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PubMed2006

Doubly ortho-linked quinoxaline/diphenylfluorene hybrids as bipolar, fluorescent chameleons for optoelectronic applications.

The titled dipolar hybrids bearing a central quinoxaline-fused dibenzosuberene optoelectronic unit with functional C5 and C8 appendages and spiro-fluorene junction act as fluorescent bipolar OLED chameleons. The emission colors can be tuned from blue, green, yellow, to red with operation brightness of 205, 1268, 1542, and 1102 cd/m2, respectively, at 20 mA/cm2.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Self-condensed nanoparticles of oligofluorenes with water-soluble side chains.

Self-condensation of the amphiphilic fluorene trimer occurs in the solvent mixture, giving pure "green" fluorescent nanoparticles with controlled radii of 20-100 nm. The origin of the green fluorescence is attributed to the excimer emission via excitation of aggregated dimer structures in the nanoparticles rather than the keto-defects. The present study also suggests the possibility of spectral tuning of emissions from oligofluorene aggregates.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Control of cationic conjugated polymer performance in light emitting diodes by choice of counterion.

Counterion exchange in cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes provides for a straightforward method to modulate the performance of these materials as the electron transport (injection) layer (ETL) in organic light emitting diodes. The bromide counterions of [(9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)-hexyl)fluorene]bromide (PF-Br) can be easily replaced with trifluoromethylsulfonate (PF-CF3SO3), tetrakis(imidazolyl)borate (PF-BIm4) or tetrakis(3,5-trifluoromethylphenyl)borate (PF-BArF4) by a procedure that involves precipitation and washing. The performance of LEDs using MEH-PPV as the emissive layer, Al as the cathode, and the conjugated polyelectrolytes as the ETL varies in the order: PF-BIm4 > PF-CF3SO3 > PF-Br > PF-BArF4. In the case of PF-BIm4, the luminous efficiencies of the devices are similar to those of devices using Ba as the cathode. Thus, by properly choosing the counterion one can use higher work function metals that are more stable than lower work function metals without a substantial barrier to electron injection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Molecular-wire behavior of OLED materials: exciton dynamics in multichromophoric Alq3-oligofluorene-Pt(II)porphyrin triads.

Donor-bridge-acceptor triads consisting of the Alq3 complex, oligofluorene bridge, and PtII tetraphenylporphyrin (PtTPP) were synthesized. The triads were designed to study the energy level/distance-dependence in energy transfer both in a solution and in solid state. The materials show effective singlet transfer from the Alq3-fluorene fluorophore to the porphyrin, while the triplet energy transfer, owing to the shorter delocalization of triplet excitons, appears to take place via a triplet energy cascade. Using femtosecond transient spectroscopy, the rate of the singlet-singlet energy transfer was determined. The exponential dependence of the donor-acceptor distance and the respective energy transfer rates of 7.1 x 1010 to 1.0 x 109 s-1 with the attenuation factor â of 0.21 +/- 0.02 A-1 suggest that the energy transfer proceeds via a mixed incohererent wire/superexchange mechanism. In the OLEDs fabricated using the Alq3-oligofluorene-PtTPP triads with better triplet level alignment, the order of a magnitude increase in efficacy appears to be due to facile triplet energy transfer. The devices, where the triplet-triplet energy transfer is of paramount importance, showed high color purity emission (CIE X,Y: 0.706, 0.277), which is almost identical to the emission from thin films. Most importantly, we believe that the design principles demonstrated above are general and may be used to prepare OLED materials with enhanced quantum efficacy at lowered operational potentials, being crucial for improved lifespan of OLEDs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Self-assembling poly(dioxaborole)s as blue-emissive materials.

Conjugated, borole-linked polymers have been self-assembled based on boronate ester formation between a fluorene-2,7-diboronic acid and 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene. Readily soluble polymers with molecular weights approaching 60 000 have been generated with materials exhibiting extended conjugation over approximately 3-5 borole linkages. Emission from these polymers reaches into the visible (blue) range, representing a novel class of blue-emitting materials.

