The stability of columns comprising alternating triphenylene and hexaphenyltriphenylene molecules: variations in the structure of the hexaphenyltriphenylene component

Previous investigations of complementary polytopic interaction (CPI) columnar mesophases, in which the columns are built up of alternating hexaalkoxytriphenylene (HAT) and hexaphenyltriphenylene (PTP) molecules, concentrated mainly on the effect of variations in the structure of the HAT component. This investigation is concerned with the effect of variations in the structure of the PTP component and, in particular, variations in the position of an alkoxy side chain in the phenyl ring. Stable columnar mesophases are obtained when a hexyloxy substituent is placed in the meta- or para-position but not in the ortho-position. In the case of the meta- and para-substituted systems, the two-component CPI columnar phases are stable over a considerably larger temperature range than the one-component HAT systems. The evidence suggests that unfavourable PTP/PTP stacking is as much a driving force for the formation of these mixed stacks as is favourable PTP/HAT stacking, but both need to be explained in terms of the sum of atomically dispersed van der Waals and coulombic interactions. On cooling from the isotropic into the Col_h phase, the columnar phase based on a 1:1 mixture of hexakis(hexyloxy)tripenylene and the meta-hexyloxy-substituted PTP gives an unusual texture consisting of 'viking-axe'-shaped structures.     

Highly Active and Robust Metalloporphyrin Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from a Broad Range of Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide

Bifunctional metalloporphyrins with quaternary ammonium bromides (nucleophiles) at the meta, para, or ortho positions of meso‐phenyl groups were synthesized as catalysts for the formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide under solvent‐free conditions. The meta‐substituted catalysts exhibited high catalytic performance, whereas the para‐ and ortho‐substituted catalysts showed moderate and low activity, respectively. DFT calculations revealed the origin of the advantage of the meta‐substituted catalyst, which could use the flexible quaternary ammonium cation at the meta position to stabilize various anionic species generated during catalysis. A zinc(II) porphyrin with eight nucleophiles at the meta positions showed very high catalytic activity (turnover number (TON)=240 000 at 120 °C, turnover frequency (TOF)=31 500 h^?1 at 170 °C) at an initial CO₂ pressure of 1.7 MPa; catalyzed the reaction even at atmospheric CO₂ pressure (balloon) at ambient temperature (20 °C); and was applicable to a broad range of substrates, including terminal and internal epoxides.     

Functionalization of Hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronenes: Investigation of the Substituent Effects on a Superbenzene

We have demonstrated that the iridium‐catalyzed direct borylation of hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) enables regioselective introduction of boryl groups to the para‐, ortho‐, and meta‐substituted HBCs in high yields. The boryl groups have been transformed into various functionalities such as hydroxy, cyano, ethynyl, and amino groups. We have elucidated that the substituents significantly influence the photophysical properties of HBCs to enhance fluorescence quantum yields. DFT calculations revealed that the origin of the substituent effect is the lift in degeneracy in the frontier orbitals by an interaction with electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents at the para‐ and ortho‐positions. The change in molecular orbitals results in an increase of the transition probability from the S₀→S₁ states. In addition, the two‐photon absorption cross‐section values of para‐substituted HBCs are significantly larger than those of ortho‐ and meta‐substituted HBCs.     

Substituent Effect on the C–NO2 and N–NO2 Bond Dissociation Energies of Nitroaromatic Molecules

Six density function theory methods (B3LYP, B3P86, MPWB1K1, MPWPW91, PBEPBE, TPSS1KCIS3) were used to calculate bond dissociation enthalpies of nitro compounds, where the B3P86 method was found to give the most accurate predictions. Using the B3P86 method meta‐ and para‐substituted nitroaromatics were systematically studied for the first time. The remote substituent effects, Hammett relationships, and the origin of the substituent effects were discussed on the basis of the calculated results. Both meta‐ and para‐substituted nitromethyl‐benzenes showed significant substituent effects and a fair correlation against substituent constants σ_p⁺ The ground state effects were found to play the major role in determining the overall substituent effects. Meanwhile, nitroamino‐ benzenes showed irregular substituent effects and a poorer Hammett correlation, where both ground and radical state effects contributed to the overall substituent effects.     

