Synthesis, structure and physical properties of the first one-dimensional phenalenyl-based neutral radical molecular conductor

We report the preparation, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of a benzyl-substituted spirobiphenalenyl radical. The crystal structure shows that the radical is monomeric in the solid state, with the molecules packed in an unusual one-dimensional (1-D) fashion that we refer to as a pi-step stack. This particular mode of 1-D stacking is forced on the lattice arrangement by the presence of the orthogonal phenalenyl units that were specifically incorporated to prevent the crystallization of low-dimensional structures. The structure shows that this strategy is effective, and neighboring molecules in the stack can only interact via the overlap of one pair of active (spin-bearing) carbon atoms per phenalenyl unit, leading to the pi-step structure in which the remaining four active carbon atoms per phenalenyl unit do not interact with nearest neighbor molecules. The magnetic susceptibility data in the temperature range 4-360 K may be fit to an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg S = 1/2 linear chain model with intrachain spin coupling J = -52.3 cm(-1). Despite the uniform stacking, the material has a room temperature conductivity of 1.4 x 10(-3) S/cm and is best described as a Mott insulator.     

Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials: The Mechanism of Intermolecular Covalent Bonding Interactions of Kekulé Hydrocarbons with Significant Singlet Biradical Character

The ground‐ and excited‐state properties of benzene‐linked bisphenalenyl (B‐LBP), naphthaline‐linked bisphenalenyl (N‐LBP), and anthracene‐linked bisphenalenyl (A‐LBP) Kekulé molecules and their respective one‐dimensional (1D) stacks are investigated using time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) and a range of extensive multidimensional visualization techniques. The results reveal a covalent π–π bonding interaction between overlapping phenalenyl radicals whose bond length is shorter than the van der Waals distance between carbon atoms. Increasing the linker length and/or number of molecules involved in the 1D stack decreases the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and increases the wavelength of the systems. The charge‐transfer mechanism and electron coherence both differ with changes in the linker length and/or number of molecules involved in the 1D stack.     

Third-order nonlinear optical properties of open-shell supermolecular systems composed of acetylene linked phenalenyl radicals

The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, at the molecular level, the static second hyperpolarizabilities, γ, of supermolecular systems composed of phenalenyl and pyrene rings linked by acetylene units are investigated by employing the long-range corrected spin-unrestricted density functional theory, LC-UBLYP, method. The phenalenyl based superethylene, superallyl, and superbutadiene in their lowest spin states have intermediate diradical characters and exhibit larger γ values than the closed-shell pyrene based superpolyene systems. The introduction of a positive charge into the phenalenyl based superallyl radical changes the sign of γ and enhances its amplitude by a factor of 35. Although such sign inversion is also observed in the allyl radical and cation systems in their ground state equilibrium geometries, the relative amplitude of γ is much different, that is, |γ(regular allyl cation)/γ(regular allyl radical)| = 0.61 versus |γ(phenalenyl based superallyl cation)/γ(phenalenyl based superallyl radical)| = 35. In contrast, the model ethylene, allyl radical/cation, and butadiene systems with stretched carbon-carbon bond lengths (2.0 ?), having intermediate diradical characters, exhibit similar γ features to those of the phenalenyl based superpolyene systems. This exemplifies that the size dependence of γ as well as its sign change by introducing a positive charge on the phenalenyl based superpolyene systems originate from their intermediate diradical characters. In addition, the change from the lowest to the highest π-electron spin states significantly reduces the γ amplitudes of the neutral phenalenyl based superpolyene systems. For phenalenyl based superallyl cation, the sign inversion of γ (from negative to positive) is observed upon switching between the singlet and triplet states, which is predicted to be associated with a modification of the balance between the positive and negative contributions to γ. The present study paves the way toward designing a variety of open-shell NLO supermolecular systems composed of phenalenyl radical building blocks.     

