The stable radical cation of thiophene annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene and its reaction with triplet oxygen to give a protonated cation of 2-butene-1,4-dione derivative

The first isolable salt of the thiophene radical cation was prepared from the derivative annelated with two bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units, and its reaction with triplet oxygen was found to give a novel cation of a proton-chelating 2-butene-1,4-dione derivative with remarkable stability.     

Formation of a novel arenium ion from the radical cation of a twisted triphenylene fully annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units

[reaction: see text]. Triphenylene 1 was synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of a benzyne annelated with two bicyclo[2.2.2]octene (BCO) units. Theoretical calculations indicated that 1 is constrained to a twisted conformation with a C2 symmetry as a result of steric repulsion between the BCO units. The one-electron oxidation of 1 with SbCl5 gave the corresponding radical cation 1*+, which abstracted a chlorine atom in the medium with the concomitant rearrangement to form novel arenium ion 2+.     

Radical cation and dication of fluorene fully annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units: importance of the quinoidal resonance structure in the cationic fluorene

Fluorene 1 fully annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units was newly synthesized and oxidized to stable cationic species. The structure of radical cation salt 1(.+)SbCl(6)(-) was determined by X-ray crystallography, while the first fluorene dication 1(2+) was characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR at -80 degrees C. Combined with the results of theoretical calculations, an important contribution of a quinoidal structure to the resonance hybrid was demonstrated in both 1(.+) and 1(2+). [structure: see text]     

Radical cation of dibenzothiophene fully annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units: X-ray crystal structure and electronic properties

New dibenzothiophene 2 fully annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units was synthesized and oxidized to stable radical cation salt 2(*+)SbCl(6)(-), whose structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Although the intrinsic electronic structure of 2(*+) is predicted to be close to structure A, an interaction with the counteranion makes structure B contribute significantly. A part of the salt 2(*+)SbCl(6)(-) underwent rearrangement to arenium ion 6(+), whose structure was also clarified by X-ray crystallography.     

Antiaromaticity and reactivity of a planar cyclooctatetraene fully annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane units

A detailed investigation has been made into the antiaromaticity and chemical reactivity of a planar cyclooctatetraene (COT) molecule fully annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane units 2. In spite of its planar 8pi-electronic structure, theoretical calculations have indicated that the antiaromaticity of COT 2 is considerably decreased in comparison with a planar COT 16 with D 4h symmetry. This behavior appears to be related to the wider HOMO-LUMO gap of 2 relative to 16, which is caused by the raised LUMO level as a result of the effective sigma-pi* orbital interaction between the strained bicyclic framework and the COT pi system. The two-electron reduction of 2 required the use of potassium mirror or a combination of lithium/corannulene in highly dried [D8]THF at -78 degrees C under vacuum. In contrast, the [4+2] cycloaddition of 2 with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) proceeded quite smoothly owing to the high-lying HOMO. Reaction of 2 with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid gave all-trans tetraepoxide 23 in the same way as the corresponding benzene derivative 3. While the Simons-Smith-type cyclopropanation of benzene 3 gave tricyclopropanated derivative 21, the reaction of 2 only afforded isomers of dicyclopropanated derivatives 25 and 26. Yet, the reactivity of 2 is higher than the parent COT, which does not show any reactivity under the same conditions. On the basis of homodesmic reactions, it was concluded that release of strain is also an important factor for such relatively high reactivity in the epoxidation and cyclopropanation of bicycloannelated COT 2 as well as benzene 3.     

1,2-dithiin annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene frameworks. One-electron and two-electron oxidations and formation of a novel 2,3,5,6-tetrathiabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene radical cation with remarkable stability owing to a strong transannular interaction

