Photosensitized oxidation of alkyl phenyl sulfoxides. C-S bond cleavage in alkyl phenyl sulfoxide radical cations

The 3-cyano-N-methylquinolinium perchlorate (3-CN-NMQ(+)ClO4(-))-photosensitized oxidation of phenyl alkyl sulfoxides (PhSOCR1R2R3, 1, R1 = R2 = H, R3 = Ph; 2, R1 = H, R2 = Me, R3 = Ph; 3, R1 = R2 = Ph, R3 = H; 4, R1 = R2 = Me, R3 = Ph; 5, R1 = R2 = R3 = Me) has been investigated by steady-state irradiation and nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP) under nitrogen in MeCN. Steady-state photolysis showed the formation of products deriving from the heterolytic C-S bond cleavage in the sulfoxide radical cations (alcohols, R1R2R3COH, and acetamides, R1R2R3CNHCOCH3) accompanied by sulfur-containing products (phenyl benzenethiosulfinate, diphenyl disulfide, and phenyl benzenethiosulfonate). By laser irradiation, the formation of 3-CN-NMQ(*) (lambda(max) = 390 nm) and sulfoxide radical cations 1(*+) , 2(*+), and 5(*+) (lambda(max) = 550 nm) was observed within the laser pulse. The radical cations decayed by first-order kinetics with a process attributable to the heterolytic C-S bond cleavage leading to the sulfinyl radical and an alkyl carbocation. The radical cations 3(*+) and 4(*+) fragment too rapidly, decaying within the laser pulse. The absorption band of the cation Ph2CH(+) (lambda(max) = 440 nm) was observed with 3 while the absorption bands of 3-CN-NMQ(*) and PhSO(*) (lambda(max) = 460 nm) were observed just after the laser pulse in the LFP experiment with 4. No competitive beta-C-H bond cleavage has been observed in the radical cations from 1-3. The C-S bond cleavage rates were measured for 1(*+), 2(*+), and 5(*+). For 3(*+) and 4(*+), only a lower limit (ca. >3 x 10(7) s(-1)) could be given. Quantum yields (Phi) and fragmentation first-order rate constants (k) appear to depend on the structure of the alkyl group and on the bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) of the C-S bond of the radical cations determined by a thermochemical cycle using the C-S BDEs for the neutral sulfoxides 1-5 obtained by DFT calculations. Namely, Phi and k increase as the C-S BDFE becomes more negative, that is in the order 1 < 5 < 2 < 3, 4, which is also the stability order of the alkyl carbocations formed in the cleavage. An estimate of the difference in the C-S bond cleavage rate between sulfoxide and sulfide radical cations was possible by comparing the fragmentation rate of 5(*+) (1.4 x 10(6) s(-1)) with the upper limit (10(4) s(-1)) given for tert-butyl phenyl sulfide radical cation (Baciocchi, E.; Del Giacco, T.; Gerini, M. F.; Lanzalunga, O. Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 641-644). It turns out that sulfoxide radical cations undergo C-S bond breaking at a rate at least 2 orders of magnitude faster than that of corresponding sulfide radical cations.     

Structure and C-S bond cleavage in aryl 1-methyl-1-arylethyl sulfide radical cations

Steady state and laser flash photolysis (LFP) of a series of p-X-cumyl phenyl sulfides (4-X-C(6)H(4)C(CH(3))(2)SC(6)H(5): 1, X = Br; 2, X = H; 3, X = CH(3); 4, X = OCH(3)) and p-X-cumyl p-methoxyphenyl sulfides (4-X-C(6)H(4)C(CH(3))(2)SC(6)H(4)OCH(3): 5, X = H; 6, X = CH(3); 7, X = OCH(3)) has been carried out in the presence of N-methoxy phenanthridinium hexafluorophosphate (MeOP(+)PF(6)(-)) under nitrogen in MeCN. Steady state photolysis showed the formation of products deriving from the C-S bond cleavage in the radical cations 1(+?)-7(+?) (2-aryl-2-propanols and diaryl disulfides). Formation of 1(+?)-7(+?) was also demonstrated by LFP experiments evidencing the absorption bands of the radical cations 1(+?)-3(+?) (λ(max) = 530 nm) and 5(+?)-7(+?) (λ(max) = 570 nm) mainly localized in the arylsulfenyl group and radical cation 4(+?) (λ(max) = 410, 700 nm) probably mainly localized in the cumyl ring. The radical cations decayed by first-order kinetics with a process attributable to the C-S bond cleavage. On the basis of DFT calculations it has been suggested that the conformations most suitable for C-S bond cleavage in 1(+?)-4(+?) and 7(+?) are characterized by having the C-S bond almost collinear with the π system of the cumyl ring and by a significant charge and spin delocalization from the ArS ring to the cumyl ring. Such a delocalization is probably at the origin of the observation that the rates of C-S bond cleavage result in very little sensitivity to changes in the C-S bond dissociation free energy (BDFE). A quite large reorganization energy value (λ = 43.7 kcal mol(-1)) has been calculated for the C-S bond scission reaction in the radical cation. This value is much larger than that (λ = 12 kcal mol(-1)) found for the C-C bond cleavage in bicumyl radical cations, a reaction that also leads to cumyl carbocations.     

