Intramolecular Nitrene Insertion into Saturated C-H-Bond-Mediated C-N Bond Cleavage of a Coordinated NHC Ligand.

Ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a tridentate bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand reacted with iminoiodanes (PhI=NR) resulting in the formation of isolable ruthenium(III)-amido intermediates, which underwent cleavage of a C-N bond of the tridentate ligand and formation of an N-substituted imine group. The RuIII -amido intermediates have been characterized by 1 H NMR, UV/Vis, ESI-MS, and X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations were performed to provide insight into the reaction mechanism.

Near-Infrared Phosphorescent Supramolecular Alkyl/Aryl-Iridium Porphyrin Assemblies by Axial Coordination.

Five-coordinated d6 metal complexes are relatively uncommon but can be useful building blocks for the construction of supramolecular assemblies. In this work we have used the strong trans effect of aryl and alkyl ligands for the synthesis of luminescent five-coordinated organoiridium porphyrins, which are useful building blocks for the construction of metallamacrocycles and metallacages of iridium through metal-ligand interactions at the axial positions of iridium porphyrins (Ir(por)). Diverse di- or tritopic aryl or alkyl linkers were employed as the axial ligands to coordinate Ir(por) at an axial position to afford di- or trinuclear five-coordinated [{Ir(ttp)}n (X)] (ttp=5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-tolyl)porphyrinato(2-); n=2, X=diaryl; n=3, X=trialkyl). [{Ir(ttp)}n (X)] could be further coordinated with ditopic isocyanide or pyridine ligands at the other axial site of each Ir(ttp) to give unprecedented cyclic supramolecular metalloporphyrin assemblies, including tetra- and hexanuclear metallamacrocycles and hexanuclear metallacages. The Ir(por) metallamacrocycles and metallacages display phosphorescence in the near-infrared region with quantum yields of around 2 % and microsecond emission lifetimes.

cis-Dioxorhenium(V/VI) Complexes Supported by Neutral Tetradentate N4 Ligands. Synthesis, Characterization, and Spectroscopy.

A series of cis-dioxorhenium(V) complexes containing chiral tetradentate N4 ligands, including cis-[ReV(O)2(pyxn)]+ (1; pyxn = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine), cis-[ReV(O)2(6-Me2pyxn)]+ (cis-2), cis-[ReV(O)2(R,R-pdp)]+ (3; R,R-pdp = 1,1'-bis((R,R)-2-pyridinylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyrrolidine), cis-[ReV(O)2(R,R-6-Me2pdp)]+ (4), and cis-[ReV(O)2(bqcn)]+ (5; bqcn = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-di(quinolin-8-yl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine), were synthesized. Their structures were established by X-ray crystallography, showing Re-O distances in the range of 1.740(3)-1.769(8) Å and O-Re-O angles of 121.4(2)-124.8(4)°. Their cyclic voltammograms in MeCN (0.1 M [NBu4]PF6) display a reversible ReVI/V couple at E1/2 = 0.39-0.49 V vs SCE. In aqueous media, three proton-coupled electron transfer reactions corresponding to ReVI/V, ReV/III, and ReIII/II couples were observed at pH 1. The Pourbaix diagrams of 1·OTf, 3·OTf, and 5·OTf have been examined. The electronic absorption spectra of the cis-dioxorhenium(V) complexes show three absorption bands at around 800 nm (600-1730 dm3 mol-1 cm-1), 580 nm (1700-5580 dm3 mol-1 cm-1), and 462-523 nm (3170-6000 dm3 mol-1 cm-1). Reaction of 1 with Lewis acids (or protic acids) gave cis-[ReV(O)(OH)(pyxn)]2+ (1·H+), in which the Re-O distances are lengthened to 1.788(5) Å. Complex cis-2 resulted from isomerization of trans-2 at elevated temperature. cis-[ReVI(O)2(pyxn)](PF6)2 (1'·(PF6)2) was obtained by constant-potential electrolysis of 1·PF6 in MeCN (0.1 M [NBu4]PF6) at 0.56 V vs SCE; it displays shorter Re-O distances (1.722(4), 1.726(4) Å) and a smaller O-Re-O angle (114.88(18)°) relative to 1 and shows a d-d transition absorption band at 591 nm (ε = 77 dm3 mol-1 cm-1). With a driving force of ca. 75 kcal mol-1, 1' oxidizes hydrocarbons with weak C-H bonds (75.5-76.3 kcal mol-1) via hydrogen atom abstraction. DFT and TDDFT calculations on the electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of the cis-dioxorhenium(V/VI) complexes were performed.

