Reactions between aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocycles: covalent and proton-bound dimer cations of benzene/pyridine.

Despite the fact that benzene (Bz) and pyridine (Py) are probably the most common and extensively studied organic molecules, the observation of a covalent adduct in the ionized benzene/pyridine system has never been reported. This Article reports the first experimental and theoretical evidence of a covalent (Bz x Py)(*+) adduct that results from the reaction of Bz(*+) with pyridine or Py(*+) with benzene. These reactions are studied using mass-selected ion mobility, chemical reactivity, collisional dissociation, and ab initio calculations. The (Bz x Py)(*+) adduct does not exchange ligands with Bz to form Bz(2)(*+) or with Py to form (Py)(2)H(+) despite the strong bonds in these homodimers. The thermochemistry then suggests that the (Bz x Py)(*+) heterodimer is bonded covalently with a bonding energy of >33 kcal/mol. Correspondingly, ab initio calculations identify covalently bonded propeller-shaped isomers of (Bz x Py)(*+) with bonding energies of 31-38 kcal/mol, containing a C-N bond. The mobility of the (Bz x Py)(*+) adduct in helium is consistent with these covalent dimers. As to noncovalent adducts, the computations identify novel distonic hydrogen-bonded complexes (C(5)H(5)NH(+) x C(6)H(5)(*)) where the charge resides on one component (PyH(+)), while the radical site resides on the other component (C(6)H(5)(*)). Collisional dissociation suggests that the covalent and distonic dimers may interconvert at high energies. The most stable distonic (C(5)H(5)NH(+) x C(6)H(5)(*)) complex contains a hydrogen bond to the phenyl radical carbon site with a calculated dissociation energy of 16.6 kcal/mol. This bond is somewhat stronger than the NH(+) x pi hydrogen bonds of PyH(+) to the pi system of the phenyl radical and of the benzene molecule. For this NH(+) x pi bond in the PyH(+) x Bz dimer, the measured binding energy is 13.4 kcal/mol, and ab initio calculations identify two T-shaped isomers with the NH(+) pointing to the center of the benzene ring or to the negatively charged C atoms of the ring. In contrast, the more stable proton-bound PyH(+) x Py dimer contains a linear NH(+)...N hydrogen bond. The formation of the (benzene/pyridine)(*+) adduct may represent a general class of addition reactions that can form complex heterocyclic species in ionizing environments.

Studies on the mechanism of the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction: part 2. Further identification of intermediates using 2D EXSY 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Further consideration has been given to the reaction pathway of a model peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system. Again utilising doubly labelled oxalyl chloride and anhydrous hydrogen peroxide, 2D EXSY (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy experiments allowed for the characterisation of unknown products and key intermediate species on the dark side of the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction. Exchange spectroscopy afforded elucidation of a scheme comprised of two distinct mechanistic pathways, one of which contributes to chemiluminescence. (13)C NMR experiments carried out at varied reagent molar ratios demonstrated that excess amounts of hydrogen peroxide favoured formation of 1,2-dioxetanedione: the intermediate that, upon thermolysis, has been long thought to interact with a fluorophore to produce light.