Gas-phase ion–molecule reactions in dilute mixtures of dimethyl ether in krypton. Bimolecular and clustering reactions

The results of high-pressure variable-temperature and variable ionizing electron energy studies of gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of dimethyl ether in krypton are presented. Near the ionization threshold a series of peaks corresponding to (CH₃OCH₃)_nH⁺ (n = 1-4) clusters are observed. At higher ionizing electron energies, two new series of peaks appear, corresponding to [CH₃OCH₂]⁺(CH₃OCH₃)_n and [(CH₃)₃O]⁺ (CH₃OCH₃)_n clusters. The onium ion, [(CH₃)₃O]⁺, has been previously reported at elevated temperatures under methane chemical ionization conditions. It was suggested that the onium ion is formed by reaction of (CH₃)₂OH⁺ with CH₃OCH₃ with subsequent elimination of methanel, i.e. by fragmentation of an adduct ion. The present results strongly suggest that, under our conditions, [CH₃OCH₂]⁺ rather than thermal (CH₃)₃OH⁺, is the precursor to [(CH₃)₃O]⁺.     

17O NMR studies of ortho‐substituent effects in substituted phenyl tosylates

¹⁷O NMR spectra for 35 ortho‐, para‐, and meta‐substituted phenyl tosylates (phenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonates), 4‐CH₃‐C₆H₄SO₂OC₆H₄‐X, at natural abundance in acetonitrile at 50 °C were recorded. The ¹⁷O NMR chemical shifts, δ(¹⁷O), of the sulfonyl (SO₂) and the single‐bonded phenoxy (OPh) oxygens for para and meta derivatives correlated well with dual substituent parameter treatment using the Taft inductive, σ_I, and resonance, σº_R, constants. The influence of ortho substituents on the sulfonyl oxygen and the single‐bonded phenoxy oxygen chemical shifts, δ(¹⁷O), was found to be nicely described by the Charton equation: δ(¹⁷O)_ortho = δ(¹⁷O)_H + ρ_Iσ_I + ρ_Rσ°_R + δE_s^B when the data treatment was performed separately for electron‐donating +R substituents and electron‐attracting ?R substituents. Electron‐attracting meta and para substituents in the phenyl moiety caused deshielding while the electron‐donating meta, para and ortho +R substituents produce shielding effects on the sulfonyl (SO₂) and single‐bonded phenoxy (OPh) oxygens. The influence of ortho inductive and resonance effects in the case of +R substituents was found to be approximately twice higher than the corresponding influence from the para position. Due to the steric effect of ortho substituents a decrease in shielding of the oxygens at the sulfonyl group (δE_s^B > 0, E_s^B < 0) was detected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical ionization mass spectra of mononitroarenes

The H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionization mass spectra of a selection of substituted nitrobenzenes have been determined. It is shown that reduction of the nitro group to the amine is favoured by high source temperatures and the presence of water in the ion source. The H₂ chemical ionization mass spectra are much more useful for distinguishing between isomeric compounds than the CH₄ CI mass spectra because of the more extensive fragmentation. For ortho substituents bearing a labile hydrogen abundant [MH ? H₂O]⁺ fragments are observed. When the substituent is electron-releasing both ortho and para substituted nitrobenzenes show abundant [MH? OH]⁺ fragment ions while meta substituted compounds show abundant loss of NO and NO₂ from [MH]⁺. The latter fragmentation is interpreted in terms of protonation para to the substituent or ortho to the vitro function, while the first two fragmentation routes arise from protonation at the nitro group. When the substituent is electron-attracting the chemical ionization mass spectra of isomers are very similar except for the H₂O loss reaction for ortho compounds.     

Hydrogen migrations in mass spectrometry. VI—the chemical ionization mass spectra of substituted benzoic acids and benzyl alcohols

