Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. IV. 1,2- and 1,8-dinitronaphthalenes

Nanosecond flash photolysis of 1,2- and 1,8-dinitronaphthalenes (1,2-DNO₂N; 1,8-DNO₂N) in nonpolar and polar solvents shows transient species with absorption maxima and lifetimes dependent on solvent polarity. In deaerated n-hexane the absorption maxima and lifetimes (1/K) are 490 nm and 1.0 μsec for 1,2-DNO₂N and 550 nm and 2.5 μsec for 1,8-DNO₂N. In deaerated ethanol the corresponding values are 550 nm and 4.3 μsec for 1,2-DNO₂N and 590 nm and 5.3 μsec for 1,8-DNO₂N. The transient absorptions are attributed to the lowest triplet excited states T₁ of the 1,2- and 1,8-DNO₂N. The observed red shifts in the absorption maxima of the T₁ states are indicative of the extent to which electronic charge is transferred intramolecularly during the T₁ → T_n transitions. Furthermore, the increased lifetime of the T₁ states with increasing solvent polarity indicates the intramolecular charge transfer character of the T₁ states. Changes of dipole moments accompanying the T₁ → T_n transitions as well as rate constants for electron or proton transfer and hydrogen abstraction reactions involving the T₁ states of 1,2- and 1,8-DNO₂N and tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH) as the hydrogen donor were determined together with the activation energy of the hydrogen abstraction reaction for the case of 1,2-DNO₂N. The spectroscopic and kinetic data obtained in this work demonstrate that the triplet states of 1,2- and 1,8-DNO₂N behave like n → π* states in nonpolar media while in polar solvents the n → π* character of these states is reduced with a simultaneous increase in their intramolecular charge transfer character.     

The triplet state of 4-nitro-N,N-dimethynaphthylamine

Nanosecond laser photolytic studies of 4-nitro-N,N-dimethylnaphthylamine (4-NDMNA) in nonpolar and polar solvents at room temperature show a transient species with an absorption maximum in the 500-510-nm range. This species is assigned to the lowest triplet excited state of 4-NDMNA. The absorption maximum of this state is independent of solvent polarity, and its lifetime is a function of the hydrogen donor efficiency of the solvent. In n-hexane the lifetime 1/k of the triplet state is 9.1 × 10^?6 sec, while in acetonitrile 1/k is 2.0 × 10^?7 sec. The hydrogen abstraction rate constant k_H of the triplet state with tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH) in n-hexane is 1.7 × 10⁷M^?1·sec^?1, while in the case of isopropyl alcohol as hydrogen donor, k_H is 4.0 × 10⁷M^?1·sec^?1. The activation energy for the hydrogen abstraction by the triplet state from Bu₃SnH in deaerated n-hexane is 0.6 kcal/mol. The lack of spectral shift with increasing solvent polarity, and the appreciable hydrogen abstraction reactivity of the triplet state, also independent of solvent polarity, seem to indicate that this excited state is an n-π* state which retains its n-π* character even in polar media.     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. II. b-Nitronaphthalene

Nanosecond flash photolysis of b-nitronaphthalene (b-NO₂C₁₀H₇) in nonpolar and polar solvents shows a transient species with maximum absorption and lifetime dependent on solvent polarity. In deaerated n-hexane the absorption maximum and lifetime (1/k) are 425 nm and 530 nsec, while in deaerated ethanol the corresponding values are 470 nm and 1.7 ·sec. This transient absorption is attributed to the triplet excited state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇, and the observed red shift as well as its longer lifetime in polar solvents are indicative of the intramolecular charge transfer character of this state. The change of dipole moment accompanying the transition T₁ → T_n, as well as rate constants for electron and proton transfer reactions involving the T₁ state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇, were determined. The spectroscopic and kinetic data obtained in this work indicate that the triplet state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇ behaves like a n-π* state in nonpolar media, while in polar solvents the n-π* character of the state is reduced with a simultaneous increase in the charge transfer character.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 53. Mitteilung [1]. Photochemische Addition von Alkylaromaten an Aryl-Carbonylverbindungen

