Radical Reactivity of the Biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)2P⋅] and Isolation of a Persistent Phosphorus-Cantered Monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)2P-Et]

The activation of C−Br bonds in various bromoalkanes by the biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) (Ter=2,6-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-phenyl) is reported, yielding trans-addition products of the type [Br−P(μ-NTer)₂P−R] ( 2 ), so-called 1,3-substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes. This addition reaction, which represents a new easy approach to asymmetrically substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes, was investigated mechanistically by different spectroscopic methods (NMR, EPR, IR, Raman); the results suggested a stepwise radical reaction mechanism, as evidenced by the in-situ detection of the phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-R].< To provide further evidence for the radical mechanism, [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 3Et ⋅) was synthesized directly by reduction of the bromoethane addition product [Br-P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 2 a ) with magnesium, resulting in the formation of the persistent phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et], which could be isolated and fully characterized, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison of the EPR spectrum of the radical intermediate in the addition reaction with that of the synthesized new [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] radical clearly proves the existence of radicals over the course of the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) with bromoethane. Extensive DFT and coupled cluster calculations corroborate the experimental data for a radical mechanism in the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] with EtBr. In the field of hetero-cyclobutane-1,3-diyls, the demonstration of a stepwise radical reaction represents a new aspect and closes the gap between P-centered biradicals and P-centered monoradicals in terms of radical reactivity.     

Highly Efficient Trityl-Nitroxide Biradicals for Biomolecular High-Field Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a powerful method to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state magnetic nuclear resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy. However, its biomolecular applications at high magnetic fields (preferably>14 T) have so far been limited by the intrinsically low efficiency of polarizing agents and sample preparation aspects. Herein, we report a new class of trityl-nitroxide biradicals, dubbed SNAPols that combine high DNP efficiency with greatly enhanced hydrophilicity. SNAPol-1, the best compound in the series, shows DNP enhancement factors at 18.8 T of more than 100 in small molecules and globular proteins and also exhibits strong DNP enhancements in membrane proteins and cellular preparations. By integrating optimal sensitivity and high resolution, we expect widespread applications of this new polarizing agent in high-field DNP/ssNMR spectroscopy, especially for complex biomolecules.     

Spectral features of 1,2-biradicals isomeric to C2–C4 perfluoroolefins

Absorption spectra of 1,2-biradicals were obtained by kinetic spectroscopy under adiabatic compression of mixtures of perfluoroolefins with argon.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2048–2050, October, 1995.     

Diindeno-Fused Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and Dibenzo[c,l]chrysene: Syntheses,Structural Analyses,and Properties

Diindeno-fused dibenzo[a,h]anthracene 6 and diindeno-fused dibenzo[c,l]chrysene 9 contain the key moieties 1,4-quinodipropene (1,4-QDP) and 2,6-naphthoquinodipropene (2,6-NQDP), respectively, and they both have an open-shell singlet ground state. The latter compound exhibits a strong biradical character and interesting properties, including a low ΔE_T−S (2.44 kcal mol⁻¹), a small HOMO–LUMO gap (1.06 eV), a wide photoabsorption range (250–1172 nm), and a large two-photon absorption cross-section (σ=1342±56 GM). This work verifies that 6 has a slightly larger HOMO–LUMO gap and ΔE_T−S than its helical isomer diindeno[2,1-f:1′,2′-j]picene (DIP), but is a much stronger two-photon absorber, verifying the important effect of geometry on the photophysical properties.     

Photochemical preparation of tricyclic hydroxyketones by transanular cyclization of bridged 4-benzoylcyclohexanones

Summary The bridged 4-benzoyl-cyclohexanones3a–f were synthesized by ,-annelation of cyclic ketones. Irradiation of3a–f revealed a strong dependence of the photochemical behaviour on the ring size and the introduction of a nitrogen atom. Ketones which are able to form 1,6-biradicals (3b,c,e) undergo unselective photolytic decomposition, whereas3a,d,f afforded tricyclic hydroxyketones. The diastereoselectivity of ring closure is remarkably improved by introduction of a protected nitrogen atom (3d,f) in comparison to the carbocyclic diketone3a. Moreover, the N protective group of 4-azatricyclo-4.3.1.0^3,8]decan-7-one (7) could be removed affording the free hydroxy amino ketone8 in good yields. An explanation of the diastereoselective cyclization of3a and of the surprisingly low quantum yield of3d was found by conformational analysis of the corresponding triplet biradicals.

