April 5 , 1962
COJIIIUNICATIONS TO THE EDITOR
1323
dine methiodide, Xmax 317 my (e lO,O00), prepared by the synthetic route described earlier,2 was irradiated in water solution. Direct exposure of the solution of the cis form to the Hanovia 550watt source caused a shift of the wavelength of Amax from 317 mp (E 10,000) to 325 mp (E 13,600). A subsequent 25-sec. exposure, using the Wratten Filter 18h,of this solution caused the wave length of Xmax to shift from 323 m p (E 13,600) to 31!) 1 x 1 ~ ( E 10,500). The saniple was then exposed for 3 sec. directly to the Hanovia source, causing a shift of wavelength of Xmax from 319 my ( E 10,500) to 325 mp (E 13,600). This solution was then cycled ten times in the manner just described for the equilibrium mixture solution obtained from trans-2styrylpyridine methiodide. (14) Cf.t h e intramolecular hydrogen bonding in o-cyanophenol, in Further experiments were carried out using a which molecular geometry restricts t h e type of bonding possible (1'. Prey and H. Berbalk, Monot. Chem., 82, 990 (1951)). We have not Bausch and Lomb grating monochromator in yet been successful in attempts t o prepare either o-isocyanophenol or conjunction with a General Electric BH-6 high2-isucyanoethanol, pressure mercury arc. The output of light (15) L. hlalatesta, Pyog. Inovg. Chem., 1, 283 (1959); n. Seyferth from this system was lower, requiring longer exand iY.Kahlen, J . A m . Chem. Soc., 82, 1080 (1960); F. A . Cotton and F. Zingales, i b i d . , 83,351 (1961). posure times. Irradiation of a solution of trans-2(16) Merck Foundation Fellow, 1960-1961: Esso Foundation Felstyrylpyridine methiodide by light of 365 mp low, 1961-1962. wavelength from the monochromator produced FRICKCHEMICAL LABORATORY a shift of the trans form (Amax 334 mp, e 27,600) PRISCETON UNIVERSITY PAUL VON R. SCHLEYER PHINCETON, NEW JERSEY ADAMALLERHAKD'~ to cis (Xmax 319 mp, E 10,800). Exposure of this solution of the cis form to light of wavelength RECEIVED DECEMBER 14,1961 313 mp from the monochromator caused a shift of the wavelength of Xma, from 319 to 325 mp. T R A NS-CIS-T RA IVS-PHOTOTROPISM OF Thus, when water solutions of either cis- or 2-STYRYLPYRIDINE METHIODIDE trans-2-styrylpyridine methiodide are irradiated, a Sir : new equilibrium is established involving the two Earlier publications1,2 described the photo- isomers. The position of the equilibrium depends dimerization and photoisomerization of trans-2- on the wavelength distribution of the light used. styrylpyridine, its hydrochloride, and methiodide. The study of this phototropic phenomenon is Irradiation of solutions of trans-2-styrylpyridine being extended to include other styrylpyridine methiodide in water by sunlight produced mixtures derivatives. A future publication will deal more of the corresponding dimer and cis-2-styrylpyri- fully with the subject. dine methiodide. Sequential irradiation with RESEARCH LABORATORIES short exposures of ultraviolet light of trans-2- EASTMAN J. L. R. WILLIAMS KODAKCOMPANY styrylpyridine methiodide solutions has revealed ROCHESTER 4,NEW YORK RECEIVED FEBRUARY 32, 1962 that conversion of the trans form to the cis is very fast compared to the rate of dimerization. Irradiation of a solution containing 2.5 X 10-j CARBON AS A HYDROGEN BONDING BASE: mole per liter of trans-2-styrylpyridine methiodide A HYDROGEN BOND BETWEEN TWO CARBON NUCLEI in water was carried out in 1-cm. quartz cells a t a distance of 15 cm. from a Hanovia 550-watt Sir: Among the surprising species which form weak water-cooled medium-pressure mercury source. Exposure of the solution of trans-2-styrylpyridine hydrogen bonds are olefins, acetylenes, aromatic methiodide for 25 sec., with a Kodak Wratten compounds, cyclopropyl systems, and even the Filter 18A (pass-band 330-400 mp) inserted be- metal in metallocenes.2 However, there are no tween the source and the sample, produced a shift reports of a substituted carbon behaving a t the of wavelength of Xmax 334 mp (E 27,600) to Xmax base in a hydrogen bond.3 I wish to report such a 319 mp (E 10,800). Two subsequent exposures species which forms strong hydrogen bonds, and using the Wratten Filter 15A produced no further to report a bond between this species and a hydrochange. The sample was then exposed for 5 sec. gen already attached to another carbon. Benzyl isocyanide forms a strong hydrogen bond without the insertion of the &:ratten Filter 18A. ,4 shift of wavelength of XmaX to 325 mp (E 13,600) with n-amyl alcohol in carbon tetrachloride solu~ infrared spectrum of this solution occurred. This process of alternating between t i ~ n . The exposures with and without the Wratten Filter (1) P. v. R. Schleyer. D. S. Trifan, and R. Bacskai, J . A m . Chem. 18A was repeated eight times. The wave length Soc., 80, 6691 (1958). ( 2 ) D . S. Trifan and R . Bacskai, i b i d . , 82, 5010 (1960) of Xmax alternated between 325 and 319 mp, C. Pimentel and A . L. McClellan, " T h e Hydrogen Bond," while the extinction coefficients simultaneously W.(3)H. G. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, California. 1960. alternated between 13,600 and 10,800. In an (4) T h e measurements were made with a Perkin-Elmer Model 2 1 analogous manner, a sample of cis-2-styrylpyri- Spectrophotometer with LiF optics using 0.1 mm. and 1.0 mm. cells.
Isocyanides are linear ; the structure, R-++hT=C-. NC triple bond has almost the same length in isocyanides as in cyanides and both groups have almost identical infrared stretching vibrational frequencies; the electron density a t the nitrogen atom in isocyanides is axially symmetrical.12 The electropositive nitrogen atom in isocyanides would not function as a proton acceptor while the T electrons would be comparatively weak sites."" The lone pair of electrons on carbon in an sp orbital is the most likely hydrogen bonding site. Inorganic complexes of isocyanides are well established.15 This work was generously supported b y a grant from the National Science Foundation.
f l ) J. L . R. Williams, J . Org. Chem., 25, 1839 (1960). (2) J. L. R. Williams, i b i d . , 26, 4893 (1961).
T h e concentrations in volume per cent. \,aried from 0.5 t o 10 for t h e hydrogen donor atld from 20 to 90 for t h e benzyl isocyanide, t h e reInaindu bein6 carbon tetraahloride.
