Dianion and dication of tetrabenzo[5.7]fulvalene. Greater antiaromaticity than aromaticity in comparable systems

The dianion, 5(2-), and dication, 5(2+), of tetrabenzo[5.7]fulvalene represent an aromaticity/antiaromaticity continuum in which the fluorenyl system changes from aromatic in 5(2-) to antiaromatic in 5(2+). Conversely, the antiaromatic dibenzotropylium system of 5(2-) becomes an aromatic system in 5(2+), allowing an examination of aromaticity/antiaromaticity within the same carbon framework. Dianion 5(2-) was prepared and characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The fluorenyl system of 5(2-) showed the downfield shifts expected for an aromatic system, while the dibenzotropylium system showed the paratropic shifts expected for an antiaromatic system. The conclusions from (1)H NMR spectroscopy were supported by NICS(1) zz calculations for each system. Comparison of the (1)H NMR spectrum and NICS(1) zz of 5(2-) with those of 5(2+) supported the assignments of aromaticity/antiaromaticity for each system. Aromaticity/antiaromaticity were further examined through comparison of the degree of bond length alternation, which showed that the bond length alternation was slightly greater for the antiaromatic ring systems than for the aromatic systems. However, when structures of 5(2-) and 5(2+) with no bond length alternation were examined, there was a dramatic increase in the degree of antiaromaticity for the antiaromatic ring systems as evaluated through NICS. This result suggests that a decrease in bond length alternation results in an increase in antiaromaticity as well as an increase in aromaticity. The magnitude of the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl system in 5(2+) was greater than the magnitude of the aromaticity in the fluorenyl system of 5(2-), with similar effects shown by the analogous tropylium systems. This is consistent with the behavior of the antiaromatic dication of tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalene, compared to that of its aromatic dianion, and also with the behavior of the cyclopentadienyl cation/anion and tropylium cation/anion.     

Dications of fluorenylidenes. The effect of substituent electronegativity and position on the antiaromaticity of substituted tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalene dications

Oxidation of 3,6-disubstituted tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalenes by SbF(5) results in the formation of dications that behave like two antiaromatic fluorenyl cations connected by a single bond. Both fluorenyl systems exhibit the paratropic shifts and nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) characteristic of antiaromatic species. Comparison with analogous 2,7-disubstituted tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalenes reveals that the antiaromaticity of the substituted ring system can be altered substantially by changes in the placement of the substituents, possibly due to changes in the delocalization of charge in the system. Substituents in the 3,6-position decrease the antiaromaticity because of the increase in the benzylic resonance compared to 2,7-substituents.     

Dications of fluorenylidenes. The relationship between redox potentials and antiaromaticity for meta- and para-substituted diphenylmethylidenefluorenes

[reaction: see text] Electrochemical oxidation of meta-substituted diphenylmethylidenefluorenes (3a-g) results in the formation of fluorenylidene dications that are shown to be antiaromatic through calculation of the nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) for the 5- and 6-membered rings of the fluorenyl system. There is a strong linear correlation between the redox potential for the dication and both the calculated NICS and sigma(m). Redox potentials for formation of dications of analogously substituted tetraphenylethylenes shows that, with the exception of the p-methyl derivative, the redox potentials for these dications are less positive than for formation of the dications of 3a-g and for dications of p-substituted diphenylmethylidenefluorenes, 2a-g. The greater instability of dications of 2a-g and 3a-g compared to the reference system implies their antiaromaticity, which is supported by the positive NICS values. The redox potentials for formation of the dications of meta-substituted diphenylmethylidenes (3a-g) are more positive than for the formation of dications of para-substituted diphenylmethylidenes (2a-g), indicating their greater thermodynamic instability. The NICS values for dications of 3a-g are more antiaromatic than for dications of 2a-g, which is consistent with their greater instability of the dications of 3a-g. Although the substituted diphenylmethyl systems are not able to interact with the fluorenyl system through resonance because of their geometry, they are able to moderate the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl cationic system. Two models have been suggested for this interaction, sigma to p donation and the ability of the charge on the substituted ring system to affect delocalization. Examination of bond lengths shows very limited variation, which argues against sigma to p donation in these systems. A strong correlation between NICS and sigma constants suggests that factors that affect the magnitude of the charge on the benzylic (alpha) carbon of the diphenylmethyl cation affect the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl cation. Calculated atomic charges on carbons 1-8 and 10-13 show an increase in positive charge, and therefore greater delocalization of charge in the fluorenyl system, with increasing electronegativity of the substituent. The change in the amount of positive charge correlated strongly with NICS, supporting the model in which the amount of delocalization of charge is related to the antiaromaticity of the species. Thus, both aromatic and antiaromatic species are characterized by extensive delocalization of electron density.     

