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Triplet 1,3-diphenylpropynylidene (Ph-C-C-C-Ph)
Jeffrey T DePinto1, Wendy A deProphetis, Jessica L Menke
1Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1396, USA.
Photolysis of 1,3-diphenyldiazopropyne generates triplet 1,3-diphenylpropynylidene, a 1,3-allenic diradical. This diradical undergoes photochemical cyclization to diphenylcyclopropenylidene, demonstrating reversible carbene chemistry.
Area of Science:
- Photochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Carbenes are reactive intermediates crucial in organic synthesis.
- Understanding the structure and reactivity of allenic carbenes is key to advancing carbene chemistry.
- 1,3-diphenyldiazopropyne serves as a precursor for generating specific carbene species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the photochemically generated triplet 1,3-diphenylpropynylidene.
- To investigate the conformational isomers and equilibrium geometry of this allenic diradical.
- To explore the photochemical reactivity and trapping behavior of triplet 1,3-diphenylpropynylidene.
Main Methods:
- Photolysis of 1,3-diphenyldiazopropyne in low-temperature matrices.
- Spectroscopic characterization using IR, UV/vis, and EPR spectroscopy.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
- Chemical trapping experiments with molecular oxygen (O2).
Main Results:
- Triplet 1,3-diphenylpropynylidene was generated and characterized, existing in two distinguishable conformational isomers.
- The equilibrium geometry was determined to be a highly symmetric D2d allenic diradical, not a bond-localized acetylenic carbene.
- Chemical trapping yielded carbonyl oxide, ketone, and dioxirane, typical carbene trapping products.
- Photochemical irradiation led to reversible cyclization to singlet diphenylcyclopropenylidene.
Conclusions:
- Triplet 1,3-diphenylpropynylidene adopts an allenic diradical structure.
- Its photochemical behavior includes cyclization to diphenylcyclopropenylidene, showcasing reversible carbene transformations.
- The study provides insights into the structure, spectroscopy, and reactivity of allenic diradicals.
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