The ortho‐Substituent Effect on the Ag‐Catalysed Decarboxylation of Benzoic Acids

A combined experimental and computational investigation on the Ag‐catalysed decarboxylation of benzoic acids is reported herein. The present study demonstrates that a substituent at the ortho position exerts dual effects in the decarboxylation event. On one hand, ortho‐substituted benzoic acids are inherently destabilised starting materials compared to their meta‐ and para‐substituted counterparts. On the other hand, the presence of an ortho‐electron‐withdrawing group results in an additional stabilisation of the transition state. The combination of both effects results in an overall reduction of the activation energy barrier associated with the decarboxylation event. Furthermore, the Fujita–Nishioka linear free energy relationship model indicates that steric bulk of the substituent can also exert a negative effect by destabilising the transition state of decarboxylation.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 4‐Aza‐1,6‐enynes to 3‐Aza‐bicyclo[4.1.0]hept‐2‐enes

A method for the synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.0]heptenes from 1,6‐enynes through Pd‐catalyzed cycloisomerization has been developed. N‐ and O‐tethered 1,6‐enynes were successfully transformed to their corresponding 3‐aza‐ and 3‐oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptenes in reasonable‐to‐high yields using the catalysts [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂]/P(OPh)₃ or [Pd(maleimidate)₂(PPh₃)₂] in toluene. The computational calculations using density functional theory indicate that [PdCl₂{P(OPh)₃}] in the oxidation state Pd^II acts as the active catalyst species for the formation of 3‐azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptenes through 6‐endo‐dig cyclization.     

Synergistic Effects of Lewis Bases and Substituents on the Electronic Structure and Reactivity of Boryl Radicals

Boryl radicals have the potential for the development of new molecular entities and for application in new radical reactions. However, the effects of the substituents and coordinating Lewis bases on the reactivity of boryl radicals are not fully understood. By using first‐principles methods, we investigated the spin‐density distribution and reactivity of a series of boryl radicals with various substituents and Lewis bases. The substituents, along with the Lewis bases, only affect the radical reactivity when an unpaired electron is in the boron p_z orbital, that is, for three‐coordinate radicals. We found evidence of synergistic effects between the substituents and the Lewis bases that can substantially broaden the tunability of the reactivity of the boryl radicals. Among Lewis bases, pyridine and imidazol‐2‐ylidene show a similar capacity for stabilization by delocalizing the spin density. Electron‐donating substituents, such as nitrogen, more efficiently stabilize boryl radicals than oxygen and carbon atoms. The reactivity of a boryl radical is always boron based, irrespective of the spin density on boron.     

Indium‐Bridged [1]Ferrocenophanes

Indium‐bridged [1]ferrocenophanes ([1]FCPs) and [1.1]ferrocenophanes ([1.1]FCPs) were synthesized from dilithioferrocene species and indium dichlorides. The reaction of Li₂fc?tmeda (fc=(H₄C₅)₂Fe) and (Mamx)InCl₂ (Mamx=6‐(Me₂NCH₂)‐2,4‐tBu₂C₆H₂) gave a mixture of the [1]FCP (Mamx)Infc ( 4₁ ), the [1.1]FCP [(Mamx)Infc]₂ ( 4₂ ), and oligomers [(Mamx)Infc]_n ( 4 _n ). In a similar reaction, employing the enantiomerically pure, planar‐chiral (S_p,S_p)‐1,1′‐dibromo‐2,2′‐diisopropylferrocene ( 1 ) as a precursor for the dilithioferrocene derivative Li₂fc^iPr2, equipped with two iPr groups in the α position, gave the inda[1]ferrocenophane 5₁ [(Mamx)Infc^iPr2] selectively. Species 5₁ underwent ring‐opening polymerization to give the polymer 5 _n . The reaction between Li₂fc^iPr2 and Ar′InCl₂ (Ar′=2‐(Me₂NCH₂)C₆H₄) gave an inseparable mixture of the [1]FCP Ar′Infc^iPr2 ( 6₁ ) and the [1.1]FCP [Ar′Infc^iPr2]₂ ( 6₂ ). Hydrogenolysis reactions (BP86/TZ2P) of the four inda[1]ferrocenophanes revealed that the structurally most distorted species ( 5₁ ) is also the most strained [1]FCP.     

A Multifunctional Photoswitch: 6π Electrocyclization versus ESIPT and Metalation

A terthiazole‐based molecular switch associating 6π electrocyclization, excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), and strong metal binding capability was prepared. The photochemical and photophysical properties of this molecule and of the corresponding nickel and copper complexes were thoroughly investigated by steady‐state and ultrafast absorption spectroscopy and rationalized by DFT/TDDFT calculations. The switch behaves as a biphotochrome with time‐dependent photochemical outcome and displays efficient ESIPT‐based fluorescence photoswitching. Both photochemical reactions are suppressed by nickel or copper metalation, and the main factors contributing to the quenching of the electrocyclization are discussed.     

Insights into the AIEE of 1,8‐Naphthalimides (NPIs): Inverse Effects of Intermolecular Interactions in Solution and Aggregates

Systematic structural perturbation has been used to fine‐tune and understand the luminescence properties of three new 1,8‐naphthalimides (NPIs) in solution and aggregates. The NPIs show blue emission in the solution state and their fluorescence quantum yields are dependent upon their molecular rigidity. In concentrated solutions of the NPIs, intermolecular interactions were found to quench the fluorescence due to the formation of excimers. In contrast, upon aggregation (in THF / H₂O mixtures), the NPIs show aggregation‐induced emission enhancement (AIEE). The NPIs also show moderately high solid‐state emission quantum yields (ca. 10–12.7 %). The AIEE behaviour of the NPIs depends on their molecular rigidity and the nature of their intermolecular interactions. The NPIs 1 – 3 show different extents of intermolecular (π–π and C?H???O) interactions in their solid‐state crystal structures depending on their substituents. Detailed photophysical, computational and structural investigations suggest that an optimal balance of structural flexibility and intermolecular communication is necessary for achieving AIEE characteristics in these NPIs.     

Exploring the Molecular Structure of Imidazolium–Silica‐Based Nanoparticle Networks by Combining Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy and First‐Principles Calculations

A DFT‐based molecular model for imidazolium–silica‐based nanoparticle networks (INNs) is presented. The INNs were synthesized and characterized by using small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), NMR spectroscopy, and theoretical ab initio calculations. ¹¹B and ³¹P HETCOR CP MAS experiments were recorded. Calculated ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy results, combined with the calculated anion–imidazolium (IM) distances, predicted the IM chain density in the INN, which was also confirmed from thermogravimetric analysis/mass spectrometry results. The presence of water molecules trapped between the nanoparticles is also suggested. First considerations on possible π–π stacking between the IM rings are presented. The predicted electronic properties confirm the photoluminescence emissions in the correct spectral domain.     

On the Control of Magnetic Anisotropy through an External Electric Field

The effect of an external electric field on the magnetic anisotropy of a single‐molecule magnet has been investigated, for the first time, with the help of DFT. The application of an electric field can alter the magnetic anisotropy from “easy‐plane” to “easy‐axis” type. Excitation analysis performed through time‐dependent DFT predicts that the external electric field facilitates metal to π‐acceptor ligand charge transfer, leading to uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and concomitant spin Hall effect in a single molecule.