Conformational space of tetrakis(2-naphthalenyl)ethene: a naphthologous AIE luminogen

The AIE luminogen tetrakis(2-naphthalenyl)ethene (2-NA ₄ E) was synthesized by Barton’s double extrusion diazo-thione coupling method from 2,2′-dinaphthyl thioketone and 2,2′-(diazomethylene)bisnaphthylene in 77 % yield. The structure of 2-NA ₄ E was confirmed by its ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra with full assignments. 2-NA ₄ E and its parent tetraphenylethene (Ph ₄ E) have been subjected to a comprehensive computational DFT study, in search of their conformational spaces. Seven conformers and two transition states of 2-NA ₄ E have been located. Four conformers and one transition state of Ph ₄ E have been located. The conformers of 2-NA ₄ E and Ph ₄ E are not overcrowded, as indicated by the contact distances in the fjord and cove regions. The relative free energies (ΔG ₂₉₈) of the six most stable conformers of 2-NA ₄ E are in the narrow range of 2.3 kJ/mol; they make comparable contributions (12–29 %) to the equilibrium mixture. The energy barriers for the diastereomerization D ₂-Z,Z,Z,Z $ \rightleftharpoons $ ? D ₂-E,E,E,E via the transition state C ₁-Z,E,E,Z and for the enantiomerization C ₂-Z,Z,E,E $ \rightleftharpoons $ ? C ₂-E,E,Z,Z via the transition state C _i -Z,E,Z,E are only 29.8 and 29.0 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating very rapid rates of diastereomerization and enantiomerization at room temperature. The values of naphthalenyl torsion angles and ethenic twist angles in 2-NA ₄ E are almost identical to those in the parent Ph ₄ E. The previously proposed “bulkiness” of the naphthalenyl substituents and the validity of the restriction of naphthalenyl rotation are challenged. The analysis of the AIE effect in 2-NA ₄ E should take into account the intermolecular homochiral and heterochiral interactions between the conformers.     

Thermochemical and structural properties of anthraquinones

We have investigated the energetic, structural, and other physical–chemical properties (aromaticity, intrinsic strain, hydrogen bond interaction) of 1,4-anthraquinone (1), its better known isomer 9,10-anthraquinone (2) and the derivatives 9-hydroxy-1,4-anthraquinone (3) and 9-methoxy-1,4-anthraquinone (4). In particular, the standard enthalpy of formation in the gas phase at 298.15 K of 1,4-anthraquinone was determined [ $\Updelta_{\text{f}}^{{}} H_{\text{m}}^{\text{o}} \left( {{\text{g}},{\mathbf{1}}} \right) \, = \, - 4 4. 9 { } \pm { 5}. 7\;{\text{kJ}}\;{\text{mol}}^{ - 1} ]$ . Using isodesmic/homodesmotic reaction schemes, we have experimentally estimated: (i) the stabilization energy of 1 (162.2 ± 7.2 kJ mol^?1) and 2 (193.2 ± 5.2 kJ mol^?1), (ii) strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 3 (HB = 79.8 ± 10.8 kJ mol^?1), and (iii) additional strain energy due to peri-oxygen interaction in 4 (?34.2 ± 7.6 kJ mol^?1). A computational study of these species, at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p) level, sheds light on structural, aromatic, intrinsic strain, or hydrogen bond effects and further confirmed the consistency of the experimental results.     

Stereoselective (exo-specific) synthesis, dynamic 1H NMR and quantum chemical conformational and configurational analysis of norbornene-aziridine-E-imidoyl system

Stereoselective (exo-specific) synthesis, dynamic ¹H NMR and computational analysis of exo-N??-{3-azatricyclo[3.2.1.0.^2,4]oct-3-yl)mesithyloxy)methylene}-1-benzensulfunamide (3) were investigated. Aziridine nitrogen inversion gives rise to two sets of configurations where the N-substituent is Syn (S) or Anti (A) to C7 of the norbornyl ring. At lower temperature, the proton signals of aziridine exo-E-3 decoalesces to show two syn conformers and one anti conformer (exo-E-3 ^{1 S} ? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?exo-E-3 ^{2 S} ? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?exo-E-3 ^{3 A} ) with ratio of 60:20:20, respectively. Experimentally, the Gibbs free energy of activations [??G ^? (kcal/mol) ?±?0.08] were calculated 11.96, 12.45 for 3 isomerizations. The standard Gibbs free energy (??G ^o kcal/mol) 0.174, 0, 0.174, and 0.298 at 213?K and energy minimum 6.64, 4.77 and 1.78 were calculated for 3 ^1S? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?3 ^2S, 3 ^2S? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?3 ^{3 A} , 3 ¹ S? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?3 ^{3 A} isomerizations, respectively. The enthalpy (??H ^?, kcal/mol) and entropy (??S ^?, cal?mol^?1?K^?1) of activation for the nitrogen inversion of aziridine of 3 were calculated 11.2 and ?0.80, respectively.     

