A Novel Phenylene Topology: Total Syntheses of Zigzag [4]- and [5]Phenylene

In agreement with theory , the title compounds 1 and 2, which were prepared by CpCo-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of appropriate oligoalkynylbenzenes, display physical properties that are in contrast with those of the corresponding linear isomers, but that are very similar to those of the angular topomers.     

185-nm Photochemistry of Olefins,Strained Hydrocarbons,and Azoalkanes in Solution

The possibility to excite directly at 185 nm chromophores that absorb in the vacuum-UV has stimulated increased activity during the last decade in this field of photochemistry. Whereas photochemical reactions at λ<200 nm have been thoroughly investigated in the gas phase, only recently have intensive studies on the 185-nm photochemistry of organic compounds in solution provided new insights. Despite the high excitation energies, selective photoreactions are promoted in the short-lived singlet excited states (Rydberg photochemistry). In contrast to conventional photochemistry (λ > 220 nm), 185-nm irradiation preferentially results in intramolecular rearrangement, fragmentation, and isomerization reactions. Intermolecular radical couplings and abstractions as well as dimerizations (π, π^*-excitation) compete minimally. Besides the straightforward denitrogenation of photoresistant (“reluctant”) azoalkanes, important applications of the short-wavelength photolysis are also found in technology (photolithography) and medicine (193-nm laser). Broadening the scope of the synthetic potential of the 185-nm photochemistry, which so far has been limited to direct cis/trans isomerizations, presents a challenge for the chemist.     

The cyclopropa[b]naphthalene electron donor: nonplanar 8π 7C cycloheptatrienylidene derivatives

Dipole moment measurements and calculations show the cyclopropa[b]naphthalene moiety to be an electron donor that is stronger than cycloheptatriene. Crystallographic analyses of cycloheptatrienylidenecyclopropa[b]naphthalenes, with and without electron donating substituents in the cycloproparene, have the seven-membered ring resisting imposition of 8π 7C antiaromaticity by bending significantly out of the plane that carries the cycloproparene. The extent of this distortion depends upon the level of electron donation from the cycloproparene.     

Tricarbonylchromium complexes of [5]- and [6]metacyclophane: an experimental and theoretical study

Tricarbonylchromium complexes of [5]- and [6]metacyclophane were prepared and the interaction between the Cr(CO)₃ tripod and the cyclophane fragment was evaluated by both an experimental and a theoretical study. The tricarbonylchromium complex of [5]metacyclophane could only be obtained in solution and was characterized by its ¹H NMR spectrum. The tricarbonylchromium complex of [6]metacyclophane was isolated and an X-ray crystal structure was obtained, which reveals that no significant geometric changes occur upon coordination of the severely distorted aromatic ring. Computations on the tricarbonylchromium complexes of m-xylene, [5]- and [6]metacyclophane furthermore demonstrate that the corresponding complexation energy is remarkably unaffected by the degree of distortion of the aromatic ring. Theoretical analyses of the above model systems as well as complexes of planar and artificially deformed benzene with Cr(CO)₃ show that this is primarily the result of two counteracting effects: (i) a stabilization due to an increased back-donation from the metal center to the benzene and (ii) a destabilization due to the increasing strain in the aromatic ring.     

Distorted Molecules: Perturbation Design,Preparation and Structures

The structure of a molecule can change considerably as its energy and thus its electron distribution within the time-domain of dynamic relaxation varies. Based on comparison of approriate measured data of related compounds and supported by quantum chemical calculations, therefore, charge-perturbed and/or sterically overcrowded molecules can be designed. Their preparation, handling, and structural characterization, frequently under extreme and especially largely aprotic conditions, provides some surprises. New structural principles become evident and old-fashioned ones are confirmed. Thus the contact-ion aggregates that form on ultrasonically supported reduction of unsaturated hydrocarbons with sodium metal partly contain dibenzene sodium sandwiches. Vicinal dimethylamino substituents or isoelectronic isopropyl groups cause steric overcrowding and facilitate oxidation to molecular cations by energetically favorable delocalization of the generated positive charge. Molecules and molecular ions in which an even number of π electrons are distributed over a σ skeleton containing an odd number of centers preferentially form cyanine subunits. This is demonstrated by the novel ethene dication and dianion salts with central C? C single bonds and molecular halves twisted relative to each other. Altogether in two years well over 50 structures have been determined. Much has been learned from them, especially about electron transfer and contact ion-pair formation in aprotic solvents. Nevertheless, we had to realize that answers to many questions, above all “what crystallizes, how, and why”, are still out of reach.     

