Formation and decay of methylviologen radical cation dimers on the surface of colloidal CdS: separation of two- and three-dimensional relaxation

Methylviologen molecules adsorbed to CdS particles can be reduced to radical cations in situ by optical excitation of the semiconductor. Confinement of the viologen to the surface results in a dramatic increase in the rate of radical cation dimer formation, compared with the bulk solution reaction, arising from the reduction of dimensionality of the reaction space. Subsequently, the dimers are destroyed via reoxidation by unreduced viologen from the bulk solution.     

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity by flow injection analysis method with electrochemically generated ABTS radical cation

A Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) decolourisation assay was adapted to a flow injection analysis (FIA) system and a simple and rapid method for antioxidant activity evaluation was developed. To avoid the time consuming step of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) radical cation preparation by chemical oxidation of ABTS, as in the original TAEC assay, and hence, to shorten the analysis time, the ABTS radical cation was generated on-line by electrochemical oxidation of ABTS in the flow-through electrolysis cell forming a part of the FIA system. The proposed method was optimised with respect to a flow rate, injection volume and ABTS radical cation/carrier ratio. Under the optimised conditions linear calibration graphs for Trolox were obtained over the range 10-100 microM, with a limit of detection 1.6 microM. Good reproducibility (relative standard deviation 1.95%) and sample throughput (32 samples per hour) were achieved. The developed method was applied to the evaluation of the antioxidant activity of pure compounds and samples of some common beverages. In both cases a good correlation between the results obtained by the proposed method and TEAC values evaluated by the classic TAEC decolourisation assay was obtained (r(2)= 0.996 for pure compounds and r(2)= 0.957 for beverage samples).     

A nonelectrocyclic path from the cyclobutene cation radical to the 1,3-butadiene cation radical

The conversion of the cyclobutene cation radical to the 1,3-butadiene cation radical has been studied using MINDO /3 and ab initio SCF MO methods. Not only smooth electrocyclic but also stepwise, non-electrocyclic routes were considered. Both calculational methods agree that the preferred reaction path is a novel nonelectrocyclic one proceeding through an intermediate “cyclopropylcarbinyl cation radical.” The quantitative agreement in the activation parameters calculated by the two methods is excellent. The proposed intermediate also provides an attractive explanation for the mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns of the cyclobutene and butadiene cation radicals.     

Formation and thermal-induced decay of radical ions in polymer matrices

The formation of radical ions in γ-irradiated polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) matrices at 77°K and thermal-induced reaction of these radical ions were of studied by optical absorption spectroscopic measurements. The radical ions of stilbene and pyrene were investigated. These radical ions decay according to second-order kinetics, which means that the neutralization reaction of the cationic species and anionic species participates in the decay process. The kinetic plots consist of two straight lines; that is, fast and slow decay processes are concerned. The activation energies were estimated to be E_fast = 2.4 kcal/mol and E_slow = 6.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The probability of recombination reaction depends on the distance between cationic and anionic species.     

Kinetics of oxidation of benzyl alcohols by the dication and radical cation of ABTS. Comparison with laccase-ABTS oxidations: an apparent paradox

Laccase, a blue copper oxidase, in view of its moderate redox potential can oxidise only phenolic compounds by electron-transfer. However, in the presence of ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) as a redox mediator, laccase reacts with the more difficult to oxidise non-phenolic substrates, such as benzyl alcohols. The role of ABTS in these mediated oxidations is investigated. Redox interaction with laccase could produce in situ two reactive intermediates from ABTS, namely ABTS++ or ABTS*+. These species have been independently generated by oxidation with Ce(iv) or Co(iii) salts, respectively, and their efficiency as monoelectronic oxidants tested in a kinetic study towards a series of non-phenolic substrates; a Marcus treatment is provided in the case of ABTS++. On these grounds, intervention of ABTS++ as a reactive intermediate in laccase-ABTS oxidations appears unlikely, because the experimental conditions under which ABTS++ is unambiguously generated, and survives long enough to serve as a diffusible mediator, are too harsh (2 M H2SO4 solution) and incompatible with the operation of the enzyme. Likewise, ABTS*+ seems an intermediate of limited importance in laccase-ABTS oxidations, because this weaker monoelectronic oxidant is unable to react directly with many of the non-phenolic substrates that laccase-ABTS can oxidise. To solve this paradox, it is alternatively suggested that degradation by-products of either ABTS++ or ABTS*+ are formed in situ by hydrolysis during the laccase-ABTS reactions, and may be responsible for the observed oxidation of non-phenolics.     

