Title: Theoretical Study of C–H Bond Cleavage via Concerted Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Fluorenyl-Benzoates

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
 [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
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Developing new strategies to activate and cleave C–H bonds is crucial for a broad range of applications. Currently a new method for C–H bond activation using multi-site concerted proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) involving intermolecular electron transfer to an oxidant coupled to intramolecular proton transfer was reported. For a series of oxidants reacting with 2-(9H-fluoren-9-yl)benzoate, experimental studies revealed an atypical Brønsted α, defined as the slope of the logarithm of the PCET rate constant versus the logarithm of the equilibrium constant or the scaled driving force. Herein this reaction is modeled with a vibronically nonadiabatic PCET theory. Hydrogen tunneling, thermal sampling of the proton donor–acceptor mode, solute and solvent reorganization, and contributions from excited vibronic states are found to play important roles. The calculations qualitatively reproduce the experimental observation of a Brønsted α significantly less than 0.5 and explain this shallow slope in terms of exoergic processes between pairs of electron–proton vibronic states. These fundamental mechanistic insights may guide the design of more effective strategies for C–H bond activation and cleavage.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis (CME)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Institutes of Health (NIH); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1566592
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 46 Vol. 140; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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