Vibrational spectroscopy of reactive molecules and their high-temperature reaction products

Schwingungsspektroskopie ist eine vielseitige spektroskopische Methode, mit der Molekülstrukturen und inter-/intramolekulare Wechselwirkungen untersucht werden können. Sie ist deshalb ein hervorragendes Mittel für die Identifikation von Molekülen. Die vorliegende Arbeit umfasst drei Projekte, in denen Schwingungsspektroskopie angewandt wurde, um reaktive Moleküle und ihre Hochtemperatur-Reaktionsprodukte zu untersuchen: 1. Die Aufklärung der Entstehungsmechanismen von polycyclischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen (PAKs) in Verbrennungsprozessen ist eines der Hauptanliegen der Verbrennungschemie. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde IR/UV-Ion-Dip-Spektroskopie in Verbindung mit DFT-Frequenzrechnungen und FTIR-Messungen angewandt, um Produkte von Radikal-Radikal-Reaktionen in einem Mikroreaktor bei hohen Temperaturen zu identifizieren. Als IR-Laserquelle für die IR/UV-Ion-Dip-Experimente diente der Freie-Elektronen-Laser FELIX (Free-Electron Laser for Infrared eXperiments) in Nijmegen (Niederlande). In einem Teilprojekt wurde der A 1A´ (S1) <- X 1A´ (S0) Übergang in 1-(Phenylethinyl)naphthalin (1-PEN), einem mutmaßlich verbrennungsrelevanten Molekül, mit [1+1]-REMPI-Spektroskopie untersucht. 2. Die Identifikation von gasförmigen Reaktionsprodukten bei der thermischen Analyse (EGA: Emissionsgasanalyse) kann als komplementäre Methode zur DTA/TG zusätzliche Informationen für die Aufklärung von Reaktionsmechanismen liefern. Der Aufbau eines elementaren EGA/FTIR-Experiments, basierend auf einer heizbaren IR-Gaszelle, ermöglichte in der vorliegenden Arbeit die Durchführung dynamischer IR-Messungen, mit denen thermische Umsetzungen von Übergangsmetall-Precursorkomplexen zu Koordinationspolymeren untersucht wurden. 3. Die Synthese des ersten bei Raumtemperatur stabilen Diborins, einer Verbindung mit einer Bor-Bor-Dreifachbindung, stellte einen Meilenstein in der elementorganischen Chemie dar. Dies implizierte eine umfassende Untersuchung der Eigenschaften der BB-Bindung und hatte die Synthese einer Reihe ähnlicher Bor-Bor-Mehrfachbindungssysteme mit variierenden Bindungseigenschaften zur Folge. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde Raman-Spektroskopie in Verbindung mit DFT-Frequenzrechnungen angewandt, um für diese Bor-Bor-Systeme die strukturellen/elektronischen Eigenschaften der zentralen CBBC-Einheit zu untersuchen.Vibrational spectroscopy is a versatile spectroscopic technique for the investigation of the molecular structure and inter-/intramolecular interactions. Therefore it is an excellent means for their identification. The present work comprises three projects, in which vibrational spectroscopy was applied to study reactive molecules and their high-temperature reaction products: 1. The elucidation of the mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) formation in combustion processes is one of the main topics of combustion chemistry. In the present work IR/UV ion dip spectroscopy in combination with DFT frequency computations and FTIR measurements was applied to identify the products of radical-radical reactions in a heated micro-reactor. The free-electron laser FELIX (Free-Electron Laser for Infrared eXperiments) in Nijmegen (the Netherlands) served as the IR laser source for the IR/UV ion dip experiments. As part of the project the A 1A´ (S1) <- X 1A´ (S0) transition in 1-(phenylethynyl)naphthalene (1-PEN), a presumably combustion relevant molecule, was investigated by [1+1]-REMPI spectroscopy. 2. As complementary method to DTA/TG the identification of gaseous reaction products in thermal analysis (EGA: evolved gas analysis) can provide auxiliary information for the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. The setup of a plain EGA/FTIR experiment based on a heatable IR gas cell in the present work allowed for the conduction of dynamic IR measurements. By this means thermal conversions of transition metal precursor complexes to coordination polymers were investigated. 3. The synthesis of the first ambient-temperature stable diboryne, a compound with a boron-boron triple bond, constituted a milestone in element organic chemistry. This implied a comprehensive investigation on the properties of the BB bond and was followed by the synthesis of a series of similar boron boron multiple bond systems with varying bond properties. In the present work Raman spectroscopy in combination with DFT frequency computations was conducted on these boron boron systems to investigate the structural/electronic properties of their central CBBC unit

