Catalysis of Radical Reactions: A Radical Chemistry Perspective

The area of catalysis of radical reactions has recently flourished. Various reaction conditions have been discovered and explained in terms of catalytic cycles. These cycles rarely stand alone as unique paths from substrates to products. Instead, most radical reactions have innate chains which form products without any catalyst. How do we know if a species added in “catalytic amounts” is a catalyst, an initiator, or something else? Herein we critically address both catalyst‐free and catalytic radical reactions through the lens of radical chemistry. Basic principles of kinetics and thermodynamics are used to address problems of initiation, propagation, and inhibition of radical chains. The catalysis of radical reactions differs from other areas of catalysis. Whereas efficient innate chain reactions are difficult to catalyze because individual steps are fast, both inefficient chain processes and non‐chain processes afford diverse opportunities for catalysis, as illustrated with selected examples.     

Photodissociation of CH2I2 and Subsequent Electron Transfer in Solution

We studied photoinduced reactions of diiodomethane (CH₂I₂) upon excitation at 268 nm in acetonitrile and hexane by subpicosecond–nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The transient spectra involve two absorption bands centered at around 400 (intense) and 540 nm (weak). The transients probed over the range 340–740 nm show common time profiles consisting of a fast rise (<200 fs), a fast decay (≈500 fs), and a slow rise. The two fast components were independent of solute concentration, whereas the slow rise became faster (7–50 ps) when the concentration in both solutions was increased. We assigned the fast components to the generation of a CH₂I radical by direct dissociation of the photoexcited CH₂I₂ and its disappearance by subsequent primary geminate recombination. The concentration‐dependent slow rise produced the absorption bands centered at 400 and 540 nm. The former consists of different time‐dependent bands at 385 and 430 nm. The band near 430 nm grew first and was assigned to a charge‐transfer (CT) complex, CH₂I₂^δ+???I^δ?, formed by a photofragment I atom and the solute CH₂I₂ molecule. The CT complex is followed by full electron transfer, which then develops the band of the ion pair CH₂I₂⁺???I^? at 385 nm on the picosecond timescale. On the nanosecond scale, I₃^? was generated after decay of the ion pair. The reaction scheme and kinetics were elucidated by the time‐resolved absorption spectra and the reaction rate equations. We ascribed concentration‐dependent dynamics to the CT‐complex formation in pre‐existing aggregates of CH₂I₂ and analyzed how solutes are aggregated at a given bulk concentration by evaluating a relative local concentration. Whereas the local concentration in hexane monotonically increased as a function of the bulk concentration, that in acetonitrile gradually became saturated. The number of CH₂I₂ molecules that can participate in CT‐complex formation has an upper limit that depends on the size of aggregation or spatial restriction in the neighboring region of the initially photoexcited CH₂I₂. Such conditions were achieved at lower concentrations in acetonitrile than in hexane.     

苯乙烯的单电子转移活性自由基聚合

以2,2-二溴甲基-1,3-二溴丙烷（PEBr4）为引发剂,Cu0粉/三（2-二甲氨基乙基）胺（Me6-TREN）为催化体系,在二甲亚砜（DMSO）和H2O的混合溶剂中实现了苯乙烯（St）的单电子转移活性自由基聚合（SET-LRP）。 通过1H NMR和GPC分析表明,所得聚合物为星形结构并具有较窄的分子量分布Mw/Mn=1.20（MGPCn=25.3×103,转化率为42.6%）,且聚合物的链端保留了-Br端基。 考察了溶剂、反应温度及相转移催化剂对聚合的影响,结果表明,混合溶剂中H2O的体积分数由10%增加至20%导致了聚合速率的降低,表观聚合速率常数（kappp）由0.026 4 h-1减小至0.019 7 h-1;升高反应温度、增加催化剂用量以及相转移催化剂的加入分别导致聚合体系的kappp增加,同时,催化剂用量的增加和相转移催化剂的加入使聚合物的分子量分布系数降低。     

