Critical re-evaluation of the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy in phenol.

The gas-phase O-H bond dissociation enthalpy, BDE, in phenol provides an essential benchmark for calibrating the O-H BDEs of other phenols, data which aids our understanding of the reactivities of phenols, such as their relevant antioxidant activities. In a recent review, the O-H BDE for phenol was presented as 90 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (Acc. Chem.

Thermal decomposition of O-benzyl ketoximes; role of reverse radical disproportionation.

Thermolyses of seven dialkyl, two alkyl-aryl and two diaryl O-benzyl ketoxime ethers, R(1)R(2)C[double bond, length as m-dash]NOCH(2)Ph, have been examined in three hydrogen donor solvents: tetralin, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, and 9,10-dihydroanthracene. All the oxime ethers gave the products expected from homolytic scission of both the O-C bond (viz., R(1)R(2)C[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH and PhCH(3)) and N-O bond (viz.

The surprisingly facile thermal dehalogenation of chlorinated aromatics by a hydroaromatic donor solvent. Tautomerization of chlorinated phenols and anilines.

Up to 600 K, chlorinated benzenes and naphthalenes are inert in a hydrogen atom donating solvent such as 9,10-dihydroanthracene. However, when a hydroxyl or amine group is attached to the 2 or 4 position relative to chlorine, a surprisingly facile and selective hydrodehalogenation occurs at temperatures between 530 and 630 K. These features are the result of the onset of tautomeric equilibria for the chlorophenols or -anilines, creating the corresponding enones or imines, respectively, as reactive intermediates.

Thermal reduction of 7H-benz[d,e]anthracen-7-one and related ketones under hydrogen-transfer conditions.

In the presence of hydrogen donor solvents and at elevated temperatures, aromatic ketones can be selectively deoxygenated to the corresponding hydroaromatic compounds. The kinetics for reduction of 7H-benz[d,e]anthracen-7-one (benzanthrone, 6) into 7H-benz[d,e]anthracene (benzanthrene, 1) in 9,10-dihydroanthracene (3) solvent has been investigated in detail. The relatively slow hydrogenation of 6 is due to reversibility of the initial hydrogen-transfer step according to a reverse radical disproportionation (RRD).