Ketyl Radical Formation via Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in an Aqueous Solution versus Hydrogen Atom Transfer in Isopropanol after Photoexcitation of Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds.

The excited nπ* and ππ* triplets of two benzophenone (BP) and two anthraquinone (AQ) derivatives have been observed in acetonitrile, isopropanol, and mixed aqueous solutions using time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopic and nanosecond transient absorption experiments. These experimental results, combined with results from density functional theory calculations, reveal the effects of solvent and substituents on the properties, relative energies, and chemical reactivities of the nπ* and ππ* triplets. The triplet nπ* configuration was found to act as the reactive species for a subsequent hydrogen atom transfer reaction to produce a ketyl radical intermediate in the isopropanol solvent, while the triplet ππ* undergoes a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) in aqueous solutions to produce a ketyl radical intermediate. This PCET reaction, which occurs via a concerted proton transfer (to the excited carbonyl group) and electron transfer (to the excited phenyl ring), can account for the experimental observation by several different research groups over the past 40 years of the formation of ketyl radicals after photolysis of a number of BP and AQ derivatives in aqueous solutions, although water is considered to be a relatively "inert" hydrogen-donor solvent.

Highly Enantioselective Iron-Catalyzed cis-Dihydroxylation of Alkenes with Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidant via an Fe(III) -OOH Reactive Intermediate.

The development of environmentally benign catalysts for highly enantioselective asymmetric cis-dihydroxylation (AD) of alkenes with broad substrate scope remains a challenge. By employing [Fe(II) (L)(OTf)2 ] (L=N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-methyl-8-quinolyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine) as a catalyst, cis-diols in up to 99.8 % ee with 85 % isolated yield have been achieved in AD of alkenes with H2 O2 as an oxidant and alkenes in a limiting amount. This "[Fe(II) (L)(OTf)2 ]+H2 O2 " method is applicable to both (E)-alkenes and terminal alkenes (24 examples >80 % ee, up to 1 g scale). Mechanistic studies, including (18) O-labeling, UV/Vis, EPR, ESI-MS analyses, and DFT calculations lend evidence for the involvement of chiral Fe(III) -OOH active species in enantioselective formation of the two C-O bonds.

Pincer-Type Platinum(II) Complexes Containing N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligand: Structures, Photophysical and Anion-Binding Properties, and Anticancer Activities.

Two classes of pincer-type Pt(II) complexes containing tridentate N-donor ligands (1-8) or C-deprotonated N^C^N ligands derived from 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene (10-13) and auxiliary N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand were synthesized. [Pt(trpy)(NHC)](2+) complexes 1-5 display green phosphorescence in CH2 Cl2 (Φ: 1.1-5.3 %; τ: 0.3-1.0 µs) at room temperature. Moderate-to-intense emissions are observed for 1-7 in glassy solutions at 77 K and for 1-6 in the solid state. The [Pt(N^C^N)(NHC)](+) complexes 10-13 display strong green phosphorescence with quantum yields up to 65 % in CHCl3 . The reactions of 1 with a wide variety of anions were examined in various solvents. The tridentate N-donor ligand of 1 undergoes displacement reaction with CN(-) in protic solvents. Similar displacement of the N^C^N ligand by CN(-) has been observed for 10, leading to a luminescence "switch-off" response. The water-soluble 7 containing anthracenyl-functionalized NHC ligand acts as a light "switch-on" sensor for the detection of CN(-) ion with high selectivity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the Pt(II) complexes towards HeLa cells has been evaluated. Complex 12 showed high cytotoxicity with IC50 value of 0.46 µM, whereas 1-4 and 6-8 are less cytotoxic. The cellular localization of the strongly luminescent complex 12 traced by using emission microscopy revealed that it mainly localizes in the cytoplasmic structures rather than in the nucleus. This complex can induce mitochondria dysfunction and subsequent cell death.

Long-lived excited states of zwitterionic copper(I) complexes for photoinduced cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions.

