Picosecond kinetic study of the photoinduced homolysis of benzhydryl acetates: the nature of the conversion of radical pairs into ion pairs

The conversion of benzhydryl acetate geminate radical pairs to contact ion pairs following photoinduced homolysis in solution is studied using picosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. The dynamics for the decay of the geminate radical pairs into contact ion pairs is modeled within a Marcus-like theory for nonadiabatic electron transfer. A second decay channel for the geminate radical pairs is diffusional separation to free radicals. The kinetics of this latter process reveals an energy of interaction between the two radicals in the geminate pair.     

Structure of Ion Pair Solvation Complexes

In solvents of low polarity, salts containing a carbanion, e.g. fluorenylsodium, or a radical anion, e.g. coronenesodium, can exist as contact ion pairs or as solvent separated ion pairs. Particular interest attaches to the complexes of ion pairs with the strongly solvating, polydentate polyglycol dimethyl ethers (glymes) and with crown compounds. These systems can be studied by optical spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and other methods.     

Charge separation distance for flexible donor-bridge-acceptor systems after electron-transfer quenching

Photoinduced transient dipole experiments are used to measure the effective charge separation distance, which is equivalent to the photoinduced change in dipole moment divided by the electron charge of flexible electron-donor/acceptor systems, D-(CH2)n-A, where D is 4- N,N-dimethylaniline, A is 9-anthryl, and n = 3, 4. We find that the dipole moments increase strongly with solvent polarity. For the compound with n = 4 (DBA4), analysis of dipole signals indicates that the effective charge separation distances in toluene, 1,4-dioxane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 2-methylpentanone-3, 3-pentanone, and benzonitrile are 2.2, 2.5, 4.5, 4.7, 5.5, 5.5, 4.8, and 6.3 A, respectively. These values can be understood as the root-mean-square charge separation distance in the solutions of different solvents. We assume that the folded contact configuration has a separation distance of 3.5 A, the extended, solvent-separated configuration has a separation distance of 8.0 A, and that they are the only two stable species after electron-transfer quenching. The formation efficiencies of contact radical ion pairs (CRIPs) and solvent-separated radical ion pairs (SSRIPs) are estimated in different solvents. The results indicate that a significant fraction of the ion pairs exist as solvent-separated ion pairs when the dielectric constant of the solvent is larger than 10. These results indicate that electron-transfer quenching can indeed happen at large separations in polar solvents. They also reveal that there is a barrier for ion pairs formed at large separations, hindering collapse to a contact separation of around 3.5 A.     

Diastereoselectivity in the cyclization of alkene radical cations generated under non-oxidizing conditions: contact ion pairs and memory effects

A series of highly diastereomerically enriched 1,5-dimethyl-, 2,5-dimethyl-, and 3,5-dimethyl-N-benzyl-5-nitro-4-(diphenylphosphatoxy)hexylamines were exposed to tributyltin hydride and AIBN in benzene at reflux. The ensuing reactions, interpreted in terms of radical denitration, radical ionic fragmentation, and nucleophilic substitution, lead to the formation of pyrrolidines with moderate to high diastereoselectivity. In five out of the six cases, the diastereoselectivity is best interpreted by backside attack by the amine on the initial contact ion pair generated by radical ionic fragmentation. In the exception that proves the rule, this mode of attack is disfavored by 1,3A strain in the initial contact ion pair, resulting in equilibration and subsequent attack on the opposite face.     

Dynamics of alkene radical cation/phosphate anion pair formation from nucleotide C4' radicals. The DNA/RNA paradox revisited

The fragmentation of nucleotide C4' radicals generated by thiyl radical addition to C4'C5' exocyclic glycals has been re-examined and found to be a function of the thiol and, probably, the initiating system employed. It has been demonstrated that C4' radicals of DNA and RNA models fragment even in the very nonpolar benzene solution if the correct (aliphatic) thiol is employed. (17)O-Labeling experiments are used to demonstrate that the fragmentation of nucleotide C4' radicals (2-deoxyribo- and ribo-) to contact ion pairs is either irreversible or so rapidly reversible as to preclude prior reorganization of the contact ion pair. Formation of the solvent-separated ion pair is an irreversible step, with all such ion pairs proceeding to product formation.     