The H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionization mass spectra of a series of series of substituted benzoic acids and substituted benzyl alcohols have been determined. For the benzoic acids the major fragmentation reactions of the protonated molecule involve elimination of H₂O or elimination of CO₂, the latter reaction involving migration of the carboxylic hydrogen to the aromatic ring. For the benzyl alcohols the major fragmentation reactions of [MH]⁺ involve loss of H₂O or CH₂O, analogous to the CO₂ elimination reaction for the benzoic acids. It is shown that the CO₂ and CH₂O elimination reactions occur only when a conjugated aromatic ring system is present, and that for the carboxylic acid systems, methyl groups and, to a lesser extent, phenyl groups are capable of migrating. The only discernible effect of substituents on the fragmentation of [MH]⁺ is an enhancement of the H₂O loss reaction in the benzoic acid system when an amino, hydroxyl, or halogen substituent is ortho to the carboxyl function. This ‘ortho’ effect, which differs in scope from that observed in electron impact mass spectra, is attributed to an intramolecular catalysis by the ortho substituent of the 1,3 hydrogen migration in the carbonyl protonated acid followed by H₂O elimination. Apparently, this route is favoured over the direct elimination of H₂O from the carbonyl protonated acid, since the latter has a high activation energy barrier because of unfavourable orbital symmetry restrictions.     

REACTIONS OF A PHOSPHORANIMINE ANION WITH SOME ORGANIC ELECTROPHILES

Abstract

The reactions of a variety of electrophiles with the N-silyl-P-trifluoroethoxyphosphoranimine anion Me₃Sin°P(Me)(OCH₂CF₃)CH^? ₂ (1a), prepared by the deprotonation of the dimethyl precursor Me₃SiN[dbnd]P(OCH₂CF₃)Me₂ (1) with n-BuLi in Et₂O at-78°C, were studied. Thus, treatment of 1a with alkyl halides, ethyl chloroformate, or bromine afforded the new N-silylphosphoranimine derivatives Me₃SiN[dbnd]P(Me)(OCH₂CF₃)CH₂R [2: R = Me, 3: R = CH₂Ph, 4: R = CH[sbnd]CH₂, 5: R = C(O)OEt, and 6: R = Br]. In another series, when 1a was allowed to react with various carbonyl compounds, 1,2-addition of the anion to the carbonyl group was observed. Quenching with Me₃SiCl gave the O-silylated products Me₃SiN[dbnd]P(Me)(OCH₂CF₃)CH₂°C(OSiMe₃)R¹R² [7: R ¹ = R ² = Me; 8: R ¹ = Me, R ² = Ph; 9: R¹ = Me, R ² = CH[sbnd]CH₂; and 10: R ¹ = H, R ² = Ph]. Compounds 2–10 were obtained as distillable, thermally stable liquids and were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P) and elemental analysis.     

Unimolecular reactions of ionized methyl acetate and its hydrogen-rearranged isomers

The proposed formation of [CH₃C(OH)OCH₂]⁺˙ (b) as the intermediate in the isomerization [CH₂?C(OH)OCH₃]⁺˙ (c)?b?[CH₃COOCH₃]⁺˙ (c has been confirmed by preparation of b from CH₃COOCH₂OCH₃. For the three isomers a–c the dominant metastable ion (MI) dissociation, CH₃O˙ loss, involves identical kinetic energy release values. The kinetic barriers for a?b and b?c must be nearly as high as that for CH₃O˙ loss from c, as shown by the insensitivity of the mass spectra from collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) of a–c to ionizing electron energy. The H/D scrambling of metastable [CH₂?C(OD)OCH₃]⁺˙ and c–D₃ ions confirm this, indicating that the barrier for a?b is slightly below that for b?c. Minor low-energy dissociations include losses of CH₄ and CH₃OH from a and losses of ˙CHO and CH₂O from b. Comparison of MI and CAD spectra of a–c with those from [CH₃(OH)CH₂O]⁺˙ (d) and [CH₃COCH₂OH]⁺˙ (e) give no evidence for skeletal rearrangement of a–c to d or e.     

Ortho effects in mass spectrometric fragmentation processes

The mass spectra of the phenylhydrazones and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of ortho substituted benzaldehydes and acetophenones (X = I, Br, Cl, OCH₃, OH) show characteristic [M ? X]⁺ ions which allow the ortho derivatives to be distinguished from their meta and para isomers.     

Carbon-13 NMR study of substituted benzyl N,N-dimethylcarbamates

The ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of m- and p-substituted benzyl N,N-dimethylcarbamates were measured in CDCl₃. The meta and para ¹³C substituent chemical shifts were analysed by means of dual substituent parameter (DSP) equations. Good correlations were obtained, especially for the para-carbon substituent chemical shifts. The computed transmission coefficients, ρ_I and ρ_R, are consistent with the general features of the fitting parameters. It has been shown that no significant electron demand is imposed by the ? CH₂OCON(CH₃)₂ substituent.     

