Local aromaticity in polyacenes manifested by individual proton and carbon shieldings: DFT mapping of aromaticity

Exponential dependencies between locally calculated geometric and magnetic indexes of aromaticity, harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) and nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS)(0), NICS(1) and NICS(1)zz, and the number of conjugated benzene rings in linear acenes, from benzene to decacene were observed at B3LYP/6-311+G** level of theory. Correlations between HOMA and NICS indexes showed exponential dependencies and were fitted with simple three-parameter function. Similar correlations between both indexes of aromaticity and proton and carbon nuclear isotropic shieldings of individual acene rings were observed. Contrary to proton data, the predicted ¹³C nuclear isotropic shieldings of carbon atoms belonging to inner rings in polyacenes were less shielded, indicating lower aromaticity and therefore, higher reactivity.     

Local aromaticity mapping in the vicinity of planar and nonplanar molecules

We report on nucleus-independent magnetic shielding (NICS) scans over the centers of six- and five-membered rings in selected metal phthalocyanines (MPc) and fullerene C60 for more accurate characterization of local aromaticity in these compounds. Detailed tests were conducted on model aromatic molecules including benzene, pyrrole, indole, isoindole, and carbazole and subsequently applied to H₂Pc, ZnPc, Al(OH)Pc, and CuPc. Similar behavior of three selected magnetic probes, Bq, ³He, and ⁷Li⁺, approaching perpendicularly the ring centers, was observed. For better visualization of shielding zone over the centers of aromatic rings, we introduced a simple mathematical procedure: the first and second derivatives of scan curves with respect to magnetic probe position enabled their additional examination. It allowed an easier localization of curve minimum and discrimination between areas in space varying by the magnetic field magnitude and to illustrate local aromaticity of two different kinds of rings in MPc with better resolution. Our results supported earlier reports on very low aromaticity indexes of pyrrole ring incorporated into MPc and significant aromaticity of the central macrocycle. No direct dependence between harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity and NICS was observed. Instead, a correlation between position of scan curve minimum and its magnitude were observed. In addition, the NICS values and ³He chemical shifts in the middle of neutral C60 and C60⁶⁻ anion agreed well with the reported experimental NMR values for He@C60 and He@C60⁶⁻.     

Local aromaticity of the six-membered rings in pyracylene. A difficult case for the NICS indicator of aromaticity

In this work, we have analyzed the local aromaticity of the six-membered rings (6-MRs) of planar and pyramidalized pyracylene species through the structurally based harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA), the electronically based para-delocalization index (PDI), and the magnetic-based nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) measurements, as well as with maps of ring current density. According to ring currents and PDI and HOMA indicators of aromaticity, there is a small reduction of local aromaticity in the 6-MRs of pyracylene with a bending of the molecule. In the case of NICS, the results depend on whether the NICS value is calculated at the center of the ring (NICS(0)) or at 1 A above (NICS(1)(out)) or below (NICS(1)(in)) the ring plane. While NICS(1)(out) values also indicate a slight decrease of aromaticity with bending, NICS(0) and NICS(1)(in) wrongly point out a large increase of aromaticity upon distortion. We have demonstrated that the NICS(0) reduction in the 6-MRs of pyracylene upon bending is due to (a) a strong reduction of the paratropic currents in 5-MRs and (b) the fact that, due to the distortion, the paratropic currents point their effects in other directions.     

Local aromaticity in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: electron delocalization versus magnetic indices

The local aromaticity of benzenoid rings is examined by means of the Polansky index (P) and generalized population analysis (GPA). The results are found to agree very well with recently published circuit-condensed ring currents and magnetic-energetic aromaticity indices, but no correlation is found with nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS). This is usually seen as a manifestation of the more general multidimensional nature of aromaticity. This paper examines the sources for the observed correlations, showing that some indices give conflicting results because they inherently reflect different phenomena.     

