Azulenylcarbenes: Rearrangements on the C11H8 Potential Energy Surface

Four isomeric azulenylcarbenes were synthesized in argon matrices by photolysis of the corresponding diazo precursors, and the photochemistry of these carbenes was studied. The carbenes and their rearranged products were characterized by IR, UV/Vis, and EPR spectroscopy, and the experimental data were compared to results from DFT calculations. While 2‐, 5‐ and 6‐azulenylcarbene show triplet ground states, 1‐azulenylcarbene exhibits a singlet ground state, in accord with theoretical predictions. The rearrangements of the azulenylcarbenes give access to a number of unusual C₁₁H₈ isomers, such as other carbenes and strained allenes.     

Rearrangements and fragmentations of metastable [C13H9S]+, [C14H11]+, [C13H11]+ and [C8H7S]+ ions

[C₁₃H₉S]⁺, [C₁₄H₁₁]⁺, [C₁₃H₁₁]⁺ and [C₈H₇S]⁺ ions with unknown structures were generated from two [C₁₄H₁₂S]^+·precursor ions by fragmentation reactions that must be preceded by extensive rearrangements. Ions with the same compositions, each with several initial structures, were prepared by simple bond-breaking reactions. Metastable characteristics were compared for each of the four types of ions. It was found than in all cases fast isomerization reactions occur prior to fragmentation, so that no information about the unknown ion structures could be obtained by comparison of the observed fragmentations of metastable ions.     

Vibrational spectra of C60.C8H8 and C70.C8H8 in the rotor-stator and polymer phases

C(60).C(8)H(8) and C(70).C(8)H(8) are prototypes of rotor-stator cocrystals. We present infrared and Raman spectra of these materials and show how the rotor-stator nature is reflected in their vibrational properties. We measured the vibrational spectra of the polymer phases poly(C(60)C(8)H(8)) and poly(C(70)C(8)H(8)) resulting from a solid-state reaction occurring on heating. On the basis of the spectra, we propose a connection pattern for the fullerene in poly(C(60)C(8)H(8)), where the symmetry of the C(60) molecule is D(2h). On illuminating the C(60).C(8)H(8) cocrystal with green or blue light, a photochemical reaction was observed leading to a product similar to that of the thermal polymerization.     

Rearrangements and fragmentations of [C2H5S]+ ions

[C₂H₅S]⁺ ions (m/e 61) with different initial structures were generated in the mass spectrometer from twelve precursor ions. Abundance ratios of competing metastable ion decompositions were used to determine whether these ions decompose through the same or different reaction channels. It was concluded that all [C₂H₅S]⁺ ions isomerize to a common structure or mixture of structures prior to decomposition in the first field free region. From ¹³C labelling experiments it was concluded that [C₂H₅S]⁺ ions generated from the molecular ions of 2-propanethiol-2-[¹³C], partially rearrange to a symmetrical structure before decomposition to [CHS]⁺ and CH₄, whereas in [C₂H₅S]⁺ ions generated from the the molecular ions of 1,2-bis-(thiomethoxy-[¹³C]) ethane, the two carbon atoms become fully equivalent before CH₄ loss occurs.     

Rearrangements and fragmentations of [C2H5S]+ ions

From deuterium labelling experiments it was concluded that metastable molecular ions of ethyl methyl sulfide lose a methyl radical with the formation of both [CH₃S?CH₂]⁺ amd [CH₃CH?SH]⁺˙ The fragmentation reactions of metastable ions generated with these structure are losses of C₂H₂, H₂S and CH₄. These reactoins and the preceding isomerizations have also been studied by means of deuterium labelling. From the results it is concluded that the three fragmentation reactions most probably occur from ions with a C? C? S skeleton. Appearance energy measurements for ions generated with the two structures above and all give rise to the same ΔH_f value for these three isomeric forms. Ab initio molecular orbitals calculations confirm that these three ions fortuitously have very similar heats of formation. A potential energy diagram rationalizing the isomerizations and the principal fragmentation reaction is presented.     

Ionization efficiencies of C3H6, C4H8, C6H12, C2H6O,and C3H8O isomers

Ionization efficiencies of 14 organic compounds have been measured in the wavelength region from 105 to 134nm using an ionization chamber. The compounds examined are cyclopropane, propylene, l-butene, isobutene, cis-and trans-2-butenes, cyclohexane, 1-hexane, tetramethylethylene, ethyl alcohol, dimethyl ether, n-, and iso-propyl alcohol, and ethyl methyl ether. The ionization efficiencies of cyclopropane and cyclohexane monotonically increase with increasing photon energy, but those for the others show a peak or a shoulder in the wavelength region of the present work.     

