Rate constants for the bimolecular self-reactions of ethyl,isopropyl, and tert-butyl radicals in solution. A direct comparison

A competitive method involving the direct measurement of radical concentrations by EPR spectroscopy has been used to show that in solution at 25°C the rate constants for the bimolecular self-reactions of ethyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopentyl, and trichloromethyl are all approximately equal, as had been indicated previously by direct measurement of the rate constants for decay of these radicals.     

Kinetics and rate constants for the reaction of tri-n-butylgermanium hydride with methyl iodide and carbon tetrachloride. The combination of methyl and trichloromethyl radicals in solution.

The kinetics of the photoinitiated reductions of methyl iodide and carbon tetrachloride by tri-n-butylgermanium hydride in cyclohexane at 25°C have been studied and absolute rate constants have been measured. Rate constants for the combination of CH₃? and CCl₃? radicals are equal within experimental error and are also equal to the values found for the self-reactions of most non-polymeric radicals in low viscosity solvents, i.e. ～1–3 × 10⁹ M^?1 sec^?1. Rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction by CH₃? and CCl₃? radicals are both ～1?2 × 10⁵ M^?1 sec^?1. Tri-n-butyltin hydride is about 10–20 times as good a hydrogen donor to alkyl radicals as is tri-n-butylgermanium hydride. The strength of the germanium–hydrogen bond, D(n-Bu₃Ge–H) is estimated to be approximately 84 kcal/mole.     

A theoretical study of the iminoxyl/oxime self-exchange reaction. A five-center, cyclic proton-coupled electron transfer

In solution, the self-exchange reactions for oxygen-centered pi-radicals, e.g., PhO. + PhOH <==>PhOH + PhO., are known to occur with low activation enthalpies (E(a) approximately equal to 2 kcal/mol). For the PhO./PhOH couple and, we conclude, for other O-centered pi-radicals, exchange occurs by proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) with the proton transferred between oxygen electron pairs while the electron migrates between oxygen orbitals orthogonal to the -O- - -H- - -O- transition state plane (Mayer et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 123, 11142). Iminoxyls, R(2)C=NO., are sigma-radicals with substantial spin density on the nitrogen. The R(2)C=NO./R(2)C=NOH self-exchange has a significant E(a) (Mendenhall et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1973, 95, 627). For this exchange, DFT calculations have revealed a counterintuitive cisoid transition state in which the seven atoms, >C=NO- - -H- - -ON=C<, lie in a plane (R = H, Me) or, for steric reasons, two planes twisted at 45.2 degrees (R = Me(3)C). The planar transition state has the two N-O dipoles close to each other and pointing in the same direction and an O- - -H- - -O angle of 165.4 degrees . A transoid transition state for R = H lies 3.4 kcal/mol higher in energy than the cisoid despite a more favorable arrangement of the dipoles and a near linear O- - -H- - -O. It is concluded that iminoxyl/oxime self-exchange reactions occur by a five-center, cyclic PCET mechanism with the proton being transferred between electron pairs on the oxygens and the electron migrating between in-plane orbitals on the two nitrogens (R(N-N) = 2.65 A). The calculated E(a) values (8.8-9.9 kcal/mol) are in satisfactory agreement with the limited experimental data.     

Bond strengths: the importance of hyperconjugation

[Structure: see text] Gronert (J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 1209) has challenged the importance of hyperconjugation in determining C-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) in alkanes. Electron paramaganetic resonance spectra of H3CCH2*, (H3C)2CH*, and (H3C)3C* show significant positive spin on their beta-H3C groups' hydrogens. A 55%/45% partitioning of these spins between hyperconjugation and spin polarization mechanisms linearly correlates with the C-H BDEs in methane, ethane, propane, isobutane and propene. Hyperconjugation is an important factor determining alkane C-H BDEs.     

