Theoretical Analysis of the Effect Provoked by Bromine-Addition on the Thermolysis and Chemiexcitation of a Model Dioxetanone

Chemi-/bioluminescence are phenomena in which chemical energy is converted into electronically excited singlet states, which decay with light emission. Given this feature, along with high quantum yields and other beneficial characteristics, these systems have gained numerous applications in bioanalysis, in biomedicine, and in the pharmaceutical field. Singlet chemiexcitation is made possible by the formation of cyclic peroxides (as dioxetanones) as thermolysis provides a route for a ground state reaction to produce singlet excited states. However, such thermolysis can also lead to the formation of triplet states. While triplet states are not desired in the typical applications of chemi-/bioluminescence, the efficient production of such states can open the door for the use of these systems as sensitizers in photocatalysis and triplet-triplet annihilation, among other fields. Thus, the goal of this study is to assess the effect of heavy atom addition on the thermolysis and triplet chemiexcitation of a model dioxetanone. Monobromination does not affect the thermolysis reaction but can improve the efficiency of intersystem crossing, depending on the position of monobromination. Addition of bromine atoms to the triplet state reaction product has little effect on its properties, except on its electron affinity, in which monobromination can increase between 3.1 and 8.8 kcal mol−1.

The effect of heavy-atom solvents on the photooxidation of anthracene

Photoirradiation of anthracene in benzene in the presence of oxygen gave predominantly a photodimer of anthracene, and very little oxidation product. Similar irradiation of anthracene in bromobenzene, however, produced 9,10-anthraquinone in high yield. The yield of anthraquinone increased in the presence of a heavy-atom solvent such as bromobenzene, p-dibromobenzene, 1,3,5-tribromobenzene, 1-bromopropane, and dibromomethane in proportion to the sum of squares of the spin–orbit coupling parameter ζ of the solvent molecule. This relationship indicates an external heavy-atom effect on the photooxidation of anthracene. The mechanistic investigations suggest the involvement of singlet oxygen, anthracene peroxide, and a radical intermediate in the formation of anthraquinone.