On optically detected ESR spectra from radical cations of liquid hydrocarbon solvents

The optically detected electron spin resonance (OD ESR) method has been employed to study the origin of radical-cation ESR signals in some saturated hydrocarbons with small amounts of 2.5-diphenyloxazol or p-terphenyl under radiolysis. In cyclohexane, the ESR, signal with resolved hyperfine structure was ascribed to c-C₆H₁₀⁺/PPO^? radical-ion pairs produced from primary c-C₆H₁₂⁺/PPO^? ones by monomolecular decay, of cyclohexane radical cations to cyclohexene radical cations. Cis- and trans-decalin under radiolysis accumulate 9,10-octalin which captures solvent holes and form 9,10-octalin radical cations giving a resolved OD ESR spectrum. 9,10-octalin is present in non-irradiated commercial decalin as an impurity. The OD ESR technique has been shown to be very sensitive to some impurities in hydrocarbon solvents.     

Phototransformations of azetidine radical cations stabilized in freonic matrices

It has been established that transformations of azetidine radical cations observed in freonic matrices under the action of light with λ = 436 nm (T = 77 K) are associated with C-N bond cleavage which corresponds to the cyclic form yielding a mixture of open distonic C-centered radical cations of the following structure: ·CH₂CH₂CH=NH ₂ ⁺      

Generation and reactions of radical cations from the photolysis of aromatic compounds with tetranitromethane in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexa-fluoropropan-2-ol

The generation and reactions of aromatic radical cations by photolysis of ArH-tetranitromethane in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexfluoropropan-2-ol (HFP) at room temperature has been investigated. The primary radical cations (ArH^⊙?) were detectable by EPR spectroscopy in most cases where E ^o(Ar^⊙?/ArH) 1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Secondary radical cations were obtained from pentamethylbenzene and durene (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octamethyl- and 1,2,4,5,6,8-hexamethyl-anthraceneradical cation), from certain naphthalenes (dehydrodimer radical cations, Ar?Ar^⊙?) and from 2,3-dimethylanisole (the radical of a nitroso derivative). The persistence of the radical cations in the presence of trinitromethanide ion is seen as a consequence of the stabilization of the nucleophile by HFP. This assumption was supported by preparative results on 1-methoxynaphthalene and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, where the trinitromethanide ion initiated pathway was completely eliminated in HFP, contrary to results earlier obtained in dichloromethane.     

Disjoint and coextensive amminium radical cations: a general problem in making amminium radical cation based high-spin polymers

A two-electron oxidation of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-diaminobenzene 12 gives the diradical dication 12²⁺, which is an aza analogue of the Schlenk hydrocarbon and, like the Schlenk hydrocarbon, has a triplet ground state. However, an attempt to produce pentuplet tetraradical tetracations by extending the same ferromagnetic spin-coupling motif in a linear or a cyclic fashion was unsuccessful. Two-electron oxidations to give disjoint diradical dications (in which the charges and spins are spatially separated) are relatively easy but it proved impossible to remove the third and fourth electrons. This would require generation of coextensive radical ions in which the charges and spin distributions overlap. The results obtained with these model oligomers illustrate what is a general problem in the creation of high-spin polymers in which the spin-bearing centres are amminium radical cations. Strong ferromagnetic spin-coupling depends on the formation of coextensive rather than disjoint radical cations but the formation of coextensive radical cations with strong ferromagnetic coupling involves a large additional coulombic penalty.     

ESR spectra and structure of the n-butane and n-hexane radical cations

Well-resolved ESR spectra of the n-butane and n-hexane radical cations have been generated, each spectrum showing a 1:2:1 triplet and a detailed substructure. The results are interpreted in terms of an a_g singly occupied MO (^σC—C, δC–H_ax) which is delocalized over the extended carbon chain (C_2h symmetry) and two axial hydrogens.     

