The gas-phase conformation of 3,7-dimethyl-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane

The gas-phase conformation of the title compound (1) is discussed in reference to its photoelectron spectrum. The experimental lone-pair/lone-pair splitting (0.51 eV), when compared with that of similar diamines and with the results of three sets of MO calculations (MINDO/3, MNDO and STO-3G), leads to the conclusion that 1 exists in the chair-chair conformation. A remarkable sensitivity of the calculations to slight changes in the geometry is noted, and it is suggested that calculations of this type must include geometry-optimization. The question of through-space vs through-bond inteaction of the nitrogen lone pairs was explored by performing MNDO calculations in which the N-N resonance integrals were set to zero. These calculations indicate that in the chair-chair conformation the N-N interaction is mainly through-space. The ¹³CNMR and Ni(acac)₂-induced ¹³C shifts of 1 are discussed.     

Asymmetry and Non‐Adiabaticity in Fragmentation of Disulfide Bonds upon Electron Capture

Although it has been generally assumed that electron attachment to disulfide derivatives leads to a systematic and significant activation of the S? S bond, we show, by using [CH₃SSX] (X=CH₃, NH₂, OH, F) derivatives as model compounds, that this is the case only when the X substituents have low electronegativity. Through the use of MP2, QCI and CASPT2 molecular orbital (MO) methods, we elucidate, for the first time, the mechanisms that lead to unimolecular fragmentation of disulfide derivatives after electron attachment. Our theoretical scrutiny indicates that these mechanisms are more intricate than assumed in previous studies. The most stable products, from a thermodynamic viewpoint, correspond to the release of neutral molecules; CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, and HF. However, the barriers to reach these products depend strongly on the electronegativity of the X substituents. Only for very electronegative substituents, such as OH or F, the loss of H₂O or HF is the most favorable process, and likely the only one observed. This is possible because of two concomitant factors, 1) the extra electron for [CH₃SSX]^? (X=OH, F) occupies a σ*(S? X) MO, which favors the cleavage of the S? X bond, and 2) the activation barriers associated with the hydrogen transfer process to produce H₂O and HF are rather low. Only when the substituents are less electronegative (X=H, CH₃, NH₂) the extra electron is located in a σ*(S? S) orbital and the cleavage of the disulfide bridge becomes the most favorable process. The intimate mechanism associated with the S? S bond dissociation process also depends strongly on the nature of the substituent. For X=H or CH₃ the process is strictly adiabatic, while for X=NH₂ it proceeds through a conical intersection ( CI ) associated with the charge reorganization necessary to obtain, from a molecular anion with the extra electron delocalized in a σ*(S? S) antibonding orbital, two fragments with the proper charge localization.     

Photosensitized (electron transfer) carbon-carbon bond cleavage of radical cations : The diphenylmethyl system

The photosensitized (electron transfer) reaction of methyl 2,2-diphenylethyl ether (1), 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethane (5), 2-methyl-1,1,2-triphenylpropane (6), and 2-methoxy-2-diphenylmethylnorbornane (11 endo and exo) with 1,4-dicyanobenzene (4) in acetonitrile-methanol leads to products indicating cleavage of an intermediate radical cation to give the diphenylmethyl radical and a carbocation. The diphenylmethyl radical is then reduced by the radical anion of the photosensitizer and protonated to yield diphenylmethane. The carbocation fragment reacts with methanol to yield ether and/or acetals. The effect of temperature on the efficiency of cleavage of 5 and 6 has been analyzed. The increase in efficiency observed at higher temperatures reflects an activation energy for the cleavage of the radical cations. In cases where no cleavage is observed, the activation energy for cleavage may be so high that back electron transfer from the radical anion of the pbotosensitizer is the dominant reaction. The C—C bond dissociation energies of the radical cations of 5 and 6 were estimated by analysis of the thermochemical cycle using the bond dissociation energies and the oxidation potentials of the neutral molecules and the oxidation potential of the diphenylmethyl and cumyl radicals. The direction of cleavage of the radical cation is explained in terms of the relative oxidation potentials of the two possible radicals.     

Nitrosolates and related compounds—IX: Coordination compounds of divalent copper,nickel and cobalt with nitroacetate(2−) ions as chelating ligands. Crystal and molecular structure of potassium bis[nitroacetato(2−)]cuprate(II)-water (1/1)

The syntheses of K₂[Cu(nac)₂]·H₂O (4), [Cu(nac)(N-N)(H₂O)]·H₂O (N-N = bpy, phen; 5,6) and [M(nac)(N-N)₂]·xH₂O (M = Ni, Co; 7–10) with nitroacetate(2?) ions (nac^2?) as chelating ligands are described.The structure of 4 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and contains square planar [Cu(nac)₂]^2? units in which the nitro and carboxyl groups of the two chelate ligands are in cis positions. Two of the units form a centrosymmetric dimer with a four-membered CuOCu“O”-ring, the dimers being connected by exo-oxygens of the ligands into two-dimensional layers. The water molecules and the potassium ions are arranged between the layers; there are two kinds of potassium ions with distorted (1+4+1) and (2+4+3) coordinations respectively.     

