Role of the 3(ππ*) state in photolysis of lumisantonin: insight from ab initio studies

The CASSCF and CASPT2 methodologies have been used to explore the potential energy surfaces of lumisantonin in the ground and low-lying triplet states along the photoisomerization pathways. Calculations indicate that the (1)(nπ*) state is the accessible low-lying singlet state with a notable oscillator strength under an excitation wavelength of 320 nm and that it can effectively decay to the (3)(ππ*) state through intersystem crossing in the region of minimum surface crossings with a notable spin-orbital coupling constant. The (3)(ππ*) state, derived from the promotion of an electron from the π-type orbital mixed with the σ orbital localized on the C-C bond in the three-membered alkyl ring to the π* orbital of conjugation carbon atoms, plays a critical role in C-C bond cleavage. Based on the different C-C bond rupture patterns, the reaction pathways can be divided into paths A and B. Photolysis along path A arising from C1-C5 bond rupture is favorable because of the dynamic and thermodynamic preferences on the triplet excited-state PES. Path B is derived from the cleavage of the C5-C6 bond, leading first to a relatively stable species, compared to intermediate A-INT formed on the ground state PES. Accordingly, path B is relatively facile for the pyrolytic reaction. The present results provide a basis to interpret the experimental observations.     

烯酮及取代烯酮与环戊二烯环加成反应机理的理论研究

利用半经验分子轨道理论AM1方法,研究了烯酮及取代烯酮与环戊二烯环加成反应机理。采用Berny梯度法优化得到各反应的过渡态和中间体,并进行了振动分析确认。计算结果表明,该环加成反应是按照协同的非同步途径进行的,经过一个四元环发生扭曲的过渡态,并有部分电荷从环戊二烯迁移到烯酮或取代烯酮上,前线轨道分析表明反应机理为“2×[1+1]”机理;而氯甲基取代的烯酮与环戊二烯的环加成反应是按照分步途径发生的。计算结果可以很好地说明实验所观察到的立体选择性,并根据烯酮上取代基的电子效应和位阻效应对反应机理的影响进行了分析。     

Asymmetry in platinum acetylide complexes: confinement of the triplet exciton to the lowest energy ligand

To determine structure-optical property relationships in asymmetric platinum acetylide complexes, we synthesized the compounds trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5) (PE1-2), trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5) (PE1-3) and trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5) (PE2-3) that have different ligands on either side of the platinum and compared their spectroscopic properties to the symmetrical compounds PE1, PE2 and PE3. We measured ground state absorption, fluorescence, phosphorescence and triplet state absorption spectra and performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations of frontier orbitals, lowest lying singlet states, triplet state geometries and energies. The absorption and emission spectra give evidence the singlet exciton is delocalized across the central platinum atom. The phosphorescence from the asymmetric complexes comes from the largest ligand. Time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations show the S1 state has mostly highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) --> lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) character, with the LUMO delocalized over the chromophore. In the asymmetric chromophores, the LUMO resides on the larger ligand, suggesting the S1 state has interligand charge transfer character. The triplet state geometries obtained from the DFT calculations show distortion on the lowest energy ligand, whereas the other ligand has the ground state geometry. The calculated trend in the triplet state energies agrees very well with the experimental trend. Calculations of triplet state spin density also show the triplet exciton is confined to one ligand. In the asymmetric complexes the spin density is confined to the largest ligand. The results show Kasha's rule applies to these complexes, where the triplet exciton moves to the lowest energy ligand.     

Transition metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond activation

This tutorial review deals with recent developments in the activation of C-C bonds in organic molecules that have been catalyzed by transition metal complexes. Many chemists have devised a variety of strategies for C-C bond activation and significant progress has been made in this field over the past few decades. However, there remain only a few examples of the catalytic activation of C-C bonds, in spite of the potential use in organic synthesis, and most of the previously published reviews have dwelt mainly on the stoichiometric reactions. Consequently, this review will focus mainly on the catalytic reaction of C-C bond cleavage by homogeneous transition metal catalysts. The contents include cleavage of C-C bonds in strained and unstrained molecules, and cleavage of multiple C-C bonds such as C[triple bond]C triple bonds in alkynes. Multiple bond metathesis and heterogeneous systems are beyond the scope of this review, though they are also fascinating areas of C-C bond activation. In this review, the strategies and tactics for C-C bond activation will be explained.     

Photoproduct selectivity in reactions involving singlet and triplet excited states within bile salt micelles

Generally, photochemical reactions tend to give more than one product. For such reactions to be useful one should be able to control them to yield a single product. Of the many approaches used in this context, the use of reaction media with features different from those of isotropic solutions has been very effective. We provide results of our studies on four reactions within bile salt micelles (cholic acid and deoxycholic acid). These four reactions involve homolytic cleavage of a C-C or C-O bond to yield either a singlet or triplet radical pair. The bile salt micelles control the rotational and translational mobilities of the radical pair, resulting in photoproduct selectivity. The dynamic nature of the bile salt micelles results in differential effects on the singlet and triplet radical pairs.     

