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.     

Unusually long, multicenter, cation(δ+)···anion(δ-) bonding observed for several polymorphs of [TTF][TCNE

The α, β, and δ polymorphs of [TTF][TCNE] (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene; TCNE=tetracyanoethylene) exhibit a new type of long, multicenter bonding between the [TTF]^δ+ and [TCNE]^δ? moieties, demonstrating the existence of long, hetero‐multicenter bonding with a cationic^δ+???anionic^δ? zwitterionic‐like structure. These diamagnetic π‐[TTF]^δ+[TCNE]^δ? heterodimers exhibit a transfer of about 0.5 e^? from the TTF to the TCNE fragments, as observed from experimental studies, in accord with theoretical predictions, that is, [TTF^δ+???TCNE^δ?] (δ?0.5). They have several interfragment distances <3.4 Å, and a computed interaction energy of ?21.2 kcal mol^?1, which is typical of long, multicenter bonds. The lower stability of [TTF]^δ+[TCNE]^δ? with respect to typical ionic bonds is due, in part, to the partial electron transfer that reduces the electrostatic bonding component. This reduced electrostatic interaction, and the large interfragment dispersion stabilize the long, heterocationic/anionic multicenter interaction, which in [TTF^δ+???TCNE^δ?] always involves two electrons, but have ten, eight, and eight bond critical points (bcps) involving C? C, N? S, and sometimes C? S and C? N components for the α, β, and δ polymorphs, respectively. In contrast, γ‐[TTF][TCNE] possesses [TTF]₂²⁺ and [TCNE]₂^2? dimers, each with long, homo‐multicenter 2e^?/12c (c=center, 2 C+4 S) [TTF]₂²⁺ cationic⁺???cationic⁺ bonds, as well as long, homo‐multicenter 2e^?/4c [TCNE]₂^2? anionic^????anionic^? bonding. The MO diagrams for the α, β, and δ polymorphs have all of the features found for conventional covalent C? C bonds, and for all of the previously studied multicenter long bonds, for example, π‐[TTF]₂²⁺ and π‐[TCNE]₂^2?. The HOMOs for α‐, β‐, and δ‐[TTF][TCNE] have 2c C? S and 3c C? C? C orbital‐overlap contributions between the [TTF]^δ+? and [TCNE]^δ? moieties; these are the shortest intra [TTF???TCNE] separations. Thus, from an orbital‐overlap perspective, the bonding has 2c and 3c components residing over one S and four C atoms.     

A New Conformation With an Extraordinarily Long, 3.04 Å Two‐Electron,Six‐Center Bond Observed for the π‐[TCNE]22− Dimer in [NMe4]2[TCNE]2 (TCNE=Tetracyanoethylene)

[NMe₄]₂[TCNE]₂ (TCNE=tetracyanoethenide) formed from the reaction of TCNE and (NMe₄)CN in MeCN has ν_CN IR absorptions at 2195, 2191, 2172, and 2156 cm^?1 and a ν_CC absorption at 1383 cm^?1 that are characteristic of reduced TCNE. The TCNEs have an average central C?C distance of 1.423 Å that is also characteristic of reduced TCNE. The reduced TCNE forms a previously unknown non‐eclipsed, centrosymmetric π‐[TCNE]₂^2? dimer with nominal C₂ symmetry, 12 sub van der Waals interatomic contacts <3.3 Å, a central intradimer separation of 3.039(3) Å, and comparable intradimer C???N distances of 3.050(3) and 2.984(3) Å. The two pairs of central C???C atoms form a ?C?C???C?C of 112.6° that is substantially greater than the 0° observed for the eclipsed D_2h π‐[TCNE]₂^2? dimer possessing a two‐electron, four‐center (2e^?/4c) bond with two C???C components from a molecular orbital (MO) analysis. A MO study combining CAS(2,2)/MRMP2/cc‐pVTZ and atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) calculations indicates that the non‐eclipsed, C₂ π‐[TCNE]₂^2? dimer exhibits a new type of a long, intradimer bond involving one strong C???C and two weak C???N components, that is, a 2e^?/6c bond. The C₂ π‐[TCNE]₂^2? conformer has a singlet, diamagnetic ground state with a thermally populated triplet excited state with J/k_B=1000 K (700 cm^?1; 86.8 meV; 2.00 kcal mol^?1; H=?2 JS_a?S_b); at the CAS(2,2)/MBMP2 level the triplet is computed to be 9.0 kcal mol^?1 higher in energy than the closed‐shell singlet ground state. The results from CAS(2,2)/NEVPT2/cc‐pVTZ calculations indicate that the C₂ and D_2h conformers have two different local metastable minima with the C₂ conformer being 1.3 kcal mol^?1 less stable. The different natures of the C₂ and D_2h conformers are also noted from the results of valence bond (VB) qualitative diagram that shows a 10e^?/6c bond with one C???C and two C???N bonding components for the C₂ conformer as compared to the 6e^?/4c bond for the D_2h conformer with two C???C bonding components.     