"Met-Cars"外接氢化合物Ti8C12H4和Ti8C12H8的Ab Initio研究

用量子化学从头算方法，对Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２（Ｔｄ）进行了几何构型优化，结果表明，Ｔｉ３Ｃ１２（Ｔｄ）的化学动力学性质不稳定，化学性质活泼，在此基础上进行了其外接氢化物的性质研究，从理论上预测了Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２Ｈ４（Ｔｄ）和Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２Ｈ８（Ｔｄ）几何构型的稳定性和化学反应活性。由Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２（Ｔｄ）和Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２Ｈ８（Ｔｄ）稳定性分析得出：Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２Ｈ４（Ｔｄ）构型最稳定，而Ｔｉ８Ｃ１２Ｈ８（Ｔｄ）和Ｔｉ     

Toward a Symphony of Reactivity: Cascades Involving Catalysis and Sigmatropic Rearrangements

Catalysis and synthesis are intimately linked in modern organic chemistry. The synthesis of complex molecules is an ever evolving area of science. In many regards, the inherent beauty associated with a synthetic sequence can be linked to a certain combination of the creativity with which a sequence is designed and the overall efficiency with which the ultimate process is performed. In synthesis, as in other endeavors, beauty is very much in the eyes of the beholder. It is with this in mind that we will attempt to review an area of synthesis that has fascinated us and that we find extraordinarily beautiful, namely the combination of catalysis and sigmatropic rearrangements in consecutive and cascade sequences.

1 Sometimes the assessment of beauty is nearly unanimous. The first four notes of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67) represent perhaps the most well‐known and popular motif in classical music. The orchestral score is shown in the background of the cover graphic. Accessed March 20, 2013 from http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.5,_Op.67_%28Beethoven,_Ludwig_van%29 .

     

Isomerisation of hydrocarbon ions III–[C8H8]+·, [C8H8]2+, [C6H6]+· AND [C6H5]+ IONS

Collisional activation spectra of [C₈H₈]⁺·, [C₈H₈]²⁺, [C₆H₆]⁺· and [C₆H₅]⁺ ions from fifteen different sources are reported. Decomposing [C₈H₈]⁺· ions of ten of these precursors isomerise to a mixture of mainly the cyclooctatetraene and, to a smaller extent, the styrene structure. Three additional structures are observed with [C₈H₈]⁺· ions from the remaining precursors. [C₈H₈]^2+., [C₈H₈]⁺·, [C₆H₆]⁺· and [C₆H₅]⁺· ions mostly decompose from common structures although some exceptions are reported.     

Gas‐Phase Synthesis of the Elusive Cyclooctatetraenyl Radical (C8H7) via Triplet Aromatic Cyclooctatetraene (C8H8) and Non‐Aromatic Cyclooctatriene (C8H8) Intermediates

The 1,2,4,7‐cyclooctatetraenyl radical (C₈H₇) has been synthesized for the very first time via the bimolecular gas‐phase reaction of ground‐state carbon atoms with 1,3,5‐cycloheptatriene (C₇H₈) on the triplet surface under single‐collision conditions. The barrier‐less route to the cyclic 1,2,4,7‐cyclooctatetraenyl radical accesses exotic reaction intermediates on the triplet surface, which cannot be synthesized via classical organic chemistry methods: the triplet non‐aromatic 2,4,6‐cyclooctatriene (C₈H₈) and the triplet aromatic 1,3,5,7‐cyclooctatetraene (C₈H₈). Our approach provides a clean gas‐phase synthesis of this hitherto elusive cyclic radical species 1,2,4,7‐cyclooctatetraenyl via a single‐collision event and opens up a versatile, unconventional path to access this previously largely obscure class of cyclooctatetraenyl radicals, which have been impossible to access through classical synthetic methods.     

Rearrangements of free radicals x : C7H7 - radicals and related systems

7-Norbornadienyl radical rearranges in matrix to tropylium radical. Deuterated and cyano substituted bicyclo(3.2.0)heptadienyl radicals do not undergo 1.2-vinyl shifts prior to electrocyclic ring opening.     

Thermal decomposition of Pr[(C5H8NS2)(C12H8N2)]

The thermal behavior of the complex Pr[(C₅H₈NS₂)(C₁₂H₈N₂)] in a dry nitrogen flow was examined by TG-DTG analysis. The TG-DTG investigations indicated that Pr[(C₅H₈NS₂)(C₁₂H₈N₂)] was decomposed into Pr₂S₃ and deposited carbon in one step where Pr₂S₃ predominated in the final products. The results of non-isothermal kinetic calculations showed that the decomposition stage was the random nucleation and subsequent growth mechanism(n = 2/3), the corresponding apparent activation energyE was 115.89 kJ•mol⁻¹ and the pre-exponential constant In[A/s] was 7.8697. The empirical kinetics model equation was proposed as\(f(\alpha ) = \frac{3}{2}(1 - \alpha )[ - 1n(1 - \alpha )]^{\frac{1}{3}} \). The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the thermal decomposition products at 800 °C under N₂ atmosphere show that the product can be indexed to the cubic Pr₂S₃ phase. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the final product reveals the particle appearance of a diameter within 40 nm. The experimental results show that the praseodymium sulfide nanocrystal can be prepared from thermal decomposition of Pr[(C₅H₈NS₂)(C₁₂H₈N₂)].

