Cyclic voltammetry of nitrophenyl N‐glycosides on mercury electrode

Ten nitrophenyl N‐glycosides have been studied electrochemically in neutral (at pH 7) water–organic solutions by cyclic voltammetry using static mercury drop electrode. For all compounds under investigation the two electrochemical processes have been observed: the four‐electron irreversible reduction of their nitro groups to the corresponding phenylhydroxylamine derivatives, as well as the two‐electron quasi‐reversible process between phenylhydroxylamine and nitroso derivatives. For three compounds the additional electrochemical processes have been also observed, which can be connected with the formation of azoxybenzene derivatives. The potentials of both redox processes: a two‐electron quasi‐reversible R? NHOH/R? NO (E_f) and four‐electron irreversible R? NO₂/R? NHOH (E_pc(I)) systems have been determined and discussed according to crystal structures of selected compounds. E_f and E_pc(I) depended strongly on the positive mesomeric effect (caused by glycosidic nitrogen atom), as well as on the intramolecular hydrogen bond between electroactive nitro group and the hydrogen atom at the glycosidic atom observed in N‐o‐nitrophenyl‐2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylamine. Moreover, the chirality of selected reactants has had the pronounced effect on the E_pc(I). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular structure of nitrophenyl O‐glycosides in relation to their redox potentials

The effect of the non‐electroactive groups on the redox potentials of the active centres of 26 nitrophenyl O‐glycosides possessing various substituents has been studied electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry. The potentials of both redox processes, a two‐electron quasi‐reversible R‐NHOH/R‐NO (E_f) and four‐electron irreversible R‐NO₂/R‐NHOH (E_pc(I)) systems, have been determined and compared for all the compounds under investigations. The nitrophenyl O‐glycosides were chosen as model compounds as they significantly vary in many aspects of their structure such as: (i) the isomeric substitution of nitro group in benzene ring to the sugar moiety (ortho, meta and para isomers); (ii) the size of sugar moieties (the derivatives of mono‐ and disaccharides); (iii) the presence and absence of additional groups in saccharidic fragments (e.g. pentose and hexose); (iv) functionalisation of hydroxyl groups (free or acetylated hydroxyl groups) and (v) absolute configurations of selected sugar carbon atoms (e.g. the pairs of anomers). Among other effects, a significant variation in the increasing order of the two‐electron quasi‐reversible (E_f, ortho > meta > para) and four‐electron irreversible (E_pc(I), meta > ortho > para) redox processes has been found and explained taking into account the negative inductive effect (–I) caused by the glycosidic oxygen atom that facilitates the electroreduction of the nitro group, and the positive mesomeric effect (+M) which makes the electroreduction more difficult. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of reversible disproportionation–comproportionation in redox triad oxoammonium cations – nitroxyl radicals – hydroxylamines

Kinetics and equilibrium of the acid‐catalyzed disproportionation of cyclic nitroxyl radicals R₂NO^? to oxoammonium cations R₂NO⁺ and hydroxylamines R₂NOH is defined by redox and acid–base properties of these compounds. In a recent work (J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2014, 27, 114‐120), we showed that the kinetic stability of R₂NO^? in acidic media depends on the basicity of the nitroxyl group. Here, we examined the kinetics of the reverse comproportionation reaction of R₂NO⁺ and R₂NOH to R₂NO^? and found that increasing in –I‐effects of substituents greatly reduces the overall equilibrium constant of the reaction K₄. This occurs because of both the increase of acidity constants of hydroxyammonium cations K_3H+ and the difference between the reduction potentials of oxoammonium cations E_R2NO+/R2NO? and nitroxyl radicals E_R2NO?/R2NOH. pH dependences of reduction potentials of nitroxyl radicals to hydroxylamines E_1/3Σ and bond dissociation energies D(O–H) for hydroxylamines R₂NOH in water were determined. For a wide variety of piperidine‐ and pyrrolidine‐1‐oxyls values of pK_3H+ and E_R2NO+/R2NO? correlate with each other, as well as with the equilibrium constants K₄ and the inductive substituent constants σ_I. The correlations obtained allow prediction of the acid–base and redox characteristics of redox triads R₂NO^?–R₂NO⁺–R₂NOH. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical investigations on 4,4′,5,5′‐tetranitro‐2,2′‐1H,1′H‐2,2′‐biimidazole derivatives as potential nitrogen‐rich high energy materials