Regioselective ring opening of alkylidenecyclopropanone silyl acetals

Alkylidenecyclopropanone silyl acetals are readily available from the reaction of an alkylidenemethyliodonium salt and ketene silyl acetals in the presence of triethylamine. The three different C-C bonds of the cyclopropane ring can be selectively cleaved with HCl, Lewis acid, or fluoride. The alkylideneallyl cation formed via the cleavage of C2-C3 bond with Lewis acids shows further selectivity in reacting with a nucleophile.     

Trapping-mediated dissociative chemisorption of cycloalkanes on Ru(001) and Ir(111): influence of ring strain and molecular geometry on the activation of C-C and C-H bonds.

We have measured the initial probabilities of dissociative chemisorption of perhydrido and perdeutero cycloalkane isotopomers on the hexagonally close-packed Ru(001) and Ir(111) single-crystalline surfaces for surface temperatures between 250 and 1100 K. Kinetic parameters (activation barrier and preexponential factor) describing the initial, rate-limiting C-H or C-C bond cleavage reactions were quantified for each cycloalkane isotopomer on each surface. Determination of the dominant initial reaction mechanism as either initial C-C or C-H bond cleavage was judged by the presence or absence of a kinetic isotope effect between the activation barriers for each cycloalkane isotopomer pair, and also by comparison with other relevant alkane activation barriers. On the Ir(111) surface, the dissociative chemisorption of cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane occurs via two different reaction pathways: initial C-C bond cleavage dominates on Ir(111) at high temperature (T > approximately 600 K), while at low temperature (T < approximately 400 K), initial C-H bond cleavage dominates. On the Ru(001) surface, dissociative chemisorption of cyclopentane occurs via initial C-C bond cleavage over the entire temperature range studied, whereas dissociative chemisorption of both cyclohexane and cyclooctane occurs via initial C-H bond cleavage. Comparison of the cycloalkane C-C bond activation barriers measured here with those reported previously in the literature qualitatively suggests that the difference in ring-strain energies between the initial state and the transition state for ring-opening C-C bond cleavage effectively lowers or raises the activation barrier for dissociative chemisorption via C-C bond cleavage, depending on whether the transition state is less or more strained than the initial state. Moreover, steric arguments and metal-carbon bond strength arguments have been evoked to explain the observed trend of decreasing C-H bond activation barrier with decreasing cycloalkane ring size.     

Second hyperpolarizability (gamma) of singlet diradical system: dependence of gamma on the diradical character

The dependence of the second hyperpolarizability (gamma) on the diradical character (y) for singlet diradical systems is investigated using a model compound, the p-quinodimethane (PQM) molecule with different both-end carbon-carbon (C-C) bond lengths, by several ab initio molecular orbital and density functional theory methods. The diradical character based on UHF calculations indicates that at equilibrium geometry PQM is in a singlet ground state and primarily exhibits a quinoid structure, whereas the diradical character increases when increasing both-end C-C bond lengths. At the highest level of approximation, that is, using the UCCSD(T) method with the 6-31G+diffuse p (zeta = 0.0523) basis set, the longitudinal static gamma of PQM presents a maximum value for intermediate diradical character (y approximately 0.5) while the gamma values are larger for intermediate and large diradical character (y approximately 0.5-0.7) than for small diradical character (y < 0.2). This feature suggests that the gamma values of singlet diradical systems in the intermediate and somewhat strong correlation regimes are significantly enhanced as compared to those in the weak correlation regime. These results are substantiated by a complementary study of the variation in gamma upon twisted ethylene.     

Photodissociation dynamics of ketene at 157.6 nm

Photodissociation dynamics of ketene at 157.6 nm has been investigated using the photofragment translational spectroscopic technique based on photoionization detection using vacuum-ultraviolet synchrotron radiation. Three dissociation channels have been observed: CH2+CO, CH+HCO, and HCCO+H. The product translational energy distributions and angular anisotropy parameters were measured for all three observed dissociation channels, and the relative branching ratios for different channels were also estimated. The experimental results show that the direct C-C bond cleavage (CH2+CO) is the dominant channel, while H migration and elimination channels are very minor. The results in this work show that direct dissociation on excited electronic state is much more significant than the indirect dissociation via the ground state in the ketene photodissociation at 157.6 nm.     

