Anna Chrostowska

UV-Photoelectron Spectroscopy of 1,2- and 1,3-Azaborines: A Combined Experimental and Computational Electronic Structure Analysis

We present a comprehensive electronic structure analysis of structurally simple BN heterocycles using a combined UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UV-PES)/computational chemistry approach. Gas-phase He I photoelectron spectra of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine 1, N-Me-1,2-BN-toluene 2, and N-Me-1,3-BN-toluene 3 have been recorded, assessed by density functional theory calculations, and compared with their corresponding carbonaceous analogues benzene and toluene. The first ionization energies of these BN heterocycles are in the order N-Me-1,3-BN-toluene 3 (8.0 eV) < N-Me-1,2-BN-toluene 2 (8.45 eV) < 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine 1 (8.6 eV) < toluene (8.83 eV) < benzene (9.25 eV). The computationally determined molecular dipole moments are in the order 3 (4.577 D) > 2 (2.209 D) > 1 (2.154 D) > toluene (0.349 D) > benzene (0 D) and are consistent with experimental observations. The λ(max) in the UV-vis absorption spectra are in the order 3 (297 nm) > 2 (278 nm) > 1 (269 nm) > toluene (262 nm) > benzene (255 nm). We also establish that the measured anodic peak potentials and electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactivity of BN heterocycles 1-3 are consistent with the electronic structure description determined by the combined UV-PES/computational chemistry approach.

Two BN Isosteres of Anthracene: Synthesis and Characterization

The synthesis of two parental BN anthracenes, 1 and 2, was developed, and their electronic structure and reactivity behavior were characterized in direct comparison with all-carbon anthracene. Gas-phase UV-photoelecton spectroscopy studies revealed the following HOMO energy trend: anthracene, -7.4 eV; BN anthracene 1, -7.7 eV; bis-BN anthracene 2, -8.0 eV. The λmax of the lower energy band in the UV-vis absorption spectrum is as follows: anthracene, 356 nm; BN anthracene 1, 359 nm; bis-BN anthracene 2, 357 nm. Thus, although the HOMO is stabilized with increasing BN incorporation, the HOMO-LUMO band gap remains unchanged across the anthracene series. The emission λmax values for the three investigated anthracene compounds are at 403 nm. The pKa values of the N-H proton for BN anthracene 1 and bis-BN anthracene 2 were determined to be approximately 26. BN anthracenes 1 and 2 do not undergo heat- or light-induced cycloaddition reactions or Friedel-Crafts acylations. Electrophilic bromination of BN anthracene 1 with Br2, however, occurs regioselectively at the 9-position. The reactivity behavior and regioselectivity of bromination of BN anthracenes are consistent with the electronic structure of these compounds; i.e., (1) the lower HOMO energy levels for BN anthracenes stabilize the molecules against cycloaddition and Friedel-Crafts reactions, and (2) the HOMO orbital coefficients are consistent with the observed bromination regioselectivity. Overall, this work demonstrates that BN/CC isosterism can be used as a molecular design strategy to stabilize the HOMO of acene-type structures while the optical band gap is maintained.

UV-Photoelectron Spectroscopy of BN Indoles: Experimental and Computational Electronic Structure Analysis

We present a comprehensive electronic structure analysis of two BN isosteres of indole using a combined UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UV-PES)/computational chemistry approach. Gas-phase He I photoelectron spectra of external BN indole I and fused BN indole II have been recorded, assessed by density functional theory calculations, and compared with natural indole. The first ionization energies of these indoles are natural indole (7.9 eV), external BN indole I (7.9 eV), and fused BN indole II (8.05 eV). The computationally determined molecular dipole moments are in the order: natural indole (2.177 D) > fused BN indole II (1.512 D) > external BN indole I (0.543 D). The λmax in the UV–vis absorption spectra are in the order: fused BN indole II (292 nm) > external BN indole I (282 nm) > natural indole (270 nm). The observed relative electrophilic aromatic substitution reactivity of the investigated indoles with dimethyliminium chloride as the electrophile is as follows: fused BN indole II > natural indole > external BN indole I, and this trend correlates with the π-orbital coefficient at the 3-position. Nucleus-independent chemical shifts calculations show that the introduction of boron into an aromatic 6π-electron system leads to a reduction in aromaticity, presumably due to a stronger bond localization. Trends and conclusions from BN isosteres of simple monocyclic aromatic systems such as benzene and toluene are not necessarily translated to the bicyclic indole core. Thus, electronic structure consequences resulting from BN/CC isosterism will need to be evaluated individually from system to system.

New Reactions of N‐tert‐Butylimines; Formation of N‐Heterocycles by Methyl Radical Elimination on Flash Vacuum Thermolysis of N‐Benzylidene‐ and N‐(2‐Pyridylmethylidene)‐tert‐butylamines

Thermal reactions of N-benzylidene- and N-(2-pyridylmethylidene)-tert-butylamines (5 and 13) under FVT conditions have been investigated. Unexpectedly, at 800 °C, compound 5 yields 1,2-dimethylindole and 3-methylisoquinoline. In the reaction of 13 at 800 °C, 3-methylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridine was obtained as the major product. Mechanisms of these reactions have been proposed on the basis of DFT calculations. Furthermore, UV-photoelectron spectroscopy combined with FVT has been applied for direct monitoring and characterization of the thermolysis products in situ.

