Deciphering a 20‐Year‐Old Conundrum: The Mechanisms of Reduction by the Water/Amine/SmI2 Mixture

The reaction of SmI₂ with the substrates 3‐methyl‐2‐butanone, benzyl chloride, p‐cyanobenzyl chloride, and anthracene were studied in the presence of water and an amine. In all cases, the water content versus rate profile shows a maximum at around 0.2 M H₂O. The rate versus amine content profile shows in all cases, except for benzyl chloride, saturation behavior, which is typical of a change in the identity of the rate‐determining step. The mechanism that is in agreement with the observed data is that electron transfer occurs in the first step. With substrates that are not very electrophilic, the intermediate radical anions lose the added electron back to samarium(III) relatively quickly and the reaction cannot progress efficiently. However, in a mixture of water/amine, the amine deprotonates a molecule of water coordinated to samarium(III). The negatively charged hydroxide, which is coordinated to samarium(III), reduces its electrophilicity, and therefore, lowers the rate of back electron transfer, which allows the reaction to progress. In the case of benzyl chloride, in which electron transfer is rate determining, deprotonation by the amine is coupled to the electron‐transfer step.     

Charge Transfer Through Dithieno[2,3‐a:3′,2′‐c]phenazine: Effect of Substitution Pattern on the Optoelectronic Properties of Regioisomeric Luminophores

Two series of regioisomeric luminophores that contained a dithieno[2,3‐a:3′,2′‐c]phenazine (DTP) unit as an electron acceptor have been designed and synthesized. To investigate the effect of substitution pattern on the optoelectronic properties of these luminophores, electron donors (N,N‐dihexylaniline or N,N‐dihexyl‐4‐vinylaniline) were incorporated at the 2,5‐, 8,11‐, and 9,10‐positions of the DTP unit. We found that the optoelectronic properties of the regioisomeric luminophores were greatly affected by the substitution pattern: functionalization at the 8,11‐positions of the DTP unit was superior to the other two substitution patterns in extending the effective π‐conjugation and strengthening the intramolecular charge‐transfer interactions. Moreover, the insertion of vinyl groups between the DTP and N,N‐dihexylaniline units narrowed the energy band‐gap for isomers 4 and 5 . However, hypsochromically shifted absorption and photoluminescence maxima were observed for isomeric luminophore 6 , in which electron donors were substituted at the 2,5‐positions of the DTP unit. These results should facilitate greater understanding of the structure–property relationships in regioisomeric semiconductors and present a new way to design optoelectronic materials with effective substitution patterns.     

Photoinduced and thermal reactions of α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide with 1‐benzyl‐1,4‐dihydronicotinamide

The photoinduced reaction of a mixture of (Z)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (1) and (E)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (2) with 1‐benzyl‐1, 4‐dihydronicotinamide produces a mixture of the (E)‐ and (Z)‐ isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide (3 and 4). Using spin‐trapping technique for monitoring reactive intermediate, it is shown that the reaction proceeds via electron transfer‐debromination‐H abstraction mechanism. The thermal reaction of the same substrate with BNAH at 60°C in the dark gives three products: the (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide and a dehydrodimeric product; 2, 7‐dicyano‐3, 6‐diphenylocta‐2, 4, 6‐trien‐1, 8‐dioic amide (7). Based on product analysis, scavenger experiment and cyclic voltammetry, an electron transfer‐debromination‐disproportionation mechanism is proposed.     

Charge transfer interactions in polyesters with a donor‐(σ‐bridge)‐acceptor moiety in the repeating unit

Two high molecular weight linear polyesters were investigated to gain insight in how the photophysics of electron donor‐(σ‐spacer)‐electron acceptor (DσA) compounds are affected by incorporation into a polymer. They were prepared by condensation of either adipoyl or sebacoyl chloride with a diol that was functionalized with an N,N‐dialkylaniline donor, a cyclohexyl type σ‐spacer, and a 1,1‐dicyanovinyl acceptor. The solubility, which is very low, and the thermal properties of the polyesters are dictated by physical crosslinking as a consequence of interchain donor‐acceptor interactions. Charge transfer (CT) absorption and emission are observed, which involve CT between DσA moieties of different chains rather than CT processes within a single DσA unit. As a result, the photophysics of the DσA units in the polyesters differs strongly from that of similar DσA compounds in solution. Upon swelling the polymers with THF, the CT fluorescence disappears partly. Analogous polymers containing only an N,N‐dialkylaniline donor display dual fluorescence; one band reflects local emission, while the other is attributed to excimer emission. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4775–4784, 2004     