A stable derivative of 1,2-dithiin annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene frameworks 4 was synthesized as red crystals by the reaction of a dilithiated dimer of bicyclo[2.2.2]octene with elemental sulfur in 59% yield. The cyclic voltammetry of 4 in CH(2)Cl(2) at -78 degrees C showed two reversible oxidation waves at E(1/2) +0.18 V and +0.72 V versus Fc/Fc(+), indicating that the radical cation and dication of 4 are stable under these conditions. Upon chemical one-electron oxidation of 4 in a rather low concentration (4.0 x 10(-4) M) with a 1.5 equiv of SbCl(5) in CH(2)Cl(2), a radical cation 4.+ was formed, whose spin distribution was determined by ESR spectroscopy and by the results of theoretical calculations (UB3LYP/6-31G). The electronic absorption spectrum of 4.+ in CH(2)Cl(2) exhibited a maximum absorption at 428 nm (epsilon = 2.3 x 10(3)), which was hypsochromically shifted from that of neutral 4 (469 nm). When the radical cation 4.+ was produced in higher concentration (0.06 M) in CH(2)Cl(2), a disproportionation was found to take place to give a SbCl(6)(-) salt of remarkably stable radical cation 5.+ having a novel 2,3,5,6-tetrathiabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene structure. In the X-ray structure of 5.+SbCl(6)(-), the transannular distance (2.794(3) A) between the sulfur atoms was found to be less than the sum of the van der Waals radii of a sulfur atom (3.70 A), suggesting the existence of a bonding interaction between the two disulfide linkages. The theoretical calculations (UB3LYP/6-31G) suggested that this transannular interaction could be described as the resonance between the limiting structures, each of them having a two-center three-electron bond between two sulfur atoms belonging to two different disulfide linkages: thus, both the spin and positive charge are equally delocalized to the four sulfur atoms, causing a great stabilization of 5.+. On the other hand, the 1,2-dithiin radical cation 4.+ was found to readily react with triplet oxygen with subsequent rearrangement to give the 1,2-dithiolium derivative 6+ having a carboxyl group. Finally, the reaction of 4 with an excess amount of SbF(5) gave the corresponding dication 4(2+), which was found to be a 6pi aromatic system on the basis of the results of NMR measurement and theoretical calculations.     

A naphthalene with unusual bond alternation made by annelation with bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene units: aromaticity and reactivity

An entirely new naphthalene having one six-membered ring, whose bond lengths are equalized, and another ring, whose bond lengths are alternated, has been prepared via one-electron oxidation of a benzene annelated with three bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene units. The structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography and the aromaticity of two benzene rings estimated by theoretical calculations. Although the former six-membered ring has a higher degree of aromaticity, it has been found to be more reactive toward singlet oxygen owing to the greater strain contained in it. These results have been interpreted by means of theoretical calculations.     

Experimental/computational study of the electrochemical oxidation of cyclooctatetraene in protic media. Solvent effects

[reaction: see text] Electrochemical oxidation of cyclooctatetraene (COT) in methanol affords a ring-contracted acetal in high yield. Ring contraction is only a minor process in acetic acid. Ab initio computational methods were applied to understand and explain the effect of solvent. The computations show considerable differences between the thermodynamic and kinetic preferences for ring contraction vs bicyclo[4.2.0] product formation.     

The radical cation of syn-tricyclooctadiene and its rearrangement products

The syn dimer of cyclobutadiene (tricyclo[4.2.0.0(2.5)]octa-3,7-diene, TOD) is subjected to ionization under different conditions and the resulting species are probed by optical and ESR spectroscopy. By means of quantum chemical modelling of the potential energy surfaces and the optical spectra, it is possible to assign the different products that arise spontaneously after ionization or after subsequent warming or illumination of the samples. Based on these findings, we propose a mechanistic scheme which involves a partitioning of the incipient radical cation of TOD between two electronic states. These two states engage in (near) activation-less decay to the more stable valence isomers, cyclooctatetraene (COT*+) and a bis-cyclobutenylium radical cation BCB*+. The latter product undergoes further rearrangement, first to tetracyclo[4.2.0.0(2,4).0(3,5]oct-7-ene (TCO*+) and eventually to bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4,7-triene (BOT*+) which can also be generated photochemically from BCB*+ or TCO*+. The surprising departure of syn-TOD*+ from the least-motion reaction path leading to BOT*+ can be traced to strong vibronic interactions (second-order Jahn-Teller effects) which prevail in both possible ground states of syn-TOD*+. Such effects seem to be more important in determining the intramolecular reactivity of radical cations than orbital or state symmetry rules.     

Electronic and Steric Structure of Thermal Isomerization Products of 1-Methyltricyclo[4.1.0.02,7]heptane Radical Cation

Distributions of the positive charge and unpaired electron in stable conformers of the thermal isomerization products of 1-methyltricyclo[4.1.0.02,7]heptane radical cation, having bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane, bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane, bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene, and 1,3-cycloheptadiene skeletons, were estimated by the PM3 semiempirical method.     

Mass spectral evidence of alkali metal insertion into C60-cyclooctatetraene complexes: M+@C60-C8H 8 *3-

C60 can be reduced to its trianion anion radical in hexamethylphosphoramide with potassium or cesium metal. The addition of water to these solutions, followed by toluene extraction, yields materials that exhibit the expected mass spectral peaks for the Birch reduction products of C 60 *3- (C60Hn). However, when cyclooctatetraene (COT) is present in the solution, the mass spectral signature for the Birch reduction products of M+@C60-COT*3- and C60-COT*3- are also found. The trianion radical of C60 reacts with COT in HMPA to yield a [2 + 2] cycloaddition product, and subsequent ring opening provides a passageway for the Cs+ or K+ counterion to the interior of the fullerene. Analogous results are not observed when the smaller metals (Na and Li) are used as the reducing agents. Only the larger alkali metal cations form tight ion pairs with the trianion of C60-COT. The tight ion association is necessary to bring the cation into a sufficiently close proximity to the trianion for the cation to proceed to the interior.     

