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This thesis is concerned with a process which has become commonly used. Producing radical cations specifically for observation at reduced temperatures within the X-band electron spin resonance spectrometer cavity. Gamma irradiation is used to cause electron addition and electron loss centres in a CCl3F matrix. These damage centres can be passed to solutes by the processes outlined below:- [equation] Various functional groups have been investigated. A variety of groups have been chosen to attempt to show a great many of the effects, which cause a molecule to produce interesting e.s.r. spectra. Effects ranging from the 'solvent adducts' investigated in Chapter 2, to the Breit-Rabi distortions encountered by the cations of dialkyl mercurials. Attempts have also been made to clarify one or two areas of radical cation chemistry which have caused contention in the current literature. Such areas are those outlined in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 with ester groupings and Chapter 7 with oxirane cations.

A review of organic, π-electron donor molecules is given. The focus is on non- tetrathiafulvalene based systems. Polycyclic arenes, thioalkyl substituted arenes, chalcogenated fulvalenes, peri-dichalcogen bridged polycyclic arenes and heteroarenes are covered. Various π-electron donor molecules based on acenaphtho[ 1,2-b][ 1,4]-dithin have been synthesised via various methodologies. The redox properties of these molecules, as studied by cyclic voltammetry, provide evidence that these species are efficient π-electron donors. A selection of these compounds have also been studied by Electron Spin Resonance. Two ring expansion methodologies have been utilised in the synthesis of acenaphtho[l,2-b][l,4]-dithin based systems from 1,2-dithiols. Complexation of 7,12- dithia-benzo[k]fluoranthene, thus synthesised, with 2,5-dibromo-7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p- quinodimethane and iodine (I(_4) counter ion) yielded highly crystalline but poorly conducting salts.1,2-Dibromoacenaphthylene and benzo-l,2-dithiolate species have been reacted to form new 7,12-dithia-benzo[k]fluoranthene derivatives, two of which have been studied by X-ray diffraction. The versatile oligo(l,3-dithiole-2,4,5-trithione) compound has been used to generate various compounds containing the 1,4-dithiin ring including 8,9- di(methylsulfanyl)acenaphthyleno[l,2-b][l,4]dithine, which forms complexes with 7, 7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane, 2,5-dibromo-7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane and iodine (I(_7) counter ion) all three of which have been studied by X-ray diffraction. A novel 1,2,4-trithiolane has also been synthesised and characterised by X-ray diffraction.

No description available.

No description available.

DNA sequences containing contiguous AA or TT mismatches, as well as sequences containing a 3-deazacytidine analogue were synthesized. Irradiation of anthraquinone abstracts an electron from the DNA. The loss of an electron from double-stranded DNA results in the formation of a radical cation that migrates through the DNA where it reacts irreversibly with H2O or O2 at GG steps. Subsequent treatment with piperidine or Fpg enzyme cleaves the backbone of the DNA at the site of reaction. DNA oligomers were designed to contain contiguous AA, TT, or G3-deazacytidine mismatches. It was revealed that the mismatches destabilize the duplex DNA; however, there is no measurable effect on the overall secondary structure of the DNA. The contiguous (AA)n mismatch, where n lt 7, was shown to have no effect on charge migration efficiency. In contrast, the contiguous (TT)n mismatch, where n gt 2, was shown to have near complete inhibition of charge migration through the mismatch region. Charge migration through the G3-deazacytidine mismatch was shown to have no effect on charge migration efficiency as well. Interestingly, reaction at the (G3-deazacytidine)2 base pairs revealed a change in the ratio of oxidative damage at the Gs. In (GC)2 base pairs, the ratio of damage at the two Gs is 10:1 with the majority of damage occurring at the 5-G. However, the (G3-deazacytidine)2 base pairs had an equal distribution of damage at the 5 and 3-Gs, with the amount of total reactivity equaling the (GC)2 base pairs. These findings indicate that the base composition in mismatched DNA determines the effect on charge migration efficiency and trapping reactivity.