Experimental and theoretical evidence suggests carbamate intermediates play a key role in CO2 sequestration catalysed by sterically hindered amines

The chemisorption of CO₂ by aqueous-hindered amines has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. Negative-ion ESI–MS analysis of solutions containing a sterically hindered amine and a source of ¹³CO₂ reveals peaks corresponding to [M–H + 45]^?. These ions readily lose 45 Da when subjected to collisional activation, and together with other key fragments confirms the generation of the ¹³C-labelled carbamate derivatives. The thermochemistry of the two key capture reactions: $$2.{\text{amine }} + {\text{ CO}}_{ 2} { \leftrightarrows }{\text{amine}} - {\text{CO}}_{ 2}^{ - } + {\text{ amine}} - {\text{H}}^{ + } {\kern 1pt} \quad 1:{\text{carbam}}$$ $${\text{amine }} + {\text{ CO}}_{ 2} + {\text{ H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}{ \leftrightarrows }{\text{HCO}}_{ 3}^{ - } + {\text{ amine}} - {\text{H}}^{ + } \quad 2:{\text{ bicarb}}$$ at 298 K was modelled using composite chemistry methods, CCSD(T), DFT, and SM8 free energies of solvation. The aqueous reaction free energies (ΔG ₂₉₈) for reaction 1 are predicted to be more negative than ΔG ₂₉₈ for reaction 2 when amine = ammonia, 2-aminoethanol (MEA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-propane-1,3-diol (tris), and 2-piperidinemethanol (2-PM). For AMP, tris, and 2-PM, activation free energies ΔG ₂₉₈ ^? for reaction 1 (SM8 + CCSD(T)/6-311 ++G(d,p)//M08-HX/MG3S: 38–67 kJ mol^?1) are smaller than the corresponding values for 2 (109–113 kJ mol^?1). For 2-PM, the computed carbamate ΔG ₂₉₈ ^? (38 kJ mol^?1) is comparable to the MEA value (45 kJ mol^?1), whereas the primary amines with tertiary alpha carbons have slightly larger values (60–70 kJ mol^?1). The organic amine values are much lower than the value for ammonia (93 kJ mol^?1). The results indicate CO₂ chemisorption proceeds via a carbamate intermediate for all aqueous primary and secondary amines. Hindered carbamates are susceptible to further chemical transformations following their formation.     

Naphthologs of overcrowded bistricyclic aromatic enes: (E)-bisbenzo[a]fluorenylidene

(E)-11H-Bisbenzo[a]fluorenylidene (E-6) was synthesized by Barton’s double extrusion diazo-thione coupling method from 11H-benzo[a]fluoren-11-thione (11) and 11-diazo-11H-benzo[a]fluorene (13). The reaction is probably thermodynamically controlled; in the event that the less stable Z -6 is also formed, it would rapidly undergo Z → E diastereomerization to give E -6. The B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculated diastereomerization barrier for Z -6 → E -6 is ΔG ₂₉₈ = 57.0 kJ/mol (13.6 kcal/mol). The calculated equilibrium constant K _eq(E -6 → Z -6) = 92:8 (at 298 K) is indicative of a marked diastereoselectivity of the reaction leading to E -6. The structure of E-6 was established by ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopies and by X-ray analysis. PAE E-6 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The unit cell of the crystal structure E -6 contains eight molecules, arranged as four pairs of enantiomers. PAE E -6 adopts a twisted conformation with the pure twist of the central C¹¹=C^11′ bond ω = 39°. The dihedral angle ν in E -6 is 60.6°, which is significantly higher than the respective dihedral angle in PAEs Z -6, 2, E -7, Z -7, 14, and 15. The large syn-pyramidalization angles at C¹¹ and C^11′ (χ = 12.6° and 14.8°) of E-6 indicates the enhanced strain in the fjord regions of the molecule. The enhanced twist is primarily attributed to the double benzo[a]annelation of the bifluorenylidene moiety at the fjord regions. The B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculated structure of E -6 is in a very good agreement with the experimental X-ray structure. PAE E -6 adopts a twisted conformation in solution, with the downfield chemical shift of H¹/H^1′ (8.31 ppm); H¹⁰/H^10′ (δ = 7.20 ppm) and H⁹/H^9′ (δ = 6.86 ppm) in E -6 are positioned above the planes of the opposing naphthalene rings. PAEs E -6 and Z -6 are significantly higher in energy than their corresponding benzo[b]annelated isomers E -7 and Z -7.     

