2,3-Diarylquinoxaline directed mono ortho-aroylation via cross-dehydrogenative coupling using aromatic aldehydes or alkylbenzenes as aroyl surrogate

2,3-Diarylquinoxaline directed mono ortho-aroylation protocol has been developed using aromatic aldehydes or alkybenzenes as aroyl surrogates. Out of the four available ortho sp² C–H bonds in the two aryl rings of 2,3-diarylquinoxaline one of the C–H bond is selectively ortho-aroylated. The reaction proceeds via the aroyl radical path in the case of aromatic aldehydes while the alkylbenzenes follow either an aroyl radical or a benzyl radical path. Varieties of functional groups present as substituents in 2,3-diarylquinoxalines, aromatic aldehydes and alkylbenzenes are tolerated under the present reaction conditions.     

NHC and visible light-mediated photoredox co-catalyzed 1,4-sulfonylacylation of 1,3-enynes for tetrasubstituted allenyl ketones

The modulation of selectivity of highly reactive carbon radical cross-coupling for the construction of C–C bonds represents a challenging task in organic chemistry. N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed radical transformations have opened a new avenue for acyl radical cross-coupling chemistry. With this method, highly selective cross-coupling of an acyl radical with an alkyl radical for efficient construction of C–C bonds was successfully realized. However, the cross-coupling reaction of acyl radicals with vinyl radicals has been much less investigated. We herein describe NHC and visible light-mediated photoredox co-catalyzed radical 1,4-sulfonylacylation of 1,3-enynes, providing structurally diversified valuable tetrasubstituted allenyl ketones. Mechanistic studies indicated that ketyl radicals are formed from aroyl fluorides via the oxidative quenching of the photocatalyst excited state, allenyl radicals are generated from chemo-specific sulfonyl radical addition to the 1,3-enynes, and finally, the key allenyl and ketyl radical cross-coupling provides tetrasubstituted allenyl ketones.

Unprecedented NHC and photocatalysis co-catalyzed radical 1,4-sulfonylacylation of 1,3-enynes has been realized, providing structurally diversified tetrasubstituted allenyl ketones via allenyl and ketyl radical cross-coupling.     

C–F bond functionalizations of trifluoromethyl groups via radical intermediates

Selective functionalization of C–F bonds in trifluoromethyl groups has recently received a growing interest, as it offers atom-and step-economic pathways to access highly valuable mono-and difluoroalkylsubstituted organic molecules using simple and inexpensive trifluoromethyl sources as the starting materials. In this regard, impressive progress has been made on the defluorinative functionalization reactions that proceed via radical intermediates. Nevertheless, it is still a great challenge to p...     

Iron-catalyzed remote functionalization of inert C(sp3)–H bonds of alkenes via 1,n-hydrogen-atom-transfer by C-centered radical relay

As an alternative approach to traditional C–H activation that often involved harsh conditions, and vicinal or primary C–H functionalization, radical relay offers a solution to these long-held problems. Enabled by 1,n (n = 5, 6)-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), we use a most prevalent moiety, alkene, as the precursor to an sp³ C-centered radical to promote selective cleavage of inert C(sp³)–H bonds for the generation of azidotrifluoromethylated molecules. Mild conditions, broad scope and excellent regioselective control (>20 : 1) are observed in the reactions. Deuterium labelling studies disclose the kinetic characteristics of the transformations and verify a direct 1,n-HAT pathway. The key to this C-centered radical relay is that iron plays a dual role as a radical initiator and terminator to incorporate the azide functionality through radical oxidation via azido–ligand-transfer. The methods and the later derivatization promise expeditious synthesis of CF₃-containing organic azides, γ-lactam and triazoles that are widely used in designing new fluorescent tags and functional materials.

Remote functionalization of inert C(sp³)–H bonds is described via iron-catalyzed sp³ C-centered radical relay.     

Enhanced reactivity in radical cyclizations of hydrazones using the silicon-tethered 1-bromovinyl group

A silicon-tethered 1-bromovinyl group was shown to function as a radical precursor for tin-mediated vinyl additions to chiral α- or β-hydroxyhydrazone. In contrast to related thiyl-mediated methods, these vinyl bromides were not limited to the 5-exo cyclization mode. A series of Si-tethered 5-exo and 6-exo cyclizations formed the corresponding five- and six-membered exo-methylene-substituted oxasilacycles. Treatment with fluoride cleaved the Si-C and Si-O bonds to afford the corresponding allylic hydrazines. Diastereoselectivities ranged from 2:1 to 25:1 (anti:syn) for the 5-exo cyclizations, depending on the size of the exocyclic substituent, but 6-exo cyclization was not diastereoselective. A variant involving Tamao oxidation of the exo-methylene oxasilacyclopentane intermediate afforded a methyl ketone, a net process corresponding to addition of a radical acyl anion equivalent.     

