Oxygen‐Initiated Stereoselective Thermal Isomerisation of a Cyclobutane Derivative in the Solid State

Solid‐state [2+2] photochemical cycloaddition reactions have been extensively studied after the classical work of Schmidt in the 1960s. Of these, trans‐1,2‐bis(4′‐pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) is one of the well‐studied alkenes to synthesize tetrakis(4‐pyridyl)cyclobutane (tpcb). However, almost all the solid‐state [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of bpe yielded, almost exclusively, one of the four possible isomers, namely, the rctt‐tpcb (r=regio c=cis and t=trans). Here we describe a stereoselective synthesis of the tetrahedrally disposed rtct‐tpcb by the solid‐state thermal isomerization of the rctt‐isomer in atmospheric air. We propose that this isomerization occurs through a topochemical unimolecular mechanism by a radical chain pathway, initiated by molecular oxygen. This is supported by the nature of products formed in air and nitrogen, detection of a radical in ESR spectral studies, ESI‐MS crossover experiments, VT PXRD studies along with QM, MD and docking calculations. The formation of a unique isomer by thermal isomerization may be a general phenomenon to quantitatively synthesize other useful stereoisomers from the existing isomers of cyclobutane derivatives.     

Controlling Topology within Halogen-Bonded Networks by Varying the Regiochemistry of the Cyclobutane-Based Nodes

The formation of a pair of extended networks sustained by halogen bonds based upon two regioisomers of a photoproduct, namely rctt-1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,4-bis(phenyl)cyclobutane (ht-PP) and rctt-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)-3,4-bis(phenyl)cyclobutane (hh-PP), that have varied topology is reported. These networks are held together via I⋯N halogen bonds between the photoproduct and the halogen-bond donor 1,4-diiodoperchlorobenzene (C₆I₂Cl₄). The observed topology in each solid is controlled by the regiochemical position of the halogen-bond accepting 4-pyridyl group. This paper demonstrates the ability to vary the topology of molecular networks by altering the position of the halogen bond acceptor within the cyclobutane-based node.     

The solid-state isomerization of cis- and trans-(η5-C5H4Me)Mo(CO)2(P(OiPr)3)I

The cis- and trans-(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)Mo(CO)₂(P(OⁱPr)₃)I complexes undergo a bi-directional thermal ligand isomerization reaction to yield an equilibrium mixture of isomers (30/70 cis/trans ratio, 90 °C, < 80 min) in the solid state. The activation energy barrier for the cis-trans isomerization reaction (80–100 °C) was found to be 68 ± 10 kJ mol^–1. In benzene (reflux, 2 h) this isomer ratio was found to be 70:30 cis/trans. DSC and powder XRD studies have revealed reactions that occur in the solid state entailing decomposition and isomerization. DSC experiments did not reveal the presence of the cis–trans isomerization reaction.     

Stereospecific solid-state [2+2] autophotocycloaddition of a styryl dye containing a 18-crown-6 fragment

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of a 18-crown-6-containing styryl dye of the pyridine series. Phototransformation products of the dye that formed upon irradiation with visible light in solution, films, and crystals were studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and spectrophotometry. Irradiation of solutions of this dye in acetonitrile leads only to reversible E-Z photoisomerization of the C=C bond. Irradiation of a film of the dye induces stereospecific [2+2] photocycloaddition to form exclusively the rctt isomer of tetrasubstituted cyclobutane. The latter was found to undergo base-catalyzed isomerization giving rise to the rcct isomer. X-ray diffraction study showed that photocycloaddition occurs in single crystals without their destruction. The structures of the E isomer of the dye and the resulting rctt isomer of the cyclobutane derivative were established. The characteristic features of the molecular packing of the dye favorable for topochemical photocycloaddition in the crystal and the structural changes that accompany the cyclobutane formation are discussed. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1896–1908, August, 2005.     

