Mechanistic studies of the oxidative coupling polymerization of phenols. VI. Comparison of reactivities of DMP,PPO-dimer,and -trimer in the copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling polymerization

In the oxidative coupling polymerization, catalyzed by copper-amine complexes, the oxidation rates of 2,6-dimethylphenol (DMP) and its C? O-coupled dimer [4-(2′,6′-dimethylphenoxy)-2,6-dimethylphenol] and trimer [4-(-4′-(2″,6″-dimethylphenoxy)-2′,6′-dimethylphenoxy))-2,6-dimethylphenol] have been determined. The DMP concentration dependence shows a Michaelis–Menten-type behavior. On the other hand, the dimer and trimer showed a first-order rate-dependence in the respective phenol concentrations. This indicates that the slow reaction step, following an equilibrium complex formation between DMP and copper complex, is relatively fast for both the dimer and the trimer. Therefore, coordination of dimer or trimer to the copper complex appears to be rate-determining. Furthermore, the dimer and trimer gave overall reaction rates approximately eight times higher than found for DMP. Following the Flory principle of equal reactivity for functional groups of oligomers in polycondensations, all PPO oligomers can be assumed to have equally high oxidation rates as the dimer and trimer. The yield of undesired DPQ side product is strongly reduced when starting with the dimer (0.18%), or trimer (0.17%), compared to 3.3% for DMP. This is not unexpected, since DPQ can only be formed from two monomeric DMP residues. In fact, using a 1/10 molar mixture of dimer/DMP already results in a DPQ yield of only 1.7%. Furthermore, when starting from DMP, it has been observed that DPQ was predominantly formed during the first 30% conversion. Starting from dimer (or trimer) DPQ was formed at an almost constant very low rate during the whole course of the reaction. From these experiments it can be concluded that the most important polymerization reaction involves oxidation of copper-coordinated DMP anion to its corresponding cations, followed by coupling with a copper coordinated PPO chain.     

Catalyzed oxidation of 2,6-dimethylphenol in Triton X- 100 micellar solution

The oxidative coupling reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenol with H2O2 catalyzed by a copper(Ⅱ) Schiff complex in aqueous and Triton X-100 micellar solution under mild conditions was investigated. The kinetics of formation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone (DPQ) was studied. Rate constant k2 were obtained. The optimum pH for DPQ generation reaction is 7.25. The main product was DPQ in aqueous buffer solution, but PPE and the oxidized products of PPE remained in Triton X-100 micellar solution.     

Kinetic study of the complex reaction between copper(II) and 2-(2′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)benzothiazole

2-(2′-Hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)benzothiazole reacts with copper(II) in an ethanol/water mixture to form an O,S chelate which exhibits the remarkable property of changing the chelation site above a pH of ca. 5.0, to the O,N site. The detailed kinetics of this reaction in an ethanol/water mixture (3:1) at a temperature of 25 °C was investigated using a stopped-flow spectrophotometric technique employing a wavelength of 400 nm. The initial complex, Cu(O,S), is formed via a fast, reversible second-order complex formation step whereupon the formation of the Cu (O,N) follows first order kinetics. The Cu(O,N) complex is, however, unstable towards internal electron exchange and after the reaction is complete, a black polymeric material very slowly precipitates out of solution. Rate and equilibrium constants for the postulated reactions are presented and discussed.     

OXIDATIVE POLYMERIZATION OF 2,6-DISUBSTITUTED PHENOLS CATALYZED BY IRON-SALEN COMPLEX

Oxidative polymerization of 2,6-disubstituted phenols has been performed by using iron(III)-salen complex and hydrogen peroxide as catalyst and oxidizing agent, respectively. The oxidative reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenol produced the polymer along with a byproduct dimer of 3,5,3',5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-dipheno-quinone. The addition of pyridine suppressed the formation of the dimer to mainly give the polymer with molecular weight of more than 1×10⁴ in high yields. From NMR analysis, the polymer was found to consist of exclusively 1,4-oxyphenylene unit. Effects of the solvent composition, added amount and type of amine, and catalyst amount have been systematically investigated. 2-Allyl-6-methylphenol and 2,6-diphenylphenol produced the corresponding polymer under the similar polymerizaconditions, whereas the formation of C-C coupling dimer was observed in using 2,6-diisopropylphenol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol as monomer.     

Photolysis of benzoyl esters of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylcarbinols in neutral and basic media

The photolysis of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylmethylbenzoates (1a–1d) in 2-propanol gives dibenzo-[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-one-oxides (5a–5d) as the major product. Dibenzo[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-ones (2a–2d), 2,2′-dinitrobenzophenones (3a–3d), 2-amino-2′-nitrobenzophenones (4a–4d) and N-hydroxyacridones (6a–6d) are also formed in the reaction. When the irradiation is carried out in benzene, 3-(2′-nitrophenyl)-2,1-benzisoxazoles (7a–7d) are also obtained together with the above products.     

