CF₃-bis-tempo-vis: New visible light active bis-benzimidazolequinone alkoxyamine

Alkoxyamines of TEMPO usually dissociate thermally at >100 °C; however, room temperature homolysis, activated by visible light, occurs with benzimidazolequinone derivatives. 1,1’-Dimethyl-2,2’-bis{[(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxy]methyl}-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1H,1’H-[5,5’-bibenzimidazole]-4,4’,7,7’-tetrone (CF₃-Bis-TEMPO-Vis) is prepared in a 59% yield through NBS/H₂SO₄ oxidative demethylations of the dimethoxybenzimidazole-benzimidazolequinone precursor with aqueous work up. The alternative basic work up in air gave the epoxide derivative of CF₃-Bis-TEMPO-Vis. Unlike the latter CF₃-epoxide, both alkoxyamine residues are labile under green light (470–600 nm), and the rate of TEMPO release is three times slower than Bis-TEMPO-Vis.