Stereospecific [2+2] autophotocycloaddition in the dimeric complex of 18-crown-6 ether styryl dye bearing N-(3-ammoniopropyl) substituent

New 18-crown-6 ether styryl dye of the 4-pyridine series bearing N-(3-ammoniopropyl) substituent has been synthesized. In MeCN, the dye forms a stable dimeric complex of the syn-head-to-tail type due to the complexation of the ammonium group of one molecule with the crown ether fragment of another. In the dimeric complex, the ethylene bonds of the molecules are close in space and antiparallel, which promotes an efficient stereospecific [2+2] autophotocycloaddition to yield the only rctt-isomer of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutane. The cyclobutane derivative structure was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.     

Degradation and cis-to-trans isomerization of poly[(2,4-difluorophenyl)acetylene]s of various initial molecular weight: SEC,NMR, DLS and EPR study

Molecular weight (MW) and configurational stabilities of a series of high-cis poly[(2,4-difluorophenyl)acetylene]s (PdFPhA, M_w from 2.2 × 10⁴ to 9.7 × 10⁵) exposed to the atmosphere and diffuse daylight are reported. Polymers dissolved in THF-d₈ undergo simultaneous cis-to-trans isomerization and degradation under formation of a bimodal MW distribution. Degradation and isomerization rates are tightly connected and decrease with decreasing MW of the parent PdFPhAs. This finding may be interesting for the functional applications of substituted polyacetylenes. The partly aged PdFPhAs contain two separable fractions: higher-MW high-cis macromolecules containing a low amount of unpaired electrons and lower-MW deeply isomerized cis/trans macromolecules enriched in the unpaired electrons content. The difference in MW of these fractions reflects the various degradation rates of isomerized and high-cis macromolecules. Only a slow degradation without changes in the configurational structure proceeds if PdFPhA is allowed to age in the solid state. The suppression of the cis-to-trans isomerization reflects the suppression of motion of the polymer chains segments in the solid state.     

Thermoanalytical study of linkage isomerism in coordination compounds

The non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments revealed that linkage isomerization of both pure trans-[Co(en)₂(ONO)₂]PF₆ (dinitrito isomer) and trans-[Co(en)₂(NO₂)₂]PF₆ (dinitro isomer) occurs in the solid state at elevated temperatures. The process was found to be exothermic for the dinitrito isomer and endothermic for dinitro isomer. The pure isomers could be considered to be in metastable states at ambient temperatures which would be converted to an equilibrium mixture of both isomers (stable state) upon heating. Since the isomerization of both isomers may be described as a two stages process, the corresponding DSC peaks have been resolved into two peaks by means of nonlinear curve fitting tools of PeakFit^® software. The resolution of the peaks helped us to determine enthalpy changes of stepwise isomerization of both isomers. A first-order initial rate and Kissinger methods have been employed to estimate kinetic parameters of the stepwise isomerization reactions. The Kissinger method provided more reliable kinetic results. The high activation energy and positive entropy changes of isomerization of both isomers are considered as indication of a dissociative mechanism in solid state.     

Enantioselective synthetic approaches to cyclopropane and cyclobutane β-amino acids: synthesis and structural study of a conformationally constrained β-dipeptide

Synthetic approaches to carbocyclic compounds, namely cyclopropane and cyclobutane β-amino acids, are presented. One of them is based on enzymatic desymmetrization of meso diesters, leading to the enantioselective production of cis-hemiesters, which afforded β-amino acids through Curtius rearrangements. The enantiomeric excess for the cyclobutane derivatives was 91% whereas the cyclopropanes were obtained in 63% ee. According to another strategy, an enantiomerically pure cyclopropane trans-β-amino acid, bearing a quaternary center, has been synthesized from a homochiral precursor easily available from d-glyceraldehyde. The preparation and structural investigation of the first synthesized cyclobutane containing dipeptide is also described. A hairpin-like conformation of this molecule in the solid state has been demonstrated by X-ray structural analysis, showing crystal packing induced by the presence of the rigid cyclobutane moiety and the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. NMR experiments confirmed that these molecules also tend to produce aggregates in solution. On the contrary, theoretical calculations suggest that intramolecular interactions are important in the gas phase, as expected.     

