Synthesis, crystal structures, linear and nonlinear optical properties, and theoretical studies of (p-R-phenyl)-, (p-R-phenylethynyl)-, and (E)-[2-(p-R-phenyl)ethenyl]dimesitylboranes and related compounds

The (p-R-phenyl)dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, MeO, MeS, Br, I), (p-R-phenylethynyl)dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, MeO, MeS, H), (E)-[2-(p-R-phenyl)ethenyl]dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, H(2)N, MeO, MeS, H, CN, NO(2)), (E)-[2-(2-thienyl)ethenyl]dimesitylborane, and (E)-[2-(o-carboranyl)ethenyl]dimesitylborane have been prepared through the reaction of the appropriate p-R-phenyl- and p-R-phenylethynyllithium reagents with dimesitylboron fluoride and by hydroboration of the appropriate p-R-phenylacetylene, 2-ethynylthiophene, and o-ethynylcarborane with dimesitylborane. Their UV/Vis absorption and emission spectra have been recorded in a range of solvents with the fluorescence maxima of the donor-substituted compounds in particular exhibiting large bathochromic shifts in highly polar solvents, indicative of charge transfer leading to large dipole moments in the excited state. The molecular structures of the (p-R-phenyl)dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, MeO, MeS, Br, I), the (E)-[2-(p-R-phenyl)ethenyl]dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, H(2)N MeO, MeS, H), (p-R-phenylethynyl)dimesitylborane (R=Me(2)N), and (E)-[2-(2-thienyl)ethenyl]dimesitylborane, which have been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements, offer evidence of increased conjugation in the ground state with increased donor strength of the R substituent. Their first- and second-order molecular hyperpolarizabilities have been obtained from EFISH and THG measurements, the first-order hyperpolarizabilities being largest for the strongest R-substituent donors. AM1 calculations have been performed on these compounds, showing reasonable agreement with the experimentally obtained bond lengths and hyperpolarizabilities, as well as on several related hypothetical compounds containing multiple C==C bonds, most of which are proposed to have even larger hyperpolarizabilities.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of O-aryl S-methyl thiocarbonates

[reaction: see text] The reactions of secondary alicyclic (SA) amines and quinuclidines (QUI) with 4-nitrophenyl and 2,4-dinitrophenyl S-methyl thiocarbonates (1 and 2, respectively) and those of SA amines with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl S-methyl thiocarbonate (3) are subjected to a kinetic study in aqueous solution, at 25.0 degrees C, and an ionic strength of 0.2 M (KCl). The reactions of thiocarbonates 1, 2, and 3 were followed spectrophotometrically at 400, 360, and 220 nm, respectively. Under amine excess, pseudo-first-order rate coefficients (k(obsd)) are found. Plots of k(obsd) vs amine concentration at constant pH are linear, with the slope (kN) independent of pH. The Br?nsted-type plots (log kN vs pKa of aminium ions) are linear for all the reactions, with slopes beta = 0.9 for those of 1 with SA amines and QUI, beta = 0.36 and 0.57 for the reactions of 2 with SA amines and QUI, respectively, and beta = 0.39 for the reactions of SA amines with 3. The magnitude of the slopes indicates that both aminolyses of 1 are governed by stepwise mechanisms, through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T+/-), where expulsion of the nucleofuge from T+/- is the rate-determining step. The values of the Br?nsted slopes found for the aminolyses of thiocarbonates 2 and 3 suggest that these reactions are concerted. By comparison of the reactions under investigation between them and with similar aminolyses, the following conclusions arise: (i) Thiocarbonate 2 is more reactive than 1 toward the two amine series. (ii) The change of the nonleaving group from MeO in 4-nitrophenyl methyl carbonate to MeS in thiocarbonate 1 results in lower kN values. (iii) The greater reactivity of this carbonate than thiocarbonate 1 is attributed to steric hindrance of the MeS group, compared to MeO toward amine attack. (iv) The change of a pyridine to an isobasic SA amine or QUI destabilizes the T+/- intermediate formed in the aminolyses of 2. (v) The change of 4-nitrophenoxy to 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorphenoxy or 2,4-dinitrophenoxy as the leaving group destabilizes the tetrahedral intermediate formed in the reactions with SA amines, changing the mechanism from a stepwise process to a concerted reaction.     

