Ligand-stabilized aromatic three-membered gold rings and their sandwichlike complexes

Electronic structure calculations (DFT) suggest that ligand-stabilized three-membered gold(I) rings constituting the core structure in a series of cyclo-Au3L(n)H(3-n) (L = CH3, NH2, OH and Cl; n = 1, 2, 3) molecules exhibit aromaticity, which is primarily due to 6s and 5d cyclic electron delocalization over the triangular Au3 framework (s- and d-orbital aromaticity). The aromaticity of the novel triangular gold(I) isocycles was verified by a number of established criteria of aromaticity. In particular, the nucleus-independent chemical shift, NICS(0), the upfield changes in the chemical shifts for Li+, Ag+, and Tl+ cations over the Au3 ring plane, and their interaction with electrophiles (e.g., H+, Li+, Ag+, and Tl+) are indicative for the aromaticity of the three-membered gold(I) rings. Interestingly, unlike the respective substituted derivatives of cyclopropenium cation and the bora-cyclopropene carbacyclic analogues, the aromatic Au3 rings, although exhibit comparable diatropicity, react with electrophiles in a different way affording 1:1 and 2:1 sandwichlike complexes. The bonding in the three-membered gold(I) rings is characterized by a common ring-shaped electron density, more commonly seen in aromatic organic molecules and in "all-metal" aromatics, such as the cyclo-[Hg3]4- tetraanion. Moreover, the cation-pi interactions in the 1:1 and 1:2 sandwichlike complexes formed upon reacting the Au3 rings with electrophiles, depending on the nature of the cation, are predicted to be predominantly electrostatic (Li+, Tl+) or covalent (H+, Ag+). The 1:2 complexes constitute a new class of sandwichlike complexes, which are expected to have novel properties and applications.     

Local aromaticity of [n]acenes, [n]phenacenes, and [n]helicenes (n = 1-9)

The local aromaticity of the six-membered rings in three series of benzenoid compounds, namely, the [n]acenes, [n]phenacenes, and [n]helicenes for n = 1-9, has been assessed by means of three probes of local aromaticity based on structural, magnetic, and electron delocalization properties. For [n]acenes our analysis shows that the more reactive inner rings are more aromatic than the outer rings. For [n]phenacenes, all indicators of aromaticity show that the external rings are the most aromatic. From the external to the central ring, the local aromaticity varies in a damped alternate way. The trends for the [n]helicene series are the same as those found for [n]phenacenes. Despite the departure from planarity in [n]helicenes, only a very slight loss of aromaticity is detected in [n]helicenes as compared to the corresponding [n]phenacenes. Finally, because of magnetic couplings between superimposed six-membered rings in the higher members of the [n]helicenes series, we have demonstrated that the NICS indicator of aromaticity artificially increases the local aromaticity of their most external rings.     

Applying the conjugated circuits method to Clar structures of [n]phenylenes for determining resonance energies

We consider the aromaticity of biphenylene and structurally related linear or angular [n]phenylenes for which the direct application of the model of conjugated circuits does not offer valid expressions for resonance energy and aromaticity. We located the cause of this problem as being due to Kekulé valence structures in which neighboring benzenoid rings are connected by two CC double bonds. By restricting the selection of Kekulé valence structures to those that contribute to Clar structures of such systems, we were able to show that linear and angular [n]phenylenes have approximately similar resonance energies, with angular [n]phenylenes being slightly more stable due to second order contributions arising from disjoint conjugated circuits. Expressions for resonance energies of [n]phenylenes up to n = 8 are listed and recursion expressions for higher n values are outlined.     

An insight into the local aromaticities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fullerenes

In this work we quantify the local aromaticity of six-membered rings in a series of planar and bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fullerenes. The evaluation of local aromaticity has been carried out through the use of structurally (HOMA) and magnetically (NICS) based measures, as well as by the use of a new electronically based indicator of aromaticity, the para delocalization index (PDI), which is defined as the average of all the Bader delocalization indices between para-related carbon atoms in six-membered rings. The series of PAHs selected includes C(10)H(8), C(12)H(8), C(14)H(8), C(20)H(10), C(26)H(12), and C(30)H(12), with benzene and C(60) taken as references. The change in the local aromaticity of the six-membered rings on going from benzene to C(60) is analyzed. Finally, we also compare the aromaticity of C(60) with that of C(70), open [5,6]- and closed [6,6]-C(60)NH systems, and C(60)F(18).     

