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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
Innermolecular reactions of fluorophenylcarbene inside a hemicarcerand
Zhifeng Lu1, Robert A Moss, Ronald R Sauers
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA.
Photolysis of fluorophenyldiazirine within a hemicarcerand host creates a reactive fluorophenylcarbene. This carbene modifies the host molecule, forming a novel derivative, but is unstable above 100 K.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Organic Photochemistry
Background:
- Host-guest chemistry explores molecular encapsulation.
- Carbene chemistry is crucial for organic synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the photolysis of a diazirine within a hemicarcerand.
- Characterize the reactivity of an incarcerated carbene.
Main Methods:
- Photolysis of fluorophenyldiazirine in hemicarcerand 2.
- Analysis of the resulting derivative via rearrangement.
Main Results:
- Formation of fluorophenylcarbene upon photolysis.
- Attack of the carbene on the host's aryl unit.
- Synthesis of a fluoromethoxy/phenyltropone hemicarcerand derivative.
- Incarcerated carbene instability above 100 K.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrates controlled carbene generation and reaction within a supramolecular host.
- Highlights the influence of confinement on reactive intermediate stability.
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