An extended conical intersection seam associated with a manifold of decay paths: excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in O-hydroxybenzaldehyde.

O-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (OHBA) is a prototypical photoprotector exhibiting excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Here we report how its photostability depends on an extended conical intersection seam associated with a manifold of decay paths. Thus, the photoreactivity of OHBA derives from a flat excited-state potential energy surface with barriers of only tenths of electronvolts between the reactant and several conical intersection structures that lead to different products: two isomers of a hydrogen-bonded intersection (HBI) that lead back to the enol reactant or to the tautomerized keto form in its Z conformation; an intersection (ZEI) that mediates the Z-E isomerization of the keto tautomer; and a twisted-pyramidalized one (TPI) that leads to an oxetene adduct. The intersection structures are connected to each other, forming a continuous seam, and the competition between the products depends on where the seam is accessed after the initial excitation. The overall picture must be also valid for the methyl salicylate and salicylic acid analogues of OHBA since it reflects the characteristics reported previously for MS and SA.

Probing the intramolecular hydrogen bond of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazoles in polar environment: a photophysical study of UV absorber efficiency.

An in-depth photophysical study is presented for a series of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazoles (HBzTs); the structural characteristic of all these photostabilizers is their strong intramolecular hydrogen bridge (IMHB). Tinuvin P (TIN P, 11a) and six other HBzTs, with no substituent in the 3'-position ortho to the hydroxy function, show pronounced phosphorescence already in the dark (at 77 K in a polar glass). Upon irradiation, the phosphorescence intensity rises further until an equilibrium value is attained (up to 1.5 fold the dark value). A kinetic model is given which excellently reproduces this phosphorescence evolution: it demonstrates phosphorescence to arise from open conformers where the IMHB has been broken. Phosphorescence excitation spectra match the absorption spectra of the open conformer and also that of the O-methyl homologue 11A which cannot form an IMHB. Fluorescence spectra likewise prove the equilibrium between the closed and open conformer for these HBzTs. In unpolar glasses as well as in the crystalline state, TIN P displays a long-wavelength (red) fluorescence (with an enormous Stokes shift of approximately 10.000 cm-1) which is associated with the excited singlet state of the closed form after proton transfer within the IMHB, S1'(C). In polar matrixes, on the other hand, a blue fluorescence is observed (with a regular Stokes shift) for all those HBzTs which have no 3'-substituent shielding the IMHB against being opened by the polar solvent. This blue fluorescence, just as the characteristic phosphorescence evolution for these compounds, is associated with the open conformer. For HBzTs with an (alkyl) group ortho to the bridging OH group, however, a long-wavelength (red) fluorescence is again observed. The shielding effect of the 3'-substituent shows a fine gradation, cumyl >/= 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl (isooctyl) > t-butyl >/= methyl.

Mechanism of an Exceptional Class of photostabilizers: a seam of conical intersection parallel to excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in o-hydroxyphenyl-(1,3,5)-triazine.

We present a detailed CASSCF study of the mechanism of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in the o-hydroxyphenyl triazine class of photostabilizers. The valence-bond analysis of the ground state and the two pipi* excited states permits a simple chemical interpretation of the mechanistic information. Our results show that the barrier to enol-keto tautomerism on the ground-state adiabatic surface is high. Following photoexcitation to the charge-transfer state, the ESIPT is predicted to take place without a barrier. Radiationless decay to the ground state is associated with an extended seam of conical intersection, with a sloped topology lying parallel to the ESIPT path, which can be accessed at any point along the reaction path. Our results show that the triazine class of photostabilizers has the photochemical and photophysical qualities associated with exceptional photostability.

Theoretical study of benzotriazole UV photostability: ultrafast deactivation through coupled proton and electron transfer triggered by a charge-transfer state.