Chirooptical and photooptical properties of a novel side-chain azobenzene-containing LC polymer

Abstract  A novel chiral–photochromic side-chain polyacrylate with azobenzene fragments in the side groups has been synthesised. It was shown that the polymer forms a smectic phase and a cholesteric supramolecular helical structure with selective light reflection in IR spectral range. Thin spin-coated films of the polymer were prepared and their photooptical and chirooptical properties were studied in detail. It was found that UV irradiation of the films led to E–Z isomerization of the azobenzene moieties with high conversion, which is dependent on thermal prehistory of the films. Subsequent action of visible light results in partial recovery of the E-isomer content, whereas annealing leads to the full back conversion. Circular dichroism (CD) measurements revealed formation of the helical supramolecular structure even in the initial spin-coated polymer films. The E–Z isomerization induces complete disruption of helical order in non-annealed films of the polymer, whereas in the smectic phase of the annealed film only a significant decrease in CD values was found. In addition, the photoorientation phenomena induced by polarized light were studied. It was shown that polarized light induces linear dichroism in the films provided by azobenzene group orientation and the dichroism is stable at room temperature for a prolonged time. These combined chirooptical and photooptical features of this novel polymer enable one to consider this multifunctional compound as a promising material for photonics and for optical applications. Graphical abstract  

Addition nucleophile des anions d'esters α-cyanoacetiques sur les cations succinimidosulfonium: Fragmentation ionique ou radicalaire des′ σ-sulfuranes intermediaires

Reactions of substituted cyanoacetate anions 4 with S,S-dialayklsuccinimidosulfonium salts resulted generally in the formation of N-alkylthiomethylketenimines and α-alkylthiomethylesters. Coupling products were also obtained with anion 4d and only observed in the case of methyl phenylcyanoacetate anion 4b. The results were interpreted by the formation of instable σ-sulfurane intermediates. Homolytic cleavage of these intermediates gave radical pairs, then the coupling products. Heterocyclic clevage gave new sulfonium salts which rearranged via sulfonium ylides.     

Dual-mode optical switching property of copolymers containing pendant nitro and cyano substituted azobenzenes and fulgimide units

Homo/co-poly(decyloxymethacrylate)s containing thermally reversible nitro and cyano substituted azobenzenes and thermally irreversible fulgimide units in the pendant respectively were synthesized by free radical addition polymerization method and investigated their photochromic property. The dual-mode optical switching property of copolymers F-co-N and F-co-C was investigated and revealed C-form of fulgimide in F-co-N altered the electron withdrawing nature of nitro group in the terminal azobenzene. The UV exposed films of F-co-N and F-co-C were annealed around their T_g and found that thermally reversible cis-form of azobenzene isomerized to trans-form and thermally irreversible C-form of fulgimide unaltered. Both photochromic units in the resultant film were converted into planar configurations with good fluorescence property.     

Asymmetric synthesis and σ receptor affinity of enantiomerically pure 1,4-disubstituted tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepines

A very short (three steps) asymmetric synthesis of enantiomerically pure 1,4-disubstituted tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepines 14 has been elaborated upon, starting from the trans- and cis-configured 11a-substituted 3-phenyl-2,3,11,11a-tetrahydro[1,3]oxazolo[2,3-b]-[3]-benzazepin-5(6H)-ones 6 and 7. The stereoisomerically pure lactams 6 and 7 were benzylated to give 6-benzyl-substituted products 8 and 9. NOE experiments showed a trans-configuration of the benzyl residue and the residue in the 11a-position indicated that the stereochemistry of the benzylation reaction was controlled by the stereocenter at the 11a-position. Reduction of the benzylated tricyclic benzolactams 8 and 9 with AlCl₃/LiAlH₄ (1/3) yielded the 1,3,4-trisubstituted 3-benzazepines 12 and 13, which were formed stereoselectively with the retention of configuration. Finally, removal of the N-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl) residue by hydrogenolytic cleavage resulted in the formation of enantiomerically pure 1,4-disubstituted 3-benzazepines 14. The σ₁, σ₂, and NMDA receptor affinities of the enantiomerically pure 3-benzazepines 14 and ent-14 were investigated in competitive receptor binding studies. The butyl derivative ent-14c showed a high affinity towards σ₁ and σ₂ receptors, with K_i-values of 26 nM and 41 nM, respectively.     

First enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-heliannuol C

The first, efficient total synthesis of (−)-heliannuol C (1) was accomplished enantioselectively, using a chemoenzymatic desymmetrization of the σ-symmetrical diol, a ring closing metathesis, a diastereoselective epoxidation, and a regioselective reductive cleavage of epoxide as the key reaction steps.     

Photoelectron spectra of potassium salts of hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borates: electronic structure of the electron withdrawing scorpionates Tp(CF3)2, Tp*Cl and comparison to Tp* and Tp

The electronic structures of the potassium salts of the homoscorpionates hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate (Tp*, 1), hydrotris(4-chloro-3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate (Tp*^Cl, 2) and hydrotris(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl)borate (Tp^(CF₃)₂, 3) are compared using gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). DFT calculations also are reported for the generic scorpionate potassium (hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate) (KTp). This is the first such experimental probe of the electronic structure of halogen containing scorpionate ligands and subtle differences in the ionizations from the frontier orbitals in the photoelectron spectra of 1 and 3 are observed that give insight into the influence of substituents upon metal–scorpionate bonding. Distinct assignments of the ionizations from the nitrogen σ-donor orbitals (σ_N) and σ_BH molecular orbitals are possible experimentally by the use of variable (He I and He II) excitation energies. The experimentally observed first ionization energy of 3 is stabilized by ∼2.0 eV relative to 1 due to the strong electron withdrawing effect of the trifluoromethyl groups. The photoelectron spectroscopic studies of NaTp^(CF₃)₂ further confirm the assignments of ionizations from σ_N orbitals for 3 associated with the a and e sets in C₃ symmetry. The X-ray crystal structure of 2 as the (μ-aqua)₃(potassium hydrotris(4-chloro-3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate)₂ dimer is also reported.     

Studies in organic mass spectrometry—II

The mass spectra of various N-aryliminopyridinium and isoquinolinium betaines have been recorded. The most prominent fragmentation process of these compounds is N-N bond cleavage with the charge retention on both the pyridine and aryl fragments. An ortho-effect has been observed in the mass spectrum of N-o-nitrophenyliminopyridinium betaine (IXa).     

Intramolecular allylation of the azo group of 2-(allylsilyl)azobenzenes and its photocontrol

Pentacoordinate allylsilanes bearing an azobenzene moiety were synthesized and their structures were elucidated. The reaction of allyldifluorosilane (E)-7a with BF₃ · OEt₂ did not proceed, but (E)-7a was allowed to react with a fluoride ion to give tetrafluorosilicate 8a via intramolecular allyl-migration from the silicon atom onto the azo group. Activation of both the nucleophilic and electrophilic parts by the Si⋯N interaction was found to be important for promotion of the allyl-migration reaction. The azobenzene moiety of the allylsilane was reversibly isomerized by photoirradiation. The (Z)-7a formed by photoirradiation of (E)-7a is in a tetracoordinate state in contrast to the (E)-7a, and it did not react with a fluoride ion at all under the conditions where (E)-7a reacted quantitatively. The reactivity was successfully controlled without changing any conditions other than the change of the coordination number of the silicon atom induced by photoirradiation.     

Studies on organolanthanide complexes: VII. Formation and cleavage of carbon-metal bonds of dicyclopentadienyl-early lanthanide complexes

Four new 1,10-phenanthroline-coordinated early lanthanide complexes containing a σ-carbon-metal bond 1–4 were synthesized by the reaction of alkynylsodium or alkyllithium with (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂LnCl·nPhen in THF at 0 or −78°C. The complexes (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂LnCl·nPhen were prepared from LnCl₃·nPhen and C₅H₅Na. 1,1′-Trimethylenedicyclopentadienyl(phenylacetylenylneodymium). THF 5 was also prepared. These complexes were identified by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Protolysis reactions of these complexes with H₂O. CH₃OH and t-C₄H₉OH show that different protolytic reagents give the products with different cleavage extents of σ- and π-bonds. The ligands in the complexes also affect the cleavage of π-bonds. β-Hydrogen elimination of complex 3 takes place with thermal decomposition.     

Si?H and C?H Activation by Transition Metal Complexes: A Step Towards Isolable Alkane Complexes?

