Conjugation paths in monosubstituted 1,2- and 2,3-naphthoquinones

Optimization of monosubstituted (X = NO, NO(2), CN, CHO, Me, OMe, OH, NH(2), NHMe, and N(Me)(2)) derivatives of 1,2- and 2,3-naphthoquinone by use of B3LYP with the 6-311+G** basis set applying the GAUSSIAN03 program allowed us to analyze the character of interactions between the substituents and the carbonyl groups. It is shown that only one of two carbonyl groups exhibited substantial substituent effect evidenced by regression of the CO bond length and delocalization index, DI(CO) on the Hammett substituent constants, σ(p), with a very high correlation coefficient, whereas the other one did not depend in any substantial way on σ(p). Dependences of conjugation path built up of bonds between substituent and oxygen atoms of carbonyl groups on σ(p), give more acceptable correlations if the number of bonds in the path is even than in cases when they are odd.     

Bond length interrelations in benzenoid hydrocarbons and their heteroatom analogues

The geometries of some benzenoid hydrocarbons and their analogues with XY (XY = BB, BC, BN, CN, and NN) bonds have been determined at the B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗ level of theory. It is shown that the lengths of peripheral XY bonds are strictly correlated with the lengths of their CC counterparts in native hydrocarbons. No correlation of this type is observed for the XY bonds located inside the rings.     

Relation between pi-electron localization/delocalization and H-bond strength in derivatives of omicron-hydroxy-schiff bases

Detailed investigations of electronic effects taking place within the molecular system of o-hydroxy Schiff bases have been performed. The analysis of geometry, local and global aromaticity, selected AIM-based parameters, and finally, pi-electron currents induced in the systems under consideration have been performed on the basis of quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G** level of theory. The relation between localization/delocalization of pi-electrons within the whole system has been described. It has been shown that the character of the bond which is common to the phenylic ring and the quasi-ring formed as a result of H-bond formation has a crucial impact on the strength of H-bonding. The strongest H-bonds can be observed for the systems in which the sequence of formally single and double bonds within the H-bridged quasi-ring enable a pi-electronic coupling. These observations indicate that pi-electron effects play a fundamental role in the stabilization of the hydrogen bridge within omicron-hydroxy Schiff bases. Analysis of pi-ring currents induced by a magnetic field perpendicular to the molecular plane of selected analyzed systems confirms these conclusions.     

Why are the kinked polyacenes more stable than the straight ones? A topological study and introduction of a new topological index of aromaticity

A topological model for estimating the stability of benzenoid hydrocarbons (BHs) is presented showing an acceptable linear dependence on Hess-Schaad resonance energy per pi-electron values. The topological measure of stability is accessible by use of pencil calculation and is based on counting cis-type fragments of double bonds in all canonical structures of a given BH. Evidence is given that infinite chains of straight linear polyacenes are always less stable than the kinked ones.