Electrogenerated chemiluminescence in mechanistic investigations of electroorganic reactions

Beyond n-dopants for organic semiconductors: use of bibenzo[d]imidazoles in UV-promoted dehalogenation reactions of organic halides

2,2'-Bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)- and 2,2'-dicyclohexyl-1,1',3,3'-tetramethyl-2,2',3,3'-tetrahydro-2,2'-bibenzo[d]imidazole ((N-DMBI)2 and (Cyc-DMBI)2) are quite strong reductants with effective potentials of ca. -2 V vs ferrocenium/ferrocene, yet are relatively stable to air due to the coupling of redox and bond-breaking processes. Here, we examine their use in accomplishing electron transfer-induced bond-cleavage reactions, specifically dehalogenations. The dimers reduce halides that have reduction potentials less cathodic than ca. -2 V vs ferrocenium/ferrocene, especially under UV photoexcitation (using a 365 nm LED). In the case of benzyl halides, the products are bibenzyl derivatives, whereas aryl halides are reduced to the corresponding arenes. The potentials of the halides that can be reduced in this way, quantum-chemical calculations, and steady-state and transient absorption spectroscopy suggest that UV irradiation accelerates the reactions via cleavage of the dimers to the corresponding radical monomers.

Capture of Electrochemically Generated Fleeting Carbazole Radical Cations and Elucidation of Carbazole Dimerization Mechanism by Mass Spectrometry

The capture of reactive intermediates is important for the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. We report the first observation of electrochemically generated, short-lived radical cations of carbazole (t_1/2 ≈ 97 μs) and two N-substituted carbazole derivatives by mass spectrometry. In addition, online investigation of the reactivity of electrochemically generated carbazole radical cations supports that the carbazole dimerization mechanism involves the reaction of one radical cation with one neutral molecule rather than the previously proposed coupling of two radical cations.