Charge reversal spectroscopy

Besides this the real-time observation of charge reversal processes might allow the direct view of the isomerization dynamics of special molecules. Vinylidene (H2C=C), the simplest member of the class of unsaturated car-benes, can be-regarded as a prototype for this. From photoelectron spectroscopy it is well known that the C2H2 anion has vinylidene structure[449j. In its natural ground state it rather rapidly becomes its more stable isomer acetylene (HC=CH). The NeNePo scheme should allow the estimation of at least the corresponding isomeriztion time. 

The photodynamics of electronically excited indole in water is investigated by UV-visible pump-probe spectroscopy with 80 fs time resolution and compared to the behavior in other solvents. In cyclohexane population transfer from the optically excited La to the Lb state happens within 7 ps. In ethanol ultrafast state reversal is observed, followed by population transfer from the Lb to the La state within 6 ps. In water ultrafast branching occurs between the fluorescing state and the charge-transfer-to-solvent state. Presolvated electrons, formed together with indole radicals within our time resolution, solvate on a timescale of 350 fs. 

The corrinoid-mediated reduction of polyhaloethenes has been the subject of a recent study, which reports reaction via homolytic C-halogen bond fission. The elimination of a further halogen radical affords haloalkynes, which lead to acetylene itself.56 The electron transfer-induced reductive cleavage of alkyl phenyl ethers with lithium naphthalenide has been re-examined in a study which showed that it is possible to reverse regioselectivity of the cleavage (i.e. ArOR to ArH or ArOH) by introduction of a positive charge adjacent to the alkyl ether bond.57 A radical intermediate has been detected by ESR spectroscopy in the reduction of imines to amines with formic acid58 which infers reacts takes place via Lukasiewicz s mechanism.59... 

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