Matrix isolation, photochemical

A study of the matrix-isolated photochemical behaviour of o-phthalaldehyde has identified two isomeric forms only one of which, the -Z-isomer (351), is photochemically reactive. Irradiation of this at 313nm yields the E- and Z-isomers (352) and (353). The -isomer can be photochemically converted by... 

Xenon dichloride [13780-38-6], XeCl, and xenon(II) chloroduoride [73378-52-6], XeClE, have been prepared by photochemical and electric discharge methods and have been examined at low temperatures by matrix-isolation techniques (39,40). The dichloride has a linear stmcture like that of XeE2. Evidence for the existence of XeCl2, XeBr2, and xenon tetrachloride [14989-42-5], XeCl, has been obtained from Mn ssbauer studies (41,42). Owing to thermal chemical instabiUties, no dihaUde other than the binary duorides has been prepared in macroscopic amounts. 

Either UV-VIS or IR spectroscopy can be combined with the technique of matrix isolation to detect and identify highly unstable intermediates. In this method, the intomediate is trapped in a solid inert matrix, usually one of the inert gases, at very low temperatures. Because each molecule is surrounded by inert gas atoms, there is no possiblity for intermolecular reactions and the rates of intramolecular reactions are slowed by the low temperature. Matrix isolation is a very useful method for characterizing intermediates in photochemical reactions. The method can also be used for gas-phase reactions which can be conducted in such a way that the intermediates can be rapidly condensed into the matrix. 

During recent years, fascinating developments have occurred in the area of r 2-silene complexes, which opened up to totally new chemistry. Some of the highlights will be presented in this section. The first investigations of coordination compounds of silenes were carried out by means of matrix isolation techniques at very low temperatures. In particular, photochemical methods proved to be most effective... 

Photochemical reactions involving matrix-isolated atoms. R. N. Perutz, Chem. Rev., 1985, 85, 77 (187). 

In attempts to understand the photochemical reactions of Fischer carbene complexes, several matrix isolation and flash photolysis studies have been conducted using both Cr and W (but not Mo) complexes [5-11]. Although the complexes studied and conditions used varied, several general conclusions were drawn ... 

The results of low-temperature matrix-isolation studies with 6 [41a] are quite consistent with the photochemical formation of cyclo-Cif, via 1,2-diketene intermediates [59] and subsequent loss of six CO molecules. When 6 was irradiated at A > 338 nm in a glass of 1,2-dichloroethane at 15 K, the strong cyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione C=0 band at 1792 cm in the FT-IR spectrum disappeared quickly and a strong new band at 2115 cm appeared, which was assigned to 1,2-diketene substructures. Irradiation at A > 280 nm led to a gradual decrease in the intensity of the ketene absorption at 2115 cm and to the appearance of a weak new band at 2138 cm which was assigned to the CO molecules extruded photo-chemically from the 1,2-diketene intermediates. Attempts to isolate cyclo-Cig preparatively by flash vacuum pyrolysis of 6 or low-temperature photolysis of 6 in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran in NMR tubes at liquid-nitrogen temperature have not been successful. 

A matrix isolation IR study of cyclic siladienes was more successful (Khabashesku et al., 1992). At first, unstable l-silacyclopenta-2,4-diene [128] was generated by vacuum pyrolysis (800°C 10 -10 Torr) of 5-silaspiro[4.4]nona-2,7-diene [129] or pyrolysis and photolysis (A = 248 nm) of l,l-diazido-l-silacyclopenta-2,4-diene [130] it has been studied by UV and IR spectroscopy in an argon matrix at 12 K. The UV band at Amax = 278 nm and nine IR bands (including two sp Si-H stretching vibrations at 2175 and 2144 cm ) have been recorded in matrix spectra of [128]. Reversible photochemical interconversion of [128] with silacy-... 

Clearly, mechanistic investigations can provide circumstantial evidence for the participation of particular intermediates in a reaction but, here, we are concerned with the definitive observation of these species. If the intermediates are relatively stable then direct spectroscopic observation of the species during a room-temperature reaction may be possible As a rather extreme example of this, the zero-valent manganese radicals, Mn(CO>3L2 (L phosphine) can be photochemically generated from Mh2(CO)gL2, and, in the absence of O2 or other radical scavengers, are stable in hydrocarbon solution for several weeks (2, 3) However, we are usually more anxious to probe reactions in which unstable intermediates are postulated. There are, broadly speaking, three approaches - continuous generation, instantaneous methods and matrix isolation. 

In this section, we outline a number of studies by various workers in which matrix isolation experiments have contributed to the understanding of some photochemical pathways and where the objective was to relate the experiments to room-temperature photochemistry. We then consider briefly some current problems involving dinuclear and polynuclear carbonyls. 

