Density functional theory and complete active space self-consistent field computations are applied to elucidate the singlet diradical character of square planar, diamagnetic nickel complexes that contain two bidentate ligands derived from o-catecholates, o-phenylenediamines, o-benzodithiolates, o-aminophenolates, and o-aminothiophenolates. In the density functional framework, the singlet diradical character is discussed within the broken symmetry formalism. The singlet-triplet energy gaps, the energy gained from symmetry breaking, the spin distribution in the lowest triplet state, and the form of the magnetic orbitals are applied as indicators for the singlet diradical character. Moreover, a new index for the diradical character is proposed that is based on symmetry breaking. All symmetry breaking criteria show that the complexes obtained from o-catecholates and o-benzodithiolates have the largest and the smallest singlet diradical character, respectively. The singlet diradical character should be intermediate for the complexes derived from o-phenylenediamines, o-aminophenolates, and o-aminothiophenolates. The diradical character of all complexes suggests the presence of Ni(II) central atoms. This is also indicated by the d-populations computed by means of the natural population analysis.

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The sulphate radical SO4(.-) reacts with 1,3-dimethyluracil (1,3-DMU) (k = 5 X 10(9) dm3 mol-1 s-1) thereby forming with greater than or equal to 90 per cent yield the 1,3-DMU C(5)-OH adduct radical 4 as evidenced by its absorption spectrum and its reactivity toward tetranitromethane. Pulse-conductometric experiments have shown that a 1,3-DMU-SO4(.-) aduct 3 as well as the 1,3-DMU radical cation 1, if formed, must be very short-lived (t1/2 less than or equal to 1 microsecond). The 1,3-DMU C(5)-OH adduct 4 reacts slowly with peroxodisulphate (k = 2.1 X 10(5) dm3 mol-1 s-1). It is suggested that the observed new species is the 1,3-DMU-5-OH-6-SO4(.-) radical 7. At low dose rates a chain reaction is observed. The product of this chain reaction is the cis-5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-1,3-dimethyluracil 2. At a dose rate of 2.8 X 10(-3) Gys-1 a G value of approximately 200 was observed ([1,3-DMU] = 5 X 10(-3) mol dm-3; [S2O8(2-)] = 10(-2) mol dm-3; [t-butanol] = 10(-2) mol dm-3). The peculiarities of this chain reaction (strong effect of [1,3-DMU], smaller effect of [S2O(2-)8]) is explained by 7 being an important chain carrier. It is proposed that 7 reacts with 1,3-DMU by electron transfer, albeit more slowly (k approximately 1.2 X 10(4) dm3 mol-1 s-1) than does SO4(.-). The resulting sulphate 6 is considered to hydrolyse into 2 and sulphuric acid which is formed in amounts equivalent to those of 2. Computer simulations provide support for the proposed mechanism. The results of some SCF calculations on the electron distribution in the radical cations derived from uracil and 1-methyluracil are also presented.

The photolysis of Fe(CO)3(η4-s-cis-1,3-butadiene) (1) and Fe(CO)4(η2-1,3-butadiene) (2), formerly studied in low-temperature matrixes, is reexamined in cyclohexane solution at ambient temperature using time-resolved IR spectroscopy in the ν(CO) region. Flash photolysis of 2 (λexc = 308 nm) generates Fe(CO)3(η4-s-trans-1,3-butadiene) (5) as a transient product, which then rearranges to form the classical η4-s-cis-1,3-butadiene complex 1. Species 5, previously addressed as the coordinately unsaturated Fe(CO)3(η2-1,3-butadiene) (3), is also photogenerated from 1, in this case along with the very short-lived CO loss fragment Fe(CO)2(η4-1,3-butadiene) (τ < 4 μs under CO atmosphere). It decays by temperature-dependent first-order kinetics (τ = 13 ms at 25 °C; ΔH ⧧ = 17.3 kcal·mol-1) with nearly complete recovery of 1. According to density functional calculations at the BP86 level of theory, 5 resides in a distinct energy minimum, 20.3 kcal·mol-1 above 1 and separated from it by a barrier of 15.0 kcal·mol-1. Its computed structure involves a diene dihedral angle of 129°. Species 3 (with a diene dihedral angle of −150.1°), by contrast, is predicted to exist in a rather flat minimum, which makes it too short-lived for detection with our instrumentation. Flash photolysis of Fe(CO)5 generates the very short-lived (<1 μs) doubly unsaturated Fe(CO)3(solv) species in addition to the familiar Fe(CO)4(solv) fragment (τ = 10−15 μs), Fe2(CO)9 being the ultimate product in the absence of potential trapping agents other than CO. Deliberate contamination of the system with water gives rise to the formation of Fe(CO)4(H2O) as a longer lived transient (ca. 1 ms). In the presence of 1,3-butadiene, both 2 and 5 appear almost instantaneously. The latter decays, again in the millisecond time range, with formation of 1, thus providing clear evidence of a single-photon route from Fe(CO)5 to 1 in addition to the established two-photon sequence via the monosubstituted complex 2.