The preparation and coordination chemistry of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine macrocycles—VI. Planar hexadentate macrocycles incorporating 2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridine

The template condensation of 6,6″-bis(-methylhydrazino)-2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridines L² and L³ with 2,6-pyridinedialdehyde may give a number of different products depending upon the metal ion which is used. In the presence of nickel(II) the products are either the nickel(II) complexes of the 18-membered ring macrocycles L⁴ or L⁵ or the free macrocycles. The metal ion acts as a transient template and is removed in a chloride ion specific demetallation. The use of dimethyltin(IV) as a template results in the formation of complexes of the ring contracted macrocycles L⁶ or L⁷.     

Photophysics of 6-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)-s-triazine photostabilizers

The room temperature photophysical properties of several sulphonated and unsulphonated 6-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)-s-triazines were investigated in a range of solvents by means of steady state and picosecond fluorescence spectroscopy. Compounds possessing phenyl or p-tolyl groups in the s-triazinyl ring exhibit only a very weak normal Stokes-shifted fluorescence, arising from the initially excited chromophore. Substitution of phenoxy groups into the s-triazinyl ring results in the appearance of an additional longer-wavelength fluorescence which is assigned to the keto tautomer, formed following excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The rate constant for the (ESIPT) process that occurs in sodium 3-(3′,5′-diphenoxy-2′,4′,6′-triazinyl)-4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzene sulphonate in water is estimated to be greater than 10¹¹ s⁻¹.     

Synthesis of ansa-2,2′-bis[(4,7-dimethyl-inden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl and nsa-2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyltitanium and -zirconium dichlorides

2,2′-Bis[(4,7-dimethyl-inden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl and [2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium and -zirconium dichlorides have been synthesized from 2,2′-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthylene. 2,2′-Bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthylene was alkylated with the lithium salt of 4,7-dimethylindene to yield 2,2′-bis[1-(4,7-dimethyl-indenylmethyl)]-1,1′-binaphthylene (S)-(−)-9. The lithium salt of 9 was metalated with either titanium trichloride followed by oxidation or zirconium tetrachloride to give titanocene dichloride (S)-(+)-10 and zirconocene dichloride 11. The known complexes ansa-[2,2′-bis[(1-indenyl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium and -zirconium dichlorides were formed and hydrogenated to ansa-[2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium and -zirconium dichlorides 12 and 14 or to ansa-[2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden-1-yl)methyl]-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium dichloride 13 whose solid state structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 13 adopts a C₁-symmetrical conformation in the solid state, but is conformationally mobile in solution, exhibiting C₂-symmetry in its room temperature NMR spectra.     

Investigation on lanthanide binuclear complexes of 1,5-bis-(1′-phenyl-3′-methyl-5′-pyrazolone-4′)-1,5-pentanedione and 2,2′-bipyridine

The coordination of 1,5-bis-(1′-phenyl-3′-methyl-5′-pyrazolone-4′)-1,5-pentanedione (BPMPPD) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) with lanthanide ions in water-alcohol solution has been studied. Binuclear complexes of the types : Ln₂(BPMPPD)₃(bipy)₂·nH₂O (n = 2 for Y, n = 4 for Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb); Ln₂(BPMPPD)₃bipy·nH₂O (n = 10 for La, n = 3 for Pr, Nd, Sm and Tb) were formed. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, UV, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and fluorescence spectra.     

One-step multi-electron transfer mechanism of polynuclear copper complexes for molecular conversions

The oxidative coupling reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenol may result in either a desired polymeric substance (i.e. the polyphenylene ether, PPE) or the undesired “dimeric” species diphenoquinone, DPQ. The relative amounts of each product depend on the experimental conditions and the used catalytic system. Usually copper amine compounds are used as a catalyst for the oxidative coupling reactions. They have the advantage of easy access and produce high yields of high molecular PPE; however, other metal coordination compounds, like those of Mn, may also be used as catalysts. The present paper focuses on mechanistic studies with various copper (aliphatic and aromatic) amine compounds as catalysts. Owing to the steric constraints of the amine ligands, dinuclear Cu(II) compounds, with small bridging anionic ligands, are easily formed. Such species are believed to be the catalyst precursors. Upon addition of a base (1:1 on copper) and excess phenol, phenolate ligands coordinate as bridging ligands to copper. After a two-electron transfer reaction, the resulting phenoxonium ligand, which is a rather poor ligand, remains attached to the Cu(I), probably coordinating via its aromatic ring. Nucleophilic attack by a phenol to the phenoxonium ion at the 4-position is likey to be most important to the coupling reaction. In the beginning of the reaction the undesired side product DPQ is also formed via a C–C coupling reaction. With copper(II) compounds containing imidazole-type chelating ligands, good activity was obtained; in the case of pyrazole-based and bridging S-donor chelating ligands, that no or very weak activity was found. In a study of the mechanism of the propagation reaction the rate-determining reaction was thought to be probably a one-step, two-electron transfer, during which the two Cu(II) ions in the dinuclear complex oxidize the phenolate to phenoxonium. After the phenoxium ion is formed the bonding with the (then) Cu(I) species is weakened and the reactions with phenolic end groups can take place. The effect of the amine ligands appears to be both steric and electronic. With certain ligands the reoxidationof the reduced catalyst is not possible.     