[5]Paracyclophane: molecular structure and implications for aromaticity

The structure of [5]paracyclophane was optimized at the STO-3G SCF level. The dihedral angle φ, which is zero for benzene, is 22.4°. This value is significantly less than previously reported values obtained via molecular mechanics modeling techniques or MNDO calculations. Although our ab initio structure predicts a larger C-C bond alternation in the benzene ring (C-C bond lengths vary from 1.365 to 1.415 Å), the smaller angle φ indicates that the title compound is more stable and probably possesses more “aromatic character” than previous theoretical studies concluded. A discussion concerning the ambiguity of “aromatic character” is presented.     

A high yielding template-directed synthesis of the first fluorenone-containing [2]catenane

A new crownophane containing both 2,7-dioxyfluorenone and 1,5-dioxynaphthalene moieties bridged by triethylene glycol units has been synthesized and used as a highly efficient template for the preparation of the first fluorenone-containing [2]catenane incorporating a cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) tetracation as a second macrocyclic component.     

1,8‐Bis[(dimethoxy)phosphino]naphthalene: A New Bis‐phosphonite Ligand with a Rigid C3‐Backbone and Unexpected Reaction Chemistry

1,8‐Bis[(diethylamino)phosphino]naphthalene ( 1 ) reacted with dry methanol in dichloromethane to form the new bis‐phosphonite ligand 1,8‐bis[(dimethoxy)phosphino]naphthalene (dmeopn, 2 ). By oxidation of 2 with H₂O₂ · (H₂N)₂C(:O) the corresponding bis‐phosphonate, 1,8‐bis[(dimethoxy)phosphoryl]naphthalene ( 3 ), was obtained quantitatively. Reaction of 3 with phosphorus trichloride unexpectedly furnished a 2.4 : 1 mixture of the bis‐phosphonate anhydrides rac‐ and meso‐1,3‐dimethoxy‐1,3‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐diphospha‐2‐oxaphenalene (rac‐ 4 and meso‐ 4 ) from which rac‐ 4 could be fractionally crystallised. The bis‐phosphonite 2 behaved as a normal bidentate chelate ligand towards Mo⁰ and Pd^II, and furnished the complexes [(dmeopn)Mo(CO)₄] ( 5 ) and [(dmeopn)PdCl₂] ( 6 ) when treated with [(nor)Mo(CO)₄] or [(cod)PdCl₂] (nor = norbornadiene, cod = cycloocta‐1,8‐diene). Attempts to prepare 1,8‐diphosphinonaphthalene ( 7 ) by reducing 2 or 3 with LiAlH₄ or LiAlH₄/TMSCl (1 : 1) (TMSCl = trimethyl chlorosilane) in THF led to inseparable mixtures of phosphorus‐containing products. Compounds 2 – 6 were characterised by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ³¹P‐NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. X‐ray crystal structure analyses were carried out for the bis‐phosphonate anhydride rac‐ 4 and the palladium(II) complex 6 . The geometry of compound rac‐ 4 , in which the phosphorus atoms are connected by an oxygen atom, reveals a relief of strain from the bis‐phosphine 1 , whereas the 1,8‐P,P′‐naphthalenediyl group in 6 is surprisingly distorted; the P atoms are displaced from the naphthalene best plane by –46.7 and 54.5 pm.     

Synthesis and Spectral Studies of Some Novel 2,5,9,10-Tetrahydro [7,8-g]benzo-8-arylpyrazolo[4,5-e][1,5-b]benzoxazonine via Phase Transfer Catalysis

Treatment of 1H-4,5-dihydro-3-aryl-5-(2-hydroxyaryl)pyrazole with o-dibromoxylene under liquid-liquid phase transfer catalytic conditions using tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen sulphate or [18]-crown-6 as PT catalyst, benzene/chloroform as organic phase and 50% aqueous potassium hydroxide as second phase, afforded novel 2,5,9,10-tetrahydro [7,8-g] benzo-8-arylpyrazolo[4,5-e] [1,5-b] benzoxazonines.     

