Formation and Decay of Radical Anions of Aromatic Compounds Produced by Photoinduced Electron Transfer from the Triphenylstannyl Anion

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100212a028

Upon steady-light illumination of aromatic compounds (A) in the presence of the triphenylstannyl anion (Ph3Sn^-, M⁺) in tetrahydrofuran, radical anions of the aromatic compounds (A^-.(M⁺)) were produced via electron transfer from Ph3Sn^-, M⁺ to the excited aromatic compounds.After the light was cut off, the radical anions of perylene and tetracene persisted for a long time; for anthracene and pyrene, radical anions formed transiently and decayed rapidly.The decay rates depended on the reduction potentials of A.The decay processes were attributed to back electron transfer from A^-.(M⁺) to the distannane (Ph3SnSnPh3) which is produced by the coupling of Ph3Sn., since the rate constants calculated on the basis of the above reactions were in good agreement with the observed rate constants.Slow decay of A^-.(M⁺) could be realized when the reduction potentials of A are less negative than that of the distannane.