Nanosecond and picosecond laser flash photolysis studies of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylmethanes

The transient absorption spectra of the 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylmethanes 1a–1c in solution were examined in the picosecond and nanosecond time ranges. The absorption bands, observed at 420–450 nm on 355 nm (18 ps) excitation of these compounds, were attributed to the nitronic acids 2a–2c, formed through the singlet-state- mediated intramolecular hydrogen abstraction and the triplet states of 1a–1c. Biradical intermediates, formed through the intramolecular abstraction of the benzylic hydrogen by the triplet excited state, were detected for 1a and 1b. Transient species produced following 355 nm (approximately 6 ns) pulse excitation of 1a–1c result in the formation of the corresponding nitronic acids 2a–2c, with absorption maxima around 415–430 nm. These nitronic acids are the precursors of the various products formed in the steady state irradiation of 1a–1c     

The chemistry of phenalenium system—II 7,8,2′,3′,4′,5′-Hexachloro-11-methoxy-6H-cyclopenta[a]pyrene-6-spiro-1′-cyclopenta-2′,4′-diene

7,8,2′,3′,4′,5′-Hexachloro-11-methoxy-6H-cyclopenta[a]pyrene-6-spiro-1′-cyclopenta-2′,4′-diene 5 has been obtained by the reaction of phenalenone and 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclopentadiene. The gross structure of 5 has been determined by the X-ray analysis. The ground-state properties of 5were discussed from the spectroscopic data, dipole moment and bond lengths.     

A rapid efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of a 3′,5′-pentathymidine by copper(I)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition

Starting from 5′-O-tosylthymidine, sequential azidation and Cu-catalyzed [3+2] azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition led to the formation of a 3′,5′-pentathymidine in high yield. The whole process needed only work-up/precipitation steps and was completed within just 18 min, thanks to microwave activation.     

Spectroscopic studies of 5,5′-dimethoxy-3,3,′-disulfobutyl-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine (DDTC) in solutions and immobilized in sol-gel matrices

Absorption spectra of 5,5′-dimethoxy-3,3,′-disulfobutyl-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine (DDTC) in aqueous solutions and immobilized in xerogels prepared by the sol-gel method were obtained. Influence of pH, detergent (Triton X-100), ethanol addition and sol-gel preparation method on the dye aggregation equilibria and its photostability were investigated. In liquid solutions lowering of pH, as well as addition of the detergent, shift the aggregation equilibrium towards the DDTC monomeric form. However, while more acidic conditions result in a decrease of the dye stability, addition of the detergent has a slightly stabilizing effect on the dye. However, addition of ethanol drastically reduces the DDTC photodecomposition and shifts the aggregation equilibrium towards the dye monomer. Entrappment of the thiacarboxycyanine in sol-gel matrix does not prevent the bleaching although the entrapped dye displays significantly increased stability. Lowering of temperature and keeping the doped xerogels in the dark further retards the immobilized dye bleaching and dimer formation.     

Catalytic Activity of Polymer Anchored Cu-tren Complex in the Oxidation of 2,6-Di-t-butyl Phenol

Poly(styrene-co-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co- dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) were prepared by solution polymerization. These polymers were quaternized by methyl iodide and n-hexyl bromide. The produced polymers were used as support in the aqueous oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (DBP) using hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by tris(2-aminoethyl)amine copper(II) complex “Cu(II)-tren complex” anchored on the prepared polymers. The products obtained from the reactions were 3,3′-5,5′-tetra-tert-butyldiphenoquinine (DPQ) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (BQ). No reaction products were obtained when the reaction was carried out in the absence of polymeric catalyst. The polymer composition and reaction medium greatly affect product distribution of the reaction. Polar organic solvent like DMF and methanol favor the formation of DPQ, while nonploar organic solvent like benzene and methylene chloride favor the formation of BQ. Hydrophobic branches of polymers 6 (PS-HexBr-Cu-TREN) and 8 (PMMA-HexBr-Cu-TREN) favor BQ formation as the weight of support increased. On the other hand, DPQ is favored in the presence of hydrophilic branches as observed for both polymeric catalysts 5 (PS-MeI-Cu-TREN) and 7 (PMMA-MeI-Cu-TREN).     

