Femtosecond observation of benzyne intermediates in a molecular beam: Bergman rearrangement in the isolated molecule

Total synthesis of lissodendoric acid A via stereospecific trapping of a strained cyclic allene

Small rings that contain allenes are unconventional transient compounds that have been known since the 1960s. Despite being discovered around the same time as benzyne and offering a number of synthetically advantageous features, strained cyclic allenes have seen relatively little use in chemical synthesis. We report a concise total synthesis of the manzamine alkaloid lissodendoric acid A, which hinges on the development of a regioselective, diastereoselective, and stereospecific trapping of a fleeting cyclic allene intermediate. This key step swiftly assembles the azadecalin framework of the natural product, allows for a succinct synthetic endgame, and enables a 12-step total synthesis (longest linear sequence; 0.8% overall yield). These studies demonstrate that strained cyclic allenes are versatile building blocks in chemical synthesis.

Determination of the Rate Constant of the [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Between an Aryne Atropisomer and Furan in Solution

Using a specially designed prototype of a nonracemic aryne atropisomer with a low barrier to enantiomerization (ca. 36 kJ·mol^-1), it was possible to determine the kinetic constant of its cycloaddition with furan in solution by a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental measurements. It was found that the reaction half-life of this aryne atropisomer in solution with 100 equivalents of furan as the trapping reagent is <150 ns at temperatures above -20 °C.

Photochemistry of 3,6-Didehydropyridazine Biradical─An Untraceable Para Benzyne Analogue

We report matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic studies to characterize 3,6-didehydropyridazine 6, a heterocyclic analogue of para benzyne, combined with computations. In this regard, we have utilized 3,6-diiodopyridazine 11 as a photolytic precursor. The experiments toward the generation of the biradical are carried out in argon and nitrogen matrices at 4 K. Instead of the elusive biradical, we have observed a ring-opening product maleonitrile (Z)-7 upon irradiation at 254 nm. In contrast, prolonged irradiation at 254 nm leads only to Z-E isomerization, forming fumaronitrile (E)-7. The mechanistic aspects of ring-opening, product selectivity, and Z-E photoisomerization steps have been investigated in detail using high-level ab initio computations. These studies have found that 3,6-didehydropyridazine 6 is an untraceable intermediate, and the ring-opening step leading to maleonitrile is barrierless. In addition, we have proposed the involvement of the S₁ (π-π*) state via conical intersection in the Z-E photoisomerization of maleonitrile.

Intercepting fleeting cyclic allenes with asymmetric nickel catalysis

Strained cyclic organic molecules, such as arynes, cyclic alkynes and cyclic allenes, have intrigued chemists for more than a century with their unusual structures and high chemical reactivity¹. The considerable ring strain (30-50 kilocalories per mole)^2,3 that characterizes these transient intermediates imparts high reactivity in many reactions, including cycloadditions and nucleophilic trappings, often generating structurally complex products⁴. Although strategies to control absolute stereochemistry in these reactions have been reported using stoichiometric chiral reagents^5,6, catalytic asymmetric variants to generate enantioenriched products have remained difficult to achieve. Here we report the interception of racemic cyclic allene intermediates in a catalytic asymmetric reaction and provide evidence for two distinct mechanisms that control absolute stereochemistry in such transformations: kinetic differentiation of allene enantiomers and desymmetrization of intermediate π-allylnickel complexes. Computational studies implicate a catalytic mechanism involving initial kinetic differentiation of the cyclic allene enantiomers through stereoselective olefin insertion, loss of the resultant stereochemical information, and subsequent introduction of absolute stereochemistry through desymmetrization of an intermediate π-allylnickel complex. These results reveal reactivity that is available to cyclic allenes beyond the traditional cycloadditions and nucleophilic trappings previously reported, thus expanding the types of product accessible from this class of intermediates. Additionally, our computational studies suggest two potential strategies for stereocontrol in reactions of cyclic allenes. Combined, these results lay the foundation for the development of catalytic asymmetric reactions involving these classically avoided strained intermediates.

