Charge-transfer mechanism for electrophilic aromatic nitration and nitrosation via the convergence of (ab initio) molecular-orbital and Marcus-Hush theories with experiments

The highly disparate rates of aromatic nitrosation and nitration, despite the very similar (electrophilic) properties of the active species: NO(+) and NO(2)(+) in Chart 1, are quantitatively reconciled. First, the thorough mappings of the potential-energy surfaces by high level (ab initio) molecular-orbital methodologies involving extensive coupled-cluster CCSD(T)/6-31G optimizations establish the intervention of two reactive intermediates in nitration (Figure 8) but only one in nitrosation (Figure 7). Second, the same distinctive topologies involving double and single potential-energy minima (Figures 6 and 5) also emerge from the semiquantitative application of the Marcus-Hush theory to the transient spectral data. Such a striking convergence from quite different theoretical approaches indicates that the molecular-orbital and Marcus-Hush (potential-energy) surfaces are conceptually interchangeable. In the resultant charge-transfer mechanism, the bimolecular interactions of arene donors with both NO(+) and NO(2)(+) spontaneously lead (barrierless) to pi-complexes in which electron transfer is concurrent with complexation. Such a pi-complex in nitration is rapidly converted to the sigma-complex, whereas this Wheland adduct in nitrosation merely represents a high energy (transition-state) structure. Marcus-Hush analysis thus demonstrates how the strongly differentiated (arene) reactivities toward NO(+) and NO(2)(+) can actually be exploited in the quantitative development of a single coherent (electron-transfer) mechanism for both aromatic nitrosation and nitration.     

Intermolecular electron-transfer mechanisms via quantitative structures and ion-pair equilibria for self-exchange of anionic (dinitrobenzenide) donors

Definitive X-ray structures of "separated" versus "contact" ion pairs, together with their spectral (UV-NIR, ESR) characterizations, provide the quantitative basis for evaluating the complex equilibria and intrinsic (self-exchange) electron-transfer rates for the potassium salts of p-dinitrobenzene radical anion (DNB(-)). Three principal types of ion pairs, K(L)(+)DNB(-), are designated as Classes S, M, and C via the specific ligation of K(+) with different macrocyclic polyether ligands (L). For Class S, the self-exchange rate constant for the separated ion pair (SIP) is essentially the same as that of the "free" anion, and we conclude that dinitrobenzenide reactivity is unaffected when the interionic distance in the separated ion pair is r(SIP) > or =6 Angstroms. For Class M, the dynamic equilibrium between the contact ion pair (with r(CIP) = 2.7 Angstroms) and its separated ion pair is quantitatively evaluated, and the rather minor fraction of SIP is nonetheless the principal contributor to the overall electron-transfer kinetics. For Class C, the SIP rate is limited by the slow rate of CIP right arrow over left arrow SIP interconversion, and the self-exchange proceeds via the contact ion pair by default. Theoretically, the electron-transfer rate constant for the separated ion pair is well-accommodated by the Marcus/Sutin two-state formulation when the precursor in Scheme 2 is identified as the "separated" inner-sphere complex (IS(SIP)) of cofacial DNB(-)/DNB dyads. By contrast, the significantly slower rate of self-exchange via the contact ion pair requires an associative mechanism (Scheme 3) in which the electron-transfer rate is strongly governed by cationic mobility of K(L)(+) within the "contact" precursor complex (IS(CIP)) according to the kinetics in Scheme 4.     

Intermolecular pi-to-pi bonding between stacked aromatic dyads. Experimental and theoretical binding energies and near-IR optical transitions for phenalenyl radical/radical versus radical/cation dimerizations

The high symmetry and stability of phenalenyl systems, both as the planar pi-radical (P*) and as the pi-cation (P+), are desirable characteristics of prototypical aromatic donor/acceptor pairs that encourage their use as (binary) models for the study of intermolecular interactions extant in stacked molecular arrays. Thus, quantitative ESR spectroscopy of the paramagnetic P* identifies its spontaneous self-association to the diamagnetic P2, previously characterized as the stacked pi-dimer by X-ray crystallography. Likewise, the rapid cross-association of P* with the closed-shell P+ leads to the stacked pi-dimer cation P2*+ with the "doubled" ESR spectrum diagnostic of complete (odd) electron delocalization. These pi-associations are confirmed by UV-vis studies that reveal diagnostic near-IR bands of both P2 and P2*+-strongly reminiscent of intermolecular charge-transfer absorptions in related aromatic (donor/acceptor) pi-associations. Ab initio molecular-orbital calculations for the pi-dimer P2 predict a binding energy of DeltaED = -11 kcal mol(-1), which is in accord with the experimental enthalpy change of DeltaHD = -9.5 kcal mol(-1) in dichloromethane solution. Most importantly, the calculations reproduce the intermonomer spacings and reveal the delicate interplay of attractive covalent and dispersion forces, balanced against the repulsions between filled orbitals. For comparison, the binding energy in the structurally related cationic pi-pimer P2*+ is calculated to be significantly larger with DeltaEP approximately -20 kcal mol(-1) (gas phase), owing to favorable electrostatic interactions not present in the neutral pi-dimer (which outweigh the partial loss of covalent interactions). As a result, our theoretical formulation can correctly account for the experimental enthalpy change in solution of DeltaHP = -6.5 kcal mol(-1) by the inclusion of differential ionic solvation in the formation of the pi-pimer.     