The distance distribution of radical—paramagnetic ion pairs studied by the electron spin echo method. Spatial regularities of radical diffusion in glassy alcohols

Applications of the electron spin echo (ESE) technique to determine the distance distribution function for radical-ion pairs stabilized in solids are described. The ESE signal intensity depends on the ion spin-lattice relaxation time T₁, thus on temperature, as well as on the function n(r),n(r) can be determined up to a distance of 50 A. At r < 10 - 20 A it is possible to estimate the portion of radicals stabilized at these distances in the vicinity of a paramegnetic ion. The photochemical reaction Fe³⁺ + R₂CH(OH)→Fe²⁺ +_R₂C(OH) + H⁺ has been studied in glassy methanol and isopropanol. The pair distribution function n(r) has been obtained at 17 < r < 26 A. Its changes induced by radical diffusion have been studied. The portion of radicals stabilized at distance r < 17 A was about 80% for both alcohols.     

Acyl radical addition to benzene and related systems—a computational study

The addition of the acetyl radical to benzene, aniline, trifluoromethylbenzene and naphthalene has been investigated using DFT calculations. Addition to benzene is calculated to have an energy barrier of 63.6 kJ mol⁻¹ at the BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE level of theory. This reaction is associated with simultaneous SOMO→π^∗ and π→SOMO interactions with the latter interaction dominating, suggesting that acetyl reacts predominantly as an electrophilic radical in its interaction with benzene. Addition to the ortho and para positions of aniline is calculated to be slightly less favourable, while attack at the meta position is predicted to be unaffected in relation to the chemistry involving benzene. Inclusion of the electron-withdrawing substituent, trifluoromethyl, is predicted to accelerate reactions slightly at the ortho and para positions, while attack at the C1 position of naphthalene is calculated to involve a barrier of 50.3 kJ mol⁻¹ (BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE).     

Esr studies of the ring opening of cyclopropane radical cations in freon matrices

The radical cations of cyclopropane and several of its methyl derivatives have been characterized by ESR spectroscopy following their generation by γ irradiation of dilute solutions of the parent compounds in Freon matrices at 77 K. In the CFCl₃, CF₃CCl₃, and CF₂ClCCl₃, matrices, only the ring-closed species is usually observed in the accessible temperature range up to ca 160 K. In the CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrix, however, the ring-closed radical cations initially formed at 77 K undergo ring opening between 83 and 110 K, the more highly substituted radical cations requiring a higher temperature for this transformation. The ring-closed radical cations are ²A₁ species for C_2v symmetry, the most substituted cyclopropane C-C bond being elongated with the spin density largely confined to the basal carbons in a face-to-face (90°, 90°) structure. In the ring-opened radical cations, the radical center is localized on the most substituted carbon atom following the breaking of the weakened C-C bond of the ring-closed species. The radical conformations of the ring-opened species have been determined, the RCH₂CH₂· center produced from cyclopropane having a bisected conformation while the RCH₂CMe₂· center obtained from 1,1,2,2-tetramethylcyclopropane is eclipsed, as expected for the presence of α-methyl substituents at the radical site. The nature of the putative carbocation center in the ring-opened radical cations is discussed with reference to recent proposals that this center is strongly coordinated to an electrophile (Cl^- or RCl) thereby negating the requirement for an orthogonal structure. Consideration of the strong matrix dependence of the ring-opening reaction suggests a possible solvation effect, however, in which the CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrix assists the twisting of one of the CR₁R₂ groups at the most substituted bond, leading to the rupture of this one-electron σ bond. A strong solvation effect also explains why ring-opening can occur in a suitable polar solvent despite theoretical calculations of unfavourable energetics for a similar gas-phase reaction. Experiments are also described on spiro[2.5]octane, the cyclopropane ring undergoing scission at the CH₂-CH₂ bond of this radical cation to give an RCH₂· radical center. this radical then undergoes a H-atom abstraction with a neutral spiro[2.5]octane molecule in the CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrix at higher temperature to give the spiro[2.5]oct-6-yl radical.     

The structure of diphosphine radical cations

When R₂NNR₂ molecules lose an electron to give (R₂NNR₂)^+· radical cations, the whole unit becomes planar, with a(π₁)²(π₂)¹ configuration. However, because R₃P molecules are far more strongly pyramidal than R₃N molecules, this flattening on electron loss is less, and phosphorous centred radical cations do not achieve planarity. This is clearly so for (R₂PPR₂)⁺ centres, whose liquid and solid state spectra analysed herein in terms of two equivalent ³¹P hyperfine couplings, show ca. 9% 3s character. This indicates considerable bending at each phosphorous centre. Furthermore, the form of the spectra, with no x — y splitting of the ‘perpendicular’ lines, suggests that each ³¹P coupling shares a common axis. This means that a trans conformation is required, as expected because this relieves steric strain and favours “π” type orbital overlap.     

