Quinoidal Oligothiophenes: Towards Biradical Ground‐State Species

A family of quinoidal oligothiophenes, from the dimer to the hexamer, with fused bis(butoxymethyl)cyclopentane groups has been extensively investigated by means of electronic and vibrational spectroscopy, electrochemical measurements, and density functional calculations. The latter predict that the electronic ground state always corresponds to a singlet state and that, for the longest oligomers, this state has biradical character that increases with increasing oligomer length. The shortest oligomers display closed‐shell quinoidal structures. Calculations also predict the existence of very low energy excited triplet states that can be populated at room temperature. Aromatization of the conjugated carbon backbone is the driving force that determines the increasing biradical character of the ground state and the appearance of low‐lying triplet states. UV/Vis, Raman, IR, and electrochemical experiments support the aromatic biradical structures predicted for the ground state of the longest oligomers and reveal that population of the low‐lying triplet state accounts for the magnetic activity displayed by these compounds.     

An Unusually Small Singlet–Triplet Gap in a Quinoidal 1,6‐Methano[10]annulene Resulting from Baird’s 4n π‐Electron Triplet Stabilization

Within the continuum of π‐extended quinoidal electronic structures exist molecules that by design can support open‐shell diradical structures. The prevailing molecular design criteria for such structures involve proaromatic nature that evolves aromaticity in open‐shell diradical resonance structures. A new diradical species built upon a quinoidal methano[10]annulene unit is synthesized and spectroscopically evaluated. The requisite intersystem crossing in the open‐shell structure is accompanied by structural reorganization from a contorted Möbius aromatic‐like shape in S₀ to a more planar shape in the Hückel aromatic‐like T₁. This stability was attributed to Baird’s Rule which dictates the aromaticity of 4n π‐electron triplet excited states.     

Conformationally Flexible Bis(9‐fluorenylidene)porphyrin Diradicaloids

A stable 5,10‐bis(9‐fluorenylidene)porphyrin (Por‐Fl) diradicaloid was synthesized. It shows a quinoidal, saddle‐shaped geometry in the single crystal but can be thermally populated to a triplet diradical both in solution and in the solid state. Coordination with the Ni²⁺ ion (Por‐Fl‐Ni) does not significantly change the contorted conformation but reduces the singlet–triplet gap. Heat‐induced geometric change can explain the observed paramagnetic properties as well as unusual hysteresis in SQUID measurements. On the other hand, protonation (Por‐Fl‐2H⁺) dramatically changes the conformation while maintains the closed‐shell electronic structure. Our studies demonstrate how heat, coordination, and protonation affect the geometry, diradical character, and physical properties of conformationally flexible open‐shell singlet diradicaloids.     

Super‐heptazethrene

The challenging synthesis of a laterally extended heptazethrene molecule, the super‐heptazethrene derivative SHZ‐CF3 , is reported. This molecule was prepared using a strategy involving a multiple selective intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation followed by oxidative dehydrogenation. Compound SHZ‐CF3 exhibits an open‐shell singlet diradical ground state with a much larger diradical character compared with the heptazethrene derivatives. An intermediate dibenzo‐terrylene SHZ‐2H was also obtained during the synthesis. This study provides a new synthetic method to access large‐size quinoidal polycyclic hydrocarbons with unique physical properties.     

Super‐heptazethrene

The challenging synthesis of a laterally extended heptazethrene molecule, the super‐heptazethrene derivative SHZ‐CF3 , is reported. This molecule was prepared using a strategy involving a multiple selective intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation followed by oxidative dehydrogenation. Compound SHZ‐CF3 exhibits an open‐shell singlet diradical ground state with a much larger diradical character compared with the heptazethrene derivatives. An intermediate dibenzo‐terrylene SHZ‐2H was also obtained during the synthesis. This study provides a new synthetic method to access large‐size quinoidal polycyclic hydrocarbons with unique physical properties.     

para‐Quinodimethane‐Bridged Perylene Dimers and Pericondensed Quaterrylenes: The Effect of the Fusion Mode on the Ground States and Physical Properties

Polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds with a singlet biradical ground state show unique physical properties and promising material applications; therefore, it is important to understand the fundamental structure/biradical character/physical properties relationships. In this study, para‐quinodimethane (p‐QDM)‐bridged quinoidal perylene dimers 4 and 5 with different fusion modes and their corresponding aromatic counterparts, the pericondensed quaterrylenes 6 and 7 , were synthesized. Their ground‐state electronic structures and physical properties were studied by using various experiments assisted with DFT calculations. The proaromatic p‐QDM‐bridged perylene monoimide dimer 4 has a singlet biradical ground state with a small singlet/triplet energy gap (?2.97 kcal mol^?1), whereas the antiaromatic s‐indacene‐bridged N‐annulated perylene dimer 5 exists as a closed‐shell quinoid with an obvious intramolecular charge‐transfer character. Both of these dimers showed shorter singlet excited‐state lifetimes, larger two‐photon‐absorption cross sections, and smaller energy gaps than the corresponding aromatic quaterrylene derivatives 6 and 7 , respectively. Our studies revealed how the fusion mode and aromaticity affect the ground state and, consequently, the photophysical properties and electronic properties of a series of extended polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds.     

Nitrogen Analogues of o‐Quinodimethane with Unexpected non‐Kekulé Diradical Character

Two‐electron oxidations of three 1,2‐di(bisphenylamino)‐benzenes afforded a class of nitrogen analogues of o‐quinodimethane. Their electronic structures in the ground state were studied by spectroscopic techniques including EPR and UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy. They have open‐shell singlet ground states with thermally accessible triplet states. One of them ( 1 ²⁺) has been crystalized and isolated. SQUID measurements, single crystal X‐ray diffraction and theoretical calculations show 1 ²⁺ has unexpected non‐Kekulé diradical character, sharply different from o‐quinodimethane.     

Cyclopenta Ring Fused Bisanthene and Its Charged Species with Open‐Shell Singlet Diradical Character and Global Aromaticity/ Anti‐Aromaticity

Cyclopenta ring fused bisanthene and its charged species were synthesized. The neutral compound has an open‐shell singlet ground state and displays global anti‐aromaticity. The dication also exhibits singlet diradical character but has a unique [10]annulene‐within‐[18]annulene global aromatic structure. The dianion is closed‐shell singlet in the ground state and shows global aromaticity with 22 π electrons delocalized on the periphery. These findings prrovide new insight into the design and properties of global aromatic/anti‐aromatic systems based on π‐conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbons.     

A Stable Trimethylenemethane Triplet Diradical Based on a Trimeric Porphyrin Fused π‐System

Trimethylenemethane (TMM) diradical is the simplest non‐Kekulé non‐disjoint molecule with the triplet ground state (ΔE_ST=+16.1 kcal mol^?1) and is extremely reactive. It is a challenge to design and synthesize a stable TMM diradical with key properties, such as actual aliphatic TMM diradical centers and the triplet ground state with a large positive ΔE_ST value, since such species provide detailed information on the electronic structure of TMM diradical. Herein we report a TMM derivative, in which the TMM segment is fused with three Ni^II meso‐triarylporphyrins, that satisfies the above criteria. The diradical shows delocalized spin density on the propeller‐like porphyrin π‐network and the triplet ground state owing to the strong ferromagnetic interaction. Despite the apparent TMM structure, the diradical can be handled under ambient conditions and can be stored for months in the solid state, thus allowing its X‐ray diffraction structural analysis.     

From Open‐Shell Singlet Diradicaloid to Closed‐Shell Global Antiaromatic Macrocycles

A dithieno[a,h]‐s‐indacene‐ (DTI‐) based diradicaloid DTI‐2Br was synthesized and its open‐shell singlet diradical character was validated by magnetic measurements. On the other hand, its macrocyclic trimer DTI‐MC3 and tetramer DTI‐MC4 turned out to be closed‐shell compounds with global antiaromaticity, which was supported by X‐ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopy, assisted by ACID and 2D‐ICSS calculations. Such change can be explained by a subtle balance between two types of antiferromagnetic spin–spin coupling along the π‐conjugated macrocycles. The dications of DTI‐MC3 and DTI‐MC4 turned out to be open‐shell singlet diradical dications, with a singlet–triplet energy gap of ?2.90 and ?2.60 kcal mol^?1, respectively. At the same time, they are both global aromatic. Our studies show that intramolecular spin–spin interactions play important roles on electronic properties of π‐conjugated macrocycles.     

A Peri‐tetracene Diradicaloid: Synthesis and Properties

Peri‐acenes are good model compounds for zigzag graphene nanoribbons, but their synthesis is extremely challenging owing to their intrinsic open‐shell diradical character. Now, the successful synthesis and isolation of a stable peri‐tetracene derivative PT‐2ClPh is reported; four 2,6‐dichlorophenyl groups are attached onto the most reactive sites along the zigzag edges. The structure was confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis and its electronic properties were systematically investigated by both experiments and theoretical calculations. It exhibits an open‐shell singlet ground state with a moderate diradical character (y₀=51.5 % by calculation) and a small singlet–triplet gap (ΔE_S‐T=?2.5 kcal mol^?1 by SQUID measurement). It displays global aromatic character, which is different from the smaller‐size bisanthene analogue BA‐CF3 .     

