Forward and backward pericyclic photochemical reactions have intermediates in common, yet cyclobutenes break the rules.

Photochemical pericyclic reactions are believed to proceed via a so-called pericyclic minimum on the lowest excited potential surface (S(1)), which is common to both the forward and backward reactions. Such a common intermediate has never been directly detected. The photointerconversion of 1,3-butadiene and cyclobutene is the prevailing prototype for such reactions, yet only diene ring closure proceeds with the stereospecificity that the Woodward-Hoffmann rules predict. This contrast seems to exclude a common intermediate. Using ultrafast spectroscopy, we show that the excited states of two cyclobutene/diene isomeric pairs are linked by not one, but by two common minima, p* and ct*. Starting from the diene side (cyclohepta-1,3-diene and cycloocta-1,3-diene), electrocyclic ring closure passes via the pericyclic minimum p*, whereas ct* is mainly responsible for cis-trans isomerization. Starting from the corresponding cyclobutenes (bicyclo[3.2.0]heptene-6 and bicyclo[4.2.0]octene-7), the forbidden isomer is formed from ct*. The path branches at the first (S(2)/S(1)) conical intersection towards p* and ct*. The fact that the energetically unfavorable ct* path can compete is ascribed to a dynamic effect: the momentum in C=C twist direction, acquired--such as in other olefins--in the Franck-Condon region of the cyclobutenes.     

[O9,24] [2.1.2.1] metacyclophane-9-ene,a “twin cyclophane”, and its dehydrogenation products - synthesis structure determination and 1H-NMR-spectroscopy

The synthesis of [O⁹,24] [2.1.2.1]metacyclophane-9-ene and of its dehydrogenation products^the new pyrenocyclophanes $\text{8}$, $\text{10}$, $\text{11}$, and $\text{12}$, is described; their structures are discussed in connection with their ¹H-NMR-spectra.     

Laser-pulse photocurrent transient measurements at oxygen evolving n-PtS2

Laser-pulse transient measurements have been performed at single crystalline n-PtS₂ electrodes with the aim of understanding light-induced hydroxide, oxide and oxygen formation. Different detected time constants permit the identification of distinct reaction products. They form surface states which function both as centers for recombination and charge accumulation in the interface. The rate constants determined are influenced by the RC-constant of the measuring circuit and can be interpreted only qualitatively. In the presence of recombination processes time constants faster than R_LC_SC are found. Evidence is given that the reaction step leading to oxygen evolution is dependent on the building-up of an electric field in the Helmholtz layer. This result may be of importance for the development of materials for the photoelectrolysis of water.     

Quninone chemistry. Synthesis of 3-dialkylsulfoximido- and 2-dialkyl-sulfimido-3-carbomethoxy-1,4-benzo- and naphthoquinone derivatives

3-Methoxy[2, 1]benzisoxazole-4, 7-quinones 1 and naphth[2,3-c]isoxazole-4,9-quinone 4 react with dimethyl sulfoxides to give sulfoximidoquinones 2 and 5 , sulfimidoquinones 8 and 11 respectively as major products.     

Zur Synthese von Derivaten des Pyrido[1,2-a]azepins

On the Synthesis of Derivatives of Pyrido[1,2-a]lazepine The conjugated pyridinium ylides of type 4 undergo 8π -electrocyclisation affording the heterobicyclic allenes 5 which, in the presence of H₂O and H₂O₂, are subsequently transformed into the substituted pyrido[1,2-a]-azepinones 6, a novel heterocyclic system. The chemical behaviour of 6a,b is dominated by cleavage of the lactam bond and subsequent reaction to pyridinc and isoquinoline derivatives, respectively; e.g. reaction of 6a, b with 4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dione affords the cycloadducts 11 and 12 almost quantitatively. The successful transformation of 6b into 15 is described, the latter being the first representative of the presently unknown, potentially antiaromatic pyrido[1,2-a]azepine ( 1 ).     

1,2,3,4-tetrachloro-9,10-dewar-anthracene

The title compound $\text{5}$ has been synthesized and its aromatisation to the Kekulé isomer $\text{7}$ has been measured. From the kinetic data a diradical process is deduced.     

Saludimerines A and B, novel-type dimeric alkaloids with stereogenic centers and configurationally semistable biaryl axes

The first biarylic bis-morphinanedienone alkaloids, saludimerines A (3a) and B (3b), isolated from a tree of Croton flavens (Euphorbiaceae) are described. These naturally occurring dimers of the known alkaloid salutaridine are joined together via a rotationally hindered biaryl axis, giving rise to atropo-diastereomers that are configurationally stable at room temperature but slowly interconvert in methanolic solution within several days. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods and by partial synthesis, which was achieved by a highly atropo-diastereoselective biomimetic oxidative coupling of the monomeric precursor, salutaridine. Their axial configurations were elucidated by circular dichroism (CD) investigations, which succeeded despite the fact that the two atropo-diastereomers exhibit near-identical CD spectra. This remarkable phenomenon was rationalized by quantum chemical CD calculations. The configurational assignment of saludimerines A (3a) as P-axial and B (3b) as M was corroborated by atropisomer-specific NOE interactions between protons of the one molecular half with nuclei in the other.     

On the accuracy of density functionals and their basis set dependence: An extensive study on the main group homonuclear diatomic molecules Li2 to Br2

The equilibrium bond distances, harmonic frequencies, and bond dissociation energies of the 21 homonuclear diatomics Li₂—F₂, Na₂—Cl₂, and K₂—Br₂ have been determined using approximate density functional theory (DFT) employing various widely used functionals and basis sets ranging from single zeta to triple zeta plus polarization quality. The results are in general much less sensitive to the size of the basis set as in conventional ab initio molecular orbital (MO) theory, while the choice of the functional is of much more significance. For one basis set (6-311G*), the performance of the DFT-based calculations has been compared and found to be superior to Hartree-Fock (HF) Møller Plesset second order perturbation theory (MP2), or configuration interaction with single and double excitations (CISD) calculations. Particularly, no pathological cases, such as the group 2 dimers (Be₂, Mg₂, Ca₂), are observed. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.