Inhibiting effect of 5-amino-5-methyluracil and its derivatives on the free-radical oxidation of 1,4-dioxane

The antiradical activity of 5-amino-6-methyluracil in the initiated radical-chain oxidation of 1,4-dioxane as a model system was studied quantitatively. The rate constant k ₇ of its reaction with the peroxyl radical of 1,4-dioxane was measured to be (5.6 ± 1.8) × 10⁵ L mol^?1 s^?1 at 333 K. The effect of the methyl substituents in the 1- and 3-positions of the uracil ring and in the amino group on the rate constant of inhibition was studied. The strengths of all N-H bonds in the 5-amino-6-methyluracil and its derivatives were calculated in the G3MP2B3 approximation and were compared with the measured rate constants of inhibition. By the example of the reaction of 5-amino-6-uracil with i-PrO ₂ ^?? , different attack pathways of the peroxyl radical at the N-H bonds of uracil were analyzed in the UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) approximation. The lowest activation barrier (5.8 kJ/mol) was observed for peroxyl radical attack on the (C⁵)N-H bonds. The site responsible for the inhibition activity of the compound is the amino group.     

An ESR study of a hydrido-bridged trimetal cluster,Mn3(μ-H)3(CO)12−.

The anion radical of Mn₃(μ-H)₃(CO)₁₂ has been generated in frozen 2-methylte- trahydrofuran solutions by γ-irradiation and its ESR spectra have been analyzed. The spectra are consistent with D_3h geometry of the anion radical. The unpaired electron is accommodated in an a′₂; MO (D3h point group) constructed mainly from the manganese d AO's and with bent σ^★ characteristics with respect to the three MnMn bonds. The spin densities on the manganese d AO's and on the hydrogen 1s AO are estimated as 0.21 and ?0.03, respectively. The g tensor is explained using an MO diagram constructed from a model of the protonated metal-metal bond for the MnHMn bonds.     

Reactivity of C-H bonds in cyclohexanone and 1-tert-butylperoxycyclohexanol toward the tert-butylperoxyl radical

The kinetics of oxygen uptake and the composition of the cyclohexanone oxidation products in the azobisisobutyronitrile-initiated oxidation of cyclohexanone in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide have been investigated by the Howard-Ingold method. The partial rate constants of the reaction of the tert-butylperoxyl radical with the C-H bonds of cyclohexanol and 1-tert-butylperoxycyclohexanole at 333 K have been determined. The carbonyl group of cyclohexanone activates the C-H bonds in the 2- and 6-positions (α) and deactivates the C-H bonds in the 3- and 5-positions (β) compared to the C-H bonds in the 4-position (γ), whose reactivity is similar to that of the methylenic C-H bonds in cyclohexane. Evaluation of the joint effect of the hydroxyl and tert-butylperoxyl groups in 1-tert-butylperoxycyclohexanol suggests a considerable deactivation of the C-H bonds in the 2- and 6-positions (β) and, to a lesser extent, in the 3- and 5-positions (γ).     

Visible-light-mediated selective thiocyanation/ipso-cyclization/oxidation cascade for the synthesis of thiocyanato-containing azaspirotrienediones

A visible-light-mediated metal-free thiocyanate radical addition/ipso-cyclization/oxidation cascade reaction for the synthesis of thiocyanato-containing azaspirotrienediones from N-phenylpropynamides is described. Cheap and readily available ammonium thiocyanate was used as a precursor to the thiocyanate free radical, which undergoes a radical addition reaction with the alkyne, followed by selective ipso-cyclization and oxidation to afford the dearomatized products. No product of ortho-cyclization was detected. The reaction completes the synthesis of C–S, C–C, and CO bonds in one pot, with abundant and renewable air oxygen as the sole sacrificial reagent and oxygen source.     

Convenient peripheral aroyloxylation reactions of porphyrins and chlorophyll-a-based chlorins with benzoyl peroxide

A practical and efficient methodology for the formation of C–O bonds on the porphyrin/chlorin periphery was developed. The aroyloxy-substituted porphyrins and chlorins related to chlorophyll-a at the β- and meso-positions, respectively, were conveniently synthesized by the free radical substitution reaction with benzoyl peroxide and its homologs.     