The role of π electrons in the formation of benzene-containing lithium-bonded complexes

The intermolecular interactions in C₆H₆???LiX (X=OH, NH₂, F, Cl, Br, NC, CN) complexes are investigated by using second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations and quantum theory of “atoms in molecules” (QTAIM) studies, and the role of π electrons is studied in the formation of these benzene‐containing lithium‐bonded complexes. The molecular electrostatic potentials of benzene and LiX determine the geometries of the lithium‐bonded complexes. The electron densities at the lithium bond critical points in the πC₆H₆???LiX complexes are obviously stronger than those in the σC₆H₆???LiX complexes, which indicates that the intermolecular interactions in the C₆H₆???LiX complexes are mainly attributable to π‐type interaction. The topological and energy properties at the lithium bond critical points in both the C₆H₆???LiX and πC₆H₆???LiX complexes are linear with the interaction energies, thereby showing the crucial role of the π electrons in the formation of these complexes. Electron localization function (ELF) analysis indicates that the formation of the lithium bonds leads to the reduction of the ELF π‐electron density and volume, and the reduction of the π‐electron volume is linear with the interaction energies with the correction coefficient 0.9949.     

A Dicyanomethylene‐Substituted Triangulene: Effects of Molecular‐Symmetry Reduction and Electron‐Accepting Substituents on a Fused Polycyclic Neutral π‐Radical System

A triangulene‐based C₂‐symmetric 33 π‐conjugated stable neutral π‐radical, 2^. , which possesses two dicyanomethylene groups and one oxo group, has been designed, synthesized, and isolated as an analogue of tris(dicyanomethylene) derivative 1^. and trioxo derivative TOT^. with C₃ symmetry. Effects of molecular‐symmetry reduction and electron‐accepting substituents on this fused polycyclic neutral π‐radical system were studied in terms of their molecular structure, electronic‐spin structure, and electrochemical and optical properties with the help of theoretical calculations. Interestingly, this system ( 2^. ) has a four‐stage redox ability, like TOT^. , as well as low frontier energy levels and a small SOMO–LUMO gap, similar to 1^. , in spite of the loss of the degenerate LUMOs in symmetry‐lowered 2^. , which is associated with the attachment of the weaker electron‐accepting oxo group instead of the dicyanomethylene group in 1^. . These prominent results are attributable to the structural and electronic properties in the triangulene‐based highly delocalized fused polycyclic neutral π‐radical system.     

[Fe(H2O)5(NO)]2+, the “Brown‐Ring” Chromophore

Although the “brown‐ring” ion, [Fe(H₂O)₅(NO)]²⁺ ( 1 ), has been a research target for more than a century, this poorly stable species had never been isolated. We now report on the synthesis of crystals of a salt of 1 which allowed us to tackle the unique bonding situation on an experimental basis. As a result of the bonding analysis, two stretched, spin‐polarised π‐interactions provide the Fe–NO binding—and challenge the concept of “oxidation state”.     

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.     

