Mechanistic investigations of the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols using (-)-sparteine

The mechanistic details of the Pd(II)/(-)-sparteine-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols were elucidated, and the origin of asymmetric induction was determined. Saturation kinetics were observed for rate dependence on [(-)-sparteine]. First-order rate dependencies were observed for both the Pd((-)-sparteine)Cl(2) concentration and the alcohol concentration at high and low [(-)-sparteine]. The oxidation rate was inhibited by addition of (-)-sparteine HCl. At low [(-)-sparteine], Pd-alkoxide formation is proposed to be rate limiting, while at high [(-)-sparteine], beta-hydride elimination is proposed to be rate determining. These conclusions are consistent with the measured kinetic isotope effect of k(H)/k(D) = 1.31 +/- 0.04 and a Hammett rho value of -1.41 +/- 0.15 at high [(-)-sparteine]. Calculated activation parameters agree with the change in the rate-limiting step by increasing [(-)-sparteine] with DeltaH(++) = 11.55 +/- 0.65 kcal/mol, DeltaS(++) = -24.5 +/- 2.0 eu at low [(-)-sparteine], and DeltaH(++) = 20.25 +/- 0.89 kcal/mol, DeltaS() = -5.4 +/- 2.7 eu at high [(-)-sparteine]. At high [(-)-sparteine], the selectivity is influenced by both a thermodynamic difference in the stability of the diastereomeric Pd-alkoxides formed and a kinetic beta-hydride elimination to maximize asymmetric induction. At low [(-)-sparteine], the selectivity is influenced by kinetic deprotonation, resulting in lower k(rel) values. A key, nonintuitive discovery is that (-)-sparteine plays a dual role in this oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols as a chiral ligand on palladium and as an exogenous chiral base.     

Dual role of (-)-sparteine in the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

The mechanistic details of the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols have been elucidated. (-)-Sparteine was found to have a dual role as a chiral ligand and an exogenous base. Saturation kinetics were observed for the dependence on (-)-sparteine concentration. A first-order dependence on [alcohol] and [catalyst] as well as inhibition by addition of (-)-sparteine HCl were observed. These results are consistent with rate-limiting deprotonation under low (-)-sparteine concentrations and rate-limiting beta-hydride elimination using saturating (-)-sparteine concentrations. This conclusion is further supported by a kinetic isotope effect of 1.31 +/- 0.04 under saturation. The enantioselectivity events are also controlled by addition of (-)-sparteine in which high concentrations afford a more selective kinetic resolution.     

Elucidating the significance of beta-hydride elimination and the dynamic role of acid/base chemistry in a palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols

The mechanistic details of aerobic alcohol oxidation with catalytic Pd(IiPr)(OAc)(2)(H(2)O) (IiPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) are disclosed. Under optimal conditions, beta-hydride elimination is rate-limiting supported by kinetic studies including a high primary kinetic isotope effect (KIE) value of 5.5 +/- 0.1 and a Hammett rho value of -0.48 +/- 0.04. On the basis of these studies, a late transition state is proposed for beta-hydride elimination, which is further corroborated by theoretical calculations using density functional theory. Additive acetic acid modulates the rates of both the alcohol oxidation sequence and regeneration of the Pd catalyst. With no additive [HOAc], turnover-limiting reprotonation of intermediate palladium peroxo is kinetically competitive with beta-hydride elimination, allowing for reversible oxygenation and decomposition of Pd(0). With additive [HOAc] (>2 mol %), reprotonation of the palladium peroxo is fast and beta-hydride elimination is the single rate-controlling step. This proposal is supported by an apparent decomposition pathway modulated by [HOAc], a change in alcohol concentration dependence, a lack of [O(2)] dependence at high [HOAc], and significant changes in the KIE values at different HOAc concentrations.     

Using mechanistic and computational studies to explain ligand effects in the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols

The experimental and computational mechanistic details of the Pd(OAc)(2)/TEA-catalyzed aerobic alcohol oxidation system are disclosed. Measurement of various kinetic isotope effects and the activation parameters as well as rate law derivation support rate-limiting deprotonation of the palladium-coordinated alcohol. Rate-limiting deprotonation of the alcohol is contrary to the majority of related kinetic studies for Pd-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols, which propose rate-limiting beta-hydride elimination. This difference in the rate-limiting step is supported by the computational model, which predicts the activation energy for deprotonation is 3 kcal/mol higher than the activation energy for beta-hydride elimination. The computational features of the similar Pd(OAc)(2)/pyridine system were also elucidated. Details of the study illustrate that the use of TEA results in an active catalyst that has only one ligand bound to the Pd, resulting in a significant lowering of the activation energy for beta-hydride elimination and, therefore, a catalyst that is active at room temperature.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed conversion of styrene derivatives to acetals: impact of (-)-sparteine on regioselectivity

[reaction: see text] Pd[(-)-sparteine]Cl(2) catalyzes the formation of dialkyl acetals from styrene derivatives with Markovnikov regioselectivity. The substrate scope of this reaction has been investigated, and initial mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds through an enol ether intermediate and a Pd-hydride.     

