Cyclooctatetraenes through Valence Isomerization of Cubanes: Scope and Limitations

The scope and limitations of Eaton's rhodium(I)-catalyzed valence isomerization of cubane to cyclooctatetraene (COT) were investigated in the context of functional group tolerability, multiple substitution modes and the ability of cubane-alcohols to undergo one-pot tandem Ley–Griffith Wittig reactions in the absence of a transition metal catalyst.     

不同介质凝胶体系中草酸钙结晶的研究

研究了五种不同介质（水、氯化钠、合成尿、正常人尿液和尿石患者尿液）的凝胶体系中草酸钙（CaC2O4）晶体的生长,及各种体系中防石药物柠檬酸钾（K3cit）对CaC2O4生长的影响.没有加K3cit时,CaC2O4晶体以一水草酸钙（calcium oxalate monohydrate, COM）为主要物相,但在氯化钠和合成尿的凝胶体系中同时出现了二水草酸钙（calcium oxalate dihydrate, COD）和三水草酸钙（calcium oxalate trihydrate, COT）,肾结石患者尿液中出现COD,而正常人尿液中没有COD和COT生成.加入K3cit后,水、氯化钠和合成尿介质的凝胶体系中,COT的含量显著增加,患者尿液中产生大量COD,而正常人尿液中出现了少量的COD和极个别的COT.COT的增加与低温、体系中高的离子强度及金属离子等因素有关.K3cit具有诱导COD和COT的生成、减小COM晶体比表面积的作用,从而有利于防治草酸钙结石的形成.     

Not Your Usual Bioisostere: Solid State Study of 3D Interactions in Cubanes

Previous studies by Desiraju and co-workers have implicated the acidic hydrogen atoms of cubane as a support network for hydrogen bonding groups. Herein we report a detailed structural analysis of all currently available 1,4-disubstituted cubane structures with an emphasis on how the cubane scaffold interacts in its solid-state environment. In this regard, the interactions between the cubane hydrogen atoms and acids, ester, halogens, ethynyl, nitrogenous groups, and other cubane scaffolds were cataloged. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential of cubane as a substitute for phenyl. This could be achieved by analyzing all contacts that are directed by the cubane hydrogen atoms in the X-ray crystal structures. As a result, we have established several new cubane interaction profiles, such as the catemer formation seen in esters, the preferences of halogen–hydrogen contacts over direct halogen bonding, and the stabilizing effects caused by the cubane hydrogen atoms interacting with ethynyl groups. These interaction profiles can then be used as a guide for designing cubane bioisosteres of known materials and drugs containing phenyl moieties.     

Bonding nature and electron delocalization of An(COT)2, An = Th, Pa, U

A systematic study of a series of An(COT)(2) compounds, where An = Th, Pa, U, and COT represents cyclooctatetraene, has been performed using relativistic density functional theory. The ZORA Hamiltonian was applied for the inclusion of relativistic effects, taking into account all of the electrons for the optimization and explicitly including spin-orbit coupling effects. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) was used to calculate the excitation energies with the GGA SAOP functional, and the electronic transitions were analyzed using double group irreducible representations. The calculated excitation energies are in perfect correlation with the increment of the ring delocalization as it increases along the actinide series. These results are sufficient to ensure that, for these complexes, the increment in delocalization, as indicated by ELF bifurcation and NICS analysis, leads to a shift in the maximum wavelength of absorption in the visible region. Also, delocalization in the COT ring increases along the actinide series, so the systems become more aromatic because of a modulation induced by the actinides.     

Conformational Planarization versus Singlet Fission: Distinct Excited‐State Dynamics of Cyclooctatetraene‐Fused Acene Dimers

A set of flapping acene dimers fused with an 8π cyclooctatetraene (COT) ring showed distinct excited‐state dynamics in solution. While the anthracene dimer showed a fast V‐shaped‐to‐planar conformational change within 10 ps in the lowest excited singlet state, reminding us of extended Baird aromaticity, the tetracene dimer and the pentacene dimer underwent intramolecular singlet fission (SF) in different manners: A fast and reversible SF with a characteristic delayed fluorescence (FL), and a fast and quantitative SF, respectively. Conformational flexibility of the fused COT linkage plays an important role in these ultrafast dynamics, demonstrating the utility of the flapping molecular series as a versatile platform for designing photofunctional systems.     