Operando chemistry of catalyst surfaces during catalysis

The chemistry of a catalyst surface during catalysis is crucial for a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of a catalytic reaction performed on the catalyst in the gas or liquid phase.

Photolysis of a Benzyne Precursor Studied by Time-Resolved FTIR Spectroscopy

The 266 nm laser flash photolysis of phtaloyl peroxide (2) in liquid acetonitrile solution at room temperature has been investigated. Upon 266 nm laser irradiation, 2 is effectively photodecarboxylated leading to the formation of o-benzyne (1) and two equivalents of CO2, yet a small fraction of photolyzed 2 follows a different pathway leading to 6-oxocyclohexa-2,4-dienylideneketene (3) and one equivalent of CO2. Compound 3 is kinetically reactive and reacts in the microsecond time scale following a first-order kinetic law. The presence of 1 in the photolysis experiment is confirmed by trapping experiments with methyl 1-methylpyrrole-2-carboxylate (6). The Diels-Alder reaction between 1 and 6 occurs under the selected experimental conditions on a time scale shorter than 100 ms.

Isomerization and fragmentation pathways of 1,2-azaborine

The generation of 1,2-azaborine (4), the BN-analogue of ortho-benzyne, was recently achieved by elimination of tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane under the conditions of flash vacuum pyrolysis. The present investigation identifies by computational means pathways for the thermal isomerization and fragmentation of 1,2-azaborine. The computations were performed using single reference (hybrid/density functional, second order Møller-Plesset perturbation, and coupled cluster theories) as well as multiconfiguration methods (complete active space SCF based second order perturbation theory, multireference configuration interaction, and multiconfiguration coupled electron pair approximation) with basis sets up to polarized triple-ζ quality. The 1,2-azaborine is, despite the distortion of its molecular structure, the most stable C4H4BN isomer investigated. The formation of BN-endiyne isomers is highly unfavorable as the identified pathways involve barriers close to 80 kcal mol(-1). The concerted fragmentation to ethyne and 2-aza-3-bora-butadiyne even has a barrier close to 120 kcal mol(-1). The fragmentation of BN-enediynes has energetic requirements similar to enediynes.

Gas-phase synthesis and reactivity of Cu+–benzyne complexes

Cu⁺–benzyne complexes bearing ligands (L) were synthesized and their addition reactivity was studied in the gas phase using electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry.

The expanding role of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for probing reactive intermediates in solution

Within the past decade, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has rapidly occupied a prominent position for liquid-phase mechanistic studies due to its intrinsic advantages allowing for efficient "fishing" (rapid, sensitive, specific and simultaneous detection/identification) of multiple intermediates and products directly from a "real-world" solution. In this review we attempt to offer a comprehensive overview of the ESI-MS-based methodologies and strategies developed up to date to study reactive species in reaction solutions. A full description of general issues involved with probing reacting species from complex (bio)chemical reaction systems is briefly covered, including the potential sources of reactive intermediate (metabolite) generation, analytical aspects and challenges, basic rudiments of ESI-MS and the state-of-the-art technology. The main purpose of the present review is to highlight the utility of ESI-MS and its expanding role in probing reactive intermediates from various reactions in solution, with special focus on current progress in ESI-MS-based approaches for improving throughput, testing reality and real-time detection by using newly developed MS instruments and emerging ionization sources (such as ambient ESI techniques). In addition, the limitations of modern ESI-MS in detecting intermediates in organic reactions is also discussed.

An efficient entry to 1,2-benzisoxazoles via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated nitrile oxides and benzyne

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of a range of 1,2-benzisoxazoles using an improved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and benzyne is described. Key to the procedure is the in situ generation of the reactive nitrile oxide and benzyne reactants simultaneously.

The Benzyne Story

The history of o-benzyne from its early beginnings as an unobservable reactive intermediate until its present status as a very well characterized but still theoretically challenging molecule with important applications in synthesis is reviewed. The m- and p-benzynes, tridehydrobenzenes, and benzdiynes are also known, and p-benzyne is a key intermediate in the action of a potent class of ene-diyne anti-tumour compounds.