Tunneling in the loss of hydrogen chloride from isopropyl chloride cation

The unimolecular dissociation of isopropyl chloride cation has been investigated using mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. The C3H6*+ ion was the only product ion in the metastable dissociation. The kinetic energy release distribution for the HCl loss was determined. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level together with single point energy calculations at the QCSID(T)/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. The calculations show that the molecular ion rearranges to an ion-dipole complex prior to loss of HCl via a transition state containing a four-membered ring. The rearrangement involves H atom transfer. On the basis of the potential energy surface obtained for the loss of HCl and Cl*, the rate constants were calculated by transition-state statistical theories with considering tunneling effect. From the calculated result, it is proposed that the observed HCl loss would occur via tunneling through the barrier for isomerization to the ion-dipole complex, CH3CHCH2*+...HCl.     

Mechanistic characterization of aerobic alcohol oxidation catalyzed by Pd(OAc)(2)/pyridine including identification of the catalyst resting state and the origin of nonlinear [catalyst] dependence

The Pd(OAc)(2)/pyridine catalyst system is one of the most convenient and versatile catalyst systems for selective aerobic oxidation of organic substrates. This report describes the catalytic mechanism of Pd(OAc)(2)/pyridine-mediated oxidation of benzyl alcohol, which has been studied by gas-uptake kinetic methods and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The data reveal that turnover-limiting substrate oxidation by palladium(II) proceeds by a four-step pathway involving (1) formation of an adduct between the alcohol substrate and the square-planar palladium(II) complex, (2) proton-coupled ligand substitution to generate a palladium-alkoxide species, (3) reversible dissociation of pyridine from palladium(II) to create a three-coordinate intermediate, and (4) irreversible beta-hydride elimination to produce benzaldehyde. The catalyst resting state, characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, consists of an equilibrium mixture of (py)(2)Pd(OAc)(2), 1, and the alcohol adduct of this complex, 1xRCH(2)OH. These in situ spectroscopic data provide direct support for the mechanism proposed from kinetic studies. The catalyst displays higher turnover frequency at lower catalyst loading, as revealed by a nonlinear dependence of the rate on [catalyst]. This phenomenon arises from a competition between forward and reverse reaction steps that exhibit unimolecular and bimolecular dependences on [catalyst]. Finally, overoxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid, even at low levels, contributes to catalyst deactivation by formation of a less active palladium benzoate complex.     

Palladium catalysts for aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols based on mechanistic insight

The oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols has been accomplished using 1:1 complexes of PdCl(2) and N-heterocyclic carbenes. In these reactions, both achiral and chiral carbene ligands are used in conjunction with the chiral base (-)-sparteine. A general synthesis of 1:1 PdCl(2)-carbene complexes has been developed and is amenable to a wide range of carbene ligands. The potential of these complexes in aerobic oxidations is highlighted by the use of a chiral Pd(II) complex and the chiral base (-)-sparteine to enhance the kinetic resolution of a racemic alcohol. [reaction--see text]     

Ligand-modulated palladium oxidation catalysis: mechanistic insights into aerobic alcohol oxidation with the Pd(OAc)(2)/pyridine catalyst system

Pd(OAc)(2):pyridine (1:4) is an efficient catalyst system for the oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen. A mechanistic study of this reaction reveals that pyridine promotes the aerobic oxidation of palladium(0) but inhibits the oxidation of alcohol by palladium(II). Kinetic results reveal that turnover-limiting substrate oxidation consists of (i) formation of a palladium(II)-alkoxide, (ii) pyridine dissociation, and (iii) beta-hydride elimination. These results provide a framework for the design and/or screening of more effective aerobic oxidation catalysts.     

