Zwitterionic Radical Research Articles

From loose to tight: unveiling bond stretch isomerism in π-complexes of Li, Na and K.

The study investigates the phenomenon of bond stretch isomerism (BSI) in complexes formed between alkali metals (Li, Na, K) and various non-aromatic, aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as heteroaromatic systems. The research employs density functional theory (DFT) calculations to optimize complex geometries and analyze their electronic structures using molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), charge, and spin density analyses. The results reveal that these complexes can exist in two distinct configurations: 'loose' long-bond isomers (lbi) that retain the original hydrocarbon geometry and 'tight' short-bond isomers (sbi) that undergo geometrical distortion upon complexation, with sbi generally being more stable. The interconversion between lbi and sbi occurs through a transition state. The study highlights the crucial role of electron transfer in BSI, with sbi involving valence electron transfer from the metal to the hydrocarbon, leading to zwitterionic radical complexes. In contrast, lbi exhibit a slight electron density transfer from the hydrocarbon to the metal. The presence of low-energy transition states between lbi and sbi suggests a dynamic shuttling mechanism for alkali metals, particularly Li, on hydrocarbon surfaces. The study identifies Li complexes as potential candidates for anode materials in batteries due to their stability and electron transfer properties, offering valuable insights into the design of advanced materials for energy storage applications.

Photoredox Catalyzed Dealkylative Aromatic Halogen Substitution with Tertiary Amines.

A reaction of aromatic halides bearing electron-withdrawing groups with tertiary amines in the presence of an iridium catalyst under blue light irradiation is described. Products of the aromatic substitution of the halide by the dialkylamino fragment are obtained. The interaction of aryl radicals with tertiary amines to generate zwitterionic radical species is believed to be the key factor responsible for the reaction efficiency.

Synthesis of Stable, High-SOMO Zwitterionic Radicals: Enabling Intermolecular Electron Transfer between Naphthalenediimides.

Synthesis to enhance the electron donor ability of organic radicals has not been attempted due to reactivity challenges. Herein, naphthalenediimide-based (NDI•±) zwitterionic radicals are synthesized and isolated bestowing SOMO levels up to -4.04 eV. As a result, reduction of the NDI is realized with NDI•± radicals in their ground states. Notably, reduction of the NDI unit applying a π-electron donor is unprecedented and has been limited to inorganic/organometallic reagents or by light-driven excited states.

Applications of Radical Carbonylation and Amine Addition Chemistry: 1,4-Hydrogen Transfer of 1-Hydroxylallyl Radicals.

1,4-Hydrogen transfer from the 1-hydroxyallyl radical to give the enoxyl (α-keto) radical is an exothermic process with a high activation energy based on DFT calculations. The lack of experimental examples of such 1,4-H shift reactions lies in the difficulty of generating the 1-hydroxyallyl radical. We have shown that radical carbonylation of alkenyl radicals with CO followed by nucleophilic trapping of the carbonyl portion of the resulting radical by amines gives rise to 1-amino-substituted 1-hydroxyallyl radicals in situ. At the outset of this chemistry, we examined intramolecular trapping reactions via radical carbonylation of alkynylamines mediated by tributyltin hydride. Consequently, α-methylene lactams were obtained, for which the initially formed 1-amino-substituted 1-hydroxyallyl radical underwent a 1,4-H shift followed by subsequent β-scission, which led to the expulsion of a tributyltin radical. A competing pathway of the 1,4-H shift of 1-amino-substituted 1-hydroxyallyl radicals involving hydrogen abstraction was observed, which led to the formation of α-stannylmethylene lactams as a major byproduct. However, in contrast, when intermolecular trapping of α-ketenyl radicals by amines was carried out, the 1,4-H shift from the 1-amino-substituted 1-hydroxyallyl radical became the major pathway, which gave good yields of α,β-unsaturated amides. Thus, we were able to develop three-component reactions comprising terminal alkynes, CO, and amines that led to α,β-unsaturated amides via the 1,4-H shift reaction. DFT calculations support the observation that the 1,4-H shift is more facile when 1-hydroxyallyl radicals have both 1-amino and 3-tin substituents. The choice of substituents on the amine nitrogen is also important, since N-C bond cleavage via an SH2-type reaction can become a competing pathway. Such an unusual SH2-type reaction at the amine nitrogen is favored when the leaving alkyl radicals are stable, such as PhC(•)H(CH3) and t-Bu•. Interestingly, even nucleophilic attack of tertiary amines onto α-ketenyl radicals causes cleavage of the C-N bond. For this reaction, DFT calculations predict an indirect homolytic substitution mechanism involving expulsion of alkyl radicals through the zwitterionic radical intermediate arising from nucleophilic amine addition onto the α-ketenyl radical. In contrast, the carbonylation of aryl radicals, generated from aryl iodides, in the presence of amines gave aromatic carboxylic amides in good yields. It is proposed that radical anions originating from acyl radicals and amines undergo electron transfer to aryl iodides to give aminocarbonylation products.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on Multicenter-Bonded [MI ]8 (M=Mn, Zn) Clusters with Cubic Aromaticity.