Construction of a three-dimensional network with open channels via Ag–Ag and π–π interactions between nanoscale sized molecular chains

The reaction of Ag₂O with pybz (pybz=4-(4-pyridyl)benzoate) gave the monomer compound [Ag(pycz)(H₂O)], 1. Using 4,4′-bipyridyl (bpy) as a spacer to increase the length of the monomer resulted in the nanosized molecular chain compound [Ag₂(pybz)₂(bpy)], 2. In 1, two monomers [Ag(pycz)(H₂O)] are combined together through Agπ, ππ and Ag(CC) interactions to form a dimer, with the distances of 3.34, 3.56 and 3.18 Å, respectively. In 2, the [Ag₂(pybz)₂(bpy)] units are held together via ππ (3.4–3.5 Å) interactions resulting in a 3D network with 1D open channels.     

3′-Substituted pyrimidines via alkylation-opening of 2,3′-cyclothymidine

Substituted thymidine derivatives are of interest because of their potential antiviral properties. We demonstrate a general strategy for synthesis of 3′-substituted thymidine derivatives, consisting of activation via N-3 alkylation of 2,3′-cyclothymidine followed by nucleophilic opening at the 3′-position. Examples include demonstration of carbon-carbon bond formation at the 3′-position.     

Catalysis of copper(II) chelate-amine complexes in the oxidative coupling of 2,6-dialkylphenols

The oxidative coupling reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol with molecular oxygen was performed by using a series of copper(II) chelate complexes as a catalyst, derived from copper(II), β-diketone, and some Shiff bases. Under the applied reaction conditions, the reaction products of 2,6-dimethylphenol were poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (C? O coupling product) and 3,3′,5-5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone (C? C coupling product), and that of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol oxidation was only 3,3′,5-5′-tetra-tert-butyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone (C? C coupling product). The catalytic activity has been shown to be dependent on the properties of the copper(II) chelates used as catalysts and the mole ratios of amine ligand to copper(II) chelate (ligand ratio). The basicity and the steric bulkiness of the amine used as a ligand for copper(II) β-diketonato catalysts were found to be two of the main factors that govern the oxidative coupling mode (C? O and/or C? C coupling) of 2,6-dimethylphenol. The oxidative coupling activity of 2,6-dialkylphenol is discussed in terms of both the stabilities of the copper(II) chelates and of the copper(II) chelate-amine adducts. The rate of oxygen absorption for 2,6-dimethylphenol catalyzed by the copper(II) acetylacetonato-piperidine system is first order in oxygen partial pressure and zero order in 2,6-dimethylphenol concentration, respectively. A Cu(II)-oxygen, as an intermediate is suggested on the basis of the results obtained.     

5-nitro-5-(1′-cyclohexenyl)- and 5-nitro-5-(1′-cycloheptenyl)-3-benzyl- and 3-cyclohexyl tetrahydro-1,3-oxazines

1-(Cyclohexenyl- and 1-cycloheptenylnitromethane have been used as starting substances to yield 2-nitro-2-(1′-cyclohexenyl)- and 2-nitro-2-(1′-cycloheptenyl)-propanediol-1,3 (B) respectively. By reacting them with formaldehyde and benzylamine or formaldehydes and cyclohexylamine, derivatives of tetrahydro-1,3-oxazine (B) have been prepared. Acid hydrolysis of tetrahydro-1,3-oxazine derivatives results in the formation of 3-hydroxy-2-nitro-2-(1′-cyclohexenyl)- and 3-hydroxy-2-nitro-2-(1′-cycloheptenyl)-propylamine derivatives (E). Both aminoalcohols (E) react with formaldehyde to again yield tetrahydro-1,3-oxazine derivatives (C).

Infra-red spectra of C and E and their hydrochlorides D and F were examined and structure assignments made of the principal bands.     

Studies of UV photochemistry and transition moment directions of 4,5′,8-trimethyl-psoralen (TMP) by means of polarized infrared ATR spectroscopy

The UV homodimerization of 4,5′,8-trimethyl-psoralen (TMP) both in a solvent and in crystalline thin layers has been investigated.

In the crystalline phase, TMP was found to dimerize completely to the trans—anti stereoisomer. On the basis of polarized IR ATR spectra of thin layers deposited onto a KRS-5 plate, both the monomer and the dimer of TMP were found to have well-defined orientations. The directions of several transition moments have been calculated.

On irradiating TMP in solution, the photochemical reaction results in the cis—syn stereoisomer.