Substituent effects in mass spectrometry: The correlation of the ionisation potentials of substituted benzenes with σp+

It is demonstrated that the ionisation potentials of mono- and di-substituted benzenes are related to the sum of Brown's σ_p⁺ of the substituents for both the meta and para isomers. From this it is concluded that the charge, in substituted arenes, lies predominantly on the aromatic ring rather than on either of the substituents. An empirical equation relating the IP's of mono- and disubstituted benzenes to the sum of σ_p⁺ is presented.     

Substituent effects in mass spectrometry—III: Substituent effects in the dissociation of the molecular ions of para and meta substituted benzoic acids

The effect of substituents on the electron-impact-induced fragmentation of the molecular ions of para and meta substituted benzoic acids has been examined. The substituent is observed to exert an effect on the ionisation potential of the molecular ion, on the appearance potentials of the primary daughter ions and on the amount of H/D scrambling in the molecular ion of the carboxyl-d₁ analogues prior to the loss of hydroxyl therefrom. The energy of activation for the loss of hydroxyl from the molecular ion is in general dependent upon the nature but not the position of the substituent, while the amount of H/D scrambling in the molecular ion of the carboxyl-d₁ derivative is dependent upon both the nature and the position of the substituent. No correlation of the relative ion abundances with σ⁺ constants was observed. The results are consistent with the molecular ions of each compound having a dissimilar energy distribution, which could arise either by different energy transfers from the electron beam to the molecule or by the participation of different isolated electronic excited states (or similar states but to varying extents) in the dissociation of the molecular ions.     

A correlation of substituent effects with proton chemical shifts in aromatic tetrazolic acids

The effect of substituents on the proton chemical shifts and spin–spin coupling constants in ortho-, meta- and para-substituted 5-phenyltetrazoles (tetrazolic acids) in DMSO–CH₃CN (1:1, v/v) was studied. With the meta- and para- substituted compounds the additivity rule of chemical shifts was obeyed, thereby enabling increments characterizing the effects of individual substituents in monosubstituted benzenes to be determined. By employing the Smith and Proulx equation, the chemical shifts of the aromatic protons were correlated with the F, R and Q substituent constants. The values of these constants are 1.02, ?0.004 and 5.49, respectively, for the tetrazolyl substituent.     

The Loss of a hydroxyl group from the molecular ions of alkylnitrobenzenes

It is confirmed that the loss of HO˙ from the molecular ion of o-nitrotoluene involves exclusively a hydrogen from the methyl group. However, in higher homologues hydrogen atoms from non-benzylic sites are also implicated. With such compounds this fragmentation mode is shown not only by the ortho but, to a lesser extent, by the meta and para isomers as well. The proportion of the total ion current borne by the [M – 17]⁺ ion follows the order ortho > meta > para, which is attributed to substituent migration around the ring with a hydroxyl radical only being lost when the groups are on adjacent ring atoms. Other ions present in the spectra point to interaction between substituents to form a new heterocyclic ring.     

Distance‐Dependent Attractive and Repulsive Interactions of Bulky Alkyl Groups

The stabilizing and destabilizing effects of alkyl groups on an aromatic stacking interaction were experimentally measured in solution. The size (Me, Et, iPr, and tBu) and position (meta and para) of the alkyl groups were varied in a molecular balance model system designed to measure the strength of an intramolecular aromatic interaction. Opposite stability trends were observed for alkyl substituents at different positions on the aromatic rings. At the closer meta‐position, smaller groups were stabilizing and larger groups were destabilizing. Conversely, at the farther para‐position, the larger alkyl groups were systematically more stabilizing with the bulky tBu group forming the strongest stabilizing interaction. X‐ray crystal structures showed that the stabilizing interactions of the small meta‐alkyl and large para‐alkyl groups were due to their similar distances and van der Waals contact areas with the edge of opposing aromatic ring.     

Quantum-chemical interpretation of the effect of substitution in the benzene ring on the reactivity of monosubstituted benzenes

The HF/3-21G and HF/6-31G** methods were used to calculate the effective charges on the carbon and hydrogen atoms in the meta and para positions of the aromatic ring in monosubstituted benzenes. The calculated charges are compared with the Hammett constants of the substituents in the aromatic ring. Linear correlations were obtained between the atomic charges and the Hammett constants of the substituents. The resulting equations were shown to be useful for predicting and assessing the reactivity of aromatic compounds.     

Susbstituent effects in mass spectrometry IV—an evaluation of empirical methods for calculating the ionisation potentials of para and meta disubstituted benzenes

Three empirical equation which have been used to calculate ionisation potentials of para and meta disubstituted benzenes are evalyated according to their ability to predict the IP's of para and meta YC₆H₄COX, (where x ? OH, NH₂, CL).     