     

Size-Controlled Hapticity Switching in [Ln(C9H9)(C8H8)] Sandwiches

Sandwich complexes of lanthanides have recently attracted a considerable amount of interest due to their applications as Single Molecule Magnet (SMM). Herein, a comprehensive series of heteroleptic lanthanide sandwich complexes ligated by the cyclononatetraenyl (Cnt) and the cyclooctatetraenyl (Cot) ligand [Ln(Cot)(Cnt)] (Ln=Tb, Dy, Er, Ho, Yb, and Lu) is reported. The coordination behavior of the Cnt ligand has been investigated along the series and shows different coordination patterns in the solid-state depending on the size of the corresponding lanthanide ion without altering its overall anisotropy. Besides the characterization in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by ¹H NMR, static magnetic studies and ab initio computational studies were performed.     

Ti8C12H8簇的理论研究

用量子化学从头计算方法, 预测了Ti8C12H8簇的几何结构、电子结构, 分析讨论了该簇的成键和化学反应性质。     

Isomer stability and bond-breaking energies of N8C8H8 cages

Molecules consisting entirely or predominantly of nitrogen have been extensively investigated for their potential as high-energy density materials (HEDM). Such molecules react to produce N2 and large amounts of energy, but many such molecules are too unstable for practical applications. In the present study, cage isomers of N8C8H8 are studied using theoretical calculations to determine the structural features that lead to the most stable cages and determine the energetics of dissociation for the various isomers. The isomers are evaluated for thermodynamic (isomer vs isomer) stability and kinetic (with respect to dissociation) stability. Density functional theory (B3LYP), perturbation theory (MP2), and coupled-cluster theory [CCSD(T)] are employed, in conjunction with the cc-pVDZ basis set of Dunning. Trends in isomer stability and dissociation energies are calculated and discussed.     

H atom yields from the reactions of CN radicals with C2H2, C2H4, C3H6, trans-2-C4H8, and iso-C4H8

The kinetics and H atom channel yield at both 298 and 195 K have been determined for reactions of CN radicals with C2H2 (1.00+/-0.21, 0.97+/-0.20), C2H4 (0.96+/-0.032, 1.04+/-0.042), C3H6 (pressure dependent), iso-C4H8 (pressure dependent), and trans-2-C4H8 (0.039+/-0.019, 0.029+/-0.047) where the first figure in each bracket is the H atom yield at 298 K and the second is that at 195 K. The kinetics of all reactions were studied by monitoring both CN decay and H atom growth by laser-induced fluorescence at 357.7 and 121.6 nm, respectively. The results are in good agreement with previous studies where available. The rate coefficients for the reaction of CN with trans-2-butene and iso-butene have been measured at 298 and 195 K for the first time, and the rate coefficients are as follows: k298K=(2.93+/-0.23)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), k195K=(3.58+/-0.43)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) and k298K=(3.17+/-0.10)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), k195K=(4.32+/-0.35)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively, where the errors represent a combination of statistical uncertainty (2sigma) and an estimate of possible systematic errors. A potential energy surface for the CN+C3H6 reaction has been constructed using G3X//UB3LYP electronic structure calculations identifying a number of reaction channels leading to either H, CH3, or HCN elimination following the formation of initial addition complexes. Results from the potential energy surface calculations have been used to run master equation calculations with the ratio of primary:secondary addition, the average amount of downward energy transferred in a collision DeltaEd, and the difference in barrier heights between H atom elimination and an H atom 1, 2 migration as variable parameters. Excellent agreement is obtained with the experimental 298 K H atom yields with the following parameter values: secondary addition complex formation equal to 80%, DeltaEd=145 cm(-1), and the barrier height for H atom elimination set 5 kJ mol(-1) lower than the barrier for migration. Finally, very low temperature master equation simulations using the best fit parameters have been carried out in an increased precision environment utilizing quad-double and double-double arithmetic to predict H and CH3 yields for the CN+C3H6 reaction at temperatures and pressures relevant to Titan. The H and CH3 yields predicted by the master equation have been parametrized in a simple equation for use in modeling.