title: Electron transfer between two silyl-substituted phenylene rings: EPR/ENDOR spectra, DFT calculations, and crystal structure of the one-electron reduction compound of a di(m-silylphenylenedisiloxane).
abstract: Reduction of a solution of octamethylcyclo-di(m-silylphenylenedisiloxane) 4 in THF on a potassium mirror leads to EPR/ENDOR spectra characterized by a large coupling (approximately 20 MHz) with two protons, similar to the spectra obtained after reduction of the m-disilylbenzene derivative 5, consistent with a localization of the extra electron on a single ring of 4. The spectra recorded after reduction of 4 at low temperature in the presence of an equimolar amount of 18-crown-6 exhibit couplings of approximately 10 MHz with four protons and indicate that embedding the counterion in crown-ether provokes the delocalization of the unpaired electron on the two phenyl rings of 4. The measured hyperfine interactions agree with those calculated by DFT for the optimized structure of 4(.-). Direct information on the structure of this anion is obtained from the X-ray diffraction of crystals grown at -18 degrees C in reduced solutions containing 4, potassium, and crown ether in a THF/hexane mixture. Both DFT and crystal structures clearly indicate the geometry changes caused by the addition of an electron to 4: the interphenyl distance drastically decreases, leading to a partial overlap of the two rings. The structure of 4(.-) is a model for an electron transfer (ET) transition state between the two aromatic rings. The principal reason for the adoption of this structure lies in the bonding interaction between the LUMO (pi orbitals) of these two fragments; moreover, the constraints of the macrocycle probably contribute to the stabilization of this structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cosmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dutan
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choua
authors.forename: Théo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berclaz
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geoffroy
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mézailles
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moores
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricard
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Floch