Structural and solvent effects on the C-S bond cleavage in aryl triphenylmethyl sulfide radical cations

Steady-state and laser flash photolysis (LFP) studies of a series of aryl triphenylmethyl sulfides [1, 3,4-(CH(3)O)(2)-C(6)H(3)SC(C(6)H(5))(3); 2, 4-CH(3)O-C(6)H(4)SC(C(6)H(5))(3); 3, 4-CH(3)-C(6)H(4)SC(C(6)H(5))(3); 4, C(6)H(5)SC(C(6)H(5))(3); and 5, 4-Br-C(6)H(4)SC(C(6)H(5))(3)] has been carried out in the presence of N-methoxyphenanthridinium hexafluorophosphate in CH(3)CN, CH(2)Cl(2), CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)CN, and CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)OH mixtures. Products deriving from the C-S bond cleavage in the radical cations 1(?+)-5(?+) have been observed in the steady-state photolysis experiments. Time-resolved LFP showed first-order decay of the radical cations accompanied by formation of the triphenylmethyl cation. A significant decrease of the C-S bond cleavage rate constants was observed by increasing the electron-donating power of the arylsulfenyl substituent, that is, by increasing the stability of the radical cations. DFT calculations showed that, in 2(?+) and 3(?+), charge and spin densities are mainly localized in the ArS group. In the TS of the C-S bond cleavage an increase of the positive charge in the trityl moiety and of the spin density on the ArS group is observed. The higher delocalization of the charge in the TS as compared to the initial state is probably at the origin of the observation that the C-S bond cleavage rates decrease by increasing the polarity of the solvent.     

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C-S bond cleavage of thiophenes

Herein, a Pd-catalyzed reaction of simple and diverse bromothiophenes with alkynes via regioselective C-S bond activation is reported. This provides a new approach to prepare sulfur-based heterocycles and fulvenes.     

Stepwise cycloreversion of oxetane radical cations with initial C-O bond cleavage

2,4,6-Triaryl(thia)pyrylium salts have been used as electron-transfer photosensitizers for the cycloreversion of the oxetane ring system. The radical cation of 2,3-diphenyl-4-hydroxymethyloxetane (1) undergoes stepwise splitting via initial O-C2 cleavage. Spin and charge in the resulting intermediate are located in the oxygen and carbon atoms, respectively. Subsequent intramolecular nucleophilic attack produces 2,3-diphenyl-4-hydroxytetrahydrofuran (4a). Formation of this product occurs in the submicrosecond time scale, competing with C3-C4 cleavage to the detectable (lambdamax = 470 nm) trans-stilbene radical cation.     

C-S bond cleavage in the sensitized photooxygenation of tert-alkyl phenyl sulfides. The role of superoxide anion