Multimode Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller interactions in the cyclopropane radical cation: complex vibronic spectra and nonradiative decay dynamics

The complex vibronic spectra and the nonradiative decay dynamics of the cyclopropane radical cation (CP+) are simulated theoretically with the aid of a time-dependent wave packet propagation approach using the multireference time-dependent Hartree scheme. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental photoelectron spectrum of cyclopropane. The ground and first excited electronic states of CP+ are of X2E' and A2E' type, respectively. Each of these degenerate electronic states undergoes Jahn-Teller (JT) splitting when the radical cation is distorted along the degenerate vibrational modes of e' symmetry. The JT split components of these two electronic states can also undergo pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT)-type crossings via the vibrational modes of e', a1' and a2' symmetries. These lead to the possibility of multiple multidimensional conical intersections and highly nonadiabatic nuclear motions in these coupled manifolds of electronic states. In a previous publication [J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 2256], we investigated the JT interactions alone in the X2E' ground electronic manifold of CP+. In the present work, the JT interactions in the A2E' electronic manifold are treated, and our previous work is extended by considering the coupling between the X2E' and A2E' electronic states of CP+. The nuclear dynamics in this coupled manifold of two JT split doubly degenerate electronic states is simulated by considering fourteen active and most relevant vibrational degrees of freedom. The vibronic level spectra and the ultrafast nonradiative decay of the excited cationic states are examined and are related to the highly complex entanglement of electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom in this prototypical molecular system.     

Complex dynamics at conical intersections: vibronic spectra and ultrafast decay of electronically excited trifluoroacetonitrile radical cation

An ab initio quantum dynamical study is performed here to examine the complex nuclear motion underlying the first two photoelectron bands of trifluoroacetonitrile. The highly overlapping structures of the latter are found to originate from transitions to the five lowest electronic states (viz., X(2)E, A(2)A1, B(2)A2, C(2)A1, and D(2)E) of the trifluoroacetonitrile radical cation. The Jahn-Teller (JT) instability of the doubly degenerate X and, D and their pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) interactions with the nondegenerate A, B, and C electronic states along the degenerate vibrational modes lead to multiple multidimensional conical intersections and complex nuclear trajectories through them. It is found that the JT splitting is very weak in the X and relatively stronger in the D state. However, the PJT couplings play the pivotal role in the detailed shape of the vibronic bands of the radical cation. Ultrafast nonradiative decay of electronically excited radical cation has been examined. The findings of this paper are compared with the experimental data and are also discussed in relation to those observed for the methyl cyanide radical cation.     

Effect of oxygen on the formation and decay of stilbene radical cation during the resonant two-photon ionization

Formation and decay of radical cations of trans-stilbene and p-substituted trans-stilbenes (S.+) during the resonant two-photon ionization (TPI) of S in acetonitrile in the presence and absence of O(2) have been studied with laser flash photolysis using a XeCl excimer laser (308 nm, fwhm 25 ns). The transient absorption spectra of S.+ were observed with a peak around 470-490 nm. The formation quantum yield of S.+ (0.06-0.29) increased with decreasing oxidation potential (E(ox)) and increasing fluorescence lifetime (tau(f)) of S, except for trans-4-methoxystilbene which has the lowest E(ox) and longer tau(f) among S. The considerable low yield and fast decay in a few tens of nanoseconds time scale were observed for trans-4-methoxystilbene.+ in the presence of O(2), but not for other S.+ . It is suggested that formation of the ground-state complex between trans-4-methoxystilbene and O(2) and the distonic character of trans-4-methoxystilbene.+ with separation and localization of the positive charge on the oxygen of the p-methoxyl group and an unpaired electron on the beta-olefinic carbon are responsible for the fast reaction of trans-4-methoxystilbene.+ with O(2) or superoxide anion, leading to the considerable low yield and fast decay of trans-4-methoxystilbene.+ . The mechanism based on the transient absorption measurement of S.+ during the TPI is consistent with the relatively high oxidation efficiency of trans-4-methoxystilbene among S based on the product analysis during the photoinduced electron transfer in the presence of a photosensitizer such as 9,10-dicyanoanthracene and O(2) in acetonitrile.     

Comparison of atomic charges derived via different procedures

Atomic charges were obtained from ab initio molecular orbital calculations using a variety of procedures to compare them and assess their utility. Two procedures based on the molecular orbitals were examined, the Mulliken population analysis and the Weinhold–Reed Natural Population Analysis. Two procedures using the charge density distribution were included; the Hirshfeld procedure and Bader's Atoms in Molecules method. Charges also were derived by fitting the electrostatic potential (CHELPG) and making use of the atomic polar tensors (GAPT). The procedures were first examined for basis set independence, and then applied to a group of hydrocarbons. The dipole moments for these molecules were computed from the various atomic charges and compared to the total SCF dipole moments. This was followed by an examination of a series of substituted methanes, simple hydrides, and a group of typical organic compounds such as carbonyl derivatives, nitriles, and nitro compounds. In some cases, the ability of the charges to reproduce electrostatic potentials was examined. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Formation and decay of localized contact radical ion pairs in DNA hairpins