Crystalline Diradical Dianions of Pyrene‐Fused Azaacenes

Although diradicals and azaacenes have been greatly attractive in fundamental chemistry and functional materials, the isolable diradical dianions of azaacenes are still unknown. Herein, we describe the first isolation of pyrene‐fused azaacene diradical dianion salts [(18‐c‐6)K(THF)₂]⁺[(18‐c‐6)K]⁺? 1 ^2?.. and [(18‐c‐6)K(THF)]²⁺? 2 ^2?.. by reduction of the neutral pyrene‐fused azaacene derivatives 1 and 2 with excess potassium graphite in THF in the presence of 18‐crown‐6. Their electronic structures were investigated by various experiments, in conjunction with theoretical calculations. It was found that both dianions are open‐shell singlets in the ground state and their triplet states are thermally readily accessible owing to the small singlet–triplet energy gap. This work provides the first examples of crystalline diradical dianions of azaacenes with considerable diradical character.     

Magnetism‐Tunable Oligoacene Dioxide Diradicals: Promising Magnetic Oligoacene‐Like Molecules

Graphene oxide has attracted intense research interest recently because the graphene oxide synthesis route, as a promising alternative for cost‐effective mass production of graphene, has been explored. To further study the oxidation process and possible mechanism and to explore applicability of the oxidized products, we have performed a computational study on three series of oligoacene dioxides, focusing on their structures and electronic properties. Taking 1,5‐dioxidized naphthalene as a starting point, three series of oligoacene dioxides are considered as follows: 1) middle insertion by 1–2 benzene rings; 2) single‐side expansion using 1–2 benzene rings; 3) double‐side expansion using two benzene rings. On the basis of density functional theory and complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations, we reveal that oligoacene dioxides in the middle insertion series have a triplet ground state, whereas those in the single‐side expansion series and the double‐side expansion series have open‐shell broken‐symmetry singlet diradical ground states except for their common origin naphthalene‐1,5‐dioxide whose ground state is triplet and which is also viewed as the origin of the middle insertion series. Magnetic coupling interactions of these oligoacene dioxides are also determined. This work should help people toward an atomistic understanding of the electronic structures and properties of possible intermediates or products and even the oxidation mechanism of graphene sheets, and provides a reasonable strategy of designing novel graphene‐oxide‐based magnetic materials.     

Stable Oxindolyl‐Based Analogues of Chichibabin's and Müller's Hydrocarbons

Chichibabin's and Müller's hydrocarbons are classical open‐shell singlet diradicaloids but they are highly reactive. Herein we report the successful synthesis of their respective stable analogues, OxR‐2 and OxR‐3 , based on the newly developed oxindolyl radical. X‐ray crystallographic analysis on OxR‐2 reveals a planar quinoidal backbone similar to Chichibabin's hydrocarbon, in accordance with its small diradical character (y₀=11.1 %) and large singlet–triplet gap (ΔE_S‐T=−10.8 kcal mol⁻¹). Variable‐temperature NMR studies on OxR‐2 disclose a slow cis/trans isomerization process in solution through a diradical transition state, with a moderate energy barrier (ΔG^≠_298K=15–16 kcal mol⁻¹). OxR‐3 exhibits a much larger diradical character (y₀=80.6 %) and a smaller singlet–triplet gap (ΔE_S‐T=−3.5 kcal mol⁻¹), and thus can be easily populated to paramagnetic triplet diradical. Our studies provide a new type of stable carbon‐centered monoradical and diradicaloid.     

Bis(aminoaryl) Carbon‐Bridged Oligo(phenylenevinylene)s Expand the Limits of Electronic Couplings

Carbon‐bridged bis(aminoaryl) oligo(para ‐phenylenevinylene)s have been prepared and their optical, electrochemical, and structural properties analyzed. Their radical cations are class III and class II mixed‐valence systems, depending on the molecular size, and they show electronic couplings which are among the largest for the self‐exchange reaction of purely organic molecules. In their dication states, the antiferromagnetic coupling is progressively tuned with size from quinoidal closed‐shell to open‐shell biradicals. The data prove that the electronic coupling in the radical cations and the singlet–triplet gap in the dications show similar small attenuation factors, thus allowing charge/spin transfer over rather large distances.     

Quinoidal/Aromatic Transformations in π‐Conjugated Oligomers: Vibrational Raman studies on the Limits of Rupture for π‐Bonds

The vibrational Raman spectra of several series of aromatic and quinoidal compounds have been analyzed considering the downshifts and upshifts of the frequencies of the relevant Raman bands as a function of the number of repeating units. Oligothiophenes, oligophenylene‐vinylenes, and oligoperylenes (oligophenyls) derivatives are studied in a common context. These shifts are taken as spectroscopic fingerprints of the changes in π‐conjugation. For a given family, aromatic and quinoidal oligomers have been studied together, and according to their Raman frequency shifts located in the two‐well BLA–energy curve of their ground electronic state as a function of the bond‐length‐alternation pattern (BLA). The connection among BLA values, π‐conjugation, and Raman frequencies is taken here as the basis of the study. These Raman shifts/BLA changes have been related to important electronic properties of these one‐dimensional linear π‐electron delocalized systems such as quinoidal (polyene) and aromatic characters.     

Electron Delocalization in a Rigid Cofacial Naphthalene‐1,8:4,5‐bis(dicarboximide) Dimer

Investigating through‐space electronic communication between discrete cofacially oriented aromatic π‐systems is fundamental to understanding assemblies as diverse as double‐stranded DNA, organic photovoltaics and thin‐film transistors. A detailed understanding of the electronic interactions involved rests on making the appropriate molecular compounds with rigid covalent scaffolds and π–π distances in the range of ca. 3.5 Å. Reported herein is an enantiomeric pair of doubly‐bridged naphthalene‐1,8:4,5‐bis(dicarboximide) (NDI) cyclophanes and the characterization of four of their electronic states, namely 1) the ground state, 2) the exciton coupled singlet excited state, 3) the radical anion with strong through‐space interactions between the redox‐active NDI molecules, and 4) the diamagnetic diradical dianion using UV/Vis/NIR, EPR and ENDOR spectroscopies in addition to X‐ray crystallography. Despite the unfavorable Coulombic repulsion, the singlet diradical dianion dimer of NDI shows a more pronounced intramolecular π–π stacking interaction when compared with its neutral analog.     

Tuning Ground States of Bis(triarylamine) Dications: From a Closed‐Shell Singlet to a Diradicaloid with an Excited Triplet State

Three bis(triarylamine) dications were isolated by using weakly coordinating anions. Their electronic structures in the ground state were investigated by various experiments in conjunction with theoretical calculations. The ground‐state electronic structures of these species were tunable by substituent effects, with two of them as closed‐shell singlets and one of them as an open‐shell singlet in the solid state. The excited state of the latter is thermally accessible, indicated by EPR and SQUID measurements. The work provides a new and stable diradicaloid structure motif with an excited triplet sate.     

Toward Benzobis(thiadiazole)‐based Diradicaloids

We theoretically predicted that acetylene‐bridged benzo[1,2‐c ;4,5‐c ′]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole (BBT) oligomers would show a quick increase of diradical character with the extension of chain length. To validate the hypothesis, six stable BBT‐based diradicaloids were synthesized and fully characterized by X‐ray crystallographic analysis and various spectroscopic measurements. Three of them showed prominent paramagnetic activity at elevated temperatures due to thermal population from the open‐shell singlet ground state to triplet excited state. It was also found that substitution by electron‐donating triphenylamine groups at the termini promoted the diradical character and reduced the singlet–triplet energy gap, and at the same time, resulted in intense near‐infrared absorption.     

Multi‐zinc‐expanded graphene patches: Tetraradical versus diradical character

Three classes of multi‐Zn‐expanded graphene patches in different shapes are computationally designed through introducing a Zn chain into the corresponding middle benzenoid chain. Both density functional theory and complete active space self‐consistent field calculations predict that molecules of nnn‐quasi‐linear and nnn‐slightly bent series have the open‐shell broken‐symmetry (BS) singlet diradical ground states, whereas those of n(n+1)n species possess quintet tetraradical as their ground state and become open‐shell BS singlet tetraradicals when they are in a higher energy state. These results offer the first theoretical attempt to introduce multi‐Zn into the small graphene patches to form Zn‐expanded graphene patches, leading them to polyradical structures. This work provides an executable strategy to yield molecules which have stable polyradicaloid character and enhanced electronic properties of multi‐Zn‐expanded graphene patches. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.