Production of free radicals and triplets from contact radical pairs and from photochemically generated radical ions

The quantum yields of triplets and free radicals (or radical ions) that escaped recombination in photochemically created primary radical pairs (or radical ion pairs) are calculated. As the products of monomolecular photodissociation, the neutral radicals appear at contact, while the ions are initially distributed over the space due to distant photoionization (bimolecular electron transfer) in the liquid solution. The diffusional dependence of the quantum yields is shown to be different when recombination starts from contact or from separated reactants. The experimental data for recombination of ionized perylene with aromatic amine counterions is well fitted with the noncontact initial distribution provided the recombination is also noncontact and even more distant than ionization.     

Mesolytic Scission of C-C Bonds as a Probe for Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Quinones

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions of chlorinated benzoquinones are investigated using bibenzylic donors that undergo rapid fragmentation upon oxidation. The fragmentation rates and the quantum yields are used to probe the dynamics of back-electron transfer (BET) in two types of radical ion pairs. The triplet ion pairs formed by interception of excited state quinones give products with high quantum yields. The singlet ion pairs formed by irradiation of the charge-transfer (CT) complexes between the quinones and the donors undergo reactions with significantly lower efficiency. The advantage of the first method (triplet quenching) over the CT-irradiation depends on the energetics of BET. It is large for reactions with relatively small DeltaG(et) for BET and it decreases for reactions with more negative DeltaG(bet). The indirectly obtained rates of BET are in excellent agreement with literature data for similar, but unreactive systems, and the rates of C-C bond scission in radical cations generated in these systems are consistent with the thermodynamics of these processes.     

Tandem polar/radical crossover sequences for the formation of fused and bridged bicyclic nitrogen heterocycles involving radical ionic chain reactions,and alkene radical cation intermediates,performed under reducing conditions: scope and limitations

It is demonstrated that phosphorylated forms of beta-nitro alcohols provide an excellent means of entry into beta-(phosphatoxy)alkyl radicals on exposure to tributyltin hydride and AIBN in benzene at reflux. These radicals then undergo heterolytic cleavage of the phosphate group to yield alkene radical cation/phosphate anion contact ion pairs which are trapped intramolecularly in a tandem polar/radical crossover sequence involving radical ionic chain reactions by allylic and propargylic amines. The substitution pattern of the alkene radical cation dictates the cyclization mode, and this may be engineered to form fused ring systems by an initial exo-mode nucleophilic cyclization or bridged bicyclic systems when the nucleophilic attack takes place in the endo-mode.     

Quinones as electron acceptors. X-ray structures, spectral (EPR, UV-vis) characteristics and electron-transfer reactivities of their reduced anion radicals as separated vs contact ion pairs

Successful isolation of a series of pure (crystalline) salts of labile quinone anion radicals suitable for X-ray crystallographic analysis allows for the first time their rigorous structural distinction as "separated" ion pairs (SIPs) vs "contact" ion pairs (CIPs). The quantitative evaluation of the precise changes in the geometries of these quinones (Q) upon one-electron reduction to afford the anion radical (Q-*) is viewed relative to the corresponding (two-electron) reduction to the hydroquinone (H2Q) via the Pauling bond-length/bond-order paradigm. Structural consequences between such separated and contact ion pairs as defined in the solid state with those extant in solution are explored in the context of their spectral (EPR, UV-vis) properties and isomerization of tightly bound CIPs. Moreover, the SIP/CIP dichotomy is also examined in intermolecular interactions for rapid (self-exchange) electron transfer between Q-* and Q with second-order rate constants of kET approximately equal to 10(8) M-1 s-1, together with the spectral observation of the paramagnetic intermediates [Q,Q-*]leading to 1:1 adducts, as established by X-ray crystallography.     

Stereochemical memory effects in alkene radical cation/anion contact ion pairs: effect of substituents, and models for diastereoselectivity

A series of 12 stereochemically defined 2,m-dimethyl- and 2,m,n-trimethyl-6-benzylamino-2-nitro-3-(diphenylphosphatoxy)hexanes have been synthesized and their cyclization reactions leading to di- and trisubstituted N-benzyl pyrrolidines examined in the presence of tributyltin hydride and azoisobutyronitrile in benzene at reflux. The cyclizations are interpreted in terms of generation of an alkyl radical by abstraction of the nitro group with a stannyl radical. The phosphate leaving group is then expelled in a heterolytic cleavage to give a contact alkene radical cation/phosphate anion pair. For the majority of the examples studied, the cyclizations are best understood in terms of nucleophilic attack by the amine on the opposite face of the alkene radical cation to the one shielded by the leaving group, within the confines of the initial contact ion pair, resulting in overall cyclization with inversion of configuration. Dependent on the relative stereochemistry of the substituents, the cyclization is envisaged as taking place through either chair-like or twist-boat-like transition states with the maximum number of substituents pseudo-equatorial. The model breaks down when cyclization on the initial contact ion pair would engender significant destabilizing steric interactions, especially (1,3)A strain in the alkene radical cation. In these cases a fully equilibrated Beckwith-Houk-type transition state provides a satisfactory model. Interesting examples of matching and mismatching in the Corey-type oxazaborolidine-mediated reduction of alkyl (methyl-1-nitroethyl) ketones by a beta-methyl group in the alkyl chain are reported, and the mismatching is attributed to a developing syn-pentane interaction in the transition state.     

