Observation by flow sup 1 H NMR and dimerization kinetics and products of reactive ortho-quinodimethanes and benzocyclobutadiene

The reactive o-quinodimethanes, 1,2-dimethylene-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (9) and o-xylylene (1) were observed by flow {sup 1}H NMR spectroscopy at room temperature. The {sup 1}H NMR spectrum of 9 was obtained in the absence of precursor and dimers. However, the {sup 1}H NMR spectrum of the more reactive 1, generated in a similar manner from (o-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)benzyl)trimethylammonium iodide (5.) could be obtained only in the presence of its stable (4 + 2) and (4 + 4) dimers. The dimerization kinetics of 3-methyl- (5{prime}), 3,6-dimethyl- (11), 3-isopropyl- (12), and 3,6-diisoproply-1,2-xylylene (13) in acetonitrile (CH{sub 3}CN) were studied by stopped-flow UV-visible spectroscopy. Fluoride ion induced 1,2-elimination from 2-elimination from 2-trimethylsilylbenzocyclobutenyl-1 mesylate (26) was used to generate the reactive molecule benzocyclobutadiene (1{prime}) in CD{sub 3}CN, which was observed by flow {sup 1}H NMR spectroscopy at room temperature. The {sup 1}H NMR spectrum (in CD{sub 3}CN) of 1,2-dimethylene-1,2-dihydrothiophene (1{double prime}), obtained by fluoride ion induced 1,4-elimination from 3-(trimethylammoniummethyl)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)thiophene iodine was observed by flow {sup 1}H NMR spectroscopy at room temperature. The dimerization rate of 1{double prime} in CH{sub 3}CN, generated in the same manner, was measured by UV-visible spectroscopy. 166 refs., 7 figs., 7 tabs.