Unveiling the Triplet State of a 4‐Amino‐7‐Nitrobenzofurazan Derivative in Cyclohexane

The nitrobenzofurazan (NBD) moiety has gained tremendous popularity over the last decades due to its fluorogenic nature. Indeed, upon interaction with aliphatic amines, it generates a stable fluorescent adduct, which has been used for protein and lipid labeling. In fact the 4‐amino substituted NBD belongs to the broad family of intramolecular charge transfer molecules, with the amino group acting as an electron donor upon photoexcitation, and the nitro group as an electron acceptor. Although the singlet excited state of 4‐amino NBD derivatives has been abundantly studied, investigation of its triplet manifold is scarce and even the absence of intersystem crossing for this type of molecules has been suggested. However, intramolecular charge transfer molecules are known to undergo intersystem crossing and high phosphorescence quantum yields have been reported in a nonpolar solvent. In the present paper, we have investigated the photophysical and photochemical properties of N‐hexyl‐7‐nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]xadiazole‐4‐amine. We have shown the existence of a triplet state for this molecule in cyclohexane via nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Interestingly, deactivation of the triplet state leads to photoproducts formation, which are only present in the absence of oxygen.     

The Triplet State of 6‐thio‐2′‐deoxyguanosine: Intrinsic Properties and Reactivity Toward Molecular Oxygen

Thiopurine prodrugs are currently among the leading treatment options for leukemia, immunosuppression, and arthritis. Patients undergoing long‐term thiopurine treatment are at a higher risk of developing sunlight‐induced skin cancers than the general population. This side effect originates from the cellular metabolization of thiopurine prodrugs to form 6‐thio‐2′‐deoxyguanosine, which can absorb UVA radiation, populating its reactive triplet state and leading to oxidatively generated damage. However, the photo‐oxidation mechanism is not fully understood. In this contribution, the oxidation potential and the adiabatic triplet energy of 6‐thio‐2′‐deoxyguanosine are estimated computationally, whereas the intrinsic rate of triple‐state decay and the rate constant for triplet quenching by molecular oxygen are determined using time‐resolved spectroscopic techniques. A singlet oxygen quantum yield of 0.24 ± 0.02 is measured in aqueous solution (0.29 ± 0.02 in acetonitrile). Its magnitude correlates with the relatively low percentage of triplet‐O₂ collision events that generate singlet oxygen (S_Δ = 37%). This behavior is rationalized as being due to the exergonic driving force for electron transfer between the triplet state of 6‐thio‐2′‐deoxyguanosine and molecular oxygen (ΔG_ET = ?69.7 kJ mol^?1), resulting in the formation of a charge‐transfer complex that favors nonradiative decay to the ground state over triplet energy transfer.     

Competition Between Concerted and Stepwise Dynamics in the Triplet Di‐π‐Methane Rearrangement

The molecular dynamics of the triplet‐state Zimmerman di‐π‐methane rearrangement of dibenzobarrelene were computed with B3LYP and M06‐2X density functionals. All productive quasiclassical trajectories involve sequential formation and cleavage of C? C bonds and an intermediate with lifetimes ranging from 13 to 1160 fs. Both dynamically concerted and stepwise trajectories are found. The average lifetime of this intermediate is significantly shorter than predicted by either transition‐state theory or the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus model, thus indicating the non‐statistical nature of the reaction mechanism.     

An Unusually Small Singlet–Triplet Gap in a Quinoidal 1,6‐Methano[10]annulene Resulting from Baird’s 4n π‐Electron Triplet Stabilization

Within the continuum of π‐extended quinoidal electronic structures exist molecules that by design can support open‐shell diradical structures. The prevailing molecular design criteria for such structures involve proaromatic nature that evolves aromaticity in open‐shell diradical resonance structures. A new diradical species built upon a quinoidal methano[10]annulene unit is synthesized and spectroscopically evaluated. The requisite intersystem crossing in the open‐shell structure is accompanied by structural reorganization from a contorted Möbius aromatic‐like shape in S₀ to a more planar shape in the Hückel aromatic‐like T₁. This stability was attributed to Baird’s Rule which dictates the aromaticity of 4n π‐electron triplet excited states.     