Another Unprecedented Wieland Mechanism Confirmed: Hydrogen Formation from Hydrogen Peroxide,Formaldehyde, and Sodium Hydroxide

In 1923, Wieland and Wingler reported that in the molecular hydrogen producing reaction of hydrogen peroxide with formaldehyde in basic solution, free hydrogen atoms (H^.) are not involved. They postulated that bis(hydroxymethyl)peroxide, HOCH₂OOCH₂OH, is the intermediate, which decomposes to yield H₂ and formate, proposing a mechanism that would nowadays be considered as a “concerted process”. Since then, several other (conflicting) “mechanisms” have been suggested. Our NMR and Raman spectroscopic and kinetic studies, particularly the determination of the deuterium kinetic isotope effect (DKIE), now confirm that in this base‐dependent reaction, both H atoms of H₂ derive from the CH₂ hydrogen atoms of formaldehyde, and not from the OH groups of HOCH₂OOCH₂OH or from water. Quantum‐chemical CBS‐QB3 and W1BD computations show that H₂ release proceeds through a concerted process, which is strongly accelerated by double deprotonation of HOCH₂OOCH₂OH, thereby ruling out a free radical pathway.     

Thermal Decomposition and Dehydration Kinetics of Tetra(piperidinium) Octamolybdate Tetrahydrate in Air

Thermal decomposition of tetra(piperidinium) octamolybdate tetrahydrate, [C₅H₁₀NH₂]₄[Mo₈O₂₆]·4H₂O, was investigated in air by means of TG‐DTG/DTA, DSC, TG‐IR and SEM. TG‐DTG/DTA curves showed that the decomposition proceeded through three well‐defined steps with DTA peaks closely corresponding to mass loss obtained. Kinetics analysis of its dehydration step was performed under non‐isothermal conditions. The dehydration activation energy was calculated through Friedman and Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa (FWO) methods, and the best‐fit dehydration kinetic model function was estimated through the multiple linear regression method. The activation energy for the dehydration step of [C₅H₁₀NH₂]₄[Mo₈O₂₆]·4H₂O was 139.7 kJ/mol. The solid particles became smaller accompanied by the thermal decomposition of the title compound.     

Characterization of equatorial and axial six-membered-ring peroxyl radicals

Spectroscopic data are consistent with computations that show that, in their most stable conformations, the peroxyl moiety is equatorial in cyclohexylperoxyl radicals and axial in oxa- and most polyoxacyclohexyl-2-peroxyl radicals.     

Kinetic solvent effects on proton and hydrogen atom transfers from phenols. Similarities and differences

Bimolecular rate constants for proton transfer from six phenols to the anthracene radical anion have been determined in up to eight solvents using electrochemical techniques. Effects of hydrogen bonding on measured rate constants were explored over as wide a range of phenolic hydrogen-bond donor (HBD) and solvent hydrogen-bond acceptor (HBA) activities as practical. The phenols' values ranged from 0.261 (2-MeO-phenol) to 0.728 (3,5-Cl(2)-phenol), and the solvents' values from 0.44 (MeCN) to 1.00 (HMPA), where and are Abraham's parameters describing relative HBD and HBA activities (J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 1989, 699; 1990, 521). Rate constants for H-atom transfer (HAT) in HBA solvents, k(S), are extremely well correlated via log k(S) = log k(0) - 8.3 , where k(0) is the rate constant in a non-HBA solvent (Snelgrove et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 469). The same equation describes the general features of proton transfers (k(S) decreases as increases, slopes of plots of log k(S) against increase as increases). However, in some solvents, k(S) values deviate systematically from the least-squares log k(S) versus correlation line (e.g., in THF and MeCN, k(S) is always smaller and larger, respectively, than "expected"). These deviations are attributed to variations in the solvents' anion solvating abilities (THF and MeCN are poor and good anion solvators, respectively). Values of log k(S) for proton transfer, but not for HAT, give better correlations with Taft et al.'s (J. Org. Chem. 1983, 48, 2877) beta scale of solvent HBA activities than with . The beta scale, therefore, does not solely reflect solvents' HBA activities but also contains contributions from anion solvation.     

Thermodynamic anomaly of the free damped quantum particle: the bath perspective

By varying the orientation of the applied magnetic field with respect to the normal of a two-dimensional electron gas, the chemical potential and the specific heat reveal persistent spin splitting in all field ranges. The corresponding shape of the thermodynamic quantities distinguishes whether the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI), the Zeeman term or both dominate the splitting. The interplay of the tilting of the magnetic field and RSOI resulted to an amplified splitting even in weak fields. The effects of changing the RSOI strength and the Landau level broadening are also investigated.