The overall efficiency of photovoltaics is dictated by processes occurring within it. These processes include exciton formation, diffusion, dissociation and charge collection. This dissertation will focus around the fundamental issue of charge collection. In organic photovoltaics (OPVs) the rate of charge injection is dominated by the interaction between dissimilar materials, usually organic compound interacting with inorganic ones. In order to improve this rate of injection and, by direct consequence the efficiency of this process, fundamental knowledge of this organic-inorganic interface must be gained. In this work the focus will reside solely on creating molecules capable of probing the interface between the indium tin oxide (ITO) and the donor layer. At this interface, the usual charge transfer being transferred is the hole. Chapters 2 and 3 detail the synthesis and photophysical characterization of porphyrin-perylene diimide (Por-PDI) and porphyrin-fullerene (Por-C₆₀) molecular dyads. The idea behind these moieties is that covalent attachment of these species to ITO should lead to a robust ohmic contact. Since these molecular dyads are capable of producing charge-separated states after photoexcitation, they should have the capacity to produce a radical-cation in close proximity to the ITO. This will translate to a capacity for probing the dynamics of the hole injection at this interface. Studies performed demonstrate that in fact these dyads are capable of producing a charge-separated state upon photo-excitation. The lifetimes of these states were determine to be 35 ps and 3 ns for the Por-PDI and Por-C₆₀ respectively. Chapter 4 takes a different turn. It is focused on the application and extension of a solvent-free synthesis of metallated phthalocyanines (Pcs). Shown in chapter 4 is the synthesis of a series of metallated Pcs using various transition metals and group 3 elements. Photophysical and electrochemical investigation of these materials shows that they have near-infrared absorption and relative high HOMO levels making them potential candidates for OPV applications. In addition, they displayed non-linear optical behavior due to their highly polarizable pi-systems and the presence of axial susbtituents. Finally Chapter 5 describes the synthesis and characterization of porphyrin possessing rigid linkers. This chapter also shows the further directions in which the various ideas presented in this work could be driven.

This dissertation investigates the electronic spectroscopy of a series of alkyl phenyl ketone radical cations and the dynamics of selective launch states in the strong field regime with tunable near infrared ultrashort laser pulses from 790 nm - 1550 nm coupled to mass spectrometric detection. Our method relies on tunable strong field laser pulses in the range from 1150 nm - 1550 nm to adiabatically ioinized gas phase molecules and prepare ions in the ground ionic state that serve as a launch state for future excitation and control. Adiabatic ionization is capable of transferring little energy to the molecule and producing a majority of a parent molecular ion in comparison to nonadiabatic ionization wherein multiple ionic states can be populated with an accompanying high degree of molecular fragmentation. We measure a dynamic resonance in the low lying electronic states of the acetopheone radical cation via preparation of a launch state with adiabatic ionization followed by a one photon transition within a single pulse duration which facilitates bond dissociation to produce the benzoyl ion. Experiments on acetophenone homologues and derivatives elucidate the structural dependence of the electronic resonance and supporting ab initio calculations identify the dynamic resonance along the molecular torsional coordinate between the ground ionic state, D0, and second excited state, D2. Post ionization excitation within the pulse duration transfers the ground state wavepacket to the D2 surface where the wavepacket encounters a three state conical intersection that facilitates the preferred bond dissociation. Time resolved photodissociation experiments measure the dynamics of the launch state, large amplitude oscillations and extended coherence times support the notion that adiabatic ionization populates a majority of the ground ionic surface. Control of the dissociation products is initiated from the launch state by varying the pump wavelength and probe intensity. Elimination of the D0 wavepacket with a 1370 nm reveals additional secondary dynamics that are attributed to wavepacket motion on the D2 surface. Finally, the effect of para substitution on the acetophenone radical cation is explored as a strategy to control the launch state wavepacket dynamics. Suppresion of the wavepacket dynamics are observed with the addition of alkoxy groups whereas extended coherence of the launch state dynamics approaching ~5 ps is observed upon trifluoromethyl substitution. A possible mechanism for the extended coherenece based on coupled torsional rotors is proposed. / Chemistry

Cyclopropane derivatives are frequently utilized as "probes" for radical cation intermediates in a number of important chemical and biochemical oxidation. The implicit assumption in such studies is that if a radical cation is produced, it will undergo ring opening. Through a detailed examination of follow-up chemistry of electrochemically and chemically generated cyclopropylarene radical cations, we have shown that the assumption made in the use of these substrates as SET probes is not necessarily valid. While cyclopropylbenzene radical cation undergoes rapid methanol-induced ring opening (e.g., k = 8.9⁷ s⁻¹M⁻¹), the radical cations generated from 9-cyclopropylanthracenes do not undergo cyclopropane ring opening at all. The radical cations generated from cyclopropylnaphthalenes disproportionate or dimerize before undergoing ring opening. Utilizing cyclic, derivative cyclic, and linear sweep voltammetry, it was discovered that decay of radical cations generated from cyclopropylnaphthalenes in CH₃CN/CH₃OH is second order in radical cation and zero order in methanol. Anodic and Ce(IV) oxidation of all these naphthyl substrates in CH₃CN/CH₃OH led to cyclopropane ring-opened products. However, the rate constant for methanol-induced ring opening (Ar-c-C₃H₅⁺. + CH₃OH -> ArCH(·)CH₂CH₂O(H⁺)CH₃) is extremely small (<20 s⁻¹M⁻¹ for 1-cyclopropylnaphthalenes) despite the fact that ring opening is exothermic by nearly 30 kcal/mol. These results are explained on the basis of a product-like transition state for ring opening wherein the positive charge is localized on the cyclopropyl group, and thus unable to benefit from potential stabilization offered by the aromatic ring. Reactions of radical cations generated from 9-cyclopropylanthracenes in CH₃CN/CH₃CN have also been investigated electrochemically. The major products arising from oxidation of these anthryl substrates are attributable to CH₃OH attack at the aromatic ring rather than CH₃OH-induced cyclopropane ring opening. Ce(IV) oxidation of 9-cyclopropyl-10-methylanthracene and 9,10-dimethylanthracene further showed that radical cations generated from these anthryl substrates undergo neither cyclopropane ring opening nor deprotonation but nucleophilic addition. Side-chain oxidation products from Ce(IV) oxidation of methylated anthracenes arose from further reaction of nuclear oxidation products under acidic and higher temperature conditions. An analogous (more product-like) transition state picture can be applied for cyclopropane ring opening and deprotonation of these anthryl radical cations. Because of much higher intrinsic barrier to either nucleophile-induced cyclopropane ring opening or deprotonation of these anthryl radical cations, nucleophilic addition predominates. Stereoelectronic effects may be another additional factor contributing to this intrinsic barrier because the cyclopropyl group in these anthryl systems adopts a perpendicular conformation which may not meet the stereoelectronic requirements for cyclopropyl ring opening at either the radical cation or dication stage. / Ph. D.

