Pentaatomic planar tetracoordinate silicon with 14 valence electrons: A large‐scale global search of (n + m = 4; q = 0, ±1, −2; X,Y = main group elements from H to Br)

Designing and characterizing the compounds with exotic structures and bonding that seemingly contrast the traditional chemical rules are a never‐ending goal. Although the silicon chemistry is dominated by the tetrahedral picture, many examples with the planar tetracoordinate‐Si skeletons have been discovered, among which simple species usually contain the 17/18 valence electrons. In this work, we report hitherto the most extensive structural search for the pentaatomic ptSi with 14 valence electrons, that is, (n + m = 4; q = 0, ±1, ?2; X, Y = main group elements from H to Br). For 129 studied systems, 50 systems have the ptSi structure as the local minimum. Promisingly, nine systems, that is, , HSiY₃ (Y = Al/Ga), Ca₃SiAl^?, Mg₄Si^2?, C₂LiSi, Si₃Y₂ (Y = Li/Na/K), each have the global minimum ptSi. The former six systems represent the first prediction. Interestingly, in HSiY₃ (Y = Al/Ga), the H‐atom is only bonded to the ptSi‐center via a localized 2c–2e σ bond. This sharply contradicts the known pentaatomic planar‐centered systems, in which the ligands are actively involved in the ligand–ligand bonding besides being bonded to the planar center. Therefore, we proposed here that to generalize the 14e‐ptSi, two strategies can be applied as (1) introducing the alkaline/alkaline‐earth elements and (2) breaking the peripheral bonding. In light of the very limited global ptSi examples, the presently designed six systems with 14e are expected to enrich the exotic ptSi chemistry and welcome future laboratory confirmation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Theoretical Study of NBO,NICS, and 14N NQR Parameters of Adenine Tautomers in the Gas Phase via DFT

The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS), and ¹⁴N NQR parameters of the most stable tautomers of adenine in the gas phase were predicted using density functional theory method. The NBO analysis revealed that the resonance interaction between lone pair of the nitrogen atom and empty non‐Lewis NBO increases with increasing the p character of the nitrogen lone pair. The present investigation indicated the π clouds in both the considered heterocyclic rings containing six electrons, and these tautomers has the aromatic character. The NICS study utilizing the gauge‐invariant atomic orbital method showed that there are diatropic currents in the heterocyclic rings of the tautomers, so we determined the order of overall aromaticity of these tautomers. The results of NQR parameter calculations showed three parameters are effective on nuclear quadrupole coupling constant; the p character value of lone pair electrons of nitrogens, and the related occupancies and whenever, the lone pair electrons of nitrogens participate in the formation of chemical bond and/or π system of the ring, the q_zz and consequently its χ decreases.     

9‐Methyl‐3‐phenyl­diazenyl‐9H‐carbazole: X‐ray and DFT‐calculated structures

The title compound, C₁₉H₁₅N₃, was prepared by condensation of 3‐nitroso­carbazole and aniline with subsequent methyl­ation. The structure is built up of stacks of almost planar mol­ecules. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict a completely planar conformation, different from that observed in the crystal lattice. HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) indices, calculated for three aromatic rings, demonstrate the small influence of the azo substituent on π electrons in the carbazole system.     

Electronic properties and aromaticity of substituted diphenylfulvenes in the ground (S<Subscript>0</Subscript>) and excited (T<Subscript>1</Subscript>) states

In the present account, we investigate electronic properties of diphenylfulvene and its derivatives substituted in phenyl rings. The results were compared with the analogous properties of fulvene and its derivatives with the same substituents at the exocyclic carbon atom. All properties were evaluated and compared in the ground electronic S₀ state and in the first excited T₁ triplet state. These properties are dipole moments, charges, number of π electrons, and aromaticity of the fulvenic, five-membered ring in the two sets of compounds. The latter property was estimated by the harmonic oscillator model for aromaticity (HOMA) index and, for the fulvenes group, by the calculation of aromatic stabilization energy in both electronic states. It was also investigated whether Baird’s rule alone can account for the aromaticity differences in the two electronic states.     

Interplay of Hückel and Möbius Aromaticity in Metal-Metal Quintuple Bonded Complexes of Cr,Mo, and W with Amidinate Ligand: Ab initio DFT and Multireference Analysis**

The aromaticity of metal-metal quintuple bonded complexes of the type M₂L₂ (M=Cr, Mo, and W; L=amidinate) are studied employing gauge including magnetically induced ring current (GIMIC) analysis and electron density of delocalized bonds (EDDB). It is found that the complexes possess two types of aromaticity: i) Hückel aromaticity through delocalization of ligand π electrons with metal-metal δ-bond-forming 6 conjugated electrons (4π and 2δ) ring; ii) Craig-Möbius aromaticity through delocalization of π electrons of both the ligands with metal d-orbitals in Craig type orientation forming 10π electrons ring with a double twist. Extended transition state natural orbital chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) and canonical molecular orbital natural chemical shielding (CMO-NCS) analysis confirm the Craig-Möbius type arrangement of the orbitals. Furthermore, the unprecedented Hückel and Möbius type aromaticity is confirmed from the plot of the current pathways using 3D line integral convolution (3D-LIC) plots. The metal-metal bond order also increases down the group as justified from the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) analysis. Due to an increase in the π and δ electron conjugation, both the Hückel and Möbius aromaticity increase down the group.     

