Synthesis,structure, and antibacterial evaluation of new N‐substituted‐3‐amino‐ 5‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carbothioamides

Novel N‐substituted‐3‐amino‐5‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carbothioamide derivatives were synthesized by means of two methods. First is the cyclization reaction of 1‐(cyanophenyl)acetyl‐4‐substituted thiosemicarbazide, and the second one is reaction of cyanophenyl acetic acid hydrazide with isothiocyanate. Structures of new compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Biological evaluation showed that some of them possess promising antibacterial activities. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:215–221, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20598     

Synthesis of 5‐methyl‐4‐oxo‐2‐(coumarin‐3‐yl)‐N‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydrothieno[2,3‐d]‐pyrimidine‐6‐carboxamides

Possible approaches to synthesis of 5‐methyl‐4‐oxo‐2‐(coumarin‐3‐yl)‐N‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydrothieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxamides 4 have been discussed. It is shown that the preferable approach is cyclization of 2‐iminocoumarin‐3‐carboxamides 1 , utilizing 5‐amino‐3‐methyl‐N²‐arylthiophene‐2,4‐dicarboxamides 2 as binucleophilic reagents. The proposed procedure allowed us to easily obtain 4 in two stages, using common reagents. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:341–346, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20303     

基于1,2-二氢-2-(4-羧基苯基-4-[4-(4-羧基苯氧基)-3-甲基苯基](2H)二氮杂萘-1-酮的新型芳香聚酰胺的简易合成

A new monomer diacid, 1,2-dihydro-2-(4-carboxylphenyl)-4-[4-(4-carboxylphenoxy)-3-methylphenyl]phtha-lazin-1-one (3), was synthesized through the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of a readily available unsymmetrical phthalazinone 1 bisphenol-like with p-chlorobenzonitrile in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylacetamide and alkaline hydrolysis. The diacid could be directly polymerized with various aromatic diamines 4a-4e using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents to give five new aromatic poly(ether amide)s 5a-5e containing the kink non-coplanar heterocyclic units with inherent viscosities of 1.30-1.54 dL/g.The polymers were readily soluble in a variety of solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethyl-acetamide (DMA), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), and even in m-cresol and pyridine (Py). The transparent, flexible and tough films could be formed by solution casting. The glass transition tem-peratures Tg were in the range of 286-317℃.     

Synthesis of [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐thione, [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐thiadiazin‐2‐thione, [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐amine,and [1,2‐a] benzimidazol‐2‐yl amidrazone

N‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl imidate type 1 reacts with thiourea, carbon disulfide, cyanamide, and hydrazide to give, respectively, [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐thione 2 , [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐thiadiazin‐2‐thione 3 , [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐amine 4 , and [1,2‐a] benzimidazol‐2‐yl amidrazone 5 with good yields. Structures elucidation of all newly synthesized heterocyclic compounds was based on the data of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and MS of some products. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:279–283, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20618     

Enhanced redox stability and electrochromic properties of aromatic polyamides based on N,N‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐N′,N′‐bis(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenediamine

A new bis(triphenylamine)‐type dicarboxylic acid monomer, N,N‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐N′,N′‐bis(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenediamine, was prepared by a well‐established procedure and led to a new family of redox‐active aromatic polyamides with di‐tert‐butyl‐substituted N,N,N′,N′‐tetraphenylphenylenediamine (TPPA) segments. The resulting polyamides were amorphous with good solubility in many organic solvents, and most of them could be solution cast into flexible polymer films. The polyamides exhibited high thermal stability with glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 247–293 °C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures in excess of 500 °C. They showed well‐defined and reversible redox couples during oxidative scanning, with a strong color change from a colorless or pale yellowish neutral form to green and blue oxidized forms. They had enhanced redox stability and electrochromic performance when compared with the corresponding analogs without tert‐butyl substituents on the TPPA unit. The polyamide with TPPA units in both the diacid and diamine components shows multicolored electrochromic behavior. A polyamide containing both the cathodic coloring anthraquinone chromophore and the anodic coloring TPPA chromophore has the ability to show red, green, and blue states, toward single‐component RGB electrochromics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Electron ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric study of a series of isomeric N‐chloro(or bromo)benzyl‐substituted (E)‐2′(3′‐ or 4′)‐hydroxy‐4‐stilbazole halides

