A Free‐Radical Prompted Barrierless Gas‐Phase Synthesis of Pentacene

A representative, low‐temperature gas‐phase reaction mechanism synthesizing polyacenes via ring annulation exemplified by the formation of pentacene (C₂₂H₁₄) along with its benzo[a]tetracene isomer (C₂₂H₁₄) is unraveled by probing the elementary reaction of the 2‐tetracenyl radical (C₁₈H₁₁^.) with vinylacetylene (C₄H₄). The pathway to pentacene—a prototype polyacene and a fundamental molecular building block in graphenes, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes—is facilitated by a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase process thus disputing conventional hypotheses that synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) solely proceeds at elevated temperatures. This low‐temperature pathway can launch isomer‐selective routes to aromatic structures through submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and methodical ring annulation in deep space eventually changing our perception about the chemistry of carbon in our universe.     

A Unified Mechanism on the Formation of Acenes,Helicenes, and Phenacenes in the Gas Phase

A unified low-temperature reaction mechanism on the formation of acenes, phenacenes, and helicenes—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are distinct via the linear, zigzag, and ortho-condensed arrangements of fused benzene rings—is revealed. This mechanism is mediated through a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas-phase chemistry utilizing tetracene, [4]phenacene, and [4]helicene as benchmarks contesting established ideas that molecular mass growth processes to PAHs transpire at elevated temperatures. This mechanism opens up an isomer-selective route to aromatic structures involving submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free-radical intermediates, and systematic ring annulation potentially yielding molecular wires along with racemic mixtures of helicenes in deep space. Connecting helicene templates to the Origins of Life ultimately changes our hypothesis on interstellar carbon chemistry.     

Gas-Phase Synthesis of Triphenylene (C18H12)

For the last decades, the hydrogen-abstraction−acetylene-addition (HACA) mechanism has been widely invoked to rationalize the high-temperature synthesis of PAHs as detected in carbonaceous meteorites (CM) and proposed to exist in the interstellar medium (ISM). By unravelling the chemistry of the 9-phenanthrenyl radical ([C₁₄H₉]^.) with vinylacetylene (C₄H₄), we present the first compelling evidence of a barrier-less pathway leading to a prototype tetracyclic PAH – triphenylene (C₁₈H₁₂) – via an unconventional hydrogen abstraction–vinylacetylene addition (HAVA) mechanism operational at temperatures as low as 10 K. The barrier-less, exoergic nature of the reaction reveals HAVA as a versatile reaction mechanism that may drive molecular mass growth processes to PAHs and even two-dimensional, graphene-type nanostructures in cold environments in deep space thus leading to a better understanding of the carbon chemistry in our universe through the untangling of elementary reactions on the most fundamental level.     

Reactivity of the Indenyl Radical (C9H7) with Acetylene (C2H2) and Vinylacetylene (C4H4)

The reactions of the indenyl radicals with acetylene (C₂H₂) and vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) is studied in a hot chemical reactor coupled to synchrotron based vacuum ultraviolet ionization mass spectrometry. These experimental results are combined with theory to reveal that the resonantly stabilized and thermodynamically most stable 1-indenyl radical (C₉H₇^.) is always formed in the pyrolysis of 1-, 2-, 6-, and 7-bromoindenes at 1500 K. The 1-indenyl radical reacts with acetylene yielding 1-ethynylindene plus atomic hydrogen, rather than adding a second acetylene molecule and leading to ring closure and formation of fluorene as observed in other reaction mechanisms such as the hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition or hydrogen abstraction vinylacetylene addition pathways. While this reaction mechanism is analogous to the bimolecular reaction between the phenyl radical (C₆H₅^.) and acetylene forming phenylacetylene (C₆H₅CCH), the 1-indenyl+acetylene→1-ethynylindene+hydrogen reaction is highly endoergic (114 kJ mol⁻¹) and slow, contrary to the exoergic (−38 kJ mol⁻¹) and faster phenyl+acetylene→phenylacetylene+hydrogen reaction. In a similar manner, no ring closure leading to fluorene formation was observed in the reaction of 1-indenyl radical with vinylacetylene. These experimental results are explained through rate constant calculations based on theoretically derived potential energy surfaces.     