Four heteroleptic copper(I) complexes containing phenanthroline and monoanionic nido-carborane-diphosphine ligands have been prepared and structurally characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction. These complexes exhibit intense absorptions in the visible range and excited-state lifetimes on the microsecond scale. Their application in visible-light-induced cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions was investigated. Preliminary studies showed that one of the four copper(I) complexes is an efficient catalyst for photoinduced oxidative C-H functionalization using oxygen as oxidant. Furthermore, α-functionalized tertiary amines were obtained in good-to-excellent yields by light irradiation (λ>420 nm) of a mixture of our Cu(I) complex, tertiary amines, and a variety of nucleophiles (nitroalkane, acetone, or indoles) under aerobic conditions. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements provided evidence for the formation of superoxide radical anions (O2(-⋅)) rather than singlet oxygen ((1)O2) during these photocatalytic reactions.

Density functional theory calculations on oxidative C-C bond cleavage and N-O bond formation of [Ru(II)(bpy)2(diamine)](2+) via reactive ruthenium imide intermediates.

DFT calculations are performed on [Ru(II)(bpy)2(tmen)](2+) (M1, tmen = 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediamine) and [Ru(II)(bpy)2(heda)](2+) (M2, head = 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediamine), and on the oxidation reactions of M1 to give the C-C bond cleavage product [Ru(II)(bpy)2(NH=CMe2)2](2+) (M3) and the N-O bond formation product [Ru(II)(bpy)2(ONCMe2CMe2NO)](2+) (M4). The calculated geometrical parameters and oxidation potentials are in good agreement with the experimental data. As revealed by the DFT calculations, [Ru(II)(bpy)2(tmen)](2+) (M1) can undergo oxidative deprotonation to generate Ru-bis(imide) [Ru(bpy)2(tmen-4 H)](+) (A) or Ru-imide/amide [Ru(bpy)2(tmen-3 H)](2+) (A') intermediates. Both A and A' are prone to C-C bond cleavage, with low reaction barriers (ΔG(≠)) of 6.8 and 2.9 kcal mol(-1) for their doublet spin states (2)A and (2)A', respectively. The calculated reaction barrier for the nucleophilic attack of water molecules on (2)A' is relatively high (14.2 kcal mol(-1)). These calculation results are in agreement with the formation of the Ru(II)-bis(imine) complex M3 from the electrochemical oxidation of M1 in aqueous solution. The oxidation of M1 with Ce(IV) in aqueous solution to afford the Ru(II)-dinitrosoalkane complex M4 is proposed to proceed by attack of the cerium oxidant on the ruthenium imide intermediate. The findings of ESI-MS experiments are consistent with the generation of a ruthenium imide intermediate in the course of the oxidation.

Ruthenium porphyrins with axial π-conjugated arylamide and arylimide ligands.

A series of ruthenium porphyrins [Ru(IV)(por)(NHY)2] and [Ru(VI)(por)(NY)2] bearing axially coordinated π-conjugated arylamide and arylimide ligands, respectively, have been synthesized. The crystal structures of [Ru(IV)(tmp)(NHY)2] (tmp = 5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrinato(2-)) with Y = 4'-methoxy-biphenyl-4-yl (Ar-Ar-p-OMe), 4'-chloro-biphenyl-4-yl (Ar-Ar-p-Cl), and 9,9-dibutyl-fluoren-2-yl (Ar^Ar) show axial Ru-N(arylamide) distances of 1.978(4), 1.971(6), and 1.985(13) Å, respectively. [Ru(IV)(tmp)(NH{Ar^Ar})2] is an example of metalloporphyrins that bind an arylamide ligand featuring a co-planar biphenyl unit. The [Ru(IV)(por)(NHY)2] complexes show a quasi-reversible reduction couple or irreversible reduction wave attributed to Ru(IV)→Ru(III) with Epc from -1.06 to -1.40 V versus Cp2Fe(+/0) and an irreversible oxidation wave with Epa from -0.04 to 0.19 V versus Cp2Fe(+/0). Reaction of the [Ru(IV)(por)(NHY)2] with bromine afforded [Ru(IV)(por)(NHY)Br]. PhI(OAc)2 oxidation of the [Ru(IV)(por)(NHY)2] gave [Ru(VI)(por)(NY)2]; the latter can be prepared from reaction of [Ru(II)(por)(CO)] with aryl azides N3Y. The crystal structure of [Ru(VI)(tmp)(N{Ar-Ar-p-OMe})2] features Ru-N(arylimide) distances of 1.824(5) and 1.829(5) Å. Alkene aziridination and C-H amination catalyzed by "[Ru(II)(tmp)(CO)]+π-conjugated aryl azides", or mediated by [Ru(VI)(por)(NY)2] with Y = biphenyl-4-yl (Ar-Ar) and Ar-Ar-p-Cl, gave aziridines and amines in moderate yields. The electronic structure of [Ru(VI)(por)(NY)2] was examined by DFT calculations.

