Molecular structures and compositions of trans-1,2-dichlorocyclohexane and trans-1,2-difluorocyclohexane in the gas phase: an electron-diffraction investigation

The structures and compositions of gaseous trans-1,2-dichloro- (DCCH) and trans-1,2-difluorocyclohexane (DFCH), each of which may exist with the halogen atoms in a diaxial (aa) or diequatorial (ee) conformation, have been investigated by electron diffraction. The analysis was aided by rotational constants from microwave spectroscopy for the ee form of DFCH and by ab initio and density functional theory molecular orbital calculations for all species. The skeletons of the molecules have similar parameter values, but for the Cl-C-C-Cl and F-C-C-F fragments there are significant differences between the corresponding C-C-X bond angles and the X-C-C-X torsion angles in the two systems. There are also significant differences between the values of these parameters in the aa and ee forms of the same system. The composition of DCCH at 100 degrees C was measured to be 60(4)% aa, and that of DFCH at 70 degrees C was 42(7)% aa; the uncertainties are estimated 2sigma. From the preferred B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations, the predicted theoretical composition is 51.2% aa for DCCH and 40.8% aa for DFCH. (Calculations at the levels B3LYP/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-31G(d) give similar results for DCCH, but both predict more aa than ee for DFCH.) Values (r(g)/A and angle(alpha)/degree) for some of the more important parameters of the aa/ee forms of DCCH are = 1.525(4)/1.525(6), C-Cl = 1.806(2)/1.787(2), angleC2-C1-Cl = 107.3(3)/111.5(3), angleC1-C2-C3 = 113.9(5)/111.6(5), angleC2-C3-C4 = 111.3(12)/109.9(12), and Cl-C2-C3-Cl = 165.3(9)/-59.4(9); and for DFCH C-C = 1.525(6)/1.520(9), C-F = 1.398(2)/1.390(2), angleC2-C1-F = 106.5(6)/109.2(6), angleC1-C2-C3 = 111.4(9)/110.9(9), angleC2-C3-C4 = 113.1(10)/113.1(10), and F-C2-C3-F = 171.1(37)/-67.2(37). The structures and compositions are discussed.     

Rate Constant for the Ring Opening of the 2,2-Difluorocyclopropylcarbinyl Radical

The rate constant for the unimolecular ring opening of the 2,2-difluorocyclopropylcarbinyl radical was determined via its competitive bimolecular trapping by TEMPO. The value of this rate constant (3.4 x 10(11) s(-)(1) at 99.3 degrees C) is about 500 times larger than that of the parent, unfluorinated radical and about 5 times smaller than that of the trans-2-phenylcyclopropylcarbinyl radical.     

Electron attachment to SF5X compounds: SF5C6H5, SF5C2H3, S2F10, and SF5Br, 300-550 K

Rate constants and ion product channels have been measured for electron attachment to four SF5 compounds, SF5C6H5, SF5C2H3, S2F10, and SF5Br, and these data are compared to earlier results for SF6, SF5Cl, and SF5CF3. The present rate constants range over a factor of 600 in magnitude. Rate constants measured in this work at 300 K are 9.9+/-3.0x10(-8) (SF5C6H5), 7.3+/-1.8x10(-9) (SF5C2H3), 6.5+/-2.5x10(-10) (S2F10), and 3.8+/-2.0x10(-10) (SF5Br), all in cm3 s-1 units. SF5- was the sole ionic product observed for 300-550 K, though in the case of S2F10 it cannot be ascertained whether the minor SF4- and SF6- products observed in the mass spectra are due to attachment to S2F10 or to impurities. G3(MP2) electronic structure calculations (G2 for SF5Br) have been carried out for the neutrals and anions of these species, primarily to determine electron affinities and the energetics of possible attachment reaction channels. Electron affinities were calculated to be 0.88 (SF5C6H5), 0.70 (SF5C2H3), 2.95 (S2F10), and 2.73 eV (SF5Br). An anticorrelation is found for the Arrhenius A-factor with exothermicity for SF5- production for the seven molecules listed above. The Arrhenius activation energy was found to be anticorrelated with the bond strength of the parent ion.     

4,5-dehydro- and 4,5,15,16-bis(dehydro)octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophanes: facile generation and extraordinary Diels-Alder reactivity

Dehydroiodination of 4-iodo- and 4,15-diiodo-1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane by treatment with KO(t)Bu in the presence of benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and [2.2]paracyclophane affords each of the corresponding Diels-Alder mono- and bis-cycloadducts derived from the presumed aryne intermediates in high yield. Monoadducts of t-butylbenzene and furan are also obtained in excellent yield. All of the products were characterized by their NMR spectra, with four of them also being confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The extraordinary selectivity/reactivity of the aryne intermediate is discussed.     

Dimerizations of methylenecyclopropanes

The thermal [2+2] dimerization of methylenecyclopropanes, including methylenecyclopropane itself, is discussed. The effects of structural features on the ability of this reaction to occur are discussed in terms of the probable mechanism.     

Novel fluoropolymers formed by an unprecedented SRN1 condensation polymerization mechanism

A condensation copolymerization reaction between bis-phenol A and p-bis-(chlorodifluoro-methyl)benzene has been carried out to form a novel fluoropolymer that has excellent thermal and solubility properties. It is proposed that this polymerization reaction occurs via an unprecedented S_RN1 mechanism. This demonstration of the use of S_RN1 chemistry for condensation polymerizations of fluorinated monomers creates the opportunity for preparation of new fluoropolymers which are otherwise inaccessible.