Synthesis, structure, and physical properties of a partial π-stacked phenalenyl-based neutral radical molecular conductor

We report the synthesis, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of the 3,7-ethoxy-substituted spirobiphenalenyl-boron neutral radical 22. The radical is distinguished by its low disproportionation energy and one-dimensional structure. We show that our strategy of substitution of OEt group at the active positions of the phenalenyl units changes the crystal packing from its previously known OMe analogue and the solid-state properties are dictated by the partial π-stack structure and the oxygen atoms at the 3,7-positions and can be best rationalized in terms of the resonating valence bond model. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that in the solid state the radical remains paramagnetic but there is significant spin-spin interaction between the molecules. Band structure calculations reflect efficient overlap between the molecules along the π stack and show evidence of interactions between the spin-bearing oxygen atoms. The room temperature electrical conductivity (σ(RT)=2.0×10(-2) S cm(-1)) of 22 is higher than that observed in previously known one-dimensional phenalenyl radicals.     

Control of Exchange Interactions in π Dimers of 6‐Oxophenalenoxyl Neutral π Radicals: Spin‐Density Distributions and Multicentered–Two‐Electron Bonding Governed by Topological Symmetry and Substitution at the 8‐Position

The tri‐tert‐butylphenalenyl (TBPLY) radical exists as a π dimer in the crystal form with perfect overlapping of the singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs) causing strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. 2,5‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐oxophenalenoxyl (6OPO) is a phenalenyl‐based air‐stable neutral π radical with extensive spin delocalization and is a counter analogue of phenalenyl in terms of the topological symmetry of the spin density distribution. X‐ray crystal structure analyses showed that 8‐tert‐butyl‐ and 8‐(p‐XC₆H₄)‐6OPOs (X=I, Br) also form π dimers in the crystalline state. The π‐dimeric structure of 8‐tert‐butyl‐6OPO is seemingly similar to that of TBPLY even though its SOMO–SOMO overlap is small compared with that of TBPLY. The 8‐(p‐XC₆H₄) derivatives form slipped stacking π dimers in which the SOMO–SOMO overlaps are greater than in 8‐tert‐butyl‐6OPO, but still smaller than in TBPLY. The solid‐state electronic spectra of the 6OPO derivatives show much weaker intradimer charge‐transfer bands, and SQUID measurements for 8‐(p‐BrC₆H₄)‐6OPO show a weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction in the π dimer. These results demonstrate that the control of the spin distribution patterns of the phenalenyl skeleton switches the mode of exchange interaction within the phenalenyl‐based π dimer. The formation of the relevant multicenter–two‐electron bonds is discussed.     

Synthesis,characterization, and coordination chemistry of the 2-azaphenalenyl radical

The 2-azaphenalenyl radical 2 has been synthesized and characterized by ESR spectroscopy. Variable-temperature ESR measurements were carried out on both the phenalenyl (1) and the 2-azaphenalenyl (2) radicals. The phenalenyl radical 1 has the known propensity to dimerize at temperatures below 20 degrees C, but unexpectedly less so than originally reported. The first experimental measurement of bond dissociation enthalpy for the dimerization of the phenalenyl radical 1 was obtained in CCl(4) (11.34 +/- 0.11 kcal/mol) and toluene (9.8 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol). The 2-azaphenalenyl radical 2 does not show a propensity to dimerize over the measurable temperature range (220-330 K), but does so in the presence of Cu(hfac)(2) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate). The latter complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Acetylene‐Linked Bisphenalenyl and Metallic‐Like Behavior in Its Charge‐Transfer Complex

We prepared and isolated a phenalenyl‐based neutral hydrocarbon ( 1 b ) with a biradical index of 14 %, as well as its charge‐transfer (CT) complex 1 b –F₄‐TCNQ. The crystal structure and the small HOMO–LUMO gap assessed by electrochemical and optical methods support the singlet‐biradical contribution to the ground state of the neutral 1 b . This biradical character suggests that 1 b has the electronic structure of phenalenyl radicals coupled weakly through an acetylene linker, that is, some independence of the two phenalenyl moieties. The monocationic species 1 b^{. +} was obtained by reaction with the organic electron acceptor F₄‐TCNQ. The cationic species has a small disproportionation energy ΔE for the reaction 2× 1 b^{. +}? 1 b + 1 b ²⁺, which presumably originates from the independence of the phenalenyl moieties. The small ΔE led to a small on‐site Coulombic repulsion U_eff=0.61 eV in the CT complex. Moreover, a very effective orbital overlap of the phenalenyl rings between molecules afforded a relatively large transfer integral t=0.09 eV. The small U_eff/4t ratio (=1.7) resulted in a metallic‐like conductive behavior at around room temperature. Below 280 K, the CT complex showed a transition into a semiconductive state as a result of bond formation between phenalenyl and F₄‐TCNQ carbon atoms.     