One Collision—Two Substituents: Gas-Phase Preparation of Xylenes under Single-Collision Conditions

The fundamental reaction pathways to the simplest dialkylsubstituted aromatics—xylenes (C₆H₄(CH₃)₂)—in high-temperature combustion flames and in low-temperature extraterrestrial environments are still unknown, but critical to understand the chemistry and molecular mass growth processes in these extreme environments. Exploiting crossed molecular beam experiments augmented by state-of-the-art electronic structure and statistical calculations, this study uncovers a previously elusive, facile gas-phase synthesis of xylenes through an isomer-selective reaction of 1-propynyl (methylethynyl, CH₃CC) with 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene, C₅H₈). The reaction dynamics are driven by a barrierless addition of the radical to the diene moiety of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene followed by extensive isomerization (hydrogen shifts, cyclization) prior to unimolecular decomposition accompanied by aromatization via atomic hydrogen loss. This overall exoergic reaction affords a preparation of xylenes not only in high-temperature environments such as in combustion flames and around circumstellar envelopes of carbon-rich Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, but also in low-temperature cold molecular clouds (10 K) and in hydrocarbon-rich atmospheres of planets and their moons such as Triton and Titan. Our study established a hitherto unknown gas-phase route to xylenes and potentially more complex, disubstituted benzenes via a single collision event highlighting the significance of an alkyl-substituted ethynyl-mediated preparation of aromatic molecules in our Universe.     

The Reaction of o-Benzyne with Vinylacetylene: An Unexplored Way to Produce Naphthalene

The mechanism and kinetics of the reaction of ortho-benzyne with vinylacetylene have been studied by ab initio and density functional CCSD(T)-F12/cc-pVTZ-f12//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculations of the pertinent potential energy surface combined with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus - Master Equation calculations of reaction rate constants at various temperatures and pressures. Under prevailing combustion conditions, the reaction has been shown to predominantly proceed by the biradical acetylenic mechanism initiated by the addition of C₄H₄ to one of the C atoms of the triple bond in ortho-benzyne by the acetylenic end, with a significant contribution of the concerted addition mechanism. Following the initial reaction steps, an extra six-membered ring is produced and the rearrangement of H atoms in this new ring leads to the formation of naphthalene, which can further dissociate to 1- or 2-naphthyl radicals. The o-C₆H₄+C₄H₄ reaction is highly exothermic, by ∼143 kcal/mol to form naphthalene and by 31–32 kcal mol⁻¹ to produce naphthyl radicals plus H, but features relatively high entrance barriers of 9–11 kcal mol⁻¹. Although the reaction is rather slow, much slower than the reaction of phenyl radical with vinylacetylene, it forms naphthalene and 1- and 2-naphthyl radicals directly, with their relative yields controlled by the temperature and pressure, and thus represents a viable source of the naphthalene core under conditions where ortho-benzyne and vinylacetylene are available.     

Crystallization experiments with the dinuclear chelate ring complex di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis[(η2‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC1)platinum(II)]

