Charge delocalization in self-assembled mixed-valence aromatic cation radicals

The spontaneous assembly of aromatic cation radicals (D(+?)) with their neutral counterpart (D) affords dimer cation radicals (D(2)(+?)). The intermolecular dimeric cation radicals are readily characterized by the appearance of an intervalence charge-resonance transition in the NIR region of their electronic spectra and by ESR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structure analysis and DFT calculations of a representative dimer cation radical (i.e., the octamethylbiphenylene dimer cation radical) have established that a hole (or single positive charge) is completely delocalized over both aromatic moieties. The energetics and the geometrical considerations for the formation of dimer cation radicals is deliberated with the aid of a series of cyclophane-like bichromophoric donors with drastically varied interplanar angles between the cofacially arranged aryl moieties. X-ray crystallography of a number of mixed-valence cation radicals derived from monochromophoric benzenoid donors established that they generally assemble in 1D stacks in the solid state. However, the use of polychromophoric intervalence cation radicals, where a single charge is effectively delocalized among all of the chromophores, can lead to higher-order assemblies with potential applications in long-range charge transport. As a proof of concept, we show that a single charge in the cation radical of a triptycene derivative is evenly distributed on all three benzenoid rings and this triptycene cation radical forms a 2D electronically coupled assembly, as established by X-ray crystallography.     

Intervalence (charge-resonance) transitions in organic mixed-valence systems. Through-space versus through-bond electron transfer between bridged aromatic (redox) centers

Intervalence absorption bands appearing in the diagnostic near-IR region are consistently observed in the electronic spectra of mixed-valence systems containing a pair of aromatic redox centers (Ar(*)(+)/Ar) that are connected by two basically different types of molecular bridges. The through-space pathway for intramolecular electron transfer is dictated by an o-xylylene bridge in the mixed-valence cation radical 3(*)(+) with Ar = 2,5-dimethoxy-p-tolyl (T), in which conformational mobility allows the proximal syn disposition of planar T(*)(+)/T redox centers. Four independent experimental probes indicate the large through-space electronic interaction between such cofacial Ar(*)(+)/Ar redox centers from the measurements of (a) sizable potential splitting in the cyclic voltammogram, (b) quinonoidal distortion of T(*)(+)/T centers by X-ray crystallography, (c) "doubling" of the ESR hyperfine splittings, and (d) a pronounced intervalence charge-resonance band. The through (br)-bond pathway for intramolecular electron transfer is enforced in the mixed-valence cation radical 2a(*)(+) by the p-phenylene bridge which provides the structurally inflexible and linear connection between Ar(*)(+)/Ar redox centers. The direct comparison of intramolecular rates of electron transfer (k(ET)) between identical T(*)(+)/T centers in 3(*)(+) and 2a(*)(+)( )()indicates that through-space and through-bond mechanisms are equally effective, despite widely different separations between their redox centers. The same picture obtains for 3(*)(+) and 2a(*)(+)( )()from theoretical computations of the first-order rate constants for intramolecular electron transfer from Marcus-Hush theory using the electronic coupling elements evaluated from the diagnostic intervalence (charge-transfer) transitions. Such a strong coherence between theory and experiment also applies to the mixed-valence cation radical 7(*)(+), in which the aromatic redox S center is sterically encumbered by annulation.     

Femtosecond dynamics of electron transfer in a neutral organic mixed-valence compound

In this article we report a femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption study of a neutral organic mixed-valence (MV) compound with the aim to gain insight into its charge-transfer dynamics upon optical excitation. The back-electron transfer was investigated in five different solvents, toluene, dibutyl ether, methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE), benzonitrile and n-hexane. In the pump step, the molecule was excited at 760 nm and 850 nm into the intervalence charge-transfer band. The resulting transients can be described by two time constant. We assign one time constant to the rearrangement of solvent molecules in the charge-transfer state and the second time constant to back-electron transfer to the electronic ground state. Back-electron transfer rates range from 1.5 × 10¹² s⁻¹ in benzonitrile through 8.3 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹ in MTBE, around 1.6 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹ in dibutylether and toluene and to 3.8 × 10⁹ s⁻¹ in n-hexane.     