Reaction of O2 with [(-)-sparteine]Pd(H)Cl: evidence for an intramolecular [H-L]+ "reductive elimination" pathway

(Sp)PdCl(2) [Sp = (-)-sparteine] catalyzes a number of different aerobic oxidation reactions, and reaction of O(2) with a Pd(II)-hydride intermediate, (Sp)Pd(H)Cl (1), is a key step in the proposed catalytic mechanism. Previous computational studies suggest that O(2) inserts into the Pd(II)-H bond, initiated by abstraction of the hydrogen atom by O(2). Experimental and computational results obtained in the present study challenge this conclusion. Oxygenation of in-situ-generated (Sp)Pd(H)Cl exhibits a zero-order dependence on [O(2)]. This result is inconsistent with a bimolecular H-atom-abstraction pathway, and DFT computational studies identify a novel "reductive elimination" mechanism, in which the chelating nitrogen ligand undergoes intramolecular deprotonation of the Pd(II)-hydride. The relevance of this mechanism to other Pd(II) oxidation catalysts with chelating nitrogen ligands is evaluated.     

Structural and functional characteristics of rhenium clusters derived from redox chemistry of the triangular [ReIII3(mu-Cl)3] core unit

The present study investigates structural and functional aspects of the redox chemistry of rhenium(III) chloride [Re3Cl9] (1) in aqueous and organic solvents, with emphasis on the dioxygen-activating capabilities of reduced rhenium clusters bearing the Re3(8+) core. Dissolution of 1 in HCl (6 M) generates [Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl9]3- (2a), which can be isolated as the tetraphenylphosphonium salt (2b). Anaerobic one-electron reduction of 1 by Hg in HCl (6-12 M) produces [(C6H5)4P]2[Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl7(H2O)2].H2O (3), the structure of which features a planar [Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl3] framework (Re3(8+) core), involving two water ligands that occupy out-of-plane positions in a trans arrangement. Compound 3 dissociates in the presence of CO, yielding [(C6H5)4P]2[ReIII2Cl8] (4) and an unidentified red carbonyl species. In situ oxidation (O2) of the reduced Re3(8+)-containing cluster in HCl (6 M) produces quantitatively 2a, whereas oxidation of 3 in organic media results in the formation of [(C6H5)4P]4[(Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl7(mu-OH))2].2CH2Cl2 (5). The structure of 5 reveals that two oxygen ligands (hydroxo units) bridge asymmetrically two Re3(9+) triangular clusters. The origin of these hydroxo units derives from the aquo ligands, rather than O2, as shown by 18O2 labeling studies. The hydroxo bridges of 5 can be replaced by chlorides upon treatment with Me3SiCl to afford the analogous [(C6H5)4P]4[(Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl7(mu-Cl))2].10CH2Cl2 (6). The reaction of 5 with Hg in HCl (6 M)/tetrahydrofuran regenerates compound 3. Complexes 1-3 exhibit nitrile hydratase type activity, inducing hydrolysis of CH3CN to acetamide. The reaction of 3 with CH3CN yields [(C6H5)4P]2[Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl6.5(CH3CN)1.5(CH3C(O)NH)0.5] (7), the structure of which is composed of [Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl7(CH3CN)2]2- (7a) and [Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl6(CH3CN)(CH3C(O)NH)]2- (7b) (Re3(8+) cores) as a disordered mixture (1:1). Oxidation of 7 with O2 in CH3CN affords [(C6H5)4P]2[Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl7(CH3C(O)NH)].CH3CN (8) and small amounts of [(C6H5)4P][ReO4] (9). Compound 8 is also independently isolated from the reaction of 2b with wet CH3CN, or by dissolving 5 in CH3CN. In MeOH, 5 dissociates to afford [(C6H5)4P]2[Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl8(MeOH)].MeOH (10).     

Negishi cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by an aliphatic, phosphine based pincer complex of palladium. biaryl formation via cationic pincer-type Pd(IV) intermediates

The aliphatic, phosphine-based pincer complex [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(Cy(2))(2))Pd(Cl)] (1) is a highly active Negishi catalyst, enable to quantitatively couple various electronically activated, non-activated, deactivated, sterically hindered and functionalized aryl bromides with various diarylzinc reagents within short reaction times and low catalyst loadings. Experimental observations strongly indicate that a molecular mechanism is operative with initial chloride dissociation of 1 and formation of the cationic T-shaped 14e(-) complex [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(C(6)H(11))(2))(2))Pd](+) (B), which undergoes oxidative addition of an aryl bromide (Ar'Br) to yield the cationic, penta-coordinated aryl bromide pincer complexes of type [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(Cy(2))(2))Pd(Br)(aryl')](+) (C) with the metal center in the oxidation state of +IV and the aryl unit in cis position relative to the aliphatic pincer core. Subsequent transmetalation with Zn(aryl)(2) result in the cationic diaryl pincer complexes of type [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(Cy(2))(2))Pd(aryl)(aryl')](+) (D), which reductively eliminate the coupling products, thereby regenerating the catalyst. The neutral square planar aryl pincer complex--a possible key intermediate in the catalytic cycle--was found to be reversibly formed in the reaction mixture but is not involved in the catalytic mechanism. Similarly, palladium nanoparticles as the catalytically active form of 1 could have been excluded.     