Borates↗
PubMed1988

Conformational preference for the binding of biaryl substrates and inhibitors to the active site of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase.

We have previously described regions of steric bulk tolerance in the aromatic-ring binding site of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT, EC 2.1.1.28) for phenylethanolamine substrates and alpha-methylbenzylamine inhibitors. For bound substrates, this region is located in the vicinity of the para position of the aromatic ring, while for bound alpha-methylbenzylamine inhibitors, it is located in the region complementary to the meta position. In the present study, we sought to determine the preferred conformation of the biaryl portion of (m-phenylphenyl)- and (p-phenylphenyl)ethanolamine (4 and 5, respectively) as well as for m-phenyl- and p-phenyl-alpha-methylbenzylamine (7 and 8, respectively) for PNMT active site interactions. Planar derivatives of 4, 5, 7, and 8 were obtained through the synthesis of 2-(1-fluorenyl)-2-hydroxyethylamine (9), 2-(2-fluorenyl)-2-hydroxyethylamine (10), 1-(1-fluorenyl)ethylamine (11), and 1-(2-fluorenyl)ethylamine (12). The four fluorene derivatives were examined for in vitro activity as substrates and inhibitors of the PNMT-catalyzed reaction. As in the case of 4, 5, 7, and 8, we have observed a positional preference for the alkylamine side chain with respect to the biphenyl skeleton present in 9-12. Thus, fluorenylethanolamine 10 ("p-biphenyl") displays a Michaelis constant (Km = 26 microM) that is approximately 10 times lower than that for 9 ("m-biphenyl", Km = 297 microM); in the alpha-methylbenzylamine inhibitors, fluorenyl derivative 11 ("m-biphenyl", Ki = 4.14 microM) is approximately 40 times better than 12 ("p-biphenyl", Ki = 185 microM) for in vitro inhibition of PNMT. In each case, conformational restriction of the biaryl system present in 4, 5, 7, and 8, such that the aromatic rings are coplanar, resulted in enhanced affinity for the PNMT active site. Thus, conformational restriction of ethanolamine 5 (Km = 82 microM) as in 10 (Km = 26 microM) and alpha-methylbenzylamine 7 (Ki = 89 microM) as in 11 (Ki = 4.14 microM) leads, in each case, to a stronger enzyme-ligand dissociable complex. These results, in conjunction with others from these laboratories, indicate that the PNMT active site beyond the zone that interacts with the central aromatic ring portion of phenylethanolamine substrates and alpha-methylbenzylamine inhibitors is essentially a flat, hydrophobic pocket.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed2005

Novel heterocyclic trans olefin analogues of N-{4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]butyl}arylcarboxamides as selective probes with high affinity for the dopamine D3 receptor.

Dopamine D3 receptor subtypes have been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in modulating the reinforcing and drug-seeking effects induced by cocaine. However, definitive pharmacological investigations have been hampered by the lack of highly D3 receptor selective compounds that can be used in vivo. To address this problem, the potent and D3-receptor-selective antagonist NGB 2904 (1, 9H-fluorene-2-carboxylic acid {4-[(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-amide, Ki (hD3) = 2.0 nM, Ki (hD2L) = 112 nM, D2/D3 selectivity ratio of 56) was chosen as a lead structure for chemical modification in an attempt to reduce its high lipophilicity (c log D = 6.94) while optimizing D3 receptor binding affinity and D2/D3 selectivity. A series of >30 novel analogues were synthesized, and their binding affinities were evaluated in competition binding assays in HEK 293 cells transfected with either D2(L), D3, or D4 human dopamine receptors using the high affinity, selective D2-like receptor antagonist (125)I-IABN. Structural diversity in the aryl amide end of the molecule was found to have a major influence on (sub)nanomolar D3 receptor affinity and D2/D3 selectivity, which was optimized using a more rigid trans-butenyl linker between the aryl amide and the piperazine. Several analogues demonstrated superior D3 receptor binding affinities and selectivities as compared to the parent ligand. Compound 29 (N-{4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-trans-but-2-enyl}-4-pyridine-2-yl-benzamide) displayed the most promising pharmacological profile (Ki (hD3) = 0.7 nM, Ki (hD2L) = 93.3 nM, D2/D3 selectivity ratio of 133). In addition, this ligand inhibited quinpirole stimulation of mitogenesis at human dopamine D3 receptors transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, with an EC50 value of 3.0 nM. Compound 29 was a nearly 5 times more potent antagonist at the D3 receptor than 1 (EC50 = 14.4 nM). Moreover, a decrease in c log D value of approximately 2 orders of magnitude was determined for this novel D3-receptor-preferring ligand, compared to 1. In summary, chemical modification of 1 has resulted in compounds with high affinity and selectivity for D3 receptors. The most promising candidate, compound 29, is currently being evaluated in animal models of cocaine abuse and will provide an important tool with which to elucidate the role of D3 receptors in drug reinforcement in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Design, synthesis, and 3D QSAR of novel potent and selective aromatase inhibitors.