Cross‐Conjugated Hexaphyrins and Their Bis‐Rhodium Complexes

A cross‐conjugated hexaphyrin that carries two meso‐oxacyclohexadienylidenyl (OCH) groups 9 was synthesized from the condensation of 5,10‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)tripyrrane with 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The reduction of 9 with NaBH₄ afforded the Möbius aromatic [28]hexaphyrin 10 . Bis‐rhodium complex 11 , prepared from the reaction of 10 with [{RhCl(CO)₂}₂], displays strong Hückel antiaromatic character because of the 28 π electrons that occupy the conjugated circuit on the enforced planar structure. The oxidation of 11 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) yielded complexes 12 and 13 depending upon the reaction conditions. Both 12 and 13 are planar owing to bis‐rhodium metalation. Although complex 12 bears two meso‐OCH groups at the long sides and is quinonoidal and nonaromatic in nature, complex 13 bears 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl and OCH groups and exhibits a moderate diatropic ring current despite its cross‐conjugated electronic circuit. The diatropic ring current increases upon increasing the solvent polarity, most likely due to an increased contribution of an aromatic zwitterionic resonance hybrid.     

Aromaticity of ortho and meta 8-Cycloparaphenylene and Their Dications: Induced Magnetic Field Analysis with Localized and Delocalized Orbitals in Strained Nanohoops

Dications of cycloparaphenyles ([n]CPPs) are known to exhibit in-plane global aromaticity, contained in a nanobelt structure. Recently synthesized ortho and meta isomers of [n]CPPs break the radial symmetry of π structure incorporating perpendicular oriented π orbitals. Herein we set to explore the aromaticity of neutral and dicationic ortho and meta isomers of [8]CPP by dissecting the induced magnetic field to contributions of the twofold radial/perpendicular π system using delocalized canonical molecular orbitals (CMO), and introducing the natural localized molecular orbitals (NLMO) analysis with DFT methods. The dications sustain a reduced global aromatic character of the radial π system under a perpendicular orientation of the external field which declines from ortho to meta isomer and reinforces local aromaticity of ortho ring while it destroys aromaticity of meta ring. Aromaticity variations are determined by symmetry governed rotational excitations of frontier π orbitals. The parallel orientation reveals a substantial reduction of local aromaticity verified with NICS_π analysis and electron delocalization indices.     

Silicon‐Containing Formal 4π‐Electron Four‐Membered Ring Systems: Antiaromatic,Aromatic, or Nonaromatic?

Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP) have been carried out to investigate the 4π‐electron systems of 2,4‐disila‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutadiene (compound 1 ) and the tetrasilacyclobutadiene dication (compound 2 ). The calculated nucleus‐independent chemical shift (NICS) values for these two compounds are negative, which indicates that the core rings of compounds 1 and 2 have a certain amount of aromaticity. However, deep electronic analysis reveals that neither of these two formal 4π‐electron four‐membered ring systems is aromatic. Compound 1 has very weak, almost negligible antiaromaticity, and the amidinate ligands attached to the Si atoms play an important role in stabilizing this conjugated 4π‐electron system. The monoanionic bidentate ligand interacts with the conjugated π system to cause π‐orbital splitting. This ligand‐induced π‐orbital splitting effect provides an opportunity to manipulate the gap between occupied and unoccupied π orbitals in conjugated systems. Conversely, compound 2 is nonaromatic because its core ring does not have a conjugated π ring system and does not fulfill the requirements of a Hückel system.     

Planarization of 8π Rings. I. Confirmation of a speculation by Ermer on the ground state of a strained cyclooctatetraene and studies on analogous oxepins

We describe by ab initio calculations several rings containing eight π electrons, forced into planarity by altering the balance of strain with fused rings. These include a tricyclic fused-cyclopropano ring derivative of cyclooctatetraene suggested by Ermer to be planar in its ground state, an analogous tricyclic oxepin, and cyclobutano ring-fused cyclooctatetraene previously described experimentally. We verify that cyclopropano ring fusion planarizes rings with eight π electrons; however, by bond alternation and magnetic susceptibility suppression, forming the planar ring leaves the system anti-aromatic. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 67: 367–376, 1998     

1,5-Di­amino-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazole

In the title compound, CH₄N₆, the tetrazole ring is planar to within 0.001 (1) Å. The 5-amino group is conjugated with the π-system of the tetrazole ring. In contrast, the N atom of the 1-­amino group is sp³ hybridized and is not conjugated with the π system of the tetrazole ring. All H atoms are localized at the exocyclic N atoms. The mol­ecules are connected by N—H⃛N hydrogen bonds, forming an infinite three-dimensional framework.     

Structure and Bonding in Stannadiphospholes and their Dianions SnC2P2R2m (R=H,tBu m=0, −2): A Comparative Study with C5H5+ and C5H5− Analogues

The potential energy surfaces of both neutral and dianionic SnC₂P₂R₂ (R=H, tBu) ring systems have been explored at the B3PW91/LANL2DZ (Sn) and 6‐311+G* (other atoms) level. In the neutral isomers the global minimum is a nido structure in which a 1,2‐diphosphocyclobutadiene ring (1,2‐DPCB) is capped by the Sn. Interestingly, the structure established by X‐ray diffraction analysis, for R=tBu, is a 1,3‐DPCB ring capped by Sn and it is 2.4 kcal mol^?1 higher in energy than the 1,2‐DPCB ring isomer. This is possibly related to the kinetic stability of the 1,3‐DPCB ring, which might originate from the synthetic precursor ZrCp₂tBu₂C₂P₂. In the case of the dianionic isomers we observe only a 6π‐electron aromatic structure as the global minimum, similarly to the cases of our previously reported results with other types of heterodiphospholes. 1 , 4 , 19 The existence of large numbers of cluster‐type isomers in neutral and 6π‐planar structures in the dianions SnC₂P₂R₂^2? (R=H, tBu) is due to 3D aromaticity in neutral clusters and to 2D π aromaticity of the dianionic rings. Relative energies of positional isomers mainly depend on: 1) the valency and coordination number of the Sn centre, 2) individual bond strengths, and 3) the steric effect of tBu groups. A comparison of neutral stannadiphospholes with other structurally related C₅H₅⁺ analogues indicates that Sn might be a better isolobal analogue to P⁺ than to BH or CH⁺. The variation in global minima in these C₅H₅⁺ analogues is due to characteristic features such as 1) the different valencies of C, B, P and Sn, 2) the electron deficiency of B, 3) weaker pπ–pπ bonding by P and Sn atoms, and 4) the tendency of electropositive elements to donate electrons to nido clusters. Unlike the C₅H₅⁺ systems, all C₅H₅^? analogues have 6π‐planar aromatic structures as global minima. The differences in the relative ordering of the positional isomers and ligating properties are significant and depend on 1) the nature of the π orbitals involved, and 2) effective overlap of orbitals.     

Global Aromaticity in Macrocyclic Cyclopenta‐Fused Tetraphenanthrenylene Tetraradicaloid and Its Charged Species

A stable cyclopenta‐fused tetraphenanthrenylene macrocycle, CPTP‐M , was synthesized, and the structure was confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. It exhibits a large radical character (number of unpaired electron, N_U=3.52) and a small singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE_S‐T=?2.8 kcal mol^?1 by SQUID). Its backbone contains 60 ([4n]) conjugated π electrons and is globally antiaromatic. NMR measurements and theoretical calculations revealed that its dication/dianion is globally aromatic owing to the existence of [4n?2]/[4n+2] π‐conjugated electrons. Remarkably, the ring‐current map of the tetraanion shows a unique ring‐in‐ring structure, with a diamagnetic outer ring and a paramagnetic inner ring. Accordingly, both the inner‐rim and outer‐rim protons are deshielded in its ¹H NMR spectrum. The tetraanion can be regarded as an isoelectronic structure of the known octulene, which shows similar electronic properties.     

1‐[(1‐Ethoxypropylidene)amino]‐2‐ethyl‐4‐(4‐hydroxybenzyl)imidazol‐5(4H)‐one

The racemic title compound, C₁₇H₂₃N₃O₃, isolated from the reaction of l ‐(−)‐tyrosine hydrazide with triethyl orthopropionate in the presence of a catalytic quantity of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (p‐TsOH), crystallizes with Z′ = 1 in a centrosymmetric monoclinic unit cell. The molecule contains two planar fragments, viz. the benzene and imidazole rings, linked by two C—C single bonds. The dihedral angle between the two planes is 59.54 (5)° and the molecule adopts a synclinal conformation. The HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) index, calculated for the benzene ring, demonstrates no substantial interaction between the two π‐electron delocalization regions in the molecule. In the crystal structure, there is an O—H...N hydrogen bond that links the molecules along the c axis.     

Transition metal complexes with thio­semicarbazide-based ligands. XLII.