Ligand Site Preference in Iron Tetracarbonyl Complexes Fe(CO)4L (L = CO,CS, N2, NO+, CN–, NC–, η2‐C2H4, η2‐C2H2, CCH2, CH2, CF2, NH3, NF3, PH3, PF3, η2‐H2)

Equilibrium geometries, bond dissociation energies and relative energies of axial and equatorial iron tetracarbonyl complexes of the general type Fe(CO)₄L (L = CO, CS, N2, NO⁺, CN^–, NC^–, η²‐C₂H₄, η²‐C₂H₂, CCH₂, CH₂, CF₂, NH₃, NF₃, PH₃, PF₃, η²‐H₂) are calculated in order to investigate whether or not the ligand site preference of these ligands correlates with the ratio of their σ‐donor/π‐acceptor capabilities. Using density functional theory and effective‐core potentials with a valence basis set of DZP quality for iron and a 6‐31G(d) all‐electron basis set for the other elements gives theoretically predicted structural parameters that are in very good agreement with previous results and available experimental data. Improved estimates for the (CO)₄Fe–L bond dissociation energies (D₀) are obtained using the CCSD(T)/II//B3LYP/II combination of theoretical methods. The strongest Fe–L bonds are found for complexes involving NO⁺, CN^–, CH₂ and CCH₂ with bond dissociation energies of 105.1, 96.5, 87.4 and 83.8 kcal mol^–1, respectively. These values decrease to 78.6, 64.3 and 64.2 kcal mol^–1, respectively, for NC^–, CF₂ and CS. The Fe(CO)₄L complexes with L = CO, η²‐C₂H₄, η²‐C₂H₂, NH₃, PH₃ and PF₃ have even smaller bond dissociation energies ranging from 45.2 to 37.3 kcal mol^–1. Finally, the smallest bond dissociation energies of 23.5, 22.9 and 18.5 kcal mol^–1, respectively are found for the ligands NF₃, N₂ and η²‐H₂. A detailed examination of the (CO)₄Fe–L bond in terms of a semi‐quantitative Dewar‐Chatt‐Duncanson (DCD) model is presented on the basis of the CDA and NBO approach. The comparison of the relative energies between axial and equatorial isomers of the various Fe(CO)₄L complexes with the σ‐donor/π‐acceptor ratio of their respective ligands L thus does not generally support the classical picture of π‐accepting ligands preferring equatorial coordination sites and σ‐donors tending to coordinate in axial positions. In particular, this is shown by iron tetracarbonyl complexes with L = η²‐C₂H₂, η²‐C₂H₄, η²‐H₂. Although these ligands are predicted by the CDA to be stronger σ‐donors than π‐acceptors, the equatorial isomers of these complexes are more stable than their axial pendants.     

A Valence Bond Study of the Low‐Lying States of the NF Molecule

The electronic structures of the three lowest‐lying states of NF are investigated by means of modern valence bond (VB) methods such as the VB self‐consistent field (VBSCF), breathing orbital VB (BOVB), and VB configuration interaction (VBCI) methods. The wave functions for the three states are expressed in terms of 9–12 VB structures, which can be further condensed into three or four classical Lewis structures, whose weights are quantitatively estimated. Despite the compactness of the wave functions, the BOVB and VBCI methods reproduce the spectroscopic properties and dipole moments of the three states well, in good agreement with previous computational studies and experimental values. By analogy to the isoelectronic O₂ molecule, the ground state ³Σ^? possesses both a σ bond and 3‐electron π bonds. However, here the polar σ bond contributes the most to the overall bonding. It is augmented by a fractional (19 %) contribution of three‐electron π bonding that arises from π charge transfer from fluorine to nitrogen. In the singlet ¹Δ and ¹Σ⁺ excited states the π‐bonding component is classically covalent, and it contributes 28 % and 37 % to the overall bonding picture for the two states, respectively. The resonance energies are calculated and reveal that π bonding contributes at least 24, 35 and 42 kcal mol^?1 to the total bonding energies of the ³Σ^?, ¹Δ and ¹Σ⁺ states, respectively. Some unusual properties of the NF molecule, like the equilibrium distance shortening and bonding energy increasing upon excitation, the counterintuitive values of the dipole moments and the reversal of the dipole moments as the bond is stretched, are interpreted in the light of the simple valence bond picture. The overall polarity of the molecule is very small in the ground state, and is opposite to the relative electronegativity of N vs F in the singlet excited states. The values of the dipole moments in the three states are quantitatively accounted for by the calculated weights of the VB structures.     