Molecular geometry and electronic structures of stable organic derivatives of divalent germanium and tin [(\operatorname{Me} _3 \operatorname{Si} )_2 \operatorname{N} {\kern 1pt} ---{\kern 1pt} Me_2 ]_n (M = Ge, n = 1; M = Sn, n = 2): a theoretical study

The molecular geometry and electronic structure of stable organic derivatives of divalent germanium and tin, [(Me₃Si)₂N-M-OCH₂CH₂NMe₂]_n (M = Ge (4), n = 1; M = Sn (5), n =2) and their isomers with broken (4a, 5a) and closed (4b, 5b) intramolecular coordination bonds M←NMe₂, were studied by the density functional (PBE/TZ2P/SBK-JC) and NBO methods. Factors responsible for stability of their dimers 4c and 5c were established. Dimerization of 5b in the gas phase is a thermodynamically favorable process (ΔG ⁰ = ?2.1 kcal mol^?1) while that of 4b is thermally forbidden (ΔG ⁰ = 10.1 kcal mol^?1), which is consistent with experimental data. The M←NMe₂ coordination bond energies, ΔE ⁰, were found to be ?5.3 and ?8.6 kcal mol^?1 for M = Ge and Sn, respectively. NBO analysis showed that the metal atoms M in molecules 4 and 5 are weakly hybridized. The lone electron pairs of the M atoms have strong s-character while vacant orbitals of these atoms, LP* M, are represented exclusively by the metal np_z-AOs. The strongest orbital interactions between subunits in dimers 4c and 5c involve electron density donation from the lone electron pairs of oxygen atoms (LP O) to the LP* M orbitals.     

The electronic structure of 5-methylhexa-1,2,4-triene-1,3-diyl, the first representative of highly delocalized triplet ethynylvinylcarbenes, from ESR spectroscopy data and quantum chemical calculations

The ESR spectrum of the first representative of highly conjugated triplet ethynylvinylcarbenes, 5-methylhexa-1,2,4-triene-1,3-diyl (1), was recorded in solid argon matrix. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters of carbene 1 (D = 0.5054±0.0006 cm^?1 and E = 0.0045±0.0002 cm^?1) determined from the experimental ESR spectrum are in between the corresponding parameters of ethynylcarbene C3H2 (2) and vinylcarbene C₃H₄ (3): D(3) < D(1) < D(2) and E(2) < E(1) < E(3). Quantum chemical calculations of the ZFS parameters of 1, 2, and 3 have been carried out for the first time using two DFT-based approaches, RODFT and UDFT. An analysis of the experimental and theoretical ZFS parameters shows that carbene 1 is characterized by a greater extent of delocalization of the spin density of unpaired electrons than carbenes 2 and 3. The characteristic structural fragments of carbene 1 possess the principal features of the electronic structure of both ethynylcarbene (2) and vinylcarbene (3), respectively. Magnetic spin-spin interactions are identical in carbenes 1 and 2. The dominant contribution to D in 1 and 2 results from the one-center spin-spin interactions on carbon atoms in the propynylidene group, which are subjected to strong spin polarization.     

Reactions of strong bases with vinyl fluoride formation and characterization of 1-fluorovinyl anion and the fluoride-acetylene hydrogen-bonded complex

Vinyl fluoride reacts with strong bases to afford I-fluorovinyl anion (1a) and a fluoride-acetylene cluster (1b). The former ion can be prepared independently, and cleanly, by the fluorodesilylation of 1-(trimethylsilyl) fluoroethylene. Reactions of 1a are reported, and its proton affinity is assigned (387 ± 3 kcal mol^?1). Vinyl fluoride is 22 kcal mol^?1 more acidic than ethylene. This unusually large substituent effect is reproduced by ab initio calculations, and can be accounted for by geometric changes which minimize the electron-electron repulsion in 1a. Computations on 2-fluorovinyl anions (1c and 1d) have also been carried out, and both ions are only slightly less stable than 1a. The cis isomer (1c) has a larger barrier for fluoride elimination and is a reasonable target for preparation.     

