Gas-phase reactivity of charged pi-type biradicals

Four pi,pi-biradicals, 2,6-dimethylenepyridinium and the novel isomers N-(3-methylenephenyl)-3-methylenepyridinium, N-phenyl-3,5-dimethylenepyridinium, and N-(3,5-dimethylenephenyl)pyridinium ions, were generated and structurally characterized in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Their gas-phase reactivity toward various reagents was compared to that of the corresponding monoradicals, 2-methylenepyridinium, N-phenyl-3-methylenepyridinium, and N-(3-methylenephenyl)pyridinium ions. The biradicals reactivity was found to reflect their predicted multiplicity. The 2,6-dimethylenepyridinium ion, the only biradical in this study predicted to have a closed-shell singlet ground state, reacts significantly faster than the other biradicals, which are predicted to have triplet ground states. In fact, this biradical reacts at a higher rate than the analogous monoradical, which suggests that to avoid the costly uncoupling of its unpaired electrons, the biradical favors ionic mechanisms over barriered radical pathways. In contrast, the second-order reaction rate constants of the isomeric biradicals with triplet ground states are well approximated by those of the analogous monoradicals, although the final reaction products are sometimes different. This difference arises from rapid radical-radical recombination of the initial monoradical reaction products. The overall reactivity toward the hydrogen-atom donors benzeneselenol and tributylgermanium hydride is significantly greater for the radicals with the charged site in the same ring system as the radical site. This finding indicates that polar effects play an important role in controlling the reactivity of pi,pi-biradicals, just as has been demonstrated for sigma,sigma-biradicals.     

Reactivity Controlling Factors for an Aromatic Carbon‐Centered σ,σ,σ‐Triradical: The 4,5,8‐Tridehydroisoquinolinium Ion

The chemical properties of the 4,5,8‐tridehydroisoquinolinium ion (doublet ground state) and related mono‐ and biradicals were examined in the gas phase in a dual‐cell Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) mass spectrometer. The triradical abstracted three hydrogen atoms in a consecutive manner from tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cyclohexane molecules; this demonstrates the presence of three reactive radical sites in this molecule. The high (calculated) electron affinity (EA=6.06 eV) at the radical sites makes the triradical more reactive than two related monoradicals, the 5‐ and 8‐dehydroisoquinolinium ions (EA=4.87 and 5.06 eV, respectively), the reactivity of which is controlled predominantly by polar effects. Calculated triradical stabilization energies predict that the most reactive radical site in the triradical is not position C4, as expected based on the high EA of this radical site, but instead position C5. The latter radical site actually destabilizes the 4,8‐biradical moiety, which is singlet coupled. Indeed, experimental reactivity studies show that the radical site at C5 reacts first. This explains why the triradical is not more reactive than the 4‐dehydroisoquinolinium ion because the C5 site is the intrinsically least reactive of the three radical sites due to its low EA. Although both EA and spin–spin coupling play major roles in controlling the overall reactivity of the triradical, spin–spin coupling determines the relative reactivity of the three radical sites.     

Dehydrophenylnitrenes: matrix isolation and photochemical rearrangements

The photochemistry of 3-iodo-2,4,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl azide 8 and 3,5-diiodo-2,4,6-trifluorophenyl azide 9 was studied by IR and EPR spectroscopy in cryogenic argon and neon matrices. Both compounds form the corresponding nitrenes as primary photoproducts in photostationary equilibria with their azirine and ketenimine isomers. In contrast to fluorinated phenylnitrenes, ring-opened products are obtained upon short-wavelength irradiation of the iodine-containing systems, indicative of C-I bond cleavage in the nitrenes or didehydroazepines under these conditions. Neither 3-dehydrophenylnitrene 6 nor 3,5-didehydrophenylnitrene 7 could be detected directly. The structures of the acyclic photoproducts were identified by extensive comparison with DFT calculated spectra. Mechanistic aspects of the rearrangements leading to the observed products and the electronic properties of the title intermediates are discussed on the basis of DFT as well as high-level ab initio calculations. The computations indicate strong through-bond coupling of the exocyclic orbital in the meta position with the singly occupied in-plane nitrene orbital in the monoradical nitrenes. In contrast to the ortho or para isomers, this interaction results in low-spin ground states for meta nitrene radicals and a weakening of the C1-C2 bond causing the kinetic instability of these species even under low-temperature conditions. 3,5-Didehydrophenylnitrenes, on the other hand, in which a strong C3-C5 interaction reduces coupling of the radical sites with the nitrene unit, might be accessible synthetic targets if the intermediate formation of labile monoradicals could be circumvented.     