Pancake Bond Orders of a Series of π‐Stacked Triangulene Radicals

Conjugated radicals are capable of forming π‐stacking “pancake‐bonded” dimers. Members of the family of triangulene hydrocarbons, non‐Kekulé neutral multiradicals, can utilize more than one singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) to form multiple pancake‐bonded dimers with formal bond orders of up to five. The resulting dimer binding energies can be quite high and the intermolecular contacts rather small compared to the respective van der Waals values. The preferred configurations are driven by the large stabilization energy of overlapping SOMOs.     

A Valence Bond Model for Electron‐Rich Hypervalent Species: Application to SFn (n=1, 2, 4), PF5, and ClF3

Some typical hypervalent molecules, SF₄, PF₅, and ClF₃, as well as precursors SF (⁴Σ^? state) and SF₂ (³B₁ state), are studied by means of the breathing‐orbital valence bond (BOVB) method, chosen for its capability of combining compactness with accuracy of energetics. A unique feature of this study is that for the first time, the method used to gain insight into the bonding modes is the same as that used to calculate the bonding energies, so as to guarantee that the qualitative picture obtained captures the essential physics of the bonding system. The ⁴Σ^? state of SF is shown to be bonded by a three‐electron σ bond assisted by strong π back‐donation of dynamic nature. The linear ³B₁ state of SF₂, as well as the ground states of SF₄, PF₅ and ClF₃, are described in terms of four VB structures that all have significant weights in the range 0.17–0.31, with exceptionally large resonance energies arising from their mixing. It is concluded that the bonding mode of these hypervalent species and isoelectronic ones complies with Coulson’s version of the Rundle–Pimentel model, but assisted by charge‐shift bonding. The conditions for hypervalence to occur are stated.     

Pancake Bonding: An Unusual Pi-Stacking Interaction

A category of parallel π-stacking interaction, termed pancake bonding, is surveyed. The main characteristics are: the interaction occurs among radicals with highly delocalized π-electrons in their singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs), the contact distances in the π-stacking direction are shorter than the typical van der Waals distances, and the stabilization obtained by the bonding combination of the SOMO orbitals leads to direct atom-to-atom overlap with strong orientational preferences. These atypical intermolecular interactions contain a component of electron sharing between the radicals that can be viewed as covalent-like. Pancake bonded dimers characteristically have low-lying singlet and triplet states and show characteristic interlayer vibrational modes. Pancake bonded aggregates serve as molecular components in many conducting and other functional organic materials. The role of van der Waals (vdW) interactions in pancake bonded dimers, chains, and other aggregates is different from closed shell vdW aggregates: here the Pauli repulsions reduce the attractive dispersion interaction significantly. Fluxionality between π- and σ-bonded aggregates often occur in the context of pancake bonding. Both experimental and computational aspects are reviewed.     

The ability of Ex2Box4+ to interact with guests containing π‐electron‐rich and π‐electron‐poor moieties

The ability of Ex 2 Box⁴⁺ as a host, able to trap guests containing both π‐electron rich (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons‐PAHs) and π‐electron poor (quinoid‐ and nitro‐PAHs) moieties was investigated to shed light on the main factors that control the host–guest (HG) interaction. The nature of the HG interactions was elucidated by energy decomposition (EDA‐NOCV), noncovalent interaction (NCI), and magnetic response analyses. EDA‐NOCV reveals that dispersion contributions are the most significant to sustain the HG interaction, while electrostatic and orbital contributions are very tiny. In fact, no significant covalent character in the HG interactions was observed. The obtained results point strictly to NCIs, modulated by dispersion contributions. Regardless of whether the guests contain π‐electron‐rich or π‐electron‐poor moieties, and no significant charge‐transfer was observed. All in all, HG interactions between guests 3‐14 and host 2 are predominantly modulated by π‐π stacking.     

Hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions in the cocrystal salt [Fe(bpe)2(H2O)4](TCEP)2·2(bpe) [bpe is trans‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene and TCEP is 1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide]

The cocrystal salt tetraaquabis[trans‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene‐κN]iron(II) bis(1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide)–trans‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene (1/2), [Fe(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)₂(H₂O)₄](C₉H₅N₄O)₂·2C₁₂H₁₀N₂, is a rare example of a mononuclear Fe^II compound with trans‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethane (bpe) ligands. The complex cation resides on a crystallographically imposed inversion center and exhibits a tetragonally distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Both the symmetry‐independent bpe ligand and the cocrystallized bpe molecule are essentially planar. The 1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide counter‐ion is nonplanar and the bond lengths are consistant with significant electron delocalization. The extended structure exhibits an extensive O—H…N hydrogen‐bonding network with layers of complex cations joined by the cocrystallized bpe. Both the coordinated and the cocrystallized bpe are involved in π–π interactions. Hirshfeld and fingerprint plots reveal the important intermolecular interactions. Density functional theory was used to estimate the strengths of the hydrogen‐bonding and π–π interactions, and suggest that the O—H…N hydrogen bonds enhance the strength of the π‐interactions by increasing the polarization of the pyridine rings.     

Hetero‐π‐Dimers of Phenalenyls

Homogeneous π‐stacking dimers of phenalenyl and its derivatives have gained tremendous interest as components of conducting organic materials. For the first time, we investigate theoretically heterogeneous phenalenyl π‐dimers. Key parameters, including charge transfer, interaction energy, singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) energy, and spin density, are studied with the help of density functional theory. We find that the amount of charge transfer between the two monomers in phenalenyl π‐dimers correlates with the difference in the SOMO energies of the constituent monomers, where the SOMO energy plays the role of a monomer (group) electronegativity index. Charge transfer plays an important role in stabilizing the heterodimers while maintaining a significant diradicaloid character. For five heterodimers the interaction energy is found to be as large as ?30 to ?50 kcal mol^?1. The presented correlation between the monomer SOMO energy levels and their stability can provide a simple predictive tool to design new highly stable π‐stacking heterodimers.     

Maximum Spin Polarization in Chromium Dimer Cations as Demonstrated by X‐ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy

X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy has been used to characterize the electronic structure and magnetic moment of Cr₂⁺. Our results indicate that the removal of a single electron from the 4sσ_g bonding orbital of Cr₂ drastically changes the preferred coupling of the 3d electronic spins. While the neutral molecule has a zero‐spin ground state with a very short bond length, the molecular cation exhibits a ferromagnetically coupled ground state with the highest possible spin of S=11/2, and almost twice the bond length of the neutral molecule. This spin configuration can be interpreted as a result of indirect exchange coupling between the 3d electrons of the two atoms that is mediated by the single 4s electron through a strong intraatomic 3d‐4s exchange interaction. Our finding allows an estimate of the relative energies of two states that are often discussed as ground‐state candidates, the ferromagnetically coupled ¹²Σ and the low‐spin ²Σ state.     

Density Functional Theory Study on Hydrogen Bonding Interaction of Catechin-(H2O)n

Density functional theory B3LYP method with 6‐31G* basis set has been used to optimize the geometries of the catechin, water and catechin‐(H₂O)_n complexes. The vibrational frequencies have been studied at the same level to analyze these complexes. Six and eleven stable structures for the catechin‐H₂O and catechin‐(H₂O)₂ have been found, respectively. Theories of atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) have been utilized to investigate the hydrogen bonds involved in all the systems. The interaction energies of all the complexes corrected by basis set superposition error, are from ?13.27 to ?83.56 kJ/mol. All calculations also indicate that there are strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions in catechin‐water complexes. The strong hydrogen‐bonding contributes to the interaction energies dominantly. The O–H stretching motions in all the complexes are red‐shifted relative to that of the monomer.     

Topology of the electron density of multicenter bonding in the anion TCNE2 2−

For TCNE₂ ^2? the role of bond paths in the electron density is emphasized to show that the anion contains multicenter bonding interactions across 4 central carbon atoms conferring inherent stability to it, consistent with experimental, and theoretical studies of other authors.