The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of new aromatase inhibitors bearing an imidazole or triazole ring linked to a fluorene (A), indenodiazine (B), or coumarin scaffold (C) are reported. Properly substituted coumarin derivatives displayed the highest aromatase inhibitory potency and selectivity over 17-alpha-hydroxylase/17-20 lyase. The modeling of the aromatase inhibition data by Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA/GOLPE 3D QSAR approach) led to the development of a PLS model with good fitting and predictive powers (n = 22, ONC = 3, r(2) = 0.949, s = 0.216, and q(2) = 0.715). The relationship between aromatase inhibition and the steric and electrostatic fields generated by the examined azole inhibitors enables a clear understanding of the nature and spatial location of the main interactions modulating the aromatase inhibitory potency.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2006

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of 22-hydroxyacuminatine.

A total synthesis of 22-hydroxyacuminatine, a cytotoxic alkaloid isolated from Camptotheca acuminata, is reported. The key step in the synthesis involves the reaction of 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoline with a brominated phthalide to generate a substituted pentacyclic 12H-5,11a-diazadibenzo[b,h]fluoren-11-one intermediate. Despite its structural resemblance to camptothecin and luotonin A, a biological evaluation of 22-hydroxyacuminatine in a topoisomerase I-deficient cell line P388/CPT45 has confirmed that the observed cytotoxicity is not due to topoisomerase I inhibition, even though 22-hydroxyacuminatine has a hydroxyl group that can theoretically hydrogen bond to Asp533. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that pi-pi stacking is more important than hydrogen-bonding interactions in determining topoisomerase I inhibitor binding in the ternary cleavage complex.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2001

Facile solid-phase synthesis of sulfated tyrosine-containing peptides: total synthesis of human big gastrin-II and cholecystokinin (CCK)-39.

Chemical synthesis of tyrosine O-sulfated peptides is still a laborious task for peptide chemists because of the intrinsic acid-lability of the sulfate moiety. An efficient cleavage/deprotection procedure without loss of the sulfate is the critical difficulty remaining to be solved for fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase synthesis of sulfated peptides. To overcome the difficulty, TFA-mediated solvolysis rates of a tyrosine O-sulfate [Tyr(SO3H)] residue and two protecting groups, tBu for the hydroxyl group of Ser and 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofuran-5-sulfonyl (Pbf) for the guanidino group of Arg, were examined in detail. The desulfation obeyed first-order kinetics with a large entropy (59.6 J.K-1.mol-1) and enthalpy (110.5 kJ.mol-1) of activation. These values substantiated that the desulfation rate of the rigidly solvated Tyr(SO3H) residue was strongly temperature-dependent. By contrast, the SN1-type deprotections were less temperature-dependent and proceeded smoothly in TFA of a high ionizing power. Based on the large rate difference between the desulfation and the SN1-type deprotections in cold TFA, an efficient deprotection protocol for the sulfated peptides was developed. Our synthetic strategy for Tyr(SO3H)-containing peptides with this effective deprotection protocol is as follows: (i) a sulfated peptide chain is directly constructed on 2-chlorotrityl resin with Fmoc-based solid-phase chemistry using Fmoc-Tyr(SO3Na)-OH as a building block; (ii) the protected peptide-resin is treated with 90% aqueous TFA at 0 degree C for an appropriate period of time for the cleavage and deprotection. Human cholecystokinin (CCK)-12, mini gastrin-II (14 residues), and little gastrin-II (17 residues) were synthesized with this method in 26-38% yields without any difficulties. This method was further applied to the stepwise synthesis of human big gastrin-II (34 residues), CCK-33 and -39. Despite the prolonged acid treatment (15-18 h at 0 degree C), the ratios of the desulfated peptides were less than 15%, and the pure sulfated peptides were obtained in around 10% yields.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Dications of fluorenylidenes. Relationship between electrochemical oxidation potentials and antiaromaticity in diphenyl-substituted fluorenyl cations.

