Corannulene and corazulene tiling of nanostructures

Tiling modification in nanostructure modeling can be achieved by map operations, as well as the well-known Stone-Wales bond rotation. In this respect, sequences of classical operations, or single generalized operations, were used to obtain corannulenic flowers and corannulene-like azulenic patterns. The first "corazulenic" tessellation is reported. The aromaticity of some cages tessellated by the above supra-faces is discussed in terms of several different criteria. The covering was given as a pi-electron partition within some Kekulé valence structures.The well-known geometric index of aromaticity HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) enabled the evaluation of local aromaticity of the discussed supra-faces and brought evidence for several dominant Kekulé valence structures. The most intriguing is the "Kekulé-Dewar" valence structure of the cage C(192) having a disjoint corazulenic tessellation.     

Retro-leapfrog and related retro map operations

Operations on maps are well-known theoretical tools for transforming a given polyhedral tessellation. Several theoretical investigations of fullerenes, such as their pi-electronic structure and stability, need information on the original map which was transformed into a larger molecular structure. In this respect, retro-operations, particularly those of the most used leapfrog, chamfering, and capra operations, appear particularly useful in searching the associate graphs of fullerenes. A series of analyzed cages proved to be leapfrog transforms of smaller cages. This information was useful in understanding their closed pi-electronic structure and related properties including the local aromaticity. An index based on the optimized geometries enabled the evaluation of aromaticity of their various substructures. Pictorial images of the pi-electron distribution as the main Kekulé valence structures have been performed by the aid of the JSCHEM software package.     

芳香性研究的最新进展: Möbius芳烃和富勒烯基芳香性全反式[18]轮烯

芳香性反式轮烯结构富勒烯具有高共轭性, 是潜在的优良的光能捕获分子. 综述了Möbius芳烃和芳香性反式轮烯结构富勒烯的合成和性质研究的最新进展, 并展望了其今后的发展方向.     

芳香性研究的最新进展:Mbius芳烃和富勒烯基芳香性全反式[18]轮烯

芳香性反式轮烯结构富勒烯具有高共轭性,是潜在的优良的光能捕获分子.综述了M?bius芳烃和芳香性反式轮烯结构富勒烯的合成和性质研究的最新进展,并展望了其今后的发展方向.     

Strain in Platonic fullerenes

Platonic fullerenes are those structures, either closed or open ones, covered by a single type of polygonal face. Excepting the graphite sheet, all the other nano-structures show non-zero strain energy. In this study, Platonic nanostructures, covered by polygonal faces f _k , k = 5–7, are designed and optimized at Hartree–Fock HF and DFT levels of theory. Next, their stability, in terms of total energy and HOMO–LUMO gap, strain energy (by POAV theory), HOMA index of aromaticity, and Kekulé structure count, is discussed. Vibrational spectra for the open fullerenes are also given.     

A comprehensive investigation of the interrelationships between spectroscopy and photochemistry and substituents of some azulenic derivatives

Several azulenic dyes, including six azulene hydrocarbons, two azulene aldehydes, and two olefinic azulenes, have been synthesized to survey their photophysics and photochemistry. These azulenes display S(2)-->S(0) emission, but with several differences. This is the most remarkable characteristic of the effect of orbital control on color and excited state properties of the azulenic compounds. This paper emphasizes how emission spectra and photochemistry of azulenic compounds are influenced by their chemical structure and solvent. The emission spectra of the azulene hydrocarbons suggest that their excited state properties can be controlled by their molecular structure and size. It was confirmed by emission and (1)H NMR spectroscopy that azulene monoaldehyde is protonated in a strong acid, such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Photochemistry of styrylazulenes was observed during irradiation. Azulenic compounds are thermally stable and color tunable, and hence they are good candidates as non-linear optical materials. Based on their unique photochemical and photophysical characteristics, novel azulenic dyes can be constructed for different uses.     

Capturing the Antiaromatic #6094C68 Carbon Cage in the Radio‐Frequency Furnace

Although all fullerenes do not satisfy the classical aromaticity condition, as a result of their nonplanar nature, they experience effective stabilization due to extensive cyclic π‐electron delocalization and exhibit pronounced “spherical aromaticity”. This feature has raised the question of the opposite phenomenon, that is, the existence of antiaromatic carbon cages. Here the first experimental evidence of the existence of antiaromatic fullerenes is reported. The elusive ^#6094C₆₈ was effectively captured as C₆₈Cl₈ by in situ chlorination in the gas phase during radio‐frequency synthesis. The chlorinated cage was separated by means of multistage HPLC, and its connectivity unambiguously determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Halogen‐stripped pristine ^#6094C₆₈ was monitored by mass spectrometry of the chlorinated C₆₈Cl₈ cage. Quantum chemical calculations reveal the highly antiaromatic character of ^#6094C₆₈, in accordance with all geometric, energetic, and magnetic criteria of aromaticity. Chlorine addition leads to substantial stabilization of the cage owing to aromatization in the resulting C₆₈Cl₈, which explains its high abundance in the primary fullerene soot. This work provides new insights into the process of fullerene formation and better understanding of aromaticity phenomena in general.     