The ―NH₂, ―NO₂, ―NHNO₂, ―C(NO₂)₃ and ―CF(NO₂)₂ substitution derivatives of 4,4′,5,5′‐tetranitro‐2,2′‐1H,1′H‐2,2′‐biimidazole were studied at B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level of density functional theory. The crystal structures were obtained by molecular mechanics (MM) methods. Detonation properties were evaluated using Kamlet–Jacobs equations based on the calculated density and heat of formation. The thermal stability of the title compounds was investigated via the energy gaps (?E_{LUMO ? HOMO}) predicted. Results show that molecules T5 (D = 10.85 km·s^?1, P = 57.94 GPa) and T6 (D = 9.22 km·s^?1, P = 39.21 GPa) with zero or positive oxygen balance are excellent candidates for high energy density oxidizers (HEDOs). All of them appear to be potential explosives compared with the famous ones, octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetraazocane (HMX, D = 8.96 km·s^?1, P = 35.96 GPa) and hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL‐20, D = 9.38 km·s^?1, P = 42.00 GPa). In addition, bond dissociation energy calculation indicates that T5 and T6 are also the most thermally stable ones among the title compounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enols of 2‐nitro‐ and related 2‐substituted malonamides

The structures of 2‐substituted malonamides, YCH(CONR¹R²)CONR³R⁴ (Y = Br, SO₂Me, CONH₂, COMe, and NO₂) were investigated. When Y = Br, R¹R² = R³R⁴ = HEt; Y = SO₂Me, R¹–R⁴ = H and for Y = CONH₂ or CONHPh, R¹–R⁴ = Me, the structure in solution is that of the amide tautomer. X‐ray crystallography shows solid‐state amide structures for Y = SO₂Me or CONH₂, R¹–R⁴ = H. Nitromalonamide displays an enol structure in the solid state with a strong hydrogen bond (O^…O distance = 2.3730 Å at 100 K) and d(OH) ≠ d(O^…H). An apparently symmetric enol was observed in solution, even in appreciable percentages in highly polar solvents such as DMSO‐d₆, but K_enol values decrease on increasing the solvent polarity. The N,N′‐dimethyl derivative is less enolic. Acetylmalonamides display a mixture of enol on the acetyl group and amide in non‐polar solvents, and only the amide in DMSO‐d₆. DFT calculations gave the following order of pK_enol values for Y: H > CONH₂ > COMe ≥ COMe (on acetyl) ≥ MeSO₂ > CN > NO₂ in the gas phase, CHCl₃, and DMSO. The enol on the C?O group is preferred to the aci‐nitro compound, and the N? O? H^…O?C is less favored than the C?O? H^…O?C hydrogen bond. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Catalysis by hydrogen chloride in the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol

A homogeneous, molecular, gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐ buten‐3‐ol catalyzed by hydrogen chloride in the temperature range 325–386 °C and pressure range 34–149 torr are described. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.01 ± 0.31) ? (109.5 ± 2.8) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1 and for 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.50 ± 0.18) ? (116.5 ± 1.4) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Electron delocalization of the CH₂?CH and C₆H₅ appears to be an important effect in the rate enhancement of acid catalyzed tertiary alcohols in the gas phase. A concerted six‐member cyclic transition state type of mechanism appears to be, as described before, a rational interpretation for the dehydration process of these substrates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of novel bis(β‐cyclodextrin)s linked with aromatic diamine and their molecular recognition with model substrates