Halogenations of anthracenes and Dibenz

Halogenation of dibenz[a,c]anthracene (1) by NBS in CCl(4) affords the products of 9- and 10-monobromination in the ratio of 9:1. The reaction is accelerated by iodine, and HBr effects rearrangement of 9-bromo product to the sterically less crowded 10-bromo isomer. The mechanism is proposed to involve reversible addition of Br(2), followed by elimination of HBr. Reaction of NCS with 1 in CCl(4) requires addition of HCl and affords exclusively 9-chlorination. The different reactivities of NBS and NCS are ascribed to the relative amounts of free halogen produced (due to differences in N-X bond strengths involving Br and Cl), and the different sizes of the halogens. Under similar conditions, NCS chlorinates 9-bromoanthracene (2a) to afford 9,10-dichloroanthracene and 9-bromo-10-chloroanthracene in the ratio of 65:35. This reaction ostensibly occurs by addition of Cl(2) to 2a, followed by preferential loss of HBr rather than HCl. 9-Methylanthracene (3) affords exclusively 9-(bromomethyl)anthracene with NBS in the absence of iodine, but mainly (67%) 9-bromo-10-methylanthracene in the presence of iodine. Chlorination of 3 with NCS in the presence of HCl also affords mostly (65%) nuclear halogenation. Nuclear bromination of anthracene, 9-methylanthracene, and dibenz[a, c]anthracene by NBS in the absence of added HBr is accelerated by iodine. This effect is probably due to an increase in the amount of bromine produced from NBS in the presence of iodine.     

Ferrocenyl-substituted fluorescent anthracenes and anthraquinones

The synthesis of a range of ferrocene-substituted ethynylanthracenes and 1,1^′-(bis-(2-ethenylanthraquinoyl)ferrocene has been achieved. The synthesis relies on the production of ferrocenylanthraquinones as key precursors. The products were obtained in the reactions of ferrocenylanthraquinones with phenylethynyllithium or trimethylsilylethynyllithium followed by reduction with tin chloride. The key products such as 1- and 2-ferrocenyl(9,10-bis-phenylethynyl)anthracenes have been characterised by X-ray single crystal diffraction.     

Local aromaticity study of heterocycles using n-center delocalization indices: the role of aromaticity on the relative stability of position isomers

A quantitative study on local aromaticity based on n-center electron delocalization indices, n being the number of atoms in the ring, is performed on a series of heterocycles containing N, O or S. The results indicate that the order of stability within a series of position isomers is not controlled by aromaticity but by other structural factors. Thus, for a certain series of monocycles position isomers (diazoles, triazoles, tetrazoles, diazines, triazines, and tetrazines) the most stable compound is the least aromatic one and vice versa. However, aromaticity controls the stability for series of isomers where these structural factors are similar. For the case of isocompounds, like isobenzopyrrole, isobenzofuran or isobenzothiophene, the large decrease in the aromaticity of the benzene ring with regard to their isomers makes them less stable.     

Induced aromaticity

The influence of counterions on the stabilization of three-, five-, and six-membered cyclic organic and organoboron systems was studied by the ab initio (MP2(full)/6-311+G**) and density functional (B3LYP/6-311+G**) methods. The structures of molecular charge-transfer molecular complexes formed by the interaction with counterions are predicted. A crucial role of counterions in the stabilization of aromatic systems that are unstable in themselves was revealed. Stabilization of these systems involves both charge transfer and covalent bonding.     

Expanded porphyrins and aromaticity

meso-Aryl-substituted expanded porphyrins that are porphyrin homologues consisting of more than five pyrrolic units are a nice platform to realize diverse aromatic and antiaromatic species as well as stable radical species. They are also an ideal series to realize topologically twisted molecules with distinct M?bius aromaticity and antiaromaticity.     

Improved synthesis of aryl-substituted anthracenes and heteroacenes

A Br?nsted acid-catalyzed highly efficient construction of substituted arylanthracenes and heteroacenes is described, which is assumed to be initiated through the facile formation of a benzylic cation intermediate. This method offers several advantages in comparison with known aromatic cyclodehydration reactions such as high selectivities, mild reaction conditions, and easily accessible starting materials.     

