Synthesis and Electrochemical Behavior of Electron‐Rich s‐Tetrazine and Triazolo‐tetrazine Nitrate Esters

We have prepared energetic nitrate ester derivatives of 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine and 1,2,4‐triazolo[4,3‐b]‐[1,2,4,5]‐tetrazine ring systems as model compounds to study the electrochemical behavior of tetrazines in the presence of explosive groups. The model compounds showed lower thermal stabilities relative to PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), but slightly improved mechanical sensitivities. The presence of electron‐rich amine donors leads to a cathodic shift of the tetrazine redox potentials relative to those of previously reported tetrazine explosives. At these potentials, electron‐rich tetrazines with either covalently bound or co‐dissolved nitrate ester groups are irreversibly reduced. Effectively, changes in the electronic structure of tetrazines affect their electrochemical response to the presence of nitrate ester groups. Thus, it may be possible to develop tetrazine‐based electrochemical sensors for the detection of specific explosives and electrocatalysts for their disposal.     

Interaction of Aromatic Derivatives with Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Fluorescence of semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) normally exhibits diameter‐dependent oxidative quenching behaviour. This behaviour can be changed substantially to become an almost diameter‐independent quenching phenomenon in the presence of electron‐withdrawing nitroaromatic compounds, including o‐nitrotoluene, 2,4‐dinitrotoluene, and nitrobenzene. This change is observed for SWNTs suspended either in sodium dodecyl sulfate or in Nafion upon titration with hydrogen peroxide. Benzene, toluene, phenol, and nitromethane do not show such change. These findings suggest the possibility of forming an electron donor–acceptor complex between SWNTs and nitroaromatic compounds, resulting in leveling the redox potential of different SWNT species. The observation appears to provide a new method for modifying the electrochemical potentials of SWNTs through donor–acceptor complex formation.     

β‐Functionalized meso Tetrahalothien‐2‐ylporphyrins: Synthesis,Spectral, and Electrochemical Properties

Two types of β‐ functionalized (mono nitrated and perbrominated) meso tetrakis(5‐halothien‐;2‐yl)porphyrins, which can be used as precursors for the synthesis of other asymmetric and highly substituted porphyrins, have been synthesised and characterized. Introduction of a nitro group at the β‐ position shifted soret band 11–16 nm to the red region and redox potentials to > 170 mV for oxidation and > 250 mV for reduction anodically. Perbromination of halothienylporphyrins lead to enhanced bathochromically shifted uv‐visible spectral bands, but had only marginal influence on oxidation potentials. Effect of mono nitro group and eight bromo groups on the electronic properties of the porphyrins is attributed, respectively to, the electron deficiency created in the porphyrin π‐ system and the nonplanar conformation induced by the bulky bromo groups.     

Synthesis of Soluble Quinacridone Photocatalysts for the Homogeneous Oxidation of Thioethers

Evaluation of quinacridone (QA) derivatives as homogeneous metal-free photocatalysts is here presented. QA derivatives were synthetized and systematically characterized, measuring their ground state and excited state redox potentials in dichloromethane (DCM) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), in order to understand how structural modifications influenced their photocatalytic properties. In particular, the effect of dicyanomethylene and nitro EWG groups was investigated, in order to develop a photocatalyst capable of promoting oxidative processes in the presence of molecular oxygen. Among the analyzed derivatives, 2,9-dinitro-N,N′-dibutylquinacridone (DNDBQA) was the one with the highest excited state reduction potential (E_red*=1.60 V in HFIP vs SCE), while N,N’-dibutylquinacridone (DBQA) showed valuable excited state redox potentials (E_red*=1.29 V; E_ox*=−1.28 V in HFIP vs SCE), making it suitable for bimodal applications in oxidative and reductive photocatalytic processes. Afterwards, the synthetized QA derivatives were examined as photocatalysts to promote the selective aerobic oxidation of thioether to sulfoxide. Promising results in thioanisole oxidation were achieved with all the QA derivatives tested as photocatalysts, in terms of yield and selectivity. Remarkably, DBQA showed the best performances, catalyzing the reaction in only 20 minutes, using 0.5 % of the photocatalyst, and showing excellent performances in the oxidation of several thioether derivatives.     

