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Title: Electron-transfer-sensitized C-C bond cleavage. Facile homolytic fission via geminate back electron transfer in photogenerated ion pairs

Journal Article · · J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00335a017· OSTI ID:5973450

Several organic substrates (donors) known to undergo oxidative C-C bond cleavage upon steady-state irradiation under electron-transfer photosensitization have been examined by 337.1 nm laser flash photolysis for photoproduction of substrate radicals/radical cations and sensitizer triplet as a result of charger-transfer interaction with 1,4-dicyanonaphthalene (DCN) single (acceptor). The transient-absorption phenomena and quantitative estimates of electron-transfer-mediated yields show that for substrates such as 1-(diphenylmethyl)cyclohepta-2,4,6-triene and aryl-substituted pinacols and pinacol-ethers characterized by relatively unstable, short-lived, radical cations, a substantial fraction of arylmethyl radicals are generated fast via back electron transfer in the photogenerated ion pair. In other cases, longer lived radical cations (solvated) that either undergo intramolecular electron transfer leading to C-C bond fragmentation (e.g., with 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethane) or diffusional back donation of electron from the DCN radical anion (e.g., with p-methoxy- and p-methyl-substituted bibenzyls). Within small groups of closely related quenchers, radical and radical ion yields are found to depend systematically on the structures, chemical nature, and oxidation potentials of the substrates. 18 references, 5 figures, 1 table.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Notre Dame, IN
OSTI ID:
5973450
Journal Information:
J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 106:23
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English