Elevated catalytic activity of ruthenium(II)-porphyrin-catalyzed carbene/nitrene transfer and insertion reactions with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.

Bis(NHC)ruthenium(II)-porphyrin complexes were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Owing to the strong donor strength of axial NHC ligands in stabilizing the trans M=CRR'/M=NR moiety, these complexes showed unprecedently high catalytic activity towards alkene cyclopropanation, carbene C-H, N-H, S-H, and O-H insertion, alkene aziridination, and nitrene C-H insertion with turnover frequencies up to 1950 min(-1). The use of chiral [Ru(D4-Por)(BIMe)2] (1 g) as a catalyst led to highly enantioselective carbene/nitrene transfer and insertion reactions with up to 98% ee. Carbene modification of the N terminus of peptides at 37 °C was possible. DFT calculations revealed that the trans axial NHC ligand facilitates the decomposition of diazo compounds by stabilizing the metal-carbene reaction intermediate.

Nonheme iron-mediated amination of C(sp3)-H bonds. Quinquepyridine-supported iron-imide/nitrene intermediates by experimental studies and DFT calculations.

The 7-coordinate complex [Fe(qpy)(MeCN)2](ClO4)2 (1, qpy = 2,2':6',2″:6″,2''':6''',2''''-quinquepyridine) is a highly active nonheme iron catalyst for intra- and intermolecular amination of C(sp(3))-H bonds. This complex effectively catalyzes the amination of limiting amounts of not only benzylic and allylic C(sp(3))-H bonds of hydrocarbons but also the C(sp(3))-H bonds of cyclic alkanes and cycloalkane/linear alkane moieties in sulfamate esters, such as those derived from menthane and steroids cholane and androstane, using PhI═NR or "PhI(OAc)2 + H2NR" [R = Ts (p-toluenesulfonyl), Ns (p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)] as nitrogen source, with the amination products isolated in up to 93% yield. Iron imide/nitrene intermediates [Fe(qpy)(NR)(X)](n+) (CX, X = NR, solvent, or anion) are proposed in these amination reactions on the basis of experimental studies including ESI-MS analysis, crossover experiments, Hammett plots, and correlation with C-H bond dissociation energies and with support by DFT calculations. Species consistent with the formulations of [Fe(qpy)(NTs)2](2+) (CNTs) and [Fe(qpy)(NTs)](2+) (C) were detected by high-resolution ESI-MS analysis of the reaction mixture of 1 with PhI═NTs (4 equiv). DFT calculations revealed that the reaction barriers for H-atom abstraction of cyclohexane by the ground state of 7-coordinate CNTs and ground state of C are 15.3 and 14.2 kcal/mol, respectively, in line with the observed high activity of 1 in catalyzing the C-H amination of alkanes under mild conditions.

Bis(sulfonylimide)ruthenium(VI) porphyrins: X-ray crystal structure and mechanism of C-H bond amination by density functional theory calculations.

The X-ray crystal structure of [Ru(VI) (NMs)2 (tmp)] (Ms=SO2 - p-MeOC6 H4 ; tmp=5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrinato(2-)), a metal sulfonylimide complex that can undergo alkene aziridination and C-H bond amination reactions, shows a Ru=N distance of 1.79(3) Šand Ru-N-S angle of 162.5(3)°. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the electronic structures of [Ru(VI) (NMs)2 (tmp)] and model complex [Ru(VI) (NMs)2 (por(0) )] (por(0) =unsubstituted porphyrinato(2-)) using the M06L functional gave results in agreement with experimental observations. For the amination of ethylbenzene by the singlet ground state of [Ru(VI) (NMs)2 (por(0))], DFT calculations using the M06L functional revealed an effectively concerted pathway involving rate-limiting hydrogen atom abstraction without a distinct radical rebound step. The substituent effect on the amination reactivity of ethylbenzene by [Ru(VI) (NX)2 (por(0) )] (X=SO2 -p-YC6 H4 with Y=MeO, Me, H, Cl, NO2 ) was examined. Electron-withdrawing Y groups lower the energy of the LUMOs of [Ru(VI) (NX)2 (por(0))], thus facilitating their interaction with the low-lying HOMO of the ethylbenzene C-H bond and hence increasing the reactivity of [Ru(VI) (NX)2 (por(0) )]. DFT calculations on the amination/aziridination reactions of [Ru(VI) (NSO2 C6 H5 )2 (por(0) )] with pent-4-enal, an aldehyde substrate bearing acyl, homoallylic, and allylic C-H bonds and a C=C bond, revealed a lower reaction barrier for the amination of the acyl C-H bond than for both the amination of the other C-H bonds and aziridination of the C=C bond in this substrate.