Mass Spectrometry of Benzyne and Cyclopentadienylideneketene

The formation of cyclopentadienylideneketene 2 and benzyne 1 in flash vacuum thermolysis reactions is investigated by on-line mass spectrometry. Compounds 13, 14, and 15 all afford ketene 2, which decomposes to benzyne and CO in the high-temperature regime. Cyclopentadienylideneketene 2 is stable on the microsecond time-scale of neutralization-reionization experiments. Collisional activation mass spectrometry of m/z 76 from 14, 15, and 5 indicates that the C6H4•+ ions most likely undergo ring opening in the mass spectrometer.

The Products of the Reactions of o-Benzyne with Ethene, Propene, and Acetylene: A Combined Mass Spectrometric and Quantum Chemical Study

The primary products of the bimolecular reactions of ortho-benzyne, o-C6H4 (1,2-dehydrobenzene), with ethene, propene, and acetylene have been detected by molecular beam mass spectrometry at a combustion relevant temperature of T = 1475 K. o-Benzyne was produced by flash pyrolysis of phthalic anhydride in the absence and presence of the respective reactant. Potential reaction pathways of the addition reactions were investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Channels with biradical intermediates were found to be energetically more favorable than alternative quasi-concerted [2+1] cycloaddition and concerted H-transfer pathways. Bicyclic benzocyclobutene and benzocyclobutadiene were identified as the main products of the reactions with C2H4 and C2H2, respectively. At combustion temperatures, however, these cyclic products are likely to undergo sequential ring opening. In the case of propene, the presence of an allylic H atom initiates a favorable ene-type reaction sequence yielding the open-chain product allylbenzene. Overall, hydrocarbon reactivity was found to increase in the order C2H2, C2H4 to 3H8. The range of the estimated bimolecular rate constants is comparable to the rate constants of the corresponding phenyl radical reactions and hence point out a potentially important role of o-C6H4 reactions in flame and soot formation chemistry.

3,5-PyridyneA Heterocyclic meta-Benzyne Derivative

3,5-Pyridyne (3) has been generated by flash vacuum pyrolysis of 3,5-diiodopyridine (20) and 3,5-dinitropyridine (21) and characterized by IR spectroscopy in cryogenic argon matrices. The aryne can clearly be distinguished from other side products by its photolability at 254 nm, inducing a rapid ring-opening presumably to (Z)-1-aza-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne. As byproducts of the pyrolysis, HCN and butadiyne were identified, together with traces of acetylene, cyanoacetylene, (E)-1-aza-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne, and the 3-iodo-5-pyridyl radical (from 20). Several pathways for rearrangements and fragmentations of 3 and of the parent meta-benzyne (1) have been explored computationally by density functional theory and ab initio quantum chemical methods. The lowest energy decomposition pathway of biradicals 1 and 3 is a ring-opening process accompanied by hydrogen migration, leading to (Z)-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne [(Z)-10] and (Z)-3-aza-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne [(Z)-24], respectively. Both reactions require activation energies of 45-50 kcal mol(-1). Mechanisms leading from (Z)-24 or directly from 3 to the experimentally observed byproducts are discussed. Upon replacement of the C(5)H moiety by N in meta-benzyne, high-level calculations predict a modest shortening of the interradical distance by 5-7 pm and a reduction of the singlet-triplet energy splitting by 3 kcal mol(-1), in good agreement with isodesmic equations, according to which the singlet ground state of 3 is destabilized relative to 1 by 3-4 kcal mol(-1). In contrast to 3,5-borabenzyne (2), which is found to be doubly aromatic, nucleus-independent chemical shifts of 3 are almost identical to that of pyridine, indicating the absence of paramagnetic ring current effects that may be associated with "in-plane antiaromaticity". As compared with 1, the overall perturbation caused by the nitrogen atom in 3 is weak, and four electron, three center interaction is of minor importance in this molecule.