The recent upsurge of degenerative diseases believed to be the result of oxidative stress has sparked an increased interest in utilizing the fundamental principles of physical organic chemistry to understand biological problems. Enzyme pathways can pose several experimental complications due to their complexity, therefore the small molecule probe approach can be utilized in an attempt understand the more complex enzyme mechanisms. The work described in this dissertation focuses on the use of N-cyclopropyl amines that have been used as probes to study the mechanism of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and cytochrome P-450 (cP-450). A photochemical model study of benzophenone triplet (3BP) with the MAO-B substrate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and two of its derivatives, 1-cyclopropyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and (+/-)-[trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine is presented in Chapter 2. The barrier for ring opening of aminyl radical cations derived from N-cyclopropyl derivatives of tertiary amines (such as MPTP) is expected to be low. Reactions of 3BP with all three compounds are very similar. The results suggest that the reaction between benzophenone triplet and tertiary aliphatic amines proceed via a simple hydrogen atom transfer reaction. Additionally these model examinations provide evidence that oxidations of N-cyclopropyl derivatives of MPTP catalyzed by MAO-B may not be consistent with a pure SET pathway. The chemistry of N-cyclopropyl amines has been used to study the mechanism of amine oxidations by cP-450. Until recently, the rate constant for these ring opening reactions has not been reported. Direct electrochemical examinations of N-cyclopropyl-N-methylaniline showed that the radical cation undergoes a unimolecular rearrangement consistent with a cyclopropyl ring opening reaction. Examination of both the direct and indirect electrochemical data showed that the oxidation potential N-cyclopropyl-N-methylaniline to be +0.528 V (0.1 M Ag⁺/Ag), and rate constant for ring opening of 4.1 x 10⁴ s⁻¹. These results are best explained by two phenomena: (i) a resonance effect in which the spin and charge of the radical cation in the ring closed form is delocalized into the benzene ring hindering the overall rate of the ring opening reaction, and/or (ii) the lowest energy conformation of the molecule does not meet the stereoelectronic requirements for a ring opening pathway. Therefore a new series of spiro cyclopropanes were designed to lock the cyclopropyl group into the appropriate bisected conformation. The electrochemical results reported herein show that the rate constant for ring opening of 1'-methyl-3',4'-dihydro-1'H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2'-quinoline] and 6'-chloro-1'-methyl-3',4'-dihydro-1'H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2'-quinoline] are 3.5 x 10² s⁻¹ and 4.1 x 10² s⁻¹ with redox potentials of 0.3 V and 0.366 V respectively. In order to examine a potential resonance effect a derivative of N-methyl-N-cyclopropylaniline was synthesized to provide a driving force for the ring opening reaction thereby accelerating the overall rate of the ring opening pathway. The electrochemical results show that the rate constant for ring opening of 4-chloro-N-methyl-N-(2-phenylcyclopropyl)aniline to be 1.7 x 10⁸ s⁻¹ . The formal oxidation potential (E°OX) of this substrate was determined to be 0.53 V. The lowered redox potentials of 1'-methyl-3',4'-dihydro-1'H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2'-quinoline] and 6'-chloro-1'-methyl-3',4'-dihydro-1'H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2'-quinoline] can be directly attributed to the electron donating character of the ortho alkyl group of the quinoline base structure of these spiro derivatives, and therefore the relative energy of the ring closed radical cations directly affects the rate of ring opening reactions. The relief of ring strain coupled with the formation of the highly resonance stabilized benzylic radical explains the rate increase for the ring opening reaction of 4-chloro-N-methyl-N-(2-phenylcyclopropyl)aniline. / Ph. D.