Organic Superhalogens

Using first‐principles calculations with predictive capability we show that organic molecules having negative electron affinity can be transformed to superhalogens with electron affinities far exceeding that of chlorine, once its core and ligand atoms are suitably replaced. The discovery of organic superhalogens could have significant impact in chemistry, allowing the synthesis of new materials and compounds.     

Superhalogens as Building Blocks of Super Lewis Acids

Lewis acids play an important role in synthetic chemistry. Using first-principle calculations on some newly designed molecules containing boron and organic heterocyclic superhalogen ligands, we show that the acid strength depends on the charge of the central atom as well as on the ligands attached to it. In particular, the strength of the Lewis acid increases with increasing electron withdrawing power of the ligand. With this insight, we highlight the importance of superhalogen-based ligands in the design of strong Lewis acids. Calculated fluoride ion affinity (FIA) values of B[C₂BNO(CN)₃]₃ and B[C₂BNS(CN)₃]₃ show that these are super Lewis acids.     

From Halogen to Superhalogen Behavior of Organic Molecules Created by Functionalizing Benzene

Benzene, the classic organic molecule obeying Hückel′s rule of aromaticity, has negative electron affinity (EA), namely ?1.15 eV. By using density functional theory with hybrid functional for exchange and correlation potential, we show that a series of organic molecules created by changing either the benzene core or the ligands, or both, result in species with EAs that range from 2.15 to 5.37 eV. This shows that ligand substitution is more effective than aromaticity in increasing the EA of organic molecules. The ability to create highly electronegative organic molecules by functionalizing benzene may provide new opportunities for synthesizing organic oxidizing agents with potential new applications.     

Origin of the Electron Transport Properties of Aromatic and Antiaromatic Single Molecule Circuits

Antiaromatic molecules have been predicted to exhibit increased electron transport properties when placed between two nanoelectrodes compared to their aromatic analogues. While some studies have demonstrated this relationship, others have found no substantial increase. We use atomistic simulations to establish a general relationship between the electronic spectra of aromatic, antiaromatic, and quinoidal molecules and illustrate its implications for electron transport. We compare the electronic properties of a series of aromatic-antiaromatic counterparts and show that antiaromaticity effectively p-dopes the aromatic electronic spectra. As a consequence, the conducting properties of aromatic-antiaromatic analogues are closely related. For similar attachment points to the electrodes, an interference feature is expected in the HOMO-LUMO gap of one whenever it is absent in the other one. We demonstrate how the relative conductance of aromatic-antiaromatic pairs can be tuned and even reversed through the choice of chemical linker groups. Our work provides a general picture relating connectivity, (anti)aromaticity, and quantum interference and establishes new design rules for single molecule circuits.     

Tuning the Structure and Properties of N-doped Positively Charged Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

A detailed study of the geometry, aromatic character, electronic and magnetic properties for a series of positively charged N-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed. Magnetic properties of the examined molecules were analyzed by means of the magnetically induced current density calculated using the diamagnetic-zero version of the continuous transformation of origin of current density (CTOCD-DZ) method. The comparative study of the local aromaticity of the studied molecules was performed using several different indices: energy effect (ef), harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) index, six centre delocalization index (SCI) and nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS). The presence of N-atoms in the inner rings was found to cause a planarity distortion in the studied N-doped systems. The geometric changes and charged nature of the studied N-doped systems do not significantly influence the current density and the local aromaticity distribution in comparison with the corresponding parent benzenoid hydrocarbons. The present study demonstrates how quantum chemical calculations can be used for rational design of novel PAHs and for fine tuning of their properties.     

Differential Effects of Nitrogen Substitution in 5- and 6-Membered Aromatic Motifs

The replacement of carbon with nitrogen can affect the aromaticity of organic rings. Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations at the center of the aromatic π-systems reveal that incorporating nitrogen into 5-membered heteroaromatic dienes has only a small influence on aromaticity. In contrast, each nitrogen incorporated into benzene results in a sequential and substantial loss of aromaticity. The contrasting effects of nitrogen substitution in 5-membered dienes and benzene are reflected in their Diels–Alder reactivities as dienes. 1,2-Diazine experiences a 10¹¹-fold increase in reactivity upon nitrogen substitution at the 4- and 5-positions, whereas a 5-membered heteroaromatic diene, furan, experiences a comparatively incidental 10²-fold increase in reactivity upon nitrogen substitution at the 3- and 4-positions.     