A computational model relating structure and reactivity in enantioselective oxidations of secondary alcohols by (-)-sparteine-Pd(II) complexes

The key interactions responsible for the unique reactivity of (-)-sparteine-PdX(2) complexes (X = chloride, acetate) in the enantioselective oxidation of secondary alcohols have been elucidated using quantum mechanics (B3LYP DFT with the PBF polarizable continuum solvent model). From examining many possible pathways, we find the mechanism involves: (1) substitution of the alcohol in place of an X-group, (2) deprotonation of the bound alcohol by the deposed anion and free sparteine, (3) beta-hydride elimination through a four-coordinate transition state in which the second anion is displaced but tightly associated, (4) replacement of the ketone product with the associated anion. The enantioselectivities observed under base-rich reaction conditions follow directly from calculated energies of diastereomeric beta-hydride elimination transition states incorporating (R) and (S) substrates. This relationship reveals an important role of the anion, namely to communicate the steric interaction of the ligand on one side of the Pd(II) square plane and the substrate on the other side. When no anion is included, no enantioselectivity is predicted. Locating these transition states in different solvents shows that higher dielectrics stabilize the charge separation between the anion and metal and draw the anion farther into solution. Thus, the solvent influences the barrier height (rate) and selectivity of the oxidation.     

Preparation and characterization of dinuclear Pd(II) complexes of binucleating tetraaza-thiophenolate ligands

The thioethers 4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBu-L3) and 4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBu-L4) react with PdCl2(NCMe)2 to give the dinuclear palladium thiophenolate complexes [(L3)Pd2Cl2]+ (2) and [(L4Pd2(mu-Cl)]2+ (3) (HL3= 2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol, HL4 = 2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylamino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol). The chloride ligands in could be replaced by neutral (NCMe) and anionic ligands (NCS-, N3-, CN-, OAc-) to give the diamagnetic Pd(II) complexes [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+ (4), [(L3)Pd2(NCS)2]+ (5), [(L3)Pd2(N3)2]+ (6), [{(L3)Pd2(mu-CN)}2]4+ (7) and [(L3)Pd2(OAc)]2+ (9). The nitrile ligands in and in [(L3)Pd2(NCCH2Cl)2]3+ are readily hydrated to give the corresponding amidato complexes [(L3)Pd2(CH3CONH)]2+ (8) and [(L3)Pd2(CH2ClCONH)]2+ (10). The reaction of [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+ with NaBPh4 gave the diphenyl complex [(L3)Pd2(Ph)2]+ (11). All complexes were either isolated as perchlorate or tetraphenylborate salts and studied by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, complexes 2[ClO4], 3[ClO4]2, 5[BPh4], 6[BPh4], 7[ClO4]4, 9[ClO4]2, 10[ClO4]2 and 11[BPh4] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Photophysical and electrochemical properties of 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolate platinum(II) derivatives

A series of twelve platinum(II) complexes of the form (N^N^N)PtX have been synthesized and characterized where N^N^N is 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolate ligands (BPI) or BPI ligands whose aryl moieties are substituted with tert-butyl, nitro, alkoxy, iodo or chloro groups, and X is a chloride, fluoride, cyano, acetate, phenyl or 4-(dimethylamino)phenyl ligand. All complexes display at least one irreversible oxidation and two reversible reduction waves at potentials dependent on the position and the electron donating or withdrawing nature of both X and the substituted N^N^N ligand. Broad room temperature phosphorescence ranging in energy from 594 to 680 nm was observed from the complexes, with quantum efficiencies ranging from 0.01 to 0.05. The efficiency of emission is dictated largely by nonradiative processes since the rate constants for nonradiative deactivation [(1.1-100) × 10(5) s(-1)] show greater variation than those for radiative decay [(0.57-4.0) × 0(4) s(-1)]. Nonradiative deactivation for compounds with X = Cl follow the energy gap law, i.e. the nonradiative rate constants increase exponentially with decreasing emission energy. Deactivation of the excited state appears to be strongly influenced by a non-planar distortion of the BPI ligand.     