Substituent Effect on the C–NO2 and N–NO2 Bond Dissociation Energies of Nitroaromatic Molecules

Six density function theory methods (B3LYP, B3P86, MPWB1K1, MPWPW91, PBEPBE, TPSS1KCIS3) were used to calculate bond dissociation enthalpies of nitro compounds, where the B3P86 method was found to give the most accurate predictions. Using the B3P86 method meta‐ and para‐substituted nitroaromatics were systematically studied for the first time. The remote substituent effects, Hammett relationships, and the origin of the substituent effects were discussed on the basis of the calculated results. Both meta‐ and para‐substituted nitromethyl‐benzenes showed significant substituent effects and a fair correlation against substituent constants σ_p⁺ The ground state effects were found to play the major role in determining the overall substituent effects. Meanwhile, nitroamino‐ benzenes showed irregular substituent effects and a poorer Hammett correlation, where both ground and radical state effects contributed to the overall substituent effects.     

The fragmentations of substituted cinnamic acids after electron impact

The fragmentations of a number of cinnamic acids substituted at the phenyl ring have been studied with the aid of 70 eV mass spectra and mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra. Evidence is presented that the formation of [C₉H₇O₂]⁺ ions occurs by intramolecular aromatic substitution reactions. A mechanism is proposed for the energetically favourable loss of the substituents from meta and para positions of the phenyl ring. The analytical use of intramolecular aromatic substitution reactions is briefly discussed.     

The steric effect as a mechanistic tool in mass spectral decompositions. Comments on the activated complex for the loss of no from substituted nitrobenzenes

The effect of ortho substituents in nitrobenzence radical cation decompositions are discussed for non-interacting halogen substituents. These effects are distinct from those of the same substituents in the meta and para positions, and support previous indications that ring position identity is retained in nitrobenzene molecular ions. More importantly, the steric effect of the halo substituents may be gauged from these data; it indicates that several previously suggested mechanisms for the loss of NO must be reconsidered. The existence of steric effect in very well defined systems may be used as a structural tool in organic mass spectrometry.     

Analytical MO study of the singlet–triplet coupling in xylylenes

The singlet–triplet energy difference in para-, meta-, and ortho-xylylenes is studied as the interaction of two radical centers through the benzene ring. An SCF perturbative procedure adapted to open-shell systems leads to two benzyl-like nonbonding molecular orbitals (NBMOS ) and to benzene-like occupied and vacant MOS whatever the xylylene isomer. The superposition of these NBMOS in para-, meta-, and ortho-positions and their interaction with the benzene-like MOS lead, at the configuration interaction level, to the following results: The exchange energy (which favors the triplet state) and the charge transfer energy (which favors the singlet state) are important only in the meta-xylylene; the dynamic (or double) spin polarization favors the triplet in meta and the singlet in para and ortho-isomers; the super-exchange energy (which favors the singlet) is important only in para- and ortho-isomers. The above results are independent of the chosen geometry.     

Metallation reactions. Part 35: A change of the regiochemistry in the metallation of (alkylthio)arenes

The metallation reaction of bromo(alkylthio)benzenes is described. The results show the complementarity of these reactions with the metal-hydrogen exchange reaction. In fact, monometallation of bromo(methylthio)benzenes afforded products substituted in para or meta or ortho to the thioethereal function while bimetallation led to αS,para, αS,meta and αS,ortho disubstituted products. Analogously, the monometallation of 4-bromo-(isopropylthio)benzene afforded para-monosubstituted and ortho,para-disubstituted products.     

Functionalization of Hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronenes: Investigation of the Substituent Effects on a Superbenzene

We have demonstrated that the iridium‐catalyzed direct borylation of hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) enables regioselective introduction of boryl groups to the para‐, ortho‐, and meta‐substituted HBCs in high yields. The boryl groups have been transformed into various functionalities such as hydroxy, cyano, ethynyl, and amino groups. We have elucidated that the substituents significantly influence the photophysical properties of HBCs to enhance fluorescence quantum yields. DFT calculations revealed that the origin of the substituent effect is the lift in degeneracy in the frontier orbitals by an interaction with electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents at the para‐ and ortho‐positions. The change in molecular orbitals results in an increase of the transition probability from the S₀→S₁ states. In addition, the two‐photon absorption cross‐section values of para‐substituted HBCs are significantly larger than those of ortho‐ and meta‐substituted HBCs.     

13C chemical shifts of phenol derivatives. A correlation with electronic structure

The ¹³C chemical shifts of twenty chloro- and nitro-substituted phenols have been measured in d-chloroform. The influence of substituents on the screening at C-1, on the total charge at this position and on the dipole moments is reported and analysed. The results of this study suggest that variations of the chemical shifts at C-1 for meta-methyl-, meta-chloro-, meta-nitro-, ortho- and para-methyl-, ortho- and para-chlorosubstituents mainly reflect charge density changes. The influence of ortho-nitro groups on the screening of C-1 is more complex.     