The antiaromaticity of a series of dications of p-substituted diphenylmethylidene fluorenes was explored using three criteria attributed to aromaticity/antiaromaticity. The relative stability of the dications (energetic criterion) was measured via the redox potentials obtained by electrochemical oxidation under very fast sweep rates with microelectrodes. Comparison of redox potentials with those of a model system, p-substituted tetraphenylethylenes, shows relatively small destabilization of the potentially antiaromatic fluorenylidene dication. However, the amount of destabilization is comparable with the limited electrochemical data available for other antiaromatic systems. Nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) were calculated for these dications (magnetic criterion) and indicated their antiaromaticity. A good linear relationship between experimental and calculated (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) (1)H and (13)C NMR shifts for the three dications, 3c, 3e, and 3f, for which NMR data has been reported, validated the accuracy of the NICS values. Bond length alternation/elongation (structural criterion) was explored via the harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) using the geometries calculated with density functional theory, but there was insufficient variation to evaluate relative antiaromaticity. In addition, the presence of benzannulation appears to restrict bond length alternation to such an extent that the magnitude of the HOMA index is of little use in evaluating the antiaromaticity of many polycyclic hydrocarbons. Both NICS values and redox potentials for formation of the dication in these systems show a strong linear correlation with sigma(p)(+) values, with the more antiaromatic fluorenylidene dication possessing the more electron-withdrawing substituent. The correlation between NICS values and redox potentials is also good, as might be expected, suggesting a strong relationship between magnetic and energetic characteristics of antiaromaticity. However, magnetic characteristics appear to be a more sensitive probe than energetic characteristics evaluated through redox potentials or structural characteristics evaluated through HOMA calculations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Diarylamino groups as photostable auxofluors in 2-benzoxazolylfluorene, 2,5-diphenyloxazoles, 1,3,5-hexatrienes, 1,4-distyrylbenzenes, and 2,7-distyrylfluorenes.

The relationship of structure to optical spectral properties was determined for five types of fluors in a search for an optimum-wavelength shifter to be used as part of the detection systems for high-energy particles from accelerators. In a search for photostable fluors to serve as waveshifters in plastic fibers it was found that the wavelengths of interest, absorption max 410 +/- 10 nm and fluorescence emission max 480 +/- 20 nm, along with other properties, such as high solubility and short fluorescence decay time, could be obtained from fluorophors composed of aromatic rings and vinyl groups only by using amino groups as auxochromes to give bathochromic shifts of wavelengths. Since primary, monoalkyl, and dialkylamino groups were not sufficiently photostable, a number of fluorophores bearing diarylamino groups were investigated. Syntheses of the fluors made use of the Buchwald amination, an improved version of the Emmons-Horner reaction, and other common reactions. The fluor types were the following: a 2-benzoxazolyl-7-(4-diarylamino)fluorene 7, 2-(4-cyanophenyl)-5-(4-aminophenyl)oxazoles 14 and 20, 1,3,5-hexatrienes 24a-d and 26a-c, 1,4-distyrylbenzenes 31d-g and 32a-e, and 2,7-distyrylfluorenes 40a,d-e. The unsymmetrical fluors 7, 14, and 20 were not as bright as the best hexatrienes, distyrylbenzenes, and distyrylfluorenes, which were all symmetrical. Where the 1,6-diaryl-1,3,5-hexatrienes 24a-d had high fluorescence quantum yield (Phi(f)), the 1,1,6,6-tetraryl-1,3,5-hexatrienes 26a-c had both lower epsilon and Phi(f). Where the 1,4-distyrylbenzenes 31d-g had high Phi(f), the 1,4-bis(2-phenylstyryl)benzenes 32a-e had Phi(f) = 0. Diarylamino groups as auxofluors conferred higher photochemical stability than dialkylamino groups on similar fluorophores. The 1,4-distyrylbenzenes 31d,e and the 2,7-distyrylfluorenes 40d,ehad the most desirable properties overall, which included fast decay times of 2 ns. Computer simulations predicted absorption and emission wavelengths fairly well, but were of little help for the prediction of brightness, stability, Phi(f), or decay time.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis of oligomers derived from amide-linked neuraminic acid analogues.