Distance‐Dependent Attractive and Repulsive Interactions of Bulky Alkyl Groups

The stabilizing and destabilizing effects of alkyl groups on an aromatic stacking interaction were experimentally measured in solution. The size (Me, Et, iPr, and tBu) and position (meta and para) of the alkyl groups were varied in a molecular balance model system designed to measure the strength of an intramolecular aromatic interaction. Opposite stability trends were observed for alkyl substituents at different positions on the aromatic rings. At the closer meta‐position, smaller groups were stabilizing and larger groups were destabilizing. Conversely, at the farther para‐position, the larger alkyl groups were systematically more stabilizing with the bulky tBu group forming the strongest stabilizing interaction. X‐ray crystal structures showed that the stabilizing interactions of the small meta‐alkyl and large para‐alkyl groups were due to their similar distances and van der Waals contact areas with the edge of opposing aromatic ring.     

Photoisomerization of Trans Ortho‐, Meta‐, Para‐Nitro Diarylbutadienes: A Case of Regioselectivity

A series of ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐substituted trans‐nitro aryl (phenyl and pyridyl) butadienes have been synthesized and characterized. The effect of substitution and positional selectivity on their fluorescence and photoisomerization were systematically investigated. Among all dienes, meta‐ and para‐nitro phenyl‐substituted derivatives exhibit remarkable solvatochromic emission shifts due to intramolecular charge transfer. On the other hand, ortho derivatives undergo regioselective isomerization upon photoexcitation in contrast to inefficient isomerization of para and meta nitro‐substituted dienes. Single crystal X‐ray analysis revealed existence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the nitro group and the hydrogen of the proximal double bond. This restricts the rotation of the proximal double bond thereby allowing regioselective isomerization. The observations were also supported by NMR spectroscopic studies.     

Haloaza‐closo‐dodecaboranes

The bromo‐ and iodoaza‐closo‐dodecaboranes HNB₁₁H₁₀Hal (Hal = Br, I), MeNB₁₁H₉Br₂, and MeNB₁₁H₈Br₃ are formed from [NB₁₁H₁₁]^– and MeNB₁₁H₁₁, respectively, by electrophilic halogenation with elementary halogen in the presence of acidic catalysts. Hydrogen in para‐ or in para‐ and meta‐position with respect to the cluster‐N atom is substituted by halogen. With iodine chloride as halogenation agent, all the 11 boron bound H atoms of MeNB₁₁H₁₁ are substituted to give HNB₁₁Cl₅I₆ with iodine in the para‐ and meta‐ and chlorine in the ortho‐positions, presumably via electrophilic (I) and nucleophilic substitution (Cl). The products are characterized by their NMR spectra, the product HNB₁₁Cl₅I₆ also by crystal structure analysis.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of substituted benzaldehydes by hexamethylenetetramine‐bromine

The oxidation of thirty‐six monosubstituted benzaldehydes by hexa‐methylenetetramine‐bromine (HABR), in aqueous acetic acid solution, leads to the formation of the corresponding benzoic acids. The reaction is first order with respect to HABR. Michaelis‐Menten–type kinetics were observed with respect to aldehyde. The reaction failed to induce the polymerization of acrylonitrile. There is no effect of hexamethylenetetramine on the reaction rate. The oxidation of [²H]benzaldehyde (PhCDO) indicated the presence of a substantial kinetic isotope effect. The effect of solvent composition indicated that the reaction rate increases with an increase in the polarity of the solvent. The rates of oxidation of meta‐ and para‐substituted benzaldehydes showed excellent correlations in terms of Charton's triparametric LDR equation, whereas the oxidation of ortho‐substituted benzaldehydes correlated well with tetraparametric LDRS equation. The oxidation of para‐substituted benzaldehydes is more susceptible to the delocalization effect but the oxidation of ortho‐ and meta‐substituted compounds displayed a greater dependence on the field effect. The positive value of γ suggests the presence of an electron‐deficient reaction center in the rate‐determining step. The reaction is subjected to steric acceleration when ortho‐substituents are present. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 615–622, 2000     

Site‐Selective Linear Alkylation of Anilides by Cooperative Nickel/Aluminum Catalysis

We report meta‐ and para‐selective linear alkylation reactions of anilides with alkenes by nickel/N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and aluminum catalysis. With a less bulky NHC, the alkylation reaction of N‐methyl‐N‐phenylcyclohexanecarboxamides proceeded mainly at the meta position. In contrast, a bulky NHC ligand led to the para‐selective alkylation of N‐sec‐alkyl anilides.     