A new concept for constructing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on multicenter-bonded [MI ]8 (M=Mn, Zn) clusters with cubic aromaticity is discussed. In principle, intermolecular/intramolecular hydrogen-bonding, π-π stacking, coordinated covalent bonding and ionic bonding usually account for the structures of MOFs, and multicentered bonds generally exist in cation, anion, neutral and zwitterionic radicals, while rarely appear in MOFs. Meanwhile, aromaticity became one of the most vexing yet fascinating key concepts in chemistry since the proposition of the structure of benzene molecule in 1865. In this context, this concept article exhibits the preparation, structures, characterization methods, theoretical analysis of current research for MOFs which feature with multicentered bonding [MI ]8 (M=Mn, Zn) cluster with cubic aromaticity, followed by their fluorescence probe and magnetic properties are also summarized. Finally, prospective outlook in this field is given.

Charge–Discharge with Rocking-Chair-Type Li+ Migration Characteristics in a Zwitterionic Radical Copolymer Composed of TEMPO and Trifluoromethanesulfonylimide with Carbonate Electrolytes for a High-Rate Li-Ion Battery

Redox-active copolymer containing organic robust radical, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO), and charge neutralizing anion, trifluoromethanesulfonylimide (TFSI–) was synthesized as a cathode material of a Li-ion battery. The copolymer, poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxy-4-yl methacrylate-co-styrenesulfonyl(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) (P(TMA-co-TFSI)), was designed to give rise to the Li+ migration during its charge–discharge process, based on the self-charge compensation of TEMPO with TFSI– bound to the polymer chain in a widely used electrolyte system for Li-ion battery, organic carbonate mixtures. Copolymerization was performed to achieve efficient self-charge compensation with uniformly distributed TFSI– units. The P(TMA-co-TFSI) layer electrode exhibited reversible redox reaction at 0.73 V vs Ag/AgCl. Electrochemical measurements combined with quartz crystal microbalance analysis evidenced that the redox reaction involved the Li+ migration in binary system of ethylene carbonate and ...

Formation of a stable radical by oxidation of a tetraorganoborate

Herein, we describe the selective formation of a stable neutral spiroborate radical by one-electron oxidation of the corresponding tetraorganoborate salt Li[B(C4Ph4)2], formally containing a tetrahedral borate centre and a s-cis-butadiene radical cation as the spin-bearing site. Spectroscopic and computational methods have been used to determine the spin distribution and the chromism observed in the solid state.

Photoinduced Aminocarbonylation of Aryl Iodides.

Transition metal-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl halides with CO and amines, pioneered by Heck and co-workers in the 1970s, is among the most commonly employed reactions to make aromatic amides. A catalyst-free aminocarbonylation of aryl iodides with CO and amines, which simply uses photoirradiation conditions by Xe-lamp, has now been developed. This methodology shows broad functional-group tolerance, including that of heteroaromatic amides. A hybrid radical/ionic chain mechanism, involving electron transfer from zwitterionic radical intermediates generated by nucleophilic attack of amines to aroyl radicals, is proposed.

ChemInform Abstract: Long, Multicenter Bonding — A New Concept for Supramolecular Materials

AbstractReview: [25 refs.

Long, Multicenter Bonding--A New Concept for Supramolecular Materials.

A new concept for constructing supramolecular architectures is discussed. In addition to van der Waals and hydrogen-bonding intermolecular interactions that primarily account for supramolecular structures for all materials lacking extended 3D network structures, directional, long, multicenter bonding that can occur for anionic, cationic, neutral, and zwitterionic radicals and can direct intermolecular recognition through π interactions and form extended network supramolecular structural motifs.

LED-illuminated NMR studies of flavin-catalyzed photooxidations reveal solvent control of the electron-transfer mechanism.