单电子转移活性自由基聚合的现状及展望

重点介绍了单电子转移活性自由基聚合的机理及适合该聚合体系的催化剂、配体、溶剂种类和单体适用范围,并探讨了单电子转移活性自由基聚合的发展前景。     

Aqueous Oxidation of Sulfonamide Antibiotics: Aromatic Nucleophilic Substitution of an Aniline Radical Cation

Sulfonamide antibiotics are an important class of organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment. For several, sulfur dioxide extrusion products have been previously reported upon photochemical or dark oxidation. Using quantum chemical modeling calculations and transient absorption spectroscopy, it is shown that single‐electron oxidation from sulfadiazine produces the corresponding aniline radical cation. Density functional theory calculations indicate that this intermediate can exist in four protonation states. One species exhibits a low barrier for an intramolecular nucleophilic attack at the para position of the oxidized aniline ring, in which a pyrimidine nitrogen acts as a nucleophile. This attack can lead to a rearranged structure, which exhibits the same connectivity as the SO₂‐extruded oxidation product that was previously observed in the aquatic environment and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. We report a detailed reaction mechanism for this intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution, and we discuss the possibility of this reaction pathway for other sulfonamide drugs.     

Formation of Dimer Radical Cations of Selenourea on Oxidation: Pulse Radiolysis Studies

Abstract

Reactions of oxidizing radicals like hydroxyl (·OH) radical, specific electron transfer agents like N ₃ ·, and I ₂ ^?. radicals were studied with selenourea (SeU) and compared with thiourea (ThU) using pulse radiolysis technique in microsecond time scales. Both the compounds efficiently react with ·OH radicals, however, SeU undergoes easier oxidation by secondary oxidants as compared to ThU. The results were supported by cyclic voltammetry studies. The radical cations of both SeU and ThU formed on oxidation undergo dimerization with the parent molecule to form two-centered three-electron-hemi bonded radical cations absorbing at 410 and 400 nm respectively with the stabilization energies of 21.1 and 20.5 kcal/mol for SeU and ThU, respectively. Preliminary studies indicated that at low concentration of SeU, the dimerization is prevented and the oxidation reaction produced metallic Se nanoparticles.     

电子转移的外电场效应──苯分子与苯正离子自由基间电子转移的从头算研究

基于半经典电子转移理论,结合量子化学计算,在HF/DZP水平上,研究外电场作用下平行的苯分子-苯正离子自由基体系(C₆H₄)₂⁺的分子内电子转移问题.在给体和受体几何构型优化的基础上,用线性反应坐标确定电子转移过渡态,分别用两态变分方法和基于Koopmans定理的分子轨道跃迁能方法计算电子转移矩阵元V_AB,讨论了V_AB对给体和受体中心距d的指数衰减关系.取中心距为0.6nm,研究了外电场对反应热的影响,计算得到在不同外电场强度下分子内气相电子转移的速率常数k.     

A radical-anion chain mechanism initiated by dissociative electron transfer to a bicyclic endoperoxide: insight into the fragmentation chemistry of neutral biradicals and distonic radical anions