DNA Photosensitization by an “Insider”: Photophysics and Triplet Energy Transfer of 5‐Methyl‐2‐pyrimidone Deoxyribonucleoside

The main chromophore of (6‐4) photoproducts, namely, 5‐methyl‐2‐pyrimidone (Pyo), is an artificial noncanonical nucleobase. This chromophore has recently been reported as a potential photosensitizer that induces triplet damage in thymine DNA. In this study, we investigate the spectroscopic properties of the Pyo unit embedded in DNA by means of explicit solvent molecular‐dynamics simulations coupled to time‐dependent DFT and quantum‐mechanics/molecular‐mechanics techniques. Triplet‐state transfer from the Pyo to the thymine unit was monitored in B‐DNA by probing the propensity of this photoactive pyrimidine analogue to induce a Dexter‐type triplet photosensitization and subsequent DNA damage.     

A Stable Trimethylenemethane Triplet Diradical Based on a Trimeric Porphyrin Fused π‐System

Trimethylenemethane (TMM) diradical is the simplest non‐Kekulé non‐disjoint molecule with the triplet ground state (ΔE_ST=+16.1 kcal mol^?1) and is extremely reactive. It is a challenge to design and synthesize a stable TMM diradical with key properties, such as actual aliphatic TMM diradical centers and the triplet ground state with a large positive ΔE_ST value, since such species provide detailed information on the electronic structure of TMM diradical. Herein we report a TMM derivative, in which the TMM segment is fused with three Ni^II meso‐triarylporphyrins, that satisfies the above criteria. The diradical shows delocalized spin density on the propeller‐like porphyrin π‐network and the triplet ground state owing to the strong ferromagnetic interaction. Despite the apparent TMM structure, the diradical can be handled under ambient conditions and can be stored for months in the solid state, thus allowing its X‐ray diffraction structural analysis.     

Generation of “Sumanenylidene”: A Ground‐State Triplet Carbene on a Curved π‐Conjugated Periphery

We have observed the generation of sumanenylidene ( 2 ), a divalent, neutral‐carbon species at the benzylic position of sumanene ( 1 ). We also clarified both experimentally and theoretically that the ground state of compound 2 was a triplet state and that its singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE_ST) was similar to that in fluorenylidene. The curved structure of compound 2 led to slightly better spin delocalization over the two adjacent aromatic rings than in planar systems, because of the unpaired spins on the σ and π orbitals. Synthetic application of the carbene precursor, diazosumanene ( 5 ), with a variety of thiocarbonyl compounds revealed its utility for the preparation of tetrasubstituted alkene compounds (e.g., that contain a strongly electron‐donating unit) that are directly conjugated to the sumanene ( 1 ) moiety.     

Heavy‐Atom Tunneling Through Crossing Potential Energy Surfaces: Cyclization of a Triplet 2‐Formylarylnitrene to a Singlet 2,1‐Benzisoxazole

Not long ago, the occurrence of quantum mechanical tunneling (QMT) chemistry involving atoms heavier than hydrogen was considered unreasonable. Contributing to the shift of this paradigm, we present here the discovery of a new and distinct heavy‐atom QMT reaction. Triplet syn‐2‐formyl‐3‐fluorophenylnitrene, generated in argon matrices by UV‐irradiation of an azide precursor, was found to spontaneously cyclize to singlet 4‐fluoro‐2,1‐benzisoxazole. Monitoring the transformation by IR spectroscopy, temperature‐independent rate constants (k≈1.4×10^?3 s^?1; half‐life of ≈8 min) were measured from 10 to 20 K. Computational estimated rate constants are in fair agreement with experimental values, providing evidence for a mechanism involving heavy‐atom QMT through crossing triplet to singlet potential energy surfaces. Moreover, the heavy‐atom QMT takes place with considerable displacement of the oxygen atom, which establishes a new limit for the heavier atom involved in a QMT reaction in cryogenic matrices.     

Photoinduced Triplet–Triplet Energy Transfer in a 2‐Ureido‐4(1H)‐Pyrimidinone‐Bridged,Quadruply Hydrogen‐Bonded Ferrocene–Fullerene Assembly

2‐Ureido‐4(1H)‐pyrimidinone‐bridged ferrocene–fullerene assembly I is designed and synthesized for elaborating the photoinduced electron‐transfer processes in self‐complementary quadruply hydrogen‐bonded modules. Unexpectedly, steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy reveal an inefficient electron‐transfer process from the ferrocene to the singlet or triplet excited state of the fullerene, although the electron‐transfer reactions are thermodynamically feasible. Instead, an effective intra‐assembly triplet–triplet energy‐transfer process is found to be operative in assembly I with a rate constant of 9.2×10⁵ s^?1 and an efficiency of 73 % in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature.     

