Transformations of cyclohexa-1,4-diene under the action of biphenyl—alkali metal systems in THF. Synergistic acceleration by mixtures of lithium and sodium

In the interaction of cyclohexa-1,4-diene (1,4-CHD) with a mixture of biphenyl and metallic lithium or sodium in THF at 20 °C, three processes occur, viz., disproportionation of 1,4-CHD to form benzene and cyclohexene, dehydrogenation of 1,4-CHD to form benzene and molecular hydrogen, and dehydrogenation of 1,4-CHD to form benzene and lithium or sodium hydride. In the case of lithium on the use of an equimolar amount of biphenyl, the isomerization of 1,4-CHD to cyclohexa-1,3-diene is also observed. When the molar ratio Li(Na): Ph₂ increases from 1 : 1 to 2 : 1, i.e., when the reaction is carried out in the presence of an alkali metal solid phase, the overall conversion of 1,4-CHD into benzene and cyclohexene increases. The use of mixtures of lithium and sodium leads to acceleration of the processes of the formation of benzene and cyclohexene. The possible mechanism of the synergistic effect found is discussed.     

Electron Transfer Fluorescence Quenching of Blepharisma japonicum Photoreceptor Pigments

Abstract— The hypericin analogs blepharismin (BP), oxyblepharismin (OxyBP) and stentorin (ST), the photosensing chromophores responsible for photomotile reactions in the ciliates Blepharisma japonicum (red and blue cells) and Stentor coeruleus, represent a new class of photoreceptor pigments whose chemical structures have recently been determined. In the case of ST it has been shown that the first excited singlet state can be deactivated by donation of an electron to an appropriate acceptor molecule (e.g. a quinone molecule). This charge transfer can be considered a possible mechanism for the primary photoprocess for the photomotile responses in S. coeruleus. To determine whether an electron transfer process also occurs in the deactivation of excited blepharismin, we studied the fluorescence quenching of OxyBP in dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) and in ethanol using electron acceptors with different reduction potentials. Under our experimental conditions ground state and excited state complexes (like fluorescent exciplexes) are not formed between the fluorophore and the quenchers. In DMSO the bimolecular quenching constant values (k_q) calculated on the basis of the best fitting procedures clearly show that the quenching efficiency decreases with the quencher negative reduction potential, E⁰. The k_q (M^-1 s^-1) and E⁰ (V) values are, respectively, 7.8 times 10⁹ and -0.134 for 1,4-benzoquinone, 8.9 times 10⁹ and -0.309 for 1,4-naphthoquinone, 2.4 times 10⁹ and -0.8 for nitrobenzene, 0.009 times 10⁹ and -1.022 for azobenzene and 0 and -1.448 for benzophenone. These findings point to the conclusion that upon formation of the encounter complex between OxyBP and the quencher, an electron is released from excited OxyBP to the quencher, similar to what happens in ST. It is suggested that in the pigment granules such a light-induced charge transfer from excited blepharismin to a suitable electron acceptor triggers sensory transduction processes in B. japonicum.     

Kinetics of the reaction of 4,4′‐biphenol with bromoethane and 1‐bromobutane by phase‐transfer catalysis

The reaction of 4,4′‐biphenol and two species of bromoalkanes (e.g., bromoethane and 1‐bromobutane) to synthesize two symmetric products (4,4′‐diethanoxy biphenyl and 4,4′‐dibutanoxy biphenyl) and one asymmetric product (4‐ethanoxy, 4′‐butanoxy biphenyl) was successfully carried out under two‐phase phase‐transfer catalysis conditions. A rational mechanism and kinetic model were built up by considering the reactions both in aqueous phase and in organic phase. The first active catalyst (QO(Ph)₂OQ) was also synthesized under two‐phase reaction and was identified by instruments. The experimental data were explained satisfactorily by the pseudo‐steady‐state hypothesis. Two sets of rate constants of organic reactions, i.e. primary (k₁ and k₂) and secondary (k₁₁, k₁₂, k₂₁, and k₂₂) rate constants participate in the kinetic model. The two primary rate constants were obtained individually via experimental data for synthesizing the symmetric products. The ratios of the other four secondary rate constants were obtained from the reaction of synthesizing asymmetric products and determined from the initial yield rates of symmetric products. The effects of the ratio of bromoethane and 1‐bromobutane, temperature, organic solvents, amount of catalyst, and amount of sodium hydroxide on the reaction rate and the selectivity of products were investigated in detail. The results were explained satisfactorily by the interaction between the reactants and the environmental species. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 139–153, 2003     

Homo-1,4-addition to cyclo-octa-1,4-diene and cyclohepta-1,4-diene

Cyclo-octa-1,4-diene and cyclohepta-1,4-diene give the bicyclic derivatives IIa–b and IVa–b on reaction with Br₂-CCl₄ or I₂-AgClO₄-MeOH respectively. Cyclo-octa-1,4-diene also undergoes homo-1,4-addition in the Prevost reaction with I₂-AgOAc or I₂-AgOCOPh in benzene.     

