Photochemical stilbene

The photochemical ring closure of certain stilbenes, eg, the highly methyl substituted compound (2) [108028-39-3], C22H2g, and their heterocycHc analogues is the basis for another class of photochromic compounds (31—33). 

Other isocyanates undergo [2 + 2] cycloaddition, but only with very electron rich alkenes. Thus phenyl isocyanate gives /3-lactams with ketene acetals and tetramethoxyethylene. With enamines, unstable /3-lactams are formed if the enamine has a /3-H atom, ring opened amides are produced 2 1 adducts are also found. Photochemical addition of cis- and traH5-stilbene to phenyl isocyanate has also been reported (72CC362). 

Especially detailed study of the mechanism of photochemical configurational isomerism has been done on Z- and A-stilbene." Spectroscopic data have established... 

Fig. 13.11. A schematic drawing of the potential energy surfaces for the photochemical reactions of stilbene. Approximate branching ratios and quantum yields for the important processes are indicated. In this figure, the ground- and excited-state barrier heights are drawn to scale representing the best available values, as are the relative energies of the ground states of Z- and E -stilbene 4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene (DHP). [Reproduced from R. J. Sension, S. T. Repinec, A. Z. Szarka, and R. M. Hochstrasser, J. Chem. Phys. 98 6291 (1993) by permission of the American Institute of Physics.]...

Category 4. Photoisomerization. The most common reaction in this category is photochemical cis-trans isomerization." For example, cw-stilbene can be... 

Two types of reactions are important in the photochemical transformation of PAHs, those with molecnlar oxygen and those involving cyclization. lllnstrative examples are provided by the photooxidation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (Lee and Harvey 1986) (Fignre 1.14a) and benzo[a]pyrene (Lee-Ruff et al. 1986) (Figure 1.14b), and the cyclization of CM-stilbene (Figure 1.14c). 

Electronic excited states are often reactive intermediates in many photochemical reactions. In a number of cases, the excited state may undergo energy relaxation. The photoisomerization reaction of fra i-stilbene provides a well-studied... 

The mechanism for the direct photochemical cis-trans isomerization of stilbene has been a highly controversial subject. However, a recent review by Saltiel and co-workers greatly helps to clarify this area of research by painting a detailed and beautifully consistent picture. We will make extensive reference to this review.U)... 

We emphasize that the critical ion pair stilbene+, CA in the two photoactivation methodologies (i.e., charge-transfer activation as well as chloranil activation) is the same, and the different multiplicities of the ion pairs control only the timescale of reaction sequences.14 Moreover, based on the detailed kinetic analysis of the time-resolved absorption spectra and the effect of solvent polarity (and added salt) on photochemical efficiencies for the oxetane formation, it is readily concluded that the initially formed ion pair undergoes a slow coupling (kc - 108 s-1). Thus competition to form solvent-separated ion pairs as well as back electron transfer limits the quantum yields of oxetane production. Such ion-pair dynamics are readily modulated by choosing a solvent of low polarity for the efficient production of oxetane. Also note that a similar electron-transfer mechanism was demonstrated for the cycloaddition of a variety of diarylacetylenes with a quinone via the [D, A] complex56 (Scheme 12). 

On the other hand, reactions in which the return to So occurs from a "non-spectroscopic minimum (Fig. 3, path g) are probably the most common kind. The return is virtually always non-radiativef). This may be the very first minimum in Si (Ti) reached, e.g., the twisted triplet ethylene, or the molecule may have already landed in and again escaped out of a series of minima (Fig. 3, sequence c, e). For instance, triplet excitation of trans-stilbene 70,81-83) gives a relatively long-lived trans-stilbene triplet corresponding to a first spectroscopic minimum in Ti. This is followed by escape to the non-spectroscopic , short-lived phantom twisted stilbene triplet, corresponding to a second and last minimum in Ti. This escape is responsible for the still relatively short lifetime of the planar nn triplet compared to nn triplet of, say, naphthalene. A jump to nearby So and return to So minima at cis- and trans-stilbene geometries complete the photochemical process ). 

Energy is transferred from molecules electronically excited in a chemical reaction to other molecules which emit the accepted excitation energy in the form of light alternatively the accepting molecules can undergo photochemical transformations. First examples of this photochemistry without light were described by E. H. White and coworkers 182>. Thus the trans-stilbene hydrazide 127, on oxidation, yielded small amounts of the cis- 128 beside the trans-stilbene dicarboxylate in a luminol-type reaction. 

