A novel method for the synthesis of 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoroethenes

β,β-Difluoro-α-phenylvinylstannane 3 was prepared in 60% yield from the reaction of β,β-difluoro-α-phenylvinylsulfone 2 with tributyltin hydride in refluxing benzene for 5 h. The cross-coupling reaction of 3 with aryl iodides bearing substituents such as proton, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, and nitro on ortho, meta, para positions of the benzene ring in the presence of 10 mol % Pd(PPh₃)₄/10 mol % CuI afforded the corresponding 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoroethenes 4 in 22-82% yields.     

Chemical shifts for tritons in the ortho,meta and para positions of toluene as determined by tritium NMR spectroscopy

Chemical shifts for tritons in ortho, meta and para positions in toluene have been determined using a 64 MHz tritium NMR spectrometer. The order of shift is meta>para>ortho, whereas the calculated shift order for protons is meta>ortho>para.     

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR spectroscopy. Part 96: Stereomutations of highly hindered naphthylphenyl atropisomers in solution and in the solids

When a benzene ring bears two 2-methyl-1-naphthyl moieties in the para, meta or ortho positions as in 1,4-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene, 1, 1,3-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene, 2 and 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene 3, two rotational isomers (atropisomers) are generated, with the two naphthyl substituents in a syn or anti relationship. In the case of the para and meta derivatives (1 and 2, respectively) these atropisomers could not be separated but were detected by NMR spectroscopy, that also allowed the determination of their syn-anti interconversion barriers in solution (19.5 and 20.4 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively) and, in the case of 2, also in the solid state (26.7 kcal mol⁻¹). In the more hindered ortho derivative 3, the syn (meso) and anti (racemic) atropisomers interconvert in solution with a barrier (31.2 kcal mol⁻¹) sufficiently high to allow their physical separation. The racemic form could also be separated (by enantioselective HPLC) into the PP and MM enantiomers. Analysis of the corresponding CD spectra allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration. When three such naphthyl substituents are bonded to the phenyl in a meta relationship, two atropisomers in statistical proportions were observed: the anti (C_s symmetry) and the syn (C_3v symmetry) display a 3:1 ratio at the equilibrium in solution. This ratio is different in the solid state, as is the interconversion barrier (22.1 and 32.1 kcal mol⁻¹ in solution and in the solid, respectively).     

Selective catalytic carbanionic ethylation of methylphenols: influence of catalyst and substitution pattern

Addition of ethylene to the carbanions formed by the metallation of the lithium salts of di- and trimethylphenols by the strongly basic system, n-BuLi-LiK(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂ provides a useful synthetic route to a range of alkylphenols. The ease of alkylation of the methyl groups decreases in the order ortho>meta>para while the inclusion of Mg(OCH₂CH₂OEt)₂ in the catalyst restricts alkylation to the methyl groups ortho to the hydroxy group. Dialkylation occurs only at the ortho-methyl groups and only if the adjacent meta-position is unsubstituted. The potential of these products for the synthesis of sterically hindered ligands is outlined.     

Study of the structural and electronic properties of 1-(4, 5 and 6-selenenyl derivatives-3-formyl-phenyl) pyrrolidinofullerenes

A series of 1-(4, 5 and 6-selenenyl derivatives-3-formyl-phenyl) pyrrolidinofullerenes molecules C₆₀-C₂H₄N-[3-(CHO)C₆H₃SeX] were investigated theoretically by performing Density Functional Theory calculations at the B3LYP/3-21G^∗ level of the theory. The substituents include: X = CN, CH₂CH(NH₂)CO₂H and CH₂CH₂CH(NH₂)CO₂H. We have selected these substituents to be in ortho, meta and para positions with relation to formyl group in order to show the effect of such structural change on the electronic properties of the molecules. The theoretical IR spectra, physical, chemical and thermodynamics properties of the molecules studied are obtained and discussed.     

Rapid and convenient semi-automated microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of arylopeptoids

A facile and expedient route to the synthesis of arylopeptoid oligomers (N-alkylated aminomethyl benz-amides) using semi-automated microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis is presented. The synthesis was optimized for the incorporation of side chains derived from sterically hindered or unreactive amines and both ortho- and para-substituted arylo-backbones. By utilizing this optimized protocol a complex nonameric arylopeptoid was synthesized in less than 11 h, featuring a novel alternating ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted backbone pattern and a variety of chemically diverse and challenging side chains.     