In the preceding paper [1] a novel primary photochemical process of triplet excited α,β-conjugated cycloalkenones in toluene solution has been reported: the abstraction of a benzylic hydrogen from the solvent by the β-carbon (cf. 1 → 2 + 3 + 4 ). The reaction has been attributed to the π,π* triplet. Aromatic aldehydes and ketones ( 5–11a ), the triplet state reactivity of which is known to be mostly π,π* in nature, have now been examined under the same irradiation conditions. However, a reaction similar to that of cycloalkenones — expected to result in the addition of hydrogen to the ortho and para positions of the aryl moiety and the formation of benzylcyclohexa-1,3-and 1,4-diene derivatives — could not been found. Compounds 5 – 10 remained essentially unchanged. 4-Methoxyacetophenone ( 11a ) reacted slowly to form the same type of products [tert-carbinol 12a , pinacol 13a and dibenzyl ( 4 )] as the aromatic carbonyl compounds 11b-d , benzophenone and cyclopropylphenylketone, which exhibit typical n,π* triplet reactivity (hydrogen abstraction by the carbonyl oxygen).     

Ab initio calculations on urea

Multiconfiguration wave functions constructed from contracted Gaussian-lobe functions have been found for the ground and valence-excited states of urea. ICSCF molecular orbitals of the excited states were used as the parent configurations for the CI calculations except for the ¹A₁(π → π*) state. The ¹A₁(π → π*) state used as its parent configuration an orthogonal linear combination of natural orbitals obtained from the second root of a three-configuration SCF calculation. The lowest excited states are predicted to be the n π → π* and π → π* triplet states. The lowest singlet state is predicted to be the n π → π* state with an energy in good agreement with the one known UV band at 7.2 eV. The π → π* singlet state is predicted to be about 1.9 eV higher, contrary to several previous assignments which assumed the lowest band was a π → π* amide resonance band. The predicted ionization energy of 9.0 eV makes this and higher states autoionizing.     

SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF PURINES—I. FACTORS AFFECTING THE FIRST EXCITED LEVELS OF PURINE*

Abstract— Studies of purine absorption and emission in seven solvents differing greatly in dielectric constant and hydrogen bonding potential, reveal a variety of solvent effects. For example, the resolution of structure in the absorption spectrum, the position and/or intensity of the X₂ absorption band, the intensity of fluorescence, the magnitude of the long wave-lenth tail, and the position of the X₁ absorption band are differentially affected—in the order listed—by the solvents tested. Even though it is possible to correlate the extent of decrease in the n-π* tail with increasing solvent dielectric constant, probably alterations in all of these spectroscopic parameters depend most critically upon the ability of the various solvents to form hydrogen bonds with the hydrogen on N9 and/for with the non-bonding electrons on the purine nitrogens: it is tentatively concluded that the probability of hydrogen bonding is directly correlated with the electronegativity of the aza nitrogens (N7 > N3 > N1). In solvents like isopropanol not all of the non-bonding electrons must be solvated maximally in most purine molecules since there is appreciable fluorescence under conditions where a long wavelength tail is readily observed in the absorption spectrum (alternatively some noa-bonding electrons may not te relevant to fluorescence quenching.) Decreases in fluorescence yield are associated with red shifts in the fluorescence maximum, and in the solvents of highest polarity the fluorescence yield is again small indicating that glycerol and water can enhance radiationless tunneling—presumably by altering Franck-Condon configurations and/or improving electronic-vibrational coupling between solute and solvent. The quantum yield is uniform throughout the atsorption band for a given solvent, but studies in aqueous buffers varying from pH 1 to 11 show that the fluorescence yield is greater for charged than for neutral molecules. Further, the fluorescence excitation peak is red shifted in powders. Since phosphorescence is the predominant emission at 777deg;K and increases in fluorescence can be correlated with the presumed solvation of non-bonding electrons, the singlet excited state of lowest energy in ‘unperturbed’ purine must be n-π* in nature. The shape of the phosphorescence band and the decay lifetime of ? 1 sec at 77°K lead to the conclusion that the emitting triplet is a π-π* state. The eight vibrational structures in phosphorescence emission can be readily grouped into two progressions: there is an average separation of about 1300 cm^-1 between peaks within a given progression, and the two sets are mutually displaced by about 500 cm-^l. Individual vibrational peaks are favoured in different solvents and the whole band may be shifted up to 500 cm^-l. Even larger shifts are observed in charged purine molecules and in powders (up to 3000 cm^-l) and the presumed 0–0 band is not observed.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 49. Mitteilung [1] Spezifisch π → π*-induzierte Keton-Photoreaktionen: Die Doppelbindungsverschiebung von O-Acetyl-10α-testosteron Protonisierung der Doppelbindung seines δ5-Isomeren