On the Donor Ability of the Phosphaneiminato Substituent and Cube Formation with Transition Metal Fragments

The particular role of the phosphaneiminato ligand as a donor is investigated for a) nitrenes (phosphinidenes) and carbenes and b) cubane formation with transition metals. Accordingly, and as shown for the case a) the ligand is a stronger π‐donor than an amino group and can be considered as a special case of imine‐type substituents. The latter are very effective in π‐donation. In the case b), i.e. the cubane formation with transition metals, one has to consider transition metals with a partially or completely filled d‐shell (with electrons). Hence depending on the transition metal, cubanes are build with weak ferromagnetic coupled or closed shell systems. For the cubanes with closed shell character the matter of insertion of halide anions is discussed. In the last chapter of the review the bond stretching in the dithionitrosyl complexes with rhenium is characterized.     

Terphenyl cyclooctatetraenyl compounds of samarium

The syntheses and molecular structures of a number of terphenyl-based compounds of the lanthanide element samarium are reported. Reaction of 2 equiv of DppLi (Dpp = 2,6-diphenylphenyl) with 1 equiv of SmCl(3) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature yields (Dpp)(2)SmCl(micro-Cl)Li(THF)(3) (1). The one-pot reaction of 1 equiv of K(2)COT (COT(2)(-) = cyclooctatetraenyl dianion) with 1 equiv SmCl(3) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature followed by addition of 1 equiv of terphenyllithium salt DppLi, DmpLi (Dmp = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl), or DanipLi (Danip = 2,6-di(o-anisol)phenyl) produces DppSmCOT(micro-Cl)Li(THF)(3) (2), DmpSm(THF)COT (3), and DanipSm(THF)COT (4), respectively. In the case of the Danip-based compound 4 the order of addition of reagents can be reversed producing the same compound, however, in considerably lower yield. Compound 2 can also be prepared by reaction of 1 with 1 equiv of K(2)COT in tetrahydrofuran. The molecular structure of the bis(terphenyl) compound 1 exhibits a formally four-coordinate metal atom. The molecular structures of the terphenyl COT compounds 2-4 feature monomeric complexes which are obtained either as a lithium chloride adduct (2) or as tetrahydrofuran adducts (3, 4). In 4 the Danip ligand adopts the meso form.     

COT-H在金属Ru表面上沉积的光电子能谱分析

采用紫外光电子能谱（UPS），分析了不对称四苯基四苯乙炔基环辛四烯（COT H）有机发光材料与金属之间的界面电子结构，研究了在金属/COT H界面上的逸出功变化.UPS谱中位于费米能级以下5.6、7.9和10.2 eV处的三个谱峰分别来自于COT H材料中苯环的πCC、σCC和σCH轨道.位于3.8 eV处的谱峰反映了八个苯环聚合后具有π轨道特性的C－C键.从UPS谱图中可以看到， COT H材料的最高占有态（HOS：highest occupied state）位于费米能级以下1.8 eV处.COT H材料的逸出功只有3.2 eV，比清洁Ru表面的逸出功小1.0 eV.角分辨紫外光电子能谱（ARUPS）的结果表明,组成COT H分子应该近似平行于衬底表面.     

Effect on ring current of the Kekulé vibration in aromatic and antiaromatic rings

Derivative current-density maps are used to follow the changes in ring-current (and hence, on the magnetic criterion, the changes in aromaticity) with the Kekulé vibrations of the prototypical aromatic, antiaromatic, and nonaromatic systems of benzene, cyclooctatetraene (COT), and borazine. Maps are computed at the ipsocentric CHF/6-31G**//RHF/6-31G** level. The first-derivative map for benzene shows a growing-in of localized bond currents, and the second-derivative map shows a pure, paratropic "antiring-current", leading to the conclusion that vibrational motion along the Kekulé mode will reduce the net aromaticity of benzene, on average. For planar-constrained D(4h) COT, the Kekulé mode (positive for reduction of bond-length alternation) increases paratropicity at both first and second order, indicating an average increase in antiaromaticity with zero-point motion along this mode. On the ring-current criterion, breathing expansions of benzene and D(4h) COT reduce aromaticity and increase antiaromaticity, respectively.     

Accurate determination of the structure of cyclooctatetraene by femtosecond rotational coherence spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

We combine femtosecond time-resolved rotational coherence spectroscopy with high-level ab initio theory to obtain accurate structural information for the nonpolar antiaromatic molecule 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene (C8H8, COT) and its perdeuterated isotopomer COT-d8 (C8D8). We measure the rotational B0 and centrifugal distortion constants D(J), D(JK) of the v = 0 states of COT and COT-d8 to high accuracy, e.g. B0 (COT) = 2710.329(56) MHz, as well as B(v) for the v = 1 states nu6, nu11, nu17, nu22, and nu41/nu42 of COT. The experimental rotational constants are compared to those obtained from calculations at the coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] level. The latter also take into account vibrational averaging effects of the ground and vibrationally excited states. Combining the experimental and calculated rotational constants with the calculated equilibrium bond lengths and angles allows us to determine accurate equilibrium structure parameters, e.g., r(e) (C-C) = 147.0 +/- 0.05 pm, r(e) (C=C) = 133.7 +/- 0.1 pm, and r(e) (C-H) = 107.9 +/- 0.1 pm. The equilibrium C-C and C=C bond lengths of COT are compared to those of 1,3-butadiene. The expected effect of decreased pi-electron delocalization due to the twisting of adjacent C=C double bonds in COT relative to butadiene is observed for the C-C bonds but not for the C=C bonds.     