Electrochemical Investigation on Porphyrazines with Peripheral Crown-Ether Groups

 In this study, the electrochemical properties of novel porphyrazines with eight crown ether substituents appending on the periphery through flexible chains were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that the metal free porphyrazine gave all of the six possible redox reactions of common porphyrazine derivatives. Cobalt porphyrazine exhibited a metal-based reduction and a metal-based oxidation processes followed by two ligand-based reduction and two oxidation processes. I _p vs. ν^1/2 plots of redox processes of the two compounds indicated the diffusional mass transfer mechanism of the complexes. Copper porphyrazine gave an oxidation process having adsorption properties and three reduction reactions. The variations of peak current ratios of electrochemical reactions for all three complexes with scan rate showed that electron transfer processes of complexes were followed by reversible or irreversible chemical reactions. Aggregation and sandwich adduct formation properties of complexes were determined by CV measurements. Peak potentials of redox processes for all complexes were shifted towards positive potentials by addition of alkali metal cations. Addition of K⁺ formed sandwich type adducts with 15-crown-macrocycles diminishing aggregation of planar molecules by intramolecular rather than intermolecular complexation.     

Electrochemical Investigation on Porphyrazines with Peripheral Crown-Ether Groups

Summary.  In this study, the electrochemical properties of novel porphyrazines with eight crown ether substituents appending on the periphery through flexible chains were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that the metal free porphyrazine gave all of the six possible redox reactions of common porphyrazine derivatives. Cobalt porphyrazine exhibited a metal-based reduction and a metal-based oxidation processes followed by two ligand-based reduction and two oxidation processes. I _p vs. ν^1/2 plots of redox processes of the two compounds indicated the diffusional mass transfer mechanism of the complexes. Copper porphyrazine gave an oxidation process having adsorption properties and three reduction reactions. The variations of peak current ratios of electrochemical reactions for all three complexes with scan rate showed that electron transfer processes of complexes were followed by reversible or irreversible chemical reactions. Aggregation and sandwich adduct formation properties of complexes were determined by CV measurements. Peak potentials of redox processes for all complexes were shifted towards positive potentials by addition of alkali metal cations. Addition of K⁺ formed sandwich type adducts with 15-crown-macrocycles diminishing aggregation of planar molecules by intramolecular rather than intermolecular complexation. Corresponding author. E-mail: ahmetg@itu.edu.tr Received May 23, 2002; accepted (revised) May 31, 2002     

Multifunctional Benzothiadiazole-Based Small Molecules Displaying Solvatochromism and Sensing Properties toward Nitroarenes,Anions, and Cations

Aryl or heteroaryl 5-substituted imidazo-benzothiadiazole derivatives were synthesized and shown to display remarkable solvatofluorochromism and selectively sense mercury(II) cations, acetate anions, and nitroaromatic derivatives, with discrimination between p-nitrophenol and picric acid. These novel sensors are of importance these days, as the detection of explosives is a high priority in issues of national security and environmental protection. To determine the ion binding properties of the sensors, their absorption and fluorescence emission spectra upon binding different cations and anions were compared. Significant shifts in the spectra were only observed for mercury(II) and acetate. The binding of these two ions was further studied using ¹H NMR. The binding properties of different nitroaromatic compounds were also determined, and the results showed the importance of the presence of a phenol group in the guest molecule. Specifically, the two sensors were shown to discriminate between p-nitrophenol and picric acid. Finally, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching upon addition of nitrophenols was determined by computational methods.     

A Fluorescent Sensor for Highly Selective Detection of Nitroaromatic Explosives Based on a 2D,Extremely Stable,Metal–Organic Framework

A 2D, extremely stable, metal–organic framework (MOF), NENU‐503 , was successfully constructed. It displays highly selective and recyclable properties in detection of nitroaromatic explosives as a fluorescent sensor. This is the first MOF that can distinguish between nitroaromatic molecules with different numbers of ?NO₂ groups.     