Synthesis and photoreaction of Schiff bases derived from p-nitro cinnamaldehyde and diamines in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films

Monolayers of Schiff bases derived from ethylene diamine and o-phenylene diamine with p-nitro cinnamaldehyde, (compounds 1 and 2) at air/water interface have been studied. Photolysis of 1 in chloroform solution undergoes cis–trans isomerization on irradiation of white light while compound 2 does not undergo isomerization under photolytic conditions. The photolysis of 1 and 2 in Langmuir–Blodgett films (LB films) transferred to quartz plates form dimers. The change in product distribution is attributed to the influence of bridging group of the cinnamaldehyde moieties, molecular configuration and mobility of the compounds in solution, solid state and the aggregation of molecules in monolayer assemblies.     

Photoactivity with in Cyclodextrin Cavities: Inclusion Complexes of Anils 1

Abstract

Photochromic percinnamoylated cyclomaltoheptaose (β-cyclodextrin) solid inclusion complexes with guests N-salicylideneaniline and N-5-chlorosalicylideneaniline were prepared and characterized. The guests of these inclusion complexes can be easily “locked” with UV irradiation in the solid state by formation of cyclobutane bridges among the percinnamate residues rendering them more stable than before and stronger in fluorescence. The reverse reaction, rupture of the cyclobutane bridges, has not been achieved in the solid state and more work toward this goal is in progress.

     

Synthesis and structural features of cyclobutane-containing chiral bicyclic ureas

Efficient and stereoselective synthetic routes have been developed for the preparation of chiral N-monoprotected cyclobutane bicyclic ureas in which one of the NH groups is protected as a benzyl or tert-butyl carbamate. Ureas in both enantiomeric forms were obtained from a common chiral precursor via the selective manipulation of functional groups. These compounds have been subjected to a structural study in solution and in the solid state. NMR, IR and TEM techniques evidence a strong tendency to aggregation in solution giving regular assemblies, which is a result of intermolecular urea N–H?OC hydrogen bonding. In the solid state, X-ray analysis shows that two urea molecules interact through only one hydrogen bond yielding infinite chains. This fact and the almost complete coplanarity of both the urea and the carbamate carbonyl groups determine the crystal packing to be formed by a parallel molecular arrangement. All these structural features are well supported by theoretical calculations that allow us to conclude that the formation of a network based on hydrogen bonding is energetically favourable.     

Styryl dyes. Synthesis and study of the solid-state [2+2] autophotocycloaddition by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction

New styryl dyes of the pyridine and benzothiazole series were synthesized with the aim of investigating the solid-state [2+2] autophotocycloaddition (PCA) reaction. The ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that for most of the compounds under study, the visible light irradiation of thin polycrystalline films of the dyes affords cyclobutane derivatives. The rate of the photoreaction depends on the structure of the dye and is higher for compounds, which contain a short N-substituent in the heterocyclic moiety and have strong absorption in the visible region. Dyes bearing electron-releasing substituents in the benzene ring undergo the stereospecific PCA in the syn-head-to-tail dimeric pair to give the only rctt isomer of cyclobutane derivatives. Electron-withdrawing and bulky substituents in the benzene fragment of styryl dyes extend the range of the mutual orientations of the molecules in the dimeric pairs, resulting in the formation of two or even four isomeric cyclobutanes in the PCA reactions. The structures of some dyes were established by X-ray diffraction. In the overwhelming majority of the structures, one of two packing modes, either syn-head-to-tail or syn-head-to-head, with extensive stacking interactions is observed. A rare example of the anti-head-to-head stacking mode was found for the dicationic dye containing the bulky N⁺(Et)Me₂ substituent in the benzene ring. The syn-head-to-tail and anti-head-to-head stacking modes can facilitate the PCA reaction due to the close spatial proximity of the ethylenic bonds and their parallel orientation in the dimeric pairs of the dye molecules. 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. 1797–1819, September, 2007.     