Aromaticity of group 14 organometallics: experimental aspects

The long story of aromatic compounds has extended over almost two centuries, since the discovery by Faraday of "bicarburet of hydrogen", or C(6)H(6), now called benzene. Since then, the chemistry of aromatic compounds has been developed extensively; this is reflected in the synthesis of novel classes of aromatic derivatives including charged species, nonclassical (M?bius, three-dimensional, homo-, metalla-) aromatics, and fullerenes. The theory of aromaticity has also undergone a spectacular evolution since the first definition of aromaticity by Hückel; the classification of aromaticity now requires the consideration of versatile criteria: energetic, structural, magnetic, among others. In this Review, we discuss the current state of affairs in the chemistry of aromatic compounds of the heavier Group 14 elements, the latest experimental achievements, as well as future prospects in the field.     

Capturing the antiaromatic (#6094) C68 carbon cage in the radio-frequency furnace

Although all fullerenes do not satisfy the classical aromaticity condition, as a result of their nonplanar nature, they experience effective stabilization due to extensive cyclic π-electron delocalization and exhibit pronounced "spherical aromaticity". This feature has raised the question of the opposite phenomenon, that is, the existence of antiaromatic carbon cages. Here the first experimental evidence of the existence of antiaromatic fullerenes is reported. The elusive (#6094)C(68) was effectively captured as C(68)Cl(8) by in situ chlorination in the gas phase during radio-frequency synthesis. The chlorinated cage was separated by means of multistage HPLC, and its connectivity unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Halogen-stripped pristine (#6094)C(68) was monitored by mass spectrometry of the chlorinated C(68)Cl(8) cage. Quantum chemical calculations reveal the highly antiaromatic character of (#6094)C(68), in accordance with all geometric, energetic, and magnetic criteria of aromaticity. Chlorine addition leads to substantial stabilization of the cage owing to aromatization in the resulting C(68)Cl(8), which explains its high abundance in the primary fullerene soot. This work provides new insights into the process of fullerene formation and better understanding of aromaticity phenomena in general.     

Geometry and stability of fullerene cages: C24 to C70

The electronic structures and geometries of all even carbon fullerenes were investigated theoretically using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level. Based on geometries, energies, and aromaticities, the potential relationship between geometry factors and stability has been investigated systematically. The extra stability of C₆₀ has been confirmed by the shorter average bond length, smaller angle strain, widest energy gap, larger binding energy, and dissociation energy. Furthermore, C₃₂ and C₅₀ are predicted to have higher aromaticity due to larger negative nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) values, whereas C₆₀ displays a weak aromaticity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

The vorticity of the current density tensor and 3D-aromaticity

The induced current density ( J ( r )) vector field has been extensively used as a criterion of aromaticity and electron delocalization. However, the selection of the direction of the perturbing magnetic field ( B ) is arbitrary and in the case of three-dimensional electron delocalization/aromaticity the selection could be ambiguous. The J ( r ) has also recently received some criticism as an aromaticity index. We propose the Trace of the Vorticity of the Current Density tensor (TVCD) scalar field as a more suitable quantity for the evaluation of electron delocalization of three-dimensional systems. It does not depend on the orientation of B and contrary to other related scalar fields like the anisotropy of the induced current density, it does not lose the information of the direction of the currents. We show that not only the currents parallel to the molecular plane are important in the evaluation of the aromaticity, as is largely believed, but also the perpendicular ones, which information is included in the TVCD. The TVCD is very useful to study planar and 3D delocalized molecules (eg, fullerenes). Moreover, the integration of the TVCD over an internal surface of the 3D-cages serves as index for 3D-aromaticity.     

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).     

M4 @Si28 (M=Al,Ga): metal-encapsulated tetrahedral silicon fullerene

It is known that silicon fullerenes cannot maintain perfect cage structures like carbon fullerenes. Previous density-functional theory calculations have shown that even with encapsulated species, nearly all endohedral silicon fullerenes exhibit highly puckered cage structures in comparison with their carbon counterparts. In this work, we present theoretical evidences that the tetrahedral fullerene cage Si(28) can be fully stabilized by encapsulating a tetrahedral metallic cluster (Al(4) or Ga(4)). To our knowledge, this is the first predicted endohedral silicon fullerene that can retain perfectly the same cage structure (without puckering) as the carbon fullerene counterpart (T(d)-C(28) fullerene). Density-functional theory calculations also suggest that the two endohedral metallosilicon fullerenes T(d)-M(4)@Si(28) (M=Al and Ga) can be chemically stable because both clusters have a large highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gap ( approximately 0.9 eV), strong spherical aromaticity (nucleus-independent chemical shift value of -36 and -44), and large binding and embedding energies.     