Novel β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) dimers with aromatic diamine linkers, 1,3‐(aminomethyl)‐benzylamine‐bridged bis(6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐β‐CD) (2) , 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethano‐bridged bis(6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐β‐CD) (3) , and 4,4′‐ ethylenedianiline‐bridged bis(6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐β‐CD) (4) , were synthesized. The inclusion complexation behaviors of these compounds, together with 4,4′‐aminophenyl ethyl‐bridged bis(6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐β‐CD) (5) , with substrates such as acridine red (AR), neutral red (NR), ammonium 8‐anilino‐1‐naphthalenesulfonate (ANS), sodium 2‐(p‐toluidinyl) naphthalenesulfonate (TNS), rhodamine B (RhB), and brilliant green (BG), were investigated by ultraviolet, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that the two linked CD units cooperatively bound to a guest, and the molecular binding affinity toward substrates, especially curved guest ANS and linear guests such as NR and AR, was increased. The linker length between two CD units played a crucial role in the molecular recognition of the hosts with guest dyes. The binding constants of the hosts for AR, TNS, ANS, and RhB decreased with increasing linker length in hosts 2‐4 . Moreover, structurally similar hosts 3 and 5 exhibited very different binding behavior for the guests. Host 5 showed much higher Ks values toward positively charged guests and lower Ks toward negatively charged guests than host 3 . The 2D NMR spectra of hosts 3 and 5 with RhB were acquired to understand the binding difference between 3 and 5 . The molecular binding ability and selectivity of model substrates by these hosts were sufficiently investigated to reveal not only the cooperative contributions of the linker group and CD cavities upon inclusion complexation with dye guest molecules, but also the controlling factors for the molecular selective binding. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A computational study (DFT,MP2, and GIAO‐DFT) of substituent effects on protonation regioselectivity in β,β‐disubstituted vinyldiazonium cations: formation of highly delocalized carbenium/diazonium dications

Protonation reactions were studied by quantum‐chemical theoretical methods (DFT and MP2) for a series of β,β‐disubstituted vinyldiazonium cations ( 1 ⁺ – 14 ⁺ ), bearing stabilizing electron‐releasing groups (H₃CO? , (H₃C)₂N? , H₃C? , (H₃C)₃Si? , as well as halogens F, Cl). Taking into account the various mesomeric forms that these species can represent, protonations at C_α, at the β‐substituent, and at N_β were considered. The energetically most favored pathway in all cases was C_α protonation, which formally corresponds to trapping of the mesomeric diazonium ylid. Based on the computed properties (optimized geometries, NPA‐charge densities, and multinuclear GIAO‐NMR chemical shifts), the resulting dications can best be viewed as carbenium/diazonium dications, in which the carbocation is further delocalized into the β‐substituent. For the α‐nitro derivative 15 , protonation of the nitro group was predicted to be the most favored reaction, while C_α‐ and N_β‐protonation resulted in the loss of the nitronium ion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of the structure of nitroxyl radicals on the kinetics of their acid‐catalyzed disproportionation

Acid‐catalyzed disproportionation of cyclic nitroxyl radicals R₂NO^? includes the half‐reactions of their oxidation to oxoammonium cations R₂NO⁺ and reduction to hydroxylamines R₂NOH. For many nitroxyl radicals, this reaction is characterized by its ~100% reversibility. Quantitative characteristics of acid–base and redox properties of the whole redox triad may be obtained from research of kinetics and equilibrium of this reaction. Here, we have examined the kinetics for the disproportionation of twenty piperidine‐, pyrroline‐, pyrrolidine‐, and imidazoline nitroxyl radicals in aqueous H₂SO₄, and interpreted it in terms of the excess acidity function X. The rate‐limiting step of this reaction is R₂NO^? oxidation by its protonated counterpart R₂NOH^+?. Kinetic stability of R₂NO^? in acidic media depends on the basicity of nitroxyl group. This basicity is influenced predominantly by protonation of another, more basic group in radical structure, and its proximity to nitroxyl group. The discovered estimates of pK values for radical cations R₂NOH^+? (from ?5.8 to ?12.0) indicate a very low basicity of nitroxyl groups in all commonly used R₂NO^?. For the first time, a linear correlation is obtained between the one‐electron reduction potentials of oxoammonium cations and the basicity of nitroxyl groups of related radicals. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structures of 3‐methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone and three substituted derivatives