Quantum-topological analysis of electron density in azachalcogenene crystals with aromatic substituents

A theoretical study was carried out to investigate the topological characteristics of electron density (DFT B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) ab initio basis set) for molecules and crystal structures of azachalcogenenes with Ar-S-N=S=N-S-Ar and Ar-S-N=S=N-S-Ar aryl substituents. The characteristics of electron density were determined at the critical points (3, ?1) corresponding to the S...S and Se...Se intramolecular contacts, which serve to close the S-N=S=N-S and S-N=S=N-S five-membered rings. The intermolecular interactions in crystals are described from the viewpoint of electron density analysis in the region of S…S, S…N, Se…N, and S…Hal intermolecular short contacts between the atomic pairs of interactant molecules.     

Single and double bridged viologenes and intramolecular pimerization of their cation radicals

As an extension of our studies dealing with reversible redox systems, six tetraquaternary salts have been synthesized. These compounds contain two 4,4'-bipyridinium units which are connected by either one or two rigid bridges. The single bridged systems (o-, m-3, p-3) contain one o-, m- or p-xylylene bridge. The double bridged systems (o,o-4, o,m-4 and m,m-4) contain two xylylene bridges and represent a new class of cyclophanes. A new and very simple high dilution technique is described for the synthesis of these compounds. Depending upon ring size, some of the systems show different internal mobility with regard to flipping of the bridges and rotation of the pyridinium rings. By voltammetry of compounds 3 and 4, only two or three of the expected four potentials are observed. This is probably due to the highly stabilized diradical dications 3_SEM/SEM and 4_SEM/SEM. From a study of the concentration and temperature dependent UV/VIS spectra of the cation radicals, the equilibrium constants K₁ and K₂ for intra- and intermolecular pimerization (CT complexation) together with their thermodynamic data are evaluated. The strongest intramolecular pimerization is observed with o-3_SEM/SEM and o,o-4_SEM/SEM, which exist exclusively as pimers.     

Reaction of thianthrene cation radical with grignard reagents : Evidence for electron transfer and trapping of alkyl radicals by the thianthrene cation radical

Reactions are reported between RMgCl and thianthrene cation radical perchlorate (Th^.+ClO^-₄) suspended in ether and tetrahydrofuran (THF). In ether solution reactions R = Bu, s-Bu, t-Bu, 5-hexenyl, and cyclopentylmethyl. Major products were the alkane, the alkene R(-H) in some cases, and, in the cases of R = Bu, 5-hexenyl, and cyclopentylmethyl, the 5-alkylthianthrenium perchlorate (ThR⁺ClO^-₄). When 5-hexenylMgCl was used a mixture of 5-(5-hexenyl)- and 5-(cyclopentylmethyl)thianthrenium per-chlorates in the ratio of approximately 2 was obtained. Since the ratio of 5-hexenyl/cyclopentylmethyl in the Grignard reagent was 10.4, it is concluded that the C₆ sulfonium ions were formed by radical trapping by Th^.+ after single electron transfer from Grignard to cation radical had occurred, thus allowing for cyclization of 5-hexenyl radical. Formation of ThBu⁺ClO^-₄ is attributed to the trapping of butyl radical by Th^·+, while formation of RH and R(-H) is in all cases also attributed to alkyl radical reactions. Reactions in THF(R = Me, i-Pr, Bu, s-Bu, t-Bu, Ph) led almost exclusively to RH and Th. Polymerization of THF was also initiated and took place slowly giving rise to low molecular weight poly(THF). By using THF-d₈, as solvent for reaction between BuMgCl and Th^.+, it was possible to find Bu groups (¹H-NMR) in the poly(THF-d₈). Polymerization of THF is attributed, in some cases (R = Me, Bu), to alkyl-cation transfer from ThR⁺ to THF. In other cases initiation of polymerization by R⁺ and THF(-H)⁺ is considered.     

