Electrostatic modulation by ionic aggregates: charge transfer transitions in solutions of lithium perchlorate-diethyl ether

Para-selective nitrobenzene amination lead by C(sp2)-H/N-H oxidative cross-coupling through aminyl radical

Arylamines, serving as crucial building blocks in natural products and finding applications in multifunctional materials, are synthesized on a large scale via an electrophilic nitration/reduction sequence. However, the current methods for aromatic C-H amination have not yet attained the same level of versatility as electrophilic nitration. Here we show an extensively investigated transition metal-free and regioselective strategy for the amination of nitrobenzenes, enabling the synthesis of 4-nitro-N-arylamines through C(sp2)-H/N-H cross-coupling between electron-deficient nitroarenes and amines. Mechanistic studies have elucidated that the crucial aspects of these reactions encompass the generation of nitrogen radicals and recombination of nitrobenzene complex radicals. The C(sp2)-N bond formation is demonstrated to be highly effective for primary and secondary arylamines as well as aliphatic amines under mild conditions, exhibiting exceptional tolerance towards diverse functional groups in both nitroarenes and amines (>100 examples with yields up to 96%). Notably, this C(sp2)-H/N-H cross-coupling exhibits exclusive para-selectivity.

Atomic Group Decomposition of Charge Transfer Excitation Global Indexes

A model for decomposing the Le Bahers, Adamo, and Ciofini Charge Transfer (CT) Excitations global indexes ( J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2011, 7, 2498-2506) into molecular subdomains contributions is presented and a software, DOCTRINE (atomic group Decomposition Of the Charge TRansfer INdExes) for the implementation of this novel model has been coded. Although our method applies to any fuzzy or to any disjoint exhaustive partitioning of the real space, it is here applied using a definition of chemically relevant molecular subdomains based on the Atoms in Molecules Bader basins. This choice has the relevant advantage of associating intra or inter subdomain contributions to rigorously defined quantum objects, yet bearing a clear chemical meaning. Our method allows for a quantitative evaluation of the subdomain contributions to the charge transfer, the charge transfer excitation length and the dipole moment change upon excitation. All these global indexes may be obtained either from the electron density increment or the electron density depletion upon excitation. However, the subdomain contributions obtained from the two distributions generally differ, therefore allowing to distinguish whether the contribution to a given property of a given subdomain is dominated by one of the two distributions or if both are playing a significant role. As a toy system for the first application of our model, a typical [D-π-A, π = conjugated bridge] compound belonging to the merocyanine dyes family is selected, and the first four excited states of this compound in a strongly polar protic solvent and in a weakly polar solvent are thoroughly investigated.

Synthesis of α-aminophosphonates using solvate ionic liquids

A range of α-aminophosphonates were accessed in high yields and very rapidly, using solvate ionic liquids as the reaction media.

Determination of Kamlet–Taft parameters for selected solvate ionic liquids

The normalised polarity ENT and Kamlet–Taft parameters of recently described solvate ionic liquids, composed of lithium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) in tri- (G3TFSI) or tetraglyme (G4TFSI) have been determined and compared to the parent glyme (G3 and G4).

Aggregation of nitroaniline in tetrahydrofuran through intriguing H-bond formation by sodium borohydride

The participation of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in hydrogen bonding interactions and transient anion radical formation has been proved. Thus, the properties of NaBH4 are extended beyond the purview of its normal reducing capability and nucleophilic property. It is reported that ortho- and para-nitroanilines (NAs) form stable aggregates only in tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of NaBH4 and unprecedented orange/red colorations are observed. The same recipe with nitrobenzene instead of nitroanilines (NAs) in the presence of NaBH4 evolves a transient rose red solution due to the formation of a highly fluorescent anion radical. Spectroscopic studies (UV-vis, fluorescence, RLS, Raman, NMR etc.) as well as theoretical calculations supplement the J-aggregate formation of NAs due to extensive hydrogen bonding. This is the first report where BH4(-) in THF has been shown to support such an aggregation process through H-bonding. It is further confirmed that stable intermolecular hydrogen bond-induced aggregation requires a geometrical match in both the nitro- and amino-functionalities attached to the phenyl ring with proper geometry. On the contrary, meta-nitroaniline remains as the odd man out and does not take part in such aggregation. Surprisingly, Au nanoparticles dismantle the J-aggregates of NA in THF. Explicit hydrogen bond formation in NA has been confirmed experimentally considering its promising applications in different fields including non-linear optics.