Novel cyclooctatetraene radical cation planarized by full annelation with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene units

A novel cyclooctatetraene (COT) radical cation fully annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene units was prepared as SbCl(6)(-) salt, and planarity of the octagonal ring was clarified by ESR and theoretical calculations. Its longest wavelength absorption (630 nm) is blue-shifted from that (745 nm) of COT radical cation annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units due to the widening of the HOMO-SOMO gap accompanying the flattening of the COT ring. [structure: see text]     

Polycyclooctatetraeneoxy alkane polyanionic polyradicals

The room temperature potassium reduction of 1,2,3-triscyclooctatetraeneoxypropane, in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), yields an anion radical, which disproportionates so strongly to the dianion diradical that the anion radical cannot be observed via EPR. The dianion diradical has one unpaired electron in a primary and one in a secondary ring system, and it can be readily reduced to the corresponding trianion triradical. An analogous reduction of 1,2,3,4-tetrakiscyclooctatetraeneoxybutane does produce an observable anion radical, but it also is readily reduced to the system corresponding to one electron per eight-membered ring (the tetraanion tetraradical). These results and those obtained from systems containing two cyclooctatetraene (COT) moieties are explained in terms of the geometry changes COT undergoes upon one-electron reduction, the interactions between reduced and adjacent unreduced ring systems, and the electron- electron repulsion present in the polyanion polyradicals.     

Half-sandwich and mixed-ring uranium complexes

The monocyclooctatetraene uranium complex [U(COT)(I)₂(THF)₂] (COT=η-C₈H₈; THF=tetrahydrofuran), isolated from the reaction of bis(cyclooctatetraene)uranium with iodine, is a precursor for the synthesis of the alkyl derivatives [U(COT)(CH₂Ph)₂i (HMPA) ₂], [U(COT)(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(HMPA)] (HMPA=hexamethyl phosphorous triamide) and [U(COT)CH₂SiMe₃)₃] [Li(THF)₃] and of the mixed-ring compounds [U(COT)(η-C₅R₅)(I)] (R=H or Me). The last were used to prepare the amide and alkyl complexes [U(COT)(η-C₅H₅)(N{SiMe₃}₂)] and [U(COT)(η-C₅Me₅)(CH₂SiMe₃)].     

Density functional theory study of redox pairs: 2. Influence of solvation and ion-pair formation on the redox behavior of cyclooctatetraene and nitrobenzene

A study of the electrochemical behavior of cyclooctatetraene (COT) and nitrobenzene with Density Functional Theory and the conductor like solvation model (COSMO) is reported. The two-electron reduction of the tub-shaped COT molecule is accompanied by a structural change to a planar structure of D(4)(h)() symmetry in the first electron addition step, and to a fully aromatic structure of D(8)(h)() symmetry in the second electron addition step. Theoretical models are examined that are aimed at understanding the electrolyte- and solvent-dependent redox behavior of COT, in which a single 2e(-) redox wave is observed with KI electrolyte in liquid ammonia solution (DeltaDeltaE(disp) = [E(-2) - E(-1)] - [E(-1) - E(0)] < 0, inverted potential), while two 1e(-) redox waves are observed (DeltaDeltaE(disp) > 0) with NR(4)(+)X(-) (R = butyl, propyl; X(-) = perchlorate) electrolyte in dimethylformamide solution. In all cases, the computed reaction energy profiles are in fair agreement with the experimental reduction potentials. A chemically intuitive theoretical square scheme method of energy partitioning is introduced to analyze in detail the effects of structural changes and ion-pair formation on the relative energies of the redox species. The structural relaxation energy for conversion of tub-COT to planar-COT is mainly apportioned to the first reduction step, and is therefore a positive contribution to DeltaDeltaE(disp). The effect of the structural change on the disproportionation energy for COT is counteracted by the substantially more positive reduction potential for planar-(COT)(-1) in comparison to tub-(COT)(-1). Ion pairing of alkali metal counterions with the anionic reduction products gives rise to a negative contribution to DeltaDeltaE(disp) because the second ion-pairing step is more exothermic than the first, and the reduction of [KA] (A = COT, NB) is more exothermic than the reduction of A(-1). For COT, this negative energy differential term as a result of ion pairing predicts the experimentally observed inversion in the two 1e(-) potentials (DeltaDeltaE(disp) < 0). Nitrobenzene is treated with the same computational protocol to provide a system for comparison that is not complicated by the major structural change that influences the COT energy profile.     