Photopolymerization of 1,6‐hexanedioldiacrylate initiated by three‐component systems based on N‐arylphthalimides

Three‐component photoinitiators comprised of an N‐arylphthalimide, a diarylketone, and a tertiary amine were investigated for their initiation efficiency of acrylate polymerization. The use of an electron‐deficient N‐arylphthalimide resulted in a greater acrylate polymerization rate than an electron‐rich N‐arylphthalimide. Triplet energies of each N‐arylphthalimide, determined from their phosphorescence spectra, and the respective rate constants for triplet quenching by the N‐arylphthalimide derivatives (acquired via laser flash photolysis) indicated that an electron–proton transfer from an intermediate radical species to the N‐arylphthalimide (not energy transfer from triplet sensitization) is responsible for generating the initiating radicals under the conditions and species concentrations used for polymerization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4009–4015, 2004     

Contrasting Effects of Axial Ligands on Electron‐Transfer Versus Proton‐Coupled Electron‐Transfer Reactions of Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Complexes

The effects of axial ligands on electron‐transfer and proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reactions of mononuclear nonheme oxoiron(IV) complexes were investigated by using [Fe^IV(O)(tmc)(X)]ⁿ⁺ ( 1 ‐X) with various axial ligands, in which tmc is 1,4,8,11‐tetramethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane and X is CH₃CN ( 1 ‐NCCH₃), CF₃COO^? ( 1 ‐OOCCF₃), or N₃^? ( 1 ‐N₃), and ferrocene derivatives as electron donors. As the binding strength of the axial ligands increases, the one‐electron reduction potentials of 1 ‐X (E_red, V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE)) are more negatively shifted by the binding of the more electron‐donating axial ligands in the order of 1 ‐NCCH₃ (0.39) > 1 ‐OOCCF₃ (0.13) > 1 ‐N₃ (?0.05 V). Rate constants of electron transfer from ferrocene derivatives to 1 ‐X were analyzed in light of the Marcus theory of electron transfer to determine reorganization energies (λ) of electron transfer. The λ values decrease in the order of 1 ‐NCCH₃ (2.37) > 1 ‐OOCCF₃ (2.12) > 1 ‐N₃ (1.97 eV). Thus, the electron‐transfer reduction becomes less favorable thermodynamically but more favorable kinetically with increasing donor ability of the axial ligands. The net effect of the axial ligands is the deceleration of the electron‐transfer rate in the order of 1 ‐NCCH₃ > 1 ‐OOCCF₃ > 1 ‐N₃. In sharp contrast to this, the rates of the proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reactions of 1 ‐X are markedly accelerated in the presence of an acid in the opposite order: 1 ‐NCCH₃ < 1 ‐OOCCF₃ < 1 ‐N₃. Such contrasting effects of the axial ligands on the electron‐transfer and proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reactions of nonheme oxoiron(IV) complexes are discussed in light of the counterintuitive reactivity patterns observed in the oxo transfer and hydrogen‐atom abstraction reactions by nonheme oxoiron(IV) complexes (Sastri et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2007 , 104, 19 181–19 186).     

Computational study of topological effects on intramolecular electron transfer in mixed-valence compounds

The constrained density functional theory (CDFT) was used to investigate the topological effects on intramolecular electron transfer processes that have been reported in previous experimental work [Inorg. Chem., 1997, 36 (22), pp 5037–5049]. The computation mainly focused on three isomers of diferrocenylbenzenes (ortho, para, and meta) and 5-substituted derivatives of m-diferrocencylbenzenes with R = NH₂, Cl, CH₃, CN, NO₂, NeCH₃)₃³⁺, and N₂⁺. The influence of a third group R′ (R′ = NH₂ and N₂⁺) was introduced to the ortho and para isomers. The calculations were compared with the experimental results. The relation between the substituted functional groups and the effectiveness of intramolecular electron transfer was discussed on the basis of CDFT computational results.     