Theoretical investigation into the mechanism of reductive elimination from bimetallic palladium complexes

Reductive elimination of C-Cl and C-C bonds from binuclear organopalladium complexes containing Pd-Pd bonds with overall formal oxidation state +III are explored by density functional theory for dichloromethane and acetonitrile solvent environments. An X-ray crystallographically authenticated neutral complex, [(L-C,N)ClPd(μ-O(2)CMe)](2) (L = benzo[h]quinolinyl) (I), is examined for C-Cl coupling, and the proposed cation, [(L-C,N)PhPd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)(2)Pd(2)(L-C,N)](+) (II), examined for C-C coupling together with (L-C,N)PhPd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)(2)Pd(2)Cl(L-C,N) (III) as a neutral analogue of II. In both polar and nonpolar solvents, reaction from III via chloride dissociation from Pd(2) to form II is predicted to be favored. Cation II undergoes Ph-C coupling at Pd(1) with concomitant Pd(1)-Pd(2) lengthening and shortening of the Pd(1)-O bond trans to the carbon atom of L; natural bond orbital analysis indicates that reductive coupling from II involves depopulation of the d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of Pd(1) and population of the d(z(2)) orbitals of Pd(1) and Pd(2) as the Pd-Pd bond lengthens. Calculations for the symmetrical dichloro complex I indicate that a similar dissociative pathway for C-Cl coupling is competitive with a direct (nondissociative) pathway in acetonitrile, but the direct pathway is favored in dichloromethane. In contrast to the dissociative mechanism, direct coupling for I involves population of the d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of Pd(1) with Pd(1)-O(1) lengthening, significantly less population occurs for the d(z(2)) orbital of Pd(1) than for the dissociative pathway, and d(z(2)) at Pd(2) is only marginally populated resulting in an intermediate that is formally a Pd(1)(I)-Pd(2)(III) species, (L-Cl-N,Cl)Pd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)Pd(2)Cl(O(2)CMe)(L-C,N) that releases chloride from Pd(2) with loss of Pd(I)-Pd(III) bonding to form a Pd(II) species. A similar process is formulated for the less competitive direct pathway for C-C coupling from III, in this case involving decreased population of the d(z(2)) orbital of Pd(2) and strengthening of the Pd(I)-Pd(III) interaction in the analogous intermediate with η(2)-coordination at Pd(1) by L-Ph-N, C(1)-C(2).     

Synthetic,structural, and mechanistic studies on the oxidative addition of aromatic chlorides to a palladium (N-heterocyclic carbene) complex: relevance to catalytic amination

The oxidative addition products trans-[Pd(NHC)(2)(Ar)Cl] (NHC = cyclo-C[N(t)BuCH](2); Ar = Me-4-C(6)H(4), MeO-4-C(6)H(4), CO(2)Me-4-C(6)H(4)) have been isolated in good yields from the reactions of ArCl with the amination precatalyst [Pd(NHC)(2)] and structurally characterized. The former undergo reversible dissociation of one NHC ligand at elevated temperatures, and a value of 25.57 kcal mol(-1) has been determined for the Pd-NHC dissociation enthalpy in the case where Ar = Me-4-C(6)H(4). Detailed kinetic studies have established that the oxidative addition reactions proceed by a dissociative mechanism. Rate data for the oxidation addition of Me-4-C(6)H(4)Cl to [Pd(NHC)(2)] compared to that obtained for the [Pd(NHC)(2)]-catalyzed coupling of morpholine with 4-chlorotoluene are consistent with a rate-determining oxidative addition in the catalytic amination reaction. The relative rates of oxidative addition of the three aryl chlorides to [Pd(NHC)(2)] (CO(2)Me-4-C(6)H(4)Cl > Me-4-C(6)H(4)Cl > MeO-4-C(6)H(4)Cl) reflect the electronic nature of the substituents and also parallel observed trends in coupling efficiency for these aryl halides in aminations.     