Photolysis of polyesters: Poly(propylene-1,2-maleate) and poly(propylene-1,2-ortho-phthalate)

A spectroscopic study of the photo-oxidation of poly(propylene-1,2-maleate), poly(propylene-1,2-o-phthalate) and poly(propylene-1,2-maleate-o-phthalate) under 280–480 nm radiation was investigated in detail. Results obtained indicate that, during photolysis of these polyesters, the primary photoreactions involve excitation of conjugated structures: carbonyl groups (in ester groups)—double bonds or carbonyl groups-phenylene rings. The secondary reactions occur by complicated mechanisms resulting in oxidation, scission, radical termination and cross-linking of structures present in the photolysed polyesters. Light of wavelength 280–480 nm causes deterioration in the polyesters in the early stages of irradiation. Singlet oxygen does not react with these polyesters even during long periods of exposure. Photo-oxidation mechanism occurs by free radical mechanism.     

Does Electron Capture Dissociation Cleave Protein Disulfide Bonds?

Peptide and protein characterization by mass spectrometry (MS) relies on their dissociation in the gas phase into specific fragments whose mass values can be aligned as ‘mass ladders’ to provide sequence information and to localize possible posttranslational modifications. The most common dissociation method involves slow heating of even-electron (M+n H)ⁿ⁺ ions from electrospray ionization by energetic collisions with inert gas, and cleavage of amide backbone bonds. More recently, dissociation methods based on electron capture or transfer were found to provide far more extensive sequence coverage through unselective cleavage of backbone N–Cα bonds. As another important feature of electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD), their unique unimolecular radical ion chemistry generally preserves labile posttranslational modifications such as glycosylation and phosphorylation. Moreover, it was postulated that disulfide bond cleavage is preferred over backbone cleavage, and that capture of a single electron can break both a backbone and a disulfide bond, or even two disulfide bonds between two peptide chains. However, the proposal of preferential disulfide bond cleavage in ECD or ETD has recently been debated. The experimental data presented here reveal that the mechanism of protein disulfide bond cleavage is much more intricate than previously anticipated.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles using exo- and endo-selective radical cyclizations onto enamides

The effect of positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides on Bu₃SnH-mediated alkyl radical cyclization leading to five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles was examined. A 5-exo cyclization is generally preferred over a 6-endo ring closure in systems having an alkyl radical center on the enamide-acyl side chain, whereas enamides having an alkyl radical center opposite to the acyl side chain predominantly gave 6-endo cyclization products. These results suggest that the exo or endo selectivity of radical cyclization onto the alkenic bond of enamides can be controlled by positional change of the carbonyl group. For an understanding of these selectivities, heat of formation for each transition state was calculated. 6-endo-Selective radical cyclization was applied to the radical cascade, enabling a concise synthesis of a cylindricine skeleton. A 7- or 8-endo alkyl radical cyclization, however, predominated over a corresponding 6- or 7-exo ring closure regardless of the positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides.     

Allylic C(sp3)–H alkylation via synergistic organo- and photoredox catalyzed radical addition to imines

A new catalytic method for the direct alkylation of allylic C(sp³)–H bonds from unactivated alkenes via synergistic organo- and photoredox catalysis is described. The transformation achieves an efficient, redox-neutral synthesis of homoallylamines with broad functional group tolerance, under very mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the reaction proceeds through the N-centered radical intermediate which is generated by the allylic radical addition to the imine.

A new catalytic method for the direct alkylation of allylic C(sp³)–H bonds from unactivated alkenes via synergistic organo- and photoredox catalysis is described.     

Relative concentrations and relaxation properties of isomeric alkyl radicals in γ-irradiated n-alkane single crystals

The relative concentrations of alkyl radicals CH₃C?HCH₂R(I) and R'CH₂C?HCH₂R''(II) were measured at low microwave power in some n-alkane single crystals γ-irradiated at 77 K to a dose of 1 Mrad. The relative concentration of radical (II) increased as the number of carbon atoms became larger. The amount of radical (I) was in agreement with a mechanism where all CH bonds in an n-alkane molecule are raptured with the same probability followed by an isomerization of primary alkyl radicals to radical (I). In n-decane for instance this mechanism predicts 45.5% of radical (I) compared to the experimental value of 45.5%. Saturation measurements of radical (I) and radical (II) under slow passage condition showed that the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ is shorter for radical (I) (ca. 3 × 10^?4s) than for radical (II) (ca. 80 × 10^?4s), while the spin-spin relaxation times T₂ are similar (ca. 2 × 10^?8s). The relatively short relaxation time T₁ in radical (I) is thought to originate from higher mobility of the end of the alkane chain, where the unpaired electron is localized, and also a modulation of the hyperfine coupling from protons in the nearby rotating methyl group. The broad linewidth in irradiated protiated cyrstals was by comparison with results from deuterated matrices concluded to depend on slightly distorted radicals in damaged regions (spurs, short tracks, blobs) and not on electron dipole-dipole interactions. Unresolved γ-proton couplings in radical (I) are thought to cause the spin-flip transitions at high microwave power.     