Dications of 3-phenylindenylidenefluorenes: evaluation of antiaromaticity of indenyl and fluorenyl cations by magnetic measures

Dications of p-substituted 3-phenylindenylidenefluorenes were prepared to examine the response of the resulting indenyl and fluorenyl cationic systems to magnetic measures of antiaromaticity. All measures, (1)H NMR shifts, nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS(1)(zz)), and magnetic susceptibility exaltation, Lambda, supported the antiaromaticity of the dications 3a-f2+. The 1H NMR shifts and NICS(1)(zz) showed that the indenyl ring system was less antiaromatic than the fluorenyl ring system, contrary to the antiaromaticity of indenyl monocations compared to fluorenyl monocations. The presence of a phenyl substituent in the 3-position was able to stabilize the indenylidene cation through resonance, decreasing its antiaromaticity, but even in the absence of the 3-phenyl substituent, the indenyl system of indenylidenefluorene dications was less antiaromatic than the fluorenyl system. The decreased antiaromaticity of the 3-phenylindenylidenefluorene dications over the unsubstituted indenylidenefluorene dication was supported by (anti)aromatic (de)stabilization energy calculations, ASE.     

Dications of fluorenylidenes. Relationship between electrochemical oxidation potentials and antiaromaticity in diphenyl-substituted fluorenyl cations

The antiaromaticity of a series of dications of p-substituted diphenylmethylidene fluorenes was explored using three criteria attributed to aromaticity/antiaromaticity. The relative stability of the dications (energetic criterion) was measured via the redox potentials obtained by electrochemical oxidation under very fast sweep rates with microelectrodes. Comparison of redox potentials with those of a model system, p-substituted tetraphenylethylenes, shows relatively small destabilization of the potentially antiaromatic fluorenylidene dication. However, the amount of destabilization is comparable with the limited electrochemical data available for other antiaromatic systems. Nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) were calculated for these dications (magnetic criterion) and indicated their antiaromaticity. A good linear relationship between experimental and calculated (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) (1)H and (13)C NMR shifts for the three dications, 3c, 3e, and 3f, for which NMR data has been reported, validated the accuracy of the NICS values. Bond length alternation/elongation (structural criterion) was explored via the harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) using the geometries calculated with density functional theory, but there was insufficient variation to evaluate relative antiaromaticity. In addition, the presence of benzannulation appears to restrict bond length alternation to such an extent that the magnitude of the HOMA index is of little use in evaluating the antiaromaticity of many polycyclic hydrocarbons. Both NICS values and redox potentials for formation of the dication in these systems show a strong linear correlation with sigma(p)(+) values, with the more antiaromatic fluorenylidene dication possessing the more electron-withdrawing substituent. The correlation between NICS values and redox potentials is also good, as might be expected, suggesting a strong relationship between magnetic and energetic characteristics of antiaromaticity. However, magnetic characteristics appear to be a more sensitive probe than energetic characteristics evaluated through redox potentials or structural characteristics evaluated through HOMA calculations.     

Proton transfers in aromatic and antiaromatic systems. How aromatic or antiaromatic is the transition state? An ab initio study