Conductivity behaviour of proton conducting polymer gel electrolytes with PVdF-HFP

Electrical conductivity of polymer gel electrolytes containing different hydroxy substituted benzoic acids and polyvinylidenefluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) has been studied. The conductivity of solution and gel electrolytes shows ortho effect and has been found to depend upon the acidity constant of the acid used and varies as σ (ortho-) > σ (meta-) > σ (para-). The addition of PVdF-HFP to solution electrolytes results in an increase in conductivity and the conductivity of gel electrolytes has been found to be higher than that of the corresponding liquid electrolytes for all the three acids studied i.e. σ (gel) >σ (liquid). The increase in conductivity with polymer addition has also been found to depend upon the acid concentration.     

Functionalization of Hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronenes: Investigation of the Substituent Effects on a Superbenzene

We have demonstrated that the iridium‐catalyzed direct borylation of hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) enables regioselective introduction of boryl groups to the para‐, ortho‐, and meta‐substituted HBCs in high yields. The boryl groups have been transformed into various functionalities such as hydroxy, cyano, ethynyl, and amino groups. We have elucidated that the substituents significantly influence the photophysical properties of HBCs to enhance fluorescence quantum yields. DFT calculations revealed that the origin of the substituent effect is the lift in degeneracy in the frontier orbitals by an interaction with electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents at the para‐ and ortho‐positions. The change in molecular orbitals results in an increase of the transition probability from the S₀→S₁ states. In addition, the two‐photon absorption cross‐section values of para‐substituted HBCs are significantly larger than those of ortho‐ and meta‐substituted HBCs.     

The Loss of a hydroxyl group from the molecular ions of alkylnitrobenzenes

It is confirmed that the loss of HO˙ from the molecular ion of o-nitrotoluene involves exclusively a hydrogen from the methyl group. However, in higher homologues hydrogen atoms from non-benzylic sites are also implicated. With such compounds this fragmentation mode is shown not only by the ortho but, to a lesser extent, by the meta and para isomers as well. The proportion of the total ion current borne by the [M – 17]⁺ ion follows the order ortho > meta > para, which is attributed to substituent migration around the ring with a hydroxyl radical only being lost when the groups are on adjacent ring atoms. Other ions present in the spectra point to interaction between substituents to form a new heterocyclic ring.     

Pulsed fourier transform NMR of substituted aryltrimethyltin derivatives : II. (119Sn-13C) coupling constants and 13C chemical shifts of meta- and para-derivatives

Carbon-13 NMR data are reported for thirteen para- and meta-substituted phenyltrimethyltin compounds, RC₆H₄Sn(CH₃)₃, where R = para-N(CH₃)₂, para-OCH₃, para-OC₂H₅, para-CH₃, meta-CH₃, -H, para-F, meta-OCH₃, para-Cl, para-Br, meta-F, meta-Cl and para-Sn(CH₃)₃. In the para-derivatives, correlation coefficients with Hammet σ-constants of greater than ca. 0.9 are obtained with the tin-carbon couplings to methyl, C₁ and C₄ carbons, and with the carbon-13 chemical shifts δ(C(1)). In the meta-derivatives, the couplings |J(Sn-CH₃)|:, |:J(Sn-C(1))|:, |:J(Sn-C(3))|: and |:J(Sn-C(6))|:, and the shifts δ(C(1)) and δ(C(5)) correlate well with Hammett σ. In the para-derivatives, sensitivity to change in substituent falls off C(4) > C(3, 5) > C(1) > C(2, 6) > CH₃ as registered by the δ(C), while in the meta-derivatives δ(C) changes decrease C(3) > C(2), C(4) > C(1) > C(5), C(6) > CH₃. The magnitudes of the tin coupling constants decrease C(1) > CH₃ > C(3, 5) > C(2, 6) > C(4) in the para-derivatives, while in the meta-series the order is C(1) > CH₃ > C(3), C(5) > C(2) > C(6) > C(4). The two sets of one-bond |:J(Sn-CH₃)|: and |:J(Sn-C(1)|: values correspond closely to the 0.25/0.33 ratio of coefficients in the LCAO approach, and are interpreted in terms of s-electron redistributions at the tin atom with change in substituent.     