CASCI-DFT study of the phenalenyl radical system

We present ab initio complete-active-space configuration interaction (CASCI) density functional theory (DFT) study of the phenalenyl radical systems. Our approach employed in this study is based on the assumption that one-electron per one phenalenyl unit is responsible for magnetic properties of the phenalenyl radical dimeric compounds and that the residual correlation effects can be covered by DFT correlation potential for CASCI[2,2] wavefunction. The effective exchange integrals and lowest-lying excited energies of several phenalenyl dimeric compounds are calculated by CASCI[2,2]-DFT method. The implication of the computational results are discussed in relation with those of spin unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF), hybrid DFT, and pure DFT, and the experimental ones.     

Hybrid density functional theory studies on the magnetic interactions and the weak covalent bonding for the phenalenyl radical dimeric pair

The phenalenyl radical (1) is a prototype of the hydrocarbon radical. Recently, the single crystal of 2,5,8-tri-tert-butylphenalenyl (2) was isolated and showed that the two phenalenyl radicals form a staggered dimeric pair, giving rise to strong antiferromagnetic interactions. The origin of the antiferromagnetic interactions and the nature of the chemical bond for the dimeric pair are challenging issues for chemists. First, spin-polarized hybrid DFT (Becke's half and half LYP (UB2LYP)) and CASSCF calculations were performed for 2 and its simplified model, the staggered-stacking phenalenyl radical dimeric pair (3a), to elucidate the origin of the strong antiferromagnetic coupling and the characteristics of the chemical bond. The calculated results showed that a SOMO-SOMO overlap effect was responsible for the strong antiferromagnetic interactions and weak or intermediate covalent bonding between phenalenyl radicals. The tert-butyl groups introduced at three beta-positions hardly affected the magnetic coupling, mainly causing steric hindrances in the crystalline state. Next, to obtain insight into ferromagnetic stacking, we investigated the stacking effect of staggered (3a)- and eclipsed (3b)-stacking phenalenyl radical dimeric pairs with a change of the SOMO-SOMO overlap on the basis of the extended McConnell model. We found that the stacking mode of the dimeric pair with both a small SOMO-SOMO overlap and a ferromagnetic spin polarization effect provided a ferromagnetic coupling.     

Steric modulations in the reversible dimerizations of phenalenyl radicals via unusually weak carbon-centered pi- and sigma-bonds

[reaction: see text] Spontaneous self-associations of various tricyclic phenalenyl radicals lead reversibly to either pi- or sigma-dimers, depending on alkyl-substitution patterns at the alpha- and beta-positions. Thus, the sterically encumbered all-beta-substituted tri-tert-butylphenalenyl radical (2*) affords only the long-bonded pi-dimer in dichloromethane solutions, under conditions in which the parent phenalenyl radical (1*) leads to only the sigma-dimer. Further encumbrances of 1* with a pair of alpha, beta- or beta, beta- tert-butyl substituents and additional methyl and ethyl groups (as in sterically hindered phenalenyl radicals 3* - 6*) do not inhibit sigma-dimerization. ESR spectroscopy is successfully employed to monitor the formation of both diamagnetic (2-electron) dimers; and UV-vis spectroscopy specifically identifies the pi-dimer by its intense near-IR band. The different temperature-dependent spectral (ESR and UV-vis) behaviors of these phenalenyl radicals allow the quantitative evaluation of the bond enthalpy of 12 +/- 2 kcal mol(-1) for sigma-dimers, in which the unusually low value has been theoretically accounted for by the large loss of phenalenyl (aromatic) pi-resonance energy attendant upon such bond formation.     