An ab initio study of six carbon-to-carbon identity proton transfers is reported. They refer to the benzenium ion/benzene (C6H7(+)/C6H6), the 2,4-cyclopentadiene/cyclopentadienyl anion (C5H6/C5H5(-)), and the cyclobutenyl cation/cyclobutadiene (C4H5(+)/C4H4) systems and their respective noncyclic reference systems, that is, [structure: see text], [structure: see text] and [structure: see text]. For the aromatic C6H7(+)/C6H6 and C5H6/C5H5(-) systems, geometric parameters and aromaticity indices indicate that the transition states are highly aromatic. The proton-transfer barriers in these systems are quite low, which is consistent with a disproportionately high degree of transition-state aromaticity. For the antiaromatic C4H5(+)/C4H4 system, the geometric parameters and aromaticity indices indicate a rather small degree of antiaromaticity of the transition state. However, the proton-transfer barrier is higher than expected for a transition state with a low antiaromaticity. This implies that another factor contributes to the barrier; it is suggested that this factor is angle and torsional strain in the transition state. The question whether charge delocalization at the transition state might correlate with the development of aromaticity was also examined. No such correlation was found, that is, charge delocalization lags behind proton transfer as is commonly observed in nonaromatic systems involving pi-acceptor groups.     

Antiaromatic spacer-bridged bisfluorenyl dications generated by superacid induced ionization

Derivatives of the dication of tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalene were prepared with phenyl and ethynyl spacers through ionization of the appropriate bis-methylethers. The antiaromaticity shown by the parent dication was demonstrated for these dications with spacers, although it was attenuated by the presence of the spacer. It was substantially greater than that of fluorenyl monocations with similar substituents. Antiaromaticity was evaluated through comparison of (1)H NMR shifts with those of acyclic analogues, through nucleus independent chemical shifts, and through magnetic susceptibility exaltation. Although the fluorenyl systems are separated by spacers, the antiaromaticity of one system is affected by the other remote fluorenyl system. An explanation for this interaction may lie in the ability of a remote cationic substituent to attenuate delocalization in the spacer. The use of spacers is designed to prevent side reactions in less stable antiaromatic dications, allowing exploration of a number of species that have previously been inaccessible.     

Effect of transition state aromaticity and antiaromaticity on intrinsic barriers of proton transfers in aromatic and antiaromatic heterocyclic systems; an ab initio study

An ab initio study of two series of carbon-to-carbon proton transfer reactions is reported. The first series refers to the heterocyclic C(4)H(5)X(+)/C(4)H(4)X (X = CH(-), NH, S, O, PH, CH(2), AlH, BH) systems, and the second to the linear [Formula: see text] (X = CH(-), NH, S, PH, O, CH(2), AlH, BH) reference systems . The major objective of this study was to examine to what degree the aromaticity of C(4)H(4)X (X = CH(-), NH, S, O, PH) and the antiaromaticity of C(4)H(4)X (X = AlH, BH) is expressed at the transition state of the proton transfer and how this affects the respective intrinsic barriers. From the differences in the barriers between a given cyclic system and the corresponding linear reference system , ΔΔH(++) = ΔH(++)(cyclic) - ΔH(++)(linear), it was inferred that in the cyclic systems both aromaticity and antiaromaticity lower ΔH(++)(cyclic). This conclusion was based on the assumption that the factors not associated with aromaticity or antiaromaticity such as resonance, inductive and polarizability effects in the protonated species, and charge delocalization occurring along the reaction coordinate affect ΔH(++) for the cyclic and linear systems in a similar way and hence offset each other in ΔΔH(++). The extent by which ΔH(++)(cyclic) is lowered in the aromatic systems correlates quite well with the degree of aromaticity of C(4)H(4)X as measured by aromatic stabilization energies as well as the NICS(1) values of the respective C(4)H(4)X. According to the rules of the principle of nonperfect synchronization (PNS), these results imply a disproportionately large degree of aromaticity at the transition state for the aromatic systems and a disproportionately small degree of transition state antiaromaticity for the antiaromatic systems. These conclusions are consistent with the changes in the NICS(1) values along the reaction coordinate. Other points discussed in the paper include the complex interplay of resonance, inductive, and polarizability effects, along with aromaticity and antiaromaticity on the proton affinities of C(4)H(4)X.     