Effects of substituents on the stabilities of phosphonyl radicals and their hydroxyphosphinyl tautomers

High-level ab initio quantum chemical methods have been used to calculate the radical stabilization energies (RSEs) of phosphonyl radicals XYP(=O)* bearing a range of substituents X and Y. The main influences on these radicals' stabilities are sigma-effects. Due to the high positive charge on phosphorus, sigma-withdrawal is destabilizing, and sigma-donation is stabilizing. The pyramidal geometry at phosphorus minimizes the effect of stabilization by pi-delocalization, while the potentially stabilizing effect of lone-pair donation is outweighed by concomitant sigma-withdrawal. Thus, the calculated RSEs of phosphonyl radicals XHP(=O)* increase in the order X = F < Me(3)N+ < MeO < CF3 < tBu < Me(2)N < NC < H < Ph < MeS < Me(3)Si. The tautomeric hydroxyphosphinyl radicals X(OH)P. exhibit a different set of substituent effects, with RSEs increasing in the order X = CF3 < Me(2)N < Me(3)N+ < MeO < (t)Bu < H < MeS < Me(3)Si < F < NC < Ph. In these radicals, both the sigma- and pi-properties of the X substituent influence stability, in tandem with those of the OH group. A comparison of the absolute enthalpies of isomeric phosphonyl and hydroxyphosphinyl radicals indicates that the hydroxyphosphinyl radicals X(OH)P* are more stable than the phosphonyl radicals XYP(=O)*. This is not a common situation in phosphorus chemistry. It is primarily attributed to the greater phosphorus p character of the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) in the hydroxyphosphinyl radicals compared with the phosphonyl tautomers. As in closed-shell phosphorus species, the magnitude of the effect is modulated by the electronegativity of the substituent X.     

Dependence of product formation from decomposition of nitroso-dithiols on the degree of nitrosation. Evidence that dinitroso-dithiothreitol acts solely as an nitric oxide releasing compound

Hitherto, the decay mechanisms of nitrosated dithiols as well as formation of related products have not been conclusively elucidated. In this paper, we demonstrate that nitrosated dl-dithiothreitol (DTT) decays via two independent pathways, that is, one producing exclusively nitric oxide and one producing (initially) nitroxyl (HNO/3NO-). The importance of the two decomposition pathways depends on the degree of nitrosation of DTT. Dinitroso-dithiothreitol (NODTTNO) generates quantitatively nitric oxide, whereas mononitroso-dithiothreitol (NODTT) yields initially nitroxyl. Since NODTT and DTT are both targets for nitroxyl, their availability governs the HNO-derived formation of nitric oxide (with NODTT as reactant) or hydroxyl amine and ammonium ion (with DTT as reactant). The formation of NH4+ from the HNO-DTT reaction probably proceeds by a stepwise, NH2OH-independent mechanism, because DTT-derived sulfinamide was identified by N-15 NMR spectrometry as an intermediate. Our data are in line with the assumption that triplet nitroxyl (3NO-) is formed by a unimolecular decay of the deprotonated (thiolate) form of NODTT, because CBS-QB3 calculations predict the existence of a low-lying triplet state of the latter species. The identified pathways are proposed to be of general importance for physiological systems because control experiments showed that the physiological dithiol thioredoxin reacts in a similar manner.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxygen atom abstraction from a dioxo-rhenium(VII) complex