The yield of solvent excited states in the radiolysis of cyclohexane solutions

It is confirmed by pulse radiolysis that emitting solvent excited states are produced in the radiolysis of n-hexane, methylcyclohexane and cyclohexane. The emission is quenched by benzene and benzene emission appears. Applying stern - volmer kinetics to emissions from solvent, benzene and toluene in cyclohexane a very high energy transfer rate constant, viz., k = 2.8 × 10¹¹M⁻¹ sec⁻¹ is obtained. The yield of the excited state of cyclohexane is not greater than 0.3, and it is concluded that the major part of the excited states of other aromatics produced in cyclohexane solutions comes from ion neutralisation.     

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) from phenol OH (OD) to adjacent “aromatic” carbons in simple biphenyls

This work reports results of further studies on a new class of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), from phenol OH to adjacent aromatic carbon atoms of suitably designed biphenyl systems. For this purpose, a number of 2-phenylphenols 3–6 with methyl and methoxy substituents on the adjacent proton accepting phenyl ring were synthesized. In particular, we were also interested in studying the effect of an acetyl (ketone) substituent on the proton accepting ring (biphenyl 7) and the effect on the photochemistry when the ketone is reduced to alcohol (biphenyl 8). All compounds except for 7 were found to undergo deuterium exchange (Ф_ex = 0.019–0.079) primarily at the 2′-position on photolysis in 1:3 D₂O–CH₃CN. This is consistent with a reaction mechanism involving initial ESIPT from the phenol OH to the 2′-position of the adjacent phenyl ring, to generate a biphenyl quinone methide intermediate which rapidly tautomerizes back to starting material. Biphenyl 8 also undergoes a competing photosolvolysis reaction (overall loss of water). Both photosolvolysis and ESIPT reactions react via isomeric quinone methide intermediates and are best interpreted as arising from an excited singlet state that possesses a large degree of charge transfer character, from the phenol ring to the attached phenyl ring. The failure of 7 to react may be due to two possible reasons: (i) high intersystem crossing rate to a non-polarized triplet excited state and/or (ii) a polarized singlet state that is now much more basic at the carbonyl oxygen. The results are consistent with qualitative examination of calculated HOMOs and LUMOs (AM1).     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. III. 1,4-dinitronaphthalene

Nanosecond flash photolysis of 1,4-dinitronaphthalene (1,4-DNO₂N) in aerated and deaerated solvents shows a transient species with absorption maximum at 545 nm. The maximum of the transient absorption is independent of solvent polarity and its lifetime seems to be a function of the hydrogen donor efficiency of the solvent. The transient absorption is attributed to the lowest excited triplet state of 1,4-DNO₂N. The reactivity of this state for hydrogen abstraction from tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH), K_q = 3.8 × 10⁸M^?1 sec, is almost equal to that of nitrobezene triplet state which has been characterized as an n → π* state. Based on spectroscopic and kinetic evidence obtained in the present work, the triplet state of 1,4-DNO₂N behaves as an n → π* state in nonpolar solvents, while in polar solvents the state is predominantly n → π* with a small amount of intramolecular charge transfer character.     

A theoretical insight into the deactivating reactions of triplet excited state C60 by β-carotene

By means of quantum chemical calculations, the deactivating reactions of triplet excited state C₆₀ by β-carotene were explored from the thermodynamic point of view. The solvent effect on the deactivating mechanisms was also discussed. Primarily, the energy transfer from triplet excited state C₆₀ to β-carotene is feasible both in benzene and water. Secondly, β-carotene may also deactivate triplet excited state C₆₀ through electron transfer from ground state β-carotene to triplet excited state C₆₀ or from triplet excited state β-carotene to triplet excited state C₆₀ in water, while only the latter pathway is thermodynamically favorable in benzene.     