Free‐radical 4‐nitrophenylation of thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine. Part 3: Consideration of mechanistic and selectivity factors involved in the substitution process

A 1:1 geometrically oriented encounter complex between thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine (1) and 4‐nitrophenyldia‐zoacetate (2) is proposed to account for the dominant formation (ca. 64%) of the 2‐isomer in the mixture of 4‐nitrophenyl‐l isomers obtained previously. A mechanism involving one‐electron transfer from 1 to 2 plus fragmentation of 2· into 4‐nitrophenyl free radical, N₂, and acetate ion is invoked. Formation of other isomers is discussed. It is noted that there is a close correlation between orientational rules plus mechanisms of reaction for numerous free‐radical substitutions (S_R) with S_N reactions of alkyllithiums on furan, thiophene, N‐alkylpyrroles, pyridine, and their condensed aromatic molecules, including 1, as substrates. Also isomeric selectivities for S_E, S_N, and S_R substitutions into 1 were shown to be qualitatively consistent with one another. While S_E reactions occur largely at position 3 and then at 2, S_N and S_R reactions occur either at 2 or 6. Selectivity for positions 4 or 5 is small or zero.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Alkylation of Indoles with Tertiary Amines by Oxidation of a sp3 C?H Bond and Lewis Acid Catalysis

Ruthenium porphyrins (particularly [Ru(2,6‐Cl₂tpp)CO]; tpp=tetraphenylporphinato) and RuCl₃ can act as oxidation and/or Lewis acid catalysts for direct C‐3 alkylation of indoles, giving the desired products in high yields (up to 82 % based on 60–95 % substrate conversions). These ruthenium compounds catalyze oxidative coupling reactions of a wide variety of anilines and indoles bearing electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating substituents with high regioselectivity when using tBuOOH as an oxidant, resulting in the alkylation of N‐arylindoles to 3‐{[(N‐aryl‐N‐alkyl)amino]methyl}indoles (yield: up to 82 %, conversion: up to 95 %) and the alkylation of N‐alkyl or N‐H indoles to 3‐[p‐(dialkylamino)benzyl]indoles (yield: up to 73 %, conversion: up to 92 %). A tentative reaction mechanism involving two pathways is proposed: an iminium ion intermediate may be generated by oxidation of an sp³ C? H bond of the alkylated aniline by an oxoruthenium species; this iminium ion could then either be trapped by an N‐arylindole (pathway A) or converted to formaldehyde, allowing a subsequent three‐component coupling reaction of the in situ generated formaldehyde with an N‐alkylindole and an aniline in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst (pathway B). The results of deuterium‐labeling experiments are consistent with the alkylation of N‐alkylindoles via pathway B. The relative reaction rates of [Ru(2,6‐Cl₂tpp)CO]‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions of 4‐X‐substituted N,N‐dimethylanilines with N‐phenylindole (using tBuOOH as oxidant), determined through competition experiments, correlate linearly with the substituent constants σ (R²=0.989), giving a ρ value of ?1.09. This ρ value and the magnitudes of the intra‐ and intermolecular deuterium isotope effects (k_H/k_D) suggest that electron transfer most likely occurs during the initial stage of the oxidation of 4‐X‐substituted N,N‐dimethylanilines. Ruthenium‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of N‐alkyl/N‐H indoles, paraformaldehyde, and anilines gave 3‐[p‐(dialkylamino)benzyl]indoles in up to 82 % yield (conversion: up to 95 %).     

