Aromaticity in azlactone anions and its significance for the Erlenmeyer synthesis

Azlactone anions—the key intermediates in the classical Erlenmeyer synthesis of amino acids—apparently possess aromatic stabilization, as indicated by the relative rate of base catalyzed deuterium exchange in the following analogs: 1-methyl-2-phenyl-5(4H)-imidazolone > 2-phenyl-5(4H)-oxazolone (azlactone) > 3,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-4(3H)-pyrrolone. This is paralleled by the relative rate of condensation of these compounds with hexadeuteroacetone. Reported pK_a data also suggest that the azlactone products of the Erlenmeyer synthesis are analogs of the fulvenes.     

Partial structure analysis of conjugated systems I

A new method for analysing the partial structure of conjugated systems is proposed. The present method is applied to the most important partial structure, benzene, which is closely related to aromaticity. The calculated results are in accord with the previously proposed indices of aromaticity.     

Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) profiles in a series of monocyclic planar inorganic compounds

A series of monocyclic planar inorganic compounds have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G^∗ level. GIAO-B3LYP nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) profiles calculated in the perpendicular direction of each ring show that the series of analyzed compounds can be classified in three groups according to their aromatic, non-aromatic or antiaromatic character. Our results suggest exercising caution in the use of single-point NICS calculations as a quantitative measure of aromaticity for these species.     

Evaluation of the bond energy terms for the various types of boron-nitrogen bonds

Summary We have determined a series of bond energy terms in compounds containing dative, single, double and/or triple boron-nitrogen bonds. We describe various interesting applications based on these bond energy terms namely the determination of enthalpies of atomization and stabilization energies. More particularly, the conventional ring strain energies of three- and four-membered small ring containing boron and nitrogen atoms could be determined and the aromaticity of borazine, reexamined.Dedicated to Professor Alberte Pullman     

Theoretical Evidence of Aromaticity in X3 − (X = B, Al, Ga) Species

We investigated the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the B₃ ^–, Al₃ ^–, and Ga₃ ^– anions, and the gas phase NaB₃, NaAl₃, and NaGa₃ molecules. We found that the ground state of the neutral gas phase salts contains an equilateral triangular anion interacting with a Na⁺ cation. The B₃ ^–, Al₃ ^–, and Ga₃ ^– anions possess two delocalized electrons and are found to be aromatic. The triangular anions have been shown to be related to recently synthesized organometallic compound containing an aromatic -Ga₃ ^2– unit, but they are differ from them by four valence electrons. The reason for earlier appearance of the -orbital in the B₃ ^–, Al₃ ^–, and Ga₃ ^– anions is discussed.     

Theoretical study on the aromaticity of the bimetallic clusters X2M2 (X=Si, Ge, M=Al, Ga)

Four neutral bimetallic clusters X₂M₂ (X=Si, Ge, M=Al, Ga) are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and post-HF methods. The calculated results show that each of four X₂M₂ species has two energetically close stable isomers with rhombic structure (D_2h symmetry) and trapezoidal structure (C_2v symmetry) respectively. For the Ge₂Al₂ species the rhombic (D_2h) isomer is the ground state, whereas for other three species Ge₂Ga₂, Si₂Al₂, and Si₂Ga₂, the trapezoidal (C_2v) isomers are the ground states. The calculated magnetic susceptibility anisotropy (χ_anis) and nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) indicate that a strong diatropic ring current exists in the two heterocyclic planar isomers, suggesting they are highly aromatic. A detailed molecular orbital analysis further reveals that both heterocyclic isomers possess multiple aromaticity derived from one delocalized π MOs and two delocalized σ MOs.     

Theoretical study of the in-plane components of the 13C shielding tensors in condensed aromatic hydrocarbons

The Pople model for chemical shielding is applied to calculate the in-plane components of the ¹³C shielding tensors of condensed aromatic hydrocarbons. The wave functions are evaluated using the MNDO method and the calculated results are supported by the very good agreement with the experimental results in the few cases in which experimental information is available.The relationship found between the calculated bond orders and the in-plane components of the ¹³C shielding tensors suggest that the experimental study of the ¹³C shielding tensors in these compounds may provide a powerful technique for studying aromaticity. The in-plane components are found to be directly affected by the degree of delocalization of the -electrons in the adjacent bonds. Rules are given for estimating the orientation of the two in-plane components of the shielding tensor.     

Aromaticity changes along the reaction coordinate connecting the cyclobutadiene dimer to cubane and the benzene dimer to hexaprismane

Aromaticity and reactivity are two deeply connected concepts. Most of the thermally allowed cycloadditions take place through aromatic transition states, while transition states of thermally forbidden reactions are usually less aromatic, if at all. In this work, we perform a numerical experiment to discuss the change of aromaticity that occurs along the reaction paths that connect two antiaromatic units of cyclobutadiene to form cubane and two aromatic rings of benzene to yield hexaprismane. It is found that the aromaticity profile along the reaction coordinate of the [4+4] cycloaddition of two antiaromatic cyclobutadiene molecules goes through an aromatic highest energy point and finishes to an antiaromatic cubane species. Up to our knowledge, this represents the first example of a theoretically and thermally forbidden reaction path that goes through an intermediate aromatic region. In contrast, the aromaticity profile in the [6+6] cycloaddition of two aromatic benzene rings show a slow steady decrease of aromaticity from reactants to the highest energy point and from this to the final hexaprismane molecule a plunge of aromaticity is observed. In both systems, the main change of aromaticity occurs abruptly near the highest energy point, when the distance between the centers of the two rings is about 2.2 Å.     

Theoretical predictions of the structure, gas-phase acidity and aromaticity of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid

Results of ab initio self-consistent-field (SCF) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the gas-phase structure, acidity (free energy of deprotonation, ΔG^o), and aromaticity of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid (3,4-dithiohydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-diselenone, H₂C₄Se₂S₂) are reported. The global minimum found on the potential energy surface of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid presents a planar conformation. The ZZ isomer was found to have the lowest energy among the three planar conformers and the ZZ and ZE isomers are very close in energy. The optimized geometric parameters exhibit a bond length equalization relative to reference compounds, cyclobutanediselenone, and cyclobutenedithiol. The computed aromatic stabilization energy (ASE) by homodesmotic reaction (Eq 1) is −20.1 kcal/mol (MP2(fu)/6-311+G** //RHF/6-311+G**) and −14.9 kcal/mol (B3LYP//6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G**). The aromaticity of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid is indicated by the calculated diamagnetic susceptibility exaltation (Λ) −17.91 (CSGT(IGAIM)-RHF/6-311+G**//RHF/6-311+G**) and −31.01 (CSGT(IGAIM)-B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G**). Thus, 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid fulfils the geometric, energetic and magnetic criteria of aromaticity. The calculated theoretical gas-phase acidity is ΔG^o _1(298K)=302.7 kcal/mol and ΔG^o _2(298K)=388.4 kcal/mol. Hence, 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid is a stronger acid than squaric acid(3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, H₂C₄O₄). Received: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 7 July 2000 / Published online: 27 September 2000     

Bis-periazulene: a simple Kekulé biradical with a triplet ground state

B3LYP/6-31G* calculations on bis-periazulene (cyclohepta[def]-fluorene) predict a triplet ground state for this molecule. The singlet has an aromatic 14π-electron periphery but is 2 kcal/mol higher in energy. The results agree with earlier predictions by Heilbronner. Received: 19 August 1998 / Accepted: 6 October 1998 / Published online: 23 February 1999