The α,β-unsatured ketone 10α-testosterone has been reported previously [6] to photoisomerize in t-butanol solution to the β,γ-unsaturated ketone. The irradiation had been carried out using a high-pressure mercury lamp in a quartz vessel. For structural reasons this double bond shift cannot proceed through a photoenolization mechanism involving an intramolecular hydrogen transfer from the γ-position to the enone oxygen as has been suggested to operate in several formally analogous cases of aliphatic enone isomerizations. In the present reinvestigation, O-acetyl 10α-testosterone ( 1 ) was used, employing selectively either excitation of its n → π* (with wavelengths > 300 nm) or its π → π* absorption band (with 253,7 nm). In t-butanol solution the doublebond shift 1 → 2 could be effected with π→* excitation only. Experiments in deuterated solvent (t-BuOD) resulted in deuterium in corporation in both the δ5-ketone in the C(4)-position, cf.( 3 ) and in the conjugated ketone. These results indicate that the reactions is initiated either in the, S_π,π* state or in a high vibrational mode of the S₀ or t_ππ*state. n→ π* Excitation of 1 in t-butanol gave essentially no over-all chemical change, while in benzene solution it resulted again in a double bond isomerization ( 1 → 2 ). In analogy to results with similar enones [28] under identical conditions the deconjugation in benzene may be the consequence of an intermolecular hydrogen abstraction of the T_n,π* excited state of the enone. Another specifically π →π* induced photoreaction was observed on irradiation of the β, γ-unsaturated ketone 2 in t-BuOD with 253,7 nm. The olefinic hydrogen at C-6 of 2 was exchanged with deuterium and, to a small extent, isomerization to the conjugated ketone 1 with concomitant deuterium incorporation occurred. It is concluded that from the higher excited state of the β, γ-unsaturated ketone, but not from its S_n,π* state, an activation mode of the double bond is accessible to effect D+ addition at C-6 followed by deprotonation to 4 and to deuterated 1 , respectively.     

Specifically (π → π*)-Induced Cyclohexenone Reactions 6-Benzylbicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-ones

6-Benzylbicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-one ( 9 ) and the 2-methyl homologue ( 10 ) underwent a (γ → α )-1, 3-benzyl shift to the β,γ-unsaturated ketones 21 and 22 , respectively, when excited in the π π* absorption band. The quantum yield was ca. 0.1 at 254 nm for the formation of both products in alkane solvents. These reactions occur specifically from the S₂(π, π*) state in competition with its decay to the S₁(n, π*) and T states. The triplet reaction of 9 , initiated by n → π* irradiation and by sensitization, was a double-bond shift to 20 , whereas no identifiable product was observed from 10 under these conditions. Direct and acetone-sensitized irradiations of 21 and 22 resulted in oxadi-π-methane rearrangements to mixtures of syn- and anti- 30 and syn- and anti- 31 , respectively.     

