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Title: Formation of Stilbene Azo‐Dimer by Direct Irradiation of p‐Azidostilbene †
ABSTRACT

Triplet arylnitrenes may provide direct access to aryl azo‐dimers, which have broad commercial applicability. Herein, the photolysis ofp‐azidostilbene (1) in argon‐saturated methanol yielded stilbene azo‐dimer (2) through the dimerization of tripletp‐nitrenostilbene (31N). The formation of31Nwas verified by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy (λmax ~ 375 nm) in cryogenic 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran matrices. At ambient temperature, laser flash photolysis of1in methanol formed31N(λmax ~ 370 nm, 2.85 × 107 s−1). On shorter timescales, a transient absorption (λmax ~ 390 nm) that decayed with a similar rate constant (3.11 × 107 s−1) was assigned to a triplet excited state (T) of1. Density functional theory calculations yielded three configurations for T of1, with the unpaired electrons on the azido (TA) or stilbene moiety (TTw, twisted and TFl, flat). The transient was assigned to TTwbased on its calculated spectrum. CASPT2 calculations gave a singlet–triplet energy gap of 16.6 kcal mol−1for1 N; thus, intersystem crossing of11Nto31Nis unlikely at ambient temperature, supporting the formation of31Nfrom T of1. Thus, sustainable synthetic methods for aryl azo‐dimers can be developed using the visible‐light irradiation of aryl azides to form triplet arylnitrenes.

 
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Award ID(s):
2102248 2102160
NSF-PAR ID:
10420751
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Photochemistry and Photobiology
Volume:
99
Issue:
2
ISSN:
0031-8655
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 605-615
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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