The kinetics of reaction between triarylphosphanes and two newly prepared dioxorhenium(VII) compounds has been evaluated. The compounds are MeRe(VII)(O)(2)("O,S") in which "O,S" represents an alkoxo, thiolato chelating ligand. With MeReO(3), ligands derived from 1-mercaptoethanol and 1-mercapto-2-propanol form MeRe(O)(2)(met), 2, and MeRe(O)(2)(m2p), 3. These compounds persist in chloroform solution for several hours at room temperature and for 2-3 weeks at -22 degrees C, particularly when water is carefully excluded. They were obtained as red oils with clean (1)H NMR spectra, but attempts to obtain pure, crystalline products were not successful because one decomposition pathway shows a kinetic order >1. The fastest reaction occurs between P(p-MeOC(6)H(4))(3) and 2; k(298) = 215(7) L mol(-1) s(-1) in chloroform at 25(1) degrees C. The other rate constants follow a Hammett correlation against 3sigma, with rho = -0.69(7). This study relates to oxygen atom transfer reactions catalyzed by MeReO(mtp)PPh(3), 1, in which MeRe(O)(2)(mtp), 4, is a postulated intermediate that does not build up to a measurable concentration during the catalytic cycle. Compound 2 does not react with MeSTol, but MeS(O)Tol was formed when tert-butyl hydroperoxide was added. This suggests that equilibrium lies to the left in this reaction, 2 + MeSTol + L = MeReO(met)L + MeS(O)Tol, and is drawn to the right by a reaction between MeReO(met)L and the hydroperoxide. Triphenyl arsane does not react with 2, but thermodynamic versus kinetic barriers were not resolved.     

Unusual cationic tris(dimethylsulfide)-substituted closo-boranes: preparation and characterization of [1,7,9-(Me2S)3-B12H9] BF4 and [1,2,10-(Me2S)3-B10H7] BF4

Rational syntheses of trisubstituted sulfur-bearing closo-boranes are presented. In the development of these syntheses unusual cationic closo-boranes [1,7,9-(Me(2)S)(3)-B(12)H(9)](+) (3) and [1,2,10-(Me(2)S)(3)-B(10)H(7)](+) (4) have been identified. These were initially recognized to be intermediates in the formation of the neutral trisubstituted species 1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)-9-(MeS)-B(12)H(9) (1) and 1,10-(Me(2)S)(2)-2-(MeS)-B(10)H(7) (2), respectively. Stable tetrafluoroborate salts were prepared and isolated, and their structures are presented. They are believed to represent the first structural determinations of cationic borane clusters of any type.     

Accessing the Triplet State in Heavy‐Atom‐Free Perylene Diimides

Previous studies of perylenediimides (PDIs) mostly utilized the lowest singlet excited state S₁. Generation of a triplet excited state (T₁) in PDIs is important for applications ranging from photodynamic therapy to photovoltaics; however, it remains a formidable task. Herein, we developed a heavy‐atom‐free strategy to prompt the T₁←S₁ intersystem crossing (ISC) by introducing electron‐donating aryl (Ar) groups at the head positions of an electron‐deficient perylenediimide (PDI) core. We found that the ISC efficiency increases from 8 to 54 % and then to 86 % by increasing the electron‐donating ability of head‐substituted aryl groups from phenyl (p‐PDI) to methoxyphenyl (MeO‐PDI) and then to methylthioxyphenyl (MeS‐PDI). By enhancing the intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) interaction from p‐PDI to MeO‐PDI, and then to MeS‐PDI, singlet oxygen generation via energy‐transfer reactions from T₁ of PDIs to ³O₂ was demonstrated with the highest yield of up to 80 %. These results provide guidelines for developing new triplet‐generating PDIs and related rylene diimides for optoelectronic applications.     

