para‐Selective C−H Alkylation of Aniline Derivatives

The para ‐selective C−H alkylation of aniline derivatives furnished with a pyrimidine auxiliary is herein reported. This reaction is proposed to take place via an N−H‐activated cyclometalate formed in situ. Experimental and DFT mechanistic studies elucidate a dual role of the ruthenium catalyst. Here the ruthenium catalyst can undergo cyclometalation by N−H metalation (as opposed to C−H metalation in meta ‐selective processes) and form a redox active ruthenium species, to enable site‐selective radical addition at the para position.     

Paddlewheel dirhodium complexes bridged by para‐substituted benzoates

The dirhodium complex bis­(benzonitrile)tetra­kis[μ‐4‐(diethyl­amino)benzoato‐κ²O:O′]dirhodium(II)(Rh—Rh) benzonitrile disolvate, [Rh₂(C₁₁H₁₄NO₂)₄(C₇H₅N)₂]·2C₇H₅N, lies about an inversion centre. The dirhodium complex (methanol)tetra­kis(μ‐4‐nitro­benzoato‐κ²O:O′)(pyridine)dirhodium(II)(Rh—Rh) dichloro­methane solvate, [Rh₂(C₇H₄NO₄)₄(C₅H₅N)(CH₄O)]·CH₂Cl₂, lies in a general position in the unit cell, but the complexes dimerize around an inversion centre via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding of the axial MeOH to a carboxyl­ate O atom. In the latter crystal structure, π–π stacking inter­actions between the bridging 4‐nitro­benzoate ligands and the axial pyridine ligand are observed between adjacent mol­ecules.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Arylative Dearomatization of para‐Aminophenols†

Asymmetric arylative dearomatization reactions of para‐aminophenols are realized by a Pd‐catalyst consisting of a TADDOL (α,α,α',α'‐tetraaryl‐2,2‐disubstituted 1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanol)‐derived chiral phosphoramidite ligand. The tetracyclic products bearing the key skeleton of Erythrina alkaloids are afforded in reasonable yields (up to 73%) with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). Concise total synthesis of (–)‐3‐demethoxyerythratidinone is achieved by employing this method as the key step.     

Theoretical study on the molecular structures of toluene,para‐fluorotoluene,para‐chlorotoluene,and 4‐methylpyridine and their sixfold internal rotational barriers

Two kinds of sixfold internal rotational configurations of toluene, para‐fluorotoluene, para‐chlorotoluene, and 4‐methylpyridine were calculated using Hartree–Fock (HF), second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2), and Beck's three parameter hybrid functional using the LYP correlation functional (B3LYP) theory methods with various high‐level basis sets. Structures and energies were compared for different configurations. Calculations indicate that the orthogonal configuration has a local minimum while the planar configuration is a transition structure. Furthermore, geometries of the orthogonal and the planar configurations are quite similar, except for a methyl CH bond. Sixfold internal rotational barriers were calculated from the energy difference of two different configurations. For the calculated results, HF methods underestimated the rotational barriers, but MP2 calculations overestimated them. However, the density functional theory (DFT) method is a reliable method since the calculated internal rotational barriers are similar to the experimental ones. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 77: 772–778, 2000     

The Photophysics of Pyridine‐Derivatized ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐Dibutylamino Cruciforms

The photophysical properties of a series of para‐substituted donor–acceptor cruciform fluorophores ( p 1 – 4 ) were investigated and compared with their meta and ortho isomers ( m 1 – 4 and o 1 – 4 ). The structural variations were found to have a significant effect on the solvatochromism, fluorescence quantum yields (Φ_fl), fluorescence lifetimes (τ_fl), and response upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid. The observed spectral shifts in absorption and emission caused by protonation of the cruciforms make them promising candidates as chemosensors. Additional computational studies provided more insight into the electronic structure of the systems.     

Iodine(III)‐Mediated para‐Selective Direct Imidation of Anilides

The direct, nucleophilic imidation of acetanilide derivatives has been performed under mild, iodine(III)‐mediated or ‐catalyzed conditions, employing lithium triflimide as the nitrogen source. The reaction exhibits exclusive regioselectivity for the para position and shows a good tolerance for varied functional groups at both the ortho or meta positions. Preliminary mechanistic data suggest that the LiNTf₂ reagent plays a key role in the reactivity.     

Electronic Structures and Spectroscopy of Luminescent para‐Phenylenevinylene Oligomers

The computational models for a series of PPV (para‐phenylenevinylene) oligomers were formed based on the biphenyl and stilbene structures. These oligomers were optimized using DFT at B3LYP/6‐31G (d) level. On the basis of the optimized geometries, the electronic spectra and ¹³C NMR spectra were calculated by the INDO/CIS and B3LYP/6‐31G(d) methods, respectively. It indicates that the main absorptions in the electronic spectra are red‐shifted when the oligomer length is increased. The main absorptions in the electronic spectra and the ¹³C chemical shifts are altered obviously when the substituents on the matrix are changed.     

para‐Nitroblebbistatin,the Non‐Cytotoxic and Photostable Myosin II Inhibitor

Blebbistatin, the best characterized myosin II‐inhibitor, is commonly used to study the biological roles of various myosin II isoforms. Despite its popularity, the use of blebbistatin is greatly hindered by its blue‐light sensitivity, resulting in phototoxicity and photoconversion of the molecule. Additionally, blebbistatin has serious cytotoxic side effects even in the absence of irradiation, which may easily lead to the misinterpretation of experimental results since the cytotoxicity‐derived phenotype could be attributed to the inhibition of the myosin II function. Here we report the synthesis as well as the in vitro and in vivo characterization of a photostable, C15 nitro derivative of blebbistatin with unaffected myosin II inhibitory properties. Importantly, para‐nitroblebbistatin is neither phototoxic nor cytotoxic, as shown by cellular and animal tests; therefore it can serve as an unrestricted and complete replacement of blebbistatin both in vitro and in vivo.