Oxatriphyrins(2.1.1) incorporating an ortho-phenylene motif

An understanding of fundamental aspects of archetypal organic structural motifs remains a key issue faced by the experimental and theoretical chemists. Two possible bonding modes for a disubstituted benzene ring, that is a meta and para, determines the π delocalization for oligomeric structures. When the less abundant ortho-substituted variant is introduced into a triphyrin(2.1.1) skeleton an aromatic molecule is obtained and the carbocyclic ring participates in the conjugation of the macrocycle. The two-electron reduction and introduction of boron(III) changes the aromatic character and results in an anti-aromatic structure which has been confirmed by single-crystal analysis and supported by theoretical calculations.

Access to novel graphene-like sheet of hydroboron: first-principles investigation

We designed a cyclic borane (B6 H12 ) molecule with a benzene-like structure, in which the six B atoms are located in the same plane. Three methods of B3LYP, MP2, and CCSD with the 6-311++G** basis were used to investigate its structure, electronic property, and stability. Next, we calculated the stability and electronic property of three hydroboron derivatives with fused rings of B10 H18 , B14 H24 , and B16 H26 . Finally, we investigated three types of novel two-dimensional infinite hydroboron sheets with diborane as a building block. The results of the phonon spectra ensure the dynamic stability of these predicted structures. Furthermore, the three types of hydroboron sheets are shown to have different band gap energies of less than 3.0 eV. Some investigations on the optical properties have also been performed. The predicted sheets are candidates for semiconductors, whose band gap energy can be tuned by the positions of the bridge hydrogen atoms in the sheets.

A computational study on 3-azonia-, 3-phosphonia-, and 3-arsoniaspiro[2.2]pentanes and related three-membered heterocycles

A theoretical study at the ab initio MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory is carried out to characterize several heterocyclic spiro[2.2]pentane cations with N, P, and As as spiro atoms. The strain and relative stability of the spiropentanes are obtained through isodesmic reactions. Nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) and 3D NICS isosurfaces show σ-aromatic characteristics, similar to those found in cyclopropane. The interaction with the Cl(-) anion, which results in four different stationary structures, is studied and characterized by means of the atoms in molecules methodology, and Cl⋅⋅⋅pnicogen, Cl⋅⋅⋅H, and Cl⋅⋅⋅C interactions are found. The most stable structure in all cases corresponds to opening of one of the three-membered rings, due to the attack of the Cl atom, and C-Cl bond formation. Furthermore, the reaction with the 3-boranuidaspiro[2.2]pentane anion results in the formation of a new compound through cleavage of one ring of both reactants.

Unexpected 1,2-migration in metallasilabenzenes: theoretical evidence for reluctance of silicon to participate in π bonding

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to investigate the 1,2-migration in metallasilabenzenes. The results suggested that the chloride migration of metallabenzenes is unfavorable due to the loss of aromaticity in the nonaromatic analogues. In sharp contrast, such a migration in metallasilabenzenes is favorable due to the reluctance of silicon to participate in π bonding. The migration of hydride and methyl group from the metal center to the silicon atom in metallasilabenzenes is computed to be also feasible. In addition, the π donor ligand and the third row transition metal can stabilize metallasilabenzenes. Thus, such a migration becomes less favorable thermodynamically and kinetically. These findings could be very helpful for synthetic chemists to realize the first metallasilabenzene.

Professor Tetsuo Nozoe and my tropylium ion chemistry

Needless to say, the discovery of hinokitiol with its "unconventional" aromaticity by Professor Tetsuo Nozoe is one of the most important achievements in organic chemistry in the last century. The essence of this "non-benzenoid" aromaticity in hinokitiol is of course that of tropolone, and it is further related to the aromaticity of tropone and the tropylium ion, i.e., the cycloheptatrienyl cation. In this account, details of the study conducted by the author's group, particularly on the synthesis and properties of tropylium ion derivatives with various unique structures pursuing the ultimately high carbocation stability, are described.

π aromaticity and three-dimensional aromaticity: two sides of the same coin?

A bridge between classical organic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and closo borohydride clusters is established by showing that they share a common origin regulated by the number of valence electrons in an electronic confined space. Application of the proposed electronic confined space analogy (ECSA) method to archetypal PAHs leads to the conclusion that the 4n+2 Wade-Mingos rule for three-dimensional closo boranes is equivalent to the (4n+2)π Hückel rule for two-dimensional PAHs. More importantly, use of ECSA allows design of new interesting fused closo boranes which can be a source of inspiration for synthetic chemists.