Development of a novel method to populate native disulfide-bonded intermediates for structural characterization of proteins: implications for the mechanism of oxidative folding of RNase A

RNase A, a model protein for oxidative folding studies, has four native disulfide bonds. The roles of des [40-95] and des [65-72], the two native-like structured three-disulfide-bonded intermediates populated between 8 and 25 degrees C during the oxidative folding of RNase A, are well characterized. Recent work focuses on both the formation of these structured disulfide intermediates from their unstructured precursors and on the subsequent oxidation of the structured species to form the native protein. The major obstacles in this work are the very low concentration of the precursor species and the difficulty of isolating some of the structured intermediates. Here, we demonstrate a novel method that enables the native disulfide-bonded intermediates to be populated and studied regardless of whether they have stable structure and/or are present at low concentrations during the oxidative folding or reductive unfolding process. The application of this method enabled us to populate and, in turn, study the key intermediates with two native disulfide bonds on the oxidative folding pathway of RNase A; it also facilitated the isolation of des [58-110] and des [26-84], the other two native-like structured des species whose isolation had thus far not been possible.     

Acid-catalyzed dehydration of naphthalene-cis-1,2-dihydrodiols: origin of impaired resonance effect of 3-substituents

Acid-catalyzed dehydrations of substituted naphthalene-cis-1,2-dihydrodiols occur with loss of the 1- or 2-OH group to form 2- and 1-naphthols, respectively. Effects of substituents MeO, Me, H, F, Br, I, and CN at 3-, 6-, and 7-positions of the naphthalene ring are consistent with rate-determining formation of β-hydroxynaphthalenium ion (carbocation) intermediates. For reaction of the 1-hydroxyl group the 3-substituents are correlated by the Yukawa-Tsuno relationship with ρ = -4.7 and r = 0.25 or by σ(p) constants with ρ = -4.25; for reaction of the 2-hydroxyl group the 3-substituents are correlated by σ(m) constants with ρ = -8.1. The correlations for the 1-hydroxyl imply a surprisingly weak resonance interaction of +M substituents (MeO, Me) with a carbocation reaction center but are consistent with the corresponding correlation for acid-catalyzed dehydration of 3-substituted benzene-cis-1,2-dihydrodiols for which ρ = -6.9 and r = 0.43. Substituents at the 6- and 7-positions of the naphthalene rings by contrast are correlated by σ(+) with ρ = -3.2 for reaction of the 1-hydroxyl group and ρ = -2.7 for reaction of the 2-hydroxyl group. The unimpaired resonance implied by these substituent effects appears to be inconsistent with a previous explanation of the weak resonance of the 3-substituents in terms of imbalance of charge development and/or nonplanarity of the benzenium ring in the transition state. An alternative possibility is that the adjacent hydroxyl group interferes sterically with conjugation of +M substituents. "Hyperaromaticity" of the arenium ion intermediates does not appear to be a factor influencing this behavior.     

Mechanistic Studies on the Photogenerated Dienol with α-Phenyl-N-tert-Butylnitrones

The mechanism for the photochemical reactions of o-methyl-benzaldehyde ( 1 ), o-methyl-acetophenone ( 2 ) and o-methyl-benzophenone ( 3 ) in the presence of α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) to the formation of stable nitroxyl radicals 4–6 is studied. The nitroxyl radical product 6 can also be obtained by the thermolysis of benzocyclobutenol with PBN. Thus, the radical products were derived from a novel and regioselective 4+2 cycloaddition of the photogenerated dienol intermediate with PBN.     

MAQO和它的环糊精包结物的电子自旋共振研究

报导2-甲基-3乙酰基喹喔啉1，4-二氧化物（MAQO）和它与α-环糊精（α-CD），β-环糊精（β-CD）包结物在室温下应用紫外光（λ＝360nm）进行原位光化学反应生成自由基的电子自旋共振研究结果，推断MAQO在紫外光作用下首先生成激发态（MAQO）*，然后进一步发生光化学反应导致N＝C双键转移而生成氮氧自由基并为ESR所检测到．从ESR检测结果猜想，在非含氢溶剂中是生成较稳定的且又相距很远的氮氧双自由基；而在含氢溶剂中，由于发生夺氢反应而生成稳定的氮氧单自由基．当MAQO－α－CD包结物在含氢溶剂中发生光化学反应时亦生成氮氧单自由基；但其ESR谱的超精细结构（hfs）和线宽均发生了变化，推断环糊精包结在MAQO分子苯环一端，受环糊精的微环境空间阻碍效应．     

