Direct Detection of Products from the Pyrolysis of 2-Phenethyl Phenyl Ether

The pyrolysis of 2-phenethyl phenyl ether (PPE, C_6H_5C_2H_4OC_6H_5) in a hyperthermal nozzle (300-1350 °C) was studied to determine the importance of concerted and homolytic unimolecular decomposition pathways. Short residence times (<100 μs) and low concentrations in this reactor allowed the direct detection of the initial reaction products from thermolysis. Reactants, radicals, and most products were detected with photoionization (10.5 eV) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PIMS). Detection of phenoxy radical, cyclopentadienyl radical, benzyl radical, and benzene suggest the formation of product by the homolytic scission of the C_6H_5C_2H_4-OC_6H_5 and C_6H_5CH_2-CH_2OC_6H_5 bonds. The detection of phenol and styrene suggests decomposition by a concerted reaction mechanism. Phenyl ethyl ether (PEE, C_6H_5OC_2H_5) pyrolysis was also studied using PIMS and using cryogenic matrix-isolated infrared spectroscopy (matrix-IR). The results for PEE also indicate the presence of both homolytic bond breaking and concerted decomposition reactions. Quantum mechanical calculations using CBS-QB3 were conducted, and the results were used with transition state theory (TST) to estimate the rate constants for the different reaction pathways. The results are consistent with the experimental measurements and suggest that the concerted retro-ene and Maccoll reactions are dominant at low temperatures (below 1000 °C), whereas the contribution of the C_6H_5C_2H_4-OC_6H_5 homolytic bond scission reaction increases at higher temperatures (above 1000 °C)

Kinetics of the photolysis of benzenetricarbonylchromium(0) in chloroform

In contrast to the photolysis of Cr(CO)3(C6H6) in nonhalogenated solvents, in which the products are CrL(CO)2(C6H6) in the presence of a donor L, or Cr(CO)6 and C6H6 if no donor is present, the photo-reaction in chloroform yields CrCl3. No significant portion of the reaction occurs through absorption of 254nm light by CHCl3• The quantum yield is 1.4, consistent with a mechanism in which several radicals are formed upon chlorination of the chromium, which then cause further decomposition of the reactant. In 24% CCl4, the reaction still occurs primarily through the excited state metal complex, but there is a solvent-initiated contribution, which is more significant the lower the reactant concentration. The quantum yield for the solvent-initiated pathway is 0.3 in 24% CCL4

Photoinitiated oxidative addition of CF3I to gold(I) and facile aryl-CF3 reductive elimination.

Herein we report the mechanism of oxidative addition of CF3I to Au(I), and remarkably fast Caryl-CF3 bond reductive elimination from Au(III) cations. CF3I undergoes a fast, formal oxidative addition to R3PAuR (R = Cy, R = 3,5-F2-C6H4, 4-F-C6H4, C6H5, 4-Me-C6H4, 4-MeO-C6H4, Me; R = Ph, R = 4-F-C6H4, 4-Me-C6H4). When R = aryl, complexes of the type R3PAu(aryl)(CF3)I can be isolated and characterized. Mechanistic studies suggest that near-ultraviolet light (λmax = 313 nm) photoinitiates a radical chain reaction by exciting CF3I. Complexes supported by PPh3 undergo reversible phosphine dissociation at 110 °C to generate a three-coordinate intermediate that undergoes slow reductive elimination. These processes are quantitative and heavily favor Caryl-I reductive elimination over Caryl-CF3 reductive elimination. Silver-mediated halide abstraction from all complexes of the type R3PAu(aryl)(CF3)I results in quantitative formation of Ar-CF3 in less than 1 min at temperatures as low as -10 °C

Oxygen Activation by Mononuclear Mn, Co, and Ni Centers in Biology and Synthetic Complexes

The active sites of metalloenzymes that catalyze O2-dependent reactions generally contain iron or copper ions. However, several enzymes are capable of activating O2 at manganese or nickel centers instead, and a handful of dioxygenases exhibit activity when substituted with cobalt. This minireview summarizes the catalytic properties of oxygenases and oxidases with mononuclear Mn, Co, or Ni active sites, including oxalate-degrading oxidases, catechol dioxygenases, and quercetin dioxygenase. In addition, recent developments in the O2 reactivity of synthetic Mn, Co, or Ni complexes are described, with an emphasis on the nature of reactive intermediates featuring superoxo-, peroxo-, or oxo-ligands. Collectively, the biochemical and synthetic studies discussed herein reveal the possibilities and limitations of O2 activation at these three “overlooked” metals

Conserved Vibrational Coherence in the Ultrafast Rearrangement of 2-Nitrotoluene Radical Cation

2-Nitrotoluene (2-NT) is a good model for both photolabile protecting groups for organic synthesis and the military explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). In addition to the direct C−NO2 bond-cleavage reaction that initiates detonation in TNT, 2-NT undergoes an H atom attack reaction common to the photolabile 2-nitrobenzyl group, which forms the aci-nitro tautomer. In this work, femtosecond pump−probe measure- ments with mass spectrometric detection and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the initially prepared vibrational coherence in the 2-NT radical cation (2- NT+) is preserved following H atom attack. Strong-field adiabatic ionization is used to prepare 2-NT+, which can overcome a modest 0.76 eV energy barrier to H atom attack to form the aci-nitro tautomer as soon as ∼20−60 fs after ionization. Once formed, the aci-nitro tautomer spontaneously loses −OH to form C7H6NO+, which exhibits distinctly faster oscillations in its ion yield (290 fs period) as compared to the 2-NT+ ion (380 fs period). The fast oscillations are attributed to the coherent torsional motion of the aci-nitro tautomer, which has a significantly faster computed torsional frequency (86.9 cm−1) than the 2- NT+ ion (47.9 cm−1). Additional DFT calculations identify reaction pathways leading to the formation of the dissociation products C7H6NO+, C7H7+, and C6H6N+. Collectively, these results reveal a rich picture of coherently and incoherently driven dissociation pathways in 2-NT+