3‐Methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone and three derivatives (3,7‐dimethyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone, 3‐methyl‐6,7‐dichloro‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone and 3‐methyl‐7‐nitro‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone) have been synthesised and analysed by ¹H NMR and IR spectral spectroscopies. The crystal structures have been determined at room temperature from X‐ray single crystal diffraction data for three of them and from powder diffraction data for the nitro derivative. 3‐Methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone crystallises in the P2₁/c monoclinic system, 3,7‐dimethyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone in the Pbca orthorhombic system and the two others compounds in the P$\overline {1} $ triclinic system. For the nitro derivative, C? H$\cdots $ N short contacts are established between the carbon of the methyl and the double bounded nitrogen of the ring. For the three other compounds N? H$\cdots $ O hydrogen bonds involve the atoms of the heterocyclic ring. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactivity of the insecticide chlorpyrifos‐methyl toward hydroxyl and perhydroxyl ion. Effect of cyclodextrins

The reactivity of Chlorpyrifos‐Methyl ( 1 ) toward hydroxyl ion and the α‐nucleophile, perhydroxyl ion was investigated in aqueous basic media. The hydrolysis of 1 was studied at 25 °C in water containing 10% ACN or 7% 1,4‐dioxane at NaOH concentrations between 0.01 and 0.6 M ; the second‐order rate constant is 1.88 × 10^?2 M ^?1 s^?1 in 10% ACN and 1.70 × 10^?2 M ^?1 s^?1 in 7% 1,4‐dioxane. The reaction with H₂O₂ was studied in a pH range from 9.14 to 12.40 in 7% 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O; the second‐order rate constant for the reaction of HOO^? ion is 7.9 M ^?1 s^?1 whereas neutral H₂O₂ does not compete as nucleophile. In all cases quantitative formation of 3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinol ( 3 ) was observed indicating an S_N2(P) pathway. The hydrolysis reaction is inhibited by α‐, β‐, and γ‐cyclodextrin showing saturation kinetics; the greater inhibition is produced by γ‐cyclodextrin. The reaction with hydrogen peroxide is weakly inhibited by α‐ and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), whereas γ‐cyclodextrin produces a greater inhibition and saturation kinetics. The kinetic data obtained in the presence of β‐ or γ‐cyclodextrin for the reaction with hydroxyl or perhydroxyl ion indicate that the main reaction pathway for the cyclodextrin‐mediated reaction is the reaction of HO^? or HOO^? ion with the substrate complexed with the anion of the cyclodextrin. The inhibition is attributed to the inclusion of the substrate with the reaction center far from the ionized secondary OH groups of the cyclodextrin and protected from external attack of the nucleophile. Sucrose also inhibits the hydrolysis reaction but the effect is independent of its concentration. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4‐Phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione in the ene reactions with cyclohexene, 1‐hexene and 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene. The heat of reaction and the influence of temperature and pressure on the reaction rate

The values of the enthalpy (53.3; 51.3; 20.0 kJ mol^?1), entropy (?106; ?122; ?144 J mol^?1K^?1), and volume of activation (?29.1; ?31.0; ?cm³ mol^?1), the reaction volume (?25.0; ?26.6; ?cm³ mol^?1) and reaction enthalpy (?155.9; ?158.2; ?150.2 kJ mol^?1) have been obtained for the first time for the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione 1 , with cyclohexene 4 , 1‐hexene 6 , and with 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene 8 , respectively. The ratio of the values of the activation volume to the reaction volume (?V^≠_corr/ΔV_{r ? n}) in the ene reactions under study, 1 + 4 → 5 and 1 + 6 → 7 , appeared to be the same, namely 1.16. The large negative values of the entropy and the volume of activation of studied reactions 1 + 4 → 5 and 1 + 6 → 7 better correspond to the cyclic structure of the activated complex at the stage determining the reaction rate. The equilibrium constants of these ene reactions can be estimated as exceeding 10¹⁸ L mol^?1, and these reactions can be considered irreversible. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of substituents and conjugated chain length on the UV spectra of α,ω‐di‐substituted phenyl polyenes

