Modulating the Photochemistry of Bipyridylic Compounds by Symmetric Substitutions

A quantum electronic study of the effect of substituents on (2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐3,3′‐diol and (2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐3,3′‐diamine is presented. A large difference in the photochemical behavior between the original and the substituted selected systems is expected. For the sake of simplicity, the study is restricted to the symmetrically bi‐substituted compounds: fluorine, the more electronegative atom and thus a strong σ‐acceptor but also a weak π‐donor group, and NO₂, a strong π‐acceptor substituent. Among the large set of compounds studied, two receive special attention: 5,5′‐dinitro‐(2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐3,3′‐diamine and 6,6′‐difluoro‐(2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐3,3′‐diol. While in the former case the nitro substitution transforms (2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐3,3′‐diamine, previously suggested to behave as a photomemory material, into a simple fluorescent species, the latter substitution turns (2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐3,3′‐diol into a fresh new candidate for a photomemory device.     

Conformational analysis of trans-2,3-diaryloxy-1,4-dioxanes. A tool for discriminating between steric and electronic effects in the position of

The conformation of several $\text{trans}$-2,3-diaryloxy-1,4-dioxanes has been studied using ¹H NMR techniques. $\text{Trans}$-2,3-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)-1,4-dioxane and $\text{trans}$-2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenoxy)-1,4-dioxane have been found to be predominantly ( ≈98%) in diaxial conformation in CDCl₃). On the other hand, $\text{trans}$-2,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-1,4-dioxane exists in the same conditions as a 66:33 mixture of diaxial and diequatorial conformers. An explanation based on the fulfilment of the exo-anomeric effect is provided.     

Resolution of global signals using ratio differential pulse polarograms: Determination of p-nitroaniline and p-nitrotoluene in their mixture

Ratio differential pulse polarograms obtained by dividing the multianalyte and single analyte signals are proposed as a tool for resolution of global signals and quantification of the analytes from a qualitatively known mixture by differential pulse polarography (DPP) and related electroanalytical techniques. The influences of shape and position of the resolving function (DP polarograms of individual analyte) on the efficiency of resolution are discussed on simulated and experimental results. The method is applied for the determination of p-nitroaniline (NA) and p-nitrotoluene (NT) from their mixture in N,N′-dimethylformamide solutions with 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium iodide as supporting electrolyte, using an external calibration diagram and internal standard addition methods. NA and NT give one-electron DP polarographic peaks with 93 mV of peak separation and, therefore, show significant overlapping which depends on the concentration ratio of NA and NT in the mixture. The method is especially suitable for quantification of one analyte in the presence of a large excess of another analyte, because by division the component in excess is removed and the pseudo-ratio DPP of the minor component is clearly revealed in a way which is not possible by deconvolution using polynomial division or deconvolution by Fourier transforms.     

Spin State Tunes Oxygen Atom Transfer towards FeIVO Formation in FeII Complexes

Oxoiron(IV) complexes bearing tetradentate ligands have been extensively studied as models for the active oxidants in non-heme iron-dependent enzymes. These species are commonly generated by oxidation of their ferrous precursors. The mechanisms of these reactions have seldom been investigated. In this work, the reaction kinetics of complexes [Fe^II(CH₃CN)₂L](SbF₆)₂ ( [1](SbF₆)₂ and [2](SbF₆)₂ ) and [Fe^II(CF₃SO₃)₂L] ( [1](OTf)₂ and [2](OTf)₂ ( 1 , L=^Me,HPytacn; 2 , L=^nP,HPytacn; ^R,R′Pytacn=1-[(6-R′-2-pyridyl)methyl]-4,7- di-R-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) with Bu₄NIO₄ to form the corresponding [Fe^IV(O)(CH₃CN)L]²⁺ ( 3 , L=^Me,HPytacn; 4 , L=^nP,HPytacn) species was studied in acetonitrile/acetone at low temperatures. The reactions occur in a single kinetic step with activation parameters independent of the nature of the anion and similar to those obtained for the substitution reaction with Cl⁻ as entering ligand, which indicates that formation of [Fe^IV(O)(CH₃CN)L]²⁺ is kinetically controlled by substitution in the starting complex to form [Fe^II(IO₄)(CH₃CN)L]⁺ intermediates that are converted rapidly to oxo complexes 3 and 4 . The kinetics of the reaction is strongly dependent on the spin state of the starting complex. A detailed analysis of the magnetic susceptibility and kinetic data for the triflate complexes reveals that the experimental values of the activation parameters for both complexes are the result of partial compensation of the contributions from the thermodynamic parameters for the spin-crossover equilibrium and the activation parameters for substitution. The observation of these opposite and compensating effects by modifying the steric hindrance at the ligand illustrates so far unconsidered factors governing the mechanism of oxygen atom transfer leading to high-valent iron oxo species.     

Rigidochromism by imide functionalisation of an aminomaleimide fluorophore

Fluorescent dyes that exhibit high solid state quantum yields and sensitivity to the mechanical properties of their local environment are useful for a wide variety of applications, but are limited in chemical diversity. We report a trityl-functionalised maleimide that displays rigidochromic behaviour, becoming highly fluorescent when immobilised in a solid matrix, while displaying negligible fluorescence in solution. Furthermore, the dye''s quantum yield is shown to be sensitive to the nature of the surrounding matrix. Computational studies reveal that this behaviour arises from the precise tuning of inter- and intramolecular noncovalent interactions. This work expands the diversity of molecules exhibiting solid state environment sensitivity, and provides important fundamental insights into their design.

In this study, by systematic tuning of imide substituent a maleimides dye with sensitivity to its solid-state environment was investigated.     

Reversing the stereoselectivity of the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction: formation of endo-fused norbornadiene adducts

[reaction: see text] An unprecedented endo-selective and regioselective intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction takes place when heterobimetallic (Mo-Co) complexes derived from N-(2-alkynoyl)oxazolidinones or sultams are heated in the presence of norbornadiene.     

The Coulomb Hole of the Ne Atom

We analyze the Coulomb hole of Ne from highly-accurate CISD wave functions obtained from optimized even-tempered basis sets. Using a two-fold extrapolation procedure we obtain highly accurate results that recover 97 % of the correlation energy. We confirm the existence of a shoulder in the short-range region of the Coulomb hole of the Ne atom, which is due to an internal reorganization of the K-shell caused by electron correlation of the core electrons. The feature is very sensitive to the quality of the basis set in the core region and it is not exclusive to Ne, being also present in most of second-row atoms, thus confirming that it is due to K-shell correlation effects.     

Modular amino alcohol ligands containing bulky alkyl groups as chiral controllers for Et2Zn addition to aldehydes: illustration of a design principle

A new family of enantiomerically pure (1S,2R)-1-alkyl-2-(dialkylamino)-3-(R-oxy)-1-propanols containing a very bulky alkyl substituent (tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl) on their hydrocarbon chains has been synthesized from the corresponding enantiopure epoxy alcohols, arising from the catalytic Sharpless epoxidation, by protection of the primary hydroxy group and subsequent regioselective ring opening of the epoxide by a secondary cyclic amine (C-2 attack). The performance of these amino alcohols as ligands for the catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde has been studied, with enantioselectivities of 92-96% being recorded. The best performing ligands, those with a bulky R-oxy group, also depict a convenient activity and selectivity profile in the addition of Et(2)Zn to a representative family of aldehydes. An anomalous structure/enantioselectivity relationship of some ligands in the tert-butyl series has been studied using PM3 calculations, and conclusions have been drawn on the possible effects of including in modular designs structural fragments giving rise to a variety of rotameric transition states.