Characterizing the dimerizations of phenalenyl radicals by ab initio calculations and spectroscopy: sigma-bond formation versus resonance pi-stabilization

Electronic-structure calculations for the self-association of phenalenyl radical (P*) predict the formation of dimeric species (sigma-P2) in which both moieties are connected by a sigma-bond with rP-P approximately 1.59 A and bond dissociation enthalpy of DeltaH(D) approximately 16 kcal mol(-1). Such an unusually weak sigma-bond is related to the loss of aromatic stabilization energy of approximately 34 kcal mol(-1) per phenalenyl moiety, largely owing to rehybridization. Ab initio calculations also reveal that the corresponding (one-electron) bond between phenalenyl radical and its closed-shell cation in sigma-P2+* is unstable relative to dissociation. Time-dependent DFT computations indicate the absence of any (strongly allowed) electronic transition in the visible region of the absorption spectrum of phenalenyl sigma-dimer. Such theoretical predictions are supported by experimental (ESR and UV-NIR) spectroscopic studies, in which the availability of a series of sterically hindered phenalenyl radicals allows definitive separations of the sigma-dimerization process from interference by pi-dimerization. As such, the thermodynamic parameters (determined from the temperature dependence of the ESR signals) with DeltaH(D) = 14 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS(D) = 52 e.u. can be assigned to the formation of the colorless sigma-dimer. Similar results are obtained for all phenalenyl derivatives (provided their substitution patterns allow sigma-bond formation) to confirm the energetic preference of sigma-dimerization over pi-dimerization.     

Synthesis of Phenalenyl‐Fused Pyrylium Cations: Divergent C−H Activation/Annulation Reaction Sequence of Naphthalene Aldehydes with Alkynes

Described herein is the synthesis of stable oxonium‐doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the rhodium‐catalyzed C−H activation/annulations of naphthalene‐type aldehydes with internal alkynes. This protocol provides four divergent reaction types, including two unexpected annulations with an oxygen transposition process, which lead to diverse types of phenalenyl‐fused pyrylium cations comprising a four‐, five‐, or six‐ring‐fused π‐conjugated core. The annulations exhibit an exquisite regioselectivity and a high tolerance of sensitive functional groups. These PAHs feature intriguing photophysical properties such as full‐color tunable fluorescence emission, high quantum yield, and positively charged core, and can be reduced easily to the phenalenyl radicals.     

Spectroscopy of the free phenalenyl radical

After benzene and naphthalene, the smallest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bearing six-membered rings is the threefold-symmetric phenalenyl radical. Despite the fact that it is so fundamental, its electronic spectroscopy has not been rigorously scrutinized, in spite of growing interest in graphene fragments for molecular electronic applications. Here we used complementary laser spectroscopic techniques to probe the jet-cooled phenalenyl radical in vacuo. Its spectrum reveals the interplay between four electronic states that exhibit Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller vibronic coupling. The coupling mechanism has been elucidated by the application of various ab initio quantum-chemical techniques.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Functionalization of 1‐Boraphenalenes

1‐Boraphenalenes have been synthesized by reaction of BBr₃ with 1‐(aryl‐ethynyl)naphthalenes, 1‐ethynylnaphthalene, and 1‐(pent‐1‐yn‐1‐yl)naphthalene and they can be selectively functionalized at boron or carbon to form bench‐stable products. All of these 1‐boraphenalenes have LUMOs localized on the planar C₁₂B core that are closely comparable in character to isoelectronic phenalenyl cations. In contrast to the comparable LUMOs, the aromatic stabilization of the C₅B ring in 1‐boraphenalenes is dramatically lower than the C₆ rings in phenalenyl cations. This is due to the occupied orbitals of π symmetry being less delocalised in the 1‐boraphenalenes.     