Spezifisch π→π*-induzierte Reaktionen von γ-Dimethoxymethylcyclohexen-2-onen: 1,3-Umlagerung und Wasserstoffabstraktion durch das α-Kohlenstoffatom

When α,β-unsaturated γ-dimethoxymethyl cyclohexenones are excited to the S₂(π,π*) state, certain unimolecular reactions can be observed to compete with S₂ → S₁ internal conversion. These reactions do not occur from the S₁(n,π*) or the lowest T(π,π* and n,π*) states. They comprise the radical elimination of the formylacetal substituent (cf. 8 , 9 → 32 + 33 ), γ → α formylacetal migration (cf. 6 → 27 , 8 → 30 , 9 → 34 , 12 → 37 ), and a cyclization process involving the transfer of a methoxyl hydrogen to the α carbon and ring closure at the β position (cf. 6 → 28 , 8 → 31 , 12 → 38 , 20 → 40 + 41 ). The quantum yield of the ring closure 20a → 40a + 41a is 0.016 at ≤ 0.05M concentration. It is independent of the excitation wavelength within the π→π* absorption band (238–254 nm), but Φ ( 40a + 41a ) decreases at higher concentrations. According to the experimental data the reactive species of these specifically π→π*-induced transformations is placed energetically higher than the S₁(n,π*) state, and it is either identical with the thermally equilibrated S₂(n,π*) state, or reached via this latter state. The linear dienone 14 undergoes a similar π→π*-induced cyclization (→ 42 ) whereas the benzohomologue 26 proved unreactive, and the dienone 22 at both n → π and π→π* excitation only gives rise to rearrangements generally characteristic of cross-conjugated cyclohexadienones.     

Molecular orbital theory of the hydrogen bond. 25. Water–uracil complexes in excited n → π states

Hydrogen bonding of uracil with water in excited n → π* states has been investigated by means of ab initio SCF -CI calculations on uracil and water–uracil complexes. Two low-energy excited states arise from n → π* transitions in uracil. The first is due to excitation of the C₄? O group, while the second is associated with excitation of the C₂? O group. In the first n → π* state, hydrogen bonds at O₄ are broken, so that the open water–uracil dimer at O₄ dissociates. The “wobble” dimer, in which a water molecule is essentially free to move between its position in an open structure at N₃? H and a cyclic structure at N₃? H and O₄ in the ground state, collapses to a different “wobble” dimer at N₃? H and O₂ in the excited state. The third dimer, a “wobble” dimer at N₁? H and O₂, remains intact, but is destabilized relative to the ground state. Although hydrogen bonds at O₂ are broken in the second n → π* state, the three water–uracil dimers remain bound. The “wobble” dimer at N₁? H and O₂ changes to an excited open dimer at N₁? H. The “wobble” dimer at N₃? H and O₄ remains intact, and the open dimer at O₄ is further stabilized upon excitation. Dimer blue shifts of n → π* bands are nearly additive in 2:1 and 3:1 water:uracil structures. The fates of the three 2:1 water:uracil trimers and the 3:1 water:uracil tetramer in the first and second n → π* states are determined by the fates of the corresponding excited dimers in these states.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 65.(vorläufige) Mitteilung. Spezifisch π → π*-induzierte Photoisomerisierungen von 10-Dimethoxymethyl-Δ1,9-octal-2-on. Ein photochemischer Zugang zu [4.4.3]-12-Oxapropellan-Derivaten