Density functional theory investigation of the binding interactions between phosphoryl,carbonyl, imino,and thiocarbonyl ligands and the pentaaqua nickel(II) complex: Coordination affinity and associated parameters

Density Functional Theory (UB3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p)) calculations of the affinity of the pentaaqua nickel(II) complex for a set of phosphoryl [O?P(H)(CH₃)(PhR)], imino [HN?C(CH₃)(PhR)], thiocarbonyl [S?C(CH₃)(PhR)] and carbonyl [O?C(CH₃)(PhR)] ligands were performed, where R?NH₂, OCH₃, OH, CH₃, H, Cl, CN, and NO₂ is a substituent at the para‐position of a phenyl ring.The affinity of the pentaaqua nickel(II) complex for these ligands was analized and quantified in terms of interaction enthalpy (ΔH), Gibbs free energy (ΔG²⁹⁸), geometric and electronic parameters of the resultant octahedral complexes. The ΔH and ΔG²⁹⁸ results show that the ligand coordination strength increases in the following order: carbonyl < thiocarbonyl < imino < phosphoryl. This coordination strength order is also observed in the analysis of the metal‐ligand distances and charges on the ligand atom that interacts with the Ni(II) cation. The electronic character of the substituent R is the main parameter that affects the strength of the metal‐ligand coordination. Ligands containing electron‐donating groups (NH₂, OCH₃, OH) have more exothermic ΔH and ΔG²⁹⁸ than ligands with electron‐withdrawing groups (Cl, CN, NO₂). The metal‐ligand interaction decomposed by means of the energy decomposition analysis (EDA) method shows that the electronic character of the ligand modulates all the components of the metal‐ligand interaction. The absolute softness of the free ligands is correlated with the covalent contribution to the instantaneous interaction energy calculated using the EDA method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Protonation and Anion Binding Properties of Aromatic Bis-Urea Derivatives—Comprehending the Proton Transfer

A series of aromatic bis-urea derivatives was prepared and their proton dissociation, as well as anion binding properties in DMSO were investigated. To this end, UV/Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and computational methods were employed. The synthesized molecules differed in the relative position of the urea moieties (ortho- and meta-derivatives) and in the functional groups (−H, −CH₃, −OCH₃, −NO₂) in the para-position of the pendant phenyl groups. Remarkably high acidities of the compounds (logK₁^H≈14), were ascribed primarily to the stabilizing effect of the aromatic subunits. Quantum chemical calculations corroborated the conclusions drawn from experimental data and provided information from the structural point of view. Knowledge regarding protonation properties proved to be essential for reliable quantitative determination of anion binding affinities. Studied receptors were selective for acetate and dihydrogen phosphate among several anions. Formation of their complexes of 1:1 and 1:2 (ligand/anion) stoichiometries was quantitatively characterized. Proton transfer was taken into account in the course of data analysis, which was especially important in the case of AcO⁻. ortho-Receptors were proven to be more efficient acetate binders, achieving coordination with all four NH groups. The meta-analogues preferred dihydrogen phosphate, which acted as both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor. Cooperative binding was detected in the case of 1:2 H₂PO₄⁻ complexes, which was assigned to formation of interanionic hydrogen bonds.     

Ligand‐Modification Effects on the Reactivity,Solubility, and Stability of Organometallic Tantalum Complexes in Water