对位环芳烃及其衍生物分子轨道的通过空间和通过键相互作用研究

应用改进的重叠模型多重散射Ｘα自洽场方法对对位环芳烃及其衍生物分子的分子轨道通过空间和通过键的相互作用进行了研究，讨论分子轨道相互作用对分子轨道能级顺序的影响以及不同的连接桥对分子轨道相互作用的影响，进一步应用过渡态理论方法计算对位环芳烃及其衍生物分子的分子轨道电离能，计算结果与实验结果符合较好。     

The Transannular Interaction in [2.2]Paracyclophane: Repulsive or Attractive?

The molecular structure and charge density distribution in the crystal of [2.2]paracyclophane derived from the high‐resolution single crystal X‐ray diffraction data at 100 K is reported together with ab initio calculations of this molecule. Analysis of the atomic, anisotropic displacement parameters in a “rigid‐body” model approximation has revealed that the molecule is ordered in the crystal. Topological analysis of the electron density and potential‐energy density‐distribution functions has demonstrated that there is no “through‐space” interaction between the rings in the molecule. The role of the ethylene bridges and distortion of the aromatic desks on the inter‐ring interaction are discussed.     

Molecular Structure of 1-Substituted Bicyclo[2.2.0]hexanes: A Combined X-Ray Structural and Ab Initio Study

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the p-bromoanilide derivative of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-carboxylic acid (1), N-(4-bromophenyl)-bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-carboxamide (2), is reported. N-(4-Bromophenyl)-bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-carboxamide is synthesized in good yield via the DCC coupling of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-carboxylic acid (1) with p-bromoaniline. Low-temperature X-ray analysis of 2 reveals that the bonds of the bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane skeleton vicinal to the amide group show a slight lengthening due to conjugative interaction with the -accepting amide group. Ab initio calculations at the 6-31G* level of theory on bicyclo[2.2.0]hexane-l-carboxamide, a model for 2, and for other 1-substituted bicyclo[2.2.0]hexanes are also reported.     

Ring-closing metathesis approach to symmetrical and unsymmetrical cycloakeno[c]fused 2,2′-bipyridine-based cyclophanes

Ring-closing metathesis reactions of symmetrical and unsymmetrical cycloalkeno[c]fused 2,2′-bipyridines, substituted at the α and α′ positions of the pyridine rings with sufficiently long alkenyl ethers, afforded 16-membered cyclophanes, possessing variously annulated 2,2′-bipyridine subunits.     

Tetraphenylethene-Embedded Pillar[5]arene and [15]Paracyclophane: Distorted Cavities and Host–Guest Binding Properties

Two aggregation-induced emission (AIE) macrocycles (DMP[5]-TPE and PCP[5]-TPE) were prepared by embedding Tetraphenylethene (TPE) unit into the skeletons of Dimethoxypillar[5]arene (DMP[5]) and [15]Paracyclophane ([15]PCP) at meso position, respectively. In crystal, the PCP[5]-TPE showed a distorted cavity, and the incubation of hexane inside the DMP[5]-TPE cavity caused a distinct change in the molecular conformation compared to PCP[5]-TPE. There was no complexation between PCP[5]-TPE and 1,4-dicyanobutane (DCB). UV absorption experiments showed the distorted cavity of DMP[5]-TPE hindered association with DCB.     

Highly strained tricyclic molecules: tricyclo[p.q.0.0]alkanes and phosphatricyclo[m.1.0.0]alkanes

We theoretically investigate ring strains of tricyclic molecules or tricyclo[p.q.0.0^1,f]alkanes by calculating the strain energies as heat of the homodesmotic reactions. The strain energies are well correlated with the deformation from the tetrahedral configuration of the C₁ atom. We theoretically design less strained tricyclic molecules by replacing some carbon atoms with phosphorus atoms.