Gas-Phase Lithium Cation Basicity: Revisiting the High Basicity Range by Experiment and Theory

According to high level calculations, the upper part of the previously published FT-ICR lithium cation basicity (LiCB at 373 K) scale appeared to be biased by a systematic downward shift. The purpose of this work was to determine the source of this systematic difference. New experimental LiCB values at 373 K have been measured for 31 ligands by proton-transfer equilibrium techniques, ranging from tetrahydrofuran (137.2 kJ mol^?1) to 1,2-dimethoxyethane (202.7 kJ mol^?1). The relative basicities (ΔLiCB) were included in a single self-consistent ladder anchored to the absolute LiCB value of pyridine (146.7 kJ mol^?1). This new LiCB scale exhibits a good agreement with theoretical values obtained at G2(MP2) level. By means of kinetic modeling, it was also shown that equilibrium measurements can be performed in spite of the formation of Li⁺ bound dimers. The key feature for achieving accurate equilibrium measurements is the ion trapping time. The potential causes of discrepancies between the new data and previous experimental measurements were analyzed. It was concluded that the disagreement essentially finds its origin in the estimation of temperature and the calibration of Cook’s kinetic method. Graphical Abstract

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Synthesis and photochemical properties of porphyrin-azobenzene triad

Porphyrin-azobenzene triad E-2, having ester spacers between the chromophores, was synthesized and its photochemical and thermal isomerization properties were investigated. Triad E-2 showed little electronic communication among the chromophores according to a comparison of the steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra of E-2 and their model compounds. E-2 showed photochemical E-Z isomerization and subsequent thermal Z-to-E isomerization. The porphyrin chromophore in Z-2, obtained by photoisomerization, did not strongly affect the transient state of thermal Z-to-E isomerization of the azobenzene unit. The high E-isomer composition at the photostationary state indicates the occurrence of triplet energy transfer between porphyrin and azobenzene. E-2 forms a 1:1 complex with 4,4′-bipyridyl (Bipy). The stability constant for E-2 with Bipy was determined (log K = 4.20 mol⁻¹ dm³) by iterative least-squares fitting to a 1:1 binding model.     

Carbohydrate recognition of symmetrical tripodal receptor type tris(2-aminoethyl)amine derivatives

Carbohydrate recognition of some bioactive symmetrical tripodal receptor type tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA) derivatives was investigated. In calorimetric experiments, the highest binding constant (Ka) of compound C (C₃₅H₄₉N₅O₄S) with methyl α-d-mannopyranoside was Ka = 858 M^?1 with 1:1 stoichiometry. Formation of hydrogen bonds in binding between symmetrical tripodal receptor type compound C and sugars was suggested by the large negative values of ?H° (=?34 to ?511 kJ mol^?1). In a comparison of each set of α- and β-anomers of some monosaccharides (methyl α/β-d-galactopyranoside, methyl α/β-d-glucopyranoside, and methyl α/β-l-fucopyranoside), compound C showed that the binding constant of β-anomer was larger than that of the corresponding α-anomer, indicating higher β-anomer selectivity. The calculated energy-minimized structure of the complex of compound C with guest methyl α-d-mannopyranoside is also presented. The experimental results obtained from this work indicated that symmetrical tripodal receptor type TAEA derivative C has a lectin-like carbohydrate recognition property.     

Ab initio study of dehalohydrogenation reaction of 2-halo-2,3-dihydrophosphinine

Decomposition of 2-fluoro-2,3-dihydrophosphinine (1), 2-chloro-2,3-dihydrophosphinine (3), 2-bromo-2,3-dihydrophosphinine (5) to phosphinine was investigated using Molecular orbital and density functional theory. Study on the B3LYP/6-311+G** level of theory revealed that the required energy for the decomposition of compounds 1, 3, and 5 to phosphinine is 30.56 kcal·mol^?1, 28.23 kcal·mol^?1, and 24.03 kcal·mol^?1, respectively. HF/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** calculated barrier height for the decomposition of compound 1, 3, and 5 to phosphinine is 57.56 kcal·mol^?1, 37.26 kcal·mol^?1, and 30.77 kcal·mol^?1, respectively. Also, MP2/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** results indicated that the barrier height for the decomposition of compound 1, 3, and 5 to phosphinine is 46.59 kcal·mol^?1, 47.28 kcal·mol^?1, and 42.57 kcal·mol^?1, respectively. Natural bond orbital (NBO) population analysis and nuclear independent chemical shift (NICS) results showed that, reactants are non-aromatic but products of elimination reaction are aromatic, C-H and C-X bonds are broken and H-X bond is appear.     