Successive removal of chloride ions from organic polychloride pollutants. Mechanisms of reductive electrochemical elimination in aliphatic gem-polychlorides,alpha,beta-polychloroalkenes,and alpha,beta-polychloroalkanes in mildly protic medium

The factors that control the successive reductive expulsion of chloride ions from aliphatic gem-polychlorides are investigated, taking as examples the electrochemical reduction of polychloromethanes and polychloroacetonitriles in N,N-dimethylformamide. At each elimination stage, the reaction involves, as a rate-determining step, the transfer of one electron concerted with the cleavage of the carbon-chloride bond. The second step is an immediate electron transfer to the ensuing radical, taking place at a potential more positive than the potential at which the first electron transfer occurs. The carbanion thus formed is sufficiently basic to be protonated by any trace weak acid present in the reaction medium. The three successive elimination steps require increasingly negative potentials. Application of the "sticky" dissociative electron transfer model allows one to quantitatively unravel the factors that control the energetics of the successive reductive expulsion of chloride ions. The large potential gaps between each stage stem primarily from large differences in the dissociative standard potentials. They are also strongly affected by two cumulative intrinsic activation barrier factors, namely, the bond dissociation energy of the substrate that decreases with the number of chlorine atoms and the interaction between chloride ion and the radical that increases in the same direction. In the case of alpha,beta-polychloroethanes (Cl(3)C-CCl(3), Cl(2)HC-CCl(3), Cl(2)HC-CHCl(2), ClH(2)C-CHCl(2)) too, the first step is a dissociative electron transfer with sizable ion-radical interactions in the product cluster. Likewise, a second electron transfer immediately leads to the carbanion, which however prefers to expel a second chloride ion, leading to the corresponding olefin, than to be protonated to the hydrogenolysis product. The ion-radical interaction in the product cluster plays a major role in the control of the reduction potential. The reduction of the alpha,beta-polychloroethenes (Cl(2)C=CCl(2), ClHC=CCl(2), ClHC=CHCl) follows a similar 2e(-)-2Cl(-) reaction sequence, leading then to the corresponding alkynes. However, unlike the polychloroethane case, the expulsion of the first chloride ion follows a stepwise electron transfer/bond cleavage mechanism. The reduction potential is thus essentially governed by the thermodynamics of the anion radical formation.     

Chemical Shift Tensors in Isomers of Adenine: Relation to Aromaticity of Purine Rings?

The ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shift tensors are measured, calculated, and compared for three N‐benzyladenine isomers with an attempt to characterize differences in electron distribution in the purine ring related to the position of the substituent. Furthermore, the aromaticity of the purine rings is evaluated on the basis of nucleus‐independent chemical shifts, and variations among the isomers are discussed. Both parameters indicate significant differences between the electronic properties of the N3‐substituted compound and the N7/N9 pair of structures, which can be viewed more generally as the reason for the different stabilities of the individual tautomers.     

Boomerang‐Type Substitution Reaction: Reactivity of Fullerene Epoxides and a Halofullerenol

The C_s‐symmetric fullerene chlorohydrin C₆₀(Cl)(OH)(OOtBu)₄ reacts with 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) to yield two isomers with the formula C₆₀(O)(OOtBu)₄ in good yields. These isomers differ with respect to the location of the epoxy functionality. The one from DMAP is C_s symmetric, whereas that from DABCO is C₁ symmetric with the epoxy group on the central pentagon. Two different mechanisms are proposed to explain the chemoselectivity of these reactions. The reaction with DMAP involves single‐electron transfer as the key step; DMAP acts as the electron donor. A combination of an oxygen‐atom shift and S_N2′′ processes (boomerang substitution) are responsible for the formation of isomer with DACBO. Various related reactions support the proposed mechanisms. The structures of new fullerene derivatives were determined by spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, and chemical correlation experiments.     

Enhanced Electron Transfer Reactivity of a Nonheme Iron(IV)–Imido Complex as Compared to the Iron(IV)‐Oxo Analogue

Reactions of N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) with nonheme iron(IV)‐oxo and iron(IV)‐tosylimido complexes occur via different mechanisms, such as an N‐demethylation of DMA by a nonheme iron(IV)‐oxo complex or an electron transfer dimerization of DMA by a nonheme iron(IV)‐tosylimido complex. The change in the reaction mechanism results from the greatly enhanced electron transfer reactivity of the iron(IV)‐tosylimido complex, such as the much more positive one‐electron reduction potential and the smaller reorganization energy during electron transfer, as compared to the electron transfer properties of the corresponding iron(IV)‐oxo complex.     