Up to about 10 percent of crs-stilbene was obtained when trimethyl-dioxetane 129 was decomposed in the presence of trans-stilbene 182) the electronic excitation energy of the excited carbonyl compounds formed in the cleavage of 129 (see Section V.) was transferred to trans-stilbene, so effecting the photochemical trans-cis isomerization. When bis (2.4-dinitrophenyl) oxalate reacted with hydrogen peroxide (see Section V. C. in the presence of o-tolyl-propane-1.2-dione 130, 2-methyl-2-... 

The photochemical isomerization of E-stilbenes has been applied in the preparation of phenanthrenes, as Z-stilbenes undergo electrocyclie ring closure (cf. chapter 3.1.3) to dihydrophenanthrenes which in turn are easily oxidized to phenanthrenes (3.1) 305). This sequence has also been employed in the synthesis of benzoquinolines 306) or of benzoquinolizines (3.2) 307). 

Irradiation rraws-2-[3-(7V-methylamino)propyl] stilbene 89 results in the formation of 7V-methyl-l-benzyltetrahydro-2-benzazepine 90 as the only significant primary photoproduct (equation 26), which in turn undergoes secondary photochemical N-demethylation. The final mixture contains 90 (38%) and 91 (25%) at high (>95%) conversion. Intramolecular photoadditions of these (equations 24-26) secondary (aminoalkyl)-stilbenes are highly regioselective processes24. 

Photochemical addition of ammonia and primary amines to aryl olefins (equation 42) can be effected by irradiation in the presence of an electron acceptor such as dicyanoben-zene (DCNB)103-106. The proposed mechanism for the sensitised addition to the stilbene system is shown in Scheme 7. Electron transfer quenching of DCNB by t-S (or vice versa) yields the t-S cation radical (t-S)+ Nucleophilic addition of ammonia or the primary amine to (t-S)+ followed by proton and electron transfer steps yields the adduct and regenerates the electron transfer sensitizer. The reaction is a variation of the electron-transfer sensitized addition of nucleophiles to terminal arylolefins107,108. 

Electron-transfer catalytic cycles with oxygen were also discovered in photochemical reactions with participation of an excited sensibilizer (9,10-dicyanoanthracene [DCNA]) and stilbene. The sensitizer assists an electron transfer from the substrate to oxygen. Oxygen transforms into the superoxide ion. Stilbene turns into benzaldehyde. In the absence of the sensitizer, this reaction does not take place even on photoirradiation (when oxygen exists in the first singlet state). In the singlet state,... 

For instance, Kochi and co-workers [89,90] reported the photochemical coupling of various stilbenes and chloranil by specific charge-transfer activation of the precursor donor-acceptor complex (EDA) to form rrans-oxetanes selectively. The primary reaction intermediate is the singlet radical ion pair as revealed by time-resolved spectroscopy and thus establishing the electron-transfer pathway for this typical Paterno-Biichi reaction. This radical ion pair either collapses to a 1,4-biradical species or yields the original EDA complex after back-electron transfer. Because the alternative cycloaddition via specific activation of the carbonyl compound yields the same oxetane regioisomers in identical molar ratios, it can be concluded that a common electron-transfer mechanism is applicable (Scheme 53) [89,90]. 

Phosphoryl-stabilized anions, 25, 2 Photochemical cycloadditions, 44, 2 Photocyclization of stilbenes, 30, 1 Photooxygenation of olefins, 20, 2 Photosensitizers, 20, 2 Pictet-Spengler reaction, 6, 3 Pig liver esterase, 37, 1 Polonovski reaction, 39, 2... 

The valence tautomerism 251 257 has been proposed to account for the formation of iV-methylthiobenzamide by irradiation (2537 A) in methyl cyanide solution. The valence tautomer 257, R = Me, = Ph, has been detected spectroscopically (p , 2060 cm —N=C=S) either during photolysis at 25° or by heating at 160°. Photochemical oxidative cyclization of 4,5-diaryl derivatives (251, R = R = Ar) analogous to the formation of phenanthrene from stilbene has been reported. Thus, irradiation of the 4,5-diphenyl derivative 251, R = R = Ph, yields the tetracyclic meso-ionic compound (258). ... 