硅锗酞菁聚合物的电子结构

在自洽场晶体轨道法全略微分重叠(SCFCNDO/2－CO)水平上对氧桥和硫桥一维链硅锗酞菁聚合物的能带结构和电子特性进行了研究,探讨了堆积酞菁环间交错角以及中心原子和桥原子的变化对电子特性的影响.计算结果表明,除前线带宽外,交错角变化对所研究的聚酞菁电子特性影响不大.晶体轨道分析表明,氧桥聚酞菁电荷载流子主要通过垂直酞菁环π轨道的纵向重叠导电通路流动,而硫桥聚酞菁导带电子还可经中心原子和桥原子的d轨道重叠通路迁移.     

The origin of global and macrocyclic aromaticity in porphyrinoids

The global and macrocyclic aromaticity of porphyrinoids was characterized using our graph theory of aromaticity. The sequential line plots of topological resonance energy (TRE) against the number of π-electrons (N(π)) for different porphyrinoids are similar with four major extrema to those for five-membered heterocycles. This supports the view that five-membered rings are the main origin of global aromaticity in porphyrinoids. Macrocyclic circuits contribute significantly to macrocyclic π-circulation but modestly to global aromaticity. Macrocyclic aromaticity/antiaromaticity in oligopyrrolic macrocycles can be predicted by formally applying Hückel's [4n + 2] rule to an annulene-like main macrocyclic conjugation pathway (MMCP). This bridged annulene model can be justified by examining the contribution of individual macrocyclic circuits to macrocyclic aromaticity. A Hückel-like rule of macrocyclic aromaticity was found for porphyrinoid species.     

QTAIM N-center delocalization indices as descriptors of aromaticity in mono and poly heterocycles

The implementation of the n-center electron delocalization indices, n-DIs, and n-order electron localization indices, n-LIs, within the framework of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, QTAIM, is performed. n-DIs are shown to be very useful to study the local aromaticity in monocyclic and polycyclic compounds. Total and pi n-DIs from n=4 to 7 were computed for a series of typical 4, 5, 6, and 7-center aromatic and antiaromatic rings. For n>or=5 the pi n-DI accounts for the 95% of the total n-DI and can be employed alone to measure the aromaticity. A scaling factor on the n-DIs is required in order to compare the aromaticity of [5c-6e] and [6c-6e] rings, the same correction allows to estimate the relative aromatic stabilization of polycyclic compounds using the sum of its values for individual rings. This is called Effective Scaled Electron Delocalization, ESED. The comparison with other aromaticity indices reflects a good correlation between ESED and both resonance energies, and HOMA indices. The most important differences between scaled pi n-DIs and NICS(0) indices are found for compounds that contain rings with different number of centers or pi electrons.     

The role of the 5f orbitals in bonding, aromaticity, and reactivity of planar isocyclic and heterocyclic uranium clusters

The molecular and electronic structures, stabilities, bonding features and magnetic properties of prototypical planar isocyclic cyclo-U n X n ( n = 3, 4; X = O, NH) and heterocyclic cyclo-U n (mu 2-X) n ( n = 3, 4; X = C, CH, NH) clusters as well as the E@[ c-U 4(mu 2-C) 4], (E = H (+), C, Si, Ge) and U@[ c-U 5(mu 2-C) 5] molecules including a planar tetracoordinate element E (ptE) and pentacoordinate U (ppU) at the ring centers, respectively, have been thoroughly investigated by means of electronic structure calculation methods at the DFT level. It was shown that 5f orbitals play a key role in the bonding of these f-block metal systems significantly contributing to the cyclic electron delocalization and the associated magnetic diatropic (magnetic aromaticity) response. The aromaticity of the perfectly planar cyclo-U n X n ( n = 3, 4; X = O, NH), cyclo-U n (mu 2-X) n ( n = 3, 4; X = C, CH, NH), E@[ c-U 4(mu 2-C) 4], (E = H (+), C, Si, Ge) and U@[ c-U 5(mu 2-C) 5] clusters was verified by an efficient and simple criterion in probing the aromaticity/antiaromaticity of a molecule, that of the nucleus-independent chemical shift, NICS(0), NICS(1), NICS zz (0) and the most refined NICS zz (1) index in conjunction with the NICS scan profiles. Natural bond orbital analyses provided a clear picture of the bonding pattern in the planar isocyclic and heterocyclic uranium clusters and revealed the features that stabilize the ptE's inside the six- and eight-member uranacycle rings. The ptE's benefit from a considerable electron transfer from the surrounding uranium atoms in the E@[ c-U 4(mu 2-C) 4], (E = H (+), C, Si, Ge) and U@[ c-U 5(mu 2-C) 5] clusters justifying the high occupancy of the np orbitals of the central atom E.     