The electron-transfer (ET) reduction of two diphenyl-substituted bicyclic endoperoxides was studied in N,N-dimethylformamide by heterogeneous electrochemical techniques. The study provides insight into the structural parameters that affect the reduction mechanism of the O-O bond and dictate the reactivity of distonic radical anions, in addition to evaluating previously unknown thermochemical parameters. Notably, the standard reduction potentials and the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) were evaluated to be -0.55+/-0.15 V and 20+/-3 kcal mol(-1), respectively, the last representing some of the lowest BDEs ever reported. The endoperoxides react by concerted dissociative electron transfer (DET) reduction of the O-O bond yielding a distonic radical-anion intermediate. The reduction of 1,4-diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene (1) results in the quantitative formation of 1,4-diphenylcyclohex-2-ene-cis-1,4-diol by an overall two-electron mechanism. In contrast, ET to 1,4-diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (2) yields 1,4-diphenylcyclohexane-cis-1,4-diol as the major product; however, in competition with the second ET from the electrode, the distonic radical anion undergoes a beta-scission fragmentation yielding 1,4-diphenyl-1,4-butanedione radical anion and ethylene in a mechanism involving less than one electron. These observations are rationalized by an unprecedented catalytic radical-anion chain mechanism, the first ever reported for a bicyclic endoperoxide. The product ratios and the efficiency of the catalytic mechanism are dependent on the electrode potential and the concentration of weak non-nucleophilic acid. A thermochemical cycle for calculating the driving force for beta-scission fragmentation is presented, and provides insight into why the fragmentation chemistry of distonic radical anions is different from analogous neutral biradicals.     

离子液体中单电子转移活性自由基聚合法制备星形聚丙烯酰胺

以季戊四醇为原料,合成了2,2-二溴甲基-1,3-二溴丙烷(PEBr4),并以此为四官能度引发剂,Cu0粉/三-(2-二甲氨基乙基)胺(Me6-TREN)为催化体系,在离子液体中实现了丙烯酰胺(AM)的单电子转移活性自由基聚合(SET-LRP),得到了窄分子量分布的星形聚丙烯酰胺(PAM),Mw/Mn约为1.26(MGPCn=14.1×103,转化率为43.4%)。 采用1H NMR对PAM结构进行表征确认,并采用GPC测定了PAM的分子量及分子量分布;考察了水、单体/催化剂(引发剂)配比对聚合反应的影响。 结果表明,少量水的加入能够加快聚合反应,使链增长速率常数由kappp=0.042 4 h-1增加至kappp=0.148 6 h-1;催化剂、引发剂用量越大,AM的SET-LRP的聚合反应速率越快,聚合反应的可控性越好,Mn随催化剂用量的增大及引发剂用量的减小而增大,且与理论分子量相近,分子量分布均呈下降趋势。     

Radical Cation of Pyrazine-di-N-oxide as a Mediator in Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Organic Compounds

The mechanism of oxidation of cyclohexanol, methanol, diethyl ether, triethyl orthoformate, and cyclohexane in the presence of a mediator—electrochemically generated radical cation of pyrazine-di-N-oxide (PyrDNO)—is studied on glassy carbon and platinum in a 0.1 M LiClO₄ solution in acetonitrile employing cyclic voltammetry, ESR electrolysis, and gas chromatography. Effect of temperature, additives of acid and water, oxygen, and the nature of the substrate and solvent on the shape of cyclic voltammograms and intensity of ESR signal of PyrDNO is examined. ESR spectra for radical cations and anions of PyrDNO with g factors equal to, respectively, 2.0090 and 2.0031 are recorded. A mechanism for the overall two-electron catalytic oxidation of an organic substance, which involves a stage in which it complexes with the radical cation of PyrDNO, is suggested.     

Stable Radical Cation and Dication of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Stabilized Digallene: Synthesis,Characterization and Reactivity

One‐ and two‐electron oxidation of a digallene stabilized by an N‐heterocyclic carbene afforded the first stable gallium‐based radical cation and dication salts, respectively. Structural analysis and theoretical calculations reveal that the oxidation occurs at the Ga=Ga double bond, leading to removal of π electrons of the double bond and a decrease of the bond order. The spin density of the radical cation mainly locates at the two gallium centers as demonstrated by EPR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Moreover, the reactivity of the radical cation salt toward nBu₃SnH and cyclo‐S₈ was studied; a digallium–hydride cation salt containing a Ga?Ga single bond and a gallium sulfide cluster bearing an unprecedented ladder‐like Ga₄S₄ core structure were obtained, respectively.     