The dynamics of charge separation and charge recombination in synthetic DNA hairpins possessing diphenylacetylene-4,4'-dicarboxamide linkers have been investigated by means of femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The lowest excited singlet state of the linker is capable of oxidizing nearest neighbor adenine as well as guanine. A large wavelength shift in the transient absorption spectrum accompanies the conversion of the singlet linker to its anion radical, facilitating the investigation of electron-transfer dynamics. The rate constants for charge separation are dependent upon the oxidation potentials of the neighboring nucleobase donors but not upon the identity of nonnearest neighbors. Thus, the charge separation processes yield a contact radical ion pair in which the positive charge is localized on the neighboring nucleobase. Rate constants for charge recombination are dependent upon the identity of the first and second nearest-neighbor nucleobases but not more remote bases. This dependence is attributed to stabilization of the contact radical ion pair by interaction with its nearest neighbor. The absence of charge migration to form a base-pair separated radical ion pair is a consequence of Coulombic attraction in the contact radical ion pair and the low effective dielectric constant (epsilon < 7) experienced by the contact radical ion pair. Photoinduced charge injection to form a base-pair separated radical ion pair is necessary in order to observe charge migration.     

Formation and decay of N,N, N′, N′-tetraethyl-p-phenylenediamine radical cation in aqueous solution. A kinetic study by stopped-flow technique

A kinetic study has been carried out on the oxidation of N, N, N′, N′,-tetraethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TEPD) by metal ion like Ce⁴⁺, oxoanions viz., MnO₄^? and Cr₂O₇^2?; peroxides such as peroxomonosulphate (PMS), peroxodisulphate (PDS), and H₂O₂; and halogens namely Cl₂, Br₂, and I₂. The fast kinetics of the formation and decay of the radical cation TEPD^˙+ have been analyzed at 565 nm by the stopped-flow technique under pseudo-first-order conditions. From the kinetic data, it has been inferred that the reactions were found to be of first-order with respect to [TEPD] and [oxidant] but over all it has been of second-order. The observed second-order rate constants in both the formation and decay of TEPD^˙+ has been correlated with the oxidation potentials of the various oxidants employed in this study. The effect of pH on the oxidation has been investigated in the formation and decay of TEPD^˙+ as well as reduction studies have also been carried out using dithionite which has been found to regenerate the TEPD from the TEPD^˙+ and the corresponding rate constant has also been determined. Besides these, this article also explains how the TEPD, which forms TEPD^˙+ acts as a better electron relay than TMPD(N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine) which forms TMPD^˙+, even though both of them undergo one-electron oxidation and are used in the chemical routes to solar energy conversions. The observed rate constants for electron transfer were correlated theoretically using Marcus theory. The observed and calculated rate constants have good correlation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A stable radical-substituted radical cation with strongly ferromagnetic interaction: nitronyl nitroxide-substituted 5,10-diphenyl-5,10-dihydrophenazine radical cation

A stable radical-substituted radical ion with strongly ferromagnetic intramolecular interaction (J) between the radical and radical ion sites is an attractive spin building block of organic magnets. We prepared 2-nitronyl nitroxide-substituted 5,10-diphenyl-5,10-dihydrophenazine radical cation, 1+. The 1+ salt was stable under aerated conditions at room temperature and had a large J/kB value (>/=+700 K).     

Formation of intramolecular poly(4-hydroxystyrene) dimer radical cation

Poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) has been used in lithography as a backbone polymer and is also a promising material for extreme-ultraviolet or electron beam lithography. The dynamics of PHS radical cations generated upon exposure to electron beam were investigated. The transient absorption of PHS was observed in the near-infrared region in p-dioxane solutions by pulse radiolysis. Charge resonance (CR) bands that represent pi-pi interaction between the two chromophores of the intramolecular PHS dimer radical cation were observed, whereas p-cresol shows no distinct CR band. Although the radical cations of phenol derivatives are known to be easily deprotonated, it was found that the dimer radical cation formation leads to less deprotonation by its charge resonance stabilization.     

Spectroscopic and DFT evidence for a nonclassical radical cation derived from 7-benzhydrylidenenorbornene

Nanosecond time-resolved UV/vis absorption spectroscopy on laser flash photolysis was conducted for photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of 7-benzhydrylidenenorbornene (1) and 7-benzhydrylidenenorbornane (5). The differences in the observed absorption bands and the structures of 1⁺ and 5⁺ were evaluated successfully using calculations based on (time dependent) density functional theory, confirming the nonclassical nature of 1⁺.     