Selective n → π* excitation of the α,β-unsaturated enone 1 in hydrocarbon solvents resulted in a deconjugation reaction to 3 , reminiscent of results previously reported for similar systems [2], whereas the photoreactivity of 1 in alcohol solvents at wavelengths >3400 Å was so small that only product 4 has been identified as yet. Excitation of the π → π* transition of compound 1 at 2537 Å initiated additional phototransformations which could not be effected by irradiation in the first absorption band. The [4.4.3]-12-oxapropellane derivative 2 was identified as one of the two new major photo-isomers. A 6:8 mixture of products 2 and 3 , plus about 1 part of an isomer of still unknown structure (see however, the Addendum), were readily formed in hydrocarbon solvents, and a 1:10 ratio of 2 and the unknown product was obtained in methanol. Abstraction of a methoxyl hydrogen by the ketone oxygen is proposed to account for the primary photochemical step in the cyclization to 2 . A hydrogen-deuterium isotope effect of 2.7 was observed in a competitive experiment using 1 and 1-d _6. 34% of one deuterium atom were exchanged for hydrogen when 1-d ₆ was photolyzed to 2-d ₆ in t-butyl alcohol, which suggests an intermediate of type a in the pathway 1 → 2 possessing a readily exchangeable proton. Steric considerations would require a strongly distorted, non-planar excited-state geometry of the enone group of 1 for the oxygen to approach a methoxyl hydrogen. The transformation 1 → 2 represents a novel reaction type in photochemical processes of conjugated enones which are specifically induced by π → π* excitation only.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 68. Mitteilung. Die Photoisomerisierung von α,β-ungesättigten γ,δ-Epoxyketonen: 9α, 10α- und 9β, 10β-Oxido-3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ4-östren

Irradiation in the n→π* absorption band of the α,β-unsaturated γ,δ-epoxyketone 5 in ethanol at ?65° exclusively afforded the rearranged ene-dione 13 , whereas at + 24° under otherwise unchanged reaction conditions or upon triplet sensitization with Michler's ketone and with acetophenone at + 24° essentially identical mixtures of 13 (major product), 14 , and 15 were obtained. Selective π→π* excitation of 5 at ?78° and + 24° led to similar product patterns. The 9β,10β-epimeric epoxyketone 7 selectively isomerized to 14 and 15 at + 24° and n → π* or π → π* excitation. Neither the epoxyketones 5 and 7 nor the photoproducts 13–15 were photochemically interconverted. In separate photolyses each of the latter gave the double bond isomers 16 , 18 , and 19 , respectively. Cleavage of 13 to the dienone aldehyde 17 competed with the double bond shift ( → 16 ) when photolyzed in alcoholic solvents instead of benzene. The selective transformations 5 → 13 (at ?65° and n → π* excitation) and 7 → 14 + 15 are attributed to stereoelectronic factors facilitating the skeletal rearrangements of the diradicals 53 and 55 , the likely primary photoproducts resulting from epoxide cleavage in the triplet-excited compounds 5 and 7 , via the transition states 54 , 56 , and 57 . The loss of selectivity in product formation from 5 at higher temperature and n → π* excitation or triplet sensitization is explicable in terms of radical dissociation into 58 and 59 increasingly participating at the secondary thermal transformations of 53 . The similar effect of π → π* excitation even at ?78° indicates that some of the π,π* singlet energy may become available as thermal activation energy. It is further suggested that the considerably lesser ring strain in 14 and 15 , as compared with 13 , is responsible that selectivity in product formation from 7 is maintained also at +24° and at π → π* excitation.     

马来腈二硫纶·邻菲咯啉镍(II)配合物的电子光谱和理论研究

测量了标题配合物Ni(mnt)(phen)在多种介质中的电子吸收光谱和发射光谱, 使用密度泛函理论的B3LYP方法和分子轨道理论的PM3方法研究了其气态分子几何构型、电子结构和成键, 用ZINDO/S方法通过多组态的组态相互作用(CI)计算解释了实验光谱. 结果表明: 该配合物分子为平面结构, 对称性属于点群C_2v, 基态为自旋三重态, 配位键Ni—N和Ni—S为典型的共价结合, Ni的3d电子反馈效应较显著; 可见区的吸收带和发射带(对应于基态电子组态到较低能量激发态组态的跃迁)本质上属于配体phen到mnt^2－的荷移跃迁(LL'CT), 紫外区的吸收带本质上属于配体的π→π*跃迁.     