Kinetics and mechanism of the pyridinolysis of 4-nitrophenyl and 2,4-dinitrophenyl S-methyl thiocarbonates

The reactions of 4-nitrophenyl and 2,4-dinitrophenyl S-methyl thiocarbonates (1 and 2, respectively) with a series of 3- and/or 4-substituted pyridines in aqueous solution, at 25.0 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M (KCl), are subjected to a kinetic investigation. The reactions are studied by following spectrophotometrically the release of 4-nitrophenoxide (400 nm) or 2,4-dinitrophenoxide (360 nm) anions. Under amine excess, pseudo-first-order rate coefficients (kobsd) are found. Plots of kobsd vs [pyridine] are linear and pH-independent, with slope kN. The Br?nsted-type plot (log kN vs pKa of pyridinium ions) for the reactions of 1 is linear, with slope beta = 1.1, in contrast to the plot for the reactions of 2, which is biphasic, with slopes beta1 = 0.25 (high pKa) and beta2 = 0.90 (low pKa) and the curvature center at pKa = p = 7.3. The latter Br?nsted plot is consistent with a stepwise mechanism, through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T+/-) on the reaction path, and a change of the rate-determining step, from breakdown to formation of T+/-, as pyridine basicity increases. For the reactions of 1 the beta value indicates that the mechanism is also stepwise with expulsion of the nucleofuge from T+/- as the rate-determining step. By comparison of the reactions under investigation among each other and with similar aminolyses, the following conclusions can be drawn. (i) Thiocarbonate 2 is more reactive than 1 toward pyridines. (ii) The pka0 value for the pyridinolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl methyl carbonate (4) is larger than that for thiocarbonate 2. (iii) The k1 values (pyridine attack to form T+/-) are smaller for thiocarbonates 1 and 2 than the corresponding oxy carbonates 3 and 4, respectively. This is not in accordance with the electronic effects of MeS and MeO and could be attributed to steric hindrance of the MeS group toward pyridine attack. (iv) The kN values for the pyridinolysis of carbonates 3 and 4 are larger than those for thiocarbonates 1 and 2, respectively, when the k2 step is rate-limiting.     

Anchimeric assistance by γ-substituents Z, Z=MeO, PhO, MeS or PhS, in reactions of the bromides (Me3Si)2(ZMe2Si)CSiMe2Br with AgBF4

The new organosilicon bromides (Me₃Si)₂(ZMe₂Si)CSiMe₂Br with Z=PhO or MeS have been prepared and new spectroscopic data obtained for the previously reported compounds with Z=H, F, Br, Me, Ph, MeO or PhS. Competitions between pairs of bromides for a deficiency of AgBF₄ in Et₂O, with the determination of the ratio of the fluoride products by ¹⁹F-NMR spectroscopy, have led to the following approximate relative reactivities of the bromides and so to the relative abilities of the γ-Z groups to provide anchimeric assistance to the leaving of Br⁻ in this reaction: Me, 1; Ph, 40; PhO, 3400; PhS, 5000; MeS, 7000; MeO, 54 000. In methanolysis in CH₂Cl₂, (Me₃Si)₂(MeOMe₂Si)CSiMe₂Cl has been found to be roughly 120 times as reactive as (Me₃Si)₂(PhOMe₂Si)CSiMe₂Cl. Combination of the results with previously available information suggests the following approximate order of ability of γ-groups Z to provide anchimeric assistance in reactions at the Si---X bonds in compounds (Me₃Si)₂(ZMe₂Si)CSiMe₂X: OCOMe>OMe>OCOCF₃>MeS>PhS, PhO>N₃, Cl>NCS>Ph>CH=CH₂>Me.     