Chemiluminescence and catalysis of decomposition of dispiro(diadamantane-1,2-dioxetane) in the presence of EuIII and TbIII tris(benzoyltrifluoroacetonate) complexes

Catalysis of decomposition of dispiro(diadamantane-1,2-dioxetane) (1) in the presence of Eu^III and Tb^III tris(benzoyltrifluoroacetonate) complexes (Ln(btfa)₃) accompanied by the formation of adamantanone (2) and chemiluminescence (CL) was studied. The rate constants (k ₂) of decomposition of compound1 in the1·Ln(btfa)₃ complexes and their stability constants (K ₁) have been determined. The Arrhenius parameters of decomposition of1 (E _a= 22.4±0.7 kcal mol^?1, logA=10.2±0.8 for1·Tb(btfa)₃ andE _a=23.4±0.6 kcal mol^?1, logA=10.6±0.8 for1·Eu(btfa)₃) and thermodynamic parameters of complex formation (ΔH=?5.5±0.5 kcal mol^?1, ΔS=?10.4±0.7 e.u. for1·Tb(btfa)₃ and ΔH=?5.8±0.5 kcal mol^?1, ΔS=?10.9±0.7 e.u. for1·Eu(btfa)₃) have been calculated from the temperature dependences ofk ₂ andK ₁. The yields of excitation of the Ln(btfa)₃ chelates φ _Eu ^* =0.021±0.006 and φ _Tb ^* =0.12±0.04 have been determined. A higher efficiency of the occupation of the⁵D₄-level of Tb³⁺ compared to those of the⁵D₁- and⁵D₀-levels of Eu³⁺ is caused by different efficiencies of the non-radiative energy dissipation in the Ln³⁺ ion after the intracomplex energy transfer from the³n,π^*-state of2 to the resonance excited levels of lanthanides.     

Exploring antibiotic resistance based on enzyme hydrolysis by microcalorimetry

In an effort to understand the reactions of antibiotics hydrolysis with metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs), the thermokinetic parameters of cefazolin hydrolysis with B1 subclass MβL CcrA from Bacteroides fragilis were determined by microcalorimetric method. The values of activation free energy $ \Updelta G_{ \ne }^{\theta } $ are 88.032 ± 0.038, 89.075 ± 0.025, 90.095 ± 0.034, and 91.261 ± 0.044 kJ mol^?1 at 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, and 308.15 K, respectively, the activation enthalpy $ \Updelta H_{ \ne }^{\theta } $ is 25.278 ± 0.005 kJ mol^?1, the activation entropy $ \Updelta S_{ \ne }^{\theta } $ is ?213.99 ± 0.14 J mol^?1 K^?1, the apparent activation energy E is 27.776 kJ mol^?1, and the reaction order is 1.4. The results indicated that the cefazolin hydrolysis with CcrA is an exothermic and spontaneous reaction. An association between the thermokinetic and kinetic parameters was revealed, which is that the catalytic constant K _cat increase with increase in $ \Updelta H_{ \ne }^{\theta } $ .     

Studies on the interaction between a Co(II) complex with salicylaldehyde-aminoacetic acid Schiff base and bovine serum albumin

A Co(II) complex [Co₃(L)₄(H₂O)₆] · 2Cl (I), where L is salicylaldehyde-aminoacetic acid Schiff base, was synthesized and characterized via elemental analysis, UV, and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complex I crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbcn with lattice parameters a = 9.569(4), b = 12.301(5), c = 36.931(14) Å, V = 4347(3) ų, Z = 4, ρ_calcd = 1.608 mg m^?3. At the same time, the binding reaction between complex I and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy combined with UV-Vis absorption measurements under simulative physiological conditions. The results indicated that its combination reaction is mainly a static quenching process. Complex I bound BSA with a molar ratio of 1: 1 and the binding constant K _A values are 3.86 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 (25°C) and 1.17 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 (36°C). The shortest binding distance r between the donor BSA and acceptor (complex I) is 2.49 nm, which affirms that complex I has partly inserted into the hydrophobic pocket of BSA.     