The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of a series of isomeric N‐chlorobenzyl‐ and N‐bromobenzyl‐substituted (E)‐2′(3′ or 4′)‐hydroxy‐4‐stilbazole chlorides and bromides (1–12) were recorded. The fragmentation pathways of all of the compounds and the characteristic fragment ions formed by EI‐MS were studied by means of B/E and B²/E constant linked‐scanning techniques. The formation of ions originating from preionization reactions, characteristic of quaternary halides under EI‐MS conditions, such as the elimination of chloro‐ or bromobenzyl halides, dehydrohalogenation or substitution reactions, is explained. As soft ionization methods cause no such degradation reactions, the ESI‐MS spectra of the studied compounds were also obtained for comparison. We thus demonstrated the applicability of EI‐MS even in cases when preionization takes place, as long as such secondary processes are properly accounted for. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble cardo polyesters derived from 1,1‐bis‐[4‐(4‐chlorocarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane with various bisphenols by solution polycondensation

A new cardo diacid chloride, 1,1‐bis‐[4‐(4‐chlorocarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane ( 4 ), was synthesized from 1,1‐bis‐[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane in refluxing thionyl chloride. Subsequently, various new polyesters were prepared from 4 with various bisphenols by solution polycondensation in nitrobenzene using pyridine as a hydrogen chloride quencher at 150 °C. These polyesters were produced with inherent viscosities of 0.32–0.50 dL · g^?1. Most of these polyesters exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, tetrachloroethane, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, m‐cresol, o‐chlorophenol, and chloroform. These polymers showed glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) between 144 and 197 °C. The polymer containing the adamantane group exhibited the highest T_g value. The 10% weight loss temperatures of the polyesters, measured by thermogravimetric analysis, were found to be in the range of 426–451 °C in nitrogen. These cardo polyesters exhibited higher T_g's and better solubility than bisphenol A‐based polyesters. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2951–2956, 2001     

Fluorescent and electrochromic aromatic polyamides with 4‐tert‐butyltriphenylamine chromophore

A new triphenylamine‐based aromatic dicarboxylic acid monomer, 4‐tert‐butyl‐4′,4″‐dicarboxytriphenylamine ( 2 ), was synthesized from the cesium fluoride mediated N,N‐diarylation reaction of 4‐tert‐butylaniline with 4‐fluorobenzonitrile and subsequent alkaline hydrolysis of the dinitrile intermediate. A series of six aromatic polyamides 4a‐4f with tert‐butyltriphenylamine groups was prepared from the newly synthesized dicarboxylic acid and various aromatic diamines. These polyamides were readily soluble in many organic solvents and could be solution‐cast into flexible and strong films. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 274–311 °C. These polymers exhibited strong UV‐vis absorption bands at 356–366 nm in NMP solution. Their photoluminescence spectra showed maximum bands around 433–466 nm in the blue region. Cyclic voltammograms of all the polyamides exhibited reversible oxidation redox couples in acetonitrile. The polyamide 4f, with tert‐butyltriphenylamine segment in both diacid and diamine residues, exhibited stable electrochromic characteristics with a color change from a colorless neutral form, through a green semioxidized form, to a deep purple fully oxidized form. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2798–2809, 2010     

Syntheses and properties of organosoluble polyimides based on 5,5′‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐4, 7‐methanohexahydroindan

A series of organosoluble aromatic polyimides (PIs) was synthesized from 5,5′‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐4,7‐methanohexahydroindan (3) and commercial available aromatic dianhydrides such as 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 4,4′‐sulfonyl diphthalic anhydride (SDPA), or 2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropanic dianhydride (6FDA). PIs (III_c–f), which were synthesized by direct polymerization in m‐cresol, had inherent viscosities of 0.83–1.05 dL/g. These polymers could easily be dissolved in N,N′‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine, m‐cresol, and dichloromethane. Whereas copolymerization was proceeded with equivalent molar ratios of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)/6FDA, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA)/6FDA, or BTDA/SDPA, or ½ for PMDA/SDPA, copolyimides (co‐PIs), derived from 3 and mixed dianhydrides, were soluble in NMP. All the soluble PIs could form transparent, flexible, and tough films, and they showed amorphous characteristics. These films had tensile strengths of 88–111 MPa, elongations at break of 5–10% and initial moduli of 2.01–2.67 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 252–311°C. Except for III_e, the 10% weight loss temperatures (T_d) of PIs were above 500°C, and the amount of carbonized residues of the PIs at 800°C in nitrogen atmosphere were above 50%. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1681–1691, 1999     

Synthesis and properties of fluorinated polyimides based on 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene and various aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated diamine monomer, 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene ( 2 ), was prepared through the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride and 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone in the presence of potassium carbonate, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Fluorinated polyimides ( 5a – 5f ) were synthesized from diamine 2 and various aromatic dianhydrides ( 3a – 3f ) via thermal or chemical imidization. These polymers had inherent viscosities of 0.77–1.01 dL/g. The 5 series polyimides were soluble in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and N,N‐dimethylformamide and were even soluble in dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, and dichloromethane. 5 (C) showed cutoff wavelengths between 363 and 404 nm and yellowness index (b*) values of 6.5–40.2. The polyimide films had tensile strengths of 93–114 MPa, elongations to break of 9–12%, and initial moduli of 1.7–2.1 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures were 255–288 °C. The temperatures of 10% weight loss were all above 460 °C in air or nitrogen atmospheres. In comparison with a nonfluorinated polyimide series based on 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene, the 5 series showed better solubility and lower color intensity, dielectric constants, and moisture absorption. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2272–2284, 2004     

An efficient and facile ultrasonic‐accelerated one‐pot synthesis of N‐acetyl‐2‐aryl‐1, 2‐dihydro‐(4H)‐3,1‐benzoxazin‐4‐ones

An application of ultrasonic irradiation in the one‐pot synthesis of N‐acetyl‐2‐aryl‐1,2‐dihydro‐(4H)‐3,1‐benzoxazin‐4‐ones from the condensation reaction between aromatic aldehydes and anthranilic acid in the presence of excess amount of acetic anhydride has been explored. The reactions proceed smoothly under mild and solvent‐free conditions at room temperature in the absence of any catalyst to afford the products in good to excellent yields. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:106–113, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20663     

Highly organosoluble and flexible polyimides with color lightness and transparency based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(2‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐aminophenoxy)‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl]propane

A new diamine containing isopropylidene, methyl substituted arylene ether, and trifluoromethyl groups, 2,2‐bis[4‐(2‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐aminophenoxy)‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl]propane (BTADP), was synthesized and used in preparation of a series of polyimides by direct polycondensation with various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides in N, N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). All polymers derived from diamine (BTADP) with trifluoromethyl substituents were highly organosoluble in the solvents, like N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dichloromethane, cyclohexanone, and γ‐butyrolactone at room temperature or upon heating at 70 °C. Inherent viscosities of the polyimides were found to range between 0.58 and 0.97 dL·g^?1. These polyimides had glass transition temperatures between 256 and 307 °C, and their 10% mass loss temperatures ranged from 440 to 462 °C and 421 to 443 °C under nitrogen and air, respectively. These polyimides had low dielectric constants in the range of 2.84–3.09. All the polyimides could be cast into films from DMAc solutions and were thermally converted into color lightness, optically transparent, flexible, and tough polyimides. The polyimide films had a tensile strength in the range of 83–97 MPa and a tensile modulus in the range of 2.0–2.2 GPa. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5766–5774, 2004     

Synthesis and tuberculostatic activity of novel N′‐methyl‐4‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)picolinohydrazide and N′‐methylpyrimidine‐2‐carbohydrazide derivatives

The synthesis of N′‐methyl‐4‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)picolinohydrazide and N′‐methyl‐pyrimidine‐2‐carbohydrazide derivatives ( 5a and 5b ) was carried out. These compounds were used as starting materials to obtain methyl N′‐methylhydrazinecarbodithioates 6a and 6b , which, on reaction with either triethylamine or hydrazine, gave corresponding 1,3,4‐oxadiazioles 7a and 7b or 1,2,4‐triazoles 9a and 9b with the free NH₂ group at the N‐4 position, respectively. Compounds 8a – e , particularly containing cyclic amines at N‐4 of the 1,2,4‐triazole ring, were also obtained. Synthesized compounds were tested in vitro for their activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The structure–activity relationship analysis for obtained compounds was done. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:223–230, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21008     

On the chemistry of 5‐aryl‐2‐hydrazino‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b]pyrido[2,3‐e] pyrimidin‐4‐one

Several pyrido[2,3‐e]pyrimidine fused with other rings have been prepared by intramolecular cyclization of 5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐hydrazino‐benzo [6,7]cyclohepta‐[1,2‐b]pyrido[2,3‐e]pyrimidine‐4‐one ( 1 ) with acids, carbon disulfide to form triazole derivatives ( 2,4 ), halo‐ketones to give triazine derivative ( 5 ), β‐ketoesters, β‐cyanoesters, and β‐diketones to yield 2‐(1‐pyrazolyl) derivatives ( 7,9,10 ), and aldehydes to form arylhydrazone derivatives ( 11a,b ) which cyclized to form triazoles ( 12a,b ). Also, acyclic N‐nucleosides are prepared by heating under reflux 2‐hydrazino‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b]pyrido[2,3‐e] pyrimidin‐4‐one ( 1 ) with xylose and glucose to give the corresponding acyclic N‐nucleosides ( 13a,b ) which are cyclized to afford the corresponding protected tetra and penta–O‐acetate C‐nucleosides ( 14a,b ). Deacetylating of the latter nucleosides afforded the free acyclic C‐nucleosides ( 15a,b ). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:34–43, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20248     