Theoretical Study of One-electron Redox Potentials of Some NADH Model Compounds

Several 1‐benzyl‐1,4‐dihydronicotinamide derivatives, which are important NADH model compounds were studied theoretically in acetonitrile. The performances of various DFT methods including B3LYP, B1B95, B3PW91, MPW1B95, MPWKCIS, and M06 were tested to calculate the redox potentials. The first theoretical protocol to predict the redox potentials of these derivatives is B1B95, whose reliability has been tested against almost all the available experimental data. Strikingly, the mean absolute derivations (MAD) and root mean square (RMS) error of the current theoretical model equal 0.015 and 0.017, respectively. By using this method, the important thermodynamic properties of BNAHs were investigated and the mechanisms of hydride transfer progress were explained. Besides, para‐substituents that have a big effect on these redox potentials of BNAH were systematically studied and carefully demonstrated.     

Cyclic Voltammetric Study of Some Anti‐Chagas‐Active 1,4‐Dioxidoquinoxalin‐2‐yl Ketone Derivatives

The electrochemical properties of 24 1,4‐dioxidoquinoxalin‐2‐yl ketone derivatives with varying degrees of anti‐Chagas activity were investigated in the aprotic solvent dimethylformamide (DMF) by cyclic voltammetry and first‐derivative cyclic voltammetry. For this group of compounds, the first reduction in DMF was either reversible or quasireversible and consistent with reduction of the N‐oxide functionality to form the radical anion. The second reduction process for these compounds was irreversible under the conditions used. The reduction potentials correlated well with molecular structure. Substitution in the 3‐, 6‐, and 7‐ positions of the quinoxaline ring by electron‐withdrawing substituents directly affected the ease of reduction and improved the biological activities of these compounds, whereas substitution by electron‐donating groups had the opposite effect. The electrochemical results, when combined with previous work on their mechanism of action against Chagas disease and their measured anti‐Chagas activities, indicated that the quinoxaline 1,4‐dioxide system serves as a promising starting point for chemical modifications aimed at improving the T. cruzi activity via a possible bioreduction mechanism.     

Electrochemical and Electrocatalytic Properties of Imidazole Analogues of the Redox Cofactor Pyrroloquinoline Quinone

The electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of two synthetic imidazole analogues of the redox cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) were evaluated. Cyclic voltammetry measurements as a function of pH indicated that both 4,5‐dihydro‐4,5‐dioxo‐1H‐imidazolo[5,4‐f]quinoline‐7,9‐dicarboxylic acid ( 1 ) and 4,5‐dihydro‐4,5‐dioxo‐2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolo[5,4‐f]quinoline‐7,9‐dicarboxylic acid ( 2 ) undergo a reversible reduction of the o‐quinone moiety below pH 8 with potentials slightly more positive than those observed for PQQ. Upon incorporation into a polypyrrole membrane on the tip of a glassy carbon electrode, 1 and 2 exhibited electrocatalytic properties sufficient for the indirect amperometric detection of cysteine. The response for cysteine was linear up to 1 mM over a wide pH range. Detection limits (S/N=3) were in the μM range and dependent on the solution pH. Interference from redox active species such as dopamine and uric acid were minimized by the pH‐dependent redox potentials of 1 and 2 and thus the ability to tune the detection potential.     

Preparation and Redox Properties of N,N,N‐1,3,5‐Trialkylated Flavin Derivatives and Their Activity as Redox Catalysts

Eight different flavin derivatives have been synthesized and the electronic effects of substituents in various positions on the flavin redox chemistry were investigated. The redox potentials of the flavins, determined by cyclic voltammetry, correlated with their efficiency as catalysts in the H₂O₂ oxidation of methyl p‐tolyl sulfide. Introduction of electron‐withdrawing groups increased the stability of the reduced catalyst precursor.     