Supramolecular assembler based on cucurbit[8]uril: Photodimerization of a styryl dye in water

Photolysis of aqueous solutions of styryl dye 1 in the presence of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) has been studied by optical spectroscopic methods for the molar ratios n = c _CB[8]/c ₁ in the range of 0 ≤ n ≤ 6. It has been found that the inclusion complexes (1)₂@CB[8] dominate in the solution at n ≤ 0.5, whereas the complexes 1@CB[8] dominate at n ≥ 1. The stability constants have been determined for the 1: 1 (log K ₁ = 6.2 (L mol^?1)) and 2: 1 (log β = 11.9 (L² mol^?2)) complexes. The fluorescence decay kinetics of dye 1 in the presence of CB[8] is two-exponential, with the average lifetime increasing substantially at n ≥ 1. It has been shown that the system can operate in the cyclic mode as an assembler (or supramolecular catalyst) in the photodimerization reaction of dye 1 to form cyclobutane derivative 2. The stability constant of the complex 2@CB[8] (log K ₃ = 5.9 (L mol^?1)) and the quantum yield of cycloaddition (? ≈ 0.07 at n ≈ 0.5) have been determined.     

Mononuclear copper(II) complexes of bis-triazole-based macrocyclic Schiff base hydrazones: direct synthesis,EPR studies,magnetic and thermal properties

Mononuclear copper(II) complexes of 1,2,4-triazole-based Schiff base macrocyclic hydrazones, III and IV, have been reported. The prepared amorphous complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic methods, electron spray ionization mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis data. Electrochemical studies of the complexes in DMSO show only one quasi-reversible reduction wave at +0.43 V (ΔE = 70 mV) and +0.42 V (ΔE = 310 mV) for III and IV, respectively, which is assigned to the Cu(II) → Cu(I) reduction process. Temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibilities of III and IV has been measured within an interval of 2–290 K. The values of χ_M at 290 K are 1.72 × 10^?3 cm³ mol^?1 and 1.71 × 10^?3 for III and IV, respectively, which increases continuously upon cooling to 2 K. EPR spectra of III and IV in frozen DMSO and DMF were also reported. The trend g_|| > g⊥ > g_e suggests the presence of an unpaired electron in the d_x2?y2 orbital of the Cu(II) in both complexes. Furthermore, spectral and antimicrobial properties of the prepared complexes were also investigated.     

Ab initio study of the Wolff rearrangement of C6H4O intermediate in the gas phase

Ab initio calculations of the geometry and reactivity of 1,2-ketocarbene C₆H₄O as an intermediate in organic reactions were performed using the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory in the 6-311G^* basis set. Only the singlet state of the intermediate was considered. An oxirene-like structure (6) with a six-membered ring and a ketene-like structure (5) with a five-membered ring were localized on the potential energy surface. Attempts to locate a quinone type structure characteristic of aliphatic ketocarbenes failed. The energy of structure5 is ?70 kcal mol^?1 lower than that of structure6. Harmonic frequencies and intensities of normal vibrations in the IR spectra of6 and5 were calculated. The activation energy of the Wolff rearrangement6→5 was estimated at 12.5 kcal mol^?1. The geometry of the transition state of this reaction resembles the quinone-like structure.     

Excited state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer of phenylethynyl-substituted 2′-hydroxychalcones

(E)-1-[2-Hydroxy-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl]-3-[4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl]prop-2-en-1-one (1), (E)-1-[2-hydroxy-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl]-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (2), and (E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl]prop-2-en-1-one (3), which belong to a new class of 2′-hydroxychalcones with phenylethynyl group(s) at the para position of the phenyl ring, were synthesized, and their photochemical properties were investigated. The lowest energy absorption band of 1 peaks at a longer wavelength (383 nm) with a much larger molar extinction coefficient (5.0 × 10⁴ M ^?1 cm^?1) than that of the parent 2′-hydroxychalcone (2′HC) (2.0 × 10⁴ M ^?1 cm^?1 at 318 nm). Upon photoexcitation, all three compounds underwent excited-state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (ESIHT) to produce an excited tautomer that emitted fluorescence with a large Stokes shift in the longer wavelength region at 600–700 nm. The quantum yield of the tautomer fluorescence of 1 was not high at 298 K (Φ _f = 9.1 × 10^?5), but was highest among 2′HC and its analogues. The Φ _f values of 1–3 increased 10–30 fold upon reducing the temperature from 298 to 77 K.