Evidence for a π dimer in the electrochemical reduction of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene: A reversible N2-fixation system

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.200602690

(Figure Presented) Electrochemical reduction of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (1) forms π dimer 2, which evolves to a more stable ω complex. The crystal structure of the NEt₄⁺ salt of 2 shows π-stacked chains of radical anions. Solid 2 or dimeric 2 in solution reacts with N₂ to give a dianion in which an azo group links two 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene units (see picture). The azo derivative is reversibly electrochemically oxidized to 1.

Full text of DOI:10.1002/anie.200602690

Angewandte
Chemie
DOI: 10.1002/anie.200602690
Electrochemistry
Evidence for a p Dimer in the Electrochemical Reduction of
1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene: A Reversible N2-Fixation System**
Iluminada Gallardo,* Gonzalo Guirado, Jordi Marquet, and Neus Vilà
Couplings between two radical anions[1] or two radical
cations[2] are common outcomes in electrochemical reactions
and give rise to a doubly charged s-bonded dimeric species. In
the case of delocalized p systems such as 9-cyanoanthracene,
formation of a p-dimer intermediate before collapse of the
two radical anions into a s-bonded species has been
proposed,[2a–b] although the same event has been explained
by one-step radical-anion dimerization[2c–d] (Scheme 1).
dihydrobis(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienyl) (3, Scheme 2) as its
tetraethylammonium salt.[8] We report herein on a complete
electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis),
spectroscopic,and synthetic investigation of the reduction of
1,providing conclusive evidence for the formation of a p-
dimer intermediate prior to formation of the s dimer and the
reaction of this p dimer with N2 to give an organic N2-fixation
system.
The electrochemical behavior of 1 is definitely different
from those of nitrobenzene or dinitrobenzenes (see the
Supporting Information).[9] Figure 1a shows that,at low
scan rates, 1 has one chemically irreversible reduction wave
at ꢀ0.56 V versus SCE in acetonitrile (CH3CN,0.1
m
nBu4NBF4,Ar atmosphere,10 8C). The resulting follow-up
product is oxidized at + 0.23 V. This oxidation wave only
appears after a first reduction scan. The reduction wave
becomes reversible at scan rates higher than 1800 Vsꢀ1 (E8 =
ꢀ0.57 V, ks = 0.01 cmsꢀ1). Peak-potential analysis of the
reduction wave at low and high scan rates indicates a one-
electron process. The shape of the voltammograms (peak
width) suggests fast electron transfer with kinetic control by
chemical reaction.[10] The peak potential is concentration-
dependent (22 mV per unit logc) and scan rate-dependent
(23 mV per unit logv) in the concentration range 2–10 mm.
These cyclic voltammetric data indicate dimerization of the
radical anion of 1 through a second-order reaction pathway
([E + C2(Arr)] mechanism) to form 2,which is responsible
for the oxidation wave at + 0.23 V (Scheme 2).[11] A dimeri-
zation rate constant of k2 = (1.80 ꢁ 0.05) ” 105 Lmolꢀ1 sꢀ1 was
determined by simulation of the experimental curves with the
DigiSim software.[12]
Scheme 1. Dimerization of the radical anion of 9-cyanoanthracene (A).
Moreover,the formation of radical-anion dimers in the
solid state, such as that of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane
(TCNQ),is well established. Furthermore,it is known that
[3]
the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) mechanism
involves addition compounds (s complexes) as intermedi-
ates.[4] For this reaction,UV and NMR spectroscopic experi-
ments suggested the existence of a p-complex intermediate
prior to s-complex formation.[5] Definitive evidence was
provided by the isolation of the p-complex intermediate in
the SNAr reaction of indole-3-carboxylate with 1,3,5-trinitro-
benzene.[6] Thus,the formation of p-dimer intermediates in
the s dimerization of radical anions remains controversial.
In the reduction of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (1),Bock and
Lechner-Knoblauch observed an irreversible wave,which was
explained by formation of 1,3-dinitrobenzene and nitrite
anion.[7] However,by bulk electrochemical reduction of 1 in
acetone,Sosokin et al. isolated the s-bonded dimer 1,1’-
Dianion 2 was synthesized as its tetraethylammonium salt
(Et4N)2-2 by bulk electrolysis of 1. A fresh solution of this salt
in CH3CN (0.1m nBu4NBF4,Ar,10 8C) shows,at low scan
rates,a two-electron process for the characteristic oxidation
peak at + 0.23 V. The characteristic reduction peak of 1 at
ꢀ0.56 V is observed only after the potential is set above
+ 0.23 V (Figure 1b),which means that the oxidation product
of 2 is 1. Furthermore, 1 is recovered in 100% yield after
exhaustive electrolysis of 2 at + 0.40 V. If the cyclic voltam-
mogram is recorded 5 min after preparing the solution,a new
oxidation peak rises at + 0.56 V,while the height of the peak
at + 0.23 V decreases in comparison with the initial value. In
less than one hour,only the peak at + 0.56 V remains in the
cyclic voltammogram,and the peak at + 0.23 V is no longer
visible. This new peak at + 0.56 V is assigned to 3 (Scheme 2).
The tetraethylammonium salt of dianion 3 was isolated
[*]Dr. I. Gallardo, Dr. G. Guirado, Prof. J. Marquet, Dr. N. Vilà
Departament de Química
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona (Spain)
Fax: (+34)93-581-2920
E-mail: iluminada.gallardo@uab.es
[**]We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Ministerio de
Tecnologia y Ciencia of Spain though projects BQU 2003-05457 and
CTQ2006-01040. We also thank Dr. C. P. Andrieux and Prof. J.
Pinson for the availability of spectroelectrochemical facilities, Prof.
C. Sieiro and Prof. P. J. Alonso for EPR experiments, Prof. J. P.
Dinnocenzo, Dr. C. Flaschenriem, Dr. T. Roisnel, and Dr. . lvarez
for X-ray diffraction data/structure determination, and all of them
for helpful discussions.
and characterized by aging a solution of 2 in CH3CN.[13]
A
freshly prepared solution of the salt of 3 in CH3CN (0.1m
nBu4NBF4,Ar atmosphere,10 8C) shows,at low scan rates,a
Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW
under http://www.angewandte.org or from the author.
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that 1 is the oxidation product of 3. This is
corroborated by exhaustive electrolysis (+ 1.30 V)
of 3,which gives 1 in 100% yield. The oxidation
peak of 3 (+ 0.56 V) is in the range of oxidation
potentials found for the s complexes formed in
SNAr reactions (0.60–1.00 V),[14] whereas 2 is oxi-
dized at a lower potential (+ 0.23 V),which is
consistent with a p dimer.
A potential-step experiment in a UV/Vis–elec-
trochemical cell[15] facilitates measuring the disap-
pearance of 2 by monitoring the absorption band at
425 nm and the appearance of a new band at 517 nm
(Figure 1e; for technical details,see the Supporting
Information).[16] From these data,it is possible to
deduce that the absorption of 2 (425 and 498 nm)
grows rapidly in the beginning,while 1 is totally
consumed (about 400 s). Later,the absorption
bands of 2 decrease,with concomitant development
of the new absorption of 3 (517 nm). Highly
accurate kinetic data,gathered by monitoring the
appearance of the new absorption band at 517 nm
over time,led to k3 = 2 ” 10ꢀ3 sꢀ1 for the isomer-
ization process 2!3 (see the Supporting Informa-
tion).
The tetraethylammonium salt of dianion 2 was
synthesized as a paramagnetic crystalline solid by
electrolyzing a solution of 1 in CH3CN under argon
with Et4NBF4 as supporting electrolyte.[17] The
Figure 1. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) at 4.0 mm in CH3CN with 0.1m nBu4NBF4 at 108C. Scan
rate 1.0 Vsꢀ1, glassy carbon disk electrode (0.05 mm diameter). a) 1 in the potential range
0.00/1.50/ꢀ1.00/0.00 V (two cycles). b) 2 in the potential range 0.00/ꢀ1.00/1.50/0.00 V (two
cycles). c) 3 in the potential range 0.00/1.00/ꢀ1.00/0.00 V. d) Spectrocyclovoltammogram of
1 (0.5 mm) with scan rate 0.1 Vsꢀ1 in the potential range 0.00/ꢀ1.00/0.00 V; 60 spectra were
recorded during the scan.[15] e) In situ UV/Vis spectra during electrolysis of 1 (0.5 mm) at
ꢀ1.00 V vs. Ag/AgCl in a spectroelectrochemical cell with Pt minigrid as working elec-
trode.[15]
needle-shaped,conducting crystals grew on
graphite cathode (Figure 2).
a
X-ray analysis of 2 shows a p-stacked structure
in the solid state (Figure 3).[18] The radical-anion
units are not parallel to each other; instead,the
stack shows a smooth zigzag motif through a short
contact (2.48(3) Š) between C2 of one unit and C4i
(i: ꢀx, y + 1= , ꢀz + 1= ) of the next. The dihedral
2
2
angle between the mean planes of two neighboring
units is 34.5(8)8 and the ring slippage is 1.85(3) Š.
This tilted structure could be preserved in solution
ꢀ
until the shortest C C distance collapses to give a s
bond when p dimer 2 evolves into 3.
Furthermore, 2 is a biradical in solution,as
shown by the EPR spectrum of frozen DMF
solutions (77 K) of 2 (see the Supporting Informa-
tion). The spectrum is the result of an S = 1 entity
having axial symmetry with an isotropic g factor
(g = 2.0075 ꢁ 0.0005) and
a zero-field splitting
parameter of D = 323.1 ꢁ 0.5 MHz.[19] The central
signal corresponds to a two-photon DMs = ꢁ 2
transition.[20] Moreover,solutions of the paramag-
netic species 2 in CH3CN show fluorescence
(lemission = 608 nm, F = 0.25,irradiation at 428 nm;
see the Supporting Information).[21] Neither fluo-
rescence nor an EPR signal was observed for s
complex 3.
Scheme 2. Detailed mechanism for reduction of 1 under an Ar atmosphere.
When the electrochemical reduction of 1 is
two-electron oxidation process for the peak at + 0.56 V
(Figure 1c). Again,the characteristic reduction peak of 1 at
ꢀ0.56 V only arises after the oxidation of 3,which indicates
performed in N2 atmosphere instead of Ar,neither the
oxidation waves of 2 (+ 0.23 V vs. SCE) nor those of 3
(+ 0.56 V vs. SCE) are observed in the cyclic voltammogram.
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Chemie
immediately passed through the solution and maintained for
10 min. Electrochemical analysis of the resulting solution
showed an identical I–E curve to that of electrogenerated 4,
that is,a two-electron oxidation wave at + 1.09 V. The fact
that no difference was observed when N2 was bubbled
through a solution of 3 unequivocally showed that the new
product 4 arises from the reaction of biradical 2 with one
molecule of N2 (Scheme 3,path B). Further evidence for this
composition was provided by electrospray-ionization mass
spectrometry (ESIꢀ) analysis of an electrogenerated solution
of the tetraethylammonium salt of 4; the peaks at 713.4
[MꢀH]ꢀ,357.2 [ M]2ꢀ,and 213.0 [ Mꢀ28]2ꢀ show appropriate
isotopic distribution.
Figure 2. Crystal growing on the graphite electrode surface when
electrolysis of 1 is performed at ꢀ0.60 V.
All attempts to isolate a salt of 4 by direct electrochemical
reduction of 1 under N2 failed. However,we were able to
isolate single crystals of the tetraethylammonium salt of 4 by
exposing the green crystals of the tetraethylammonium salt of
2 to an N2 flow for one week. This unusual solid–gas reaction
at room temperature affords the tetraethylammonium salt of
4 as a red-orange crystalline material. A fresh solution of
these crystals in CH3CN under Ar shows an identical CV to
1
electrogenerated solutions of 4. The H NMR spectrum of 4
shows two singlets at d = 8.40 and 6.41 ppm (2:1),which are
significantly shifted with respect to those of the s complex 3 at
d = 8.15 and 5.53 ppm.
The molecular structure of dianion 4 is shown in
Figure 5.[22] It consists of two trinitrobenzene units linked by
an azo group through two sp3 carbon atoms (C6 and C12).
Figure 3. Crystal structure of (Et4N)2-2. The dashed line shows the
shortest distance between two aromatic rings C2···C4i (i: ꢀx, y+1= ,
2
ꢀz+1= ). Tetraethylammonium counterions are omitted for clarity.
2
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
However,a new oxidation wave occurs at + 1.09 V versus
SCE and corresponds to a two-electron transfer process
(Figure 4). By analogy with the electrochemical behavior of 1
under Ar,the oxidation wave at + 1.09 V can be assigned to
dimer 4. This species was quantitatively formed in solution by
electrolysis of 1 at ꢀ0.60 V versus SCE (20 mm,CH 3CN,0.1 m
nBu4NBF4, N2) after passing 1 F. The electrogenerated species
again shows an oxidation wave at 1.09 V versus SCE. The
characteristic reduction peak of 1 at ꢀ0.56 V is observed only
after the potential is set above + 1.09 V (Figure 1a),that is,
the oxidation product of 4 is 1. Furthermore, 1 is recovered in
a 100% yield after exhaustive electrolysis of 4 at + 1.20 V
(Scheme 3,path B).
Thus,the C6 C1,C6 C5,C12 C7,and C12 C11 bonds (av
ꢀ
1.484(3) Š) are longer than the remaining C C distances in
2
the rings. Furthermore,distances between the sp carbon
atoms are consistent with a quinonic structure for the rings,
since C1 C2,C4 C5,C7 C8,and C10 C11 are significantly
shorter (av 1.358(5) Š) than C2 C3,C3 C4,C8 C9,and C9
C10 (av 1.402(3) Š). The C N distances are within the normal
range,but the N N distance (1.481(5) Š) is longer than those
reported for other azo compounds. Moreover,the angles
around the azo fragment are severely distorted: the C6-N14-
N13 and C12-N13-N14 angles are only 107.5(3)8 and
107.3(3)8,respectively,and the dihedral angle around the
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
ꢀ
=
=
N N bond (C6-N14-N13-C12) is 131.5(4)8. All these struc-
To establish whether the new species 4 arises from the
reaction of 2 or 3 with N2,the tetraethylammonium salt of 2
was dissolved in CH3CN and a flow of nitrogen was
tural data indicate significant single-bond character for this
azo bond. Interestingly,each of the nitrogen atoms lies within
a short,nonbonding distance of two oxygen atoms of two
ortho-nitro groups (N13···O62 3.046(7),N14···O11
3.028(5) Š). Since the oxygen atoms carry a significant
fraction of the negative charge of the dianion,donation
=
from these atoms into the p* bond of the N N fragment
cannot be ruled out. This could be the reason for the observed
=
N N bond lengthening,as well as the pyramidalization
around the N atoms. The close resemblance between the
packings of the structures of 2 and 4 suggests that dinitrogen
molecules diffuse into solid 2 and bind two neighboring
trinitrobenzene radicals without making major changes in the
crystal structure or changing the space group. However,the
two trinitrobenzene fragments in 4 are no longer related by
crystallographic symmetry. Therefore,the volume of the unit
cell of 4 (3434(2) Š3) is about twice that of 2 (1646.4(5) Š3).
Furthermore,the symmetry elements in the crystal are
Figure 4. CV of (Et4N)2-4 (0.5 mm) in CH3CN with 0.1m nBu4NBF4 at
108C. Scan rate 1.0 Vsꢀ1, glassy carbon disk electrode (1 0.5 mm).
The potential ranges were 0.00/ꢀ1.00/1.50/0.00 V (first scan, solid
line) and 0.00/ꢀ1.00/0.00 V (second scan, dotted line).
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Communications
phere.[23] Whereas there are numerous exam-
ples of dinitrogen coordinating to transition
metal systems,[24] we have shown for the first
time that an organic molecule,namely, 2,can
reversibly bind N2 at room temperature in an
electrochemically controlled process under N2
atmosphere (Scheme 3,path B). The different
behaviors of the reduction product of 1,3,5-
trinitrobenzene (1) under N2 or an inert gas
such as Ar provides the basis for building
sensor devices for dinitrogen.
Received: July 6,2006
Revised: October 25,2006
Published online: December 29,2006
Keywords: azo compounds · electrochemistry ·
.
nitrogen fixation · radicals · stacking interactions
Scheme 3. Mechanism for the reversible dimerization of 1 under Ar (path A) or N2 (path B).
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Figure 5. Molecular structure of dianion 4.[22]
rearranged between 2 and 4. While in 2 the p stack of
trinitrobenzene molecules runs along a 21 axis,parallel to the
crystallographic b axis,the column of azo dimers in 4 is
generated by a c-glide plane parallel to the c axis (Figure 6).
In summary,the radical anion of 1 dimerizes to form
biradical p dimer 2,which forms a p-stacked structure in the
solid state. The reversible conversion between the monomeric
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molecular switch (Scheme 3,path A) under Ar atmos-
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1324
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Rint = 0.1131). Data were corrected for absorption with the
SADABS[18b] program. The structure was solved by direct
methods and refined (218 parameters) by full-matrix least-
[18c]
squares techniques on F2 (Bruker-AXS,SHELXTL-NT
version 5.10). All non-hydrogen atoms were refined with
anisotropic displacement parameters. Hydrogen atoms were
included in idealized positions. The structure was refined to
goodness-of-fit and final agreement factors of GoF = 1.211,
R1(I>2s(I)) = 0.1086, wR2(all data) = 0.2376,residual electron
density ꢁ 0.39 eꢀŠꢀ3. CCDC-616742 contains the supplementary
crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained
free of charge from The Cambridge Crystallographic Data
Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif; b) The
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[13] a) The tetraethylammonium salt of 1,1’-dihydro-bis(2,4,6-trini-
trociclohexadienyl) dianion (3) was isolated and characterized as
the same compound previously described by Sosokin et al.[8]
Elemental analysis,UV/Vis spectroscopy (517 nm), 1H NMR
(the spectrum shows two singlets at d = 8.15 and 5.53 ppm (2:1),
corresponding to the two different kinds of protons). Impor-
tantly,no signals were observed by EPR or fluorescence
techniques;[13b] b) Investigations by Taylor and Farnham under
different environmental conditions showed that the fluorescence
quantum yields of s complexes are about 0.09 (S. Farnham,R.
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complexes are in the range of 0.60–1.00 V: a) I. Gallardo,G.
Guirado,J. Marquet, Chem. Eur. J. 2001, 7,1759; b) I. Gallardo,
[21] a) M. A. Muꢀoz,O. Sama,M. Galꢁn,P. Guardado,C. Carmona,
M. Balꢂn, Spectrochim. Acta Part A 2001, 57,1049; b) the
fluorescence quantum yield of 2 in CH3CN was determined in
relation to the fluorescence quantum yield of N’,N’’,N’’’-triiso-
propyl-4-oxo-6-isopropyliminio-2s-(2H)-triazinespiro-1’,2’,4’,6’-
trinitrocyclohexadienylide (0.5); c) in CH3CN,a compound with
similar features: R. O. Al-Kaysi,G. Guirado,E. J. Valente, Eur.
J. Org. Chem. 2004,3408.
G. Guirado,J. Marquet,ES2179727,
Guirado,J. Marquet, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2002,251; d) I.