Mechanistic insights into chemical photocatalysis are mainly the domain of UV/Vis spectroscopy, because NMR spectroscopy has been limited by the type of illumination so far. An improved LED-based illumination device can be used to obtain NMR reaction profiles of photocatalytic reactions under synthetic conditions and perform both photo-CIDNP and intermediate studies. Flavin-catalyzed photooxidations of alcohols show the potential of this setup. After identical initial photoreaction steps the stabilization of a downstream intermediate is the key to the further reaction mechanism and the reactivity. As a chemical photocatalyst flavin can act either as a one- or a two-electron mediator when the stability of the zwitterionic radical pair is moldulated in different solvents. This demonstrates the importance of downstream intermediates and NMR-accessible complementary information in photocatalytic reactions and suggests the control of photoorganic reactions by solvent effects.

Ambient stable zwitterionic perylene bisimide-centered radical.

The unexpected introduction of a cationic imidazolium substituent in the 2-position of a tetrachloro-substituted perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PBI) by the reaction of PBI-Cl4 1 with the N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3-di-iso-propyl-imidazolin-2-ylidene ((i)Pr2Im 2) enables the isolation of an ambient stable zwitterionic radical. The remarkable stability of this unprecedented PBI-centered radical facilitates the complete characterization by several spectroscopic methods as well as single crystal structure analysis. Redox studies revealed that (i)Pr2Im-PBI-Cl4 4 can be transferred reversibly to the corresponding anion and cation, respectively, even on a preparative scale.

Ambient Stable Zwitterionic Perylene Bisimide‐Centered Radical

AbstractThe unexpected introduction of a cationic imidazolium substituent in the 2‐position of a tetrachloro‐substituted perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PBI) by the reaction of PBI‐Cl4 1 with the N‐heterocyclic carbene 1,3‐di‐iso‐propyl‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene (iPr2Im 2) enables the isolation of an ambient stable zwitterionic radical. The remarkable stability of this unprecedented PBI‐centered radical facilitates the complete characterization by several spectroscopic methods as well as single crystal structure analysis. Redox studies revealed that iPr2Im‐PBI‐Cl4 4 can be transferred reversibly to the corresponding anion and cation, respectively, even on a preparative scale.

ON–OFF Mechanism of a Fluorescent Sensor for the Detection of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II)Transition Metal Ions

An ab initio multiconfigurational (CASPT2//CASSCF) approach has been employed to map radiative and nonradiative relaxation pathways for a cyclam-methylbenzimidazole fluorescent sensor and its metal ion (Zn(2+), Cd(2+), and Cu(2+)) complexes to provide an universal understanding of ON-OFF fluorescent mechanisms for the selective identification of these metal ions. The photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between the receptor and the signaling unit is quantitatively attributed for the first time to a newly generated transition of S0→SCT((1)nπ*), which is a typical (1)nπ* excitation but exhibits a significant charge transfer character and zwitterionic radical configuration. The present study contributes the two theoretical models of the competitive coexistence of radiative/nonradiative decay channel in (1)ππ*/SCT((1)nπ*) states for the detection of metal ions with d(10) configuration (i.e., Zn(2+), Cd(2+), etc.) and a downhill ladder relaxation pathway through multi nona-diabatic relays for the probing of d(9) cations (Cu(2+), etc.). These computational results will establish a benchmark for ON-OFF mechanisms of a fluorescent sensor that coordinates various transition metal ions with different electron configuration and radius.

Redox equilibrium of a zwitterionic radical polymer in a non-aqueous electrolyte as a novel Li+ host material in a Li-ion battery

Poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy-4-yl methacrylate-co-styrenesulfonate) was prepared and utilized as a Li+ host material for a cathode in a Li-ion battery. The polymer allowed high density incorporation of the Li+ ion per repeating unit at a positive redox potential near 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Redox equilibrium involving the Li+ migration was proved by the theoretical approach based on the Nernst equation as well as a microgravimetry analysis using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance technique. A cell fabricated with the polymer as the cathode-active material showed a high power rate capability with an average discharging potential near 3.9 V vs. the lithium metal anode.