The N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate (NMQ⁺)-photosensitized oxidation of tert-alkyl phenyl sulfides 1a-c (1a, tert-alkyl=tert-butyl; 1b, tert-alkyl=2-phenyl-2-propyl; 1c, tert-alkyl=1,1-diphenylethyl) and benzyl phenyl sulfide (2) were investigated in CH₃CN by nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP) and steady-state irradiation either under nitrogen or in the presence of O₂. By laser irradiation, the formation of sulfide radical cations 1a⁺-c⁺ in the monomeric form (λ_max=520 nm) and of 2⁺ in both the monomeric (λ_max=520 nm) and dimeric form (λ_max=780 nm) were observed within the laser pulse. In both cases, the radical cations decayed by second-order kinetics without any apparent formation of transients attributable to C-S bond rupture. In line with these results, very small amounts of photoproducts were obtained under nitrogen thus suggesting that the sulfide radical cations mainly undergo a back electron transfer process with the reduced N-methylquinolinium (NMQ). A different situation was found in the presence of O₂ since steady-state photolysis produced substantial amounts of C-S bond cleavage products (alcohols, alkenes, and ketones from 1a-c and benzaldehyde from 2), in contrast with LFP experiments. Formation of products was, however, significantly reduced in the presence of benzoquinone, a trap for O₂⁻ generated by NMQ and O₂. For the tert-alkyl phenyl sulfides, 1a-c, these results have been interpreted by suggesting that C-S bond cleavage products in the presence of oxygen mostly derive from the decomposition of a thiadioxirane 6 formed by the reaction of the sulfide radical cation with O₂⁻. In this cleavage a sulfinate and a carbocation formed. The former is oxidized to sulfonate, whereas the carbocation can react with adventitious water to form the alcohol (and the alkene therefrom) and with O₂⁻ to produce the ketone. For 2 (a sulfide with α-CH bonds) probably a different mechanism holds, benzaldehyde coming from the α-phenylthio carbon radical formed from deprotonation by O₂⁻ of 2ⁿ⁺.     

Photosensitized oxygenation of cyclic sulfides. Selective C-S bond cleavage

TPP-Sensitized photooxidation of five-membered ring sulfides in aprotic solvent afforded C-S bond cleavage products, unlike six- and seven-membered ring sulfides which gave only S-oxidation products. The products as well as substitution and concentration effects suggest that C-S bond cleavage depends upon acidity of α-proton of persulfoxide intermediate.     

Photosensitized (electron transfer) carbon-carbon bond cleavage of radical cations : The diphenylmethyl system

The photosensitized (electron transfer) reaction of methyl 2,2-diphenylethyl ether (1), 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethane (5), 2-methyl-1,1,2-triphenylpropane (6), and 2-methoxy-2-diphenylmethylnorbornane (11 endo and exo) with 1,4-dicyanobenzene (4) in acetonitrile-methanol leads to products indicating cleavage of an intermediate radical cation to give the diphenylmethyl radical and a carbocation. The diphenylmethyl radical is then reduced by the radical anion of the photosensitizer and protonated to yield diphenylmethane. The carbocation fragment reacts with methanol to yield ether and/or acetals. The effect of temperature on the efficiency of cleavage of 5 and 6 has been analyzed. The increase in efficiency observed at higher temperatures reflects an activation energy for the cleavage of the radical cations. In cases where no cleavage is observed, the activation energy for cleavage may be so high that back electron transfer from the radical anion of the pbotosensitizer is the dominant reaction. The C—C bond dissociation energies of the radical cations of 5 and 6 were estimated by analysis of the thermochemical cycle using the bond dissociation energies and the oxidation potentials of the neutral molecules and the oxidation potential of the diphenylmethyl and cumyl radicals. The direction of cleavage of the radical cation is explained in terms of the relative oxidation potentials of the two possible radicals.     

Aromatic cations from oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage in bimolecular carbon-carbon bond forming reactions

Chromenes and isochromenes react quickly with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) to form persistent aromatic oxocarbenium ions through oxidative carbon-hydrogen cleavage. This process is tolerant of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on the benzene ring and additional substitution on the pyran ring. A variety of nucleophiles can be added to these cations to generate a diverse set of structures.     

Laser photolysis studies of β-bond cleavage of phenacyl phenyl sulfide in acetonitrile

Photo-induced β-bond dissociation of phenacyl phenyl sulfide (PPS) has been investigated in acetonitrile by laser photolysis techniques. Direct excitation of PPS at 295 K provided the acetylmethyl and phenylthiyl radicals with a quantum yield (Φ_rad) of 0.18, whereas triplet sensitization using xanthone revealed an efficiency for β-cleavage of triplet PPS (α _rad) of ≥0.64. From disagreement between the Φ_rad and α _rad values, it was concluded that both the lowest excited single and triplet states are reactive for β-bond dissociation in PPS. The photochemical processes of excited PPS, including β-cleavage, are discussed in detail.     

