Results of an investigation, aimed at gaining information about the factors governing the efficiencies of single electron transfer (SET)-promoted photocyclization reactions of linked acceptor-polydonor systems, are described. One set of substrates used in this effort includes alpha-trimethylsilyl ether terminated, polymethylene- and polyethylenoxy-tethered phthalimides and 2,3-naphthalimides. Photocyclization reactions of the polyethylenoxy-linked phthalimides and naphthalimides were observed to take place in higher chemical yields and with larger quantum efficiencies than those of analogs containing polymethylene tethers of near equal length. These findings show that the rates of formation of 1,omega-zwitterionic biradicals that serve as key intermediates in the photocyclization processes are enhanced in substances that contain oxygen donor sites in the chain. The findings suggest that these donor sites facilitate both initial SET to acceptor excited states and ensuing intrachain SET, resulting in migration of the cation radical center to the terminal alpha-trimethylsilyl ether position. In addition, an inverse relationship was observed between the quantum yields of photocyclization reactions of the tethered phthalimides and naphthalimides and the length of the polyethylenoxy chain. Finally, the roles played by chain type and length in governing photoreaction efficiencies were investigated by using intramolecular competition in photoreactions of polyethylenoxy and polymethylene bis-tethered phthalimides. Mechanistic interpretations and synthetic consequences of the observations made in this study are discussed.

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A series of novel imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine derivatives were designed and synthesized. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were identified by spectroscopic data NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. Bioassay showed that the compounds exhibited potent fungicidal activities against Erysiphe graminis, Puccinia polysora, and so forth. Particularly, 2‐chloro‐5‐((5‐methoxy‐2‐(2‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐3H‐imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl)thiazole (9b) displayed fungicidal potency against P. polysora. Its EC50 value: 4.00 mg/L is comparable with that of tebuconazole. The structure–activity relationship for the target compounds is discussed.

New types of lariat type crown ethers containing peptide sidearms were prepared by using a novel strategy employing single electron transfer (SET)-induced photocyclization reactions of α-silylether terminated phthalimides. Reactions of chiral substrates in this series produced diastereomeric mixtures of crown ether products as a result of the formation of new stereogenic center generation in the photocyclization process.