How and when does an unusual and efficient photoredox reaction of 2-(1-hydroxyethyl) 9,10-anthraquinone occur? A combined time-resolved spectroscopic and DFT study.

The photophysics and photochemical reactions of 2-(1-hydroxyethyl) 9,10-anthroquinone (2-HEAQ) were studied using femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA), nanosecond transient absorption (ns-TA), and nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (ns-TR(3)) spectroscopy techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In acetonitrile, 2-HEAQ underwent efficient intersystem crossing to the triplet excited state ((2-HEAQ)(3)). A typical photoreduction reaction for aromatic ketones took place via production of a ketyl radical intermediate for 2-HEAQ in isopropanol. In water-containing solutions with pH values between 2 and 10, an unusual photoredox reaction reported by Wan and co-workers was detected and characterized. Observation of the protonated species in neutral and acidic aqueous solutions by fs-TA spectra indicated the carbonyl oxygen of (2-HEAQ)(3) was protonated initially and acted as a precursor of the photoredox reaction. The preference of the photoredox reaction to occur under moderate acidic conditions compared to neutral condition observed using ns-TR(3) spectroscopy was consistent with results from DFT calculations, which suggested protonation of the carbonyl group was the rate-determining step. Under stronger acidic conditions (pH 0), although the protonated (2-HEAQ)(3) was formed, the predominant reaction was the photohydration reaction instead of the photoredox reaction. In stronger basic solutions (pH 12), (2-HEAQ)(3) decayed with no obvious photochemical reactions detected by time-resolved spectroscopic experiments. Reaction mechanisms and key reactive intermediates for the unusual photoredox reaction were elucidated from time-resolved spectroscopy and DFT results. A brief discussion is given of when photoredox reactions may likely take place in the photochemistry of aromatic carbonyl-containing compounds and possible implications for using BP and AQ scaffolds for phototrigger compounds.

Unraveling the mechanism of the photodeprotection reaction of 8-bromo- and 8-chloro-7-hydroxyquinoline caged acetates.

Photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) when conjugated to biological effectors forming "caged compounds" are a powerful means to regulate the action of physiologically active messengers in vivo through 1-photon excitation (1PE) and 2-photon excitation (2PE). Understanding the photodeprotection mechanism is important for their physiological use. We compared the quantum efficiencies and product outcomes in different solvent and pH conditions for the photolysis reactions of (8-chloro-7-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl)methyl acetate (CHQ-OAc) and (8-bromo-7-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl)methyl acetate (BHQ-OAc), representatives of the quinoline class of phototriggers for biological use, and conducted nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopic studies using transient emission (ns-EM), transient absorption (ns-TA), transient resonance Raman (ns-TR(2)), and time-resolved resonance Raman (ns-TR(3)) spectroscopies. The results indicate differences in the photochemical mechanisms and product outcomes, and reveal that the triplet excited state is most likely on the pathway to the product and that dehalogenation competes with release of acetate from BHQ-OAc, but not CHQ-OAc. A high fluorescence quantum yield and a more efficient excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) in CHQ-OAc compared to BHQ-OAc explain the lower quantum efficiency of CHQ-OAc relative to BHQ-OAc.

Water- and acid-mediated excited-state intramolecular proton transfer and decarboxylation reactions of ketoprofen in water-rich and acidic aqueous solutions.