Antiaromaticity in fluorenylidene dications. Experimental and theoretical evidence for the relationship between the HOMO/LUMO gap and antiaromaticity

The relationship between the calculated energy of the HOMO-LUMO gap, where (epsilonLUMO - epsilonHOMO)/2 is defined as DeltaHL, and of the longest wavelength transition in the UV-visible spectrum, DeltaE, was examined for a series of aromatic and antiaromatic cations and dications. TD-DFT calculations accurately modeled the energies of a series of dications including fluorenylidene dications whose UV-visible spectra are reported, as well as the energies of a series of aromatic and antiaromatic monocations whose spectra were previously reported. There is a linear correlation of the energy of the longest wavelength transition, DeltaEcalc, with DeltaHL. There is no linear relationship between DeltaEcalc and the sum of the NICS values, but there is a linear relationship between DeltaEcalc multiplied by the number of atoms in the conjugated system, DeltaEcalcT, and the sum of the NICS values. There is also an approximate linear relationship between the average 1H NMR shift and the sum of the NICS values. These relationships give further support to the suggestion that the magnetic and energetic criteria of aromaticity and antiaromaticity are related. Furthermore, the data suggest that species that have DeltaEcalcT < 20 are antiaromatic whereas those with DeltaEcalcT > 30 are aromatic.     

Multiple aromaticity and antiaromaticity in silicon clusters.

A series of silicon clusters containing four atoms but with different charge states (Si4(2+), Si4, Si4(2-), and NaSi4-) were studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Structure evolution and chemical bonding in this series were interpreted in terms of aromaticity and antiaromaticity, which allowed the prediction of how structures of the four-atom silicon clusters change upon addition or removal of two electrons. It is shown that Si4(2+) is square-planar, analogous to the recently discovered aromatic Al4(2-) cluster. Upon of two electrons, neutral Si4 becomes sigma-antiaromatic and exhibits a rhombus distortion. Adding two more electrons to Si4 leads to two energetically close structures of Si4(2-): either a double antiaromatic parallelogram structure or an aromatic system with a butterfly distortion. Because of the electronic instability of doubly charged Si4(2-), a stabilizing cation (Na+) was used to produce Si4(2-) in the gas phase in the form of Na+[Si4(2-)], which was characterized experimentally by photoelectron spectroscopy. Multiple antiaromaticity in the parallelogram Na+[Si4(2-)] species is highly unusual.     

Theoretical notions of aromaticity and antiaromaticity: phenalenyl ions versus fluorenyl ions

The dications 6, 7, and 8 and dianions 9, 10, and 11 of the bistricyclic aromatic enes bifluorenylidene (1), 1,1'-biphenalenylidene (2), and 9-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)-1H-phenalene (4), as well as monocations 12a and 13a and monoanions 14a and 15a of phenalene (3) and fluorene (5), were subjected to a systematic DFT and ab initio study. B3LYP and MP2 methods were employed to estimate the relative aromaticity/antiaromaticity of these ions, using energetic, magnetic, and structural criteria. The couplings of monoions 12a-15a to give the respective diions 6-11 result in a similar destabilization in both the fluorene and phenalene series. The interactions between the C13H8 units in diions 6-11 are weak and are not expected to result in a significant loss of aromaticity/gain of antiaromaticity, as compared with the respective monoions. The antiaromaticity of bifluorenylidene dication (6), relative to that of two fluorenyl cations (12a), is only slightly enhanced as compared with the aromaticity of biphenalenylidene dication ((E)-7)) relative to that of two phenalenyl cations (13a). In particular, the homodesmotic reaction 6 + 2.13a = (E)-7 + 2.12a is only slightly exothermic, DeltaE(Tot) = -6.0 kJ/mol. The energetic effect of the analogous reaction involving anions 9 + 2.15a = (E)-10 + 2.14a is even smaller, DeltaE(Tot) = -3.4 kJ/mol. Bifluorenylidene dianion (9) and 1,1'-biphenalenylidene dianion ((E)-10) are aromatic, but the employed criteria disagree about their relative aromaticity. The electronic and structural properties of heteromerous dication 8 and dianion 11 lie between those of the homomerous diions. Thus, dications 6-8 and dianions 9-11 form a continuum of aromaticity/antiaromaticity.     