On the electronic structures and electron affinities of the m-benzoquinone (BQ) diradical and the o-, p-BQ molecules: a synergetic photoelectron spectroscopic and theoretical study

Electron affinity (EA) is an important molecular property relevant to the electronic structure, chemical reactivity, and stability of a molecule. A detailed understanding of the electronic structures and EAs of benzoquinone (BQ) molecules can help rationalize their critical roles in a wide range of applications, from biological photosynthesis to energy conversion processes. In this Article, we report a systematic spectroscopic probe on the electronic structures and EAs of all three isomers-o-, m-, and p-BQ-employing photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and ab initio electronic structure calculations. The PES spectra of the three BQ(●-) radical anions were taken at several photon energies under low-temperature conditions. Similar spectral patterns were observed for both o- and p-BQ(●-), each revealing a broad ground-state feature and a large band gap followed by well-resolved excited states peaks. The EAs of o- and p-BQ were determined to be 1.90 and 1.85 eV with singlet-triplet band gaps of 1.68 and 2.32 eV, respectively. In contrast, the spectrum of m-BQ(●-) is distinctly different from its two congeners with no clear band gap and a much higher EA (2.89 eV). Accompanied theoretical study confirms the experimental EAs and band gaps. The calculations further unravel a triplet ground state for m-BQ in contrast to the singlet ground states for both o- and p-BQ. The diradical nature of m-BQ, which is consistent with its non-Kekule? structure, is primarily responsible for the observed high EA and helps explain its nonexistence in bulk materials.     

Geometry and energy of substituted phenyl cations

The geometry and the energy of a number of substituted phenyl cations have been calculated for both spin states at the UB3LYP/6-31G(d) level (o-, m-, p-Me, OMe, NH(2), CN, NO(2)) or at the UB3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level (o-, m-, p-SiMe(3), SMe). The geometric differences were assessed by means of a self-organizing neural network. The triplets maintain a regular hexagonal structure that is minimally affected by substituents, while in the singlets C1 puckers inward and, when an electron-donating group is present, shifts out of the plane. The triplets have the character of aromatic radical ions and are strongly stabilized by electron-donating substituents, independently of the position of the latter. In the case of singlets, the effect of substituents on the energy is weaker and depends on the position (the largest effect is exerted when the group is in meta). A two-parameter correlation of all of the triplet energies shows the predominant mesomeric effect of the substituents. In the case of singlets, linear correlations are obtained only when each position is treated separately and when the predominant effect is inductive for the ortho and, less markedly, the para position, whereas at the meta position, mesomeric and inductive effects are comparable. The ground state is determined to be the singlet for the parent cation and for electron-withdrawing substituted ions. With electron-donating substituents, the triplet is the ground state for ortho and para derivatives, while the two spin states are roughly isoenergetic when the donating group is in the meta position. These data allow predicting the reactivity of each cation.     

Photochemistry of the three carboxypyridines in water: a pH dependent reaction

The photochemistry of ortho, meta and para-carboxypyridines (pK(a)(1)= 1.0-2.1 and pK(a)(2)= 4.7-5.3) in aqueous medium was studied by laser-flash photolysis and product studies. At pH < pK(a)(1), hydroxylated compounds are produced with low quantum yields. Within the pH range 4-7, ortho and meta isomers undergo dimerization together with decarboxylation with a quantum yield showing a very sharp maximum around pK(a)(2)([small phi](max)= 0.09 and 0.01, respectively) while the para isomer is photostable. End-of-pulse transients assigned to triplet states were detected by laser-flash photolysis at pH < pK(a)(1) and pH > 4. Additionally, the carboxypyridinyl radicals were detected as secondary intermediates at pH < pK(a)(1) and 4 < pH < 7 and the OH-adduct radicals at pH < pK(a)(1). This is in favour of an electron transfer reaction between triplet and starting compound producing a charge transfer species. The radical anion would escape as carboxypyridinyl radical while the radical cation may add water at pH < pK(a)(1) yielding the OH-adduct radical or may undergo decarboxylation at pH > 4. The high quantum yield of phototransformation of the ortho isomer at pH > 4 is due to an easy decarboxylation process. A reaction scheme is proposed accounting for the dependences of [small phi] on both the pH and the carboxypyridines concentration. This study points out the distinct pattern of reactivity of carboxypyridines depending on the ionisation state of starting compounds and isomeric substitution.     

