Lawesson's Reagent: Providing a New Approach to the Forgotten 6-Thioverdazyl Radical

A new method for the preparation of the underrepresented 1,5-dimethyl-6-thioverdazyl radicals has been developed employing Lawesson's reagent (LR). The synthetic route involves the direct thionation of the carbonyl group of the corresponding dialkylbishydrazone followed by cyclization to give the tetrazinanthione verdazyl precursor on a gram scale. Subsequent oxidation yields the 6-thioverdazyl radical. It was determined that thionation of substrates containing electron-withdrawing groups in the ortho- or para-positions was high yielding. In contrast, for the parent phenyl group or substrates bearing weakly electron-donating substituents, thionation efficiency was significantly reduced. This could be overcome by utilizing partial in situ cyclization, which occurs during work up, to generate the tetrazinanthione directly via a one-pot synthesis. Density functional theory suggests that the LR fragment interacts with the carbonyl prior to cycloaddition and subsequent to cycloreversion, leading to the thiocarbonyl. The electronic nature of the radical is characterized with electron paramagnetic resonance as well as the first report of 6-thioverdazyl redox properties.

End-functionalized polymers by controlled/living radical polymerizations: synthesis and applications

This review focuses on end-functionalized polymers synthesized by controlled/living radical polymerizations and the applications in fields including bioconjugate formation, surface modification, topology construction, and self-assembly.

Enhanced synthesis of oxo-verdazyl radicals bearing sterically-and electronically-diverse C3-substituents

The synthetic viability of the hydrazine- and phosgene-free synthesis of 1,5-dimethyl oxo-verdazyl radicals has been improved via a detailed study investigating the influence of the aryl substituent on tetrazinanone ring formation. Although it is well established that functionalisation at the C3 position of the tetrazinanone ring does not influence the nature of the radical, it is crucial in applications development. The synthetic route involves a 4-step sequence: Schiff base condensation of a carbohydrazide with an arylaldehyde, alkylation, ring closure then subsequent oxidation to the radical. We found that the presence of strong electron-donating substituents and electron rich heterocycles, result in a significant reduction in yield during both the alkylation and ring closure steps. This can, in part, be alleviated by milder alkylation conditions and further substitution of the aryl group. In comparison, more facile formation of the tetrazine ring was observed with examples containing electron-withdrawing groups and with meta- or para-substitution. Density functional theory suggests that the ring closure proceeds via the formation of an ion pair. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy provides insight into the precise electronic structure of the radical with small variations in hyperfine coupling constants revealing subtle differences.

Kinetic investigation of thermal and photoinduced homolysis of alkylated verdazyls

The on-demand generation of stable organic radicals from the precursors can be considered as an essential challenge for the plethora of applications in various fields of science. In this contribution, we prepared a range of N-(methyl)benzyl derivatives of 6-oxoverdazyl via atom transfer radical addition from moderate to high yields and studied their thermal- and photo-initiated homolysis. The kinetics of homolysis was measured, and the dissociating rate constant k_d, activation energy E_a and frequency factor A were estimated. Variation of the substituent at the C3-position of the verdazyl ring was successfully applied for fine-tuning the homolysis rate: the value of k_d was higher for alkylverdazyls with electron-withdrawing groups, e.g., the para nitro group afforded a 6-fold increase in k_d. In contrast to thermal homolysis, the rate of photoinduced decomposition depends on both the extinction coefficient and the value of activation energy. Thus, nitro-containing alkylated verdazyls show the highest homolysis rate in both types of initiations. The achieved results afford a novel opportunity in the controlled generation of verdazyls and further application of these compounds in medicine and chemical industry.

The aromaticity of verdazyl radicals and their closed-shell charged species

The aromaticity of fourteen 3-oxo-verdazyl (1–8) and Kuhn verdazyl (9–14) radicals with different substituents has been investigated computationally using the gauge-including magnetically induced current-density (GIMIC) method.

Triazine-mediated controlled radical polymerization: new unimolecular initiators

Triazine-based unimolecular initiators are shown to mediate the controlled radical polymerization of several monomer classes, yielding polymers with low dispersities, targeted molecular weights, and active chain ends.

Redox Active Compounds in Controlled Radical Polymerization and Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Mutual Solutions to Disparate Problems

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are two fields of research that at an initial glance appear to have little in common. However, despite their obvious differences, both in application and in scientific nature, a closer look reveals a striking similarity between many of the compounds widely used as control agents in radical polymerization and as redox couples in dye-sensitized solar cells. Herein, we review the various redox active compounds used and examine the characteristics that give them the ability to perform this dual function. In addition we explore the advances in the understanding of the structural features that enhance their activity in both CRP and DSSCs. It is hoped that such a comparison will be conducive to improving process performance in both fields.

Metal coordination, and metal-ligand redox non-innocence, modulates allosteric C-N bond homolysis in an N-benzyl tetrazine

Remote coordination of a Ru(hfac)2 moiety to a chelating N-benzyl tetrazine lowers the C-N homolytic bond dissociation enthalpy by approximately 20 kJ mol(-1). The significant bond strength perturbation is believed to arise as a consequence of metal-ligand redox non-innocence.

6-Oxoverdazyl radical polymers with tunable electrochemical properties

6-Oxoverdazyl radical polymers were synthesized and their tunable redox properties studied in solution and the solid-state.