Radical transfer reactions in polymers

Free-radical transfer in polymers have been studied by pulse radiolysis and product analysis with the water-soluble polymers poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), polynucleotides and DNA. When OH radicals react with polymers the lifetime of the polymer radical thus created strongly depends on the number of radicals per polymer chain. Moreover, in negatively charged polymers the increased stiffness at high pH results in a remarkable increase of the lifetime of the radicals with respect to recombination. This allows a number of radical transfer reactions to occur (e.g. intramolecular H-transfer, β-fragmentation, depolymerization, reactions with additives).     

Methylene substitution reactions in a quadrupole ion trap selectivity of ethylene,ethylene oxide,and dimethyl ether reactive ions

To elucidate the selectivity of methylene substitution reactions of monosubstituted and disubstituted oxyaromatic compounds in a low pressure quadrupole ion trap environment, the relative abundances of covalently bound and loosely bound adducts formed by ion/molecule reactions with ethylene (ET), ethylene oxide (ETOX), and dimethyl ether (DME) were compared. Adduct ions of all three reagent gases were formed in both a conventional ion source and a quadrupole ion trap and characterized by collisionally activated dissociation. For DME and ET, the covalently bound adducts formed at (M + 45)⁺ and (M + 41)⁺, respectively, are direct precursors to the methylene substitution product ions at (M + 13)⁺. ETOX and ET do not demonstrate the same functional group selectivity for methylene substitution as previously observed for DME. This is attributed to differences in reaction exothermicities and competing reactions.     

Intramolecular aromatic substitution reactions in substituted N,N-dimethylthiobenzamide ions

The molecular ions of N,N-dimethylthiobenzamide and its ortho substituted derivatives (substituents CH₃, Cl, Br, I) lose a hydrogen atom and/or the ortho substituent. The mechanism of this process has been studied by measurements of the ionization energies, appearance energies of the product ions m/z 164 and the kinetic energy release during this process. The structure of the product ions m/z 164 and relevant reference ions have been investigated by mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, B/E linked scan spectra and collision induced decompositions. The results show clearly the formation of two different kinds of product ions m/z 164 depending on the substituent lost. Type a ions are formed by loss of a H atom or the CH₃ substituent and correspond to protonated 3,4-benzo-N-methylpyroline-2-thione. The formation of these ions occurs by a hydrogen rearrangement followed by an intramolecular substitution via a 5-membered cyclic intermediate and is associated with a large release of kinetic energy. In contrast, the loss of the halogeno substituents to give type b ions probably occurs via a direct displacement reaction by the sulfur atom of the thioamide group giving rise to Gaussian shaped peaks mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra.     

Remarkable effects of counter ions on scandium ion-promoted electron transfer reactions

Scandium ion-promoted electron transfer reactions of p-benzoquinone are remarkably accelerated when tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate anion is used instead of trifluoromethanesulfonate anion as the counter anion of scandium ion. Only a catalytic amount of scandium borate salt (Sc[B(C6F5)4]3) accelerates significantly the Diels-Alder reaction of 9,10-dimethylanthracene with p-benzoquinone, which proceeds via Sc(3+)-promoted electron transfer from the anthracene to p-benzoquinone.     

Reversed effects of DNA on hydride transfer and electron transfer reactions of acridinium and quinolinium ions

DNA inhibits hydride transfer from 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide to the 10-methylacridinium ion, whereas DNA accelerates photoinduced electron transfer from the excited state of Ru(bpy)3(2+) to the 1-methylquinolinium ion. The reason of such reversed effects of DNA on the hydride transfer and electron transfer reactions is clarified.     

Tracking reactive intermediates in phosphine-promoted reactions with ambiphilic phosphino-boranes

The ambiphilic phosphino-borane i-Pr2P(o-C6H4)BMes2 affords stable versions of key zwitterionic intermediates by reactions with diethyl azodicarboxylate or PhNCO.     

Photoinduced electron-transfer substitution reactions via unusual charge-transfer intermediates.

The photoinduced substitution reactions of halogenated alkanes (1-haloadamantanes, 1-haloronorbornanes, menthyl chloride) with a homologous series of amines or alcohols (methylamine, 2-methyl-2-aminopropane, methanol, or 2-methyl-2-propanol) to form the corresponding alkane-substituted amines or ethers and HCl were investigated. The geometry of the bridgehead carbons made S(N)2 reactions impossible. Nonpolar reaction conditions were employed which made classical and nonclassical carbocation S(N)1 reaction pathways unlikely. The reaction rates were measured. Trapping experiments indicated that free radical reactions were uninvolved in the substitution product formation. A novel, photoinduced electron-transfer reaction mechanism involving a charge-transfer intermediate is proposed to explain the observed production of secondary amines and ethers. The excitation wavelength dependence (action spectrum) was measured and found to be comparable to the ultraviolet absorption spectra of the charge-transfer complexes. The stereochemical implications of the reaction mechanism were investigated. The formation of the methyl ether of (1R,2S,5R)-menthol was the only organic reaction product observed in the photoreaction between (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl chloride and methanol.     