Cinètica de la reacció de descomposició tèrmica de l’ascaridol en dissolució

Existen diferencias entre los valores de algunas propiedades físicas de ascaridol natural aislado del vegetal denominado vulgarmente «Paico» (Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Chenopodiaceae) y la sustancia sintética obtenida mediante la reacción de fotooxigenación de α-terpineno. Es más, el uso de decocciones de dicha planta, utilizadas como medicina antihelmíntica en los humanos, ha despertado un debate científico debido a las propiedades tóxicas atribuídas a su principio activo (ascaridol), el cual sería responsable de la muy conocida acción beneficiosa. En este trabajo se ha realizado la preparación de esa sustancia por el método de Schenck, pero trabajando a 0 ºC con alcohol isopropílico como solvente y efectuando su separación y purificación a temperatura ambiente por cromatografía en columna preparativa, a fin de prevenir su degradación térmica. De esta manera se obtuvieron excelentes rendimientos de ascaridol (ca. 99% GC-FID), de un alto grado de pureza (> 98% GC; RP-HPLC; 1 H y 13C RMN). Además, se informan aquí los parámetros de activación de la reacción de descomposición térmica de ascaridol en solución de n-hexano, alcohol isopropílico y metanol, en el ámbito de temperaturas de 120ºC a 170ºC. Es evidente también un efecto de solvente en la homólisis unimolecular de esa sustancia.Discrepancies exist between the values of some physical properties of ascaridole isolated from the vegetal named «Paico» (Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Chenopodiaceae) and the synthetic substance obtained by the photoxygenation reaction of α-terpinene. Moreover, the use of decoctions of the above mentioned plant as anthelmintic medicine in humans arouse a scientific debate because of toxic properties attributed to its main active drug (ascaridole), which would be responsible of the well-known beneficial action. This lead to perform here the preparation of that substance by Schenck’s method, but working at 0 ºC with isopropyl alcohol as solvent and doing its separation and purification at room temperature by preparative column chromatography to prevent its thermal degradation. Thus, excellent yields of ascaridole were obtained (ca. 99 % GC-FID) of high degree of purity (> 98% GC; RP-HPLC; 1 H and 13C NMR). Furthermore, the kinetics of the thermal stability of ascaridole in solution is now advanced, reporting the activation parameters values for their decomposition reactions in n-hexane, isopropyl alcohol and methanol, in the 120º170 ºC temperature range. A solvent effect on the unimolecular homolysis of that substance is also evident.  Hi ha diferències entre els valors d’algunes propietats fisiques de l’ascaridol natural, aïllat del vegetal dit vulgarment «Paico» (Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Chenopodiaceae), i la substància sintètica obtinguda mitjançant la reacció de fotooxigenació d’α-terpinè. Encara més, l’ús de decoccions de l’esmentada planta, emprades com a medicina antihelmíntica en humans, ha despertat un debat científic, donades les propietats tòxiques atribuïdes al seu principi actiu (ascaridol), que seria el responsable de la molt coneguda acció beneficiosa. En aquest treball, s’ha realitzat la preparació d’aquesta substància pel mètode de Schenck, però treballant a 0 ºC amb alcohol isopropílic com a dissolvent i efectuant la seva separació i purificació a temperatura ambient mitjançant cromatografia de columna preparativa, per tal de prevenir la seva degradació tèrmica. D’aquesta manera, s’obtenen excel.lents rendiments d’ascaridol (ca. 99% GC-FID), d’un alt grau de puresa (> 98% GC; RP-HPLC; 1 H i 13C RMN). A més, es presenten els paràmetres d’activació de la reacció de descomposició tèrmica de l’ascaridol en dissolució de n-hexà, alcohol isopropílic i metanol, en el marge de temperatures de 120ºC a 170 ºC. Així mateix, és evident un efecte del dissolvent en l’homòlisi unimolecular d’aquesta substància.Fil: Cafferata, Lazaro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; ArgentinaFil: Jeandupeux, R.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; ArgentinaFil: Cañizo, Adriana Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; Argentin

Gas phase RDX decomposition pathways using coupled cluster theory

Electronic and free energy barriers for a series of gas-phase RDX decomposition mechanisms have been obtain using coupled cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples with complete basis set (CCSD(T)/CBS) electronic energies for MBPT(2)/cc-pVTZ structures. Importantly, we have located a well-defined transition state for NN homolysis, in the initial RDX decomposition step, thereby obtaining a true barrier for this reaction. These calculations support the view that HONO elimination is preferred at STP over other proposed mechanisms, including NN homolysis, “triple whammy” and NONO isomerization. Indeed, our calculated values of Arrhenius parameters are in agreement with experimental findings for gas phase RDX decomposition. We also investigate a number of new pathways leading to breakdown of the intermediate formed by the initial HONO elimination, and find that NN homolysis in this intermediate has an activation energy barrier comparable with that computed for HONO elimination