Trishomocyclopropenylium Cations. Structure, Stability, Magnetic Properties, and Rearrangement Possibilities

Potentially trishomoaromatic cations possessing the 6-X-bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-yl (X = CH(2), BH, NH, O) or bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl unit have been investigated at the Hartree-Fock, second-order, third-order, and fourth-order (single, double, quadruple excitations) M?ller-Plesset perturbation level employing the 6-31G(d) basis set. IGLO/6-31G(d) chemical shift calculations have been carried out at optimized geometries. Through-space interactions between the symmetric Walsh orbital of the three-membered ring and ppi(C3) orbital have been analyzed as a function of orbital energies and orbital overlap. The best indicators for trishomoaromaticity are NMR chemical shifts and magnetic susceptibility. There is a simple relationship between the conformation of the trishomocyclopropenylium cation, its charge distribution, and delta(13)C3, which can be used to determine the conformation or the C1C3 interaction distance from NMR measurements. Trishomocyclopropylium cations investigated can rearrange to an envelope form of higher energy where the height of the inversion barrier and the chair-envelope energy difference are a measure for the homoaromatic stabilization energy. The bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-yl cation in its envelope form can rearrange with a barrier of just 1 kcal/mol to the bicyclo[3.1.0]hept-2-yl cation. In the case of the bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl cation, there exists just the envelope form, which can rearrange to a ethano-bridged center-protonated spirocyclopentyl cation. The later cation should be an interesting target of chemical synthesis since it contains a pentacoordinated carbon atom and possesses unusual properties.     

Steric Control in the π‐Dimerization of Oligothiophene Radical Cations Annelated with Bicyclo[2.2.2]octene Units

A Two series of oligothiophenes 2 (nT) (n=4,5), annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene (BCO) units at both ends, and quaterthiophenes 3 a – c , annelated with various numbers of BCO units at different positions, were newly synthesized to investigate the driving forces of π‐dimerization and the structure–property relationships of the π‐dimers of oligothiophene radical cations. Their radical‐cation salts were prepared through chemical one‐electron oxidation by using nitrosonium hexafluoroantimonate. From variable‐temperature electron spin resonance and electronic absorption measurements, the π‐dimerization capability was found to vary among the members of the 2 (nT)^{+ .} SbF₆^? series and 3 ^{+ .} SbF₆^? series of compounds. To examine these results, density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the M06‐2X/6‐31G(d) level were conducted for the π‐dimers. This level of theory was found to successfully reproduce the previously reported X‐ray structure of ( 2 (3T))₂²⁺ having a bent π‐dimer structure with cis–cis conformations. The absorption bands obtained by time‐dependent DFT calculations for the π‐dimers were in reasonable agreement with the experimental spectra. The attractive and repulsive forces for the π‐dimerization were divided into four factors: 1) SOMO–SOMO interactions, 2) van der Waals forces, 3) solvation, and 4) Coulomb repulsion, and the effects of each factor on the structural differences and chain‐length dependence are discussed in detail.     

1,3-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanediyl: the shortest rigid linear connector of phenylated photochromic units and a 1,5-dimethoxy-9,10-di(phenylethynyl)anthracene fluorophore

An excess of bis-1,3-(4-iodophenyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, prepared in 63 % yield by iodination of 1,3-diphenylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, was selectively mono-coupled with 9-ethynyl-1,5-dimethoxy-10-phenylethynylanthracene (26), and subsequently with the zinc derivatives of 1-(2-methyl/methoxy-4-methyl-5-phenylthiophen-3-yl)-2-(2-methyl/methoxy-4-methylthiophen-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentenes (38-H-41-H). Regioselective synthesis of the 2-unsubstituted thiophenes 38-H-41-H required intermediate preparation of 2-trimethylsilyl-3,5-dimethyl-4-bromothiophene (37) or 2-trimethylsilyl-5-methoxy-3-methyl-4-bromothiophene (40). Protection of the alpha-position of the thiophene ring with a 2-trimethylsilyl group blocks the rearrangement of the 4-lithio derivatives into the corresponding 2-lithiated thiophenes. With the bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane fragment linking the photochromic units 1-3 and 1,5-dimethoxy-9,10-di(phenylethynyl)anthracene as a fluorescent part, quantitative resonance energy transfer between the excited state of the fluorophore (donor) and the closed form of the photochromic units 1-3 (acceptors) was observed. The closed forms of the methoxy-substituted photochromic units 2 and 3 are less resistant to UV light (313 nm) than the closed form of 1.     