N-Fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl-protected sugar amino acids derived from alpha-O-methoxy- and 2,3-dehydroneuraminic acids have been prepared. Incorporation of these monomer units into solid-phase synthesis led to the efficient synthesis of two series of oligomers varying from one to eight units in length. The (1-->5)-linked amides of 2,3-dehydroneuraminic acid were further subjected to hydrogenation giving a third series of oligomers with a beta-hydrido substituent at the anomeric carbon.

Amides↗
PubMed2005

Generation and characterization of the selenocysteinyl radical: direct evidence from time-resolved UV/Vis, electron paramagnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

The selenocysteinyl radical 1 has been generated for the first time by laser flash photolysis (lambda(exc) = 266 nm) of dimethyl bis(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-selenocystine 2 and of [(9-fluorenylideneamino)oxycarbonyl]methyl(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-selenocysteine 3 in acetonitrile and characterized by time-resolved (TR) UV/Vis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and electron paramagnetic spectroscopy in combination with theoretical methods. A detailed product study was conducted using gas chromatography and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. In the case of [(9-fluorenylideneamino)oxycarbonyl]methyl(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-selenocysteine 3, the (9-fluorenylideneamino)oxycarbonyl moiety serves as a photolabile protection group providing a "caged selenocysteinyl radical" suitable for biophysical applications. Cleavage of the diselenide bridge or the selenium-carbonyl bond by irradiation is possible in high quantum yields. Because of the lack of a good IR chromophore in the mid-IR region, the selenocysteinyl radical 1 cannot be monitored directly by TR FTIR spectroscopy. TR UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed the formation of the selenocysteinyl radical 1 from both precursors. The selenocysteinyl radical 1 has a lifetime tau approximately 63 mus and exhibits a strong band located at lambda(max) = 335 nm. Calculated UV absorptions of the selenocysteinyl radical (UB3LYP/6-311G(d,p)) are in good agreement with the experimental results. The use of TR UV/Vis spectroscopy permitted the determination of the decay rates of the selenocysteinyl radical in the presence of two quenchers. The product studies demonstrated the reversible photoreaction of dimethyl bis(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-selenocystine 2. Products of the photolysis of the "caged selenocysteinyl radical" precursor 3 are dimethyl bis(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-selenocystine 2, carbon dioxide, and some further smaller fragments. In addition, the photodecomposition of the (9-fluorenylideneamino)oxycarbonyl moiety produced 9-fluorenone-oxime 4, 9-fluoren-imine 5, and 6 and 7 as products of the dimerization of two 9-fluorenoneiminoxy radicals 8.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed2006

Convergent synthesis of 10 nm aryleneethynylene molecular wires by an iterative regioselective deprotection/Sonogashira coupling protocol.