Controlled polymerization of carbazole‐based vinyl and methacrylate monomers at ambient temperature: A comparative study through ATRP,SET, and SET‐RAFT polymerizations

The polymerization of N‐vinylcarbazole (NVK) and carbazole methacrylate (CMA) was carried out using controlled radical polymerization methods such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), single electron transfer (SET)‐LRP, and single electron transfer initiation followed by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (SET‐RAFT). Well‐controlled polymerization with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) < 1.25 was achieved in the case of NVK by high‐temperature ATRP while ambient temperature SET‐RAFT polymerization was relatively slow and controlled. In the case of CMA, SET‐RAFT is found to be more suitable for the ambient temperature polymerization. The polymerization rate followed first order kinetics with respect to monomer conversion and the molecular weight of the polymer increased linearly with conversion. The controlled nature of the polymerization is further demonstrated by the synthesis of diblock copolymers from PNVK and PCMA macroinitiators using a new flavanone‐based methacrylate (FMA) as the second monomer. All the polymers exhibited fluorescence. The excimer bands in the homopolymers of PNVK and PCMA were very broad, which may be attributed to the carbazole–carbazole overlap interaction. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the block copolymer reveals interesting morphological features. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Effect on Charge Transfer and Charge Recombination by Insertion of a Naphthalene‐Based Bridge in Molecular Dyads Based on Borondipyrromethene (Bodipy)

The photophysical properties of two related dyads based on a N,N‐dimethylaniline donor coupled to a fully‐alkylated boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy) acceptor are described. In one dyad, BD1 , the donor unit is attached directly to the Bodipy group, whereas in the second dyad, BD2 , a naphthalene spacer separates the two units. Cyclic voltammograms recorded for the two dyads in deoxygenated MeCN containing a background electrolyte are consistent with the reversible one‐electron oxidation of the N,N‐dimethylaniline group and the reversible one‐electron reduction of the Bodipy nucleus. There is a reasonable driving force (ΔG_CT) for photoinduced charge transfer from the N,N‐dimethylaniline to the Bodipy segment in MeCN. The charge‐transfer state is formed for BD1 extremely fast (1.5 ps), but decays over 140 ps to partially restore the ground state. On the other hand, the charge‐transfer state for BD2 is formed more slowly, but it decays extremely rapidly. Charge recombination for both dyads leads to a partial triplet formation on the Bodipy group. The naphthalene spacer group is extremely efficient at promoting back electron transfer.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Quaternary Ammonium RAFT Agents

Synthesis of three new cationic thio compounds suitable to control free‐radical polymerization according to the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process (reversible addition fragmentation transfer) is presented. Among them, two bear a quaternary ammonium group in the R group [i.e., N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(4‐(((phenylcarbonothionyl)thio)methyl)benzyl)ethanammonium bromide and N‐(4‐((((dodecylthio) carbonothioyl)thio)methyl)benzyl)‐N,N‐dimethylethanammonium bromide, a dithioester and a trithiocarbonate, respectively]. The synthesis of a trithiocarbonate bearing an ammonium group in the Z group [i.e., 2‐((11‐((benzylthio)carbonothioyl)thio)undecanoyl)oxy)‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium iodide] is also presented. Another three thio compounds, namely 1,4‐phenylenebis(methylene)dibenzenecarbodithioate, didodecyl‐1,4‐phenylenebis(methylene)bistrithiocarbonate, and 11‐(((benzylthio)carbonothioyl)thio)undecanoic acid, identified as other potentially interesting mono‐or difunctional RAFT agents, which were obtained as side products or intermediates, were isolated and fully characterized.     

A fourfold interpenetrating cadmium(II) metal–organic framework based on 2,4,6‐tris(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazine with reversible photochromic properties