Electronic structures of main-group carbene analogues

The electronic structures of 15 group 13-16 carbene analogues are analyzed using various quantum chemical methods and compared to the data obtained for the parent N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), imidazol-2-ylidene. The results of this study present a uniform analysis of the similarities and differences in the electronic structures of p-block main-group carbene analogues. Though all systems are formally isovalent, the theoretical analyses unambiguously indicate that their electronic structures run the gamut from C=C localized (group 13) to C=N localized (group 16) via intermediate, more delocalized, systems. In particular, neither the stibenium ion nor any of the chalcogenium dications is a direct analogue of imidazol-2-ylidene as they all contain two lone pairs of electrons around the divalent main-group center, instead of the expected one. The reason behind the gradual change in the electronic structure of main-group analogues of imidazol-2-ylidene was traced to the total charge of the systems, which changes from anionic to dicationic when moving from left to right in the periodic table. Results from theoretical analyses of aromaticity show that all group 13-16 analogues of imidazol-2-ylidene display some degree of aromatic character. The heavier group 13 anions benefit the least from pi-electron delocalization, whereas the cationic group 15 systems are on par with the parent carbon system and display only slightly less aromatic character than cyclopentadienide, a true 6pi-electron aromatic species. The sigma-donor and pi-acceptor ability of the different main-group carbene analogues are also evaluated.     

Dications of fluorenylidenes. Contribution of magnetic and structural effects to the antiaromaticity of fluorenylidene dications with cyclic substituents

The antiaromaticity of fluorenylidene dications 1-5, which contain cyclic cationic substituents, has been examined using magnetic criteria, NICS and magnetic susceptibility, and by structural criteria, HOMA. The magnetic criteria, including proton chemical shifts, strongly support the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl ring system of these dications. HOMA values are a very insensitive measure of structural effects in polycyclic ring systems because they reflect the inability of the fused ring systems to respond to changes in aromaticity/antiaromaticity. Finally, in these systems, the interaction between the ring systems appears to occur primarily through a type of hyperconjugation, as demonstrated by a decrease in the bond lengths for the bonds connecting the ring systems. In conjunction with the evaluation of magnetic effects, the quality of the calculation of (1)H and (13)C NMR shifts was assessed by comparison with experimental data. The calculation of (13)C NMR shifts was excellent in all methods examined, but the quality of (1)H NMR shifts was substantially poorer in calculations using the IGLO method, basis set DZ or II. The CSGT method gives a superior correlation between experimental and calculated (1)H NMR shifts.     

The aromaticity/antiaromaticity continuum. 1. Comparison of the aromaticity of the dianion and the antiaromaticity of the dication of tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalene via magnetic measures

The aromaticity of the dianion (2) and the antiaromaticity of the dication (3) of tetrabenzo[5.5]fulvalene have been evaluated through magnetic criteria, (1)H NMR shifts, nucleus-independent chemical shifts, NICS, and magnetic susceptibility exaltation, Lambda. The sum of the NICS values, using the GIAO (gauge-independent atomic orbital) method, for 2 is -35.2; that of 3 is +38.2, indicating the aromaticity of 2 and the antiaromaticity of 3. Calculation of magnetic susceptibility exaltation using the CSGT (continuous set of gauge transformations) method gives a similar result, with Lambda of -81.8 ppm cgs for 2 and 95.8 ppm cgs for 3. The general validity of these values is supported by excellent agreement between the NMR shifts calculated by the GIAO and CSGT methods with experimental shifts. Comparison of 1H NMR shifts with those of model compounds allows evaluation of the magnitude of the diatropic shift in 2 and paratropic shift in 3 and supports their assignment as aromatic/antiaromatic, respectively. The agreement between calculated and experimental 1H NMR shifts is excellent for 3 in the absence of counterions but much better for 2 when counterions are included. Inclusion of counterions in the evaluation of diatropic shift for 2 gave a smaller shift than in the absence of counterions, suggesting a decreased aromaticity. When counterions were included in the calculation of Lambda, the value was also decreased, suggesting a decreased aromaticity. This observation has important consequences in the use of experimental data for the evaluation of aromaticity, and presumably antiaromaticity, of anions since, in most cases, there will be close interaction with counterions.     