3,6‐Dinitropyrazolo[4,3‐c]pyrazole‐Based Multipurpose Energetic Materials through Versatile N‐Functionalization Strategies

A family of 3,6‐dinitropyrazolo[4,3‐c]pyrazole‐based energetic compounds was synthesized by using versatile N‐functionalization strategies. Subsequently, nine ionic derivatives of the N,N′‐(3,6‐dinitropyrazolo[4,3‐c]pyrazole‐1,4‐diyl)dinitramidate anion were prepared by acid‐base reactions and fully characterized by infrared, multinuclear NMR spectra, and elemental analysis. The structures of four of these compounds were further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Based on their different physical and detonation properties, these compounds exhibit promising potential as modern energetic materials and can be variously classified as green primary explosives, high‐performance secondary explosives, fuel‐rich propellants, and propellant oxidizers.     

Benzo[b]phosphole‐Containing π‐Electron Systems: Synthesis Based on an Intramolecular trans‐Halophosphanylation and Some Insights into Their Properties

The intramolecular trans‐halophosphanylation of 2‐(aminophosphanyl)phenylacetylenes mediated by PBr₃ followed by the oxidation with H₂O₂, produces 3‐bromobenzo[b]phosphole oxide derivatives. This cyclization is also used for the synthesis of a 3‐iodo derivative by conducting the reaction in the presence of LiI. Based on this synthetic method, various benzophosphole‐containing π‐conjugated compounds, including a phosphoryl and methylene‐bridged stilbene 10 , 2,3,6,7‐tetraphenylbenzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]diphosphole‐P,P′‐dioxides 11 , and their phosphine sulfide derivatives 12 , are synthesized. The study of the structure–property relationships in a series of the bridged stilbenes, including a bis(methylene)‐bridged stilbene 10 , and a bis(phosphoryl)‐bridged stilbene, reveals that as the contribution of the phosphoryl groups increased, the absorption and emission maxima substantially shift to longer wavelengths. The intrinsic substituent effects of the phosphoryl group in this skeleton are to decrease the oscillator strength of the electronic transition and thus decrease the radiative decay rate constants from the singlet excited state. Nevertheless, these compounds maintain high fluorescence quantum yields (Φ_F>0.8) owing to the significantly retarded nonradiative decay process. In the study of the benzodiphosphole derivatives 11 and 12 , their cyclic voltammetry revealed that both of the phosphoryl and phosphine sulfide derivatives have low reduction potentials (?1.7 to ?1.8 V vs ferrocene/ferrocenium couple) with the high reversibility of the redox waves. These compounds also showed high thermal stabilities with the high glass transition temperatures of 147–159 °C, indicative of their potential utilities as amorphous materials.     

Synthesis and Antioxidant Properties of New Substituted 8‐Methyl‐6‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxaphosphocine‐2‐oxide Derivatives

A new route for the synthesis of substituted 8‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxaphosphocine‐2‐oxide derivatives has been developed by using cinnamic acid and p‐cresol via condensation, reduction, and followed by phosphorylation steps. The title compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and mass spectral studies and elemental analysis. The title compounds have been investigated for their antioxidant activity with respect to their IC₅₀ values using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, NO radical scavenging activities, and reducing power assay. The results obtained from the aforementioned methods revealed that 2‐phenylamino derivatives have shown greater free radical scavenging activity when compared with those of the phenoxy derivatives and is attributed to the presence of secondary amino group, which is able to produce free radicals easily.     