Methyl 3-methyl-2H-azirine-2-carboxylate photochemistry studied by matrix-isolation FTIR and DFT calculations

The aliphatic 2H-azirine, methyl 3-methyl-2H-azirine-2-carboxylate (MMAC), has been synthesized and its monomeric form investigated by IR spectroscopy in an argon matrix, at 10 K, as well as theoretically (DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)). Two low-energy conformers of MMAC (Ct and Cc) were found in the matrix, both exhibiting the cis conformation around the C-O bond but differing in the arrangement around the C-C(alpha) bond. The two conformers were photoreactive upon in situ broadband UV excitation (lambda > 235 nm), yielding nitrile ylide (P1) and ketene imine (P2) type products, which resulted from cleavage of the C-C or C-N bond, respectively. The kinetics of the reactions leading to the formation of P1 and P2 are of first order, with the processes being favored when the reactant is in the Cc conformation. Very interestingly, the C-N bond photocleavage, which is unusual for aliphatic 2H-azirines, was found to be preferred over the generally favored in 2H-azirines C-C bond breakage. This behavior is attributed to the presence in the molecule of the electron-withdrawing methoxycarbonyl substituent, which accelerates the intersystem crossing toward the T(1) triplet state and, in this way, favors the C-N bond cleavage. In addition to the primary photoprocesses leading to formation of P1 and P2, secondary photoprocesses leading to the decarboxylation and decarbonylation of P2 have been also observed.     

Chloroacetone photodissociation at 193 nm and the subsequent dynamics of the CH3C(O)CH2 radical--an intermediate formed in the OH + allene reaction en route to CH3 + ketene

We use a combination of crossed laser-molecular beam experiments and velocity map imaging experiments to investigate the primary photofission channels of chloroacetone at 193 nm; we also probe the dissociation dynamics of the nascent CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals formed from C-Cl bond fission. In addition to the C-Cl bond fission primary photodissociation channel, the data evidence another photodissociation channel of the precursor, C-C bond fission to produce CH(3)CO and CH(2)Cl. The CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radical formed from C-Cl bond fission is one of the intermediates in the OH + allene reaction en route to CH(3) + ketene. The 193 nm photodissociation laser allows us to produce these CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals with enough internal energy to span the dissociation barrier leading to the CH(3) + ketene asymptote. Therefore, some of the vibrationally excited CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals undergo subsequent dissociation to CH(3) + ketene products; we are able to measure the velocities of these products using both the imaging and scattering apparatuses. The results rule out the presence of a significant contribution from a C-C bond photofission channel that produces CH(3) and COCH(2)Cl fragments. The CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals are formed with a considerable amount of energy partitioned into rotation; we use an impulsive model to explicitly characterize the internal energy distribution. The data are better fit by using the C-Cl bond fission transition state on the S(1) surface of chloroacetone as the geometry at which the impulsive force acts, not the Franck-Condon geometry. Our data suggest that, even under atmospheric conditions, the reaction of OH with allene could produce a small branching to CH(3) + ketene products, rather than solely producing inelastically stabilized adducts. This additional channel offers a different pathway for the OH-initiated oxidation of such unsaturated volatile organic compounds, those containing a C=C=C moiety, than is currently included in atmospheric models.     

Ketene formation in benzdiyne chemistry: ring cleavage versus Wolff rearrangement

In the chemistry toward generating benzdiyne from five benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride derivatives, ketene formation was exclusively observed in the photolysis of difluorobenzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride in a nitrogen matrix at 13 K. Two ketenes were formed concomitantly with difluorobenzdiyne. These ketenes were identified on the basis of good agreement between the observed and calculated (B3LYP/6-31G level) IR spectra. Neither ketene contained the five-membered-ring moiety as cyclopentadienylideneketene, which is formed by Wolff rearrangement in the benzyne chemistry. The first generated ketene was assigned to a ketene with a cyclopropene moiety, and the second, to a ketene with a butadiyne moiety. The first generated ketene was a major product in the photolysis and was formed by cleavage of the bond connecting the ketene group and the C-F carbon and not the bond connecting the ketene group and the carbene moiety. Thus the structures of these ketenes indicated that a unprecedented ring cleavage, rather than Wolff rearrangement, is the dominant process in the benzdiyne chemistry.     

Comparison between electron transfer and nucleophilic reactivities of ketene silyl acetals with cationic electrophiles

The products and kinetics for the reactions of ketone silyl acetals with a series of p-methoxy-substituted trityl cations have been examined, and they are compared with those of outer-sphere electron transfer reactions from 10,10'-dimethyl-9,9', 10, 10'- tetrahydro-9,9'-biacridine [(AcrH)2] to the same series of trityl cations as well as other electron acceptors. The C-C bond formation in the reaction of beta,beta-dimethyl-substituted ketene silyl acetal (1: (Me2C=C(OMe)OSiMe3) with trityl cation salt (Ph3C+ClO4-) takes place between 1 and the carbon of para-positon of phenyl group of Ph3C+, whereas a much less sterically hindered ketene silyl acetal (3: H2C=C(OEt)OSiEt3) reacts with Ph3C+ at the central carbon of Ph3C+. The kinetic comparison indicates that the nucleophilic reactivities of ketene silyl acetals are well correlated with the electron transfer reactivities provided that the steric demand at the reaction center for the C-C bond formation remains constant.     