Ab Initio Studies of the Electronic Structure of l-Cysteine Adsorbed on Ag(111)

We have performed ab initio calculations for the adsorption of L-cysteine on Ag(111) using density functional theory. We have focused on two possible adsorbed species: the L-cysteine radical (•S-CH(2)-CH-NH(2)-COOH) adsorbed almost flat at a bridge site, slightly displaced toward an fcc location, and the zwitterionic radical Z-cysteine (•S-CH(2)-CH-NH(3)(+)-COO(-)) adsorbed at a bridge site, shifted to a hcp site forming a (4 × 4) unit cell (θ = 0.06) and a (√3 × √3) R 30° unit cell (θ = 0.33), respectively. Special attention has been paid to the electronic structure of the system. The adsorbate-silver bond formation has been exhaustively investigated by analyzing the density of states projected onto the different atoms of the molecule, and by charge density difference calculations. A complicated interplay between sp and d states of silver in the formation of bonds between the adsorbates and the surface has been found. The role of the carboxyl group in the interaction with the surface has been also analyzed.

The zwitterionic radical and its neutral radical derivative with interesting magnetic properties

A new neutral radical was synthesized from a zwitterionic radical via radical oxidation ring-opening reaction under mild conditions. The zwitterionic radical displays interesting magnetic behavior, and it also possesses higher conductivity. The neutral radical exhibits unusual twice magnetic phase transition behaviors, including a high ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase transition temperature (ca. 382K), which can be attributed to the anisotropic contraction and non-uniform slippage of columnar stacking chain and the changes of close intermolecular contacts. These unique magnetic behaviors ascribe to their different stacking structures.

Isostructural Metal–Anion Radical Coordination Polymers with Tunable Phosphorescent Colors (Deep Blue, Blue, Yellow, and White) Induced by Terminal Anions and Metal Cations

Five phosphorescent metal-anion radical coordination polymers based on a new anion radical ligand generated by in situ deprotonation of a stable zwitterionic radical are described. The N,O,N-tripodal anion radical ligand links metal cations, which leads to five isostructural coordination polymers, [M(3)(bipo(-.))(4)(L)(2)](n) (M=Cd or Mn, Hbipo(-.)=2,3'-biimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2'-one, L=Cl(-), HCOO(-) or SCN(-)). The isostructural coordination polymers exhibit novel one-dimensional spirocycle-like structures. Three isostructural Cd(II) coordination polymers display unusual phosphorescent color changes (blue, yellow, and white) induced by terminal anions. Significantly, the Cd(II) coordination polymer with terminal Cl(-) possesses moderate quantum yield, and shows a bright white-light phosphorescence emission, which is independent of excitation wavelength and can even be excited by visible light. Upon adjusting the metal cation to Mn(II), two isostructural Mn(II) coordination polymers reveal deep-blue-light phosphorescence emissions that are independent of terminal anions. As radical-based coordination polymers, some of them show antiferromagnetic interactions between radical species or radical and metal center.

Radical carbonylation of ω-alkynylamines leading to α-methylene lactams. Synthetic scope and the mechanistic insights

Tin hydride mediated radical carbonylation and cyclization reaction was investigated using a variety of ω-alkynyl amines as substrates. In this reaction α-methylene and α-stannylmethylene lactams having five to eight membered rings were obtained as principal products. In cases where the nitrogen has a substituent capable of giving stable radicals, such as an α-phenethyl group, the lactam ring formation again took place with extrusion of an α-phenethyl radical. Coupled with the subsequent protodestannylation procedure (TMSCl plus MeOH), these reactions provide a useful entry to α-methylene lactams with incorporation of CO as a lactam carbonyl group. In cases where the amines do not have a substituent acting as a radical leaving group, a reaction course involving a 1,4-H shift is chosen so as to liberate tin radicals ultimately. Thus the proposed mechanism involves (i) nucleophilic attack of amine nitrogen onto a carbonyl group of α,β-unsaturated acyl radicals/α-ketenyl radicals via lone pair-π* interaction, which leads to zwitterionic radical species, (ii) the subsequent proton shift from N to O to give hydroxyallyl radicals, (iii) 1,4-hydrogen shift from O to C, and (iv) β-scission to give lactams with liberation of tin radicals. DFT calculations reveal that the 1,4-hydrogen shifts, the key step of the reaction mechanism, can proceed under usual reaction conditions. On the other hand, an S(H)i type reaction to give lactams may be the result of the β-scission of the similar zwitterionic radical intermediates. DFT calculations also predict that an S(H)i type reaction would result when the intermediate has a good (radical) leaving group such as a phenethyl group.

Direct arylation of unactivated aromatic C–H bonds catalyzed by a stable organic radical

A stable zwitterionic radical can catalyze direct arylation of unactivated aromatic C-H bonds via a chain homolytic aromatic substitution mechanism in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide.