Activation of the aromatic system by the SO2 CF3 group: Kinetics study and structure-reactivity relationships

A theoretical and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of the adsorption and sensing of selected metal ions by 4-morpholino-7-nitrobenzofuran

The selectivity of a novel chemosensor, based on a modified nitrobenzofurazan referred to as NBD-Morph, has been investigated for the detection of heavy metal cations (Co2+, Pb2+, Mg2+, Ag+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+). The ligand, 4-morpholino-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Morph), was characterized using spectroscopic techniques including FT-IR and 1H NMR. Vibrational frequencies obtained from FT-IR and proton NMR (1H) chemical shifts were accurately predicted employing the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level of theory. Furthermore, an examination of the structural, electronic, and quantum chemical properties was conducted and discussed. DFT calculations were employed to explore the complex formation ability of the NBD-Morph ligand with Co2+, Pb2+, Mg2+, Ag+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ metal cations. The comparison of adsorption energies for all possible conformations reveals that NBD-Morph exhibits sensitivity and selectivity towards metal ions, including Pb2+, Cu2+, Ag+, and Ni2+. However, an assessment of their reactivity using QTAIM topological parameters demonstrated the ligand's greater complexation ability toward Cu2+ or Ni2+ than those formed by Pb2+ or Ag+. Additionally, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), Hirshfeld surfaces, and their associated 2D-fingerprint plots were applied to a detailed study of the inter-molecular interactions in NBD-Morph-X (X = Pb2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Ni2+) complexes. The electron localization function (ELF) and the localized-orbital locator (LOL) were generated to investigate the charge transfer and donor-acceptor interactions within the complexes. Electrochemical analysis further corroborates the theoretical findings, supporting the prediction of NBD-Morph's sensory ability towards Ni2+ metal cations. In conclusion, NBD-Morph stands out as a promising sensor for Ni2+.

Quantification of the Nucleophilicities of 3-X-Thiophenes: Highlighting the Hyperortho Correlation

Kinetics studies for the coupling reactions of the 3-X-thiophene 1a-c (X = CH3, H and Br) with the electrophiles 2a and 3a-c have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20°C The second-order rate constants have been employed to determine the nucleophilicity parameters N and s of the thiophene 1 according the Mayr equation log k (20°C) = s (E + N). The nucleophilic-specific parameters N and s quantified in this work have been derived and compared with the reactivity of other C nucleophiles. Based on the linear correlations log k1 = f(E) and log k1 = f(σp+), we have shown that the mechanism of interactions occurs by a unique process: electrophilic heteroaromatic substitution of an α-carbon position of substituted 3-X-thiophenes 1 known hyperortho correlation.

Electronic and solvent effects on kinetics of SNAr substitution reactions of substituted anilines with 2,6-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-4-nitroanisole in MeOH-Me2SO mixtures of varying composition: one reaction with two mechanistic pathways

ABSTRACT

The kinetics and mechanism of the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2,6-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-4-nitroanisole with para-X-substituted anilines (X = OH, OMe, Me, H, F, I, Cl) were studied in MeOH-Me2SO mixtures and pure Me2SO at 25.0 °C. The second-order rate coefficients depend on the substitutent in aniline and give good Hammett and Brønsted correlations; a polar SNAr reaction is proposed for the reaction in different MeOH-Me2SO mixtures. The measured rate coefficients of the reaction demonstrated dramatic variations for aniline donor with the increasing dimethyl sulfoxide composition in MeOH-Me2SO mixtures. In this case, the Hammett and Brønsted plots are biphasic and concave upwards with a break point at 4-methylaniline. These results indicate a change in mechanism from the polar (SNAr) for less basic nucleophiles (X = 4-Cl, 4-I, 4-F, and H) to the single electron transfer (SET) for more basic nucleophiles (X = 4-OH, 4-OMe and 4-Me). The changes of the structure of the transitions states with substituents and solvent are in accordance with the results of kinetics studies. The solvation model described is well supported by the solvatochromism exhibited by aniline in the solvent mixture under investigation. These results provide an ideal framework for understanding the paramount importance of the specific molecular structure of solvent molecules in determining chemical reactivity versus solvent effects.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Single electron transfer in SNAr process: Reactions of 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)anisole with anilines in dimethyl sulfoxide

Second-order rate constants ( k1) have been measured spectrophotometrically for reactions of 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)anisole 1 with 4-X-substituted anilines (X = OH, OCH3, CH3, H, I and Cl) 2a–f in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 25 °C. The Hammett plot is nonlinear, i.e. the anilines having an electron-donating substituent exhibit positive deviations from the log k1 versus correlation. The Hammett plot consists of two intersecting straight lines, i.e. ρ=– 1.40 for electron-withdrawing substituents (X = I and Cl) while ρ=– 3.26 for electron-donating substituents (X = OH, OCH3 and CH3). The Brønsted-type plot is also nonlinear with a change in slope from a small value (βnuc=0.50) to a large value (βnuc = 1.29 at p Ka=4.58). This change could be interpreted in terms of a change in mechanism from a polar SNAr process to a single electron transfer. On the other hand, the experimental data show that the rate constants ( k1) values exhibit good correlation with the oxidation potentials ( E°) of the aniline nucleophiles and are consistent with the suggested mechanism.