Photophysical Properties and Photoinduced Electron Transfer between[60]Fullerene—containing Cyclic Sulphoxide [C60—C60H8SO]and Tetrathiafulvalene（TTF） by Laser Flash Photolysis

Photoinduced electron transfer(PET) processes between C60-C6H8SO and Tetrathiafulvalene(TTF) have been studied by nanosecond laser photolysis.Quantrm yiekds(φet) and rate constants of electron transfer(ket) from TTF to excited triplet state of[60] fullerene-containing cyclic sulphoxide in benzonitrile(BN) have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the NIR region.With the decay of excited triplet state of [60]fullerene-containing cyclic suplhoxide,the rise of radical anion of [60]fullerene-containing cyclic sulphoxinde is observed.     

Chlorin–Bacteriochlorin Energy‐transfer Dyads as Prototypes for Near‐infrared Molecular Imaging Probes: Controlling Charge‐transfer and Fluorescence Properties in Polar Media

The photophysical properties of two energy‐transfer dyads that are potential candidates for near‐infrared (NIR) imaging probes are investigated as a function of solvent polarity. The dyads ( FbC‐FbB and ZnC‐FbB ) contain either a free base (Fb) or zinc (Zn) chlorin (C) as the energy donor and a free base bacteriochlorin (B) as the energy acceptor. The dyads were studied in toluene, chlorobenzene, 1,2‐dichlorobenzene, acetone, acetonitrile and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). In both dyads, energy transfer from the chlorin to bacteriochlorin occurs with a rate constant of ～(5–10 ps)^?1 and a yield of >99% in nonpolar and polar media. In toluene, the fluorescence yields (Φ _f = 0.19) and singlet excited‐state lifetimes (τ～5.5 ns) are comparable to those of the benchmark bacteriochlorin. The fluorescence yield and excited‐state lifetime decrease as the solvent polarity increases, with quenching by intramolecular electron (or hole) transfer being greater for FbC‐FbB than for ZnC‐FbB in a given solvent. For example, the Φ _f and τ values for FbC‐FbB in acetone are 0.055 and 1.5 ns and in DMSO are 0.019 and 0.28 ns, whereas those for ZnC‐FbB in acetone are 0.12 and 4.5 ns and in DMSO are 0.072 and 2.4 ns. The difference in fluorescence properties of the two dyads in a given polar solvent is due to the relative energies of the lowest energy charge‐transfer states, as assessed by ground‐state redox potentials and supported by molecular‐orbital energies derived from density functional theory calculations. Controlling the extent of excited‐state quenching in polar media will allow the favorable photophysical properties of the chlorin–bacteriochlorin dyads to be exploited in vivo. These properties include very large Stokes shifts (85 nm for FbC‐FbB , 110 nm for ZnC‐FbB ) between the red‐region absorption of the chlorin and the NIR fluorescence of the bacteriochlorin (λ _f = 760 nm), long bacteriochlorin excited‐state lifetime (～5.5 ns), and narrow (≤20 nm) absorption and fluorescence bands. The latter will facilitate selective excitation/detection and multiprobe applications using both intensity‐ and lifetime‐imaging techniques.     

Polymerization of diallyl phthalate in solution by γ-radiation

The polymerization of diallyl phthalate has been studied in two solvents, benzene (G_Radical = 0.7) and chloroform (G_R = 11.2), γ-radiation being used to investigate the effect of the solvent on the rates of polymerization and also chain transfer to the solvent. Kinetic analysis shows that in benzene solution the initiating species come almost exclusively from the monomer, but in chloroform they arise only from the solvent. The latter was further confirmed from the chlorine analysis of the polymer wherein chloroform appears to have telomerized with diallyl phthalate. In neither of the solvents was high molecular weight polymer obtained. The k_p/k_t^1/2 for the polymerization of DAP was found to be 3.3 × 10^?4 and 1.17 × 10^?3 in benzene and chloroform solutions, respectively. The chain-transfer constant C_S was 11.25 × 10^?3 and 9.75 × 10^?3 for benzene and chloroform, respectively.     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed from 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands exhibiting photoluminescence

Ligands based on polycarboxylic acids are excellent building blocks for the construction of coordination polymers; they may bind to a variety of metal ions and form clusters, as well as extended chain or network structures. Among these building blocks, biphenyltetracarboxylic acids (H₄bpta) with C ₂ symmetry have recently attracted attention because of their variable bridging and multidentate chelating modes. The new luminescent three‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[(μ₅‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene]dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)]_n , was synthesized solvothermally and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure contains two crystallographically independent Zn^II cations. Both metal cations are located on twofold axes and display distorted tetrahedral coordination geometries. Neighbouring Zn^II centres are bridged by carboxylate groups in the syn –anti mode to form one‐dimensional chains. Adjacent chains are linked through 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands to form a three‐dimensional network. In the solid state, the compound exhibits blue photoluminescence and represents a promising candidate for a thermally stable and solvent‐resistant blue fluorescent material.     