Electronic Spectroscopy of 1‑(Phenylethynyl)naphthalene

Recently 1-(phenylethynyl)­naphthalene (1-PEN) was suggested to be the primary dimerization product of phenylpropargyl radicals and therefore an important polycyclic hydrocarbon in combustion processes. Here we describe a spectroscopic investigation of a genuine 1-PEN sample by several complementary techniques, infrared spectroscopy, multiphoton ionization (MPI), and threshold photoelectron spectroscopy. The infrared spectrum recorded in a gas cell confirms that 1-PEN is indeed the previously observed dimerization product of phenylpropargyl. The origin of the transition into the electronically excited S₁ state lies at 30823 cm^–1, as found by MPI. Considerable vibrational activity is observed, and a number of low-wavenumber bands are assigned to a progression in the torsional motion. Values of 6 cm^–1 (S₀) and 17 cm^–1 (S₁) were derived for the fundamental of the torsion. In the investigated energy range the excited state lifetimes are in the nanosecond range. Spectra of the 1-PEN/Ar cluster exhibit a red shift of the electronic origin of 22 cm^–1, in good agreement with other aromatic molecules. A threshold photoelectron spectrum recorded using synchrotron radiation yields an ionization energy of 7.58 eV for 1-PEN. An excited electronic state of the cation is found at 7.76 eV, and dissociative photoionization does not set in below 15 eV

Experimental assessment of the strengths of boron-boron triple bonds

Diborynes, molecules containing homoatomic boron-boron triple bonds, have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy in order to determine the stretching frequencies of their central B≡B unit as an experimental measure of homoatomic bond strength. The observed frequencies between 1600 cm-1 and 1750 cm-1 were assigned on the basis of DFT modelling and the characteristic pattern produced by the isotopic distribution of boron. This frequency completes the series of known stretches of homoatomic triple bonds, fitting into the trend established by the long-known stretching frequencies of C≡C and N≡N triple bonds in alkynes and dinitrogen, respectively. A quantitative analysis was carried out using the concept of relaxed force constants. The results support the classification of the diboryne as a true triple bond, and speak to the similarities of molecules constructed of the first-row elements of the p-block. The relaxed force constants of a recently reported diborabutatriene are also reported, which again fit into the trend established by the vibrational spectroscopy of organic cumulenes. As part of these studies, a new diboryne with decreased steric bulk was synthesized, and a computational study of the rotation of the stabilizing ligands indicated alkyne-like electronic isolation of the central B2-unit

Highly strained heterocycles constructed from boron-boron multiple bonds and heavy chalcogens

The reactions of a diborene with elemental selenium or tellurium are shown to afford a diboraselenirane or diboratellurirane, respectively. These reactions are reminiscent of the sequestration of sub-valent oxygen and nitrogen in the formation of oxiranes and aziridines; however, such reactivity is not known between alkenes and the heavy chalcogens. While carbon is too electronegative to affect the reduction of elements of lower relative electronegativity, the highly reducing nature of the B=B double bond enables reactions with Se0 and Te0. The capacity of multiple bonds between boron to donate electron density is highlighted in reactions where diborynes behave as nucleophiles, attacking one of the two Te atoms of diaryltellurides, forming salts consisting of diboratellurenium cations and aryltelluride anions

Exclusive p encapsulation of light alkali metal cations by a neutral molecule

Cation-p interactions are one of the most important classes of non-covalent bonding, and are seen throughout biology, chemistry and materials science. However, in almost every documented case, these interactions play only a supporting role to much stronger covalent or dative bonds, making examples of exclusive cation-p bonding exceedingly rare. In this work, a neutral diboryne molecule is found to encapsulate the light alkali metal cations Li+ and Na+ in the absence of a net charge, covalent bonds, or lone-pair donor groups. The resulting encapsulation complexes are to our knowledge the first structurally authenticated species in which a neutral molecule binds the light alkali metals exclusively through cation-p interactions

Experimental Assessment of the Strengths of B–B Triple Bonds

Diborynes, molecules containing homo­atomic boron–boron triple bonds, have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy in order to determine the stretching frequencies of their central BB units as an experimental measure of homoatomic bond strengths. The observed frequencies between 1600 and 1750 cm^–1 were assigned on the basis of DFT modeling and the characteristic pattern produced by the isotopic distribution of boron. This frequency completes the series of known stretches of homoatomic triple bonds, fitting into the trend established by the long-known stretching frequencies of CC and NN triple bonds in alkynes and dinitrogen, respectively. A quantitative analysis was carried out using the concept of relaxed force constants. The results support the classification of the diboryne as a true triple bond and speak to the similarities of molecules constructed from first-row elements of the p block. Also reported are the relaxed force constants of a recently reported diborabutatriene, which again fit into the trend established by the vibrational spectroscopy of organic cumulenes. As part of these studies, a new diboryne with decreased steric bulk was synthesized, and a computational study of the rotation of the stabilizing ligands indicated alkyne-like electronic isolation of the central B₂ unit

Highly strained heterocycles constructed from Boron-Boron multiple bonds and heavy chalcogens

The reactions of a diborene with elemental selenium or tellurium are shown to afford a diboraselenirane or diboratellurirane, respectively. These reactions are reminiscent of the sequestration of sub-valent oxygen and nitrogen in the formation of oxiranes and aziridines; however, such reactivity is not known between alkenes and the heavy chalcogens. While carbon is too electronegative to facilitate the reduction of elements of lower relative electronegativity, this is overcome by the highly reducing nature of the double bond in diborenes. The capacity of multiple bonds between boron to donate electron density is highlighted in a reaction where diboryne is shown to behave as nucleophile, attacking diarylditellurides in the formation of a diboratellurenium cations with aryltelluride anions