Crystallization experiments with the dinuclear chelate ring complex di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis[(η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)platinum(II)], [Pt₂(C₁₅H₁₉O₄)₂Cl₂], containing a derivative of the natural compound eugenol as ligand, have been performed. Using five different sets of crystallization conditions resulted in four different complexes which can be further used as starting compounds for the synthesis of Pt complexes with promising anticancer activities. In the case of vapour diffusion with the binary chloroform–diethyl ether or methylene chloride–diethyl ether systems, no change of the molecular structure was observed. Using evaporation from acetonitrile (at room temperature), dimethylformamide (DMF, at 313 K) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, at 313 K), however, resulted in the displacement of a chloride ligand by the solvent, giving, respectively, the mononuclear complexes (acetonitrile‐κN)(η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)chloridoplatinum(II) monohydrate, [Pt(C₁₅H₁₉O₄)Cl(CH₃CN)]·H₂O, (η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)chlorido(dimethylformamide‐κO)platinum(II), [Pt(C₁₅H₁₉O₄)Cl(C₂H₇NO)], and (η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)chlorido(dimethyl sulfoxide‐κS)platinum(II), determined as the analogue {η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐[(ethoxycarbonyl)methoxy]phenyl‐κC¹}chlorido(dimethyl sulfoxide‐κS)platinum(II), [Pt(C₁₄H₁₇O₄)Cl(C₂H₆OS)]. The crystal structures confirm that acetonitrile interacts with the Pt^II atom via its N atom, while for DMSO, the S atom is the coordinating atom. For the replacement, the longest of the two Pt—Cl bonds is cleaved, leading to a cis position of the solvent ligand with respect to the allyl group. The crystal packing of the complexes is characterized by dimer formation via C—H…O and C—H…π interactions, but no π–π interactions are observed despite the presence of the aromatic ring.     

Pyrolysis of vinylacetylene between 300 and 450°C

Vinylacetylene was pyrolyzed at 300–450°C in a packed and an unpacked static reactor with a pinhole bleed to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The reactant and C₈H₈ products were monitored continuously during a reaction by mass spectrometry. In some runs, the products were also analyzed by gas chromatography after the run. In these runs CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆, and C₂H₄ were also detected. The reaction for vinylacetylene removal and C₈H₈ formation is homogeneous, second order in reactant, and independent of the presence of a large excess of N₂ or He. However, C₈H₈ formation is about half-suppressed by the addition of the free-radical scavengers NO or O₂. The rate coefficient for total vinylacetylene removal is 1.7 × 10⁶ exp(?79 ± 13 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s. The major reaction for C₄H₄ removal is polymerization. In addition four C₈H₈ isomers, carbon, and small hydrocarbons are formed. The three major C₈H₈ isomers are styrene, cyclooctatetraene (COT), and 1,5? dihydropentalene (DHP). The C₈H₈ compounds are formed by both molecular and free-radical processes in a second-order process with an overall k ? 3 × 10⁸ exp(?122 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s (average of packed and unpacked cell results). The molecular process occurs with an overall k = 8.5 × 10⁷ exp (?118 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s. The COT, DHP, and an unidentified isomer (d), are formed exclusively in molecular processes with respective rate coefficients of 4.4 × 10⁴ exp(?77 kJ/mol RT), 1.7 × 10⁵ exp(?89 kJ/mol RT), and 3.1 × 10⁹ exp(? 148 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s. The styrene is formed both by a direct free-radical process and by isomerization of COT.     

Unconventional Pathway in the Gas-Phase Synthesis of 9H-Fluorene (C13H10) via the Radical–Radical Reaction of Benzyl (C7H7) with Phenyl (C6H5)

The simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carrying a five-membered ring—9H-fluorene (C₁₃H₁₀)—is produced isomer-specifically in the gas phase by reacting benzyl (C₇H₇⋅) with phenyl (C₆H₅⋅) radicals in a pyrolytic reactor coupled with single photon ionization mass spectrometry. The unconventional mechanism of reaction is supported by theoretical calculations, which first produces diphenylmethane and unexpected 1-(6-methylenecyclohexa-2,4-dienyl)benzene intermediates (C₁₃H₁₂) accessed via addition of the phenyl radical to the ortho position of the benzyl radical. These findings offer convincing evidence for molecular mass growth processes defying conventional wisdom that radical-radical reactions are initiated through recombination at their radical centers. The structure of 9H-fluorene acts as a molecular building block for complex curved nanostructures like fullerenes and nanobowls providing fundamental insights into the hydrocarbon evolution in high temperature settings.     

