Stable Spiro-Fused Diarylaminyl Radicals: A New Type of a Neutral Mixed-Valence System.

A new type of neutral mixed-valence system was synthesized using a facile one-pot procedure. The spiro-conjugated framework is additionally "fastened" with a biphenyl bridge, which does not directly participate in spin delocalization but makes the molecule stable and influences the reorganization energy and the energy barrier of the intramolecular electron transfer. The in-depth experimental and quantum-chemical study allowed determining the radicals as the Class II Robin-Day-mixed-valence systems. The structure of the radicals was confirmed by the X-ray data, which are relatively rare for Class II MV molecules. Advanced properties of the radicals, such as an ambipolar redox behavior and panchromatic absorption in the visible and NIR regions, along with their stability, make them of interest for materials science. All radicals demonstrate the SOMO-HOMO inversion phenomenon, which was supported by the DFT and the experimental study.

Visible-Light-Driven Thioesterification of Aryl Halides with Potassium Thiocarboxylates: Transition-Metal Catalyst-Free Incorporation of Sulfur Functionalities into an Aromatic Ring.

Reactions of acceptor-substituted aryl iodides and bromides with potassium thiocarboxylates under white light irradiation allow for the preparation of S-aryl thioesters including synthetically versatile S-aryl thioacetates. This transition-metal and external photocatalyst-free method features extremely mild reaction conditions compared with those used in transition-metal-catalyzed protocols. Reactions proceed via the initial formation of an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex in the ground state, which was supported by UV-vis spectra. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping experiments using phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) have revealed the radical nature of the reaction.

Pyridine-Containing Donor-Acceptor Diarylnitroxides: Noncovalent Stabilization of the Redox States.

A series of new pyridyl- or 2-pyridyloxide-containing donor-acceptor diarylnitroxides was obtained and characterized; high stability of the ortho-2-pyridyl-containing diarylnitroxides was determined by kinetic measurements (τ1/2 =1733 h in benzene). Comparative voltammetric study of new nitroxides and their analog in which the Py replaces the Ph group revealed both through-bond and through-space stabilization of the NO redox states with the pyridyl/ 2-pyridyloxide moiety, providing reversibility of both oxidation and reduction processes. Adaptive conformational behavior of new pyridyl/pyridyloxide containing nitroxides upon one-electron oxidation and reduction was confirmed by DFT calculations. Stimuli-responsive conformational changes allow switching on/off dispersion and electrostatic interactions within the molecule and increase stability of the redox states. Spectroelectrochemical measurements provided experimental evidence for reversibility of the through-space stabilization of the oxidized state of the nitroxides with the neighboring pyridine lone pair.

N,N'-Diaryldihydrophenazines as a Sustainable and Cost-Effective Alternative to Precious Metal Complexes in the Photoredox-Catalyzed Alkylation of Aryl Alkyl Ketones.

An inexpensive and highly efficient metal-free alternative to commonly used Ru- and Ir-based catalysts was proposed. It was shown that the new 2,7-di-tert-butyl-5,10-bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5,10-dihydrophenazine outcompeted the iridium phenylpyridyl complex in photoredox activity in the alkylation of silyl enol ethers yielding aryl alkyl ketones. The reaction occurred under visible light irradiation at room temperature and was also applicable to drug derivatives (ibuprofen and naproxen). In-depth photophysical, electrochemical, and quantum chemical studies showed that the aforementioned N,N-diaryldihydrophenazine exhibited enhanced properties that were essential for the photoredox catalysis (a long-lived triplet excited state, strong reducing ability, high stability of the radical cations formed in single-electron-transfer event, and chemical inertness of the catalyst with respect to reactants). Importantly, the substituted N,N'-diaryldihydrophenazines could be obtained directly from diaryl amines; a facile, easily handled and scaled-up one-pot synthetic procedure was elaborated.

Optimization of the photo-orientation rate of an azobenzene-containing polymer based on a kinetic model of photoinduced ordering.

The explicit dependence of the rate of photoinduced ordering (photo-orientation) of an azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline polymer on the photostationary concentration of cis-azobenzene has been predicted theoretically and found experimentally. The employed kinetic model based on the photoinduced rearrangement of the domain structure of a liquid-crystalline material predicts the maximum rate of photo-orientation at ca. 50% content of the cis-isomer in the photostationary state of irradiation. For experimental fine tuning of the photostationary trans-cis ratio, the simultaneous irradiation of material with two beams of light with different wavelengths was employed. The excellent agreement of theory and experiment indicates that the difference of photostationary fractions of cis-azobenzene fragments in adjacent domains of different orientations is the driving force of photoinduced ordering.

