Characterization of tetra-aryl benzene isomers by using preparative gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallographic methods

Anal Chem. 2010 Jun 1;82(11):4501-9. doi: 10.1021/ac100417h.

Abstract

The present study describes a preparative gas chromatographic (GC) approach employed to study a series of products arising from reaction of phenylacetylene with para-substituted aryl-iodides under Sonogashira catalysis conditions. GC analysis resolves the isomers from each reaction; however, it cannot provide structural details (their MS data are virtually identical). Since classical liquid chromatography cannot resolve the isomers, preparative-scale GC is the only practical approach to provide further spectroscopic characterization of the isomers. The products are well separated by GC so a single thick-film capillary column is adequate for this case, with operation up to approximately +300 degrees C. By collection of 50+ repeat injections, sufficient material could be isolated for (1)H NMR spectral analysis of the isomers, and for one isomer (isomer I) of a number of analogous related catalytic reaction mixtures, X-ray crystal structure determination enabled complete structural elucidation (absolute configuration) of the substitution pattern of the structure of this isomer. This confirmed isomer I to be the 2-para-aryl-substituted 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene product in all cases. (1)H NMR spectra of isomer I products generally had similar patterns but differed markedly from the second major isomer product (isomer II).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylene / analogs & derivatives
  • Acetylene / chemistry
  • Benzene / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Iodine / chemistry
  • Isomerism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*

Substances

  • phenylacetylene
  • Iodine
  • Benzene
  • Acetylene