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Photochemische Darstellung tricyclischer Ketone durch transanulare Cyclisierung verbrückter 4-Benzoylcyclohexanone

Zusammenfassung Die verbrückten 4-Benzoyl-cyclohexanone3a–f wurden durch ,-Anellierung cyclischer Ketone synthetisiert. Das photochemische Verhalten von3a–f hängt in starkem Maße von der Ringgröße und von der Einführung eines Stickstoffatoms ab. Ketone, die in der Lage sind, 1,6-Biradikale zu bilden (3b,c,e), unterliegen einer unselektiven photolytischen Zersetzung, während3a,d,f tricyclische Hydroxyketone liefern. Die Diastereoselektivität des Ringschlusses wird durch Einführung eines Stickstoffatoms (3d,f) im Vergleich zum carbocyclischen Analogon3a deutlich gesteigert. Weiterhin gelang es, die N-Schutzgruppe im 4-Azatricyclo-[4.3.1.0^3,8]decan-7-on (7) unter Bildung des freien Hydroxyaminoketons8 in guten Ausbeuten zu entfernen. Eine Erklärung für die diastereoselektive Cyclisierung von3a und für die überraschend geringe Quantenausbeute von3d wurde durch Konformationsanalyse der entsprechenden Triplett-Biradikale gefunden.

     

Reversible Carbon–Carbon Bond Breaking and Spin Equilibria in Bis(pyrimidinenorcorrole)

Reversible homolytic dissociation of the bis(pyrimidinenorcorrole) σ‐dimer was elucidated by means of variable temperature ESR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and optical spectrocopy. Dehydrogenation of the σ‐dimer yielded another dimer displaying a singlet–triplet equilibrium in solution, strong NIR absorption (1570 nm), and a narrow electrochemical HOMO–LUMO gap (0.74 V).     

Spirocyclic Nitroxide Biradicals: Synthesis and Evaluation as Dynamic Nuclear Polarizing Agents

A method for the synthesis of rigid nitroxide biradicals with various spatial orientations between the radical centers is reported. Diketones were employed as substrates for tin amine protocol (SnAP) reagents to provide the parent spirocyclic diamines. Oxidation by peroxyacids provided the corresponding nitroxide biradicals. A set of four different biradicals with various interelectron distances and torsion angles between the radical planes was synthesized using this method. The exact geometries were determined by X-ray crystallography and the biradicals were investigated by EPR spectroscopy and evaluated for their dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) performance. ¹H-DNP enhancements in the range of 1.2–2.1 at 14.1 Tesla (600 MHz spectrometer) were achieved. This synthetic methodology opens a promising alternative to access nitroxide biradicals with various torsional angles and inter radical distances.     

Effect of core substituents on the intramolecular exchange interaction in N,N′‐dioxy‐2,6‐diazaadamantane biradical: DFT studies

Density‐functional theory calculations of a series of organic biradicals on the basis of the N,N′‐dioxy‐2,6‐diazaadamantane core with different substituents at carbon atoms adjacent to the nitroxyl groups have been performed by the UB3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,2p) method. Using the breaking symmetry approach, the values of the exchange interaction parameter, J, between the radical centers are calculated. It is shown that the intramolecular exchange interaction for the most part is ferromagnetic in nature, but the J parameter gradually decreases, changing its sign to antiferromagnetic interaction for the last substituent in the following sequence: CF₃(CH₃)COH > CH₂F(H)COH > CH₂OH > H > CBr₃ > CH₂F > CCl₃ > CF₃ > CH₂Br > CH₂Cl > CH₃ > C₂H₅ > C₃H₇ > i‐C₄H₉ > F > Br > OCH₃ > Cl > CH₂C₆H₅. The calculations at the UHSEH1PBE/6‐311++G(2d,2p) level with the most of substituents show nearly the same variation sequence for the J parameter. It is concluded that spin polarization effects in the diazaadamantane cage and a direct through‐space antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the nitroxyl groups are the main mechanisms contributing to the exchange interaction parameter value in the studied series of compounds. The exchange coupling constant, J, depends on the electronic effects and geometry of the substituents, as well as on their specific interactions with the nitroxyl radical groups.