Soliton model of electron transfer in mixed-valence dimers and trimers

The soliton approximation is examined for mixed-valence dimers and trimers with one migrating electron. The calculations use Hamilton's canonical equations and a time-dependent wave function of the soliton type. In the two limiting cases (strong and weak vibronic coupling), the soliton approximation correlates well with the exact analytical solution. As in the adiabatic approximation at g²/v=1, the delocalized limit (quasifree electron) is transformed to the localized one (electron locked on the center). For molecular trimers, the soliton approximation allows us to reveal the cases where the transfer of an electron from the first to the third center is accompanied by electron density concentration on the intermediate center. Institute of Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Moldova Republic. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 46–53, November–December, 1994. Translated by L. Smolina     

Directed,intramolecular electron and energy transfer in mixed-valence dimers

Laser flash photolysis on a series of unsymmetrical ruthenium dimers has provided evidence for directed, intramolecular excitation energy transfer by a one-electron pathway for mixed-valence, Ru^II-Ru^III, dimers and by simple energy transfer for Ru^II-Ru^II dimers.     

Spectroscopic detection of short-lived anthracene derivative cation radicals using an electron transfer stopped-flow method with the tris(2,4-dibromophenyl)amine cation radical

Dynamic transformation profiles of short-lived cation radicals of anthracene derivatives, including 1-methyl, 2-methyl and unsubstituted anthracenes, could be observed using an electron transfer stopped-flow method by adopting the tris(2,4-dibromophenyl)amine cation radical as a reaction initiator.     

Combining UV photodissociation with electron transfer for peptide structure analysis

The combination of near‐UV photodissociation with electron transfer and collisional activation provides a new tool for structure investigation of isolated peptide ions and reactive intermediates. Two new types of pulse experiments are reported. In the first one called UV/Vis photodissociation–electron transfer dissociation (UVPD‐ETD), diazirine‐labeled peptide ions are shown to undergo photodissociation in the gas phase to form new covalent bonds, guided by the ion conformation, and the products are analyzed by electron transfer dissociation. In the second experiment, called ETD‐UVPD wherein synthetic labels are not necessary, electron transfer forms new cation–peptide radical chromophores that absorb at 355 nm and undergo specific backbone photodissociation reactions. The new method is applied to distinguish isomeric ions produced by ETD of arginine containing peptides. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of the geometry and electronic structure of bridged binuclear aromatic molecules

The geometries of the molecules of (C₆H₅)₂M, where M=NH, PH, O, S, CO, CS, SO, CH=CH, CH=N, N=N, and N=NO, the diphenylamine radical cation, and the diphenylnitrogen and diphenyl nitroxide radicals have been optimized by the CNDO/2, INDO, and MINDO/3 methods, and their electronic structures have been calculated. The data obtained have been interpreted in light of the investigation of the problem of reactivity.N. G. Chernyshevskii Saratov State University. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 23–29, March–April, 1991.     

Solvent tuning from normal to inverted marcus region of intramolecular electron transfer in ferrocene-based organic radicals

The solvent dependence of spectroscopic data of two neutral paramagnetic donor-acceptor dyads, based on a polychlorinated triphenylmethyl radical acceptor unit linked through a vinylene pi-bridge to a ferrocene (compound 1) or a nonamethylferrocene donor (compound 2) unit, is described. Both compounds exhibit broad absorptions in the near-IR region, with band maxima appearing around 1000 and 1500 nm for 1 and 2, respectively. These bands correspond to the excitation of a neutral DA ground state to the charge-separated D+A- state, indicative of an intramolecular electron-transfer process. Compounds 1 and 2 show two reversible one-electron redox processes associated with the oxidation of the ferrocene and the reduction of the polychlorotriphenylmethyl radical subunits. The solvent dependence of the redox potentials was also investigated, allowing the determination of the redox asymmetries DeltaG degrees of both dyads. The latter values, along with the experimental Eopt spectroscopic data, allow us to estimate, using the total energy balance Eopt = lambda + DeltaG degrees , the reorganization energy values, lambda, and their solvent polarity dependence. Since DeltaG degrees and lambda are of the same order of magnitude but exhibit opposite trends in their solvent polarity dependence, a unique shift from the normal to the inverted Marcus region with the change in solvent polarity is found. The kinetics of the charge recombination step of the excited charge-separated D+A- state was studied by picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, which allows us to observe and monitor for the first time the charge-separated D+A- state, thereby confirming unambiguously the photoinduced electron-transfer phenomena.     