Local aromaticity of the lowest-lying singlet States of [N]acenes (N = 6-9)

The local aromaticities of the six-membered rings in the two lowest-lying singlet states of [n]acenes (n = 6-9) have been assessed by means of three probes of local aromaticity based on structural, magnetic, and electron delocalization properties. Important differences between the local aromaticities of the closed-shell and diradical singlet electronic states are found. Thus, while the inner rings have the largest aromatic character in the closed-shell singlet states, the outer rings become the most aromatic for the diradical singlet states.     

Sandwich Complexes of the As_4～(2-) Aromatic Ring with Some Transition Metals

The equilibrium geometries,energies,harmonic vibrational frequencies,and nucleus independent chemical shifts(NICS) of the new type sandwich structures [As4MAs4]n-(M = Fe,Co,Ni,Ru,Rh,Pd,Os,Ir and Pt;n = 0,1 or 2) are investigated at the B3LYP level.All the [As4MAs4]n-species adopt staggered(D4d) conformations as their stable structures and eclipsed(D4h) conformations as their transition states,and once the sandwich complexes are formed,the As42- square properties remain unchanged.The NICS calculation confirms that the complexes of Fe,Co,and Ni are aromatic with negative NICS values,and those of Ru,Rh,and Ir exhibit slight aromaticity,while those of Pd,Os,and Pt show slight antiaromaticity.     

NiTi过渡金属团簇的结构和芳香性的理论研究

在B3PW91/6-311+G(d)计算水平上, 计算并讨论了Ni₄Ti₂, [Ni₄Ti₂]²⁺, [Ni₄Ti₂]^2-与Ni₄Ti₄, [Ni₄Ti₄]²⁺, [Ni₄Ti₄]^2-团簇的几何结构和芳香性. 在构型优化过程中得到了Ni₄Ti₂(D_4h), [Ni₄Ti₂]²⁺(D_4h), [Ni₄Ti₂]^2-(D_4h)和Ni₄Ti₄(D_2h)4个稳定构型, 发现当引入上下2个Ti原子后, Ni₄环成为了平面正方形构型. 核无关化学位移(NICS)计算结果表明, Ni₄Ti₂(D_4h)与Ni₄Ti₄(D_2h)的NICS值为正, 而[Ni₄Ti₂]²⁺(D_4h)和[Ni₄Ti₂]^2-(D_4h)的NICS值为负, 且[Ni₄Ti₂]^2-(D_4h)的NICS值更负. 同时还发现, 由s与d轨道参与形成的反磁性环流是引起[Ni₄Ti₂]²⁺(D_4h)和[Ni₄Ti₂]^2-(D_4h)具有较大芳香性的主要原因; 其中Ti原子主要提供d_z²与s轨道, 而Ni原子主要利用其d_z²与d_x²-y²轨道形成正方形环, 它们之间构成了球状的d轨道环流, 且[Ni₄Ti₂]²⁺(D_4h)和[Ni₄Ti₂]^2-(D_4h)中还有非常明显的π轨道环流.     