[structure: see text] The synthesis of a new series of rigid-rod aryleneethynylene derivatives of up to ca. 10 nm molecular length (compounds 16 and 17) is reported using iterative Pd-mediated Sonogashira coupling methodology combined with regioselective removal of the different protecting groups (namely, trimethylsilyl and 2-hydroxyprop-2-yl groups) from the terminal alkyne units. Additionally, the TMS-acetylene unit has been cleanly deprotected to afford a terminal alkyne in the presence of a cyanoethylsulfanyl group. Some of these molecular wires are functionalized with terminal protected thiophenol units for attachment to metal surfaces (compounds 16 and 17). Internal electron-acceptor units have been incorporated into their structures, namely, 9-[di(4-pyridyl)methylene]fluorene (compound 17) or fluorenone (compounds 19-22). Optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra reveal a red shift in the value of lambda(max) with increasing molecular length, which approaches saturation at an effective conjugation length of ca. 15-20 pi-units in the molecules, where each phenyl ring or a triple bond is counted as one pi-unit.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

A comprehensive self-consistent spectrophotometric acidity scale of neutral Brønsted acids in acetonitrile.

For the first time, the self-consistent spectrophotometric acidity scale of neutral Brønsted acids in acetonitrile (AN) spanning 24 orders of magnitude of acidities is reported. The scale ranges from pK(a) 3.7 to 28.1 in AN. The scale includes 93 acids that are interconnected by 203 relative acidity measurements (DeltapK(a) measurements) and contains compounds with gradually changing acidities, including representatives from all of the conventional families of OH (alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids), NH (anilines, diphenylamines, disulfonimides), and CH acids (fluorenes, diphenylacetonitriles, phenylmalononitriles). The CH acids were particularly useful in constructing the scale because they do not undergo homo- or heteroconjugation processes and their acidities are rather insensitive to traces of water in the medium. The scale has been fully cross-validated: the relative acidity of any two acids on the scale can be found by combining at least two independent sets of DeltapK(a) measurements. The consistency standard deviation of the scale is 0.03 pK(a) units. Comparison of acidities in many different media has been carried out, and the structure-acidity relations are discussed. The large variety of the acids on the scale, its wide span, and the quality of the data make the scale a useful tool for further acidity studies in acetonitrile.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Theoretical Study of Strong Basicity in Aromatic Diamines.

The basic strength of NH(3), NH(2)(CH(3)), NH(CH(3))(2), and N(CH(3))(3) has been evaluated by generating for each species the orbital that plays the dominant role in electron delocalization to an attached proton. The theoretically determined strength has been found to correlate well with the calculated value of proton affinity. The analysis has then been extended to a so-called "proton-sponge" compound, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene. The major component of the orbital of the diamine that captures the proton has been demonstrated to be an in-phase combination of two lone-pair orbitals. The out-of-phase combination elevated in energy by a strong antibonding interaction between two lone pairs of electrons is not necessarily the source of the exceptionally high basicity. The electrostatic interaction has been shown to be the major origin of stabilizing the protonated system, but the location of the captured proton is governed by electron delocalization. A similar conclusion has also been derived for 4,5-bis(dimethylamino)fluorene.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Photochemical Pinacol Rearrangement.

Irradiation of 9,9'-bifluorene-9,9'-diol (1) gave 9-fluorenone and spiro[9H-fluorene-9,9'(10'-H)-phenanthren]-10'-one (4), the latter arising from a pinacol rearrangement. The distribution of fluorenone and ketone 4 was solvent dependent with the latter being the major product in trifluoroethanol, a solvent known to stabilize carbocation intermediates. Laser flash photolysis of diol 1 in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol or hexafluoro-2-propanol showed two transients absorbing at 350 and 505 nm with a weak band at 700 nm. The latter two peaks are assigned to the corresponding substituted 9-fluorenyl cation (5) formed from photoheterolysis of diol 1. Comparison of the decay kinetics between cation 5 and other 9-fluorenyl cations, the parent 9-fluorenyl and 9-phenyl-9-fluorenyl cations, showed that the decay of 5 was relatively insensitive to the nature of the solvent as compared to the latter two carbocations suggesting that unimolecular rearrangement in 5 competes with nucleophilic quenching.

Journal Article↗