Chameleonic Behavior of the α-Methylcyclopropyl Group and Its Through-Space Interactions: A Route to Stabilized Three Redox States in Diarylnitroxides.

The α-methylcyclopropyl (MCP) group with conformationally dependent electronic properties is suggested as an additional structural "instrument" for stabilization of both open-shell and ionic states of diarylnitroxides, to be used as "ambipolar" redox active materials. New MCP-substituted diphenylnitroxides (fully characterized by electrochemical, spectral, and X-ray data) are the most stable nitroxides of the diaryl type known to date [τ1/2 in benzene exceeds three months (2310 h)]. The radicals are capable to reversible oxidation and reduction, yielding stable oxoammonium cations and aminoxyl anions. DFT investigation of the electronic structure and geometry of the compounds confirmed the conformational switching of the cyclopropyl orientation relative to the adjacent aromatic π system is dependent on the nitroxide's redox state. Additional through-space stabilizing interaction between the π-acceptor orbital of the NO+ moiety and the cyclopropyl "banana" bond orbital was also detected, highlighting its good hyperconjugative ability. The estimated σ(para)MCP value (-0.32) confirms its strong electron-donating properties.

Magnetic field effects in nematic and smectic liquid crystals probed by time resolved observation of orientation relaxation of the spin probe.

The kinetics of reorientation of the liquid crystal HOPOOB in nematic and smectic phases in the magnetic field was studied by the spin probe technique. The time evolution of the EPR spectrum shape in the course of reorientation in the nematic phase indicates that the mechanism of alignment comprises redistribution between domains of different orientations rather than the turn of the orientation distribution function. A microscopic model of domain structure rearrangement is provided to qualitatively describe the experimental data. In the smectic C phase, partial reorientation is observed upon the action of the magnetic field. A possible mechanism of this process is the reorientation of tilt direction within the smectic layers. It is shown that this process is constrained, and the value of the corresponding elastic constant is estimated.

Direct Microscopic Observation of Domain Rearrangement Mechanism of Photo-Orientation Process in Azobenzene-Containing Materials.

The evolution of the domain structure of two azobenzene-containing materials during irradiation with polarized light was monitored using polarized optical microscopy with additional λ-waveplate for discerning the domains oriented parallel and perpendicular to irradiating light polarization. It is shown that the process of photo-orientation consists in growth of perpendicularly oriented domains and diminishing of parallel domains via the movement of domain boundaries. These data confirm the mechanism of photo-orientation via domain structure rearrangement.

Orientation order and rotation mobility of nitroxide biradicals determined by quantitative simulation of EPR spectra.

The problem of quantitative numerical simulation of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of biradical probes in both isotropic and aligned media was solved for the first time. The models suitable for the description of the spectra of the probes, both in the rigid limit and in the presence of rotational motions, were developed and successfully applied to model systems. The simulation of EPR spectra allows obtaining the following information about the molecular structure and dynamics: the values of orientation order parameters, the type of rotation mobility and its quantitative characteristics, and the sign and value of the spin exchange constant of the biradical. Model systems used in this work include solutions of nitroxide biradicals in a viscous solvent (squalane) in the range of temperatures 100-370 K and in the aligned liquid crystal n-octylcyanobiphenyl (8CB, 100-298.5 K). Unexpectedly, it was found that in 8CB the main orientation axis of the biradical molecule is perpendicular to the longest molecular axis.

Photo-orientation of azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline materials by means of domain structure rearrangement.

A novel mechanism of photo-orientation of azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline materials is proposed. This mechanism is based on the notion of photochemically induced domain rearrangement driven by destabilization of liquid-crystalline phase in light absorbing domains due to photochemical formation of non-mesogenic cis-azobenzene moieties. The experimental evidence of photoinduced movement of a domain boundary is presented, and the velocity of this movement is measured. A mathematical model for photo-orientation of a polydomain azobenzene-containing material is formulated. The values of model parameters for a liquid-crystalline azopolymer have been measured in separate experiments. Theoretical predictions demonstrate quantitative agreement with the experimental observations.

ESR and optical study of photo-orientation in azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline polymer.

We report a comprehensive experimental study of photoinduced processes in azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline polymer. The kinetic and optical characteristics of the photoisomerization reaction and photo-orientation process have been determined. The spin probe technique has been used to elucidate the details of orientation order and rotational mobility of molecular fragments within the liquid-crystalline polymer. The evolution of orientation order parameters , , and in the course of photoinduced ordering of the material as well as the change of liquid-crystalline domain sizes have been studied quantitatively. The obtained experimental results are compared with the predictions of the existing models of photo-orientation.