Tantalum complexes [TaCp*Me{κ⁴‐C,N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(CH₂NMe₂)?CH)py}] ( 4 ) and [TaCp*Me{κ⁴‐C,N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(CH₂NH₂)?CH)py}] ( 5 ), which contain modified alkoxide pincer ligands, were synthesized from the reactions of [TaCp*Me{κ³‐N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCH)py}] (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) with HC?CCH₂NMe₂ and HC?CCH₂NH₂, respectively. The reactions of [TaCp*Me{κ⁴‐C,N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(Ph)?CH)py}] ( 2 ) and [TaCp*Me{κ⁴‐C,N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(SiMe₃)?CH)py}] ( 3 ) with triflic acid (1:2 molar ratio) rendered the corresponding bis‐triflate derivatives [TaCp*(OTf)₂{κ³‐N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(Ph)?CH₂)py}] ( 6 ) and [TaCp*(OTf)₂{κ³‐N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(SiMe₃)?CH₂)py}] ( 7 ), respectively. Complex 4 reacted with triflic acid in a 1:2 molar ratio to selectively yield the water‐soluble cationic complex [TaCp*(OTf){κ⁴‐C,N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(CH₂NHMe₂)?CH)py}]OTf ( 8 ). Compound 8 reacted with water to afford the hydrolyzed complex [TaCp*(OH)(H₂O){κ³‐N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(OCHC(CH₂NHMe₂)?CH₂)py}](OTf)₂ ( 9 ). Protonation of compound 8 with triflic acid gave the new tantalum compound [TaCp*(OTf){κ⁴‐C,N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(HOCHC(CH₂NHMe₂)?CH)py}](OTf)₂ ( 10 ), which afforded the corresponding protonolysis derivative [TaCp*(OTf)₂{κ³‐N,O,O‐(OCH₂)(HOCHC(CH₂NHMe₂)?CH₂)py}](OTf) ( 11 ) in solution. Complex 8 reacted with CNtBu and potassium 2‐isocyanoacetate to give the corresponding iminoacyl derivatives 12 and 13 , respectively. The molecular structures of complexes 5 , 7 , and 10 were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.     

Reactions of proton-bound dimers

Thermal reactions of proton-bound dimers, (CH₃CN)₂H ⁺, (CH₃OCH₃)₂H ⁺, and (CH₃COCH₃)₂H⁺, were studied using a selected ion flow tube. Reactions observed include association, switching, and proton transfer. The association channel was observed only for base molecules that had hydrogen bonding protons such as NH₃, CH₃NH₂, (CH₃)₂NH, and CH₃OH. An association-insertion mechaniSoc was proposed in which the central proton of the symmetrically bound dimers is replaced by a protonated base, for example, NH ₄ ⁺ . These reactions are relatively slow, which demonstrates a central barrier along the potential energy surface. Ether-containing dimers do not demonstrate this insertion reaction, except for diethers, for example, CH₃OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, which can form stable bicyclic structures. Dimers such as (HCOOH)₂H⁺, which possess hydrogen bonding protons in the periphery, undergo switching reactions with ammonia and no insertion.     

Synthesis and complexing properties of phosphoryl-substituted salicylaldimines

Starting from meta and ortho isomers of (diphenylphosphorylmethyl)anilines 2a,b, procedures were developed for the synthesis of new phosphoryl-substituted Schiff bases 3a,b serving as tridentate ligands. In alcoholic solutions, ligands 3a,b form complexes of different composition with praseodymium and neodymium nitrates. Only the M(L)₂(NO₃)₃ complexes crystallized from solution regardless of the reactant ratio. According to the X-ray diffraction study and IR spectroscopy, one of the ligands in the complexes with ortho ligand 3b is coordinated in a bidentate fashion via the oxygen atom of the P=O group and the phenoxy oxygen atom, whereas the second ligand molecule forms a coordination bond with metal only via the phosphoryl oxygen atom. In the Pr(3a)₂(NO₃)₃ complexes, both meta ligands 3a are involved in thebidentate O,O-coordination. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1827–1835, September, 2007.     

Atmospheric Chemistry of CH3CH2OCH3: Kinetics and Mechanism of Reactions with Cl Atoms and OH Radicals

The atmospheric chemistry of methyl ethyl ether, CH₃CH₂OCH₃, was examined using FT‐IR/relative‐rate methods. Hydroxyl radical and chlorine atom rate coefficients of k (CH₃CH₂OCH₃+OH) = (7.53 ± 2.86) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k (CH₃CH₂OCH₃+Cl) = (2.35 ± 0.43) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were determined (297 ± 2 K). The Cl rate coefficient determined here is 30% lower than the previous literature value. The atmospheric lifetime for CH₃CH₂OCH₃ is approximately 2 days. The chlorine atom–initiated oxidation of CH₃CH₂OCH₃ gives CH₃C(O)H (9 ± 2%), CH₃CH₂OC(O)H (29 ± 7%), CH₃OC(O)H (19 ± 7%), and CH₃C(O)OCH₃ (17 ± 7%). The IR absorption cross section for CH₃CH₂OCH₃ is (7.97 ± 0.40) × 10⁻¹⁷ cm molecule⁻¹ (1000–3100 cm⁻¹). CH₃CH₂OCH₃ has a negligible impact on the radiative forcing of climate.     