A theoretical CASSCF study of the reaction path for excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) for a model system derived from the UV absorber 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole without the fused benzo ring on the triazole has been carried out. A planar reaction path can be optimized but is shown to have no physical significance. The true reaction path involves twisted geometries. Adiabatic proton transfer is triggered by a charge-transfer from the phenol to the triazole group, and is followed by radiationless decay at the keto form. Along the nonplanar reaction path, there is a coupled proton and electron transfer in a manner similar to tryptophan. This rationalizes unexpected experimental results on the effect of electron withdrawing substituent groups on the photostability. The coupled proton and electron transfer is followed by a barrierless relaxation in the ground state to recover the enol form. An alternative photostabilization pathway from a phenyl localized state has also been documented and is similar to the channel 3 decay pathway in benzene photochemistry. Additionally, a long-lived intermediate for a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) state has been identified as the species potentially responsible for the increase of blue fluorescence in strongly polar media.

Sterically congested tripodal phosphites: conformational analysis, solid-state polymorphism, metal complexation, and application to the asymmetric hydrosilation of ketones.

The synthesis as well as isolation and crystallographic analysis of two solid-state polymorphs of the tripodal ligand tri[2,2',2' '-tris[(2,4,8,10-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-6-yl)oxy]ethyl]amine (3) is described. Form I crystallized from ethyl acetate in the space group P2(1)/n with the unit-cell parameters a = 20.070(10) A, b = 17.477(2) A, c = 27.620(3) A, and beta = 93.050(10) degrees, V = 9674.5(14) A(3), and Z = 4. Form II crystallized from a mixture of acetone and toluene in the space group P1 with the unit-cell parameters a = 12.493(1) A, b = 19.701(2) A, c = 21.027(2) A, alpha = 116.23(1) degrees, beta = 100.15(1) degrees, and gamma = 91.07(1) degrees, V = 4542 A(3), and Z = 2. Differences in the relative absolute stereochemistry of the stereoaxes in the seven-membered dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin ring are discussed. The synthesis and X-ray characterization of enantiomerically pure (S,S,S)-tri[2,2',2' '-tris[(2,4,8,10-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-6-yl)oxy]propyl]amine [(S,S,S)-7] are reported. Two crystallographically independent molecules exist in the unit cell that cannot be superimposed with each other by either a translation or a symmetry operation. The two solid-state conformers in the unit cell differed predominately by the absolute stereochemistry of the stereoaxes in the seven-membered dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin ring. The Rh(I)-catalyzed hydrosilation of acetophenone with the chiral ligands (R,R,S)-7 and (S,S,S)-7 showed significant differences in chiral induction. Chiral cooperativity between the stereoaxes and stereocenters in (S,S,S)-7 is observed. The mechanism of the communication between the stereocenters and stereoaxes leading to chiral cooperativity in the stereoselective transition state is suggested to be primarily steric in nature.

The thermal reaction of sterically hindered nitroxyl radicals with allylic and benzylic substrates: experimental and computational evidence for divergent mechanisms.

The reaction of stable sterically hindered nitroxyl radicals with benzylic and allylic substrates was investigated. An allyloxyamine derivative was obtained by the reaction of 2 molar equiv of a nitroxyl radical with an unactivated alkene. Experimental and computational evidence is consistent with a low-energy pathway involving addition of the nitroxyl radical to the double bond followed by H-atom abstraction from the intermediate by another equivalent of nitroxyl radical.

Atomic Proximity Due to Molecular Congestion: Rational Design of Bis(phosphite) Ligands by Restriction of Molecular Motion(1).

The synthesis and conformational analysis of the sterically congested bis(phosphite) ligand {2-{1-{3,5-(t)Bu(2)-2-[2,2'-CHCH(3)(4,6-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(2)O)(2)PO]C(6)H(2)}Et}-4,6-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(2)O}(PhO)(2)P (5) are reported. X-ray crystallographic, dynamic (31)P{(1)H} NMR, NOE, DNOE, CP-MAS (31)P NMR, and calculational studies of 5 as well as the structurally related bis(phosphites) 1 and 6 suggest that the conformational freedom of the molecule is severely restricted because of geometric restraints due to steric congestion. A through-space mechanism of coupling is suggested to explain the observed eight-bond P-P J coupling of 27.5 Hz in the (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectrum of 5, which is a result of the proximity of the two phosphorus atoms in 5. The results of this study support the contention that the restriction of molecular motion by steric congestion can be used to rationally design a ligand favoring a particular disposition of phosphorus atoms.