A series of α,ω‐di‐substituted phenyl polyenes, p‐X–Ph(CH = CH)_nPh–p‐Y (n = 1, 2, or 3) were synthesized, and their ultraviolet (UV) absorption maximum wavelength were determined. The correlation between molecular structure and the maximum wavelength energy (wavenumber/cm^?1) was carried out. The results show that the maximum wavelength energy of the title compounds is mainly affected by both substituent excited‐state parameters and maximum wavelength energy of the parent molecule. However, the two influence factors are not independent, and the action of substituent is governed by the parent molecular absorption energy. In the case of the compounds containing NO₂ or NH₂ groups, the influence of interaction of polarity parameters on the maximum wavelength energy must also be considered. In addition, the exploration was also made for the quantifying correlation of UV absorption maximum wavelength energy with the conjugated polarizability potential CPP replacing the parent molecular absorption energy. And the results indicate that the equation with CPP parameters is more accurate and convenient. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction in enyne–allenes: a computational investigation and comparison with the Myers–Saito and Schmittel reactions

The reaction mechanisms as well as substituted effect and solvent effect of the enyne–allenes are investigated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) method and compared with the Myers–Saito and Schmittel reactions. The Myers–Saito reaction of non‐substituted enyne–allenes is kinetically and thermodynamically favored as compared to the Schmittel reaction; while the concerted [4 + 2] cycloaddition is only 1.32 kcal/mol higher than the C₂? C₇ cyclization and more exothermic (Δ_RE = ?69.38 kcal/mol). For R₁ = CH₃ and t‐Bu, the increasing barrier of the C₂? C₇ cyclization is higher than that for the C₂? C₆ cyclization because of the steric effect, so the increased barrier of the [4 + 2] cycloaddition is affected by such substituted electron‐releasing group. Moreover, the strong steric effect of R₁ = t‐Bu would shift the C₂? C₇ cyclization to the [4 + 2] cycloaddition. On the other hand, for R₁ = Ph, NH₂, O^?, NO₂, and CN substituents, the barrier of the C₂? C₆ cyclization would be more diminished than the C₂? C₇ cyclization due to strong mesomeric effect; the reaction path of C₂? C₇ cyclization would also shift to the [4 + 2] cycloaddition. The solvation does not lead to significant changes in the potential‐energy surface of the reaction except for the more polar surrounding solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or water. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rotational disorder in 2‐piperidyl‐5‐nitro‐6 ‐methylpyridine: structural phase transition and its vibrational characteristics

X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies have shown that 2‐piperidyl‐5‐nitro‐6‐methylpyridine, C₁₁H₁₅N₃O₂, undergoes a structural phase transition at T = 240 K. The room temperature structure is tetragonal, space group I4₁/a, with the unit‐cell dimensions a = 13.993(2) and c = 23.585(5) Å. The pyridine ring takes trans conformation with respect to the piperidine unit. While pyridine is well ordered, the piperidine moiety shows apparent disorder resulting from a libration about the linking N C bond. The low‐temperature phase is monoclinic, space group I2/a. Contraction of the unit‐cell volume by 2.3% at 170 K enables the C H···O linkage between the molecules of the neighbouring stacks. As result, the asymmetric unit becomes bi‐molecular. The thermal librations of the piperidine and methyl groups become considerably reduced at 170 K and nearly fully reduced at about 100 K. The IR spectra and polarised Raman spectra agree with the X‐ray structure and confirm the disorder effect on the piperidine ring. The assignment of the bands observed was made on the basis of DFT chemical quantum calculations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homo‐Diels–Alder reaction of a very inactive diene,bicyclo[2,2,1]hepta‐2,5‐diene,with the most active dienophile, 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazolin‐3,5‐dione. Solvent,temperature, and high pressure influence on the reaction rate