α-取代甲苯定向硝化的理论研究

运用密度泛函理论(DFT), 研究了吸电子氟基和供电子羟基在取代甲苯的α-H以后, 其邻、间、对各位次进行硝化反应的速控步骤, 在B3LYP/6-311G**水平上, 计算了该速控步骤基元反应各反应驻点(反应物、过渡态和中间体)的优化几何、电子结构和能量性质, 并首次给出了目标硝化反应速控步骤的IR谱学的动态特征及解析, 从微观层面上验证了反应坐标C—N的形成和C—H的断裂是非协同的, 从而无一级动力学同位素效应的实验事实. 通过对目标硝化反应速控步骤的微观动态计算, 验证了氟基对甲基定位的影响. 氟基的电负性大, 吸电子能力强, 取代甲苯的α-H以后对硝酰阳离子的进攻有抑制作用, 活化能较取代前高, 但比较苄基氟各位次硝化活化能的相对大小得知, －CH₂F仍为邻、对位定向基团. 而供电子羟基取代甲苯的α-H以后, 则对硝酰阳离子的进攻有促进作用, 因而各反应驻点络合物的稳定化能较α-H取代前甲苯的有所增大, 且邻、对位硝化的活化能较间位低, 故－CH₂OH为邻、对位定位基. 但对位因硝化活化能低, 反应放热多, 空间位阻小, 为亲电试剂NO₂⁺最有利的进攻位; 而邻位则因羟基取代甲苯α-H后多了一个氧原子, 增大了邻位进攻的空间位阻, 使得其络合物的能量比相应对位的高.     

Fluorinated α-Diimine Nickel Mediated Ethylene (Co)Polymerization

Fluorine substituents in transition metal catalysts are of great importance in olefin polymerization catalysis; however, the comprehensive effect of fluorine substituents is elusive in seminal late transition metal α-diimine catalytic system. In this contribution, fluorine substituents at various positions (ortho-, meta-, and para-F) and with different numbers (F_n; n=0, 1, 2, 3, 5) were installed into the well-defined N-terphenyl amine and thus were studied for the first time in the nickel α-diimine promoted ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar monomers. The position of the fluorine substituent was particularly crucial in these polymerization reactions in terms of catalytic activity, polymer molecular weight, branching density, and incorporation of polar monomer, and thus a picture on the fluorine effect was given. As a notable result, the ortho-F substituted α-diimine nickel catalyst produced highly linear polyethylenes with an extremely high molecular weight (M_w=8703 kDa) and a significantly low degree of branching of 1.4/1000 C; however, the meta-F and/or para-F substituted α-diimine nickel catalysts generated highly branched (up to 80.2/1000 C) polyethylenes with significantly low molecular weights (M_w=20-50 kDa).     

Kinetic and thermodynamic effects on intramolecular aromatic substitution in meta and para substituted benzalacetones

meta and para substituted benzalacetones lose the substituents after electron impact in a multi-step intramolecular aromatic substitution. The differences in the relative abundances of the benzopyrylium ions thus formed are not determined by the activation energies for the substituent losses but depend on a delicate balance between the thermodynamic stability of the intermediates involved and the rates of several H-shifts within the intermediates (kinetic stability). The consequences for the analytical utility of intramolecular aromatic substitution are discussed briefly.     

Use of silver trifluoroacetate together with lanthanide shift reagents for simplification of 1H NMR spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons

The equimolar mixtures of typical lanthanide shift reagents such as Eu(fod)₃, Pr(fod)₃ or Yb(fod)₃ with silver trifluoroacetate, previously used to induce paramagnetic shifts in the ¹H NMR spectra of alkenes, have been successfully applied to simple aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. In benzene and p-xylene the signals of all the aromatic protons are shifted identically. In other substituted benzenes the magnitude of the induced shift depends on the distance between the proton and the substituents. In addition, the different behaviour of the signals of the methyl groups in meta-and para-xylene on the addition of the complex shift reagent allows the quantitative analysis of the two xylenes in their mixtures.     

The influence of the macroring structure on the enthalpies of solution of tetrapyridylporphyrin derivatives in water

The enthalpies of solution of 5,10,15,20-tetra(N-methylpyrid-4,3,2-yl)porphyrin tetraiodide were determined calorimetrically at 298.15 K. Changes in the position of the heteroatom in the pyridyl fragment of the substituted porphyrin (meta- and ortho- positions) substantially decreased the endothermic effect of solution compared with the para- isomer. This was related to changes in the energy of the molecular crystal lattice, which decreased in the series para- > meta- > ortho-isomer.     

Loss of hydroxyl radical from isomeric ethylnitrobenzenes

The loss of a hydroxyl radical from the molecular ions of o-, m- and p-ethylnitrobenzene has been studied by metastable ion and collisional activation techniques using electron impact and field ionization. It is shown that for the ortho isomer the mechanism of this reaction is unique, and is totally different from that of the meta and para isomers. The critical energies are also reported, and deuterium labelling is employed to access the role of the α-hydrogens in hydroxyl loss.