Evaluating push-pull dye efficiency using TD-DFT and charge transfer indices

The performances of different functionals in the prediction of Charge Transfer excitations (CT) have been assessed, both in terms of quantitative agreement with experimental absorption data and on the basis of a recently developed density based diagnostic index, for a family of 18 recently synthesized push-pull compounds, containing 4-5-dicyannoimidazole (DCI) as an acceptor moiety, six different bridges and three different donor groups. The index used also allows obtaining an estimate of the charge transferred upon excitation (qCT) and of the spatial extent associated with a given electronic transition (DCT). From the computed values of these indices an estimate of the transition energy considering a purely electrostatic model (wCT) can be computed and compared to that expected for an ideal CT between the donor and the acceptor, thus enabling us to estimate the efficiency of the CT transition for the different push-pull systems.

Crystallographic Distinction between “Contact” and “Separated” Ion Pairs: Structural Effects on Electronic/ESR Spectra of Alkali-Metal Nitrobenzenides

The classic nitrobenzene anion-radical (NB(-*) or nitrobenzenide) is isolated for the first time as pure crystalline alkali-metal salts. The deliberate use of the supporting ligands 18-crown-6 and [2.2.2]cryptand allows the selective formation of contact ion pairs designated as (crown)M(+)NB(-*), where M(+) = K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+), as well as the separated ion pair K(cryptand)(+)NB(-*)-both series of which are structurally characterized by precise low-temperature X-ray crystallography, ESR analysis, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The unusually delocalized structure of NB(-*) in the separated ion pair follows from the drastically shortened N-C bond and marked quinonoidal distortion of the benzenoid ring to signify complete (95%) electronic conjugation with the nitro substituent. On the other hand, the formation of contact ion pairs results in the substantial decrease of electronic conjugation in inverse order with cation size (K(+) > Rb(+)) owing to increased localization of negative charge from partial (NO(2)) bonding to the alkali-metal cation. Such a loss in electronic conjugation (or reverse charge transfer) may be counterintuitive, but it is in agreement with the distribution of odd-electron spin electron density from the ESR data and with the hypsochromic shift of the characteristic absorption band in the electronic spectra. Most importantly, this crystallographic study underscores the importance of ion-pair structure on the intrinsic property (and thus reactivity) of the component ions-as focused here on the nitrobenzenide anion.

Modulation of tautomeric equilibria by ionic clusters. Acetylacetone in solutions of lithium perchlorate-diethyl ether

Acetylacetone (2,4-pentanedione, 1) is a molecule whose tautomeric forms are in dynamic equilibrium. Concentrated salt solutions in nonaqueous solvents exert a remarkable influence on the keto-enol ratio of this beta-diketone. The keto content of 1 increases from 5% in pure diethyl ether to 84.5% in a 4.14 M lithium perchlorate-diethyl ether (LPDE) solution, a nearly 17-fold increase. The equilibrium expression, K = [keto]/[enol] = k(f)/k(r), exhibits a linear dependence on [LiClO(4)], with the formal order of participation of lithium ion in the equilibrium being 1.0. A kinetic analysis reveals that k(f) is independent of LPDE concentration, whereas k(r) displays an inverse dependence on salt concentration, indicating preferential coordination of the keto tautomer with Li(+). Although 1 exits as the enol in water only to the extent of 16%, the addition of lithium perchlorate further reduces this figure. In an aqueous 4.02 M LiClO(4) solution, acetylacetone enol accounts for only 4.6% of the total amount of 2,4-pentanedione present. It has also been found that acetylacetone itself is an excellent solvent for LiClO(4) as well as for NaClO(4) with solutions containing up to 7.5 M LiClO(4) attainable. The enol content of 1 decreases dramatically from 81% to 7.4% on going from the neat liquid to a solution of 6.39 M LiClO(4) in acetylacetone.