Multi-step reactions of N-monosubstituted (polyfluoroalkane)thioamides with alkyllithium reagents

Reactions of N-alkyl- or N-aryl(perfluoroalkyl)thiocarboxamides with alkyl lithium reagents are described. Trifluorothioacetamides are converted into the corresponding lithium salts. Compounds bearing a long polyfluorinated chain terminated by a CHF₂ group and compounds containing an N-alkyl substituent with a proton adjacent to nitrogen react further via a multi-step reaction sequence involving HF elimination and then vinylic fluorine substitution and/or S_N′ type fluorine substitution. These transformations led to unsaturated N-monosubstituted polyfluorinated thioamides.     

Synthesis of substituted 4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines and 4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-thioles

We have developed a liquid-phase synthesis of combinatorial libraries of new disubstituted 4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines and trisubstituted 4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-thioles. The former were prepared using two general procedures: (i) cyclization of substituted methyl anthranilates with isothiocyanates, or (ii) cyclization of substituted 2-(methylcarboxy)benzeneisothiocyanates with primary amines or hydrazines. 4-Oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-thioles were prepared by S-alkylation of disubstituted 4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines with alkyl or aryl halides. The hydrolysis of methyl benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline-6(5H)-thione-3-carboxylate led to the corresponding acid. This acid was utilized in the synthesis of new benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline-6(5H)-thione-3-carboxamide and S-substituted 6-mecaptobenzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline-3-carboxamide libraries.     

Synthesis of substituted thienopyrimidine-4-ones

The parallel solution-phase synthesis of more than 3000 substituted thienopyrimidin-4-ones has been accomplished. Key reactions include assembly of the 2-thioxopyrimidin-4-one ring by condensation of isomeric aminothiophenecarboxylates or their appropriate reactive derivatives (isothiocyanates or dithiocarbamates) with the corresponding isothiocyanates or amines. The libraries from libraries were then obtained in good yields and purities using solution-phase alkylation and acylation methodologies. Simple manual techniques for parallel reactions using special CombiSyn synthesizers were coupled with easy purification procedures (crystallization from the reaction mixtures) to give high-purity final products. The scope and limitations of the developed approach are discussed.     

Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Polyamine Spider Toxins and Correlation with the Natural Products by HPLC‐MS/MS

A recently developed new and divergent approach for the solid‐phase synthesis of polyamines and polyamine derivatives was extended to the preparation of linear pentamines, and it was applied to the synthesis of three quartets of isomeric polyamine spider toxins. The twelve synthetic acylpolyamines were investigated by HPLC‐UV(DAD)‐MS and HPLC‐UV(DAD)‐MS/MS and compared with the natural products in the complex mixture of the venom of Agelenopsis aperta. The comparative investigation supported the structures and assignments of seven previously found toxins and allowed the identification of an additional five polyamine derivatives in the natural sample. The MS/MS study of the isomerically pure polyamine derivatives revealed furthermore a characteristic pattern for the fragmentation of these compounds, which can possibly be used as evidence in the trace analysis of other polyamine derivatives.     

Excitons in monoclinic zinc diphosphide. Longitudinal exciton and the mixed mode

Exciton absorption spectra in high-quality β-ZnP₂ single crystals have been investigated at T=1.7 K for various directions of the wave vector and various polarization states of the radiation. It has been unambiguously established that the additional high-energy A series, which in some works has been called a D series and ascribed to ZnP₂ crystals, of so-called “rhombic” symmetry,^1,8,10,11 is an intrinsic exciton of the β-ZnP₂ series. A mixed mode has been detected for the first time, and the energy of the longitudinal exciton has been determined. The selection rules for the exciton transitions have been analyzed by a group-theoretical approach, and the symmetry of the nS states of the single exciton has been established on the basis of the experimental data — Γ ₂ ⁻ (z). Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 193–202 (February 1999)     

Using critical sets to solve the maximum independent set problem

A method that utilizes the polynomially solvable critical independent set problem for solving the maximum independent set problem on graphs with a nonempty critical independent set is developed. The effectiveness of the proposed approach on large graphs with large independence number is demonstrated through extensive numerical experiments.     

Stable (long-bonded) dimers via the quantitative self-association of different cationic, anionic, and uncharged pi-radicals: structures, energetics, and optical transitions

Unusual dimers with wide interplanar separations, that is, very long bonds with d(D) approximately 3.05 A, are common to the spontaneous self-association of various organic pi-radicals in solution and in the crystalline solid state, independent of whether they are derived from negatively charged anion radicals of planar electron acceptors (TCNE-*, TCNQ-*, DDQ-*, CA-*), positively charged biphenylene cation-radical (OMB+*), or neutral phenalene radical (PHEN*). All dimeric species are characterized by intense absorption bands in the near-IR region that are diagnostic of the charge-transfer transitions previously identified with intermolecular associations of various electron-donor/acceptor dyads. The extensive delocalizations of a pair of pi-electrons accord with the sizable values of (i) the enthalpies (-Delta H(D)) and entropies (-Delta S(D)) of pi-dimerization measured by quantitative UV-vis/EPR spectroscopies and (ii) the electronic coupling element H(ab) evaluated from the strongly allowed optical transitions, irrespective of whether the diamagnetic dimeric species bear a double-negative charge as in (TCNE)(2)(2-), (TCNQ)(2)(2-), (DDQ)(2)(2-), (CA)(2)(2-) or a double-positive charge as in (OMB)(2)(2+) or are uncharged as in (PHEN)(2). These long-bonded dimers persist in solution as well as in the solid state and suffer only minor perturbations with Delta d(D) < 10% from extra-dimer forces that may be imposed by counterion electrostatics, crystal packing, and so forth. The characteristic optical transitions in such diamagnetic two-electron dimers are shown to be related to those in the corresponding paramagnetic one-electron pimers of the same pi-radicals with their parent acceptor, both in general accord with Mulliken theory.