Ortho effect in electron ionization mass spectrometry of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acylanilines bearing a proximal halo substituent

Electron ionization (EI) mass spectra are not very helpful for characterizing ortho, meta, and para isomers of underivatized haloanilines since their spectra are virtually identical. In contrast, when the amino group of chloro-, bromo-, or iodoanilines is transformed to an N-formyl, N-acetyl, or N-benzoyl derivative, the spectra of the derivatives reveal a highly dramatic loss of a halogen radical, instead of an HX elimination usually expected from an "ortho effect." For example, the spectra of N-formyl, N-acetyl, and N-benzoyl derivatives of ortho isomers of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoanilines show a very prominent peak at m/z 120, 134, and 196, respectively, for the loss of the corresponding halogen atom.     

Calculation of electron affinities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and solvation energies of their radical anion

Electron affinities (EAs) and free energies for electron attachment (DeltaGo(a,298K)) have been directly calculated for 45 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and related molecules by a variety of theoretical methods, with standard regression errors of about 0.07 eV (mean unsigned error = 0.05 eV) at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) level and larger errors with HF or MP2 methods or using Koopmans' Theorem. Comparison of gas-phase free energies with solution-phase reduction potentials provides a measure of solvation energy differences between the radical anion and neutral PAH. A simple Born-charging model approximates the solvation effects on the radical anions, leading to a good correlation with experimental solvation energy differences. This is used to estimate unknown or questionable EAs from reduction potentials. Two independent methods are used to predict DeltaGo(a,298K) values: (1) based upon DFT methods, or (2) based upon reduction potentials and the Born model. They suggest reassignments or a resolution of conflicting experimental EAs for nearly one-half (17 of 38) of the PAH molecules for which experimental EAs have been reported. For the antiaromatic molecules, 1,3,5-tri-tert-butylpentalene and the dithia-substituted cyclobutadiene 1, the reduction potentials lead to estimated EAs close to those expected from DFT calculations and provide a basis for the prediction of the EAs and reduction potentials of pentalene and cyclobutadiene. The Born model has been used to relate the electrostatic solvation energies of PAH and hydrocarbon radical anions, and spherical halide anions, alkali metal cations, and ammonium ions to effective ionic radii from DFT electron-density envelopes. The Born model used for PAHs has been successfully extended here to quantitatively explain the solvation energy of the C60 radical anion.     

Formation and decomposition of distonic o-, m-, and p-benzyne radical cations from photolysis of Mg(+)(o-, m-, p-C(6)H(4)F(2))

Distonic o-, m-, and p-benzyne radical cations (1-3) have been generated by a novel photolysis reaction of mass-selected Mg(+)-difluorobenzene complexes. The energy required for the formation of these radical cations is within 2.2 eV. The formation of o-benzyne cation is most facile. The benzyne radical cations dissociate further to yield ethyne and 1,3-butadiyne radical cation as major products given a sufficient amount of energy. The whole process involves only a single photon, and is very efficient. The calculated threshold for the formation of 1,3-butadiyne radical cation from Mg(+)(o-C(6)H(4)F(2)) is about 4.6 eV, quite comparable with the experimental estimate.     

A meta effect in organic photochemistry? The case of SN1 reactions in methoxyphenyl derivatives

The photochemistry of isomeric methoxyphenyl chlorides and phosphates has been examined in different solvents (and in the presence of benzene) and found to involve the triplet state. With the chlorides, C-Cl bond homolysis occurs in cyclohexane and is superseded by heterolysis in polar media, while the phosphate group is detached (heterolytically) only in polar solvents. Under such conditions, the isomeric triplet methoxyphenyl cations are the first formed intermediates from both precursors, but intersystem crossing (isc) to the singlets can take place. Solvent addition (forming the acetanilide in MeCN, the ethers in alcohols, overall a SN1 solvolysis) is a diagnostic reaction for the singlet cation, as reduction and trapping by benzene are for the corresponding triplet. Solvolysis is most important with the meta isomer, for which the singlet is calculated (UB3LYP/6-31 g(d)) to be the ground state of the cation (DeltaE = 4 kcal/mol) and isc is efficient (kisc ca. 1 x 108 s-1), and occurs to some extent with the para isomer (isoenergetic spin states, kisc ca. 1.7 x 106 s-1). The triplet is the ground state with the ortho isomer, and in that case isc does not compete, although trapping by benzene is slow because of the hindering of C1 by the substituent. The position of the substituent thus determines the energetic order of the cation spin states, in particular through the selective stabilization of the singlet by the m-methoxy group, a novel case of "meta effect".     