3,5-吡啶二羧酸镍配位聚合物的合成与晶体结构

采用水热法合成了3个新的3,5-吡啶二羧酸镍配位聚合物[Ni(3,5-Pydc)(H₂O)₄·H₂O]_n(1), [Ni₂(3,5-Pydc)₂(H₂O)₈·(H₂O)₂]_n(2)和[Ni(3,5-Pydc)(H₂O)₂]_n(3), 并通过X射线单晶衍射、FTIR及热重分析对其结构和组成进行了表征. 单晶衍射结果表明, 化合物1和2是一维折线型链状结构, 而化合物3是二维层状结构. 化合物1是由3,5-Pydc配体将中心镍离子连接起来形成的折线型一维链. 在化合物2中存在着两条各自独立的折线型一维链, 但它们的配位方式却完全相同, 每一条链都是由3,5-Pydc配体将镍离子连接而成. 而化合物3则是由3个镍离子和3个3,5-Pydc配体形成的二十元环构成的二维网格. 3个化合物分别通过链间或层间氢键作用(O-H…O)形成三维超分子结构, 化合物1和2中的客体水分子被氢键限域在超分子结构之中.     

Achieving Adaptive Aromaticity in Cyclo[10]carbon by Screening Cyclo[n]carbon (n=8−24)

Discovery of species with adaptive aromaticity (being aromatic in both the lowest singlet and triplet states) is particularly challenging as cyclic species are generally aromatic either in the ground state or in the excited state only, according to Hückel's and Baird's rules. Inspired by the recent realization of cyclo[18]carbon, here we demonstrate that cyclo[10]carbon possesses adaptive aromaticity by screening cyclo[n]carbon (n=8?24), which is supported by nucleus‐independent chemical shift (NICS), anisotropy of the current‐induced density (ACID), π contribution of electron localization function (ELF_π) and electron density of delocalized bonds (EDDB) analyses. Further study reveals that the lowest triplet state of cyclo[10]carbon is formed by in‐plane ππ* excitation. Thus, the major contribution to the aromaticity from out‐of‐plane π molecular orbitals does not change significantly in the lowest singlet state. Our findings highlight a crucial role of out‐of‐plane π orbitals in maintaining aromaticity for both the lowest singlet and triplet states as well as the aromaticity dependence on the number of the carbon in cyclo[n]carbon.     

A Description of Vibrational Modes in Hexaphyrins: Understanding the Aromaticity Reversal in the Lowest Triplet State

Aromaticity reversal in the lowest triplet state, or Baird's rule, has been postulated for the past few decades. Despite numerous theoretical works on aromaticity reversal, experimental study is still at a rudimentary stage. Herein, we investigate the aromaticity reversal in the lowest excited triplet state using a comparable set of [26]‐ and [28]hexaphyrins by femtosecond time‐resolved infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Compared to the relatively simple IR spectra of [26]bis(rhodium) hexaphyrin ( R26H ), those of [28]bis(rhodium) hexaphyrin ( R28H ) show complex IR spectra the region for the stretching modes of conjugated rings. Whereas time‐resolved IR spectra of R26H in the excited triplet state are dominated by excited state IR absorption peaks, while those of R28H largely show ground state IR bleaching peaks, reflecting the aromaticity reversal in the lowest triplet state. These contrasting IR spectral features serve as new experimental aromaticity indices for Baird's rule.     

Sandwich Complexes of the As42-Aromatic Ring with Some Transition Metals

The equilibrium geometries, energies, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and nuc- leus independent chemical shifts (NICS) of the new type sandwich structures [As4MAs4]n- (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt; n = 0, 1 or 2) are investigated at the B3LYP level.All the [As4MAs4]n- species adopt staggered (D4d) conformations as their stable structures and eclipsed (D4h) conformations as their transition states, and once the sandwich complexes are formed, the As42- square properties remain unchanged.The NICS calculation confirms that the complexes of Fe, Co, and Ni are aromatic with negative NICS values, and those of Ru, Rh, and Ir exhibit slight aromaticity, while those of Pd, Os, and Pt show slight antiaromaticity.     