Photoinduced release of nitroxyl and nitric oxide from diazeniumdiolates

Aqueous photochemistry of diazen-1-ium-1,2,2-triolate (Angeli's anion) and (Z)-1[N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DPTA NONOate) has been investigated by laser kinetic spectroscopy. In neutral aqueous solutions, 266 nm photolysis of these diazeniumdiolates generates a unique spectrum of primary products including the ground-state triplet (3NO-) and singlet (1HNO) nitroxyl species and nitric oxide (NO*). Formation of these spectrophotometrically invisible products is revealed and quantitatively assayed by analyzing a complex set of their cross-reactions leading to the formation of colored intermediates, the N2O2*- radical and N3O3- anion. The experimental design employed takes advantage of the extremely slow spin-forbidden protic equilibration between 3NO- and 1HNO and the vast difference in their reactivity toward NO*. To account for the kinetic data, a novel combination reaction, 3NO-+1HNO, is introduced, and its rate constant of 6.6x10(9) M-1 s-1 is measured by competition with the reduction of methyl viologen by 3NO-. The latter reaction occurring with 2.1x10(9) M-1 s-1 rate constant and leading to the stable, colored methyl viologen radical cation is useful for detection of 3NO-. The distributions of the primary photolysis products (Angeli's anion: 22% 3NO-, 58% 1HNO, and 20% NO*; DPTA NONOate: 3% 3NO-, 12% 1HNO, and 85% NO*) show that neither diazeniumdiolate is a highly selective photochemical generator of nitroxyl species or nitric oxide, although the selectivity of DPTA NONOate for NO* generation is clearly greater.     

Substituent effects on core structures and heterogeneous catalytic activities of Mn(III)(μ-O)2Mn(IV) dimers with 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine derivative ligands for water oxidation

[(OH(2))(R-terpy)Mn(μ-O)(2)Mn(R-terpy)(OH(2)) ](3+) (R-terpy = 4'-substituted 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, R = butoxy (BuO), propoxy (PrO), ethoxy (EtO), methoxy (MeO), methyl (Me), methylthio (MeS), chloro (Cl)) have been synthesized as a functional oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) model and characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopic, X-ray crystallographic, magnetometric, and electrochemical techniques. The UV-vis spectra of derivatives in water were hardly influenced by the 4'-substituent variation. X-ray crystallographic data showed that Mn centers in the Mn(III)(μ-O)(2)Mn(IV) cores for derivatives with R = H, MeS, Me, EtO, and BuO are crystallographically indistinguishable, whereas the derivatives with R = MeO and PrO gave the significantly distinguishable Mn centers in the cores. The indistinguishable Mn centers could be caused by rapid electron exchange between the Mn centers to result in the delocalized Mn(μ-O)(2)Mn core. The exchange integral values (J = -196 to -178 cm(-1)) for delocalized cores were lower than that (J = -163 to -161 cm(-1)) for localized cores, though the Mn···Mn distances are nearly the same (2.707-2.750 ?). The half wave potential (E(1/2)) of a Mn(III)-Mn(IV)/Mn(IV)-Mn(IV) pair of the derivatives decreased with an increase of the electron-donating ability of the substituted groups for the delocalized core, but it deviated from the correlation for the localized cores. The catalytic activities of the derivatives on mica for heterogeneous water oxidation were remarkably changed by the substituted groups. The second order rate constant (k(2)/mol(-1) s(-1)) for O(2) evolution was indicated to be correlated to E(1/2) of a Mn(III)-Mn(IV)/Mn(IV)-Mn(IV) pair; k(2) increased by a factor of 29 as E(1/2) increased by 28 mV.     

Transnitrosation of nitrosothiols: characterization of an elusive intermediate

We report an investigation of the reaction between (S)-nitroso-l-cysteine ethyl ester and l-cysteine ethyl ester as a model of physiologically relevant transnitrosation processes. Our theoretical and experimental evidence clearly supports the existence of a nitroxyl disulfide intermediate in solution.     