A Convenient Synthesis of N‐Aryl Benzamides by Rhodium‐Catalyzed ortho‐Amidation and Decarboxylation of Benzoic Acids

The rhodium‐catalyzed amidation of substituted benzoic acids with isocyanates by directed C?H functionalization followed by decarboxylation to afford the corresponding N‐aryl benzamides is demonstrated, in which the carboxylate serves as a unique, removable directing group. Notably, less common meta‐substituted N‐aryl benzamides are generated readily from more accessible para‐ or ortho‐substituted groups by employing this strategy.     

meta‐ and para‐Phenylenediamine‐Fused Porphyrin Dimers: Synthesis and Magnetic Interactions of Their Dication Diradicals

meta‐ and para‐Phenylenediamine‐fused nickel(II) porphyrin dimers were synthesized by S_NAr reaction of meso,β,β‐trichloro nickel(II) porphyrin with meta‐ and para‐phenylenediamines and subsequent Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular C?H arylation. Their tetrachlorinated dication diradicals are very stable, allowing SQUID magnetometry and revealing clear open‐shell characters for both meta and para isomers with ferro‐ and anti‐ferromagnetic interactions, respectively. The nitrogen analogue of Thiele's hydrocarbon usually displays predominant closed‐shell nature but its hidden diradical characters increase either in a twisted conformation or upon insertion of an additional phenylene spacer. The observed distinct diradical nature of the para‐congener indicates that diradical properties can be enhanced also by efficient spin delocalization.     

Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Hydroxy‐Substituted Azobenzenes in Water

Ultrafast UV/Vis pump/probe experiments on ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐hydroxy‐substituted azobenzenes (HO‐ABs), as well as for sulfasalazine, an AB‐based drug, were performed in aqueous solution. For meta‐HO‐AB, AB‐like isomerisation behaviour can be observed, whereas, for ortho‐HO‐AB, fast proton transfer occurs, resulting in an excited keto species. For para‐HO‐AB, considerable keto/enol tautomerism proceeds in the ground state, so after excitation the trans‐keto species isomerises into the cis form. Aided by TD‐DFT calculations, insight is provided into different deactivation pathways for HO‐AB, and reveals the role of hydroxy groups in the photochemistry of ABs, as well as their acetylation regarding sulfasalazine. Hydroxy groups are position‐specific substituents for AB, which allow tuning of the timescale of thermal relaxation, as well as the amount and contribution of the keto species to photochemical processes.     

The ortho‐Substituent Effect on the Ag‐Catalysed Decarboxylation of Benzoic Acids

A combined experimental and computational investigation on the Ag‐catalysed decarboxylation of benzoic acids is reported herein. The present study demonstrates that a substituent at the ortho position exerts dual effects in the decarboxylation event. On one hand, ortho‐substituted benzoic acids are inherently destabilised starting materials compared to their meta‐ and para‐substituted counterparts. On the other hand, the presence of an ortho‐electron‐withdrawing group results in an additional stabilisation of the transition state. The combination of both effects results in an overall reduction of the activation energy barrier associated with the decarboxylation event. Furthermore, the Fujita–Nishioka linear free energy relationship model indicates that steric bulk of the substituent can also exert a negative effect by destabilising the transition state of decarboxylation.     

1-萘甲酰苯胺和2-萘甲酰苯胺的分子内电荷转移研究

A series of 1-naphthanilides (1) and 2-naphthanilides (2) with varied substituents at the para- or meta-position of anilino phenyl ring were prepared and their absorption and fluorescence spectra in a nonpolar solvent cyclohexane were investigated. An abnormal long wavelength emission assigned to the charge transfer (CT) state was found for all of the prepared naphthanilides in cyclohexane. A linear free energy correlation between the CT emission energies and the Hammett constants of the substituent was found within series 1 and 2. The value of the linear slope with 1 (0.42 eV) was higher than that with 2 (0.32 eV) being close to that of the substituted benzanilides 3 (0.31 eV) The higher slope value suggested higher charge separation extent in the CT state of 1 than that of 2. It was found that the corresponding linear slope of anilino-substituted benzanilides remained unchanged when para-, meta-, ortho-, or ortho, ortho-methyls were introduced into the anilino moiety, which ruled out the possible contribution of the difference in the steric effect and the electron accepting ability of the naphthoyl acceptor in 1 and 2. Compared with the early reported N-substituted-benzoyl-aminonaphthalene derivatives 4 and 5, it was considered that 1-naphthoyl enhanced the charge transfer in 1 and the proximity of its ^1La and ^1Lb states was suggested to be responsible. It was shown that 1- and/or 2-substituted naphthalene cores acting as either electron acceptor (naphthoyl) or electron donor (aminonaphthalene) were different in not only electron accepting (donating) ability but also shaping the charge transfer pathway.     

