Room temperature observation of p-xylylenes by 1H NMR and evidence for diradical intermediates in their oligomerization

p-Quinodimethanes (p-QDMs) are reactive molecules that have been invoked as transient intermediates in a number of reactions. Dilute solutions of benzene-based p-QDMs, p-xylylene (1), a-methyl-p-xylylene (10), and 2,5-dimethyl-p-xylylene (11) can be prepared by fluoride-induced elimination of trimethylsilyl acetate from the appropriate precursor. It has been found that these solutions are stable enough to allow these reactive p-QDMs to be observed by H-1 NMR spectroscopy at room temperature. For the first time, the 13 C NMR spectrum of p-QDM 1 was observed. After several hours at room temperature, these p-QDMs form dimers, trimers, and insoluble oligomers. Formation of trimers provides evidence that p-QDMs 1, 10, and 11 dimerize by a stepwise mechanism involving dimeric diradicals as intermediates.