Sulfur monoxide thermal release from an anthracene-based precursor, spectroscopic identification, and transfer reactivity.

Joost, Maximilian; Nava, Matthew; Transue, Wesley J; Martin-Drumel, Marie-Aline; McCarthy, Michael C; Patterson, David; Cummins, Christopher C · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Sulfur monoxide (SO) is a highly reactive molecule and thus, eludes bulk isolation. We report here on synthesis and reactivity of a molecular precursor for SO generation, namely 7-sulfinylamino-7-azadibenzonorbornadiene (<b>1</b>). This compound has been shown to fragment readily driven by dinitrogen expulsion and anthracene formation on heating in the solid state and in solution, releasing SO at mild temperatures (<100 °C). The generated SO was detected in the gas phase by MS and rotational spectroscopy. In solution, <b>1</b> allows for SO transfer to organic molecules as well as transition metal complexes.