Diphenylethene (Stilbene). This molecule has been the subject of many photophysical and photochemical investigations and the subject of several reviews. It is the prototypical alkene for studies of photoisomerization. Transient spectroscopic measurements in the picosecond time domain have been performed on electronically excited tran -stilbene in a wide range of environments. Selections from these studies are described here. 

In special cases, other photochemical reactions can totally suppress an acyl group migration.76,117 The primary photochemical process of 195 is fast equilibration with trans-isomer 196. The crr-isomer 195 then cyclizes in 65% yield to dehydroaporphane (197) in a similar way as does stilbene and its derivatives.118 7>a j-isomer 196 cyclizes in 10-21% yield to dehydroproto-berberine (198).76 The latter reaction is analogous to the already discussed cyclization 110 -> 112 and 134 -> 131 of aromatic carbonates and carbamates. 

The only recent example of Forster transfer of photochemical importance is the demonstration by Saltiel163 that the ability of azulene to increase the photostationary transjcis ratio in direct photoisomerization of the stilbenes is due entirely to radiationless transfer of excitation from traw.y-stilbene singlets to azulene. As expected for Forster transfer, this azulene effect did not depend upon solvent viscosity. The experimental value of R0, the critical radius of transfer in Forster s formula,181 was 18 A, in good agreement with the value calculated from the overlap of stilbene emission and azulene absorption. 

In an attempt to probe further into the complex photochemical system involved, the isomerization of stilbenes adsorbed on silica gel was examined.9 It was observed that the time required for establishment of the photostationary state was significantly increased (by a factor of 3) and that the composition of the photostationary state changed from 93y cis isomer in cyclohexane solution to 60% cis isomer in the silica gel matrix. Though not definitive, this evidence supports Fischer s triplet mechanism, 53 as we have previously reported.9... 

The photochemical synthesis of helicenes by irradiation of 1,2-diarylethylenes in adilute solution and in the presence of an oxidizing agent is based on the well known photocyclodehydrogenation of stilbene into phenanthrene. There is an overwhelming amount of literature on this type of photoreaction. Details about scope and limitation can be found in previous reviews 7,8). Therefore, only a short survey will be given of the mechanism of the reaction. 

Cis-stilbene (Zl) also undergoes a conrotatory cyclization reaction into trans-4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene (DHP, 2), a short living, not isolated product with an absorption in the visible spectrum at 450 nm. In the absence of an oxidizing agent DHP will return to the starting material, by both a thermal and a photochemical ring opening reaction. 

In the presence of an oxidizing species (oxygen, iodine, tetracyanoethylene and others) DHP is dehydrogenated into phenanthrene. This oxidation can also be thermal or photochemical. In general, meta substituted stilbenes give rise to two isomeric substituted phenanthrenes ortho-substituted stilbenes can lose the substituent on cyclization. 

The photochemical electrocyclization of conjugated iminium salts 160, formed by protonation of 2-azadienes 159, led to isoquinolin-4-ones 162, presumably through hydrolysis and oxidation of the dihydroisoquinoline intermediates 161 (85TL5213) (Scheme 39). A closely related reaction served as the key step for a short synthesis of the pentacyclic marine alkaloid ascididemin as reported by Moody, Rees, and Thomas [90TL(31)4375 92T3589] the central reaction involves a 67r-electron pho-tocyclization of a syn- aza stilbene in sulfuric acid. 

Cyclobutane formation via light-induced [2 + 2] cycloaddition is probably one of the best studied photochemical reactions and has been reviewed thoroughly up to 1972 (Houben-Weyl, Vols. 4/5 a and 4/5 b). The most important types of C —C double-bond chromophores undergoing such reactions arc alkenes, 1,3-dienes, styrenes, stilbenes, arenes, hetarenes, cycloalk-2-enones, cyclohexa-2,4(and 2,5)-dienones, 1,4-benzoquinones, and heteroanalogs of these cyclic unsaturated carbonyl compounds. For p notocyciodimerizations see Houben-Weyl, Vol. 4/5 a, p 278 and for mixed [2 + 2] photocycloadditions of these same chromophores to alkenes see Section 1.3.2.3. 

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