Structural characterization of nitro-substituted phenoxyiminato nickel complexes; inter-molecular π-π interactions in the solid states and effect of the electron drawing groups on catalytic activity

Three phenoxyiminato nickel complexes [(L)Ni(PPh₃)(Ph)] have been prepared by the introduction of the electron drawing nitro substitutes on ortho or para-position of phenoxy and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Experimental and theory calculation suggested that the ortho and para nitro groups may be equally responsible for the small net charge on the central metal atoms because the interplanar angles between o-nitro planes and aromatic rings (28.7-37.3°) are much higher than those between p-nitro planes and aromatic rings (8.2-13.8°). In the solid states of these nickel complexes there exist the short inter-molecular π-π stacking interactions with the distances of 3.5828 Å (ortho-nitro), 3.5844 Å (para-nitro), and 3.0929 Å (ortho- and para-nitro) between two neighboring nitro-phenyl moieties.     

Acyl radical addition to benzene and related systems—a computational study

The addition of the acetyl radical to benzene, aniline, trifluoromethylbenzene and naphthalene has been investigated using DFT calculations. Addition to benzene is calculated to have an energy barrier of 63.6 kJ mol⁻¹ at the BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE level of theory. This reaction is associated with simultaneous SOMO→π^∗ and π→SOMO interactions with the latter interaction dominating, suggesting that acetyl reacts predominantly as an electrophilic radical in its interaction with benzene. Addition to the ortho and para positions of aniline is calculated to be slightly less favourable, while attack at the meta position is predicted to be unaffected in relation to the chemistry involving benzene. Inclusion of the electron-withdrawing substituent, trifluoromethyl, is predicted to accelerate reactions slightly at the ortho and para positions, while attack at the C1 position of naphthalene is calculated to involve a barrier of 50.3 kJ mol⁻¹ (BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE).     

The kinetics of radical polymerization—XXV: Study of the radical reactivity of substituted nitrobenzenes—I

A study was made on the effect of some para- and meta-substituted nitrobenzenes on the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate. It has been shown that −CH₂X and −SO₂X type substituents have merely an inductive effect on the reactivity of nitro groups. It has also been established that the inductive effect of substituents is more intensive when they are in the para position than when in the meta position, i.e.: λ = 1·15.     

Reversal of order of chemical shifts. Differential solvent effects in the hydrogen shifts of toluene,m-xylene and o-xylene as determined by 320 MHz tritium NMR spectroscopy

Chemical shifts for the aromatic tritons of toluene decrease in the order meta>para>ortho for pure toluene, but in the order meta>ortho>para for dilute solutions of toluene in carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, cyclohexane and dimethyl sulphoxide; m-xylene shifts are 5>4,6>2 in the pure state and 5>2>4,6 in carbon tetrachloride and dimethyl sulphoxide; o-xylene shifts are 4,5>3,6 in the pure state and reversed in carbon tetrachloride.     

17O NMR studies of ortho‐substituent effects in substituted phenyl tosylates

¹⁷O NMR spectra for 35 ortho‐, para‐, and meta‐substituted phenyl tosylates (phenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonates), 4‐CH₃‐C₆H₄SO₂OC₆H₄‐X, at natural abundance in acetonitrile at 50 °C were recorded. The ¹⁷O NMR chemical shifts, δ(¹⁷O), of the sulfonyl (SO₂) and the single‐bonded phenoxy (OPh) oxygens for para and meta derivatives correlated well with dual substituent parameter treatment using the Taft inductive, σ_I, and resonance, σº_R, constants. The influence of ortho substituents on the sulfonyl oxygen and the single‐bonded phenoxy oxygen chemical shifts, δ(¹⁷O), was found to be nicely described by the Charton equation: δ(¹⁷O)_ortho = δ(¹⁷O)_H + ρ_Iσ_I + ρ_Rσ°_R + δE_s^B when the data treatment was performed separately for electron‐donating +R substituents and electron‐attracting ?R substituents. Electron‐attracting meta and para substituents in the phenyl moiety caused deshielding while the electron‐donating meta, para and ortho +R substituents produce shielding effects on the sulfonyl (SO₂) and single‐bonded phenoxy (OPh) oxygens. The influence of ortho inductive and resonance effects in the case of +R substituents was found to be approximately twice higher than the corresponding influence from the para position. Due to the steric effect of ortho substituents a decrease in shielding of the oxygens at the sulfonyl group (δE_s^B > 0, E_s^B < 0) was detected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

