Photochemistry of bertyadionol and related compounds

Irradiation of the macrocyclic diterpene bertyadionol resulted in a single photoisomer (2) the formation of which was rationalised in terms of a novel photorearrangement resulting in transannular bond formation. The structure of this photoproduct was elucidated by a combination of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Two related compounds, diterpene B and D, and their acetate derivatives when photolysed underwent E→Z isomerisation of the conjugated double bond and epimerization about one centre of the cyclopropyl moiety.     

Photochemistry of ommochromes and related compounds

The photochemistry of some synthetic ommochromes, the 1-methoxy-11-(β-aspartoyl-acetyl-methyl ester)-5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-one ( 2 ), the 1-methyl-1-(1′-[1′[11-(β-aspartoyl-methyl ester-imino)]ethenyl)-ketal-1 H,5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-one ( 3 ) and the 1,5-dimethoxy-11-(β-aspartoyl-N-acetyl-methyl ester)-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazine ( 4 ), obtained from the oxidation of the 3-hydroxykynurenine ( 1 ), has been examined. In an acidic methanol solution of 2 , a reversible solvent photoaddition was observed, associated with a yellow-red bathochromic shift. The mixture, stored in the dark, quantitatively records the starting absorption spectrum. In an acidic enviroment, 3 and 4 , affording 2 , show the same photochemical behaviour. A plausible mechanism, for explanation of the process is suggested.     

Photochemistry and photophysics of organosilicon compounds

Photochemical and photophysical processes of organosilicon compounds have been studied. Dual (local and CT) emission has been found in aromatic disilanes. The intramolecular CT fluorescence has a broad and structureless band with a large Stokes shift. The CT process in the excited state occurs very rapidly with a time constant less than 10 ps even in rigid glass at 77 K This finding shows that the CT mechanism is quite different from TICT (or OICT) which needs twisting or internal rotation during the lifetime in the excited state. The CT emission originates from the ¹(2pσ,3dσ) state having an in-plane long-axis polarization, which is produced by the 2pσ* (aromatic ring) vacant 3dσ (Si-Si bond) intramolecular charge transfer. The CT state plays an important role in the photochemical and photophysical properties of phenyldisilanes. At room temperature a long-lived 425 nm transient (silene) is produced with a time constant of 30 ps from the CT state. The photolysis of cyclotetrasilanes is remarkably dependent on their molecular structures: two molecules of the corresponding disilene are produced from the S₁ state of planar cyclotetrasilanes, while silylene is generated by ring contraction in the S₁ state of bent cyclotetrasilanes. Remarkably large Stokes shifts are observed in these cyclotetrasilanes. Dimethylsilylene with a transient peak at 470 nm is observed by laser photolysis of cyclohexasilanes. The dynamic behaviours of the intermediates have been studied by nanosecond laser photolysis. The phenylsilyl radical is generated by photolysis of phenylsilanes in rigid glass at 77 K, which gives a structured emission similar to that of benzyl radical.     

Photochemistry and photophysics of stilbene dendrimers and related compounds

The syntheses and reactions of photoresponsive dendrimers are described. Dendrimers with photoreversible stilbene cores undergo mutual cis–trans isomerization in organic solvents to give photostationary state mixtures of cis- and trans-isomers. Even stilbene dendrimers with molecular weights as high as 6500 underwent mutual cis–trans isomerization within the lifetime of the excited singlet state. The large dendron group surrounding the photoreactive core may affect the excited state properties of the core to induce the efficiency of photoisomerization and/or reduce the fluorescence efficiency. The photochemistry of stilbene dendrimers, with various types of dendron groups, azobenzene dendrimers and other photoresposive dendrimers is discussed.     

Photochemistry of ommochromes and related compounds. Part II

The visible light irradiated solutions of the 1-methyl-1-(1′-[11-(β-aspartoyl-methyl ester-imino)]ethenyl]-ketal-1H,5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-one ( 1 ) and the 1,5-dimethoxy-11-(β-aspartoyl-N-acetyl-methyl ester)-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazine ( 2 ) [1], in methanol and acidic methanol, are examined. Both methanolic solutions undergo light induced transformation according to an opening of the phenoxazinone and phenoxazine systems, not reversible in darkness. On the contrary, 1 and 2 in methanol-acid solutions, under visible light irradiation, yield a solvent photoaddition, reversible in darkness. Some phototransformation products are examined and a plausible mechanism, for the reactions explanation, is suggested.     

Photochemistry of poly(vinyl cinnamylideneacetate) and related compounds

The photochemistry of the cinnamylideneacetyl group was investigated with respect to a photosensitive polymer, poly(vinyl cinnamylideneacetate). The photochemical reaction of 1,4-butanediol dicinnamylideneacetate was intramolecular cyclobutane formation. The photosensitive polymer underwent dimerization of the cinnamylideneacetyl moiety to form a cyclobutane ring. The reactivity of the double bond adjacent to the carbonyl group was larger than that of the double bond adjacent to the phenyl group in the chromophore. The quantum yield of the reaction was larger in the solid state than in solution: ? > 1.2 in crystalline state, ? = 0.5 in polymer film, ? = 0.1 in solution. The reaction was sensitized by triplet sensitizers (E_T > 42 kcal/mole). The thermal reaction of the polymer was completely different from the photochemical reaction. A radical initiator was very ineffective for reaction of the polymer.     

Polymer-modified supported palladium catalysts for the hydrogenation of acetylene compounds

Palladium catalysts supported on zinc oxide modified with polyethylene glycol or pectin were synthesized and investigated in the hydrogenation of acetylene compounds. It was established that the polymercontaining catalysts reduce acetylene hyrbons to olefins with high activity, selectivity, and stability. The composition and structure of the obtained composites were studied by elemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and XPS spectroscopy. It was found that the nanosized particles of palladium uniformly immobilized on the surface of zinc oxide were formed in the course of the synthesis of a supported polymer/oxide complex.