Zwitterion radicals and anion radicals from electron transfer and solvent condensation with the fingerprint developing agent ninhydrin.

Ninhydrin (the fingerprint developing agent) spontaneously dehydrates in liquid ammonia and in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) to form indantrione, which has a sufficiently large solution electron affinity to extract an electron from the solvent (HMPA) to produce the indantrione anion radical. In liquid NH(3), the presence of trace amounts of amide ion causes the spontaneous formation of an anion radical condensation product, wherein the no. 2 carbon (originally a carbonyl carbon) becomes substituted with -NH(2) and -OH groups. In HMPA, the indantrione anion radical spontaneously forms condensation products with the HMPA to produce a variety of zwitterionic radicals, wherein the no. 2 carbon becomes directly attached to a nitrogen of the HMPA. The mechanisms for the formation of the zwitterionic paramagnetic condensation products are analogous to that observed in the reaction of ninhydrin with amino acids to yield Ruhemann's Purple, the contrast product in fingerprint development. The formation of anion and zwitterionic radical condensation products from ninhydrin and nitrogen-containing solvents may represent an example of a host of analogous polyketone-solvent reactions.     

Remarkable homology in the electronic spectra of the mixed-valence cation and anion radicals of a conjugated bis(porphyrinyl)butadiyne

The pi-radical cation and anion of the dizinc complex of a bis(triarylporphyrinyl)butadiyne, 1+ and 1-, respectively, display remarkably similar near-IR signatures, with intense bands near 1000 and 2500 nm, as predicted by the appropriate frontier-orbital model for inter-porphyrin coupling across the conjugated bridge.     

Competition between superexchange-mediated and sequential electron transfer in a bridged donor-acceptor system

The temperature- and solvent-dependence of photoinduced electron-transfer reactions in a porphyrin-based donor-bridge-acceptor (DBA) system is studied by fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. Two competing processes occur: sequential and direct superexchange-mediated electron transfer. In a weakly polar solvent (2-methyltetrahydrofuran), only direct electron transfer from the excited donor to the appended acceptor is observed, and this process has weak temperature dependence. In polar solvents (butyronitrile and dimethylformamide), both processes are observed and the sequential electron transfer shows strong temperature dependence. In systems where both electron transfer processes are observed, the long-range superexchange-mediated process is more than two times faster than the sequential process, even though the donor-acceptor distance is significantly larger in the former case.     

Addition-elimination in the reaction of alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals with 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid and nicotinic acid: example of inner sphere organic electron transfer

Reactions of alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals with 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (3,5-PDCA) and nicotinic acid (NA) were studied at appropriate pHs in aqueous solutions by pulse radiolysis technique. At pH 1, CH(3)C*HOH and *CH(2)OH radicals were found to react with 3,5-PDCA by rate constants of 2.2 x 10(9) and 5.1 x 10(8) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1), respectively, giving radical adduct species. The adduct species formed in the reaction of CH(3)C*HOH radicals with 3,5-PDCA underwent unimolecular decay (k = 9.8 x 10(4) s(-1)) giving pyridinyl radicals. Reaction of (CH(3))(2)C*OH, CH(3)C*HOH, and *CH(2)OH radicals with NA at pH 3.3 gave the adduct species which subsequently decayed to the pyridinyl radicals. At pH 1, wherein NA is present in the protonated form, (CH(3))(2)C*OH radicals directly transfer electrons to NA, whereas CH(3)C*HOH and *CH(2)OH radicals react with higher rate constants compared with those at pH 3.3, initially giving the adduct species which subsequently undergo elimination reaction giving pyridinyl radicals. Reactions of alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals with 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid and nicotinic acid are found to proceed by an addition-elimination pathway that provides one of the few examples of organic inner sphere electron-transfer reactions. Rate constant for the addition reaction as well as rate of elimination varies with the reduction potential of alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals.