10.1021/jo702170j
This research presents a quantitative study examining the interactions between oxygen lone pairs and aromatic rings, with a focus on the substituent effect and the significance of close contact. The purpose of the study was to understand the nature of these interactions, particularly in the context of electron-rich aromatic rings and oxygen lone pairs, and to challenge the current models that describe aromatic rings as polar groups based on their quadrupole moments. The researchers used a triptycene-derived model system to measure the free energies of interactions and equilibrium constants through low-temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy. They also conducted X-ray structure analysis and theoretical calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level to corroborate their experimental findings. The study involved a range of chemicals, including triptycene scaffolds with various substituents (such as NO2, CN, CF3, halogens, CH3, CH3O, and Me2N), methoxymethyl (MOM) groups, and pentafluorophenyl rings. The conclusions drawn from the research indicated that aromatic rings exhibit attractive interactions with oxygen lone pairs even at van der Waals distances, and that these interactions cannot be fully explained by current models, suggesting that dispersion forces and local dipoles should also be considered alongside electrostatic forces.
10.1039/C29690000220
The study investigates the photochemical synthesis of benzocyclopropenone (IVa) through the decomposition of lithium 3-p-tolyl sulphonylamino-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one (Ia) and its 6-chloro-analogue (Ib). The precursor compounds are prepared by diazotization of anthranilic acid toluene-sulfonohydrazides and subsequent treatment with lithium hydride or lithium methoxide. Upon UV excitation, Ia decomposes to yield lithium toluene-p-sulphonate, methyl benzoate, and o-methoxybenzoic acid toluene-p-sulphonohydrazide, while Ib gives lithium toluene-p-sulphonate, methyl p-chlorobenzoate, and 5-chloro-2-methoxy-benzoic acid toluene-p-sulphonohydrazide. The formation of p-chlorobenzoate suggests the involvement of a benzocyclopropenone intermediate (IVb) in the reaction mechanism, which undergoes hemiacetal formation and Favorskii ring-opening to produce the ester. The study also explores the thermolysis of Ia in triglyme, which yields triptycene, possibly via decarbonylation of IVa to form benzyne (VIIIa), and the photolysis of Ib in benzene, producing a small amount of p-chlorobenzophenone.