Unusual Chemistry of the Complex Mg•+(2-Fluoropyridine) Activated by the Photoexcitation of Mg•+

The photochemistry of a gas-phase complex, Mg*(+)(2-fluoropyridine), has been studied in the spectral range of approximately 230-440 nm with a molecular beam coupled with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Surprisingly rich chemistry has been observed. Aside from the evaporative photofragment, Mg*(+), an abundant photoproduct, C(4)H(4)*(+), is observed after the electronic excitation of Mg(+). The formation of this photoproduct is associated with the loss of a stable species, CN[bond]Mg[bond]F. Also identified in this work are reactive pathways that occur with the elimination of HCN, HF, or MgF from the complex. The observed photoreactions have been examined in detail using quantum mechanics methods. A distinct structural feature of the complex is the direct attachment of Mg*(+) to the N atom of fluoropyridine due to the strong electrostatic interaction. The key to the rich photochemistry is the formation of the FMg(+)(C(5)H(4)N) intermediate, through facile fluorine migration. Plausible photoreaction mechanisms have been proposed. These mechanisms account for the evolution of the energized complex with the pre-defined structure en route to the target photoproducts that we have detected.

A m-benzyne to o-benzyne conversion through a 1,2-shift of a phenyl group

Pyrolysis of two differently labeled versions of 3-phenylphthalic anhydride shows that a m-benzyne can form the related o-benzyne through shift of a phenyl group. The highest energy point in the process is the transition structure for a reverse carbon-hydrogen insertion in an intermediate benzopentalene. With the minor addition of an intermediate alkyne formed through a Roger Brown rearrangement, the original mechanism for formation of acenaphthalene accommodates the labeling results.

Photoinduced DNA cleavage by benzenediradical equivalents. 1,3- and 1,4-bis(dicarbonylcyclopentadienyliron)benzene

Upon photolysis, diiron complexes 1,4- and 1,3-Fp(2)C(6)H(4) (1 and 2) linearize plasmid DNA at ratios as low as 1.5 and 3.0 molecules/bp DNA, respectively. Additionally, single-strand cleavage was observed at ratios higher than 0.05 and 0.19 molecules/bp DNA for 1 and 2, respectively. Radical scavenging studies and metal radical control experiments implicate carbon-centered radicals as participants in the cleavage pathway.

Vibrational spectrum of m-benzyne: a matrix isolation and computational study

m-Benzyne (2) was generated in low-temperature matrices and IR spectroscopically characterized from four different precursors. To assign the IR absorptions, the perdeuterated derivative 2-d(4) was also investigated. By comparison with CCSD(T) calculations all vibrations between 200 and 2500 cm(-)(1) with a predicted relative intensity >2% could be assigned. All experimental and theoretical results are in accordance with a biradicaloid structure for 2, while there is no evidence for a bicyclic closed-shell structure. While benzyne 2 is stable under the conditions of matrix isolation at low temperature, flash vacuum pyrolysis at high temperatures or UV irradiation results in the rearrangement to cis-enediyne. A mechanism involving ring opening accompanied by hydrogen migration is proposed.

Formation and decomposition of distonic o-, m-, and p-benzyne radical cations from photolysis of Mg(+)(o-, m-, p-C(6)H(4)F(2))

Distonic o-, m-, and p-benzyne radical cations (1-3) have been generated by a novel photolysis reaction of mass-selected Mg(+)-difluorobenzene complexes. The energy required for the formation of these radical cations is within 2.2 eV. The formation of o-benzyne cation is most facile. The benzyne radical cations dissociate further to yield ethyne and 1,3-butadiyne radical cation as major products given a sufficient amount of energy. The whole process involves only a single photon, and is very efficient. The calculated threshold for the formation of 1,3-butadiyne radical cation from Mg(+)(o-C(6)H(4)F(2)) is about 4.6 eV, quite comparable with the experimental estimate.