A Fe-rich sodium iron orthophosphate as cathode material for rechargeable batteries

Phosphate compounds have been intensively investigated as cathode materials for sodium ion batteries. Here we report the synthesis and electrochemical performance of a novel iron-rich sodium iron orthophosphate. This new compound was synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction method, and was found to be electrochemically active, delivering a reversible capacity of 85 mAhg^− 1 at an average voltage of c.a. 3.0 V vs. Na/Na⁺. Besides, the desodiated phase can be (de)intercalated by lithium ions when assembled into a lithium cell. Our discovery will open up the scope of phosphate family and reveal the importance of off-stoichiometric compounds as cathode materials.     

Thermodynamic properties of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ionic liquids

Heat capacities and enthalpies of phase transitions for a series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ionic liquids have been measured by adiabatic calorimetry. Thermodynamic properties of the compounds were calculated in the temperature range of (5 to 370) K. Water was found to have an additive contribution to the heat capacities of [C₄mim]Br in the liquid state above T_fus and in the solid state below 160 K at w(H₂O) ⩽ 5 · 10⁻³.     

Role of anions in the synthesis of cyclobutane derivatives via [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction in the solid state and their isomerization in solution

trans-3-(4'-Pyridyl)acrylic acid (4-PA) is inert to photodimerization reaction both in solution and solid state. It is made photoreactive by forming salts with various acids. The anions of these salts play a key role in directing the packing of 4-PAH(+) in the solid state. The anions CF(3)CO(2)(-), Cl(-), ClO(4)(-), and BF(4)(-) direct the parallel alignments of 4-PAH(+) in head-to-tail (HT) fashion and lead to the formation of HT-photodimer. On the other hand, bivalent anion SO(4)(2-) directs parallel alignment of 4-PAH(+) in head-to-head (HH) fashion and lead to the formation of HH-photodimer. The details of the anion-controlled stereoselective syntheses of these two cyclobutane derivatives are presented. Interestingly, both cyclobutane compounds undergo isomerization from rctt-form to rctc-form in solution catalyzed by acid.     

Crystal structure and photoreactivity of a halogen‐bonded cocrystal based upon 1,2‐diiodoperchlorobenzene and 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethylene

The formation of a photoreactive cocrystal based upon 1,2‐diiodoperchlorobenzene ( 1,2‐C₆I₂Cl₄ ) and trans‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethylene ( BPE ) has been achieved. The resulting cocrystal, 2( 1,2‐C₆I₂Cl₄ )·( BPE ) or C₆Cl₄I₂·0.5C₁₂H₁₀N₂, comprises planar sheets of the components held together by the combination of I…N halogen bonds and halogen–halogen contacts. Notably, the 1,2‐C₆I₂Cl₄ molecules π‐stack in a homogeneous and face‐to‐face orientation that results in an infinite column of the halogen‐bond donor. As a consequence of this stacking arrangement and I…N halogen bonds, molecules of BPE also stack in this type of pattern. In particular, neighbouring ethylene groups in BPE are found to be parallel and within the accepted distance for a photoreaction. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light, the cocrystal undergoes a solid‐state [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction that produces rctt‐tetrakis(pyridin‐4‐yl)cyclobutane ( TPCB ) with an overall yield of 89%. A solvent‐free approach utilizing dry vortex grinding of the components also resulted in a photoreactive material with a similar yield.     

Solid solutions: An efficient way to control the temperature of spin transition in heterospin crystals MxCu1 − x(hfac)2L (M = Mn,Ni, Co; L = nitronyl nitroxide)

A series of mixed-metal solid solutions M_xCu_1 − x(hfac)₂L (M = Mn, Ni, and Co) liable to undergo thermally induced spin transitions have been synthesized. The structure and magnetic properties of the compounds have been investigated. By varying the metal to be incorporated in the complex (Mn, Ni, or Co) and the value of x, one can control the character of the magnetic anomaly.     

