Fused Indacene Dimers

Polycyclic hydrocarbons consisting of two or more directly fused antiaromatic subunits are rare due to their high reactivity. However, it is important to understand how the interactions between the antiaromatic subunits influence the electronic properties of the fused structure. Herein, we present the synthesis of two fused indacene dimer isomers: s-indaceno[2,1-a]-s-indacene ( s -ID ) and as-indaceno[3,2-b]-as-indacene ( as -ID ), containing two fused antiaromatic s-indacene or as-indacene units, respectively. Their structures were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. ¹H NMR/ESR measurements and DFT calculations revealed that both s -ID and as -ID have an open-shell singlet ground state. However, while localized antiaromaticity was observed in s -ID , as -ID showed weak global aromaticity. Moreover, as -ID exhibited a larger diradical character and a smaller singlet-triplet gap than s -ID . All the differences can be attributed to their distinct quinoidal substructures.     

Conjugated Nanohoop Polymers based on Antiaromatic Dibenzopentalenes for Charge Storage in Organic Batteries

With their bent π-systems, cyclic conjugation and inherent cavities, conjugated nanohoops are attractive for organic electronics applications. For ease of processing and morphological stability, an incorporation into polymers is desirable, but to date was hampered with few exceptions by synthetic difficulties. We herein present a unique strategy for the synthesis of conjugated nanohoop polymers using a dibenzo[a,e]pentalene (DBP) as central connector. We demonstrate this versatility by synthesizing three electronically diverse copolymers with dithienyldiketo(pyrrolopyrrol), fluorene and carbazole comonomers, and report the first donor-acceptor nanohoop polymer. Optoelectronic investigations reveal the prevalence of cyclic or linear conjugation, depending on the comonomer unit, and ambipolar electrochemical properties through the antiaromatic character of the DBP units. As the first report on using conjugated nanohoops for charge storage as positive electrode materials, we show a significant improvement in battery performance in a nanohoop-containing polymer compared to an equivalent nanohoop-free reference polymer. We believe this study will pave the way for the synthesis of a diverse range of nanohoop polymers and further stimulate their exploration for charge storage in batteries.     

运用密度泛函活性理论的信息论方法研究苯并富烯衍生物的芳香性

文献中已有越来越多的芳香性体系被发现,同时也有越来越多的芳香性指标被提出来,但是如何解释芳香化合物稳定性的起源以及理解芳香性的本质仍然是当今理论化学中一个悬而未决的难题。运用我们新近提出的密度泛函活性理论信息论方法,不久前我们曾对一系列富烯衍生物进行了系统研究并得到了一个全新的认识。本文进一步探讨苯并富烯衍生物的芳香性行为,目的在于考察一个或多个苯环与富烯连接之后其芳香性发生变化的情况。运用香农熵,费舍尔信息,Ghosh-Berkowitz-Parr熵,Onicescu信息能,信息增益,以及相对Rényi熵六个信息量,和四种芳香指标,ASE,HOMA,FLU和NICS,我们系统地研究了信息量和芳香性指标在单、双、三苯并富烯衍生物中的相关性。我们发现,不管是否有苯环与富烯相连,芳香指标和信息量的交叉相关性都是一样的。这表明,虽然苯环本身具有芳香性,但苯环与富烯相连并不能改变富烯的芳香性与反芳香性本质。苯并富烯衍生物与富烯衍生物的芳香性和反芳香性一致。苯并富烯衍生物的芳香性和反芳香性完全取决于富烯本身的芳香性和反芳香性。这些结果为认识和理解复杂体系芳香性和反芳香性起源和本质将提供有益的启示。     

The cyclopropa[b]naphthalene electron donor: nonplanar 8π 7C cycloheptatrienylidene derivatives

Dipole moment measurements and calculations show the cyclopropa[b]naphthalene moiety to be an electron donor that is stronger than cycloheptatriene. Crystallographic analyses of cycloheptatrienylidenecyclopropa[b]naphthalenes, with and without electron donating substituents in the cycloproparene, have the seven-membered ring resisting imposition of 8π 7C antiaromaticity by bending significantly out of the plane that carries the cycloproparene. The extent of this distortion depends upon the level of electron donation from the cycloproparene.     