Studies on the kinetics of imidazolium fluorochromate oxidation of some meta‐ and para‐substituted anilines in nonaqueous media

The imidazolium fluorochromate (IFC) oxidation of meta‐ and para‐substituted anilines, in seven organic solvents, in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH) is first order in IFC and TsOH and is zero order with respect to substrate. The IFC oxidation of 15 meta‐ and para‐substituted anilines at 299–322 K complies with the isokinetic relationship but not to any of the linear free energy relationships; the isokinetic temperature lies within the experimental range. The specific rate of oxidizing species‐anilines reaction (k₂) correlates with substituent constants affording negative reaction constants. The rate data failed to correlate with macroscopic solvent parameters such as ε_r and E^N_T. A correlation of rate data with Kamlet–Taft solvatochromic parameters (α, β, π*) suggests that the specific solute–solvent interactions play a major role in governing the reactivity, and the observed solvent effects have been explained on the basis of solute–solvent complexation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 166–175, 2006     

Structural motifs in acetoacetanilides: the effect of a fluorine substituent

The structures of three fluoro‐substituted acetoacetanilides, namely 2′‐, 3′‐ and 4′‐fluoro­acetoacetanilide, all C₁₀H₁₀FNO₂, are presented and discussed. We observe a planar structure with intramolecular hydrogen bonding when the F atom is in the ortho position of the aromatic ring, and a twisted structure with intermolecular hydrogen bonding when the F atom is in the meta or para positions. It can be predicted which of these two structural motifs will be adopted by considering the position of any aromatic substituents. In this regard, fluorine appears to mimic the steric effect of a larger substituent, which we attribute to its high electronegativity.     

Preparation and evaluation of novel chiral stationary phases based on quinine derivatives comprising crown ether moieties

The C9‐position of quinine was modified by meta‐ or para‐substituted benzo‐18‐crown‐6, and immobilized on 3‐mercaptopropyl‐modified silica gel through the radical thiol‐ene addition reaction. These two chiral stationary phases were evaluated by chiral acids, amino acids, and chiral primary amines. The crown ether moiety on the quinine anion exchanger provided a ligand‐exchange site for primary amino groups, which played an important role in the retention and enantioselectivity for chiral compounds containing primary amine groups. These two stationary phases showed good selectivity for some amino acids. The complex interaction between crown ether and protonated primary amino group was investigated by the addition of inorganic salts such as LiCl, NH₄Cl, NaCl, and KCl to the mobile phase. The resolution results showed that the simultaneous interactions between two function moieties (quinine and crown ether) and amino acids were important for the chiral separation.     

Direct CH Amidation of Benzoic Acids to Introduce meta‐ and para‐Amino Groups by Tandem Decarboxylation

The Ir‐catalyzed mild C?H amidation of benzoic acids with sulfonyl azides was developed to give reactions with high efficiency and functional‐group compatibility. Subsequent protodecarboxylation of ortho‐amidated benzoic acid products afforded meta‐ or para‐substituted (N‐sulfonyl)aniline derivatives, the latter being inaccessible by other C?H functionalization approaches. The decarboxylation step was compatible with the amidation conditions, enabling a convenient one‐pot, two‐step process.     

Facile synthesis,characterisation and anti‐inflammatory activities of ferrocenyl ester derivatives of 4‐arylidene‐5‐imidazolinones

This article describes the synthesis, optoelectronic properties and anti‐inflammatory activities of a series of seven ferrocenyl ester‐linked 4‐arylidene‐5‐imidazolinone conjugates. Three different types of ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐substituted ferrocenyl esters have been prepared. Their UV–Vis spectra and electrochemical studies are described. The structure of one of the conjugates was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study. These conjugates exhibited moderate anti‐inflammatory activities.     

A Series of Ti6 Oxo Clusters Anchored with Arylamine Dyes: Effect of Dye Structures on Photocurrent Responses

Dye molecules pre‐anchored on titanium oxo clusters (dye‐TOCs) are attractive as model compounds of dye‐sensitized titanium oxide. To investigate the effects of the dye ligand structures of the dye‐TOCs on photocurrent conversion, a series of dye‐TOCs with the same Ti₆ core structure and different antenna ligands (L) was synthesized and characterized crystallographically. The TOCs have the same structural formula of [Ti₆O₄L₂(O₃PPh)₂(OiPr)₁₀]. Two types of dyes with para‐ or meta‐substituted structures were designed and used as the ligands. The results show that charge transfer from the donor group to the TiO core of the TOCs with the para‐substituted ligands is stronger than those with the meta‐substituted ligands. The steric effect of the ligands also greatly influences the photocurrent density. Larger branched structures of the dye ligands reduce the coverage density of the dye‐TOCs on TiO₂ electrodes and also weaken the effective covalent bonding of the dye‐TOCs on the electrode, and consequently, the photocurrent is decreased.