Two-dimensional nanosheets of metal–organic frameworks with tailorable morphologies

The controlled preparation of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with tailorable methodologies, properties, and applications, is of significant importance. Here, in this work, by subtle control of the ultrasonic duration and solvent polarity, the iron(II)-based 2D MOF Fe(pyz)₂Cl₂ (pyz = pyrazine) has been elegantly tailored into 2D nanosheets (lateral size ≥500 nm in aqueous, with ultrasonic duration of 30 min) and one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons (lateral size ≤100 nm in ethanol solution, with ultrasonic duration of 90 min). The aqueous suspension of 2D nanosheets was featured with thermal-induced spin-state transition at around room temperature and can be used as effective Fenton catalysts for degradation of water-soluble organic dyes, whereas the ethanol suspension of 1D nanoribbons can act as a versatile nanoplatform for trans-to-cis isomerization of 4, 4′-azopyridine. These results may provide a novel strategy for the controlled preparation of layered nanomaterials.     

Regiospecific Isomerization of 2‐Benzoxazinon‐2‐yl Benzoic Acid Toward Some Nitrogen Nucleophiles as Environmental Insecticide

Based on the strategies of receptor structure‐guided benzoxazinone design, a series of nitrogen nucleophiles such as benzyl amine, sodium azide, 4,4‐bis o‐toluidine, 4‐butanolamine, glucosamine, 2‐amino pyridine, 2‐picolinyl amine, hydroxyl amine, and hydrazine derivatives, for example, hydrazine hydrate, semicarbazide, thiosemicarbazide, methylhydrazide, phenylhydrazide, could be reacted with 2‐benzoxazine‐2‐yl benzoic acid 1 . According the basicity of nucleophiles, regiospecific isomerization of benzoxazinone has been considered through formation of the spiro derivatives. Organic reagents can be controlled on the course of reaction of benzoxazinonyl benzoic acid 1 . Preliminary bioassays indicated that the insecticidal spectra of the synthesized compounds were ecofriendly biodegradable materials due to isomerization. Among these analogues, the quinazoline 2 – 4 showed 100% mortality against Nilaparvata lugens (LC₅₀ = 0.087 mg/L). The insecticidal potency of our designed analogues was dual‐controlled by isomerization to quinazolinone and spiro derivatives that observed in vitro and shed light on the novel insecticidal mechanism. The chemical structure of the products can be confirmed by microanalytical, spectral data, optimized and stimulated by quantum chemical parameters.     

Molecular structures and mixed spin states of chloroiron(III) complexes of the 2,3-diethyl-(detpp), 2,3,7,8-tetraethyl-(cis-tetpp), 2,3,12,13-tetraethyl-(trans-tetpp) and 2,3,7,8,12,13-hexaethyl-(hetpp) 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin complexes

The chloroiron(III) complexes of the partially peripherally crowded 2,3-diethyl-2,3,12,13-tetraethyl-, 2,3,7,8-tetraethyl-, and 2,3,7,8,12,13-hexaethyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins have been synthesised and their X-ray structures have been determined. The porphyrins present in these molecules are non-planar and assume asymmetric predominately saddle shapes. They are also slightly ruffled and domed according to an analysis of the out-of-plane distortions performed by using normal-coordinate structural decomposition (NSD). The saddle deformations, dominant in these chloroiron(III) complexes, are larger than those observed in all the cytochromes c’, whose structures were analysed by this method. Despite the large saddle-shaped distortions of the porphyrins present in these species, the quantum mechanical S = 3/2 spin admixtures into the S = 5/2 high-spin state (QMS state) observed are small. The EPR spectra of these C_β-ethyl-substituted tetraphenylporphyrin complexes indicate S = 3/2 admixtures of 0% in Fe(detpp)Cl (1), 0.75% in Fe(trans-tetpp)Cl (2), 1.20% in Fe(cis-tetpp)Cl (3) and 2.75% in Fe(hetpp)Cl (4). The large saddle distortions of the porphyrins present in these compounds and the small S = 5/2,3/2 spin admixtures found indicate that the saddle distortions alone are probably not sufficient to cause the QMS states observed in several ferricytochromes c’ isolated from photosynthetic bacteria and in plant peroxidases.