In the title compound, [Ni(C₂H₇N₃S)₂(C₃H₄N₂)₂]I₂, the Ni^II ion assumes a centrosymmetric distorted octahedral geometry. The two mol­ecules of S-methyl­iso­thio­semicarbazide are coordinated as bidentate ligands via the terminal N atoms, forming five-membered chelate rings. The I atoms are approximately in the equatorial plane of the chelate rings at a similar distance from both. The five-membered chelate rings are almost planar and exhibit flattened envelope conformations. There is a weak intermolecular interaction between the lone pair of electrons of the S atom and the center of the pyrazole ring.     

Density functional theory on the pentaatomic planar tetracoordinate carbon molecules CGa3Ge and [CGa3Ge]−

The pentaatomic molecules CGa₃Ge and [CGa₃Ge]^? were studied via density functional theory (DFT). Six planar geometry isomeric structures were gained, and the global minima structures 1 contain planar tetracoordinate carbons. To gain a better understanding about which electronic factors contribute to the stabilization of planar tetracoordinate carbon structures, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis were calculated. The results show that structures 1 are σ and π aromaticity. This analysis suggests that the presence of 18 valence electrons is crucial for planar geometries to be stable and preferred over tetrahedral structures.     

Retaining Hückel Aromaticity in the Triplet Excited State of Azobenzene

The implication of the potential concept of aromaticity in the relaxed lowest triplet state of azobenzene, an efficient molecular switch, using elementary aromaticity indices based on magnetic, electronic, and geometric criteria has been discussed. Azobenzene exhibits a major Hückel aromatic character retained in the diradical lowest relaxed triplet state (T₁) by virtue of a twisted geometry with partial delocalization of unpaired electrons in the perpendicular p-orbitals of two nitrogen atoms to the corresponding phenyl rings. The computational analysis has been expanded further to stilbene and N-diphenylmethanimine for an extensive understanding of the effect of closed-shell Hückel aromaticity in double-bond-linked phenyl rings. Our analysis concluded that stilbene has Hückel aromatic character in the relaxed T₁ state and N-diphenylmethanimine has a considerable Hückel aromaticity in the phenyl ring near the carbon atom while a paramount Baird aromaticity in the phenyl ring near the nitrogen atom of the C=N double bond. The results reveal the application of excited-state aromaticity as a general tool for the design of molecular switches.     

A comparative study of the aromaticity in some typical conjugated six-membered rings by the method of localized molecular orbital

The localized molecular orbitals and energy levels for four typical conjugated six-membered ring systems C₆H₆, C₃N₃H₃, B₂N₈H₄, and (B₂O₄)^3- as well as a non-aromatic reference molecule P_a-N₃Cl₆ have been calculated by using Edmiston- Ruedenberg energy localization technique under the CNDO / 2 approximation in order to investigate the nature of aromaticity or quasi-aromaticity of the six-membered ring systems studied. The contour maps for x-type localized MO's (LMO) have been plotted to illustrate the bonding characteristics of the five ring systems studied. These LMO calculations show that for all the conjugated six-membered ring systems considered there exists local delocalization of x-bonds or three-centered and occasionally four-centered two-electron x-bonds in our terminology, and the cooperative effect among these x-bonds leading to the formation of a closed continuous x-conjugation system around the ring, which is necessary for the creation of aromaticity in the systems studied. We have been able to discuss the properties of these three-centered x-bonds in terms of the constituent atoms and electrons and the relevant orbitals involved.     

Symmetry restrictions as starting point for the determination of geometric representations and the dynamics of cyclic π systems

A quasiclassical‐state approach was developed for probing π bonding and delocalization energies focused on benzene. A more general picture is now given for neutral n π‐conjugated cyclic systems with a geometry distortion from D_nh into D_1/2nh (n=4,6,8,…,16), which results in a new aromaticity‐antiaromaticity criterion. For n=6 and 8 the corresponding divalent charged systems were studied in relation to zero‐field splittings of the triplet ground state and geometry, respectively. Attention is also given to antiaromatic π‐conjugated systems focused on the cyclopropenyl anion, the cyclopentadienyl cation, and the cycloheptatrienyl anion and their relaxed states. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 77: 641–650, 2000     

Aromaticity and diatropicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-polyphenyl-α,ω-quinododimethides

p-Polyphenyl-α,ω-quinododimethides were predicted to be moderately aromatic and diatropic, although they exist only in a single classical resonance structure with no aromatic conjugated circuits. Such a dichotomy was resolved using our graph theory of aromaticity and ring-current diamagnetism. Six-site non-conjugated circuits were found to contribute appreciably to aromaticity and ring-current diamagnetism. Within each quinododimethide molecule, local aromaticity increases on going from the outermost to inner phenylene rings.