Aromaticity: molecular-orbital picture of an intuitive concept

Geometry is one of the primary and most direct indicators of aromaticity and antiaromaticity: a regular structure with delocalized double bonds (e.g., benzene) is symptomatic of aromaticity, whereas a distorted geometry with localized double bonds (e.g., 1,3-cyclobutadiene) is characteristic of antiaromaticity. Here, we present a molecular-orbital (MO) model of aromaticity that explains, in terms of simple orbital-overlap arguments, why this is so. Our MO model is based on accurate Kohn-Sham DFT analyses of the bonding in benzene, 1,3-cyclobutadiene, cyclohexane, and cyclobutane, and how the bonding mechanism is affected if these molecules undergo geometrical deformations between regular, delocalized ring structures, and distorted ones with localized double bonds. We show that the propensity of the pi electrons is always, that is, in both the aromatic and antiaromatic molecules, to localize the double bonds, against the delocalizing force of the sigma electrons. More importantly, we show that the pi electrons nevertheless decide about the localization or delocalization of the double bonds. A key component of our model for uncovering and resolving this seemingly contradictory situation is to analyze the bonding in the various model systems in terms of two interpenetrating fragments that preserve, in good approximation, their geometry along the localization/delocalization modes.     

Summation of nucleus independent chemical shifts as a measure of aromaticity

When the nucleus independent chemical shifts, NICS(1)zz, for a set of aromatic and antiaromatic hydrocarbons are summed, they show an excellent linear relationship with the magnetic susceptibility exaltation, Lambda, for neutral, cationic, and monoanionic species. Aromatic and antiaromatic dianions show a similar relationship but with a different slope. However, when both Lambda and the summation of NICS(1)zz are divided by the area of the ring squared, the vast majority of the aromatic and antiaromatic species fall on the same line, indicating that both NICS and Lambda are affected by the size of the ring. The species that deviate slightly from the line are a few of the anionic compounds, which may be a result of the difficulties of calculating magnetic properties of anions. This is the first report of the relationship of NICS to ring area. In addition, the excellent correlation between Lambda and the summation of NICS(1)zz demonstrates that summation of NICS(1)zz values for individual ring systems of polycyclic ring systems to give a measure of the aromaticity of the entire system is justified. By extension, the excellent correlation also serves to demonstrate that the NICS(1)zz values for individual ring systems are reliable measures of local aromaticity/antiaromaticity. Finally, the excellent correlation between experimental shifts and the 13C NMR shifts calculated with density functional theory, B3LYP/6-311+g(d,p), serves as an indirect validation of the accuracy of the NICS(1)zz calculated by the same method and basis set.     

A theoretical (DFT, GIAO-NMR, NICS) study of the carbocations and oxidation dications from azulenes, homoazulene, benzazulenes, benzohomoazulenes, and the isomeric azulenoazulenes

Protonation of parent azulene (1), homoazulene (8), representative isomeric benzazulenes (9, 9A, and 9B), and benzohomoazulenes (10, 10A, and 10B) as well as the mono- and diprotonation of isomeric azulenoazulenes (11-16) were studied by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The most likely carbocations were identified based on relative protonation energies. For comparison, complete experimental 13C NMR data were obtained for parent azulenium ion 1H+ and guaiazulenium ion 2H+ in TFA. The oxidation dications derived from benzazulenes (9, 9A, and 9B), benzohomoazulenes (10, 10A, and 10B) and azulenoazulenes (11, 16) were also investigated. For azulenoazulene dications the singlet and triplet states are both minima, but except for 11(2+) and 13(2+), the triplet states are higher in energy. Structural/geometrical changes in the carbocations were examined. GIAO-NMR, NPA charges (and changes in charges), and NICS (and delta NICS) were employed to compute the NMR chemical shifts (delta delta 13C values) in order to derive charge delocalization maps and to gauge relative aromaticitylantiaromaticity in the energetically most favored carbocations and oxidation dications. The emerging trends are discussed and compared. Creation of tropylium or homotropylium entities in the carbocations (monoprotonated) and carbodications (diprotonated) is identified as an important driving force governing the protonation outcomes. Consideration of the AM1-derived delta delta Hf values (and the DFT-derived delta delta G values) suggests that the two-electron oxidation of azulenoazulenes should be experimentally feasible. Given their antiaromatic (paratropic) character, azulenoazulene dications represent interesting targets for NMR study. GIAO-derived charge delocalization mapping allows the most likely sites for nucleophilic attack on the dications to be identified.     

