Localized Radical Cations

In qualitative terms, the rearrangement reaction is considerably more efficient for the oxime acetate 107b than for the oxime ether 107a. As a result, the photochemical reactivity of the oxime acetates 109 and 110 was probed. Irradiation of 109 for 3 hr, under the same conditions used for 107, affords the cyclopropane 111 (25%) as a 1 2 mixture of Z.E isomers. Likewise, DCA-sensitized irradiation of 110 for 1 hr yields the cyclopropane derivative 112 (16%) and the dihydroisoxazole 113 (18%). It is unclear at this point how 113 arises in the SET-sensitized reaction of 110. However, this cyclization process is similar to that observed in our studies of the DCA-sensitized reaction of the 7,8-unsaturated oximes 114, which affords the 5,6-dihydro-4//-l,2-oxazines 115 [68]. A possible mechanism to justify the formation of 113 could involve intramolecular electrophilic addition to the alkene unit in 116 of the oxygen from the oxime localized radical-cation, followed by transfer of an acyl cation to any of the radical-anions present in the reaction medium. 

A range of paracyclophane radical cations has recently been studied by EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy [149]. The [5,5] and [7,7]paracyclophane showed localized radical cation at low temperatures, however at room temperature the higher molec-... 

The cyclodehydrogenation of electron-rich alkoxy- and alkylthio-substituted hexaphenylbenzenes resulted in ether cleavage [62]. In addition, hexaphenyl-benzenes substituted with redox-active moieties, such as diarylamines or pyridine, do not provide the desired HBC derivatives, presumably due to the preferential formation of nitrogen-localized radical cations [63]. Thus, the hexaether 15 did not yield the desired hexaalkoxy-substituted HBC upon treatment with FeCh, but rather an unexpected indeno[l,2-b]fluorene derivative 16, the structure of which was confirmed using X-ray crystallography (Scheme 13.5) [64]. 

The localization of the HOMO is also important for another reason. Since it describes the distribution of a hole in a radical cation, it relates to the hindrance that a positive charge will encounter as it propagates along the chain. There is indeed experimental evidence (9) that the hole states of the polysilane chain are localized and that they move by a hopping mechanism. 

DPB as well as other DPP molecules (t-stilbene, diphenyl-hexatriene) with relatively low ionization potential (7.4-7.8 eV) and low vapor pressure was successfully incorporated in the straight channel of acidic ZSM-5 zeolite. DPP lies in the intersection of straight channel and zigzag channel in the vicinity of proton in close proximity of Al framework atom. The mere exposure of DPP powder to Bronsted acidic ZSM-5 crystallites under dry and inert atmosphere induced a sequence of reactions that takes place during more than 1 year to reach a stable system which is characterized by the molecule in its neutral form adsorbed in the channel zeolite. Spontaneous ionization that is first observed is followed by the radical cation recombination according to two paths. The characterization of this phenomenon shows that the ejected electron is localized near the Al framework atom. The reversibility of the spontaneous ionization is highlighted by the recombination of the radical cation or the electron-hole pair. The availability of the ejected electron shows that ionization does not proceed as a simple oxidation but stands for a real charge separated state. 

Nucleophilic Trapping of Radical Cations. To investigate some of the properties of Mh radical cations these intermediates have been generated in two one-electron oxidant systems. The first contains iodine as oxidant and pyridine as nucleophile and solvent (8-10), while the second contains Mn(0Ac) in acetic acid (10,11). Studies with a number of PAH indicate that the formation of pyridinium-PAH or acetoxy-PAH by one-electron oxidation with Mn(0Ac)3 or iodine, respectively, is related to the ionization potential (IP) of the PAH. For PAH with relatively high IP, such as phenanthrene, chrysene, 5-methyl chrysene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene, no reaction occurs with these two oxidant systems. Another important factor influencing the specific reactivity of PAH radical cations with nucleophiles is localization of the positive charge at one or a few carbon atoms in the radical cation. 

The overall conclusion from the reaction of BP and 6-substituted BP radical cations with nucleophiles of various strengths is that weak nucleophiles display higher selectivity toward the position of highest charge localization. Thus another important factor in the chemical reactivity of radical cations is represented by the strength of the nucleophile. 

Ionization Potential of PAH and Charge Localization in Radical Cations... 

From knowledge presently available, the ability of PAH to bind covalently to cellular macromolecules appears to depend mainly on two factors the ease of formation of PAH radical cations, which is measured by their IP, and localization of positive charge in the radical cation. The IP of numerous PAH have been determined and compared to a qualitative measure of their carcinogenicity (16). 

This list includes BP, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 3-methylchol-anthrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]pyrene. These PAH can be activated both by one-electron oxidation and/or monooxygenation. There are a few PAH with low IP which are inactive (Table I), such as perylene, or weakly active, such as anthanthrene. This indicates that low IP is a necessary, but not sufficient factor for determining carcinogenic activity by one-electron oxidation. These inactive or weakly active PAH have the highest density of positive charge delocalized over several aromatic carbon atoms in their radical cations, whereas the active PAH with low IP have charge mainly localized on one or a few carbon atoms in their radical cations. 

Compounds which have low IP and sufficient charge localization in the radical cation, namely 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, BP,... 

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