Correlation of singlet-triplet gaps for aryl carbenes calculated by MINDO/3, MNDO,AM1, and PM3 with Hammett-type substituent constants

Heats of formation, atomic charges, and geometries of some 110 structures involving substituted singlet and triplet phenyl and 4,4-dimethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalene carbenes and the corresponding diazomethanes were calculated by MINDO/3, MNDO, AM1, and PM3 semiempirical molecular orbital methods. The singlet-triplet gaps for AM1 and PM3 calculations for the para derivatives in both systems have been successfully correlated with Brown σ⁺ constants. Good correlations with σ⁺ were found for the charges on the carbenic centers of the singlets as well as with the energy barrier for rotation of the aryl group about the C-C single bond in substituted singlet phenylcarbenes. Comparisons of these results with experimental data indicate that AM1 and PM3 are much better than MNDO and MINDO/3 in predicting the intrinsic substituent effects in singlet carbenes.     

A C-C bond formation reaction at the α-carbon atom of α-oxo ketene dithioacetals via the Baylis-Hillman type reaction

The first example of TiCl₄-mediated Baylis-Hillman type reaction of α-acetyl cyclic ketene dithioacetals with arylaldehydes was described. This methodology adds a new entry to the C-C bond formation at the α-carbon atom of α-oxo ketene dithioacetals.     

Photochemistry of 2-(1-naphthyl)-2H-azirines in matrixes and in solutions: wavelength-dependent C-C and C-N bond cleavage of the azirine ring

The photochemistry of 3-methyl-2-(1-naphthyl)-2H-azirine (1a) was investigated by the direct observation of reactive intermediates in matrixes at 10 K and by the characterization of reaction products in solutions. As already reported, the photolysis of the azirine 1a with the short-wavelength light (>300 nm) caused the C-C bond cleavage of the 2H-azirine ring to produce the nitrile ylide 2. However, the products derived from the C-N bond cleavage were exclusively obtained in the irradiation of 1a with the long-wavelength light (366 nm) both in matrixes and in solutions. When 1a was irradiated in the presence of O(2) with the long-wavelength light, acetonitrile oxide (6) was produced through the capture of the biradical 4 generated by the C-N bond cleavage of 1a with O(2). An introduction of a nitro group into the naphthyl ring of 1a resulted in an acceleration of the decomposition in the long-wavelength irradiation and an extension of the wavelength region where the products derived from the C-N bond cleavage were selectively obtained. On the basis of molecular orbital calculations with the INDO/S method, the reason for the wavelength-dependent selective C-C and C-N bond cleavage of the azirine ring of 1a is discussed.     

Oxidative generation of diarylcarbenium ion pools

"Cation pools" of diarylcarbenium ions have been generated by the oxidative C-H bond dissociation of diarylmethanes using anodic oxidation. "Diarylcarbenium ion pools" thus generated react with various nucleophiles, such as allylsilanes, ketene silyl acetals, and aromatic compounds. The reductive homocoupling of the "diarylcarbenium ion pool" has been achieved. The dimer thus obtained also serves as a precursor of the "diarylcarbenium ion pool" via oxidative C-C bond dissociation. [reaction: see text]     

Totally avoided surface crossings in amino radical-radical recombinations

Semi-empirically generated potential energy surfaces for NN bond rupture in hydrazine and NH bond rupture in ammonia show that ground-excited singlet state crossings or near crossings occur along certain geometrical pathways while other lower energy pathways exhibit no theoretical vestige of such a crossing. This latter observation is in agreement with experimental evidence indicating that NH₂ + NH₂ or NH₂ + H reactions occur without activation energies. Thus, while orbital or state symmetry arguments are useful qualitative guides as to the possible shape of surfaces along certain symmetry restricted pathways they provide no information for the non-symmetrical ones.     

过渡金属配合物催化乙腈碳碳单键断裂的研究进展

有机化合物中的碳碳单键断裂反应是一类非常重要而且具有挑战性的反应,过去的几十年中,关于有机腈类化合物中碳碳单键的催化断裂反应研究受到了很多的关注。而乙腈作为常用的有机溶剂之一,其分子是有机腈类中的最小分子。本文结合最近几年国内外及本课题组关于乙腈分子的碳碳单键活化断裂的研究,综述了各类过渡金属配合物催化乙腈分子碳碳单键断裂的研究进展,分析了当前存在的问题,提出了对今后研究的展望。