Study on excited states of hexamethoxybenzene-NO+ charge-transfer complex: incorporation of excited radical cation

A charge-transfer (CT) complex of NOBF₄ and hexamethoxybenzene (HMB), which gives out HMB^?+ as a “fluorescent radical cation probe,” upon one-electron oxidation, has been designed to explore the excited state dynamics of contact radical ion pairs by laser-induced fluorescence and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. The acetonitrile solution of the CT complex showed weak fluorescence with a similar spectrum to that observed for free excited HMB radical cation (HMB^?+*), suggesting the formation of HMB^?+* upon the one-photonic excitation of the CT complex. The laser-power dependence of the fluorescence intensity supported the one-photonic excitation event. We have also observed a short-lived transient species but no long-lived species by femtosecond laser flash photolysis of the CT complex. The lifetime (6.5 ps) was in good accordance with its fluorescence quantum yield (2.5 × 10^?5) and was able to assign the transient species to the fluorescent state, an excited radical ion pair [HMB ^?+*/NO^?]. All the events were completed within the inner sphere and the short lifetime of the transient species could be attributed to rapid back-electron transfer. It is concluded that the excited radical cation character in the excited state of the CT complex originates from the radical ion character in the CT complex in the ground state and that a relatively long lifetime of HMB^?+* facilitates its observation even in the contact ion pair.     

Proton-donor properties of HCCl3, HSiCl3, and HGeCl3 molecules: a quantum-chemical study

Proton-donor properties of HCCl₃, HSiCl₃, and HGeCl₃ molecules were studied by quantum-chemical methods. According to calculations, the Mulliken charge of H is positive in trichloromethane and negative in the other two molecules. Trichlorogermane readily interacts with bases (B) to give the contact ion pairs HB⁺·GeCl₃ ^–. Reactions of trichlorosilane with strong bases also can lead to its reorganization and the formation of contact ion pairs. In all the ion pairs, the anions are oriented to the HB⁺ cations by the negatively charged Cl atoms. Owing to possible transfer of Cl^– to HB⁺, this type of ion pairs can be a source of dichlorogermylene GeCl₂ and, probably, dichlorosilylene SiCl₂.     

Intermolecular electron-transfer mechanisms via quantitative structures and ion-pair equilibria for self-exchange of anionic (dinitrobenzenide) donors

Definitive X-ray structures of "separated" versus "contact" ion pairs, together with their spectral (UV-NIR, ESR) characterizations, provide the quantitative basis for evaluating the complex equilibria and intrinsic (self-exchange) electron-transfer rates for the potassium salts of p-dinitrobenzene radical anion (DNB(-)). Three principal types of ion pairs, K(L)(+)DNB(-), are designated as Classes S, M, and C via the specific ligation of K(+) with different macrocyclic polyether ligands (L). For Class S, the self-exchange rate constant for the separated ion pair (SIP) is essentially the same as that of the "free" anion, and we conclude that dinitrobenzenide reactivity is unaffected when the interionic distance in the separated ion pair is r(SIP) > or =6 Angstroms. For Class M, the dynamic equilibrium between the contact ion pair (with r(CIP) = 2.7 Angstroms) and its separated ion pair is quantitatively evaluated, and the rather minor fraction of SIP is nonetheless the principal contributor to the overall electron-transfer kinetics. For Class C, the SIP rate is limited by the slow rate of CIP right arrow over left arrow SIP interconversion, and the self-exchange proceeds via the contact ion pair by default. Theoretically, the electron-transfer rate constant for the separated ion pair is well-accommodated by the Marcus/Sutin two-state formulation when the precursor in Scheme 2 is identified as the "separated" inner-sphere complex (IS(SIP)) of cofacial DNB(-)/DNB dyads. By contrast, the significantly slower rate of self-exchange via the contact ion pair requires an associative mechanism (Scheme 3) in which the electron-transfer rate is strongly governed by cationic mobility of K(L)(+) within the "contact" precursor complex (IS(CIP)) according to the kinetics in Scheme 4.     

