Direct observation of a 1,3-biradical

Photochemically Induced Ring Opening of Spirocyclopropyl Oxindoles: Evidence for a Triplet 1,3-Diradical Intermediate and Deracemization by a Chiral Sensitizer

The photochemical deracemization of spiro[cyclopropane‐1,3′‐indolin]‐2′‐ones (spirocyclopropyl oxindoles) was studied. The corresponding 2,2‐dichloro compound is configurationally labile upon direct irradiation at λ=350 nm and upon irradiation at λ=405 nm in the presence of achiral thioxanthen‐9‐one as the sensitizer. The triplet 1,3‐diradical intermediate generated in the latter reaction was detected by transient absorption spectroscopy and its lifetime determined (τ=22 μs). Using a chiral thioxanthone or xanthone, with a lactam hydrogen bonding site as a photosensitizer, allowed the deracemization of differently substituted chiral spirocyclopropyl oxindoles with yields of 65–98 % and in 50–85 % ee (17 examples). Three mechanistic contributions were identified to co‐act favorably for high enantioselectivity: the difference in binding constants to the chiral thioxanthone, the smaller molecular distance in the complex of the minor enantiomer, and the lifetime of the intermediate 1,3‐diradical.

One- vs two-photon processes in the photochemistry of 1,n-dihaloalkanes

1,n-Dihaloalkanes can be photochemical precursors of n-haloalkyl and -allyl radicals and cations, which are generated via one-photon processes. Time-resolved techniques have provided considerable information on the structures and reactivity of these intermediates. Low-temperature matrix isolation, two-laser two-color, laser-drop, and laser-jet photolysis techniques are powerful tools to photolyze haloalkyl radicals and to generate carbenes or biradicals via two-photon processes.

Biradical intermediates in the photoisomerization of dibenzodihydropentalenofurans to dibenzosemibullvalenes

The photoisomerization of a few substituted dibenzodihydropentalenofurans to the corresponding dibenzosemibullvalenes is reported. Steady-state photolysis of the dibenzodihydropentalenofurans 3a--d gave the corresponding dibenzosemibullvalenes 2a--d in nearly quantitative yields. The quantum yields of this photoisomerization were found to be in the range 0.17--0.26. Laser flash photolysis studies of the dibenzodihydropentalenofurans 3a-e showed transients, with absorption maxima around 410 nm and decaying by first-order kinetics. The lifetimes were in the range 14--30 micros in degassed benzene at 25 degrees C. These transients were readily quenched (trapped) by molecular oxygen, and the Stern-Völmer quenching constants were found to be in the range (2.45--3.17) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). As a representative example, the 1,3-biradical intermediate from 3e was trapped by molecular oxygen to give the corresponding endoperoxide 11e. The transients were weakly quenched by triplet/radical quenchers such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) and 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperinyl-1-oxy (HTEMPO), and the quenching constants are found to be in the range (1.09--3.19) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). The decay rates of the transients were found to be temperature dependent and obeyed the Arrhenius equation. For example, the activation energy of the transient from 3a was approximately 4.5 kcal mol(-1) and the Arrhenius preexponential factor log(A/s(-1)) for the decay of the transients was approximately 7.5. On the basis of our studies, these transients were assigned as the ground-state triplet biradicals, generated by the cleavage of the C--O bond of the starting dibenzodihydropentalenofurans.