Anodic cyclization reactions: probing the chemistry of N,O-ketene acetal derived radical cations

The chemical reactivity of radical cations derived from N,O-ketene acetals has been examined and compared with the reactivity of radical cations derived from both ketene dithioacetals and enol ethers. Synthetically, the N,O-ketene acetal radical cations lead to more efficient cyclization reactions than either the ketene dithioacetal or enol ether derived radical cations. Cyclic voltammetry experiments using allylsilane trapping groups show that the efficiency of these cyclizations is not due to the N,O-ketene acetal radical cations being more reactive but rather more stable to decomposition. Finally, cyclizations using chiral oxizolidinones were examined.     

Emission spectra of the radical cations of 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene in the gas phase

Emission spectra of the radical cations of 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene-h₄ (and -d₄), and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene, excited in the gas phase by controlled electron impact, are presented. The band systems, which lie in the 500–750 nm wavelength region, are attributed to the B?(π^?1) → X?(π^?) electronic transition of the cations on the basis of photoelectron spectroscopic data. The NeI excited photoelectron spectra and the ionisation energies of chloro-,o-,m-,p-dichloro- and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene have been obtained. The information acquired from the emission and photoelectron spectra is discussed and compiled to deduce the symmetry of the B? states. Emission, with quantum yield > 10^?5, could not be detected with electronically excited radical cations of chloro-,o-dichloro-, 1,2,4- and 1,2,3-trichloro- and tetrachloro-benzenes. This is attributed to the nature of the B? states, which arise by σ^?1 ionisation processes. The lifetimes of the zeroth and some vibrationally excited levels of the B?(π^?1) states were also measured and found to be 22 ± 2 ns for 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene cation and < 6 ns for 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene cations. The lifetimes of the latter two electronically excited cations are estimated to be two orders of magnitude shorter than 6 ns from the measurement of the relative emission intensities of the B? → B? band systems of the three title cations.     

Photochemical reactions of radical cations of dimethylformamide in freon matrices at 77 K

Spectral characteristics of the radical cations (RC) of DMF (λ_max = 415 nm, ε_max = (2.6±0.8)·10³ L mol^?2 cm^?2) stabilized in an irradiated glassy freon mixture (CFCl₃ and CF₂BrCF₂Br) at 77 K were determined. Amide type radicals and RC of the matrix were shown to be formed by irradiation (λ=365–436 nm) of the radical cations of DMF in freon matrices using ESR and UV spectroscopy. The quantum yields of photoconversion of the DMF radical cations are independent of the wavelength of exciting light. It was found that the matrix structure affects the processes stabilizing the products of photoconversion of the DMF radical cations.     

Large reaction radii for the quenching of fluorescent excited states of liquid cis-decalin and cyclohexane

The large rates of quenching by different solutes of the fluorescent solvent excited state in liquid cis-decalin and cyclohexane as observed by pulse radiolysis are explained by large reaction radii. Values of 14, 13, and 15 Å are found for the quenching of the excited state in cis-decalin by CCl₄, in cyclohexane by CCl₄, and by O₂ respectively.     

Monitoring the Light-induced Isomerisation of the Prototypical Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons C10H8+ through Ion-Molecule Reactions

Structural rearrangements in ions are essential for understanding the composition and evolution of energetic and chemically active environments. This study explores the interconversion routes for simple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, namely naphthalene and azulene radical cations (C₁₀H₈⁺), by combining mass spectrometry and vacuum ultraviolet tunable synchrotron radiation through the chemical monitoring technique. Products of ion-molecule reactions are used to probe C₁₀H₈⁺ structures that are formed as a function of their internal energies. Isomerisation from azulene radical cation towards naphthalene radical cation in a timescale faster than 80 μs was monitored, whereas no reverse isomerisation was observed in the same time window. When energising C₁₀H₈⁺ with more than 6 eV, the reactivity of C₁₀H₈⁺ unveils the formation of a new isomeric group with a contrasted reactivity compared with naphthalene and azulene cations. We tentatively assigned these structures to phenylvinylacetylene cations.     

Synthesis of cis-decalin via diels-alder and double michael cycloaddition with substituted nazarov reagent

The base-catalyzed cycloaddition of the methyl substituted Nazarov reagent 2 with 2-carbomethoxy-2-cyclohexenone (1) yielding cis-decalin products is reported.     

MARY-detected ESR spectra of radical ions in liquid solutions for systems with crossing Zeeman levels

The effect of Zeeman levels crossing in spin-correlated radical ion pairs (naphthalene)⁺/(hexafluorobenzene)⁻ was monitored as the influence of an external magnetic field on the solution fluorescence under X-irradiation (MARY spectrum). The spectra obtained exhibit a line in the field, equal to triple the hfi coupling constant of hexafluorobenzene radical anion, its linewidth being determined by the unresolved hyperfine structure of the naphthalene cation. The theory predicts that the presence of weak hfi in the partner cation splits this line by the projections of the cation total nuclear momentum M_Z according to nuclear statistics. Thus, a direct correspondence between the MARY and ESR spectra of radical cations allows registration of the ESR spectrum without microwave pumping.     

Photochemistry of trimethylene oxide and trimethylene sulfide radical cations in freonic matrices at 77 K

It was shown that trimethylene oxide (oxetane) radical cations were converted at 77 K into either distonic radical cations ·CH₂CH₂CH=OH⁺ or 2-oxetanyl radicals, depending on the freonic matrix used, by the action of light at λ = 546 nm and trimethylene sulfide radical cations transformed into distonic radical cations CH₂CHSH⁺CH ₂ ^· under 436-nm irradiation. The quantum yields of the photochemical reactions were determined. Quantum-chemical calculations on the structure and HFC constants of the radical cations and possible paramagnetic products of their transformation were performed. The reasons behind the observed difference in reactivity between the radical cations under the action of light are discussed.     

Heat of formation for the SH radical by photoionization mass spectrometry

Photoionization mass spectrometry has been used to measure the appearance energies for [C₂H₅]⁺ from ethanethiol, [C₃H₇]⁺ from 2-propanethiol and [C₃H₅]⁺ from 2-methylthiirane. From the known thermochemistry of these cations and their precursor molecules, a 298 K heat of formation of 138.6±0.4 kJ mol^?1 for the SH radical has been derived.     

Generation and reactions of 3-alkylidene-1-pyrazoline radical cations by photoinduced electron transfer

The behavior of the 3-alkylidene-1-pyrazoline radical cations generated by photoinduced electron transfer reactions was examined. The nitrogen-retained radical cations have been detected using laser flash photolysis. The photochemical products indicate that E/Z isomerization, intramolecular cyclization, and solvent addition (acetonitrile) occurred.     

Structures and reactions of radical cations of some bicycloalkanes and their related alkenes as studied by 4 k matrix esr

The σ radical cations of most typical bicycloalkanes such as norbornane and bicyclo[2,2,2]octane are radiolytically produced at 4 K in halogenocarbon matrices and are studied by ESR spectroscopy. Their electronic and geometrical structures as well as their dynamical behaviors have been elucidated from the hyperfine structures and their temperature changes. The semi occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) of the former cation is 4a₂, in which the unpaired electron delocalizes over the four exo C-H bonds giving large hyperfine coupling. The latter is a Jahn-Teller active species and exhibits static distortion from D_3h to C_2v at 4 K in CFCl₃, and the SOMO is likely to be 6b₂, in which the unpaired electron delocalizes over the four endo C-H bonds giving large proton coupling, although a dynamically averaged structure with 12 equivalent methylene protons is observed in C-C₆F₁₂ as well as in CFCl₂CF₂Cl matrices at 77 K. The unpaired electron distribution in bicycloalkane radical cations is similar to that in cycloalkane radical cations previously studied. Upon warming both the cations undergo deprotonation to give 2-yl alkyl radicals from the exo or endo C-H bond, at which the higher unpaired electron density is populated. In addition to these radical cations, the structures and reactions of the radical cations of the related bicycloalkenes such as norbornadiene, quadricyclane, and bicyclo[2,2,2]octene have also been studied. The hydride ion transfer to an olefinic radical cation to form an alkyl radical is observed for the bicyclo[2,2,2]octene radical cation as the first example observed by ESR.