title: The solvation of carbenes: π and O-ylidic complexes of p-nitrophenylchlorocarbene.
abstract: p-Nitrophenylchlorocarbene (PNPCC) was studied by laser flash photolysis with UV-vis detection in solution at ambient temperature. The π → p (316 nm) and σ → p (628 nm) absorptions of PNPCC were replaced in π- or O-donor solvents by absorptions due to π- or O-ylidic complexes or O-ylides. Donors included anisole, 1,3-dimethoxybenzene, 1,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene, diethyl ether, 18-crown-6, and dibenzo-18-crown-6. Suggestive evidence was also obtained for weak π-complexation of PNPCC by benzene. Computational studies aided in understanding the carbene complex and O-ylide absorption spectra, and they provided structures and energetics for these species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA. moss@rutchem.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Elon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weintraub
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krogh-Jespersen