An Azulenic Bacteriorhodopsin Analog Has Photoinduced Activity

Abstract— The photoinduced changes of absorbance as well as proton release and uptake have been observed for an azulenic analog of wild-type bacteriorhodopsin. The release and uptake of protons have been measured using a highly sensitive electrochemical technique. Bacteriorhodopsin membrane patches on a tin-oxide electrode produce a transient photocurrent that is negative for proton release and positive for proton uptake. For azulenic bacteriorhodopsin the photocurrent is approximately 20% of the transient observed with native bacteriorhodopsin. The existence of the photoinduced absorbance changes and the transient photocurrent are important results for gaining further insight into the photoinduced function of bacteriorhodopsin.     

Nanotube junctions and the genus of multi-tori

Carbon nanotube junctions can be modeled by fullerene spanning or by using some operations on map. They can self-assemble into more complex structures, such as finite or infinite high genera multi-tori. Four junctions of tetrahedral and octahedral symmetry, covered by patches consisting only of hexagons, were designed. Their stability is discussed in terms of total energy, evaluated at Hartree-Fock (HF) level of theory, HOMO-LUMO gap, strain energy, HOMA index of aromaticity and the Kekulé structure count. Vibrational spectra of these junctions are given as well. A new multi-toroidal structure, of octahedral symmetry, is presented for the first time. The study on topology of the multi-tori herein designed revealed the relation of these structures with the genus of their embedding surface.     

Dual relationship between large gold clusters (antifullerenes) and carbon fullerenes: a new lowest-energy cage structure for Au50

Recent theoretical prediction and experimental confirmation of cage configurations for Au clusters have stimulated considerable interest in finding novel gold clusters exhibiting high stability. We use a dual relationship between gold antifullerene cages with all triangular faces and carbon fullerenes with all degree 3 vertices to construct a large number of Au50 antifullerene cages by omnicapping and dualization procedures. Among these cages we find a new D6d cage as the lowest-energy configuration of Au50. The unusual stability of this new Au50 cage is associated with spherical aromaticity and sp-d hybridization.     

New isomerization operations for fullerene graphs

The problem of topological isomerization operations for fullerenes is considered. Two basic classes of isomerization transformations admissible for fullerene graphs are proposed: rotation and mirror reflection of a chosen part of fullerene graph. Pyracylene and generalized Stone-Wales rearrangements are only the specific cases of extended isomerization operations for the fullerene graphs.     

Resonance energies of fullerenes with 4-membered rings

We report the resonance energies (REs ) of several fullerenes with 4-membered rings and their isomers with only 5- and 6-membered rings computed using the conjugated-circuit model [RE (CC )] and the topological resonance energy (TRE ) model. Both aromaticity indices were normalized by dividing by the size of the considered fullerene [RE (CC )/e and TRE /e]. The results parallel the predictions by Gao and Herndon using the much more advanced SCF –UHF π-electron approach. A good linear correlation is found between the topologically defined indices [RE (CC )/e and TRE /e] and normalized SCF –UHF π-electron energy. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Exohedral Silicon Fullerenes: Si<Subscript>60</Subscript>Pn<Subscript>60</Subscript> and Si<Subscript>80</Subscript>Pn<Subscript>60</Subscript> (Pn = P,As, Sb and Bi)

Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we predict that the icosahedral structures of the silicon fullerenes Si₆₀ and Si₈₀ can be stabilized by 12 exohedral pentagons of group V-A unit Pn₅ (Pn = P, As, Sb or Bi). The 12 pentagons can fully passivate the dangling bonds associated with 12 pentagonal Si₅ rings on the silicon fullerene cages, thereby resulting in stable exohedral silicon fullerenes Si₆₀Pn₆₀ and Si₈₀Pn₆₀. Properties of the eight Si₆₀Pn₆₀ and Si₈₀Pn₆₀ clusters, including harmonic vibrational frequencies, electron affinity (EA), the HOMO–LUMO gap and NICS values, are computed. We find that all eight Si₆₀Pn₆₀ and Si₈₀Pn₆₀ fullerenes possess relatively large HOMO–LUMO gaps, high electron affinities, and that the Si₆₀Pn₆₀ fullerenes exhibit weak aromaticity. Among eight clusters examined, the exohedral fullerene I _h-Si₆₀P₆₀ possesses the largest cohesive energy per atom. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation is performed to demonstrate thermal stability of the hollow cage structure of Si₆₀P₆₀ at the room temperature.     

Polyhydroxy Fullerene-loaded ZIF-8 Nanocomposites for Better Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been received broad attentions as a cancer treatment, and fullerenes are potential photosensitizer owing to their unique electronic structures. However, fullerenes show insolubility in water for the special structure, which will induce aggregation to hinder the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the size of fullerenes is not conducive to reach the tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Herein, a polyhydroxy fullerene-loaded metal-organic framework is designed and prepared to address the mentioned problems encountering with fullerenes as photosensitizers. The nanocomposite PHF@ZIF-8, which is synthesized by a simple one-pot method, displays great biocompatibility and outstanding photodynamic performance under the 448 nm laser irradiation. This work provides strong evidence for PHF@ZIF-8 as a promising photosensitizer candidate.