Substituent effects on the nonradical reactivity of 4-dehydropyridinium cation

Recent studies have shown that the reactivity of the 4-dehydropyridinium cation significantly differs from the reactivities of its isomers toward tetrahydrofuran. While only hydrogen atom abstraction was observed for the 2- and 3-dehydropyridinium cations, nonradical reactions were observed for the 4-isomer. In order to learn more about these reactions, the gas-phase reactivities of the 4-dehydropyridinium cation and several of its derivatives toward tetrahydrofuran were investigated in a Fourier transform ion electron resonance mass spectrometer. Both radical and nonradical reactions were observed for most of these positively charged radicals. The major parameter determining whether nonradical reactions occur was found to be the electron affinity of the radicals--only those with relatively high electron affinities underwent nonradical reactions. The reactivities of the monoradicals are also affected by hydrogen bonding and steric effects.     

Influence of hydrogen bonding on hydrogen-atom abstraction reactions of dehydropyridinium cations in the gas phase

The reactions of several substituted, positively charged dehydropyridinium cations with cyclohexane, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran have been examined in a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. All of the charged monoradicals react with the neutral reagents exclusively via hydrogen atom abstraction. For cyclohexane, there is a good correlation between the reaction efficiencies and the calculated electron affinities at the radical sites; that is, the greater the electron affinity of the charged monoradical at the radical site, the faster the reaction. The reaction efficiencies with methanol and tetrahydrofuran, however, do not correlate with the calculated electron affinities. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that for these reagents a stabilizing hydrogen bonding interaction exists in the hydrogen atom abstraction transition states for some of the charged monoradicals but not for others. At both the MPW1K and G3MP2B3 levels of theory, there is a good correlation between the calculated activation enthalpies and the observed reaction efficiencies, although the G3MP2B3 method provides a slightly better correlation than the MPW1K method. The extent of enhancement in the reaction efficiencies caused by the hydrogen bonding interactions parallels the calculated hydrogen bond lengths in the transition states.     

Substituent effects on the electron affinities and ionization energies of tria-, penta-, and heptafulvenes: a computational investigation

The extent of substituent influence on the vertical electron affinities (EAs) and ionization energies (IEs) of 43 substituted tria-, penta-, and heptafulvenes was examined computationally at the OVGF/6-311G(d)//B3LYP/6-311G(d) level of theory and compared with those of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) as representing strong electron-acceptor and -donor compounds, respectively. The substituents X at the exocyclic positions of the fulvenes were either NH(2), H, or CN, while the substituents Y at the ring positions were H, Cl, F, CN, or NH(2). The variations of the EAs and IEs were rationalized by qualitative arguments based on frontier orbital symmetries for the different fulvene classes with either X or Y being constant. The minimum and maximum values found for the calculated EAs of the tria-, penta-, and heptafulvenes were 0.51-2.05, 0.24-3.63, and 0.53-3.14 eV, respectively, and for the IEs 5.27-9.96, 7.07-10.31, and 6.35-10.59 eV, respectively. Two of the investigated fulvenes outperform TCNQ (calcd EA = 2.63 eV) and one outperforms TTF (calcd IE = 6.25 eV) with regard to acceptor and donor abilities, respectively. We also evaluated the properties of bis(fulvene)s, i.e., compounds composed of a donor-type heptafulvene fused with an acceptor-type pentafulvene, and it was revealed that these bis(fulvene)s can be designed so that the IE and EA of the two separate fulvene segments are retained, potentially allowing for the design of compact donor-acceptor dyads.     