The energetic and structural effects of steric crowding in phosphate and dithiophosphinate complexes of lanthanide cations M3+: a computational study

Metal-ligand binding strength and selectivity result from antagonistic metal-ligand M-L attractions and ligand-ligand L-L repulsions. On the basis of quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations on lanthanide complexes, we show that this interplay determines the binding affinities in the gas phase. In the series of [ML3] complexes (M = La, Eu, and Yb) with negatively charged phosphoryl ligands L- = (MeO)2PO2- and Me2PS2-, the binding energies follow the order Yb3+ > Eu3+ > La3- for a given ligand, and (MeO)2PO2- > Me2PS2- for a given cation. However, adding a neutral LH ligand to [ML3] changes the order to Eu3+ > Yb3+ > La3+ for the oxygen ligand and La3+ > Eu3- > Yb3+ for the sulfur ligand, indicating that steric strain in the first coordination sphere is largest for the smallest cation and for sulfur binding sites. We investigated the question of additional hydration of the [ML3LH] complexes in aqueous solution by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, using two sets of atomic charges. It was found that pairwise additive potentials overestimate the coordination and hydration numbers of the cations, while adding polarization energy terms for the ligands yields better agreement between QM and MD results and supports the concept of steric strain in the first coordination sphere.     

Trimethyl phosphite as a trap for alkoxy radicals formed from the ring opening of oxiranylcarbinyl radicals. Conversion to alkenes. Mechanistic applications to the study of C-C versus C-O ring cleavage

Trimethyl phosphite, (MeO)(3)P, is introduced as an efficient and selective trap in oxiranylcarbinyl radical (2) systems, formed from haloepoxides 8-13 under thermal AIBN/n-Bu(3)SnH conditions at about 80 degrees C. Initially, the transformations of 8-13, in the absence of phosphite, to allyl alcohol 7 and/or vinyl ether 5 were measured quantitatively (Table 1). Structural variations in the intermediate oxiranylcarbinyl (2), allyloxy (3), and vinyloxycarbinyl (4) radicals involve influences of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the C-O (2 --> 3, k(1)) and C-C (2 --> 4, k(2)) radical scission processes and readily account for the changes in the amounts of product vinyl ether (5) and allyl alcohol (7) formed. Added (MeO)(3)P is inert to vinyloxycarbinyl radical 4 and selectively and rapidly traps allyloxy radical 3, diverting it to trimethyl phosphate and allyl radical 6. Allyl radicals (6) dimerize or are trapped by n-Bu(3)SnH to give alkenes, formed from haloepoxides 8, 9, and 13 in 69-95% yields. Intermediate vinyloxycarbinyl radicals (4), in the presence or absence of (MeO)(3)P, are trapped by n-Bu(3)SnH to give vinyl ethers (5). The concentrations of (MeO)(3)P and n-Bu(3)SnH were varied independently, and the amounts of phosphate, vinyl ether (5), and/or alkene from haloepoxides 10, 11, and 13 were carefully monitored. The results reflect readily understood influences of changes in the structures of radicals 2-4, particularly as they influence the C-O (k(1)) and C-C (k(2)) cleavages of intermediate oxiranylcarbinyl radical 2 and their reverse (k(-1), k(-2)). Diversion by (MeO)(3)P of allyloxy radicals (3) from haloepoxides 11 and 12 fulfills a prior prediction that under conditions closer to kinetic control, products of C-O scission, not just those of C-C scission, may result. Thus, for oxiranylcarbinyl radicals from haloepoxides 11, 12, and 13, C-O scission (k(1), 2 --> 3) competes readily with C-C cleavage (k(2), 2 --> 4), even though C-C scission is favored thermodynamically.     

