Is phenylnitrene a missing link in the formation of polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles?

2025/05/06 by Arns, Rahel, McClish, Rory, Hemberger, Patrick +4
Chemical Engineering · Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::540 Chemie::540 Chemie und zugeordnete Wissenschaften #Advanced Combustion Engine Technologies #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Chemical Reactions and Mechanisms #astrochemistry #nitrenes #polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons #radical chemistry #reaction dynamics

paper · doi:10.14279/depositonce-24705

openalex publication_date 2025/05/06 · openalex created_date 2025/11/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01

Abstract

The incorporation of heteroatoms into the framework of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in particular of nitrogen to yield polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs), has been proposed for both astronomical and combustion environments, but no suitable precursors and pathways have been found. Analogous pathways to PAH formation are kinetically or energetically inhibited in the presence of a nitrogen heteroatom. We report on the reaction of phenylnitrene (3PhN, c-C6H5N) with resonance-stabilized propargyl radicals (C3H3) and find that the association reaction bifurcates depending on the orientation of the attacking propargyl radical and yields multiple isomeric products. Among them, we identify the condensed-ring quinoline and conclude that nitrenes are viable candidates to drive the formation of PANHs.

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