Synthesis and NMR characteristics of N‐acetyl‐4‐nitro,N‐acetyl‐5‐nitro,N‐acetyl‐6‐nitro and N‐acetyl‐7‐nitrotryptophan methyl esters

N‐acetyl‐4‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (2), N‐acetyl‐5‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (3), N‐acetyl‐6‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (4) and N‐acetyl‐7‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (5) were synthesized through a modified malonic ester reaction of the appropriate nitrogramine analogs followed by methylation with BF₃‐methanol. Assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts were made using a combination of ¹H–¹H COSY, ¹H–¹³C HETCOR and ¹H–¹³C selective INEPT experiments. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

4‐Phosphorylated 1,2‐disubstituted imidazoles

4‐Selenophosphoryl‐1,2‐disubstituted imidazoles have been obtained by thermal decomposition of methyl 5‐(diamidoselenophosphoryl)imidazolium chlorides. The position of selenophosphoryl group in the imidazole ring was proved by ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray analysis. Previously unknown diamido‐ and dichloro(imidazol‐4‐yl)‐ phosphonites were synthesized, and differences in their reactivity compared to analogous 5‐phosphorylated imidazoles are shown. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:103–118, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20584     

N‐phosphorylated 3,5‐bis(arylidene)4‐piperidones: Synthesis,X‐ray structure,and evaluation of antitumor activity

In a search for cytotoxic fluorescent materials, a series of N‐phosphorylated compounds 2a–c were prepared by phosphorylation of 3,5‐bis(4‐N,N‐dimethylbenzylidene)‐4‐piperidone 1 . According to X‐ray investigations, molecule 2a is E,E‐isomer with axial position of the P(O)(OCH₂CF₃)₂ substituent. Fluorescence of compounds 2a–c was found to be similar to fluorescence of nonphosphorylated compound 1 . The cytotoxicity of the compounds 2a–c was estimated on several human tumor cell lines (H9, K562, and MCF7). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:497–502, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20147     

Novel,organosoluble, light‐colored fluorinated polyimides based on 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl or 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl

Two series of fluorinated polyimides were prepared from 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl ( 2 ) and 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl ( 4 ) with various aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional, two‐step procedure that included a ring‐opening polyaddition to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by chemical or thermal cyclodehydration. The inherent viscosities of the polyimides ranged from 0.54 to 0.73 and 0.19 to 0.36 dL/g, respectively. All the fluorinated polyimides were soluble in many polar organic solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide and N‐methylpyrrolidone, and afforded transparent and light‐colored films via solution‐casting. These polyimides showed glass‐transition temperatures in the ranges of 222–280 and 257–351 °C by DSC, softening temperatures in the range of 264–301 °C by thermomechanical analysis, and a decomposition temperature for 10% weight loss above 520 °C both in nitrogen and air atmospheres. The polyimides had low moisture absorptions of 0.23–0.58%, low dielectric constants of 2.84–3.61 at 10 kHz, and an ultraviolet–visible absorption cutoff wavelength at 351–434 nm. Copolyimides derived from the same dianhydrides with an equimolar mixture of 4,4′‐oxydianiline and diamine 2 or 4 were also prepared and characterized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2416–2431, 2004     

Molecular dynamics of cis‐1‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐ methylphenyl)ethanone oxime and N‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methylphenyl)acetamide in solution studied by NMR spectroscopy

The formation of hydrogen bonds and molecular dynamics for the molecules cis‐1‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl)ethanone oxime ( I ) and N‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methylphenyl)acetamide ( II ) have been investigated in solution using NMR. The results confirm the formation of O? H···O, O? H···N and O···H? N type inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Spin‐lattice relaxation times (T₁), activation energy of molecular dynamics and energy of intramolecular hydrogen bonds have been determined. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New insight into the photochromic mechanism of 1,3‐diphenyl‐4‐(4‐fluoro)benzal‐5‐pyrazolone N(4)‐phenyl semicarbazone

Density functional theory (DFT) calculation has been carried out to investigate the photochromic mechanism of 1, 3‐diphenyl‐4‐(4‐fluoro)benzal‐5‐pyrazolone N(4)‐phenyl semicarbazone. The novel mechanism, proposed by us, has different reaction pathway between the forward and the reverse process. The energy barrier of the forward direction was calculated to be significantly larger than that of the reverse direction (30.35 kcal/mol to 9.88 kcal/mol), which confirms the experimental observation that the forward process needs irradiation of light while the reverse one will take place easily when heated. The solvent effect on the relative stabilities of those isomers that may involve in the reaction has also been investigated by applying the polarizable continuum model (PCM) of the self‐consistent reaction field theory. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011