Research on benzo- and naphthazoles

Fourteen unsymmetrical 1-(1-alkylbenzoimidazolyl-2)-3-methyl-5-arylformazans are synthesized by nitrogen coupling of aryl diazonium salts with acetaldehyde 1-alkylbenzoimidazolyl-2-hydrazones, and their visible absorption maxima are given.For Part XII see [6].     

Double aromaticity: aromaticity in orthogonal planes. The 3,5-dehydrophenyl cation.

The $\text{D}$_$\text{3h}$ 3,5-dehydrophenyl cation (I), which may represent the structure of C₆H₃ ions observed mass spectroscopically, illustrates $\text{double aromaticity}$: two different aromatic systems in orthogonal planes.     

Ring-current aromaticity in open-shell systems

The ab initio ipsocentric approach to calculation and mapping of induced orbital current density is extended to open-shell π systems. ROHF/6-31G^** calculations document the (magnetic) aromaticity of planar 4nπ triplet states of 4π/8π annulenes and isobenzofulvene, and quintet excited-state azulene. An orbital model for currents rationalises the generalised form of Baird’s rules, by which 4n + 2 annulenes are aromatic (antiaromatic) in states of even (odd) total spin (vice versa for 4nπ annulenes). In contrast to geometric criteria, ring-currents predict antiaromaticity for the doublet naphthalene radical anion.     

Ferrocenyl anthracenes: Synthesis and molecular structure

The synthesis of a series of ferrocenylanthracene derivatives is described, utilising the palladium catalysed coupling reaction of 1,1′-bis(chlorozincio)ferrocene with halo-anthracenes. Bis-1,1′-(9-anthracenyl)ferrocene (1) was characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and shows an eclipsed ferrocenyl geometry. X-ray crystallographic studies indicate that there are no clear stacking interactions of either an intra- or intermolecular nature between the anthracenyl rings in the structure. A series of 9- and 10-disubstituted ferrocenylanthracene derivatives has also been prepared. In each case the palladium catalyst (Pd(dppf)Cl₂) is recovered in a modified form, e.g. as the [(dppf)PdBr(9-anthracenyl)] complex in the synthesis of bis-1,1′-(9-anthracenyl)ferrocene. The single crystal X-ray structure of one such palladium complex [(dppf)PdBr-9-(10-chloroanthracenyl)] (15a) has been determined in a case where chloride/bromide exchange had occurred in the palladium complex intermediate. The potential application of compound 1 as synthon for the construction of a molecular sensing device is discussed. Cyclic voltammetry and fluorescence studies have been carried out for selected derivatives.     

Three-dimensional aromaticity in deltahedral boranes and carboranes

Methods derived from topology and graph theory indicate that the deltahedral boranes B _n H _n ^2– and the corresponding carboranes C₂B_n–2H _n (6 n 12) may be regarded as three-dimensional delocalized aromatic systems in which surface bonding and core bonding correspond to -bonding and -bonding, respectively, in planar polygonal two-dimensional hydrocarbons CinnH _n ^(n–6)+ (n=5/7). The two extreme types of topologies which may be used to model core bonding in deltahedral boranes and carboranes are the deltahedral (D _n ) topology based on the skeleton of the underlying deltahedron and the complete (K _n ) topology based on the corresponding complete graph. Analyses of the Hoffmann-Lipscomb LCAO extended Hückel computations, the Armstrong—Perkins—Stewart self-consistent molecular orbital computations, and SCF MOab initio GAUSSIAN-82 computations on B₆H₆ ^2– indicate that the approximation of the atomic orbitals by the sum of the molecular orbitals, as is typical in modernab initio computations, leads to significantly weaker apparent core bonding approximated more closely by deltahedral (D _n ) topology than by complete (K _n ) topology.This work was presented at the Workshop The Modern Problems of Heteroorganic Chemistry sponsored by the A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences (May 8–13, 1993).Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1353–1360, August, 1993.