Are unsaturated isocyanides so different from the corresponding nitriles

Simple unsaturated and cyclopropylic isocyanides are synthesized by an efficient and simple approach. These compounds with gradually increasing distance between the unsaturated moiety and the isonitrile group are studied by UV photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, and also compared to the corresponding nitriles. The first photoelectron band of the unsaturated compounds is linked to removal of an electron from the HOMO, which corresponds to CC multiple-bond ionization in antibonding interaction with the π-isocyanide bond (in the same plane) for conjugated systems, or in antibonding interaction with the pseudo-π-CH(2) group for isolated systems. For the 1-ethenyl derivatives, both cyano and isocyano groups act as a π-electron acceptor from the vinyl group, but the isocyano π system is much more strongly destabilized (ionization energies (IEs) shift to smaller values) by vinyl (3.12 eV) than the cyano π system is (2.70 eV). In comparison with the 1-ethynyl derivatives, a less pronounced destabilization (2.69 eV) of π(NC) by the ethynyl system (1.86 eV for π(CN)), and nearly the same order of magnitude of the energetic gap between the total antibonding (π(CC)-π(NC)) and the total bonding (π(CC)+π(NC)) IEs for ethenyl and ethynyl compounds are noted. The huge values of these last-named data for H(2)C=CH-NC (3.85 eV) and for HC≡C-NC (4.04 eV) reflect the strong interaction between the unsaturated carbon-carbon moiety and the isocyanide group, and thus more efficient conjugation than for the corresponding nitriles.

PHOTOELECTRON SPECTRA OF VINYL- AND 1-ALKYNYLGERMANES AND STANNANES

Abstract Primary vinylic and acetylenic germanes and stannanes, synthesized by a chemoselective reduction of the corresponding trichloro derivatives, were investigated by ab initio quantum chemical methods and photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, the PE spectra display very well-resolved bands which show the increasing destabilizing effect of 14 group heteroatom α-substitution of double or triple carbon–carbon bonds.

Pitfalls in the Photoelectron Spectroscopic Investigations of Benzyne. Photoelectron Spectrum of Cyclopentadienylideneketene

The 9.24 eV ionization energy often quoted in photoelectron spectroscopic investigations of benzyne is not due to benzyne 1 but to benzene, C6H6. The 8.9 eV ionization is not due to benzyne either but to cyclopentadienylideneketene 12 when a 10.2 eV band is also present, or to biphenylene 5 when a 7.6 eV band is simultaneously present. Cyclopentadienylideneketene 12 has been generated by flash vacuum thermolysis of four different precursors, which permit a linking of infrared, mass, and photoelectron spectroscopic observations.

Electrochemical Properties and Computations of Stable Radicals of the Heavy Group 14 Elements (Si, Ge, and Sn)

A series of stable radicals centered on persilyl-substituted heavy Group 14 elements, (tBu(2)MeSi)(3)E(*) (E = Si, Ge, Sn), was studied by cyclic voltammetry in different solvents to determine their first oxidation and reduction potentials and to compare their ease of oxidation and reduction with known experimental and computed ionization energies (E(i)) and electron affinities (E(ea)), respectively. It has been observed that all of the first oxidation and reduction potentials for the three radicals studied are irreversible in o-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB), whereas the reduction waves are quasi-reversible in THF. A good correlation has been found between measured oxidation potentials and ionization energy values, but no correlation between reduction potentials and electron affinity values was found, probably due to kinetic and surface effects.

Lithium alkyl assisted coupling of a 2-cyano-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,3,2-diazaborole to give tBuNCH=CHN(tBu)BC(iPr)=N-BN(tBu)CH=CHNtBu.

Reaction of 2-cyano-1,3,2-diazaborole tBuNCH=CHN(tBu)BCN (2) with half an equivalent of isopropyllithium afforded compound tBuNCH=CHN(tBu)BC(iPr=N-BN(tBu)CH=CHNtBu (7). In contrast to this, a 1:1 stoichiometry of the reactants led to tBuNCH=CHN(tBu)BiPr (6) as the product of a nucleophilic substitution process at the boron atom. Similarly, regardless of the molar ratio of reactants employed, treatment of 2 with cyclopropyllithium, isobutyllithium or phenyllithium afforded solely substitution products tBuNCH=CHN(tBu)BR [R =cPr (12); Ph (13); iBu (14)].

UV-photoelectron Spectroscopy of Unhindered Germylenes and Carbon-arsenic Multiple-bonded Species*

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UV-PES) is a well established technique that provides ionization energies of molecules in the gas phase. Flash vacuum thermolysis or vacuum gas-solid reactions coupled with UV-PES are especially suited for the generation and analysis of small amounts of short-lived species in real-time. These experimental data, supported by quantum chemical calculations for the consistency of the assignments of PES spectra, provide fundamental information about electronic structure and bonding that is obtained by no other technique. This paper aims to give some representative original examples chosen from Pau’s research group that illustrate the advantages and wide applicability of these techniques. These examples show the selected data and conclusions which focus on the reactivity of low-coordinated of Main Group IV and V elements. Germylenes and simplest carbon-arsenic multiple bonded species ware successfully characterized using UV photoelectron spectroscopy – a very powerful, direct characterization instrument.