Probing the Properties of Polynuclear Superhalogens without Halogen Ligand via ab Initio Calculations: A Case Study on Double‐Bridged [Mg2(CN)5]−1 Anions

An ab initio study of the superhalogen properties of eighteen binuclear double‐bridged [Mg₂(CN)₅]^?1 clusters is reported herein by using various theoretical methods. High‐level CCSD(T) results indicate that all the clusters possess strong superhalogen properties owing to their high vertical electron detachment energies (VDEs), which exceed 6.8 eV (highest: 8.15 eV). The outer valence Green's function method provides inaccurate relative VDE values; hence, this method is not suitable for this kind of polynuclear superhalogens. Both the HF and MP2 results are generally consistent with the CCSD(T) level regarding the relative VDE values and—especially interesting—the average values of the HF and MP2 VDEs are extremely close to the CCSD(T) results. The distributions of the extra electrons of the anions are mainly aggregated into the terminal CN units. These distributions are apparently different from those of previously reported triple‐bridged isomers and may be the reason for the decreased VDE values of the clusters. In addition, comparisons of the VDEs of binuclear and mononuclear superhalogens as well as studies of the thermodynamic stabilities with respect to the detachment of various CN^?1 ligands are also performed. These results confirm that polynuclear structures with pseudohalogen ligands can be considered as probable new superhalogens with enhanced properties.     

A Metal‐Bridged Tricyclic Aromatic System: Synthesis of Osmium Polycyclic Aromatic Complexes

Aromaticity is one of the most important concepts in organic chemistry. A variety of metalla‐aromatic compounds have been recently prepared and in most of those examples, the metal participates only in a monocyclic ring. In contrast, metal‐bridged bicyclic aromatic molecules, in which a metal is shared between two aromatic rings, have been less developed. Herein, we report the first metal‐bridged tricyclic aromatic system, in which the metal center is shared by three aromatic five‐membered rings. These metalla‐aromatics are formed by reaction between osmapentalyne and arene nucleophiles. Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that the three five‐membered rings around the osmium center are aromatic. In addition, the broad absorption bands in the UV/Vis absorption spectra of these novel aromatic systems cover almost the entire visible region. This straightforward synthetic strategy may be extended to the synthesis of other metal‐bridged polycyclic aromatics.     

Making Aromatic Phosphorus Heterocycles More Basic and Nucleophilic: Synthesis,Characterization and Reactivity of the First Phosphinine Selenide

The synthesis and isolation of a phosphinine selenide was achieved for the first time by reacting red selenium with 2,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphinine. The rather large coupling constant of ¹J_P,Se=883 Hz is in line with a P−Se bond of high s-character. The σ-electron donating Me₃Si-substituents significantly increase the energy of the phosphorus lone pair and hence its basicity, making the heterocycle considerably more basic and nucleophilic than the unsubstituted phosphinine C₅H₅P, as confirmed by the calculated gas phase basicities. NBO calculations further reveal that the lone pairs of the selenium atom are stabilized through donor-acceptor interactions with antibonding orbitals of the aromatic ring. The novel phosphinine selenide shows a distinct reactivity towards hexafluoro-2-butyne, Au(I)Cl as well as ⁱPrOH. Our results pave the way for new perspectives in the chemistry of phosphorus in low coordination.     

Potassium Salts of 2,5-Bis(trimethylsilyl)-Germolide: Switching between Aromatic and Non-Aromatic States

The reduction of a 1-mesityl-2,5-bis-trimethylsilylchlorogermole 8 with KC₈ is reported. While the reaction with one equivalent of KC₈ gave the dimer with a Ge−Ge bond 10 , excess of KC₈ (four equivalents) resulted in the formation of the potassium salt of the germole dianion, 11 with reductive cleavage of the Ge−C bond. Careful reduction with two equivalents of KC₈ in THF provided the potassium salt of the planar germolide 5 . Its solid-state structure revealed contact ion pairs with the potassium ion η⁵-coordinated to the germacyclopentadienide ring. The molecular structure of the anion indicates a high degree of cyclic electron delocalization, in agreement with results from DFT calculations. Separation of the ion pair by complexation of the potassium ions with 18-crown-6 triggers the isomerization to germolide 6 , which is characterized by a pyramidal coordination sphere of the germanium atom and a localized diene structure. The isomers 5 and 6 represent a rare example for a structurally manifested switch between a non-aromatic and an aromatic state induced by an external stimulus, in this case the complexation of the counter cation.