One- and Two-Electron Transfer Oxidation of 1,4-Disilabenzene with Formation of Stable Radical Cations and Dications

Electron-transferable oxidants such as B(C₆F₅)₃/nBuLi, B(C₆F₅)₃/LiB(C₆F₅)₄, B(C₆F₅)₃/LiHBEt₃, Al(C₆F₅)₃/(o-RC₆H₄)AlH₂ (R=N(CMe₂CH₂)₂CH₂), B(C₆F₅)₃/AlEt₃, Al(C₆F₅)₃, Al(C₆F₅)₃/nBuLi, Al(C₆F₅)₃/AlMe₃, (CuC₆F₅)₄, and Ag₂SO₄, respectively were employed for reactions with (L)₂Si₂C₄(SiMe₃)₂(C₂SiMe₃)₂ (L=PhC(NtBu)₂, 1 ). The stable radical cation [ 1 ]^+. was formed and paired with the anions [nBuB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 2 ), [B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ (in 3 ), [HB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 4 ), [EtB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 5 ), {[(C₆F₅)₃Al]₂(μ-F)]⁻ (in 6 ), [nBuAl(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 7 ), and [Cu(C₆F₅)₂]⁻ (in 8 ), respectively. The stable dication [ 1 ]²⁺ was also generated with the anions [EtB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ ( 9 ) and [MeAl(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ ( 10 ), respectively. In addition, the neutral compound [(L)₂Si₂C₄(SiMe₃)₂(C₂SiMe₃)₂][μ-O₂S(O)₂] ( 11 ) was obtained. Compounds 2 – 11 are characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. Compounds 2 – 8 are analyzed by EPR spectroscopy and compounds 9 – 11 by NMR spectroscopy. The structure features are discussed on the central Si₂C₄-rings of 1 , [ 1 ]^+., [ 1 ]²⁺, and 11 , respectively.     

Radical Stability Directs Electron Capture and Transfer Dissociation of β‐Amino Acids in Peptides

We report on the characteristics of the radical‐ion‐driven dissociation of a diverse array of β‐amino acids incorporated into α‐peptides, as probed by tandem electron‐capture and electron‐transfer dissociation (ECD/ETD) mass spectrometry. The reported results demonstrate a stronger ECD/ETD dependence on the nature of the amino acid side chain for β‐amino acids than for their α‐form counterparts. In particular, only aromatic (e.g., β‐Phe), and to a substantially lower extent, carbonyl‐containing (e.g., β‐Glu and β‐Gln) amino acid side chains, lead to N? C_β bond cleavage in the corresponding β‐amino acids. We conclude that radical stabilization must be provided by the side chain to enable the radical‐driven fragmentation from the nearby backbone carbonyl carbon to proceed. In contrast with the cleavage of backbones derived from α‐amino acids, ECD of peptides composed mainly of β‐amino acids reveals a shift in cleavage priority from the N? C_β to the C_α? C bond. The incorporation of CH₂ groups into the peptide backbone may thus drastically influence the backbone charge solvation preference. The characteristics of radical‐driven β‐amino acid dissociation described herein are of particular importance to methods development, applications in peptide sequencing, and peptide and protein modification (e.g., deamidation and isomerization) analysis in life science research.     

Initial Radical Cation Pathway in the Mo2Cl10‐Mediated Dehydrogenative Arene Coupling

Experimental (EPR) and theoretical (DFT) evidence is provided for radical cation formation as initial step in the Mo₂Cl₁₀‐mediated dehydrogenative arene coupling. The initial electron transfer from methoxyarenes to molybdenum proceeds via an inner sphere mechanism.     

稀土硝酸盐对生成超氧阴离子自由基的抑制作用

用脉冲辐解法研究了稀土硝酸盐对生成超氧阴离子自由基的抑制作用。稀土硝酸盐对脉冲辐解充氧甲酸钠溶液产生．Ｏ２＾－有明显的抑制作用,抑制率在２８％－９２％之间,且稀土硝酸盐浓度与其对．Ｏ２＾－的抑制作用之间存在明显的剂量效应关系。