There was no evidence for production of (n C5H5)Co(C0) in Ar matrices, presumably because of very ready recombination with CO in the matrix cage. Whether a matrix isolated carbonyl molecule can eject CO without automatic reconbination probably requires the photochemical path to lead to a ground state fragment in which the empty coordination site is oriented away from the photo-ejected CO - see the Cr(C0)5 photochemical scheme (Figure 3).]... 

The photochemical dissociation of Me2Ge from 7,7-dimethyl-l,4,5,6-tetraphenyl-2,3-benzo-7-germanorbomadiene (14) has been studied by flash photolysis, low-temperature matrix isolation and CIDNP 3H NMR techniques30. The results suggest that a biradical (15) is formed as an intermediate species in the photoreaction. The biradical is initially formed in the singlet state, which undergoes conversion to the triplet state before irreversible decomposition to form Me2Ge and tetraphenylnaphthalene (TPN) (reaction 19). 

The photolysis of phenyl-substituted trigermanes yields both the digermanes and germylenes, as determined by trapping, matrix isolation and flash photolysis experiments74. The data presented indicate two independent photochemical processes as outlined in... 

Indeed, access to matrix-isolated thioxoethenone C2OS (117) was gained by us in 1997.148 As proposed the photochemical addition of CS, generated by a microwave discharge in CS2, to CO was achieved by selective excitation (A. = 254 nm) of CS. This reaction could be reversed completely by changing the excitation wavelength to k = 313 nm. 

Compound 12 contains a vinylic hydroxyl group and thus is expected to be unstable at higher temperatures in solution. Under the conditions of matrix isolation, however, it is perfectly stable and a third photochemical activation is required to induce the tautomerization to the unsaturated ketone 13. 

Halogen substitution is expected to increase the electrophilicity of the carbenes, and in particular lh with four fluorine substituents is expected to be highly electrophilic and of unusual reactivity. All the carbenes le-g could be matrix-isolated by irradiation of their corresponding quinone diazides 2 in argon at 8-10 K.24 68,62 Again, the thermal reaction in (Vdoped matrices results in the formation of quinone oxides 7, which show the expected photochemical rearrangement to the spiro dioxiranes 8 and finally lactones 9. 

Dehydrophenol 20i is a tautomeric form of carbene la, and a [1,3]-H migration should in principal interconvert these species. However, under the conditions of matrix isolation the benzynes 201—1 are thermally and photochemically stable towards rearrangement to the corresponding carbenes. UV irradiation of 20i results in a ring-opening and formation of so far unidentified acetylenic products. 

Carbene lv is photolabile, and 400 nm irradiation produces a mixture of products.108 By comparison with calculated IR spectra the major product was identified as cyclopropene 3v. The formation of 3v is irreversible, and it cannot be thermally (by annealing the matrix) nor photochemically converted back to carbene lv. The lv -> 3v rearrangement is calculated (B3LYP/6-31G(d) + ZPE) to be endothermic by only 5.4 kcal/mol with an activation barrier of 18.2 kcal/mol. Due to the two Si-C bonds in the five-membered ring of 3v this cyclopropene is less strained than 3s, which is reflected by the smaller destabilization relative to carbene lv. The thermal energy available at temperatures below 40 K is much too low to overcome the calculated barrier of 12.8 kcal/mol for the rearrangement of 3v back to lv, and consequently 3v is stable under the conditions of matrix isolation. 

Earlier, Dunkin and Thomson had observed that matrix-isolated triplet 10a did not undergo photochemical ring expansion.83 However, Morawietz and Sander have recently provided evidence for photochemical conversion of 310a and 310b to the corresponding fluorinated azirines (Scheme 19).48d This represents a rare instance where an azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptatriene, the putative intermediate in the ring expansion of a phenylnitrene, has actually been observed. 

Most chemical reactions can be slowed down by lowering the temperature. With low-temperature studies it is possible to prolong the lifetimes of the reactive intermediates so that they can be characterised by normal techniques. Matrix isolation allows experiments to be carried out at temperatures as low as 4K, in order to study species, such as radicals, that are produced photochemically at very low temperatures. The initial photoproduct is trapped within a rigid matrix that inhibits diffusion of the reactive species. The matrix material must be ... 

The Characterization and Reactivity of Photochemically Generated Phenylene Bis(diradical) Species as Revealed by Matrix Isolation Spectroscopy and Computational Chemistry... 

The photochemistry of [Cr(CO)e] has been investigated in several studies. Flash photolysis of cyclohexane solutions of [CrfCO) ] affords two species one has a of 470 nm and a lifetime of 5 ms and the other, = 440 nm, has a lifetime > 1 s. The relationship between photolysed species of [CrfCO) ] and photochemical substitution reactions described in Scheme 4 has been suggested from i.r. and u.v. spectroscopic studies of matrix-isolated species. ... 

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