Reaction of triphenylphosphine radical cation with cycloalkenes: electrochemical one-step preparation of 1-cycloalkenyltriphenylphosphonium salts

Constant current electrolysis of triphenylphosphine in dichloromethane at a graphite anode in the presence of cycloalkenes gave the corresponding 1-cycloalkenylphosphonium salts in reasonable yields.     

A photoelectron and TPEPICO investigation of the acetone radical cation

The valence shell photoelectron spectrum, threshold photoelectron spectrum, and threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) mass spectra of acetone have been measured using synchrotron radiation. New vibrational progressions have been observed and assigned in the X 2B2 state photoelectron bands of acetone-h6 and acetone-d6, and the influence of resonant autoionization on the threshold electron yield has been investigated. The dissociation thresholds for fragment ions up to 31 eV have been measured and compared to previous values. In addition, kinetic modeling of the threshold region for CH3* and CH4 loss leads to new values of 78 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1) and 75 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1), respectively, for the 0 K activation energies for these two processes. The result for the methyl loss channel is in reasonable agreement with, but slightly lower than, that of 83 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1) derived in a recent TPEPICO study by Fogleman et al. The modeling accounts for both low-energy dissociation channels at two different ion residence times in the mass spectrometer. Moreover, the effects of the ro-vibrational population distribution, the electron transmission efficiency, and the monochromator band-pass are included. The present activation energies yield a Delta(f)H298 for CH3CO+ of 655 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), which is 4 kJ mol(-1) lower than that reported by Fogleman et al. The present Delta(f)H298 for CH3CO+ can be combined with the Delta(f)H298 for CH2CO (-47.5 +/- 1.6 kJ mol(-1)) and H+ (1530 kJ mol(-1)) to yield a 298 K proton affinity for ketene of 828 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1), in good agreement with the value (825 kJ mol(-1)) calculated at the G2 level of theory. The measured activation energy for CH4 loss leads to a Delta(f)H298 (CH2CO+*) of 873 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1).     

3,3]-Sigmatropic shifts of N-allylhydrazones: quantum chemical comparison of concerted and radical cation pathways

N-Allylhydrazones are reported to undergo an elaborate [3,3]-sigmatropic shift/N2 extrusion sequence. Both concerted and radical cation pathways for the [3,3]-sigmatropic shift of several N-allylhydrazones were investigated using B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) calculations. It was discovered that, assuming facile formation of the N-allylhydrazone radical cation, the rearrangement takes place through a series of low barrier steps energetically preferred to the concerted alternative available to neutral N-allylhydrazones. Subsequent N2 extrusions forming corresponding homoallyl radicals were found to be extremely facile.     

Separation of amines by ligand exchange : Part III. A comparison of different cation exchangers

The elution behavior of 4 amines, ethanolamine, diethanolanine, dimethylamine and n-butylamine, was studied on 4 cation-exchange resins and zirconium phosphate, all loaded with nickel ions. Aqueous ammonia was used for clution. Different selectivity orders were found with exchangers of different types. The carboxylic cation-exchange resin gave the sharpest bands, but 2% cross-linked sulfonic resin gave the best separation of these amines.     

Tin-centered radical and cation: stable and free

The first stable stannyl radical (tBu2MeSi)3Sn* (1) has been synthesized by the reaction of tBu2MeSiNa with SnCl2-dioxane in diethyl ether. The X-ray crystal structure and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data of this radical show that 1 has a planar geometry, being a pi-radical in both the solid and the liquid states. One-electron oxidation of 1 with Ph3C+.B(C6F5)4- in benzene quantitatively produced the corresponding cation (tBu2MeSi)3Sn+.B(C6F5)4- (2), representing the stable free stannylium ion that has been fully characterized by X-ray analysis and NMR data. Being free, 2 features a record downfield shifted resonance for stannylium ions: +2653 ppm.     

Bicyclopropylidene radical cation: A rehybridization ring opening to tetramethyleneethane

A computational study has been undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of the bicyclopropylidene radical cation (BCP^?+) rearrangement into the tetramethyleneethane radical cation (TME^?+). A stepwise mechanism is found for the first ring opening, with an activation energy of 7.3 kcal mol^?1, while the second ring opening proceeds with no activation energy. Each ring opening is combined with a striking pyramidalization of one carbon atom in the central bond. In a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, the dominating reaction coordinate during the ring opening is found to be the olefinic carbon atom rehybridization, which also favors the continued bond breaking. Widely different ESR parameters are computed for the two sets of four protons in BCP^?+, in excellent agreement with the observed spectrum, which are interpreted in the NBO analysis in terms of two hyperconjugative effects. Two minimum energy structures are located for TME^?+, separated by a cusp on the internal rotation path of this cation, both of which show ESR parameters in good agreement with the observed spectrum for TME^?+. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004