Two novel ferrocenyl dipeptide‐like compounds generated via the Ugi four‐component reaction

The Ugi four‐component reaction, a powerful method for the synthesis of diverse dipeptide‐like derivatives in combinatorial chemistry, was used to synthesize (S)‐1′‐{N‐[1‐(anthracen‐9‐yl)‐2‐(tert‐butylamino)‐2‐oxoethyl]‐N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)carbamoyl}ferrocene‐1‐carboxylic acid dichloromethane disolvate, [Fe(C₆H₅O₂)(C₃₃H₃₁N₂O₃)]·2CH₂Cl₂, (I), and (S)‐2‐(anthracen‐9‐yl)‐N‐tert‐butyl‐2‐[N‐(4‐methylphenyl)ferrocenylformamido]acetamide, [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₃₃H₃₁N₂O₂)], (II). They adopt broadly similar molecular conformations, with near‐eclipsed cyclopentadienyl rings and near‐perpendicular amide planes in their dipeptide‐like chains, one of which is almost coplanar with its attached cyclopentadienyl ring but perpendicular to the aromatic ring bound to the N atom. In the supramolecular structure of (I), a two‐dimensional network is constructed based on molecular dimers and a combination of intermolecular O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming R₂²(11), R₂²(16), R₂²(22) and C(9) motifs. These two‐dimensional networks are connected by C—H...O and C—H...Cl contacts to create a three‐dimensional framework, where one dichloromethane solvent molecule acts as a bridge between two neighbouring networks. In the packing of (II), classical hydrogen bonds are absent and an infinite one‐dimensional chain is generated via a combination of C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions, producing a C(7) motif. This work describes a simple synthesis and the supramolecuar structures of ferrocenyl dipeptide‐like compounds and is significant in the development of redox‐active receptors.     

A Unified Mechanism on the Formation of Acenes,Helicenes, and Phenacenes in the Gas Phase

A unified low‐temperature reaction mechanism on the formation of acenes, phenacenes, and helicenes—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are distinct via the linear, zigzag, and ortho‐condensed arrangements of fused benzene rings—is revealed. This mechanism is mediated through a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase chemistry utilizing tetracene, [4]phenacene, and [4]helicene as benchmarks contesting established ideas that molecular mass growth processes to PAHs transpire at elevated temperatures. This mechanism opens up an isomer‐selective route to aromatic structures involving submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and systematic ring annulation potentially yielding molecular wires along with racemic mixtures of helicenes in deep space. Connecting helicene templates to the Origins of Life ultimately changes our hypothesis on interstellar carbon chemistry.     

Thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene in shock waves

The thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) was studied behind reflected shock waves using both a single-pulse method (reaction time between 0.8 and 3.3 ms) and a time-resolved UV-absorption method (230 nm). The studies were done over the temperature range of 1170–1690 K at the total pressure range of 1.3–2.3 atm. The mechanism was used to interpret both the early and late stages of vinylacetylene decomposition at the high temperatures. It was confirmed that C₄H₄ dissociation proceeded through the following three channels. The rate constant expression of reaction (1) was determined as k₁ = 6.3 × 10¹³ exp(?87.1 kcal/RT) s^?1. The rate constants of the succeeding reactions (chain reaction, C₄H₄ + H → i-C₄H₃ + H₂ and C₄H₄ + H → C₂H₂ + C₂H₃ and decomposition reactions of free radicals, i-C₄H₃ + M → C₄H₂ + H + M) were confirmed or estimated. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effects of σC—Se–π hyperconjugation in 1‐methoxy‐ and 1‐nitro‐4‐[(phenylselanyl)methyl]benzene

The structures of 1‐methoxy‐4‐[(phenylselanyl)methyl]benzene, C₁₄H₁₄OSe, (1), and 1‐nitro‐4‐[(phenylselanyl)methyl]benzene, C₁₃H₁₁NO₂Se, (2), were determined at 130 K. The two structures, which differ in that (1) contains an electron‐rich aromatic ring and (2) contains an electron‐deficient aromatic ring, both adopt conformations which allow for σ_C—Se–π hyperconjugation. However, although there are significant differences in the ⁷⁷Se chemical shifts for these two compounds, they do not display significantly different H₂C—Se or H₂C—C_ar bond lengths, suggesting that the effects of σ_C—Se–π hyperconjugation in (1) and (2) are not strong enough to be manifested in measurable differences in the structural parameters.     