Mechanism of the aerobic oxidation of alcohols by palladium complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes

Quantum mechanics (B3LYP density functional theory) combined with solvation (Poisson-Boltzmann polarizable continuum solvent model) was used to investigate six mechanisms for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by (NHC)Pd(carboxylate)(2)(H(2)O) complexes (NHC = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). Of these, we find that "reductive beta-hydride elimination", in which the beta-hydrogen of a palladium-bound alkoxide is transferred directly to the free oxygen of the bound carboxylate, provides the lowest-energy route and explains the published kinetic isotope effect, activation enthalpy, reaction orders, and dependence of rate on carboxylate pK(a). The traditional beta-hydride elimination mechanism cannot be responsible for the experimentally observed kinetic parameters, which we find could result from the subsequent reductive elimination of acetic acid, which yields a slightly higher calculated activation barrier. Reversible beta-hydride elimination may provide a mechanism for the racemization of chiral alcohols, which would undermine attempts at an enantioselective oxidation. Competition among these pathways can be influenced by changing the electronic properties of the carboxylate and substrate.     

Unimolecular reactions of vibrationally excited CF2ClCHFCH3 and CF2ClCHFCD3: evidence for the 1,2-FCl interchange pathway

Chemically activated CF2ClCHFCH3 and CF2ClCHFCD3 molecules were prepared with 94 kcal mol-1 of vibrational energy by the recombination of CF2ClCHF and CH3(CD3) radicals at room temperature. The unimolecular reaction pathways were 2,3-FH(FD) elimination, 1,2-ClF interchange and 1,2-ClH elimination; the interchange produces CF3CHClCH3(CF3CHClCD3) with 105 kcal mol-1 of vibrational energy. Rate constants for CF2ClCHFCH3 [CF2ClCHFCD3] were (3.1+/-0.4)x10(6) s-1 [(1.0+/-0.1)x10(6) s-1] for 2,3-FH [FD] loss, (1.5+/-0.2)x10(6) s-1 [(8.3+/-0.9)x10(5) s-1] for 1,2-ClF interchange, and (8.2+/-1.0)x10(5) s-1 [(5.3+/-0.6)x10(5) s-1] for 1,2-ClH [DCl] loss. These correspond to branching fractions of 0.55+/-0.06 [0.43+/-0.04] for 2,3-FH [FD] loss, 0.29+/-0.03 [0.35+/-0.04] for 1,2-ClF interchange, and 0.16+/-0.02 [0.22+/-0.02] for 1,2-ClH [ClD] loss. Kinetic-isotope effects were 3.0+/-0.6 for 2,3-FH [FD] loss, 1.6+/-0.3 for 1,2-ClH loss, and 1.8+/-0.4 for 1,2-ClF interchange. The CF3CHClCH3 (CF3CHClCD3) molecules formed by 1,2-FCl interchange react by loss of HCl [DCl] with rate constants of (5.6+/-0.9)x10(7) s-1 [(2.1+/-0.4)x10(7)] s-1 for an isotope effect of 2.7+/-0.4. Density functional theory was employed to calculate vibrational frequencies and moments of inertia for the molecules and for the transition-state structures. These results were used with RRKM theory to assign threshold energies from comparison of computed and experimental unimolecular rate constants. The threshold energy for ClF interchange is 57.5 kcal mol-1, and those for HF and HCl channels are 2-5 kcal mol-1 higher. Experiments with vibrationally excited CF2ClCF2CF3, CF2ClCF2CF2Cl, and CF2ClCF2Cl, which did not show evidence for ClF interchange, also are reported.     

Formation and decompositions of chloride adduct ions, [M + Cl]−, in negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The ability to promote chloride-attachment ions of the form [M + Cl]- in negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been developed using chlorinated solvents such as chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. This approach expands the current capabilities of negative ion ESI-MS by enabling detection of analytes that lack acidic sites and thus exhibit weak [M - H]- signals. In contrast to the remote-site collision-induced dissociation (CID) often observed in positive ion ESI-MS/MS for alkali metal cation adducts, the decomposition of chloride adducts usually proceeds via competitive dissociations to form Cl-, which is not structurally informative, or [M - H]-. The latter can provide structural information via consecutive decompositions. For compounds having higher gas-phase acidities than HCl, a low CID collision energy can promote the formation of [M - H]-, whereas for the majority of compounds with lower gas phase acidities than HCl, higher collision energies generally improve the relative yield of [M- H] . Because chloride attachment occurs primarily at electrophilic hydrogens, the daughter ion ratio, Cl-/[M - H]-, depends primarily upon the difference in gas phase acidity between the analyte molecule and HCl. At higher collision energies, entropic factors take on increased importance in determining the product ratio. The difference between the deltaS(0) terms for formation of Cl and formation of [M - H]- has been estimated for a series of substituted phenols and a series of acetic acid analogs. Finally, a novel neutral loss of CH3Cl from glycerophosphocholine and from ganglioside GM3 methyl ester is reported.