二氮双环阳离子游离基中N,N'-三电子键

用从头算HF/3-21+G^*优化了二氮双环[m,n,l]游离基阳离子(m,n,l≥2～5)。分子[4,4,4]和[2,2,2]^+.,[3,3,3]^+.,[4,4,4]^+.游离基阳离子的优势构型有D3对称性,而其它游离基阳离子的优势构型为非对称性。通过比较这些阳离子几何构型,HOMO和NHOMO(即NextHOMO和HOMO-1),和由MNDO计算确定的原子对作用能,表明当二氮双环游离基阳离子的桥链(CH2)n的n≥3时,桥头氮原子通过空间相互用用形成了一个弱的N,N'-三电子σ键。形成的三电子键强度不随环的扩大而增强。而三电子键强度被两个因素影响：一个是桥头氮原子间的p轨道重叠的取向;另一个是它们相应p轨道成分。     

From hydrocarbons to polyols. Cyclooctatetraene to novel cyclooctitols

Cyclooctatetraene (COT) derived bicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4,7-trien-9-one has been recognized as a cyclooctane carbasugar equivalent and elaborated to a range of cyclooctane polyols (cyclooctitols) through a flexible strategy with moderate regio- and stereo-control.     

Degenerate [2]rotaxanes with electrostatic barriers

A synthetic approach to the preparation of [2]rotaxanes (1-5·6PF(6)) incorporating bispyridinium derivatives and two 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) units situated in the rod portions of their dumbbell components that are encircled by a single cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) tetracationic (CBPQT(4+)) ring has been developed. Since the π-electron-deficient bispyridinium units are introduced into the dumbbell components of the [2]rotaxanes 1-5·6PF(6), there are Coulombic charge-charge repulsions between these dicationic units and the CBPQT(4+) ring in the [2]rotaxanes. Thus, the CBPQT(4+) rings in the degenerate [2]rotaxanes exhibit slow shuttling between two DNP recognition sites on the (1)H NMR time-scale on account of the electrostatic barrier posed by the bispyridinium units, as demonstrated by variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Electrochemical experiments carried out on the [2]rotaxanes 1·6PF(6) and 2·6PF(6) indicate that the one-electron reduced bipyridinium radical cation in the dumbbell components of the [2]rotaxanes serves as an additional recognition site for the two-electron reduced CBPQT(2(˙+)) diradical cationic ring. Under appropriate conditions, the ring components in the degenerate rotaxanes 1·6PF(6) and 2·6PF(6) can shuttle along the recognition sites--two DNP units and one-electron reduced bipyridinium radical cation--under redox control.     

The tropylium ion annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hex-2-ene: Stabilization due to σ-π conjugation versus destabilization due to mills-nixon type π-bond localization

In the tropylium ion annelated with bicyclo[2.1.1]hex-2-ene, stabilization due to the σ-π conjugation of tropylium p-orbitals with the highly strained bicyclic σ-framework was shown to be more effective than destabilization due to the Mills-Nixon type π-bond localization.     

The reaction of 1,2,2-trimethylbicyclo[1.1.0]butane with excited state 1-cyanonaphthalene

1,2,2-Trimethylbicyclo[1.1.0]butane reacted with excited state 1-cyanonaphthalene at a diffusion-controlled rate in methanol to produce cis- and trans-1-methoxy-2,2,3-trimethylcyclobutane and 1-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl-3-methylenecyclobutane as simple methanol adducts of the starting bicy-clo[l.1.0]butane. In addition, 1:1:1 adducts of the starting bicyclo[1.1.0]butane, 1 -cyanonaphthalene, and methanol were isolated and characterized. Products were explained on the basis of a single electron transfer process from 1,2,2-trimethylbicyclo[1.1.0]butane to excited state 1-cyanonaphthalene to initially produce the cation radical of the bicyclo[1.1.0]butane and the anion radical of 1-cyanonaphthalene.     

The bromination of bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-2,6-diene with N-bromosuccinimide

The bromination of bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-2,6-diene (3) by NBS does not follow the familiar free-radical course but proceeds through the cyclopropylcarbinyl cation 7. 7 can be trapped by addition of small amounts of methanol. The bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-2,6-dien-4-yl radical is involved in the reduction of exo-6-bromotricyclo [3.2.1.0^2,7]oct-3-ene by tributyltin hydride.