Ground- and excited-state aromaticity and antiaromaticity in benzene and cyclobutadiene

The aromaticity and antiaromaticity of the ground state (S 0), lowest triplet state (T 1), and first singlet excited state (S 1) of benzene, and the ground states (S 0), lowest triplet states (T 1), and the first and second singlet excited states (S 1 and S 2) of square and rectangular cyclobutadiene are assessed using various magnetic criteria including nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS), proton shieldings, and magnetic susceptibilities calculated using complete-active-space self-consistent field (CASSCF) wave functions constructed from gauge-including atomic orbitals (GIAOs). These magnetic criteria strongly suggest that, in contrast to the well-known aromaticity of the S 0 state of benzene, the T 1 and S 1 states of this molecule are antiaromatic. In square cyclobutadiene, which is shown to be considerably more antiaromatic than rectangular cyclobutadiene, the magnetic properties of the T 1 and S 1 states allow these to be classified as aromatic. According to the computed magnetic criteria, the T 1 state of rectangular cyclobutadiene is still aromatic, but the S 1 state is antiaromatic, just as the S 2 state of square cyclobutadiene; the S 2 state of rectangular cyclobutadiene is nonaromatic. The results demonstrate that the well-known "triplet aromaticity" of cyclic conjugated hydrocarbons represents a particular case of a broader concept of excited-state aromaticity and antiaromaticity. It is shown that while electronic excitation may lead to increased nuclear shieldings in certain low-lying electronic states, in general its main effect can be expected to be nuclear deshielding, which can be substantial for heavier nuclei.     

Carbocations (M + H)(+) and oxidation dications (M(2+)) from benzo[a]pyrene and its nonalternant isomers azulenophenalenes: a theoretical (DFT, GIAO, NICS) study

The arenium ions of protonation and the two-electron oxidation dications derived from benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) 1 and three of its nonalternant isomers namely azuleno[5,6,7-cd]phenalene 2 (a strong carcinogen reported to be as potent as BaP) azuleno[1,2,3-cd]phenalene 3 (a strong mutagen/weak carcinogen), and azuleno[4,5,6-cd]phenalene 4 (a weak mutagen) were studied by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The most favored sites for electrophilic attack were identified on the basis of relative protonation energies in the arenium ions. Computed NMR chemical shifts (GIAO NMR), the NPA-derived charges (and changes in charges), as well as NICS (and DeltaNICS) were employed to derive charge delocalization maps and to gauge relative aromaticity/antiaromaticity in the resulting carbocations and oxidation dications. Quantitative correlations between the experimental (superacid) (13)C data and GIAO chemical shifts, and between computed changes in charges and GIAO Deltadelta (13)C values were explored for benzo[a]pyrenium ion (1cH(+)) and its singlet oxidation dication (1(2+)) as representative cases. For the studied PAHs (1-4), formation of singlet dications were computed to be strongly favored except in 4 for which the triplet lies 5 kcal/mol lower than singlet. Relative carbocation stability data and the derived charge delocalization patterns are assessed in light of the available chemical and toxicological data on these compounds. The present study is the first of its kind to examine the carbocations and oxidation dications derived from biologically active nonalternant analogues of BaP for which no stable ion data are available. It also validates and extends the experimental data for BaP carbocation and oxidation dication and provides a means to gauge the success of GIAO NMR in predicting NMR data for PAH-arenium ions.     

Dioxadiazuliporphyrin: a near-IR redox switchable chromophore

The synthesis of dioxadiazuliporphyrinogen 7 and its oxidized forms: dioxadiazuliporphyrin 8 and dication 8(2+), is reported. These compounds were characterized in solution using UV-vis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic means and in the solid state via single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Dioxadiazuliporphyrin is a nonaromatic porphyrinoid, readily and reversibly oxidizable to its cation radical and to the aromatic carbaporphyrinoid dication, which can be viewed as a 21,23-dicarba-22,24-dioxaporphyrin with two fused tropylium rings. Further insight into the geometric and magnetic manifestations of aromaticity and antiaromaticity in the case of the redox couple 8, 8(2+) is obtained using density functional calculations and nucleus-independent chemical shifts.