Spectroscopic studies on effects of triptycyl group on structures and reactivities of triplet arylcarbenes

A series of triplet 9-triptycyl(aryl)carbenes, where aryl groups are phenyl, 1- and 2-naphthyl, and 9-anthryl, is generated by photolysis of the corresponding diazomethanes and observed directly by spectroscopic means. Their structures are characterized by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in a 2-methyltetrahydrofuran matrix at 77 K, and the reactivities are investigated by laser flash photolysis in degassed benzene solution at room temperature. Comparison of the data with other arylcarbenes bearing a series of substituents, i.e., hydrogen, phenyl, naphthyl, and anthryl groups, revealed an interesting relationship between structures and reactivities of triplet arylcarbenes.