Olefin Isomerization via Radical‐Ion Pairs in Triplet States Studied by Chemically Induced Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (CIDNP)

Geometric isomerizations of olefins following photoinduced electron transfer (PET) are classified according to the relative energetic positions of the radical‐ion pairs and the reactant triplets. Each class exhibits characteristic CIDNP (chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization) effects, for which typical examples are presented. Time‐resolved CIDNP experiments on the system triphenylamine/fumarodinitrile (= (2E)‐but‐2‐enedinitrile), where formation of the olefin triplet is impossible, show that there is also no isomerization of the olefin radical anion. With triisopropylamine or fumarodinitrile as the reaction partner for 4,4′‐dimethoxystilbene (= 1,1′‐[(1E)‐ethane‐1,2‐diyl]bis[4‐methoxybenzene]), both oxidative and reductive quenching give almost mirror‐image CIDNP spectra because of the pairing theorem; reverse electron transfer of the triplet radical‐ion pairs populates the stilbene triplet only, which then isomerizes. With anethole (= 1‐methoxy‐4‐(prop‐1‐enyl)benzene; M), the competition between electron return of triplet pairs to give either M + ³X or ³M + X was studied by using a second isomerizable olefin (diethyl fumarate (= diethyl (2E)‐but‐2‐enedioate) or cinnamonitrile (= (2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enenitrile)) as the reaction partner X. Classes can be changed by employing PET sensitization. With ACN (anthracene‐9‐carbonitrile) as the sensitizer, anethole does not produce any directly observable polarizations, but a substitution of ACN^.? by the radical anion of 1,4‐benzoquinone (= cyclohexa‐2,5‐diene‐1,4‐dione) or fumarodinitrile within the lifetime of the spin‐correlated radical‐ion pairs leads to very strong CIDNP signals that reflect the effects of both pairs.     

Mapping the influence of molecular structure on rates of electron transfer using direct measurements of the electron spin-spin exchange interaction

The spin-spin exchange interaction, 2J, in a radical ion pair produced by a photoinduced electron transfer reaction can provide a direct measure of the electronic coupling matrix element, V, for the subsequent charge recombination reaction. We have developed a series of dyad and triad donor-acceptor molecules in which 2J is measured directly as a function of incremental changes in their structures. In the dyads the chromophoric electron donors 4-(N-pyrrolidinyl)- and 4-(N-piperidinyl)naphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide, 5ANI and 6ANI, respectively, and a naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI) acceptor are linked to the meta positions of a phenyl spacer to yield 5ANI-Ph-NI and 6ANI-Ph-NI. In the triads the same structure is used, except that the piperidine in 6ANI is replaced by a piperazine in which a para-X-phenyl, where X = H, F, Cl, MeO, and Me(2)N, is attached to the N' nitrogen to form a para-X-aniline (XAn) donor to give XAn-6ANI-Ph-NI. Photoexcitation yields the respective 5ANI(+)-Ph-NI(-), 6ANI(+)-Ph-NI(-), and XAn(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(-) singlet radical ion pair states, which undergo subsequent radical pair intersystem crossing followed by charge recombination to yield (3)NI. The radical ion pair distances within the dyads are about 11-12 A, whereas those in the triads are about approximately 16-19 A. The degree of delocalization of charge (and spin) density onto the aniline, and therefore the average distance between the radical ion pairs, is modulated by the para substituent. The (3)NI yields monitored spectroscopically exhibit resonances as a function of magnetic field, which directly yield 2J for the radical ion pairs. A plot of ln 2J versus r(DA), the distance between the centroids of the spin distributions of the two radicals that comprise the pair, yields a slope of -0.5 +/- 0.1. Since both 2J and k(CR), the rate of radical ion pair recombination, are directly proportional to V(2), the observed distance dependence of 2J shows directly that the recombination rates in these molecules obey an exponential distance dependence with beta = 0.5 +/- 0.1 A(-)(1). This technique is very sensitive to small changes in the electronic interaction between the two radicals and can be used to probe subtle structural differences between radical ion pairs produced from photoinduced electron transfer reactions.     

