Para-bisguanidinyl benzene 1 and its N-permethylated derivative 2 are both sufficiently strong bases to afford not only the monocations [1+H]+ and [2+H]+, but also the doubly protonated ions, [1+2H]2+ and [2+2H]2+, in the gas phase. The title ions generated via electrospray ionization are probed by collision-induced dissociation experiments which inter alia reveal that the dicationic species [1+2H]2+ and [2+2H]2+ can even undergo fragmentation reactions with maintenance of the 2-fold charge. Complementary results from density functional theory predict PAs above 1000 kJ mol(-1) for the neutral compounds, i.e., PA(1) = 1025 kJ mol(-1) and PA(2) = 1067 kJ mol(-1). Due to the stabilization of the positive charge in the guanidinium ions and the para-phenylene spacer separating the basic sites, even the monocations bear sizable proton affinities, i.e., PA([1+H]+) = 740 kJ mol(-1) and PA([2+H]+) = 816 kJ mol(-1).

A series of hexasubstituted biguanides was synthetized employing nonconventional and environmentally friendly methods. Their properties were studied computationally (basicity) and experimentally (basicity and catalytic properties in transesterification reaction).

Friedel–Crafts (FC) acylation reactions were exploited in the preparation of ketone-functionalized aromatics. Environmentally more friendly, solvent-free mechanochemical reaction conditions of this industrially important reaction were developed. Reaction parameters such as FC catalyst, time, ratio of reagents and milling support were studied to establish the optimal reaction conditions. The scope of the reaction was explored by employment of different aromatic hydrocarbons in conjunction with anhydrides and acylation reagents. It was shown that certain FC-reactive aromatics could be effectively functionalized by FC acylations carried out under ball-milling conditions without the presence of a solvent. The reaction mechanism was studied by in situ Raman and ex situ IR spectroscopy.