A comparative analysis of the UV/Vis absorption spectra of nitrobenzaldehydes

In a joint experimental and theoretical study, the UV/Vis absorption spectra of the three isomers (ortho, meta, para) of nitrobenzaldehyde (NBA) were analyzed. Absorption spectra are reported for NBA vapors, cyclohexane and acetonitrile solutions. All spectra are poor in vibronic structure and hardly affected in shape by the surroundings (vapor or solution). Moderate solvatochromic shifts of ～ -0.2 eV are measured. For all isomers vertical transition energies, oscillator strengths, and excited state dipole moments were computed using the MS-CASPT2/CASSCF and CC2 methods. Based on these calculations the experimental transitions were assigned. The spectra of all isomers are characterized by weak (ε(max) ≈ 100 M(-1) cm(-1)) transitions around 350 nm (3.6 eV), arising from nπ* absorptions starting from the lone pairs of the nitro and aldehyde moieties. The next band of intermediate intensity peaking around 300 nm (4.2 eV, ε(max) ≈ 1000 M(-1) cm(-1)) is dominated by ππ* excitations within the arene function. Finally, strong absorptions (ε(max) ≈ 10,000 M(-1) cm(-1)) were observed around 250 nm (5.0 eV) which we ascribe to ππ* excitations involving the nitro and benzene groups.     

Electron attachment and detachment, and the electron affinities of C5F5N and C5HF4N

Rate constants have been measured for electron attachment to C5F5N (297-433 K) and to 2, 3, 5, 6-C5HF4N (303 K) using a flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe apparatus (at a He gas pressure of 133 Pa). In both cases only the parent anion was formed in the attachment process. The attachment rate constants measured at room temperature are 1.8 +/- 0.5 X 10(-7) and 7 +/- 3 X 10(-10) cm(-3) s(-1), respectively. Rate constants were also measured for thermal electron detachment from the parent anions of these molecules. For C5F5N- detachment is negligible at room temperature, but increases to 2530 +/- 890 s(-1) at 433 K. For 2, 3, 5, 6-C5HF4N-, the detachment rate at 303 K was 520 +/- 180 s(-1). The attachment/detachment equilibrium yielded experimental electron affinities EA(C5F5N)=0.70 +/- 0.05 eV and EA(2, 3, 5, 6-C5HF4N)=0.40 +/- 0.08 eV. Electronic structure calculations were carried out for these molecules and related C5HxF5-xN using density-functional theory and the G3(MP2)//B3LYP compound method. The EAs are found to decrease by 0.25 eV, on average, with each F substitution by H. The calculated EAs are in good agreement with the present experimental results.     

Reactivity of aromatic σ,σ-biradicals toward riboses

The gas-phase reactions of sugars with aromatic, carbon-centered sigma,sigma-biradicals with varying polarities [as reflected by their calculated electron affinities (EA)] and extent of spin-spin coupling [as reflected by their calculated singlet-triplet (S-T) gaps] have been studied. The biradicals are positively charged, which allows them to be manipulated and their reactions to be studied in a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Hydrogen atom abstraction from sugars was found to be the dominant reaction for the biradicals with large EA values, while the biradicals with large S-T gaps tend to form addition/elimination products instead. Hence, not all sigma, sigma-biradicals may be able to damage DNA by hydrogen atom abstraction. The overall reaction efficiencies of the biradicals towards a given substrate were found to be directly related to the magnitude of their EA values, and inversely related to their S-T gaps. The EA of a biradical appears to be a very important rate-controlling factor, and it may even counterbalance the reduced radical reactivity characteristic of singlet biradicals that have large S-T gaps.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of HC4N-

We report the 364-nm photoelectron spectrum of HC(4)N(-). We observe electron photodetachment from the bent X(2)A" state of HC(4)N(-) to both the near-linear X(3)A" and the bent ? (1)A' states of neutral HC(4)N. We observe an extended, unresolved vibrational progression corresponding to X(3)A" ← X(2)A" photodetachment, and we measure the electron affinity (EA) of the X(3)A" state of HC(4)N to be 2.05(8) eV. Photodetachment to the bent ? (1)A' state results in a single intense origin peak at a binding energy of 2.809(4) eV, from which we determine the singlet-triplet splitting (ΔE(ST)) of HC(4)N: 0.76(8) eV. For comparison and to aid in the interpretation of the HC(4)N(-) spectrum, we also report the 364-nm photoelectron spectra of HCCN(-) and DCCN(-). Improved signal-to-noise over the previous HCCN(-) and DCCN(-) photoelectron spectra allows for a more precise determination of the EAs and ΔE(ST)s of HCCN and DCCN. The EAs of HCCN and DCCN are measured to be 2.001(15) eV and 1.998(15) eV, respectively; ΔE(ST)(HCCN) is 0.510(15) eV and ΔE(ST)(DCCN) is 0.508(15) eV. These results are discussed in the context of other organic carbene chains.     