Untersuchung reversibler Photoprozesse durch Blitzlichtphotolyse IV. Triplettzustände des 1, 3, 6′, 8′- tetramethyl-dehydrodianthrons

By means of the flash photolysis technique, transient absorption spectra attributed to tetramethyl-dehydrodianthrone (TMD) in both the photochromic and triplet states have been investigated in polymethylmethacrylate matrices and in the solvent triacetin. In polymethylmethacrylate matrices and in rigid glasses of triacetin the triplet state of TMD is heavily populated. Triplet-triplet absorption and phosphorescence measurements show that below 180°K the triplet decay follows first order kinetics with the decay constant k=11,3 ± 0,1 s^?1. In incompletely solidified triacetin glass it is possible to monitor the transient absorption of the photochromic and the triplet state simultaneously. It is shown that the photochromic state ¹A₁* is not generated via the triplet state. Therefore the authors suggest a kinetic scheme characterised by a direct singlet state - photochromic state transition.     

Effect of Solvents on the Spectra of Some β-Diketones

Acetoacetanilide, benzoylacetanilide and their derivatives have been examined in ultraviolet region in a series of solvents covering a broad polarity range e. e. from chloroform (Z, 63.2) to methanol (Z .83.6). Transition energies and oscillator strengths have been calculated and transition energy (E_T) has been plotted against Z-values, a new empirical measurement of solvent polarity. A linear relationship was observed between the transition energy and Z-values for π → π* and n → π* transitions. These transitions are identified as charge transfer (c-t) transitions and with the solvents having carbonyl oxygen and sulphur atom a c-t complex formation has been suggested. Strong electron-donating substituents on phenyl group of the nitrogen atom also showed a weak to moderate n → π* transitions. These substituents have no influence on the position of the λ_max in the same solvent. Stabilization energy of the excited state of these ligands and hence the dipole moments of the excited states have been calculated in comparison with pyridinium iodide. Solvent sensitivities of these ligands have also been calculated.     

Transient Species in the Photochemistry of Tiaprofenic Acid and Its Decarboxylated Photoproduct*

Photoexcitation of tiaprofenic acid (TPA) in aqueous medium leads with almost unitary efficiency to the lowest π,π* triplet, which is detected by transient absorption. The deactivation of this state occurs in the microsecond time domain and is dominated by a thermally activated spin-allowed process with –10 kcal/mol energy barrier. The occurrence of decarboxylation from an upper state, likely the second triplet of n, π* character, is confirmed by the study of the transients toward the final keto photoproduct, i.e. the benzoylthiophene ethyl derivative (DTPA). At neutral pH, upon adiabatic release of the CO₂ fragment, long-lived triplet biradicals and ground-state intermediates with a protonated carbonyl oxygen are formed. Laser flash photolysis of DTPA leads almost quantitatively to the lowest π,π* triplet, with similar T-T absorption features as those of TPA. However the DTPA triplet appears essentially unreactive in aqueous medium. In isopropanol H-abstraction from the solvent is demonstrated by the formation of the ketyl radical.     

The electronic absorption spectrum and excited state dipole moment of 3-fluoropyridine

The electronic absorption spectrum of 3-fluoropyridine in the vapour state and in solutions in different solvents in the region 3000-1900 Å has been measured and analysed. Three systems of absorption bands; n→π* transition I, π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III are identified. The oscillator strength of the absorption band systems due to the π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III and the excited state dipole moments associated with these transitions have been determined by the solvent-shift method.     

Unravelling the Reaction Mechanism for the Fast Photocyclisation of 2‐Benzoylpyridine in Aqueous Solvent by Time‐Resolved Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations

A combined femtosecond transient absorption (fs‐TA) and nanosecond time‐resolved resonance Raman (ns‐TR³) spectroscopic investigation of the photoreaction of 2‐benzoylpyridine (2‐BPy) in acetonitrile and neutral, basic and acidic aqueous solvents is reported. fs‐TA results showed that the nπ* triplet 2‐BPy is the precursor of the photocyclisation reaction in neutral and basic aqueous solvents. The cis triplet biradical and the cis singlet zwitterionic species produced during the photocyclisation reaction were initially characterised by ns‐TR³ spectroscopy. In addition, a new species was uniquely observed in basic aqueous solvent after the decay of the cis singlet zwitterionic species and this new species was tentatively assigned to the photocyclised radical anion. The ground‐state conformation of 2‐BPy in acidic aqueous solvent is the pyridine nitrogen‐protonated 2‐BPy cation (2‐BPy‐NH⁺) rather than the neutral form of 2‐BPy. After laser photolysis, the singlet excited state (S₁) of 2‐BPy‐NH⁺ is generated and evolves through excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) and efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) processes to the triplet exited state (T₁) of the carbonyl oxygen‐protonated 2‐BPy cation (2‐BPy‐OH⁺) and then photocyclises with the lone pair of the nitrogen atom in the heterocyclic ring. Cyclisation reactions take place both in neutral/basic and acidic aqueous solvents, but the photocyclisation mechanisms in these different aqueous solvents are very different. This is likely due to the different conformation of the precursor and the influence of hydrogen‐bonding of the solvent on the reactions.     

The Photorearrangements of a Naphthobarrelene-like System. Dependence on excited-state spin multiplicity and electronic configuration,and evidence for biradical intermediates. Preliminary communication

8-Benzoyl-9-deuterio-naphtho [de-2.3.4]bicyclo [3.2.2]nona-2,6,8-triene ( 1 ) rearranged quantitatively in a photochemical di-π-methane-type process to 2-, 6-, and 9-deuteriated 1-benzoyl-naphtho [de-2.3.4]tricyclo [4.3.0.0^2,9]nona-2, 6-diene ( 8a–c ). The phenylhydroxymethyl analogue 2 underwent a similar regioselective rearrangement to 9a–c . The rearrangement 1 → 8a–c is proposed to proceed along three reaction paths evolving from two primary photochemical processes of naphthylvinyl and vinyl-vinyl bonding ( 1 → 3 + 6 ). Evidence for a competition between several paths and involvement of biradical intermediates derives from changes in the isotopomeric composition with temperature, and from laser flash detection (λ_exc 353 nm) of a transient. The dependence of the quantum yield for product formation from 1 on excitation wavelength and sensitizer triplet energy leads to the conclusion that reaction to the primary biradicals occurs directly from the S₁ (n, π*) and T₂ (n, π* ) states, and that reaction from T₁ (π, π*) and from S₂ (π, π*) proceed either directly or via T₂.     

Exciplex Emission from a Boron Dipyrromethene (Bodipy) Dye Equipped with a Dicyanovinyl Appendage

The photophysical properties of a prototypic donor–acceptor dyad, featuring a conventional boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy) dye linked to a dicyanovinyl unit through a meso‐phenylene ring, have been recorded in weakly polar solvents. The absorption spectrum remains unperturbed relative to that of the parent Bodipy dye but the fluorescence is extensively quenched. At room temperature, the emission spectrum comprises roughly equal contributions from the regular π, π* excited‐singlet state and from an exciplex formed by partial charge transfer from Bodipy to the dicyanovinyl residue. This mixture moves progressively in favor of the locally excited π, π* state on cooling and the exciplex is no longer seen in frozen media; the overall emission quantum yield changes dramatically near the freezing point of the solvent. The exciplex, which has a lifetime of approximately 1 ns at room temperature, can also be seen by transient absorption spectroscopy, in which it decays to form the locally excited triplet state. Under applied pressure (P<170 MPa), formation of the exciplex is somewhat hindered by restricted rotation around the semirigid linkage and again the emission profile shifts in favor of the π, π* excited state. At higher pressure (170<P<550 MPa), the molecule undergoes reversible distortion that has a small effect on the yield of π, π* emission but severely quenches exciplex fluorescence. In the limiting case, this high‐pressure effect decreases the molar volume of the solute by approximately 25 cm³ and opens a new channel for nonradiative deactivation of the excited‐state manifold.