The aromatic character of magnesium porphyrins

The aromaticity of magnesium porphyrins have been studied by calculating the nuclear magnetic shieldings in selected points outside the molecules. The strength of the induced ring currents for a given magnetic field have been obtained by using the aromatic-ring-current-shielding (ARCS) method. Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations provide additional information about the current routes in the multiple-ring systems. The total aromatic pathway of magnesium porphyrins must be considered as a superposition of several (4n + 2) pi-electron Huckel pathways. We found that all beta-unsaturated pyrrolic rings have local ring currents the strength of which is 70-90% of the current strength for the pyrrole molecule. The present study also shows that the 18pi-[16]annulene aromatic pathway does not exist in magnesium porphyrins until all four pyrrolic units are saturated in the beta-position.     

Facile Synthesis of Polycyclic Pentalenes with Enhanced Hückel Antiaromaticity

Pentalenes represent highly reactive Hückel antiaromatics with 8π electrons. Usually, pentalenes are stabilized by incorporation of two benzene rings in a fused fashion. In dibenzo[a ,e ]pentalenes, however, the high aromaticity of the fused benzene rings compromises the inherent antiaromaticity of the pentalene core. Herein, we disclose that this forfeited antiaromaticity can be restored by fusing four additional aromatic rings onto the peripheral positions of dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes. Such polycyclic pentalenes were prepared by successive transannular cyclizations via in situ‐generated tetrakisdehydro[16]annulenes. The thus obtained compounds showed intriguing properties, for example, characteristic absorptions in the visible‐to‐near‐infrared (NIR) region and low reduction potentials. These results hence afford a design principle to produce highly antiaromatic yet stable pentalenes. The antiaromaticity of the pentalene core can be widely tuned via the degree of aromaticity of the peripherally fused rings.     

Cyclopentadiene annulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: investigations of electron affinities

The adiabatic electron affinities of cyclopentadiene and 10 associated benzannelated derivatives have been predicted with both density functional and Hartree-Fock theory. These systems can also be regarded as benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) augmented with five-membered rings. Like the PAHs, the electron affinities of the present systems generally increase with the number of rings. To unequivocally bind an electron, cyclopentadiene must have at least two conventionally fused benzene rings. 1H-Benz[f]indene, a naphthalene-annulated cyclopentadiene, is predicted to have a zero-point energy corrected adiabatic electron affinity of 0.13 eV. Since the experimental E(A) of naphthalene is negative (-0.19 eV), the five-membered ring appendage contributes to the stability of the naphthalene-derived 1H-benz[f]indene radical anion significantly. The key to binding the electron is a contiguous sequence of fused benzenes, since fluorene, the isomer of 1H-benz[f]indene, with separated six-membered rings, has an electron affinity of -0.07 eV. Each additional benzene ring in the sequence fused to cyclopentadiene increases the electron affinity by 0.15-0.65 eV: the most reliable predictions are cyclopentadiene (-0.63 eV), indene (-0.49 eV), fluorene (-0.07 eV), 1H-benz[f]indene (0.13 eV), 1,2-benzofluorene (0.25 eV), 2,3-benzofluorene (0.26 eV), 12H-dibenzo[b,h]fluorene (0.65 eV), 13H-indeno[1,2-b]anthracene (0.82 eV), and 1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthacene (1.10 eV). In contrast, if the six-membered ring-fusion is across the C(2)-C(3) cyclopentadiene single bond, only a single benzene is needed to bind an electron. The theoretical electron affinity of the resulting molecule, isoindene, is 0.49 eV, and this increases to 1.22 eV for 2H-benz[f]indene. The degree of aromaticity is responsible for this behavior. While the radical anions are stabilized by conjugation, which increases with the size of the system, the regular indenes, like PAHs in general, suffer from the loss of aromatic stabilization in forming their radical anions. While indene is 21 kcal mol(-1) more stable than isoindene, the corresponding radical anion isomers have almost the same energy. Nucleus-independent chemical shift calculations show that the highly aromatic molecules lose almost all aromaticity when an extra electron is present. The radical anions of cyclopentadiene and all of its annulated derivatives have remarkably low C-H bond dissociation energies (only 18-34 kcal mol(-1) for the mono-, bi-, and tricyclics considered). Hydrogen atom loss leads to the restoration of aromaticity in the highly stabilized cyclopentadienyl anion congeners.