Structural and spectral analysis of 3- and 4-methylated nitraminopyridine N-oxides

Cryogenic fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy studies on monomeric and dimeric species of 2-butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide

2-Butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine-N-oxide (2B6M) belongs to a group of compounds that can undergo not only excited-state intra-, but also intermolecular proton transfer. The latter of course requires the presence of dimeric species. Previously, we have shown that for 2B6M in aprotic non-polar solvents in the liquid state such dimers play no role. Under these conditions, only one single monomeric species exists, exhibiting anomalous fluorescence behavior, i.e. proton transfer not only starting from the lowest excited electronic singlet state, but also from higher excited states. However, we also noted that under frozen, crystalline matrix conditions more species show up in the spectra. In order to study this multi-species system in more detail, we present absorption and fluorescence experiments on 2B6M, recorded in n-octane at various temperatures between 293 and 5 K. High-resolution spectra are included, not only in fluorescence but also in absorption. We demonstrate that under cryogenic conditions three species can be discerned, two of these providing high-resolution spectra with their main 0-0 lines around 452 and 465 nm, respectively. A detailed vibrational analysis of their emission spectra is included. The third species gives broad-banded spectra, in absorption extending to about 520 nm with its long-wavelength maximum around 460 nm, in emission with a maximum around 535 nm. We tentatively assign the three species to a monomer, a H-bonded dimer and a strongly interacting (pi-pi-stacked) dimer, respectively. We conclude from the excitation spectra that (anomalous) intramolecular proton transfer at higher excited states is still operative under cryogenic conditions. Indications for excited-state intermolecular proton transfer in the stacked dimeric species were not found.

Intramolecular Proton-Transfer Processes Starting at Higher Excited States: A Fluorescence Study on 2-Butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-Oxide in Nonpolar Solutions

This article describes the exceptional photophysics of 2-butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide (2B6M). It is known from the literature that this compound may undergo excited-state intra- or intermolecular proton-transfer reactions. In nonpolar solvents, 2B6M exhibits an unusual fluorescence behavior: there is a substantial difference between the relative band intensities of the excitation and absorption spectra. Furthermore, in emission two bands are observed, and their relative intensities depend on the excitation wavelength, thus violating the Kasha-Vavilov rule. It is the objective of this research to interpret these results. For this purpose, steady-state fluorescence excitation and emission spectra in the liquid state were recorded and quantum yields were determined for the two types of emission. In addition, absorption spectra were measured at room temperature and under low-temperature conditions. Finally, fluorescence lifetimes of the emitting species were determined using the time-correlated single photon counting technique. The results suggest that in the liquid state only one (monomeric) ground state species dominates, which can emit via two different pathways (from the normal and the tautomeric excited state). The excitation spectra point at two different internal proton-transfer processes, one starting at the S1 state and one starting at the S2 state. On the basis of the measured lifetimes and fluorescence quantum yields, a kinetic scheme was completed that can quantitatively explain the observations.

Crystal and molecular structure of 4,6-bis(nitroimino)-1,3,5-triazinan-2-one: theoretical and X-ray studies

This paper provides an overview of recent progress on structural data on the title compound. Theoretical work based on quantum mechanical calculations was performed to gain some understanding on the heterocyclic tautomerism potentially exhibited by the compound. The computational studies encompassed a wide range of tautomers/conformers, allowing the determination of the most probable molecular structure. In the gas phase, the nitroimine tautomers are computed to be substantially more stable than the nitramine tautomers. Among three plausible nitroimine forms, special attention was given to 4,6-bis(nitroimino)-1,3,5-triazinan-2-one, whose crystal structure was unequivocally solved by X-ray diffraction. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pnma with a = 6.187(2)A, b = 13.252(5)A, c = 8.802(4)A, and Z = 4. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to a final R = 0.0326. The molecule has an approximate mirror plane relating the two symmetry related halves. The nitroimine groups are positioned in a syn-syn conformation. The least-squares (LS) plane of the heterocyclic ring and the nitroimine ([double bond]N-NO2) substituent LS plane make an angle of 10.05(11) degrees. The crystal structure is held together via hydrogen bonds that assemble the molecules in chains running along the b-axis. Every H-atom is involved in bifurcated hydrogen bonds.

Crystal Structure, Spectroscopic, and Theoretical Investigations of Excited-State Proton Transfer in the Doubly Hydrogen-Bonded Dimer of 2-Butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-Oxide

The crystal structure of 2-butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide (2B6M) was resolved on the basis of X-ray diffraction. Solid 2B6M occurs in the form of a doubly hydrogen-bonded dimer with squarelike hydrogen-bonding network composed of two intra- (2.556(2) A) and two intermolecular (2.891(2) A) N-H...O type hydrogen bonds. The molecule thus has both a protonable and a deprotonable group that led us to investigate the possibility of an excited-state proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction in different solvents by means of experimental absorption, steady state, and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. The results were correlated with quantum mechanical TD-DFT and PM3 calculations. Experimental and theoretical findings show the possibility of an ESIPT reaction in polar solvents. It is demonstrated that in particular the emission spectra of 2B6M are very sensitive to solvent properties, and a large value of the Stokes shift (about 8000 cm(-1)) in acetonitrile is indicative for an ESIPT process. This conclusion is further supported by time-resolved fluorescence decay measurents that show dual exponential decay in polar solvents. Vertical excitation energies calculated by TD-DFT reproduce the experimental absorption maxima in nonpolar solvents well. The majority of electronic transitions in 2B6M is of pi --> pi* character with a charge shift from the electron-donating to the electron-accepting groups. The calculations show that, due to the charge redistribution on excitation, the acidity of the amino group increases significantly, which facilitates the proton transfer from the amino to the N-oxide group in the excited state.

Crystal structure and spectral considerations of 5-methyl-2-nitraminopyridine N-oxide

The crystal structure of 5-methyl-2-nitraminopyridine N-oxide (5M) has been determined and its electronic absorption spectra in the solution have been investigated. In the solid, two monomeric proton-transferred (PT) units of 5M are perpendicularly located in the crystal lattice. They are connected by two intermolecular hydrogen bonds of different strength (O-H···N 2.647(3) and 2.695(3) Å). In the gas phase the same relative arrangement of both 5M (PT) monomers has been found. As results from semiempirical PM3-CI calculations (12–14), the prototropic amino (H) [Formula: see text] imino (PT) equilibrium may occur in the solution. Assignment of experimental absorption bands to the calculated transition energies of both forms of 5M reveals that hydrogen bonded 5M (PT) dimers are dominant in cyclohexane while imino (PT) monomers seem to prevail in acetonitrile solution. The different character of electronic transitions and different relative arrangement of both monomers in amino (H) than in imino (PT) dimers are responsible for very low oscillator strengths and dipole moments of the former.Key words: crystal structure, methylated nitraminopyridine N-oxides, semiempirical PM3-CI computations, intermolecular hydrogen bonding.