We present an investigation of the decarboxylation reaction of ketoprofen (KP) induced by triplet excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in water-rich and acidic solutions. Nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy results show that the decarboxylation reaction is facile in aqueous solutions with high water ratios (water/acetonitrile ≥50%) or acidic solutions with moderate and strong acid concentration. These experimental results are consistent with results from density functional theory calculations in which 1) the activation energy barriers for the triplet-state intramolecular proton transfer and associated decarboxylation process become lower when more water molecules (from one up to four molecules) are involved in the reaction system and 2) perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid can shuttle a proton from the carboxyl to carbonyl group through an initial intramolecular proton transfer of the triplet excited state, which facilitates the cleavage of the C-C bond, thus leading to the decarboxylation reaction of triplet state KP. During the decarboxylation process, the water molecules and acid molecules may act as bridges to mediate intramolecular proton transfer for the triplet state KP when KP is irradiated by ultraviolet light in water-rich or acidic aqueous solutions and subsequently it generates a triplet-protonated carbanion biradical species. The faster generation of triplet-protonated carbanion biradical in acidic solutions than in water-rich solutions with a high water ratio is also supported by the lower activation energy barrier calculated for the acid-mediated reactions versus those of water-molecule-assisted reactions.

Unravelling the reaction mechanism for the fast photocyclisation of 2-benzoylpyridine in aqueous solvent by time-resolved spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.

A combined femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) and nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (ns-TR(3)) spectroscopic investigation of the photoreaction of 2-benzoylpyridine (2-BPy) in acetonitrile and neutral, basic and acidic aqueous solvents is reported. fs-TA results showed that the npi* triplet 2-BPy is the precursor of the photocyclisation reaction in neutral and basic aqueous solvents. The cis triplet biradical and the cis singlet zwitterionic species produced during the photocyclisation reaction were initially characterised by ns-TR(3) spectroscopy. In addition, a new species was uniquely observed in basic aqueous solvent after the decay of the cis singlet zwitterionic species and this new species was tentatively assigned to the photocyclised radical anion. The ground-state conformation of 2-BPy in acidic aqueous solvent is the pyridine nitrogen-protonated 2-BPy cation (2-BPy-NH(+)) rather than the neutral form of 2-BPy. After laser photolysis, the singlet excited state (S(1)) of 2-BPy-NH(+) is generated and evolves through excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) and efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) processes to the triplet exited state (T(1)) of the carbonyl oxygen-protonated 2-BPy cation (2-BPy-OH(+)) and then photocyclises with the lone pair of the nitrogen atom in the heterocyclic ring. Cyclisation reactions take place both in neutral/basic and acidic aqueous solvents, but the photocyclisation mechanisms in these different aqueous solvents are very different. This is likely due to the different conformation of the precursor and the influence of hydrogen-bonding of the solvent on the reactions.

A time-resolved spectroscopic study of the bichromophoric phototrigger 3',5'-dimethoxybenzoin diethyl phosphate: interaction between the two chromophores determines the reaction pathway.

3',5'-Dimethoxybenzoin (DMB) is a bichromophoric system that has widespread application as a highly efficient photoremovable protecting group (PRPG) for the release of diverse functional groups. The photodeprotection of DMB phototriggers is remarkably clean, and is accompanied by the formation of a biologically benign cyclization product, 3',5'-dimethoxybenzofuran (DMBF). The underlying mechanism of the DMB deprotection and cyclization has, however, until now remained unclear. Femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) spectroscopy and nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (ns-TR(3)) spectroscopy were employed to detect the transient species directly, and examine the dynamic transformations involved in the primary photoreactions for DMB diethyl phosphate (DMBDP) in acetonitrile (CH(3)CN). To assess the electronic character and the role played by the individual sub-chromophore, that is, the benzoyl, and the di-meta-methoxybenzylic moieties, for the DMBDP deprotection, comparative fs-TA measurements were also carried out for the reference compounds diethyl phosphate acetophenone (DPAP), and 3',5'-dimethoxybenzylic diethyl phosphate (DMBnDP) in the same solvent. Comparison of the fs-TA spectra reveals that the photoexcited DMBDP exhibits distinctly different spectral character and dynamic evolution from those of the reference compounds. This fact, combined with the related steady-state spectral and density functional theoretical results, strongly suggests the presence in DMBDP of a significant interaction between the two sub-chromophores, and that this interaction plays a governing role in determining the nature of the photoexcitation and the reaction channel of the subsequent photophysical and photochemical transformations. The ns-TR(3) results and their correlation with the fs-TA spectra and dynamics provide evidence for a novel concerted deprotection-cyclization mechanism for DMBDP in CH(3)CN. By monitoring the direct generation of the transient DMBF product, the cyclization time constant was determined unequivocally to be approximately 1 ns. This indicates that there is little relevance for the long-lived intermediates (>10 ns) in giving the DMBF product, and excludes the stepwise mechanism proposed in the literature as the major pathway for the DMB cyclization reaction. This work provides important new insights into the origin of the 3',5'-dimethoxy substitution effect for the DMB photodeprotection. It also helps to clarify the many different views presented in previous mechanistic studies of the DMB PRPGs. In addition to this, our fs-TA results on the reference compound DMBnDP in CH(3)CN provide the first direct observation (to the best of our knowledge) showing the predominance of a prompt (approximately 2 ps) heterolytic bond cleavage after photoexcitation of meta-methoxybenzylic compounds. This provides insight into the long-term controversies about the photoinitiated dissociation mode of related substituted benzylic compounds.

