Reaction Precursor Selection, Computer

The careful selection of suitable precursors is obviously needed for the study of such reactive species as vinylidenes, which rearrange to the corresponding alkynes very easily. Dimethylvinyhdene (Me2C=C ) has recently been trapped in matrices by photolysis of the bisperoxyester 60 and was identified by its reaction with CO and by comparison of the matrix IR spectrum with DFT computations of the IR transitions. It was suggested that this approach could provide a convenient and general route to other vinylidenes in low-temperature matrices. 

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