Direct Observation of Ultrafast Excimer Formation in Covalent Perylenediimide Dimers Using Near-Infrared Transient Absorption Spectroscopy.

Energy transfer in perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) aggregates is often limited by formation of a low-energy excimer state. Formation dynamics of excimer states are often characterized by line shape changes and peak shift dynamics in femtosecond visible transient absorption spectra. Femtosecond near-infrared transient absorption experiments reveal a unique low-energy transition that can be used to identify and characterize this state without overlapping excited singlet-state absorption.

Influence of alkoxy groups on rates of acetal hydrolysis and tosylate solvolysis: electrostatic stabilization of developing oxocarbenium ion intermediates and neighboring-group participation to form oxonium ions.

The hydrolysis of 4-alkoxy-substituted acetals was accelerated by about 20-fold compared to that of sterically comparable substrates that do not have an alkoxy group. Rate accelerations are largest when the two functional groups are linked by a flexible cyclic tether. When controlled for the inductive destabilization, an alkoxy group can accelerate acetal hydrolysis by up to 200-fold.

Acceleration of acetal hydrolysis by remote alkoxy groups: evidence for electrostatic effects on the formation of oxocarbenium ions.

In contrast to observations with carbohydrates, experiments with 4-alkoxy-substituted acetals indicate that an alkoxy group can accelerate acetal hydrolysis by up to 20-fold compared to substrates without an alkoxy group. The acceleration of ionization in more flexible acetals can be up to 200-fold when compensated for inductive effects.

Triplet state formation in photoexcited slip-stacked perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) dimers on a xanthene scaffold.

Two covalent perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) dimers in which the PDI molecules are attached to a xanthene (Xan) scaffold in which the long axes of the two π-π stacked PDI molecules are slipped by 4.3 and 7.9 Å were prepared.

Correlations between nucleophilicities and selectivities in the substitutions of tetrahydropyran acetals.

Selectivities that deviate from S(N)1 stereoelectronic models in the nucleophilic substitutions of tetrahydropyran acetals were investigated. When weak nucleophiles were employed, stereoselectivities conformed to known S(N)1 stereoelectronic models. In contrast, stereoselectivities in the substitutions of acetals with strong nucleophiles depended on reaction conditions.

Continuum of mechanisms for nucleophilic substitutions of cyclic acetals.

The effect of nucleophile strength on diastereoselectivity in the nucleophilic substitution of cyclic acetals was explored. Stereoselectivity remained constant and high as nucleophilicity increased until a threshold value was reached. Beyond this point, however, selection of Lewis acid determined whether stereochemical inversion or erosion was observed.