Metal-stabilized thiyl radicals as scaffolds for reversible alkene addition via C-S bond formation/cleavage

The one-electron oxidation of metal thiolates results in an increased oxidation state of the metal ion or the formation of a sulfur-based, thiyl radical in limiting extremes. For complexes with highly covalent M-S bonds, the unpaired electron may be delocalized over the metal and the sulfur, yielding a metal-stabilized thiyl radical. Oxidation of the metal thiolate precursors [Ru(DPPBT)(3)](-), [Ru-1](-), and Re(DPPBT)(3), Re-1 (DPPBT = diphenylphosphinobenzenethiolate), generates metal-stabilized thiyl radicals that react with alkenes to yield dithioether-metal products. Alkene addition to [Ru-1](+) and [Re-1](+) is symmetry-allowed due to the meridional arrangement of the DPPBT chelates. Combined bulk electrolysis and cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal the addition of alkenes to [Ru-1](+) as an irreversible process with experimentally determined rate constants ranging from 4.6(5) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for electron-rich alkenes to 2.7(2) × 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for electron-poor alkenes. Rate constants for cyclic alkenes range from 4(2) × 10(7) to 2.9(3) × 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). Chemical oxidation of [Ru-1](-) by ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate (FcPF(6)) in the presence of m-methylstyrene or p-methylstyrene yields the dithioether complexes [Ru-1·m-methylstyrene](+) and [Ru-1·p-methylstyrene](+), respectively. Each complex was crystallized and the structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. (31)P NMR of the samples reveals a major and minor product, each displaying a second-order spectrum. The oxidized intermediate [Re-1](+) binds alkenes reversibly with equilibrium binding constants that vary with the complex charge from 1.9 × 10(-11) M(-1) for n = 0 to 4.0 M(-1) for n = +1 to 2.5 × 10(9) M(-1) for n = +2. The three binding regimes are separated by 240 mV. Crystalline samples of [Re-1·C(2)H(4)](2+) are obtained upon chemical oxidation of Re-1 with silver hexafluorophosphate (AgPF(6)) in the presence of ethylene. Strategies for the addition of alkenes to other metal-stabilized thiyl radicals are suggested.     

Metal-free photo-induced radical C-P and C-S bond formation for the synthesis of 2-phosphoryl benzothiazoles

We reveal here a visible-light promoted phosphorylation of 2-isocyanoaryl thioethers for the first time with concomitant C(sp³)-S bond cleavage and imidoyl C–S formation. Additionally, this method features the use of 3 mol% organic dye Rose Bengal as the photocatalyst without external transition-metal or peroxide oxidants, and provides a novel and environmentally friendly approach for the preparation of a variety of 2-phosphoryl benzothiazoles in moderate to good yields.     

Disulfide bond cleavage in TEMPO-free radical initiated peptide sequencing mass spectrometry

The gas‐phase free radical initiated peptide sequencing (FRIPS) fragmentation behavior of o‐TEMPO‐Bz‐conjugated peptides with an intra‐ and intermolecular disulfide bond was investigated using MSⁿ tandem mass spectrometry experiments. Investigated peptides included four peptides with an intramolecular cyclic disulfide bond, Bactenecin (RLC RIVVIRVC R), TGF‐α (C HSGYVGVRC ), MCH (DFDMLRC MLGRVFRPC WQY) and Adrenomedullin (16–31) (C RFGTC TVQKLAHQIY), and two peptides with an intermolecular disulfide bond. Collisional activation of the benzyl radical conjugated peptide cation, which was generated through the release of a TEMPO radical from o‐TEMPO‐Bz‐conjugated peptides upon initial collisional activation, produced a large number of peptide backbone fragments in which the S? S or C? S bond was readily cleaved. The observed peptide backbone fragments included a‐, c‐, x‐ or z‐types, which indicates that the radical‐driven peptide fragmentation mechanism plays an important role in TEMPO‐FRIPS mass spectrometry. FRIPS application of the linearly linked disulfide peptides further showed that the S? S or C? S bond was selectively and preferentially cleaved, followed by peptide backbone dissociations. In the FRIPS mass spectra, the loss of ?SH or ?SSH was also abundantly found. On the basis of these findings, FRIPS fragmentation pathways for peptides with a disulfide bond are proposed. For the cleavage of the S? S bond, the abstraction of a hydrogen atom at C_β by the benzyl radical is proposed to be the initial radical abstraction/transfer reaction. On the other hand, H‐abstraction at C_α is suggested to lead to C? S bond cleavage, which yields [ion ± S] fragments or the loss of ?SH or ?SSH. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of sulfide radical cations in electron transfer promoted molecular oxygenations at sulfur

