Philipp Constantinidis

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 subvalent oxygen and nitrogen in the formation of oxiranes and aziridines; however, such reactivity is not known between alkenes and the heavy chalcogens. Although carbon is too electronegative to affect the reduction of elements with lower relative electronegativity, the highly reducing nature of the B-B double bond enables reactions with Se(0) and Te(0) . The capacity of multiple bonds between boron atoms 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 π Encapsulation of Light Alkali Metal Cations by a Neutral Molecule.

Cation-π interactions are one of the most important classes of noncovalent 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, thus making examples of exclusive cation-π bonding exceedingly rare. In this study, 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-π interactions.

Isomer-Selective Generation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Picolyl Radicals

Nitrogen-containing resonance-stabilized radicals such as the picolyl radical are important in combustion chemistry and astrochemistry. They have only been scarcely studied because an isomer-selective generation is often difficult. Herein, we present threshold photoelectron spectra of the three picolyl radical isomers, C6 H6 N, that were obtained with synchrotron radiation. The radicals were selectively generated by flash pyrolysis from aminomethylpyridine precursors through deamination. Ionization energies of 7.70, 7.59, and 8.01 eV were determined for 2-, 3-, and 4-picolyl, respectively. The observed vibrational structure was assigned to an in-plane deformation mode of the aromatic ring. The spectroscopic insight gained in this study can be used to distinguish different picolyl isomers in on-line combustion analysis, for example.

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.

Products of the Propargyl Self-Reaction at High Temperatures Investigated by IR/UV Ion Dip Spectroscopy

The propargyl radical is considered to be of key importance in the formation of the first aromatic ring in combustion processes. Here we study the bimolecular (self-) reactions of propargyl in a high-temperature pyrolysis flow reactor. The aromatic reaction products are identified by IR/UV ion dip spectroscopy, using the free electron laser FELIX as mid-infrared source. This technique combines mass selectivity with structural sensitivity. We identified several aromatic reaction products based on their infrared spectra, among them benzene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, indene, biphenyl, and surprisingly a number of aromatic compounds with acetylenic (ethynyl) side chains. The observation of benzene confirms that propargyl is involved in the formation of the first aromatic ring. The observation of compounds with acetylenic side chains shows that, in addition to a propargyl- and phenyl-based mechanism, the HACA (hydrogen abstraction C2H2 addition) mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons formation is present, although no acetylene was used as a reactant. On the basis of the experimental results we suggest a mechanism that connects the two pathways.

Dimerization of the Benzyl Radical in a High-Temperature Pyrolysis Reactor Investigated by IR/UV Ion Dip Spectroscopy

We investigate the self-reaction of benzyl, C7 H7 , in a high-temperature pyrolysis reactor. The work is motivated by the observation that resonance-stabilized benzyl radicals can accumulate in reactive environments and contribute to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot. Reaction products are detected by IR/UV ion dip spectroscopy, using infrared radiation from the free electron laser FELIX, and are identified by comparison with computed spectra. Among the reaction products identified by their IR absorption are several PAHs linked to toluene combustion such as bibenzyl, phenanthrene, diphenylmethane, and fluorene. The identification of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene provides evidence for a mechanism of phenanthrene formation from bibenzyl that proceeds by initial cyclization rather than an initial hydrogen loss to stilbene.