α-取代甲苯定向硝化的理论研究

运用密度泛函理论(DFT), 研究了吸电子氟基和供电子羟基在取代甲苯的α-H以后, 其邻、间、对各位次进行硝化反应的速控步骤, 在B3LYP/6-311G**水平上, 计算了该速控步骤基元反应各反应驻点(反应物、过渡态和中间体)的优化几何、电子结构和能量性质, 并首次给出了目标硝化反应速控步骤的IR谱学的动态特征及解析, 从微观层面上验证了反应坐标C—N的形成和C—H的断裂是非协同的, 从而无一级动力学同位素效应的实验事实. 通过对目标硝化反应速控步骤的微观动态计算, 验证了氟基对甲基定位的影响. 氟基的电负性大, 吸电子能力强, 取代甲苯的α-H以后对硝酰阳离子的进攻有抑制作用, 活化能较取代前高, 但比较苄基氟各位次硝化活化能的相对大小得知, －CH₂F仍为邻、对位定向基团. 而供电子羟基取代甲苯的α-H以后, 则对硝酰阳离子的进攻有促进作用, 因而各反应驻点络合物的稳定化能较α-H取代前甲苯的有所增大, 且邻、对位硝化的活化能较间位低, 故－CH₂OH为邻、对位定位基. 但对位因硝化活化能低, 反应放热多, 空间位阻小, 为亲电试剂NO₂⁺最有利的进攻位; 而邻位则因羟基取代甲苯α-H后多了一个氧原子, 增大了邻位进攻的空间位阻, 使得其络合物的能量比相应对位的高.     

Tin Tetrachloride Adducts with Arylphosphoramidates: A Multinuclear (31P, 19F,and 119Sn) NMR Characterization in Solution

Abstract

The synthesis of octahedral complexes [SnCl₄L₂] (L = R₂NP(O)(OCH₂CF₃)(O-p-tolyl): R₂N = Me₂N (1), Et₂N (2), CH₂(CH₂CH₂)₂N (3), and O(CH₂CH₂)₂N (4), or L = R₂NP(O)(OCH₂CF₃)(O-p-PhNO₂): R₂N = Me₂N (5), Et₂N (6), and O(CH₂CH₂)₂N (7) is described. The new adducts have been characterized by multinuclear (³¹P, ¹⁹F, ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The solution NMR data show the presence of a mixture of cis and trans isomers. The structure of the complexes in solution was further confirmed by ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra, which display a triplet for each isomer, indicating an octahedrally coordinated tin center. The effects of the nature of R and Ar substituents on the donor ability of the P=O group in the ligands R₂NP(O)(OCH₂CF₃)(OAr) were investigated on the basis of ¹¹⁹Sn NMR chemical shifts and used to classify these ligands according to their Lewis basicity.     

Phosphoryl transfer from phenyl and 4-nitrophenyl phosphates in aprotic and protic solvents : Amine catalysis and formation of oxyphosphorane and metaphosphate intermediates

The behavior of 4-nitrophenyl dihydrogen phosphate, ArOPO₃H₂, and of its tetra-n-butylammonium and tetramethylammonium salts, ArOPO₃H^?R₄N⁺, ArOPO₃^2?2(R₄N⁺), was studied in aprotic solvents, in the absence and in the presence of increasing amounts of alcohols or water. The reactions were investigated in the absence of amines, and in the presence of hindered and unhindered amines, diisopropylethylamine and quinuclidine. The course of the reactions was followed at 35° or at 70° by ³¹P and ¹H NMR spectrometry. Values for the approximate half-times of the reactions were estimated (± 25 %) from the times at which reactant signal intensity becomes equal to product signal intensity. The mononitrophenyl ester transfers its phosphoryl group to alcohols and water from the diprotonated acid by the addition-elimination mechanism via oxyphosphorane intermediates, and from the monoanion and dianion by the elimination-addition mechanism via the monomeric metaphosphate intermediate, PO₃^?. Formation of PO₃^? is faster from dianion than from monoanion in acetonitrile and in alcohol solutions. Conversely, PO₃^? is generated at a faster rate from monoanion than from dianion in aqueous solution. This effect results from a decrease in the rate of formation of PO₃^? in the solvent series: acetonitrile > alcohols > water. The rate depression as a function of the medium is greater for the dianion than for the monoanion, and is attributed to greater solvation of the more polar phosphate ground state than of the less polar transition state in the more polar protic solvents. Unhindered amines add to 4-nitrophenyl phosphate monoanion, but not to the dianion. The oxyphosphorane intermediate thus formed collapses to aroxide ion and a protonated dipolar phosphoramide which is rapidly deprotonated by the relatively basic 4-nitrophenoxide: ArOPO₃H^? + CH(CH₂CH₂)₃N(acetonitrile ? CH(CH₂CH₂)₃N⁺P(O)(OH)O^? + ArO^?? CH(CH₂ CH₂)₃N⁺PO₃^2?+ ArOH → CH(CH₂CH₂)₃N + PO₃^?. The postulated formation of PO₃^? by this route explains why the addition of quinuclidine to an acetonitrile solution containing the monoanion salt, ArOPO₃H^?R₄N⁺, and t?BuOH produces t-butyl phosphate at a faster rate than the addition of diisopropylethylamine to the same solution. 2,4-Dinitrophenyl phosphate, which was previously studied by the same techniques, reacts via oxyphosphorane intermediates from the diprotonated and the monoanion forms, and via monomeric metaphosphate, from the dianion form.     