Efficient Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines from the Reaction of Aldehyde,Aniline, and Alkene under the In Situ Redox of SnCl2 and FeCl3

A highly efficient three‐component Povarov reaction for the synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives was reported. The reaction of aldehyde, aniline, and alkene was carried out in the presence of Sn(IV), which was generated in situ from the redox reaction of SnCl₂ and FeCl₃, to afford tetrahydroquinoline derivatives in good to excellent yields. This discovery showed a sharp difference from the direct use of unstable SnCl₄. Both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes could be applied for the synthesis of the heterocycle in the reaction. The structure of the product 6‐chloro‐4‐methyl‐4‐neopentyl‐2‐propyltetrahydroquinoline and 6‐bromo‐4‐methyl‐4‐neopentyl‐2‐propyltetrahydroquinoline was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of Naturally Occurring normelinonine F and Melinonine F Alkaloids and Structurally Related N(2)‐ and/or N(9)‐methyl‐β‐carboline Derivatives

In the present work, we have synthesized and fully characterized the photophysical and photochemical properties of a selected group of N‐methyl‐β ‐carboline derivatives (9‐methyl‐β ‐carbolines and iodine salts of 2‐methyl‐ and 2,9‐dimethyl‐β ‐carbolinium) in aqueous solutions, in the pH range 4.0–14.5. Moreover, despite the quite extensive studies reported in the literature regarding the overall photophysical behavior of N‐unsubstituted β Cs, this work constitutes the first full and unambiguous characterization of anionic species of N‐unsubstituted β Cs (nor harmane, harmane and harmine), present in aqueous solution under highly alkaline conditions (pH > 13.0). Acid dissociation constants (K _a), thermal stabilities, room temperature UV –visible absorption and fluorescence emission and excitation spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (Ф _F) and fluorescence lifetimes (τ _F), as well as quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (Ф _Δ) have been measured for all the studied compounds. Furthermore, for the first time to our knowledge, chemometric techniques (MCR ‐ALS and PARAFAC ) were applied on these systems, providing relevant information about the equilibria and species involved. The impact of all the foregoing observations on the biological role, as well as the potential biotechnological applications of these compounds, is discussed.     

Synthesis of Ferrocene Derivatives Allowing Linear Free Energy Studies of Redox Potentials

A series of ferrocene derivatives, which have diverse redox potentials modulated by functional groups, have been synthesized as potential ‘multi‐potential’ probes. A Hammett constant analysis revealed a linear free energy correlation between the redox potentials and the electron density of the ferrocene derivatives as determined by the choice of functional group used to modify the ferrocene core.     

1,2,5,6-Tetrakis(guanidino)-Naphthalenes: Electron Donors,Fluorescent Probes and Redox-Active Ligands

New redox-active 1,2,5,6-tetrakis(guanidino)-naphthalene compounds, isolable and storable in the neutral and deep-green dicationic redox states and oxidisable further in two one-electron steps to the tetracations, are reported. Protonation switches on blue fluorescence, with the fluorescence intensity (quantum yield) increasing with the degree of protonation. Reactions with N-halogenosuccinimides or N-halogenophthalimides led to a series of new redox-active halogeno- and succinimido-/phthalimido-substituted derivatives. These highly selective reactions are proposed to proceed via the tri- or tetracationic state as the intermediate. The derivatives are oxidised reversibly at slightly higher potentials than that of the unsubstituted compounds to dications and further to tri- and tetracations. The integration of redox-active ligands in the transition-metal complexes shifts the redox potentials to higher values and also allows reversible oxidation in two potentially separated one-electron steps.     

Prediction of toxicity of nitroaromatic compounds through their molecular structures

In this paper, a new simple method is presented for the estimation of the toxicity of nitroaromatic compounds including some well-known explosives. This method can predict the 50% lethal dose concentration for rats (LD ₅₀) as the estimation of toxicity in vivo. The prediction of LD ₅₀ of nitroaromatics through a new general correlation is based on the number of alkyl and nitro groups per molecular weight of the nitroaromatic compound as a core function. The existence of some specific structural parameters can decrease or increase the predicted results on the basis of the core function. The predicted results of various nitroaromatic compounds afford reliable prediction of LD ₅₀ with respect to experimental data. Prediction of toxicity for 28 nitroaromatic compounds, where the experimental data were available, and new nitroaromatic derivatives produce comparable results to those of several models of Quantitative Structure Activity Relation (QSAR).