The role of odd-electron intermediates and in-cage electron transfer in ultrafast photochemical disproportionation reactions in Lewis bases

Femtosecond visible pump-IR probe studies of Cp2W2(CO)6 in P(OMe)3 and CH2Cl2 have allowed direct observation of a 19-electron intermediate and of disproportionation into CpW(CO)3- and CpW(CO)3P(OMe)3+ on the ultrafast time scale. A new disproportionation mechanism involving in-cage electron transfer between a 19-electron intermediate and a 17-electron radical has been proposed.     

Role of electron transfer in reactions involving substitution of halogen in 2-halo-5-nitrofurans

The replacement of the halogen in 2-halo-5-nitrofurans (Hal=C1, Br, I) in dimethylformamide (DMF) under the influence of tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide to give 2-hydroxy-5-nitrofuran salts was studied. The intermediate anion radicals of the halonitrofurans were recorded by EPR spectroscopy; bromo- and iodonitrofurans can give 5,5-dinitro-2,2-difuryl anion radicals under the influence of Bu₄NOH. The polarographic reduction of halonitrofurans in the presence of hydrogen peroxide also leads to 2-hydroxy-5-nitrofuran. A mechanism for the transformation is proposed.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1604–1607, December, 1979Original article submitted March 17, 1977; revision submitted October 30, 1978.     

Light-induced electron transfer reactions

The reactions of the luminescent excited states of the polypyridine-ruthenium(II) complexes (^*RuL₃²⁺) with electron acceptors and donors are discussed. These electron transfer reactions convert the excited state into RuL₃³⁺ and RuL₃⁺, respectively. The former ruthenium complex is a more powerful oxidant and the latter is a more powerful reductant than the excited state itself. Some applications of these complexes in the conversion and storage of solar energy are presented. Theoretical models for electron transfer reactions are described and the implications of these models for the quenching and back electron transfer reactions are discussed. It is pointed out that the exploitation of the inverted region may provide a useful means of slowing down back electron transfer reactions.     

Dissociative electron transfer reactions

We consider recent data on dissociative electron transfer reactions in which the electron transfer causes practically concerted dissociation of the chemical bond in the reagent. We discuss considerable experimental data on reactions in the gas phase and in solutions, and also existing theoretical models for describing the kinetics of these complex processes. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 67–78, March–April, 1998.     

Tertiary amine oxides as phase transfer catalysts for substitution and dichlorocyclopropanation reactions

Tertiary amine oxides catalyze a variety of phase transfer reactions, primarily by $\text{in}$$\text{situ}$ deoxygenation to form the tertiary amine or derived catalyst.     

Factors controlling electron transfer reactions and stabilisation of uncommon oxidation states of chromium

Some experimental approaches to seek semi-quantitative understanding of factors controlling outer sphere electron transfer reactions of some transition metal complexes have been made. The relative importance of nuclear and electronic factors to outer sphere processes has been examined. By the manipulation of Franck-Condon or nuclear factors, it has now been possible to gain access into the chemistry of chromium in unusual oxidation states. An example of a reorganisation controlled electron transfer reaction involving Cr(IV)-Cr(III) system has been demonstrated. The bimolecular rate of reduction of diperoxoaquaethylenediamine chromium(IV) and diperoxodiethylenetriamine chromium(IV) is independent of the nature of th reductant employed viz. Fe²⁺ or VO²⁺ indicating that the generation of6 coordinate Cr(IV) species from7 coordinate of diperoxochromium(IV) reactant may be rate limiting. Similarly by increasing the barrier for the6 coordinate to4 coordinate structures through equatorial coordination of macrocyclic ligands, it has now been possible to detect through cyclic voltommogram the formation of relatively stable Cr(IV) species in the electrochemical oxidation of Cr(Me₄[14] tetraene)(H₂O) ₂ ³⁺ in aqueous sulphuric acid media. The kinetics and mechanism of the cerium(IV) and iodosyl benzene oxidation of Cr(salen)(H₂O) ₂ ⁺ and Cr(salprn)(H₂O) ₂ ⁺ have been investigated and kinetic and spectroscopic evidence for the formation of Cr(IV) transients and stable Cr(V) products has been presented. The relative importance of Franck-Condon factors in the oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(IV) and Cr(V) states in different macrocyclic and multidentate ligand environments has been discussed.     

Isolation of reactive intermediates in deprotonation reactions with zinc alkyls

Using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and quantum chemical calculations, a model system for metalation reactions, the deprotonation of (tert-butylamino)(piperidinomethyl)dimethyl-silane (1) with Et(2)Zn, was established allowing for the isolation of a reactive intermediate, the adduct structure [1·Et(2)Zn] (2).     

Photochemical electron transfer reactions in alkylcobaloximes

It is shown that photolysis with visible light (λ > 420 nm) of any alkylcobaloxime procedes via a mechanism involving an initial electron transfer reaction from an equatorial ligand to the central metal to produce a cobalt(II) species which retains both original axial ligands. In a subsequent rearrangement of the equatorial ligand a hydrogen atom is ejected.