A carbon-13 NMR study of the ion pair structure of the dibenzo[b,f]pentalene dianion

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of dibenzo[b, f]pentalene and its 5,10-dimethyl derivative are presented and compared with those of the corresponding dilithium dianions. As probed by the relative ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, the charge distribution within the dianion system is clearly dependent on the actual ion pair state. This condition is demonstrated by varying the solvent and temperature. The polarization of charge towards the pentalene carbons, i.e. the preferred cation positions, is observed on going to tight ion pair conditions. Further support for this model is gained from ⁷Li NMR. The limitations of the use of ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts to measure charge distributions within anion systems are discussed.