C→N Migrations of the ethoxycarbonyl group in reactions of ortho-substituted aryl isocyanates with the 1,3-zwitterion derived from triisopropylphosphine and ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate

The reactions of meta—para-substituted aryl isocyanates with phosphorus-containing 1,3-zwitterions, which proceed with the CN migration of the CO₂Et group to form the corresponding carbamates, were extended to ortho-substituted aryl isocyanates. The influence of the steric and electronic effects of the ortho substituents in the aromatic rings of aryl isocyanates on the ease of this rearrangement is qualitatively considered.     

QSPR study on pK<Subscript>a</Subscript> values of N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives

A QSPR study is presented for acidities of thirteen N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives. Hammett σ values are known for meta and para substituents, and in the present study values are introduced for ortho-substituents in these N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives. Hammett σ values for ortho-substituents in these N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives were obtained by multiplying para values with 0.65.     

Displacement of neutral nitrogen donors by chloride in [Pt(SNS)(R-py)](ClO4)2 (SNS = 2,6-bis(methylthiomethyl)pyridine; R-py = pyridines): A reactivity comparison between meta- and para-substituted pyridines

The kinetics of the process [Pt(SNS)(R-py)]²⁺ + Cl⁻ → [Pt(SNS)Cl]⁺ + R-py {SNS = 2,6-bis(methylsulfanylmethyl)pyridine; R-py = meta- or para-substituted pyridines covering a wide range of basicity} were studied in methanol at 25 °C. The reactions obey the usual two-term rate law observed in the substitution reactions of square-planar d⁸ complexes. The plots of log k₂ {k₂ = second-order rate constants} against the pK_a of the heterocycles conjugate acids highlighted a different sensitivity of the two groups of N-donors to changes in basicity, thepara-substituted pyridines (4R-py) showing a weaker dependence on pK_a than the meta-substituted (3R-py). The results have been explained on the basis of a π-acidity difference between 3R-py and 4R-py which influences the reaction ground state.     

The influence of the macroring structure on the enthalpies of solution of tetrapyridylporphyrin derivatives in water

The enthalpies of solution of 5,10,15,20-tetra(N-methylpyrid-4,3,2-yl)porphyrin tetraiodide were determined calorimetrically at 298.15 K. Changes in the position of the heteroatom in the pyridyl fragment of the substituted porphyrin (meta- and ortho- positions) substantially decreased the endothermic effect of solution compared with the para- isomer. This was related to changes in the energy of the molecular crystal lattice, which decreased in the series para- > meta- > ortho-isomer.     

ortho-Substituted 2-Phenyldihydroazulene Photoswitches: Enhancing the Lifetime of the Photoisomer by ortho-Aryl Interactions

Photochromic molecules are systems that undergo a photoisomerization to high-energy isomers and are attractive for the storage of solar energy in a closed-energy cycle, for example, in molecular solar thermal energy storage systems. One challenge is to control the discharge time of the high-energy isomer. Here, we show that different substituents in the ortho position of a phenyl ring at C-2 of dihydroazulene (DHA-Ph) significantly increase the half-life of the metastable vinylheptafulvene (VHF-Ph) photoisomer; thus, the energy-releasing VHF-to-DHA back-reaction rises from minutes to days in comparison to the corresponding para- and meta-substituted systems. Systems with two photochromic DHA-Ph units connected by a diacetylene bridge either at the para, meta and ortho positions and corresponding to a linear or to a cross-conjugated pathway between the two photochromes are also presented. Here, the ortho substitution was found to compromise the switching properties. Thus, irradiation of ortho-bridged DHA-DHA resulted in degradation, probably due to the proximity of the different functional groups that can give rise to side-reactions.