Photophysics and photodeprotection reactions of p-methoxyphenacyl phototriggers: an ultrafast and nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopic and density functional theory study.

Time-resolved spectroscopic experiments were performed to investigate the kinetics and mechanisms of the photodeprotection reactions for p-methoxyphenacyl (pMP) compounds, p-methoxyphenacyl diethyl phosphate (MPEP) and diphenyl phosphate (MPPP). The experimental results reveal that compared to the previous reports for the counterpart p-hydroxyphenacyl (pHP) phosphates, the (3)npi*/pipi* mixed character triplet of pMP acts as a reactive precursor that leads to the subsequent solvent and leaving group dependent chemical reactions and further affects the formation of photoproducts. The MPPP triplet in H(2)O/CH(3)CN and in fluorinated alcohols shows a rapid heterolytic cleavage (tau approximately 5.4 ns) that results in deprotection and formation of a solvolytic rearrangement product, whereas the MPPP triplet in CH(3)CN and the MPEP triplet in CH(3)CN and H(2)O/CH(3)CN and fluorinated alcohols decay on a much longer time scale (tau approximately 100 ns) with little observation of the rearrangement product. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a substantial solvation effect that is connected with the methoxy versus hydroxyl substitution in accounting for the different deprotection reactivity of pMP and pHP compounds. The results reported here provide new insight in elucidating the solvent and leaving group dependent dual reactivity of pMP compounds on the formation of the rearrangement versus reductive photoproduct.

Water-assisted dehalogenation of thionyl chloride in the presence of water molecules.

A second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) investigation of the dehalogenation reactions of thionyl chloride is reported, in which water molecules (up to seven) were explicitly involved in the reaction complex. The dehalogenation processes of thionyl chloride were found to be dramatically catalyzed by water molecules. The reaction rate became significantly faster as more water molecules became involved in the reaction complex. The dehalogenation processes can be reasonably simulated by the gas-phase water cluster models, which reveals that water molecules can help to solvate the thionyl chloride molecules and activate the release of the Cl(-) leaving group. The computed activation energies were used to compare the calculations to available experimental data.

A resonance Raman spectroscopic and CASSCF investigation of the Franck-Condon region structural dynamics and conical intersections of thiophene.

Resonance Raman spectra were acquired for thiophene in cyclohexane solution with 239.5 and 266 nm excitation wavelengths that were in resonance with ∼240 nm first intense absorption band. The spectra indicate that the Franck-Condon region photodissociation dynamics have multidimensional character with motion mostly along the reaction coordinates of six totally symmetry modes and three nontotally symmetry modes. The appearance of the nontotally symmetry modes, the C-S antisymmetry stretch +C-C=C bend mode ν(21)(B(2)) at 754 cm(-1) and the H(7)C(3)-C(4)H(8) twist ν(9)(A(2)) at 906 cm(-1), suggests the existence of two different types of vibronic-couplings or curve-crossings among the excited states in the Franck-Condon region. The electronic transition energies, the excited state structures, and the conical intersection points (1)B(1)/(1)A(1) and (1)B(2)/(1)A(1) between 2 (1)A(1) and 1 (1)B(2) or 1 (1)B(1) potential energy surfaces of thiophene were determined by using complete active space self-consistent field theory computations. These computational results were correlated with the Franck-Condon region structural dynamics of thiophene. The ring opening photodissociation reaction pathway through cleavage of one of the C-S bonds and via the conical intersection point (1)B(1)/(1)A(1) was revealed to be the predominant ultrafast reaction channel for thiophene in the lowest singlet excited state potential energy hypersurface, while the internal conversion pathway via the conical intersection point (1)B(2)/(1)A(1) was found to be the minor decay channel in the lowest singlet excited state potential energy hypersurface.