Comparative Studies of Thermally Induced Homolytic CarbonCarbon Bond Cleavage Reactions of Strained Dicarba[2]ferrocenophanes and Their Ring‐Opened Oligomers and Polymers

Reactivity studies of dicarba[2]ferrocenophanes and also their corresponding ring‐opened oligomers and polymers have been conducted in order to provide mechanistic insight into the processes that occur under the conditions of their thermal ring‐opening polymerisation (ROP) (300 °C). Thermolysis of dicarba[2]ferrocenophane rac‐[Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)₂(CHPh)₂] (rac‐ 14 ; 300 °C, 1 h) does not lead to thermal ROP. To investigate this system further, rac‐ 14 was heated in the presence of an excess of cyclopentadienyl anion, to mimic the postulated propagating sites for thermally polymerisable analogues. This afforded acyclic [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)‐CH₂Ph] ( 17 ) through cleavage of both a Fe?Cp bond and also the C?C bond derived from the dicarba bridge. Evidence supporting a potential homolytic C?C bond cleavage pathway that occurs in the absence of ring‐strain was provided through thermolysis of an acyclic analogue of rac‐ 14 , namely [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CHPh)₂‐C₅H₅] ( 15 ; 300 °C, 1 h), which also afforded ferrocene derivative 17 . This reactivity pathway appears general for post‐ROP species bearing phenyl substituents on adjacent carbons, and consequently was also observed during the thermolysis of linear polyferrocenylethylene [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)₂(CHPh)₂]_n ( 16 ; 300 °C, 1 h), which was prepared by photocontrolled ROP of rac‐ 14 at 5 °C. This afforded ferrocene derivative [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄CH₂Ph)₂] ( 23 ) through selective cleavage of the ?H(Ph)C?C(Ph)H? bonds in the dicarba linkers. These processes appear to be facilitated by the presence of bulky, radical‐stabilising phenyl substituents on each carbon of the linker, as demonstrated through the contrasting thermal properties of unsubstituted linear trimer [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₅)] ( 29 ) with a ?H₂C?CH₂? spacer, which proved significantly more stable under analogous conditions. Evidence for the radical intermediates formed through C?C bond cleavage was detected through high‐resolution mass spectrometric analysis of co‐thermolysis reactions involving rac‐ 14 and 15 (300 °C, 1 h), which indicated the presence of higher molecular weight species, postulated to be formed through cross‐coupling of these intermediates.     

适用于汽油参比燃料TRF的多环芳香烃生成机理

构造了一个包括287种组分和1569个反应的汽油参比燃料TRF(toluene reference fuel)燃烧过程中多环芳香烃(PAHs)生成机理的详细化学反应动力学模型,引入四种PAH生长路径将多环芳香烃的生成机理发展到芘A4(C20H12)水平,并通过对PAH产率的分析,指出乙炔(C2H2)、丙炔(C3H3)、乙烯基乙炔(C4H4)以及含有奇数碳原子的环戊二烯自由基(C5H5)和茚基(C9H7)等物质对PAHs生成和生长起到重要作用.该机理可以较准确计算基础燃料(PRF)和TRF火焰的着火延迟期、燃烧火焰中小分子(PAH前驱体C2H2、C3H4等)和PAHs的物质浓度.通过与实验数据的比较表明,该机理在不同温度、压力、化学计量比下具有较好的性能.由此分析,该机理对碳烟前驱物PAHs的预测性能是可靠的.     

Thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene in shock waves: Rate constant of initiation reaction

The thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene was studied behind incident shock waves over the temperature range 1200–1750 K and over the pressure range 0.3–0.6 atm by tracing the time variation of absorption at 230 nm. The initiation reaction and the rate constant in the thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene were determined from the initial slope of the absorption curve as C₄H₄ → h₁, C₄H₃+H, k₁ = 6.1 × 10¹³ exp (−80 kcal/RT) s⁻¹.     