A three‐dimensional CdII coordination polymer constructed from 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands

The title coordination polymer, poly[[aqua(μ₅‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene]dicadmium(II)] dihydrate], {[Cd₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)₂(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n, was crystallized from a mixture of 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylic acid (H₄bpta), 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene (1,4‐bib) and cadmium nitrate in water–dimethylformamide. The crystal structure consists of two crystallographically independent Cd^II cations, with one of the Cd^II cations possessing a slightly distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The second Cd^II centre is coordinated by carboxylate O atoms and imidazole N atoms from two separate 1,4‐bib ligands, displaying a distorted octahedral CdN₂O₄ geometry. The completely deprotonated bpta⁴⁻ ligand, exhibiting a new coordination mode, bridges five Cd^II cations to form one‐dimensional chains viaμ₃‐η¹:η²:η¹:η² and μ₂‐η¹:η¹:η⁰:η⁰ modes, and these are further linked by 1,4‐bib ligands to form a three‐dimensional framework with a (4².6⁴)(4.6²)(4³.6⁵.7²) topology. The structure of the coordination polymer is reinforced by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between carboxylate O atoms, aqua ligands and crystallization water molecules. The solid‐state photoluminescence properties were investigated and the complex might be a candidate for a thermally stable and solvent‐resistant blue fluorescent material.     

PHOTOPHYSICS OF THE FLUORESCENT Ca2+ INDICATOR QUIN-2

The photophysics of the complex forming reaction between Quin-2 and Ca²⁺ were investigated using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. The fluorescence decay traces were analyzed with global compartmental analysis yielding the following values for the rate constants at room temperature in aqueous solution with EGTA as Ca²⁺ buffer: k₀₁= 8.6 times 10⁸ s^?1, k₂₁= 1 times 10¹¹M^?1 s^?1, k₀₂= 8.8 times 10⁷ s^?1, k₁₂= 4 times 10⁴ s^?1. k₀₁ and k₀₂ denote the respective deactivation rate constants of the Ca²⁺ free and bound forms of Quin-2 in the excited state. The constant k₂₁ represents the second-order rate constant of binding of Ca²⁺ and Quin-2 in the excited state while k₁₂ is the first-order rate constant of dissociation of the excited Ca²⁺:Quin-2 complex. From the estimated values of k₁₂ and k₂₁ the dissociation constant K_d* in the excited state was calculated. It was found that pK_d* (6.4) is slightly smaller than pK_d (7.2). There was no interference of the excited-state complex forming reaction with the determination of K_d. Intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations can thus accurately be determined from fluorometric measurements using Quin-2 as Ca²⁺ indicator.     

Quenching of luminescence of terbium(III) by platinum(IV) complexes

The rate constants (k_q) of the bimolecular energy-transfer reactions in systems consisting of the terbium(III) aquo complex and platinum(IV) complexes have been determined. The influence of the electronic and nuclear factors on the values of the rate constant of the reactions has been considered. It has been shown that the platinum(IV) complexes make up an adiabatic family of quenchers, while the energy-transfer reactions between terbium(III) aquo complexes are characterized by a high degree of nonadiabaticity x -10^–12). Estimates of the energies of the pure electronic transitions to electronically excited states of platinum(IV) complexes which are not observed spectroscopically have been obtained on the basis of the dependence of k_q on the change in the free energy of the energy-transfer process.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 618–623, September–October, 1989.     