The reactions of 3,7-dimethylenebicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, norbornadiene and cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene with pentafluoro-λ-sulfanyl chloride

Radical transannular cyclizations of the non-conjugated dienes, such as 3,7-dimethylenebicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and norbornadiene with SF₅Cl upon UV-irradiation led to the corresponding SF₅-substituted 3,7-noradamantane and nortricyclanes with high yields. Radical reaction of cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene with SF₅Cl led to a product of SF₅Cl addition to one of the diene double bonds either UV-irradiation or triethylborane were used for radical initiation.     

Electroreduction mechanism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylhydroxylamines in aprotic solvents: formation of hydrogen bonds between <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(3-nitrophenyl)hydroxylamine and its radical anion

The electroreduction of N-(3-nitrophenyl)hydroxylamine in DMF was studied using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and numerical simulation. It is shown that the stability of formed radical anion is significantly higher than that of the radical anion of the 4-nitrophenyl derivative. In the range of low concentrations and high potential scan rates, the electroreduction of N-(3-nitrophenyl)hydroxylamine is complicated only by the formation of complexes between the depolarizer molecules, most likely, due to hydrogen bonds, as well as between the depolarizer and its radical anion. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of these processes were evaluated.     

Restriction of Spin Probe Motions in Polymer Composites Due to Chemical Factors

Abstract

Hyperfine splitting constants of the nitroxyl radical, with and without hydrogen bonds to the surrounding molecules, have been calculated using the UHF method on a 6-31G* base. In polyethylene filled with silica, hydrogen bonds are formed between nitroxyl radicals and —OH groups of the filler. The formation of hydrogen bonds leads to a change in the A _zz value from 3.33 mT for an isolated nitroxyl radical to 3.83 mT for a radical with a hydrogen bond. The relevant values as measured experimentally are 3.4 and 4.0 mT, respectively. The same procedure was used to calculate the theoretical A _zz value for a nitroxyl radical interacting with polyamide via a hydrogen bond. The value was found to be 3.63 mT (experimental value = 3.6 mT). Hydrogen bond formation results in a restricted motion of the nitroxyl radical in a polymeric medium.     

Synthesis of charged phenyl radicals and biradicals by laser photolysis in a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer

The feasibility of generating substituted phenyl radicals and biradicals (with a charged substituent) in the gas phase by laser photolysis was examined by using a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The precursors were generated by ipso-substitution of a halogen atom in the radical cation of a di- or trihalobenzene by various nucleophiles. Photolytic cleavage of the remaining carbon-halogen bond(s) with 266-nm radiation was found to produce many substituted phenyl radicals in greater yields than the earlier employed method, sustained off-resonance irradiated collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD). Furthermore, ion generation by photolysis leads to isomerization less often than collisional activation. Finally, not only phenyl-bromine and phenyl-iodine but also certain phenyl-chlorine bonds can be cleaved by photolysis, whereas the synthetic utility of SORI-CAD appears to be largely limited to the cleavage of phenyl-iodine bonds. Hence, laser photolysis greatly expands the variety of substituted phenyl radicals and biradicals that can be synthesized inside a mass spectrometer.     

A photo-reagent system of benzimidazoline and Ru(bpy)3Cl2 to promote hexenyl radical cyclization and Dowd–Beckwith ring-expansion of α-halomethyl-substituted benzocyclic 1-alkanones

A combination of 2-aryl substituted 1,3-dimethyl-benzimidazolines (DMBIHs) and tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂ was used to promote photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) reactions of α-halomethyl-substituted benzocyclic 1-alkanones. This photo-reagent system stimulates free radical forming, cleavage of both carbon–bromine and carbon–chlorine bonds that are not activated by carbonyl groups. The resulting free radicals undergo 5-exo hexenyl cyclization as well as sequential cyclization and ring-expansion (Dowd–Beckwith) reactions to form radicals that abstract hydrogen atoms from the radical cation of DMBIH to yield the observed products. The results of a study of the effects of substituents located on the 2-aryl ring of DMBIH suggest that steric and hydrogen-bonding interactions influence the nature of the reaction pathways followed by the radical intermediates. PET reactions using an iridium complex and DMBIH were also investigated.