Di‐μ‐sulfido‐bis[diaqua(18‐crown‐6)­barium(II)]–saccharin (1/2)

The mol­ecule of the title compound {systematic name: di‐μ‐sulfido‐bis[di­aqua(1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxa­cyclo­octade­cane‐κ⁶O)barium(II)] bis­[1,2‐benzisothiazol‐3(2H)‐one 1,1‐dioxide]}, [Ba₂S₂(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)₂(H₂O)₄](C₇H₅NO₃S)₂, lies on an inversion centre. The Ba^II atom encapsulated by the 18‐crown‐6 ring is coordinated by the six O atoms of the crown, two water O atoms and two bridging S atoms. The four‐membered ring composed of the Ba^II atoms and the bridging S atoms makes a dihedral angle of 67.1 (1)° with the crown‐ether ring. The aromatic ring system of the saccharin moiety is essentially planar. The packing is built up from layers of the mol­ecules and is stabilized by three intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Hydrogen‐Abstraction/Acetylene‐Addition Exposed

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are omnipresent in the interstellar medium (ISM) and also in carbonaceous meteorites (CM) such as Murchison. However, the basic reaction routes leading to the formation of even the simplest PAH—naphthalene (C₁₀H₈)—via the hydrogen‐abstraction/acetylene‐addition (HACA) mechanism still remain ambiguous. Here, by revealing the uncharted fundamental chemistry of the styrenyl (C₈H₇) and the ortho‐vinylphenyl radicals (C₈H₇)—key transient species of the HACA mechanism—with acetylene (C₂H₂), we provide the first solid experimental evidence on the facile formation of naphthalene in a simulated combustion environment validating the previously postulated HACA mechanism for these two radicals. This study highlights, at the molecular level spanning combustion and astrochemistry, the importance of the HACA mechanism to the formation of the prototype PAH naphthalene.     

Characterization of the Retro-[3+2] Reaction of Protonated 2,3′-Bisindolylmethanes by Electrospray Ionization–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Twelve 2,3′-bisindolylmethanes with various substituents were investigated using electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. A retro-[3+2] reaction was observed in the collision-induced dissociation spectra of protonated 2,3′-bisindolylmethanes for the first time. The mechanism of retro-[3+2] reaction was concerted or stepwise. For the concerted pathway, carbon–carbon bonds of a protonated compound simultaneously cracked and the m/z 208 ion ([C₁₅H₁₀D₂N]⁺) was observed with hydrogen–deuterium exchange labeling. The stepwise pathway goes through 1,3-hydrogen migration twice and the m/z 208 ion ([C₁₅H₁₀D₂N]⁺) and m/z 207 ion ([C₁₅H₁₁DN]⁺) were detected with deuterium labeling. In the deuterium-labeled tandem mass spectrum for one compound, only the peak at m/z 208 was present at high abundance, suggesting that the concerted pathway is more likely. In addition, the substituents have no obvious trends on the ratios of the product intensity to the base intensity, further supporting the concerted pathway.     

A series of substituted (2E)‐3‐(2‐fluoro‐4‐phenoxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐ones

In the molecular structures of a series of substituted chalcones, namely (2E)‐3‐(2‐fluoro‐4‐phenoxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one, C₂₁H₁₅FO₂, (I), (2E)‐3‐(2‐fluoro‐4‐phenoxyphenyl)‐1‐(4‐fluorophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, C₂₁H₁₄F₂O₂, (II), (2E)‐1‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐3‐(2‐fluoro‐4‐phenoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, C₂₁H₁₄ClFO₂, (III), (2E)‐3‐(2‐fluoro‐4‐phenoxyphenyl)‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, C₂₂H₁₇FO₂, (IV), and (2E)‐3‐(2‐fluoro‐4‐phenoxyphenyl)‐1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, C₂₂H₁₇FO₃, (V), the configuration of the keto group with respect to the olefinic double bond is s‐cis. The molecules pack utilizing weak C—H...O and C—H...π intermolecular contacts. Identical packing motifs involving C—H...O interactions, forming both chains and dimers, along with C—H...π dimers and π–π aromatic interactions are observed in the fluoro, chloro and methyl derivatives.