The Plausible Aromaticity of 1,8-Naphthalimides: The Enthalpy of Formation of N-Methyl-1,8-Naphthalimide

In order to understand the aromaticity of 1,8-naphthalimides, the enthalpies of combustion and sublimation of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide were determined. The numerical values are –6095.8 ± 3.5 and 109.7 ± 0.8 kJ · mol^–1. The enthalpies of formation of condensed and gas phase N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide are accordingly –306.1 ± 3.9 and –196.4 ± 4.0 kJ · mol^–1. It is deduced that naphthalimides enjoy some 40 kJ · mol^–1 of aromatic stabilization over that of the maleimides, shown to be nominally destabilized and modestly antiaromatic in our recently published thermochemical study.     

Synthesis of a Dicyclohepta[a,g]heptalene-Containing Polycyclic Conjugated Hydrocarbon and the Impact of Non-Alternant Topologies

Incorporating non-hexagonal rings into polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons (PCHs) can significantly affect their electronic and optoelectronic properties and chemical reactivities. Here, we report the first bottom-up synthesis of a dicyclohepta[a,g]heptalene-embedded PCH ( 1 ) with four continuous heptagons, which are arranged in a “Z” shape. Compared with its structural isomer bischrysene 1 R with only hexagonal rings, compound 1 presents a distinct antiaromatic character, especially the inner heptalene core, which possesses clear antiaromatic nature. In addition, PCH 1 exhibits a narrower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap than its benzenoid contrast 1 R , as verified by experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. Our work reported herein not only provides a new way to synthesize novel PCHs with non-alternant topologies but also offers the possibility to tune their electronic and optical properties.     

Dithienoazepine-Based Near-Infrared Dyes: Janus-Faced Effects of a Thiophene-Fused Structure on Antiaromatic Azepines

We here disclose that the incorporation of thiophene rings into a seven-membered 8π azepine in a fused fashion produces a useful antiaromatic core for near-infrared (NIR) dyes. In contrast to dibenzazepine derivatives with bent structures, dithieno-fused derivatives with electron-accepting groups adopt flat conformations in the ground state. The dithieno-fused derivatives exhibited broad absorption spectra that cover the visible region as well as sharp emission bands in the NIR region, which are considerably red-shifted relative to those of the dibenzo-fused congeners. Theoretical study revealed two contradictory effects of the less-aromatic thiophene-fused structure, i.e., the enhancement of the antiaromaticity of the adjacent azepine ring and the relief of the antiaromaticity through the contribution of a quinoidal resonance form. The combination of the dithienoazepine core with cationic electron-accepting groups produced a NIR fluorescent dye with an emission at 878 nm in solution.     

Structure-property relationships in molecular wires

Molecular electrical conductivities between gold electrodes have been measured at the single molecule level through a variety of systems. The results show that the aromaticity of molecules is partly disrupted by passage of electricity, leading to increased resistance. The possibility of the opposite effect resulting from the disruption of antiaromaticity was explored in biphenylene derivatives. When gold atoms terminate benzene or polymethylene molecules they incorporate into the electrodes, greatly diminishing the resistance from other terminating atoms. In paracyclophanes with two, three, and four benzenes in stacks the gold electrodes can directly contact them, and thus measure conductivity directly through the stacks.     

Extension of Non-alternant Nanographenes Containing Nitrogen-Doped Stone-Thrower-Wales Defects

Non-alternant topologies have attracted considerable attention due to their unique physiochemical characteristics in recent years. Here, three novel topological nanographenes molecular models of nitrogen-doped Stone–Thrower–Wales (S–T–W) defects were achieved through intramolecular direct arylation. Their chemical structures were unambiguously elucidated by single-crystal analysis. Among them, threefold intramolecular direct arylation compound (C₄₂H₂₁N) is the largest nanographene bearing a N-doped non-alternant topology to date, in which the non-benzenoid rings account for 83 % of the total molecular skeleton. The absorption maxima of this compound was located in the near-infrared region with a long tail up to 900 nm, which was much longer than those reported for similarly sized N-doped nanographene with six-membered rings (C₄₀H₁₅N). In addition, the electronic energy gaps of these series compounds clearly decreased with the introduction of non-alternant topologies (from 2.27 eV to 1.50 eV). It is noteworthy that C₄₂H₂₁N possesses such a low energy gap (E_g^opt=1.40 eV; E_g^cv=1.50 eV), yet is highly stable under ambient conditions. Our work reported herein demonstrates that the non-alternant topology could significantly influence the electronic configurations of nanocarbons, where the introduction of a non-alternanting topology may be an effective way to narrow the energy gap without extending the molecular π-conjugation.