Strong Pancake 2e/12c Bond in π-Stacking Phenalenyl Derivatives Avoiding Bond Conversion

The nature of the 2e/12c bond and its conversion to a carbon-carbon single bond in phenalenyl dimers have prompted a great deal of interests recently. In this work, we theoretically investigated a series of π-stacking phenalenyl derivatives with 2e/12c bonding character by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate origin of this unusual bond conversion. Results show that bond-conversion of the phenalenyl dimer easily occurs at room-temperature both dynamically and thermodynamically. However, bond-conversion of hetero π-stacking adducts, in which the two center carbon atoms were substituted by boron and nitrogen atoms, respectively, is much more difficult, because the 2e/12c bond is stabilized by its charge transfer character. Consequently, the bond-conversion is an endothermic process, albeit with a low conversion barrier. Interestingly, Lewis acid-base interactions would be induced by substitution of the center nitrogen atom to phosphorus atom. The 2e/12c bond is further stabilized by 5.9 kcal mol⁻¹ and its conversion is also thermodynamically unfavorable.     

The Density Functional Theory Account of Interplaying Long-Range Exchange and Dispersion Effects in Supramolecular Assemblies of Aromatic Hydrocarbons with Spin

Aromatic hydrocarbons with fused benzene rings and regular triangular shapes, called n-triangulenes according to the number of rings on one edge, form groundstates with n-1 unpaired spins because of topological reasons. Here, we focus on methodological aspects emerging from the density functional theory (DFT) treatments of dimer models of the n = 2 triangulene (called also phenalenyl), observing that it poses interesting new problems to the issue of long-range corrections. Namely, the interaction comprises simultaneous spincoupling and van der Waals effects, i.e., a technical conjuncture not considered explicitly in the benchmarks calibrating long-range corrections for the DFT account of supramolecular systems. The academic side of considering dimer models for calculations and related analysis is well mirrored in experimental aspects, and synthetic literature revealed many compounds consisting of stacked phenalenyl cores, with intriguing properties, assignable to their long-range spin coupling. Thus, one may speculate that a thorough study assessing the performance of state-of-the-art DFT procedures has relevance for potential applications in spintronics based on organic compounds.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Functionalization of 1‐Boraphenalenes

1‐Boraphenalenes have been synthesized by reaction of BBr₃ with 1‐(aryl‐ethynyl)naphthalenes, 1‐ethynylnaphthalene, and 1‐(pent‐1‐yn‐1‐yl)naphthalene and they can be selectively functionalized at boron or carbon to form bench‐stable products. All of these 1‐boraphenalenes have LUMOs localized on the planar C₁₂B core that are closely comparable in character to isoelectronic phenalenyl cations. In contrast to the comparable LUMOs, the aromatic stabilization of the C₅B ring in 1‐boraphenalenes is dramatically lower than the C₆ rings in phenalenyl cations. This is due to the occupied orbitals of π symmetry being less delocalised in the 1‐boraphenalenes.     

Interpreting geometric preferences in π‐stacking interactions through molecular orbital analysis

The preference of π‐stacking interactions for parallel‐displaced (PD) and twisted (TW) conformations over the fully eclipsed sandwich (S) in small π‐stacked dimers of benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine, 1,3,5‐trifluorobenzene, and hexafluorobenzene are examined in terms of enhancement of the inter‐ring density through mixing of the monomer orbitals (MOs). PD and/or TW conformations are consistent with a non‐zero “stack bond order” (SBO), defined in analogy to the bond order of conventional MO theory, as the difference in the occupation of bonding and antibonding π‐type dimer MOs. In the S conformation, the equal number of bonding and antibonding MOs cancel overall stack bonding character between the monomers for an SBO of zero and an overall repulsive interaction. PD from the S shifts the character of at least one antibonding combination of monomer π‐type MOs with nodes perpendicular to the coordinate for PD to bonding, leading to an attractive nonzero SBO. The inter‐ring density measured through the Wiberg bond index analysis shows an enhancement at the PD conformations consistent with greater interpenetration of the monomer densities. This intuitive bonding model for π‐stacking interactions is complementary to highly accurate calculations of π‐stacking energies and allows a predictive understanding of relative stability using cheaper quantum chemical methods.