A molecular seesaw balance 1·MeI has been developed to measure pyridinium-π interactions. This balance adopts two distinct conformers, A and B, which are stabilized by a cation-π interaction and a π-π interaction, respectively. The conformer ratio was determined on the basis of the averaged (3)J coupling constants for H1-C-C-H2 and the corresponding boundary J values for conformers A and B. The effects of the solvent and the counteranion on the ΔG values were investigated using this molecular balance. Thermodynamic parameters obtained from a van't Hoff plot helped us to better understand the solvent and counteranion effects.
A series of molecular seesaw balances 1-5 have been developed to measure the relative strength of pyridinium-π (cation-π) interactions. The cycloaddition of 1-azaanthracene and o-quinodimethane under microwave irradiation afforded the efficient synthesis of 1 and 5. Introduction of substituents to the pyridine ring of balance 1 was achieved to produce 2-4 in good yields. Anion exchange of 1·MeI afforded 1·MeX with a variety of counteranions (X = Cl, Br, I, BF, PF, OAc). These balances adopt two distinct conformers, A and B, which are stabilized by a cation-π interaction and a π-π interaction, respectively. The conformer ratio was determined on the basis of the observed averaged J coupling constants for H-C-C-H by comparison with the boundary J and J values, which were estimated by applying the Carplus-Altona equation to the dihedral angles of the optimized conformers A and B. The effects of the solvent, substituent and counteranion on the ΔG values were elucidated using these molecular balances. Thermodynamic parameters obtained from a van't Hoff plot as well as the electrostatic potential maps for both conformers A and B of the molecular balances helped us to better understand the obtained results.
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