The methylene blue, N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate, and pyrylium-cation-sensitized photooxygenations of 5H, 7H-dibenzo[b,g] [1,5]dithiocin, 1, and 1,5-dithiacyclooctane, 2, have been investigated. The methylene blue sensitized reactions exhibit all of the characteristics of a singlet oxygen reaction including isotope effects for the formation of a hydroperoxysulfonium ylide and the ability of 1 and 2 to quench the time-resolved emission of singlet oxygen at 1270 nm. The product compositions in the N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate and pyrylium-cation-sensitized reactions are dramatically different and are both different from that anticipated for the participation of singlet oxygen. This argues for different reaction mechanisms for all three sensitizers. However, both the quinolinium and pyrylium-cation-sensitized reactions display all of the characteristics of electron-transfer-initiated photooxygenations. Both sensitizers were quenched at nearly diffusion-limited rates by 1 and 2. Laser flash photolysis of mixtures of either sensitizer and 1 or 2 resulted in direct observation of the reduced sensitizer and the sulfide radical cation. In addition, electron-transfer reactions involving both sensitizers were shown to be exergonic. These results are consistent with the previously proposed outer sphere electron-transfer mechanism for N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate and were used to argue for a new inner sphere mechanism for the pyrylium cation reactions.     

Stabilization of sulfide radical cations through complexation with the peptide bond: mechanisms relevant to oxidation of proteins containing multiple methionine residues

The recent study on the *OH-induced oxidation of calmodulin, a regulatory "calcium sensor" protein containing nine methionine (Met) residues, has supported the first experimental evidence in a protein for the formation of S therefore N three-electron bonded radical complexes involving the sulfur atom of a methionine residue and the amide groups in adjacent peptide bonds. To characterize reactions of oxidized methionine residues in proteins containing multiple methionine residues in more detail, in the current study, a small model cyclic dipeptide, c-(L-Met-L-Met), was oxidized by *OH radicals generated via pulse radiolysis and the ensuing reactive intermediates were monitored by time-resolved UV-vis spectroscopic and conductometric techniques. The picture that emerges from this investigation shows there is an efficient formation of the Met (S therefore N) radicals, in spite of the close proximity of two sulfur atoms, located in the side chains of methionine residues, and in spite of the close proximity of sulfur atoms and oxygen atoms, located in the peptide bonds. Moreover, it is shown, for the first time, that the formation of Met(S therefore N) radicals can proceed directly, via H+-transfer, with the involvement of hydrogen from the peptide bond to an intermediary hydroxysulfuranyl radical. Ultimately, the Met(S therefore N) radicals decayed via two different pH-dependent reaction pathways, (i) conversion into sulfur-sulfur, intramolecular, three-electron-bonded radical cations and (ii) a proposed hydrolytic cleavage of the protonated form of the intramolecular, three-electron-bonded radicals [Met(S therefore N)/Met(S therefore NH)+] followed by electron transfer and decarboxylation. Surprisingly, also alpha-(alkylthio)alkyl radicals enter the latter mechanism in a pH-dependent manner. Density functional theory computations were performed on the model c-(L-Met-Gly) and its radicals in order to obtain optimizations and energies to aid in the interpretation of the experiments on c-(L-Met-L-Met).     

Formation of a sulfur-atom-inserted N-confused porphyrin iron nitrosyl complex by denitrosation and C-S bond cleavage of an S-nitrosothiol

The reaction of nitrosothiol, Ph3CSNO, with a divalent iron N-confused porphyrin complex, Fe(HCTPPH)Br, yields a {Fe(NO)}6 iron nitrosyl complex with a sulfur atom inserted in the Fe-C bond. The crystal structure reveals a bent Fe-N-O geometry and an eta2-(C,S) bonding mode between iron and the C-S bond. A reaction mechanism involving a transnitrosation and a nitrosothiol C-S bond cleavage is proposed.     

硫醚中碳硫键室温选择性断裂反应的研究

本文研究了在四氟硼酸银存在下, 硫醚与碘甲烷室温下发生碳硫键选择性断裂反应。研究结果表明: 只有当二苄基硫醚的苯环对位连有强的供电子基团甲氧基时, 方可发生碳硫键的断裂。提出了一个离子型反应机理且碳硫键的断裂分三步完成。首先, 硫醚与甲基化试剂反应生成甲基锍盐; 继而, 此锍离子离解成由苄基碳正离子和硫醚组成的离子-偶极集合物; 最后, 甲基化试剂再进攻集合物中的硫醚, 从而导致碳硫键的断裂。