The recognition of the fundamental contributions by G. A. Olah on the elucidation of the structure of nonclassical carbocations, in the form of the award of the Nobel prize for chemistry, has recently emphasized the importance of electron-deficient bonds in the understanding of chemical bonding in organic chemistry. In the field of coordination chemistry, the formulation of electron-deficient bonds has been used for some time to describe nonclassical interactions between atoms. Traditional ligands in coordination chemistry such as amines and phosphanes bond to metal centers through their lone pair of electrons. Synergistic bonding effects dominate in the coordination of π-bonded ligands such as alkenes. In the mid-1980s the discovery of dihydrogen complexes having side-on coordination of H₂ gave fresh impetus to transition metal chemistry as well as to the understanding of the interaction of σ-coordinating ligands with transition metals. In the meantime, transiton metal complexes can be obtained with a variety of σ-coordinated X-H fragments, and their mode of bonding can be understood by a common and quite general model. The chemistry of σ-bound silane ligands is particularly varied and well-investigated. These silane ligands enable the investigation of a large range of σ-coordinated metal complex fragments up to complete oxidative addition with cleavage of the Si? H bond and formation of silyl(hydrido) complexes, which has thus also widened our general understanding of the bonding of other σ-bound ligands. Whilst there is a large range of isolable and stable H₂ and SiR₄ complexes available, there are no such alkane analogues known at present. Only when the C? H bond is part of a ligand that is already directly bonded to the transition metal center will the resulting chelate effect stabilize this agostic C-H-M interaction. The complexation of SiH₄, the simplest heavier homologue of CH₄, was achieved recently. This is a further step towards the understanding of the factors which govern σ-complexation of ligands at transition metal centers.     

Reduction of hydrazines to amines with aqueous solution of titanium(III) trichloride

N-N bond cleavage in hydrazines is widely used in the preparation of amines and thus occupies a significant place in organic synthesis. In this paper, we report a new method for the reductive cleavage of N-N bonds in hydrazines by commercially available and cheap aqueous titanium(III) trichloride. The reaction proceeds smoothly under a broad pH range from acidic to neutral and basic conditions to afford amines in good yields. This method is compatible with substrates containing functionalities such as C-C double bonds, benzyl-nitrogen bonds, benzyloxy and acyl groups.     

Synthesis of an azobenzene-linker-conjugate with tetrahedrical shape

The synthesis of a tripodal linker system with an adamantane core unit and an azobenzene headgroup is reported for the preparation of photochromic SAMs on gold surfaces. For the final Sonogashira-coupling of the ethynylene-linker precursor 4 with the p-iodo substituted azobenzene 6 model studies were required to optimize the coupling step in the presence of a diazene functionality. The photochromic properties of the photoswitch-linker-conjugate 1 were investigated in solution, and compared to the behavior of the precursor 6.     

An electronic perspective on the reduction of an n=n double bond at a conserved dimolybdenum core

Density functional theory has been used to assess the role of the bimetallic core in supporting reductive cleavage of the N=N double bond in [Cp2Mo2(mu-SMe)3(mu-eta1:eta1-HN=NPh)]+. The HOMO of the complex, the Mo-Mo delta orbital, plays a key role as a source of high-energy electrons, available for transfer into the vacant orbitals of the N=N unit. As a result, the metal centres cycle between the Mo(III) and Mo(IV) oxidation states. The symmetry of the Mo-Mo delta "buffer" orbital has a profound influence on the reaction pathway, because significant overlap with the redox-active orbital on the N=N unit (pi* or sigma*) is required for efficient electron transfer. The orthogonality of the Mo-Mo delta and N-N sigma* orbitals in the eta1:eta1 coordination mode ensures that electron transfer into the N-N sigma bond is effectively blocked, and a rate-limiting eta1:eta1-->eta1 rearrangement is a necessary precursor to cleavage of the bond.     

Dimethylindium hydrazides [Me2In-NH-NHR]2 (R = CMe3, C6H5)

Trimethylindium reacted with phenyl- and tert-butylhydrazine by the release of methane and the formation of the corresponding dimethylindium hydrazides (1 and 2, respectively). Both products form dimers and possess four-membered In₂N₂ heterocycles with two exocyclic N-N bonds in their molecular cores. Interestingly, one compound (1) crystallizes with centrosymmetric molecules in which the N-N bonds are located on different sides of the In₂N₂ ring (C_2h), while both N-N bonds are on the same side in 2 (C_2v). In contrast, the reaction of tri(tert-butyl)indium with tert-butylhydrazine yielded a quite unexpected product. Partial decomposition occurred, and in a low yield the adduct of tribenzylindium with the unchanged tert-butylhydrazine was isolated. In a remarkable reaction, the trialkylindium derivative did not react with the relatively acidic hydrazine, but by the release of the corresponding alkane with the solvent toluene.     

Thermochromism and photochromism of aryl substituted acyclic azines: Uncatalised and acid-catalised thermal isomerisation

The photochemical E-Z isomerisation of the benzophenone-9-anthraldehyde azine (1), benzophenone-9-acridine aldehyde azine (2) and 9-anthraldehyde azine (3) is thermally reversible. The thermal reaction gives the same isomers as the photochemical reaction. We have studied the mechanism of the thermal isomerisation of these azines. Our results are in accordance with an inversion of the N atom which is connected with a rotation movement about the N-N single or the CN double bond.