Solvent, temperature, and high pressure influence on the rate constant of homo‐Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions of the very active hetero‐dienophile, 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazolin‐3,5‐dione (1), with the very inactive unconjugated diene, bicyclo[2,2,1]hepta‐2,5‐diene (2), and of 1 with some substituted anthracenes have been studied. The rate constants change amounts to about seven orders of magnitude: from 3.95^.10^?3 for reaction (1+2) to 12200 L mol^?1 s^?1 for reaction of 1 with 9,10‐dimethylanthracene (4e) in toluene solution at 298 K. A comparison of the reactivity (ln k₂) and the heat of reactions (?_r‐nH) of maleic anhydride, tetracyanoethylene and of 1 with several dienes has been performed. The heat of reaction (1+2) is ?218 ± 2 kJ mol^?1, of 1 with 9,10‐dimethylanthracene ?117.8 ± 0.7 kJ mol^?1, and of 1 with 9,10‐dimethoxyanthracene ?91.6 ±0.2 kJ mol^?1. From these data, it follows that the exothermicity of reaction (1+2) is higher than that with 1,3‐butadiene. However, the heat of reaction of 9,10‐dimethylanthracene with 1 (?117.8 kJ mol^?1) is nearly the same as that found for the reaction with the structural C=C counterpart, N‐phenylmaleimide (?117.0 kJ mol^?1). Since the energy of the N=N bond is considerably lower (418 kJ/bond) than that of the C=C bond (611 kJ/bond), it was proposed that this difference in the bond energy can generate a lower barrier of activation in the Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction with 1. Linear correlation (R = 0.94) of the solvent effect on the rate constants of reaction (1+2) and on the heat of solution of 1 has been observed. The ratio of the volume of activation (?V^≠) and the volume of reaction (?V_r‐n) of the homo‐Diels–Alder reaction (1+2) is considered as “normal”: ?V^≠/?V_r‐n = ?25.1/?30.95 = 0.81. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steric effects on the mechanism of reaction of nucleophilic substitution of β‐substituted alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones with four secondary amines

The kinetics of the reaction of β‐substituted β‐alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones R¹O‐CR²?CH‐COCF₃ ( 1a – e ) [( 1a ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?H; ( 1b ), R¹?R²?CH₃; ( 1c ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?C₆H₅; ( 1d ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?V^?pNO₂C₆H₄; ( 1e ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?C(CH₃)₃] with four aliphatic amines ( 2a – d ) [( 2a ), (C₂H₅)₂NH; ( 2b ), (i‐C₃H₇)₂NH; ( 2c ), (CH₂)₅NH; ( 2d ), O(CH₂CH₂)₂NH] was studied in two aprotic solvents, hexane and acetonitrile. The least reactive stereoisomeric form of ( 1a – d ) was the most populated ( E‐s‐Z‐o‐Z ) form, whereas in ( 1e ), the more reactive form ( Z‐s‐Z‐o‐Z ) dominated. The reactions studied proceeded via common transition state formation whose decomposition occurred by ‘uncatalyzed’ and/or ‘catalyzed’ route. Shielding of the reaction centre by bulky β‐substituents lowered abruptly both k′ (‘uncatalyzed’ rate constant) and k″ (‘catalyzed’ rate constant) of this reaction. Bulky amines reduced k″ to a greater extent than k′ as a result of an additional steric retardation to the approach of the bulky amine to its ammonium ion in the transition state. An increase in the electron‐withdrawing ability of the β‐substituent increased ‘uncatalyzed’ k′ due to the acceleration of the initial nucleophile attack (k₁) and ‘uncatalyzed’ decomposition of transition state (k₂) via promoting electrophilic assistance (through transition state 8 ). The amine basicity determined the route of the reaction: the higher amine basicity, the higher k₃/k₂ ratio (a measure of the ‘catalyzed’ route contribution as compared to the ‘uncatalyzed’ process) was. ‘Uncatalyzed’ route predominated for all reactions; however in polar acetonitrile the contribution of the ‘catalyzed’ route was significant for amines with high pK_a and small bulk. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bichromophoric behavior of nitrophenyl‐triazene anions: a resonance Raman spectroscopy investigation