Cubane Electrochemistry: Direct Conversion of Cubane Carboxylic Acids to Alkoxy Cubanes Using the Hofer–Moest Reaction under Flow Conditions

The highly strained cubane system is of great interest as a scaffold and rigid linker in both pharmaceutical and materials chemistry. The first electrochemical functionalisation of cubane by oxidative decarboxylative ether formation (Hofer–Moest reaction) was demonstrated. The mild conditions are compatible with the presence of other oxidisable functional groups, and the use of flow electrochemical conditions allows straightforward upscaling.     

Antiaromaticity and reactivity of a planar cyclooctatetraene fully annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane units

A detailed investigation has been made into the antiaromaticity and chemical reactivity of a planar cyclooctatetraene (COT) molecule fully annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane units 2. In spite of its planar 8pi-electronic structure, theoretical calculations have indicated that the antiaromaticity of COT 2 is considerably decreased in comparison with a planar COT 16 with D 4h symmetry. This behavior appears to be related to the wider HOMO-LUMO gap of 2 relative to 16, which is caused by the raised LUMO level as a result of the effective sigma-pi* orbital interaction between the strained bicyclic framework and the COT pi system. The two-electron reduction of 2 required the use of potassium mirror or a combination of lithium/corannulene in highly dried [D8]THF at -78 degrees C under vacuum. In contrast, the [4+2] cycloaddition of 2 with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) proceeded quite smoothly owing to the high-lying HOMO. Reaction of 2 with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid gave all-trans tetraepoxide 23 in the same way as the corresponding benzene derivative 3. While the Simons-Smith-type cyclopropanation of benzene 3 gave tricyclopropanated derivative 21, the reaction of 2 only afforded isomers of dicyclopropanated derivatives 25 and 26. Yet, the reactivity of 2 is higher than the parent COT, which does not show any reactivity under the same conditions. On the basis of homodesmic reactions, it was concluded that release of strain is also an important factor for such relatively high reactivity in the epoxidation and cyclopropanation of bicycloannelated COT 2 as well as benzene 3.     

Hybridization of a Flexible Cyclooctatetraene Core and Rigid Aceneimide Wings for Multiluminescent Flapping π Systems

The hybridization of flexible and rigid π‐conjugated frameworks is a potent concept for producing new functional materials. In this article, a series of multifluorescent flapping π systems that combine a flexible cyclooctatetraene (COT) core and rigid aceneimide wings with various π‐conjugation lengths has been designed and synthesized, and their structure/properties relationships have been investigated. Whereas these molecules have a V‐shaped bent conformation in the ground state, the bent structure changes to a planar conformation in the lowest excited singlet (S₁) state irrespective of the lengths of the aceneimide wings. However, the fluorescence behavior in solution is distinct between the naphthaleneimide system and the anthraceneimide system. The former has a nonemissive S₁ state owing to the significant contribution of the antiaromatic character of the planar COT frontier molecular orbitals, thereby resulting in complete fluorescence quenching in solution. In contrast, the latter anthraceneimide system shows an intense emission, which is ascribed to the planar but distorted S₁ state that shows the allowed transition between the π‐molecular orbitals delocalized over the COT core and the acene wings. The other characteristic of these π systems is the significantly redshifted fluorescence in the crystalline state relative to their monomer fluorescence. The relationship between the packing structures and the fluorescence properties was investigated by preparing a series of hybrid π systems with different sizes of substituents on the imide moieties, which revealed the effect of the twofold π‐stacked structure of the V‐shaped molecules on the large bathochromic shift in emission.     

法沃尔斯基(Favorski AE)重排新进展

本文介绍了近年来法沃尔斯基重排反应在手性药物、立方烷系、杂环衍生物环缩小合成中的最新动态及应用前景。     

A Structurally Characterized Organometallic Plutonium(IV) Complex

The blood‐red plutonocene complex Pu(1,3‐COT′′)(1,4‐COT′′) ( 4 ; COT′′=η⁸‐bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclooctatetraenyl) has been synthesized by oxidation of the anionic sandwich complex Li[Pu(1,4‐COT′′)₂] ( 3 ) with anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride. The first crystal structure determination of an organoplutonium(IV) complex revealed an asymmetric sandwich structure for 4 where one COT′′ ring is 1,3‐substituted while the other retains the original 1,4‐substitution pattern. The electronic structure of 4 has been elucidated by a computational study, revealing a probable cause for the unexpected silyl group migration.