A multi-configuration LCAO–MO study for complex unsaturated molecules. I. General theory and its application to the benzene anion

A multi-configuration LCAO –MO approach using a π-bond order–bond length linear relation is introduced to predict the geometrical structures for the electronic ground and excited states of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The procedure is designed to include configuration interaction in each iterative computation where the π-electron approximation is employed under the Pariser–Parr type semi-empirical treatment. The π-bond order–bond length relation is determined as r_pq = 1.523 – 0.193P_pq, when the bond lengths of ethylene, benzene and naphthalene are used and the groundstate functions including the singly and doubly excited configurations are taken into account to obtain the bond orders P_pq. The iterative calculation is applied to the ground state and the two lowest excited states of the benzene anion in both D_6h and D_2h molecular geometries. The geometrical structures and the π-electron energies are computed for the ground and excited states of the anion; for the latter, two types of configuration species are used. It is found that the first lowest excited state is not subjected to the Jahn–Teller effect and the calculated excited state energies do not agree with the observed values (c. 1.0 ～ 2.5 eV higher than the observed values). The latter point is discussed in detail. It is also found that the resultant ground state energy depression due to configuration mixing is not very large and the two types of configuration species used give different CI effects on the energy levels of the two lowest excited states of the anion. Finally, the stabilization energy due to the Jahn–Teller distortion is estimated for the ground state of the anion.     

Some triplet energy-transfer reactions initiated by photoexcitation of triplet excited state of dibenz[a,h]anthracene to the higher triplet excited states

Some triplet energy-transfer reactions initiated by photoexcitation of the triplet excited state of dibenz[a,h]anthracene to higher triplet excited states (DBA(T_n)) were observed in the presence of the triplet energy quenchers (Q) such as naphthalene, biphenyl, p-dichlorobenzene, and o-dicyanobenzene. In the case of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) as Q, DBA(T_n)-sensitized decomposition of CCl₄ occurred.     

The triplet state of 4-nitronaphthylamine

Nanosecond spectroscopic and kinetic studies of 4-nitronaphthylamine (4-NO₂NA) in aerated and deaerated nonpolar solvents at room temperature show a transient species with absorption maxima at 470 and 665 nm. The rate constant for the decay of this species in deaerated benzene is 6.7 × 10⁵ sec^?1, while in aerated benzene solutions the species is quenched by oxygen with arate constant k = 2.0 × 10⁹M^?1·sec^?1. The transient absorption at 470and 665 nm is assigned to the lowest triplet excited state of 4-NO₂NA. In polar solvents, however, electronic excitation of 4-NO₂NA does not lead to any detectable transient absorption between 400 and 800 nm for the temperature range of 25 to ?150°C. This is attributed to lack of intersystem crossing of 4-NO₂NA in polar solvents.     

Construction Of Two New 6‐connected Manganese(II) Metal Organic Frameworks via Isomeric Biphenyldicarboxylates Based on the Dinuclear Secondary Building Unit

Two coordination polymers, namely {[Mn(2,4′‐bpdc)(bimb)(H₂O)_0.5] · 0.5H₂O}_n ( 1 ) and [Mn(4,4′‐bpdc)(bimb)]_n · 2.5H₂O ( 2 ) [2,4′‐bpdc = biphenyl‐2,4′‐dicarboxylate, 4,4′‐bpdc = biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate, and bimb = 1,4‐bis(1‐imidazol‐yl)‐2,5‐dimethyl benzene], were hydrothermally synthesized by reactions of manganese(II) salt with the rigid ligand 1,4‐bis(1‐imidazol‐yl)‐2,5‐dimethyl benzene and isomeric biphenyl dicarboxylate ligands. Complex 1 has an unusual 6‐connected three‐dimensional (3D) architecture with point symbol (4⁴.6¹¹). Complex 2 has also a 3D structure with two‐interpenetrated pcu topology with point symbol (4¹².6³). Structural comparisons show that the positions of the carboxylate groups in the ligand backbone play an important role in governing the structural topologies of these complexes.     

Acceleration of Reverse Intersystem Crossing using Different Types of Charge Transfer States

There is a need to boost the rate constant of reverse intersystem crossing (k_RISC) in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials for applications to organic light-emitting diodes. Recently, energy level matching of the locally excited state (LE) and charge transfer state (CT) has been reported to enhance k_RISC. In this study, we conceptually demonstrate that k_RISC can be improved even between CT states without LE states, through the use of different types of CT states. On the basis of this concept, we design a new compound, named DMAC-bPmT, where two phenyl groups of a well-known TADF material DMAC-TRZ are substituted by pyrimidine groups. Theoretical calculations indicated that the energy levels of the different CT states of DMAC-bPmT are very close and enhanced spin orbit coupling may be expected between them. As predicted, DMAC-bPmT experimentally exhibited a k_RISC three times as high as that of DMAC-TRZ.