Highly delocalized molecular frameworks with intense charge transfer transitions, known as push‐pull systems, are of central interest in many areas of chemistry, as is the case of nitrophenyl‐triazene derivatives. The 1,3‐bis(2‐nitrophenyl)triazene and 1,3‐bis(4‐nitrophenyl)triazene were investigated by electronic (UV‐Vis) and resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopies. The bichromophoric behavior of 1,3‐bis(4‐nitrophenyl)triazene anion opens the possibility of tuning with visible radiation, two distinct electronic states. The RR profiles of nitrophenyl‐triazene derivatives clearly show that the first allowed electronic state can be assigned to a charge transfer from the ring π system to the NO₂ moiety (ca 520 nm), while the second, as a charge transfer from N₃⁻ to the aromatic ring (ca 390 nm). In the para‐substituted derivative, a more efficient electron transfer and a greater energy separation between the two excited states are observed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effects on conformational preference in α‐substituted α‐fluorophenylacetic acid methyl ester model systems for chiral derivatizing agents

In connection with study of chiral derivatizing agents (CDAs) for NMR determination of absolute configuration of organic compounds, factors controlling the conformational preference between syn‐ and anti‐forms in α‐substituted α‐fluorophenylacetic acid methyl ester (FC(X)(Ph)COOMe) model systems were theoretically investigated. Substituents X at the stereogenic carbon atom were X = H, C?CH and CH₃, the electronic and steric properties of which were significantly different from each other. The model system with X = C?CH and that with X = CH₃ were found to be possible candidates for fluorine‐containing CDAs. The syn conformation is stable compared with the anti one by 0.7 kcal mol^?1 for the ester with X = C?CH. On the other hand, the anti conformation is stable compared with the syn one by 0.5 kcal mol^?1 for the ester with X = CH₃. Both natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and deletion of selected orbitals based on the donor–acceptor NBO scheme were adopted for semi‐quantitative estimation of factors responsible for the conformational preference as well as a qualitative inspection of occupied canonical molecular orbitals (MOs). It was shown that [σ–(σ* + π*)(C?O)] and [σ–σ*(Ph) and π(Ph)–σ*] hyperconjugations are the main factors controlling the conformational preferences between the syn and anti conformations. Other types of effects such as electrostatic effects were also investigated. The role of the fluorine atom was also clarified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvatochromic properties of long alkyl chain π* indicators: comparison of N,N‐dialkyl‐4‐nitroanilines and alkyl 4‐nitrophenyl ethers

Hydrophobic forms of the N,N‐dialkyl‐4‐nitroaniline (DNAP) (p‐O₂NC₆H₄NR₂) ( 1a–f ) and alkyl‐4‐nitrophenyl ether (p‐O₂NC₆H₄OR) ( 2a–c ) solvatochromic π* indicators have been characterized and compared with respect to: (a) solvatochromic bandshape, (b) sensitivity expressed as ?s , ( / d π * ), and (c) trends in ? s with increasing length of alkyl chain(s) on the probe molecule. ? Octyl 4‐nitrophenyl ether (p‐O₂NC₆H₄OC₈H₁₇) ( 2b ) and ? decyl 4‐nitrophenyl ether (p‐O₂N C₆H₄ OC₁₀H₂₁) ( 2c ) were synthesized and their solvatochromic UV/Vis absorption bands were found to maintain a Gausso‐Lorentzian bandshape for the indicators in non‐polar and alkyl substituted aromatic solvents, for example, hexane(s) and mesitylene. Corresponding absorption bands for 1a–f display increasing deviation from a Gausso‐Lorentzian shape in the same solvents as the alkyl chains on the indicator are increased in length all the way to C₁₀ and C₁₂, for example, N,N‐didecyl‐4‐nitroaniline (p‐O₂NC₆H₄N (C₁₀H₂₁)₂) and N,N‐didodecyl‐4‐nitroaniline (p‐O₂NC₆H₄N (C₁₂H₂₅)₂) ( 1d–f ). A plot of ? s versus C_n follows a 1st order decay for the DNAP indicators but is linear for the alkyl 4‐nitrophenyl ethers. A discussion of how the long alkyl chains on the two types of indicators affect the orientation and overlap of n and π * orbitals, and resulting solvatochromic bands is presented. For DNAP, overextending the alkyl chains to obtain greater hydrophobic character may cause the alkane component to dominate solute‐solvation processes at the expense of the probe's fundamental solvatochromic character. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.