Gallardo,G. Guirado,J. Marquet, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2002,
2003;c) I. Gallardo,G.
261; e) I. Gallardo,G. Guirado,J. Marquet, J. Org. Chem 2002,
67,2548.
[15] a) A. Neudeck,L. Dunsch, J. Electroanal. Chem. 1995, 386,135;
b) A. Neudeck,L. Kress, J. Electroanal. Chem. 1997, 437,141.
[16] a) The spectra of 1 and 3 show maximum absorption at 268 and
[22] Crystal structure analysis for (Et4N)2-4 (C28H46N10O12, Mr =
714.75 gmolꢀ1) was perfomed on a Nonius Kappa CCD diffrac-
tometer. Crystal size 0.16 ” 0.07 ” 0.05 mm; monoclinic,space
group P21/c; a = 13.131(5), b = 19.359(5), c = 13.926(5) Š, b =
[4a,8]
517 nm,respectively,in accordance with the literature;
b) The maximum absorption of 2 was determined in our
laboratory.
104.043(5)8, V= 3434(2) Š3, Z = 4; 1calcd = 1.382 gcmꢀ3
;
m =
2q = 54.78; l(MoKa) = 0.71073 Š, T= 293(2) K.
42967 reflections collected (7606 unique reflections, Rint
[17] The tetraethylammonium salt of biradical bis(1,3,5-trinitroben-
zene) dianion 2 was obtained by cathodic electrolysis of 1.
Potential-controlled electrolysis at ꢀ0.60 V vs. SCE of 1 (20 mm,
CH3CN,0.1 m Et4NBF4,Ar,10 8C) quantitatively produces 2 on a
graphite working electrode after passage of 1 F. This dark green
solid was isolated as a tetraethylammonium salt. Elemental
0.109 mmꢀ1
;
=
0.1286). The structure was solved by direct methods and refined
(452 parameters) by full-matrix least-squares methods on F2
with the SHELXTL package.[18c] Hydrogen atoms were calcu-
lated and placed in idealized positions. The structure was refined
to goodness-of-fit and final agreement factors of GoF = 1.023,
R1(I>2s(I)) = 0.1058, wR2(all data) = 0.3592,residual electron
density + 0.86 and ꢀ0.32 eꢀŠꢀ3). CCDC-195183 contains the
supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data
can be obtained free of charge from the Cambridge Crystallo-
graphic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data request/cif.
[23] a) Switching can be repeated more than 250 times.[2i,23b] Since 2
evolves spontaneously into 3,the system can be considered a
dynamic switch combining chromic and magnetic outputs; b) R.
Rathore,P. Le Magueres,S. V. Lindeman,J. K. Kochi, Angew.
Chem. 2000, 112,818; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2000, 39,809.
[24] M. Hidai,Y. Mizobe, Chem. Rev. 1995, 95,1115.
analysis (%) of 2,calculated for
a dimeric structure
(C28H46N8O12): N 16.37,C 48.98,H 6.71; found: N 15.94,C
48.60,H 6.72.
[18] a) Crystal structure analysis of (Et4N)2-2 (C14H23N4O6, Mr =
343.36 gmolꢀ1): A green needle was rapidly mounted under
Paratone-8277 on a glass fiber and immediately placed in a cold
nitrogen stream at ꢀ808C on a Bruker diffractometer with
SMART CCD area detector. Crystal size 0.28 ” 0.05 ” 0.03 mm;
monoclinic,space group P21/c; a = 11.657(2), b = 6.7546(14), c =
23.262(4) Š, b = 115.988(7)8, V= 1646.4(5) Š3, Z = 4; 1calcd
=
1.671 gcmꢀ3 m = 0.109 mmꢀ1
;
;
2qmax = 56.68, l(MoKa) =
0.71073 Š. 9295 reflections collected (1535 unique reflections,
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 1321 –1325
ꢀ 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
www.angewandte.org
1325