Ion pairing and the rotational mobility of organic ions in solution

Carbon-13 dipolar spin-lattice relaxation times can be used to study microscopic ion mobility in solvent-separated and contact ion-pair systems. Two chemically stable ion pairs were studied. Cyclohexylammonium formate observed in a number of solvents allows correlation of relaxation times—and therefore ion rotational mobility—with empirical solvent polarity indices. Estimation of the effective anion radius shows a change of a factor of three in size arising from solvation/ion-pairing effects. Trimesate trianion (1,3,5-tricarboxybenzene) with differing cations present in solution is a good probe of changes in the solvation sphere and degree of ion aggregation. Variable temperature studies give an activation energy for overall ionic reorientation of c. 5 kcal/mol.     

ESR study of kinetic acidity of 6-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-4-triphenylmethylphenoxyl

Thermodynamic and kinetic acidities of 6-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-4-triphenylmethylphenoxyl during its interaction with triethylamine in toluene have been studied by ESR. It has been shown that the protolysis of this radical is a two-pathway process, since tautomeric transitions, i.e. ammonium ion migration between oxygen atoms of the semiquinone radical anion, have been detected in the reaction products, that is, in contact ion pairs of the corresponding semiquinone radicals.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No 1, pp. 81–84, January, 1993.     

State in solution, structure, and regioselectivity of reactions of the lithium 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3,3-diphenylpropyne derivative

According to the spectrophotometric data, the lithium 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3,3-diphenylpropyne derivative in diethyl ether exists as contact ion pairs, while in THF, according to the spectrophotometric and¹³C NMR data, solvent-separated ion pairs are predominantly formed. According to the¹³C NMR data, the carbanion in the solventseparated ion pairs has a structure close to the propargylic type. The regioselectivity of reactions of the lithium derivative with ethyl halides in diethyl ether, THF, and hexamethyphosphoramide, with benzyl chloride in the first two solvents, and with methanol in THF were studied. The protonation with methanol proceeds exclusively at the allenylic center (C-1) while the ethylation and especially benzylation proceed predominantly at the propargylic center (C-3). The selectivity of ethylation of the propargylic center of both solvent-separated ion pairs in THF and contact ion pairs in diethyl ether increases as the hardness of the ethylating agent increases, and in the case of the same ethyl halide, the selectivity increases from the solvent-separated ion pairs to the contact ion pairs. The spectral data obtained and the data on changes in the regioselectivity do not allow one to believe that the contact ion pairs of the lithium derivative in ether exhibit the intramolecular coordination of the lithium cation to the methoxy group, which might lead to the allenylic structure of contact ion pairs of this derivative. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2043–2051, November, 1997.     

Hydrogen bonding mediated ion pairs of some aprotic ionic liquids and their structural transition in aqueous solution

Ion pair speciation of ionic liquids(ILs) has an important effect on the physical and chemical properties of ILs and recognition of the structure of ion pairs in solution is essential. It has been reported that ion pairs of some ILs can be formed by hydrogen bonding interactions between cations and anions of them. Considering the fact that far-IR(FIR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool in indicating the intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding, in this work, this spectroscopic technique has been combined with molecular dynamic(MD) simulation and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy(~1H NMR) to investigate ion pairs of aprotic ILs [Bmim][NO_3], [BuPy][NO_3], [Pyr_(14)][NO_3], [PP_(14)][NO_3] and [Bu-choline][NO_3] in aqueous IL mixtures. The FIR spectra have been assigned with the aid of density functional theory(DFT) calculations, and the results are used to understand the effect of cationic nature on the structure of ion pairs. It is found that contact ion pairs formed in the neat aprotic ILs by hydrogen bonding interactions between cation and anion, were still maintained in aqueous solutions up to high water mole fraction(say 0.80 for [BuPy][NO3]). When water content was increased to a critical mole fraction of water(say 0.83 for [BuPy][NO3]), the contact ion pairs could be transformed into solvent-separated ion pairs due to the formation of the hydrogen bonding between ions and water. With the further dilution of the aqueous ILs solution, the solvent-separated ion pairs was finally turned into free cations and free anions(fully hydrated cations or anions). The concentrations of the ILs at which the contact ion pairs were transformed into solvent-separated ion pairs and solvent-separated ion pairs were transformed into free ions(fully hydrated ion) were dependent on the cationic structures. These information provides direct spectral evidence for ion pair structures of the aprotic ILs in aqueous solution. MD simulation and ~1H NMR results support the conclusion drawn from FIR spectra investigations.