2,4,6‐Tris(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (tpt), as an organic molecule with an electron‐deficient nature, has attracted considerable interest because of its photoinduced electron transfer from neutral organic molecules to form stable anionic radicals. This makes it an excellent candidate as an organic linker in the construction of photochromic complexes. Such a photochromic three‐dimensional (3D) metal–organic framework (MOF) has been prepared using this ligand. Crystallization of tpt with Cd(NO₃)₂·4H₂O in an N,N‐dimethylacetamide–methanol mixed‐solvent system under solvothermal conditions afforded the 3D MOF poly[[bis(nitrato‐κ²O,O′)cadmium(II)]‐μ₃‐2,4,6‐tris(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazine‐κ³N²:N⁴:N⁶], [Cd(NO₃)₂(C₁₈H₁₂N₆)]_n, which was characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray diffraction crystal structure analysis reveals that the asymmetric unit contains one independent Cd^II cation, one tpt ligand and two coordinated NO₃^? anions. The Cd^II cations are connected by tpt ligands to generate a 3D framework. The single framework leaves voids that are filled by mutual interpenetration of three independent equivalent frameworks in a fourfold interpenetrating architecture. The compound shows a good thermal stability and exhibits a reversible photochromic behaviour, which may originate from the photoinduced electron‐transfer generation of radicals in the tpt ligand.     

SET‐LRP synthesis of PMHDO‐g‐PNIPAM well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer

A well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer, consisting of hydrophobic polyallene‐based backbone and hydrophilic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) side chains, was prepared by the combination of living coordination polymerization, single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP), and the grafting‐from strategy. First, the double‐bond‐containing backbone was prepared by [(η³‐allyl)NiOCOCF₃]₂‐initiated living coordination polymerization of 6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadiene‐4‐ol (MHDO). Next, the pendant hydroxyls in every repeating unit of poly(6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadiene‐4‐ol) (PMHDO) homopolymer were treated with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride to give PMHDO‐Cl macroinitiator. Finally, PNIPAM side chains were grown from PMHDO backbone via SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide initiated by PMHDO‐Cl macroinitiator in N,N‐dimethylformamide/2‐propanol using copper(I) chloride/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system to afford PMHDO‐g‐PNIPAM graft copolymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.19). The critical micelle concentration (cmc) in water was determined by fluorescence probe technique and the effects of pH and salinity on the cmc of PMHDO‐g‐PNIPAM were also investigated. The micellar morphology was found to be spheres using transmission electron microscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis of double hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) by single‐electron transfer–living radical polymerization

In this study, the polymerization of (2‐hydroxyethyl) acrylate (HEA), in polar media, using Cu(0)‐mediated radical polymerization also called single‐electron transfer–living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) is reported. The kinetics aspects of both the homopolymerization and the copolymerization from a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macroinitiator were analyzed by ¹H NMR. The effects of both the ligand and the solvent were studied. The polymerization was shown to reach very high monomer conversions and to proceed in a well‐controlled fashion in the presence of tris[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine Me6‐TREN and N, N,N′, N″, N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). SET‐LRP of HEA was also led in water, and it was shown to be faster than in DMSO. In pure water, Me₆‐TREN allowed a better control over the molar masses and polydispersity indices than PMDETA and TREN. Double hydrophilic PEO‐b‐PHEA block copolymers, exhibiting various PHEA block lengths up to 100 HEA units, were synthesized, in the same manner, from a bromide‐terminated PEO macroinitiator. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Ring opening of pyridines: the pseudo‐cis and pseudo‐trans isomers of tetra‐n‐butylammonium 4‐nitro‐5‐oxo‐2‐pentenenitrilate

The reaction of 2‐chloro‐5‐nitropyridine with two equivalents of base produces the title carbanion as an intermediate in a ring‐opening/ring‐closing reaction. The crystal structures of the tetra‐n‐butylammonium salts of the intermediates, C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₅H₃N₂O₃⁻, revealed that pseudo‐cis and pseudo‐trans isomers are possible. One crystal structure displayed a mixture of the two isomers with approximately 90% pseudo‐cis geometry and confirms the structure predicted by the S_N(ANRORC) mechanism. The pseudo‐cis intermediate undergoes a slow isomerization over a period of months to the pseudo‐trans isomer, which does not have the appropriate geometry for the subsequent ring‐closing reaction. The structure of the pure pseudo‐trans isomer is also reported. In both isomers, the negative charge is highly delocalized, but relatively small differences in C—C bond distances indicate a system of conjugated double bonds with the nitro group bearing the negative charge. The packing of the two unit cells is very similar and largely determined by the interactions between the planar carbanion and the bulky tetrahedral cation.