Substituent Cross-Interaction Effects on the Electronic Character of the CN Bridging Group in Substituted Benzylidene Anilines − Models for Molecular Cores of Mesogenic Compounds. A 13C NMR Study and Comparison with Theoretical Results

Enhancing magnetic coupling through protonation of benzylideneaniline-bridged diradicals and comparison with stilbene- and azobenzene-based diradicals

Taking nitroxide radicals as spin sources, we explore the intramolecular magnetic coupling interactions of the trans- and cis-forms of benzylideneaniline (BA)-bridged diradicals, in which the central -CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N- unit can undergo single protonation to convert to its protonated counterpart or vice versa. The calculated results for these two pairs of diradicals (protonated versus unprotonated trans and cis forms) verify that the signs of their magnetic coupling constants J do not change, but the magnitudes significantly increase after protonation. In the structure, the better conjugation of the protonated trans diradical and two reduced CCNC and CCCN torsion angles of the protonated cis one make for a more efficient spin transport, promoting the spin polarization, thus leading to larger spin couplings. In terms of mechanism, the proton-induced magnetic enhancement should be attributed to strong participation of the coupler BA through its lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) with a lower energy level after protonation, and the small HOMO-LUMO (HOMO: highest occupied molecular orbital) gap of the coupler BA through protonation is crucial in explaining such remarkable spin-coupling enhancement. Furthermore, different linking modes of the radical groups to the couplers are also considered to confirm our conclusions. In addition, we also make a comparison of the magnetic coupling strengths among their isoelectronic analogues of BA-, AB- and stilbene-bridged nitroxide diradicals before or after protonation, and find a linear correlation among them. It should be noted that the magnetic behaviors of all these diradicals obey the spin alternation rule and singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) effect. This work provides helpful information for the rational design of promising magnetic molecular switches.

Effects of single bond-ion and single bond-diradical form on the stretching vibration of C=N bridging bond in 4,4'-disubstituted benzylidene anilines

Fifty-seven samples of model compounds, 4,4'-disubstituted benzylidene anilines, p-X-ArCH=NAr-p-Y were synthesized. Their infrared absorption spectra were recorded, and the stretching vibration frequencies νC=N of the C=N bridging bond were determined. New stretching vibration mode was proposed by means of the analysis of the factors affecting νC=N, that is there are mainly three modes in the stretching vibration of C=N bond: (I) polar double bond form C=N, (II) single bond-ion form C(+)-N(-) and (III) single bond-diradical form C-N. The contributions of the forms (I) and (II) to the change of νC=N can be quantified by using Hammett substituent constant (including substituent cross-interaction effects between X and Y groups), whereas the contribution of the form (III) can be quantified by employing the excited-state substituent constant. The most contribution of these three forms is the form (III), the next is the form (II), whose contribution difference was discussed with the viewpoint of energy requirements in vibration with the form (III) and form (II).

Comparison of the substituent effects on the (13) C NMR with the (1) H NMR chemical shifts of CH=N in substituted benzylideneanilines

Fifty-two samples of substituted benzylideneanilines XPhCH=NPhYs (XBAYs) were synthesized, and their NMR spectra were determined in this paper. Together with the NMR data of other 77 samples of XBAYs quoted from literatures, the (1) H NMR chemical shifts (δH (CH=N)) and (13) C NMR chemical shifts (δC (CH=N)) of the CH=N bridging group were investigated for total of 129 samples of XBAYs. The result shows that the δH (CH=N) and δC (CH=N) have no distinctive linear relationship, which is contrary to the theoretical thought that declared the δH (CH=N) values would increase as the δC (CH=N) values increase. With the in-depth analysis, we found that the effects of σF and σR of X/Y group on the δH (CH=N) and the δC (CH=N) are opposite; the effects of the substituent specific cross-interaction effect between X and Y (Δσ(2) ) on the δH (CH=N) and the δC (CH=N) are different; the contributions of parameters in the regression equations of the δH (CH=N) and the δC (CH=N) [Eqns and 7), respectively] also have an obvious difference.

Organometallic benzylidene anilines: donor–acceptor features in NCN-pincer Pt(ii) complexes with a 4-(E)-[(4-R-phenyl)imino]methyl substituent

Inductively the Pt-moiety in these organometallic benzylidene anilines is a very strong electron-withdrawing group, but mesomerically a very strong electron-donating group.