A Bis(μ‐oxido)dinickel(III) Complex with a Triplet Ground State

A bis(μ‐oxido)dinickel(III) complex was synthesized and characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, resonance Raman, and ESI‐mass measurements. Magnetic susceptibility measurements by SQUID and EPR spectroscopy reveal that the complex has a triplet ground state, which is unprecedented for high‐valent metal (M) complexes with [M₂(μ‐O)₂] diamond core. DFT studies indicate ferromagnetic coupling of the nickel(III) centers. The complex exhibits hydrogen abstraction reactivity and oxygenation reactivity toward external substrates.     

5‐Amino‐4‐(4‐diethylaminophenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐7‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐1,6‐naph­thyridine‐8‐carbonitrile

In the title compound, C₂₉H₃₀N₆, the naphthyridine ring is almost planar with a dihedral angle of 5.4 (1)° between the pyridyl rings. The dihedral angles between the naphthyridine system and the diethyl­amino­phenyl, phenyl and pyrrolidine rings are 53.1 (1), 19.8 (1) and 20.9 (1)°, respectively. The pyrrolidine ring adopts a half‐chair conformation. The mol­ecule is stabilized by weak C—H?N interactions.     

6,6‐Diphenyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐1,3,4,8‐tetrathia‐6‐stannazulene‐2‐thione and 6,6′‐spirobi[6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐1,3,4,8‐tetrathia‐6‐stannazulene]‐2,2′‐dithione

The title compounds, [Sn(C₆H₅)₂(C₅H₄S₅)] and [Sn(C₅H₄S₅)₂], respectively, are of interest because they can be regarded as intermediate in nature between chelates and heterocyclic compounds containing the C₃S₅ fragment. In contrast with the essentially normal bond lengths and angles within the mol­ecules, the molecular conformations are somewhat unexpected, as are the intermolecular contacts found in the case of the latter compound.     

5‐Acetyl‐2‐amino‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐nitrophenyl)‐4H‐pyran‐3‐carbonitrile and 2‐amino‐5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐nitrophenyl)‐4H‐pyrano‐3‐carbonitrile

The structures of the title compounds, C₁₅H₁₃N₃O₄, (I), and C₁₆H₁₅N₃O₅ [IUPAC name: ethyl 6‐amino‐5‐cyano‐2‐methyl‐4‐(3‐nitro­phenyl)‐4H‐pyrano‐3‐carboxyl­ate], (II), are very similar, with the heterocyclic rings adopting boat conformations. The pseudo‐axial m‐nitro­phenyl substituents are rotated by 84.0 (1) and 98.7 (1)° in (I) and (II), respectively, with respect to the four coplanar atoms of the boat. The dihedral angles between the phenyl rings and nitro groups are 12.1 (2) and 8.4 (2)° in (I) and (II), respectively. The two compounds have similar patterns of intermolecular N—H?O and N—H?N hydrogen bonding, which link mol­ecules into infinite tapes along b .     

4‐Ethynyl‐4‐hydroxycyclohexan‐1‐one and 4‐ethynyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,3,5,6‐tetramethylcyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one

The title compounds, C₈H₁₀O₂, (I), and C₁₂H₁₄O₂, (II), occurred as by‐products in the controlled synthesis of a series of bis­(gem‐alkynols), prepared as part of an extensive study of synthon formation in simple gem‐alkynol derivatives. The two 4‐(gem‐alkynol)‐1‐ones crystallize in space group P2₁/c, (I) with Z′ = 1 and (II) with Z′ = 2. Both structures are dominated by O—H?O=C hydrogen bonds, which form simple chains in the cyclo­hexane derivative, (I), and centrosymmetric dimers, of both symmetry‐independent mol­ecules, in the cyclo­hexa‐2,5‐diene, (II). These strong synthons are further stabilized by C[triple‐bond]C—H?O=C, C_methylene—H?O(H) and C_methyl—H?O(H) interactions. The direct intermolecular interactions between donors and acceptors in the gem‐alkynol group, which characterize the bis­(gem‐alkynol) analogues of (I) and (II), are not present in the ketone derivatives studied here.