Dissociation of ionized benzophenones investigated by the kinetic method: effective temperature, steric effects and gas-phase CO+* affinities of phenyl radicals

Ionized benzophenones ([PhC(O)PhY](+*); Y = 4 - NO(2), 4 - CF(3), 4-F, 4-Br, 4-Me, 3,4-diMe, 4-OH, 4-OMe, 2-Cl, 2-Me, 2-OH, 2,6-diMe) undergo competitive dissociation upon collision-induced dissociation (CID) at 20 eV collision energy to generate benzoyl cations ([PhCO](+) and [YPhCO](+)) and phenyl radicals (Ph(*) and YPh(*)). For the para-substituted benzophenones, the natural logarithm of the abundance ratio of the benzoyl cations [ln([PhCO(+)]/[YPhCO(+)])] is found to correlate linearly with the calculated CO(+*) affinities of the phenyl radicals Ph(*) and YPh(*). A deviation from linearity is observed for the ortho-substituted isomers. This is probably due to a significant intramolecular steric interaction between the carbonyl group and the ortho substituent which prevents the formation of a stable planar system. An observed shift in the intercept relative to the origin is interpreted as the result of a systematic error in the calculated CO(+*) affinities and this effect is minimized by calculations at a higher level. The dissociation of ionized para-substituted benzophenones is associated with a relatively high effective temperature of 1816 +/- 41 K, calculated from the slope of the kinetic method plot, a value that is consistent with a covalent bond in the activated ion. In addition, Delta(DeltaS(CO(+) )), the dissociation entropy of the benzoyl cations to form CO(+*) and the aryl radical, is found to be about 4 J mol(-1) K(-1) by employing the extended version of the kinetic method.     

Conversion of benzoic acid into phenol in an ITMS under CI‐MSn conditions. Recognition of ortho‐chlorobenzoyl derivatives

Isomeric chlorobenzoyl cations (m/z 139), under collision‐induced experiments, fragment identically. Chlorobenzoyl cations can be efficiently converted into cholorophenol radical cations by the reaction with methanol in the ion trap analyzer under CI‐MSn conditions. The substitution of the carbonyl group with a hydroxyl moiety is able to induce an ortho effect, which is absent in the startingortho‐chlorobenzoyl cation. This transformation could be useful to recognize ortho‐chlorinated benzoyl derivatives without the need of MS spectrum comparison of the whole set of isomers. The method reported in this study could be applicable to biologically active molecules that dissociate to form the chlorobenzoyl cations under CI or CI collision‐induced dissociation conditions, such as indomethacin, the degradation products from the insect growth regulator 1‐(2‐chlorobenzoyl)‐3‐(4‐chlorophenyl) urea, and lorazepam.     

Phototransposition reactions of arylboronate esters in acetonitrile and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

The phototransposition (para, meta, ortho) reactions of the arylboronate esters 4-, 3-, and 2-(4',4',5',5'-tetramethyl-1',3',2'-dioxaborolanyl)toluenes (1, 2, and 3, respectively) in both acetonitrile and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) using 254 nm irradiation have been examined. The irradiations resulted in steady-state compositions of para (5%), meta (19%), and ortho (76%) isomers in acetonitrile starting from the ortho isomer and para (12%), meta (54%), and ortho (35%) isomers in TFE starting from the para isomer. Analysis of the (13)C NMR spectrum of the product mixture obtained from the photochemistry of the para isomer selectively deuterated at C3 and C5 (1d(2)()) revealed that the boron-substituted carbon is the active one in the phototransposition reactions in both acetonitrile and TFE. Similar results were observed for irradiations of 1 in cyclohexane. Fluorescence spectra, singlet-state lifetimes, and Stern-Volmer quenching of fluorescence with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene indicated that the excited singlet states of these three isomers were spectroscopic minima and that the excited singlet state was the reactive one for 3 in acetonitrile.