Selective catalytic carbanionic ethylation of methylphenols: influence of catalyst and substitution pattern

Addition of ethylene to the carbanions formed by the metallation of the lithium salts of di- and trimethylphenols by the strongly basic system, n-BuLi-LiK(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂ provides a useful synthetic route to a range of alkylphenols. The ease of alkylation of the methyl groups decreases in the order ortho>meta>para while the inclusion of Mg(OCH₂CH₂OEt)₂ in the catalyst restricts alkylation to the methyl groups ortho to the hydroxy group. Dialkylation occurs only at the ortho-methyl groups and only if the adjacent meta-position is unsubstituted. The potential of these products for the synthesis of sterically hindered ligands is outlined.     

A ‘meta effect’ in the fragmentation reactions of ionised alkyl phenols and alkyl anisoles

The competition between benzylic cleavage (simple bond fission [SBF]) and retro‐ene rearrangement (RER) from ionised ortho, meta and para RC₆H₄OH and RC₆H₄OCH₃ (R = n‐C₃H₇, n‐C₄H₉, n‐C₅H₁₁, n‐C₇H₁₅, n‐C₉H₁₉, n‐C₁₅H₃₁) is examined. It is observed that the SBF/RER ratio is significantly influenced by the position of the substituent on the aromatic ring. As a rule, phenols and anisoles substituted by an alkyl group in meta position lead to more abundant methylene‐2,4‐cyclohexadiene cations (RER fragmentation) than their ortho and para homologues. This ‘meta effect’ is explained on the basis of energetic and kinetic of the two reaction channels. Quantum chemistry computations have been used to provide estimate of the thermochemistry associated with these two fragmentation routes. G3B3 calculation shows that a hydroxy or a methoxy group in the meta position destabilises the SBF and stabilises the RER product ions. Modelling of the SBF/RER intensities ratio has been performed assuming two single reaction rates for both fragmentation processes and computing them within the statistical RRKM formalism in the case of ortho, meta and para butyl phenols. It is clearly demonstrated that, combining thermochemistry and kinetics, the inequality (SBF/RER)_meta < (SBF/RER)_ortho < (SBF/RER)_para holds for the butyl phenols series. It is expected that the ‘meta effect’ described in this study enables unequivocal identification of meta isomers from ortho and para isomers not only of alkyl phenols and alkyl anisoles but also in other alkyl benzene series. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The reduction of Ag(I) by α‐silylamines R2NCH2SiX3

The introduction of the organosilicon substituent into the α‐position of an amino group results in cardinal change of the amine reactivity irrespective of the coordination state of silicon. Amines R₂NCH₂SiX₃ [R = Me, Et, PhCH₂, CH₂SiX₃; SiX₃ = SiMe₃, Si(OEt)₃, Si(OCH₂CH₂)₃N] easily react with AgNO₃, to give the corresponding ammonium salts (R₂NH⁺ CH₂SiX₃)·NO₃^?. At the same time, Ag(I) is reduced to Ag(0). The interaction of N‐methyl‐N,N‐bis(silatranylmethyl)amine with AgNO₃ has been investigated by EPR spectroscopy. It was proven that the reaction involved a single electron transfer stage with the formation of cation radical of this amine. A mechanism of the reaction is proposed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.