The alternating of substituent effect on the ¹³C NMR shifts of all bridge carbons in cinnamyl aniline derivatives

Bridge carbon (13)C NMR shifts of a wide set of substituted cinnamyl anilines p-XC(6)H(4)CHCHCHNC(6)H(4)Y-p (XNO(2), Cl, H, Me, MeO, or NMe(2); YNO(2), CN, CO(2)Et, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO or NMe(2)) had been used as a probe to study the change of substituent effect in the conjugated system. The goal of this work was to study the difference among the substituent effect on SCS of all bridge carbons, and find the alternating of substituent effect in this model compounds. In this study, it was found that the change of the inductive effect and the conjugative effect on different bridge carbons is related to the bond number (m) from the substituent to the corresponding carbon, and the adjusted parameters σ(F(rel))(∗) and σ(R(ver))(∗) can be suitable to scale the difference of the inductive effect and the conjugative effect on bridge carbons. Moreover, because of the difference of substituent effect on bridge carbons, the substituent cross-interaction item Δσ(2)(Δσ(2) = (σ(F(rel))(∗)(X) + σ(R(ver))(∗)(X) - σ(F(rel))(∗)(Y) - σ(R(ver))(∗)(Y))(2)) was not suitable simply to scale the interaction between substituents X and Y for all bridge carbons, so the Δσ(2) was recommended to be divided into two parts: Δσ(F(rel))(2) (Δσ(F(rel))(2) = σ(F(rel))(∗)(X) - σ(F(rel))(∗)(Y))(2)) and Δσ(R(ver))(2) (Δσ(R(ver))(2) = (σ(R(ver))(∗)(X) - σ(R(ver))(∗)(Y))(2)). With σ(F(rel))(∗), σ(R(ver))(∗), Δσ(F(rel))(2), Δσ(R(ver))(2), and δ(C,parent), the obtained correlation equation can be used to correlate with the 159 sorts of SCS of the different bridge carbon in cinnamyl aniline derivatives. The correlation coefficient is 0.9993, and the standard deviation is only 0.53 ppm. The multi-parameter correlation equation can be recommended to predict well the corresponding bridge carbons SCS of disubstituted cinnamyl anilines.

Mechanistic investigation of the iridium-catalysed alkylation of amines with alcohols

The [Cp*IrCl(2)](2)-catalysed alkylation of amines with alcohols was investigated using a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. A Hammett study involving a series of para-substituted benzyl alcohols resulted in a line with a negative slope. This clearly documents that a positive charge is built up in the transition state, which in combination with the measurement of a significant kinetic isotope effect determines hydride abstraction as being the selectivity-determining step under these conditions. A complementary Hammett study using para-substituted anilines was also carried out. Again, a line with a negative slope was obtained suggesting that nucleophilic attack on the aldehyde is selectivity-determining. A computational investigation of the entire catalytic cycle with full-sized ligands and substrates was performed using density functional theory. The results suggest a catalytic cycle where the intermediate aldehyde stays coordinated to the iridium catalyst and reacts with the amine to give a hemiaminal which is also bound to the catalyst. Dehydration to the imine and reduction to the product amine also takes place without breaking the coordination to the catalyst. The fact that the entire catalytic cycle takes place with all the intermediates bound to the catalyst is important for the further development of this synthetic transformation.

(E)-4-[2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]nitrobenzene and its 'bridge-flipped' analogues

The solid-state structures of three push-pull acceptor-π-donor (A-π-D) systems differing only in the nature of the π-spacer have been determined. (E)-1-Nitro-4-[2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene, C(17)H(17)NO(5), (I), and its 'bridge-flipped' imine analogues, (E)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)aniline, C(16)H(16)N(2)O(5), (II), and (E)-4-nitro-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)aniline, C(16)H(16)N(2)O(5), (III), display different kinds of supramolecular networks, viz. corrugated planes, a herringbone pattern and a layered structure, respectively, all with zero overall dipole moments. Only (III) crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric space group (P2(1)2(1)2(1)) and is, therefore, a potential material for second-harmonic generation (SHG).

Antileishmanial, antimicrobial and antifungal activities of some new aryl azomethines

A series of eighteen azomethines has been synthesized by the reaction of appropriate primary aromatic amines with aryl and/or heteroaryl carboxaldehydes. The synthesized azomethines have been evaluated for their in vitro antileishmanial, antibacterial and antifungal activities. The results revealed some antifungal activity of most of the synthesized compounds, whereas the antileishmaniasis activity results highlighted that all synthesized azomethines inhibited parasite growth and most of them showed highly potent action towards Leishmania major promastigotes. No remarkable bactericidal activities were observed.