Palladacycle-promoted solvolytic cleavage of O,O-dimethyl O-aryl phosphorothioates. Converting a phosphorane-like transition state to an observable intermediate

The mechanism of cleavage of a series of seven O,O-dimethyl O-aryl phosphorothioates (6a-g) promoted by a C,N-palladacycle, (2-[N,N-dimethylamino(methyl)phenyl]-C(1),N)(pyridine) palladium(II) triflate (5:OTf) in methanol at 25 °C was investigated with the aim of identifying catalytically important intermediates. Complete (s)(s)pH/rate profiles (in methanol) were conducted for the cleavage of 6a-g in the presence of 0.08 mM 5. The log k(obs) for the catalyzed methanolysis of 6a increases linearly with (s)(s)pH with a plateau above the (s)(s)pK(a)(1) of 11.16 for formation of 5:(-)OCH3. The profiles for 6b-g are bell-shaped, depending on the apparent ionizations of two acidic groups, with the rate constant maximum of the bell and the (s)(s)pK(a)(1) values shifting to higher (s)(s)pH values as the (s)(s)pK(a)(HOAr) of the leaving group phenol increases. A Br?nsted plot of the log k(obs)(max) (the maximum rate constants for cleavage of 6a-g) vs (s)(s)pK(a)(HOAr) exhibits a downward break at ~ (s)(s)pK(a)(HOAr) 13, with the two wings having β(lg) values of 0.01 and -0.96. A model describing the kinetically important species involves a complex series of equilibria: 5:(HOCH(3)):pyr <=> 5:((-)OCH3):pyr + H(+) <=>(6) 5:((-)OCH3):6 + pyr <=> phosphorane 7 → product, where the rate limiting steps change from formation of 5:((-)OCH3):6 to formation of thiophosphorane 7 and then to product formation as the aryloxy leaving groups of 6 get progressively worse. Kinetic experiments indicate that the reaction of 5 with 6e, having a 4-chlorophenoxy leaving group, rapidly produces a transient intermediate, postulated to be the palladacycle-bound 5-coordinate thiophosphorane (7e) that exists long enough to obtain its UV/vis spectrum by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Detailed analysis of the data sheds light on the origins of a previously reported anomalously large β(lg) of -1.93 for the descending wing of a Br?nsted plot (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 16599). Finally, energetics analysis indicates that the binding of palladacycle to the transition state comprising attack of methoxide on 6e, [MeO(-) + 6e](++), stabilizes the latter by 34.9 kcal/mol, converting that transition state into an observable intermediate.     

The reaction of [FeII(tpa)] with H2O2 in acetonitrile and acetone--distinct intermediates and yet similar catalysis

The reaction of [FeII(tpa)(OTf)2] (tpa=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) and its related 5-Me3-tpa complex with hydrogen peroxide affords spectroscopically distinct iron(III)-peroxo intermediates in CH3CN and acetone. The reaction in acetonitrile at -40 degrees C results in the formation of the previously reported Fe(III)-OOH intermediate, the end-on hydroperoxo coordination mode of which is established in this paper by detailed resonance Raman isotope-labeling experiments. On the other hand, the reaction in acetone below -40 degrees C leads to the observation of a different peroxo intermediate identified by resonance Raman spectroscopy to be an FeIII-OOC (CH3)2OH species; this represents the first example of an intermediate derived from the adduct of H2O2 and acetone. The peroxoacetone intermediate decays more rapidly than the corresponding FeIII-OOH species and converts to an FeIV=O species by O-O bond homolysis. This decay process is analogous to that observed for [FeIII(tpa)(OOtBu)]2+ and in fact exhibits a comparable enthalpy of activation of 54(3) kJ mol(-1). Thus, with respect to their physical properties at low temperature, the peroxoacetone intermediate resembles [FeIII(tpa)(OOtBu)]2+ more than the corresponding FeIII-OOH species. At room temperature, however, the behavior of the Fe(tpa)/H2O2 combination in acetone in catalytic hydrocarbon oxidations differs significantly from that of the Fe(tpa)/tBuOOH combination and more closely matches that of the Fe(tpa)/H2O2 combination in CH3CN. Like the latter, the Fe(tpa)/H2O2 combination in acetone catalyzes the hydroxylation of cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane to its tertiary alcohol with high stereoselectivity and carries out the epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation of olefins. These results demonstrate the subtle complexity of the Fe(tpa)/H2O2 reaction surface.