Exploring the potential energy surface of E₂P₄ clusters (E=Group 13 element): the quest for inverse carbon-free sandwiches

Inverse carbon-free sandwich structures with formula E2P4 (E=Al, Ga, In, Tl) have been proposed as a promising new target in main-group chemistry. Our computational exploration of their corresponding potential-energy surfaces at the S12h/TZ2P level shows that indeed stable carbon-free inverse-sandwiches can be obtained if one chooses an appropriate Group 13 element for E. The boron analogue B2P4 does not form the D(4h)-symmetric inverse-sandwich structure, but instead prefers a D(2d) structure of two perpendicular BP2 units with the formation of a double B-B bond. For the other elements of Group 13, Al-Tl, the most favorable isomer is the D(4h) inverse-sandwich structure. The preference for the D(2d) isomer for B2P4 and D(4h) for their heavier analogues has been rationalized in terms of an isomerization-energy decomposition analysis, and further corroborated by determination of aromaticity of these species.

Understanding the fundamental role of π/π, σ/σ, and σ/π dispersion interactions in shaping carbon-based materials

Noncovalent interactions involving aromatic rings, such as π-stacking and CH/π interactions, are central to many areas of modern chemistry. However, recent studies proved that aromaticity is not required for stacking interactions, since similar interaction energies were computed for several aromatic and aliphatic dimers. Herein, the nature and origin of π/π, σ/σ, and σ/π dispersion interactions has been investigated by using dispersion-corrected density functional theory, energy decomposition analysis, and the recently developed noncovalent interaction (NCI) method. Our analysis shows that π/π and σ/σ stacking interactions are equally important for the benzene and cyclohexane dimers, explaining why both compounds have similar boiling points. Also, similar dispersion forces are found in the benzene⋅⋅⋅methane and cyclohexane⋅⋅⋅methane complexes. However, for systems larger than naphthalene, there are enhanced stacking interactions in the aromatic dimers adopting a parallel-displaced configuration compared to the analogous saturated systems. Although dispersion plays a decisive role in stabilizing all the complexes, the origin of the π/π, σ/σ, and σ/π interactions is different. The NCI method reveals that the dispersion interactions between the hydrogen atoms are responsible for the surprisingly strong aliphatic interactions. Moreover, whereas σ/σ and σ/π interactions are local, the π/π stacking are inherently delocalized, which give rise to a non-additive effect. These new types of dispersion interactions between saturated groups can be exploited in the rational design of novel carbon materials.

The NICS-XY-scan: identification of local and global ring currents in multi-ring systems

Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS)-based methods are very popular for the determination of the induced magnetic field under an external magnetic field. These methods are used mostly (but not only) for the determination of the aromaticity and antiaromaticity of molecules and ions, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The ghost atom that serves as the NICS probe senses the induced magnetic field and reports it in the form of an NMR chemical shift. However, the source of the field cannot be determined by NICS. Thus, in a multi-ring system that may contain more than one induced current circuit (and therefore more than one source of the induced magnetic field) the NICS value may represent the sum of many induced magnetic fields. This may lead to wrong assignments of the aromaticity (and antiaromaticity) of the systems under study. In this paper, we present a NICS-based method for the determination of local and global ring currents in conjugated multi-ring systems. The method involves placing the NICS probes along the X axis, and if needed, along the Y axis, at a constant height above the system under study. Following the change in the induced field along these axes allows the identification of global and local induced currents. The best NICS type to use for these scans is NICSπZZ , but it is shown that at a height of 1.7 Å above the molecular plane, NICSZZ provides the same qualitative picture. This method, namely the NICS-XY-scan, gives information equivalent to that obtained through current density analysis methods, and in some cases, provides even more details.

Writing with ring currents: selectively hydrogenated polycyclic aromatics as finite models of graphene and graphane

Alternating partial hydrogenation of the interior region of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon gives a finite model system representing systems on the pathway from graphene to the graphane modification of the graphene sheet. Calculations at the DFT and coupled Hartree-Fock levels confirm that sp² cycles of bare carbon centres isolated by selective hydrogenation retain the essentially planar geometry and electron delocalization of the annulene that they mimic. Delocalization is diagnosed by the presence of ring currents, as detected by ipsocentric calculation and visualization of the current density induced in the π system by a perpendicular external magnetic field. These induced 'ring' currents have essentially the same sense, strength and orbital origin as in the free hydrocarbon. Subjected to the important experimental proviso of the need for atomic-scale control of hydrogenation, this finding predicts the possibility of writing single, multiple and concentric diatropic and/or paratropic ring currents on the graphene/graphane sheet. The implication is that pathways for free flow of ballistic current can be modelled in the same way.

Ene-ene-yne reactions: activation strain analysis and the role of aromaticity

The trend in reactivity of the thermal cycloisomerization reactions of 1,3-hexadien-5-ynes, A=B-C=D-E≡F, were explored and analyzed by using density functional theory at the M06-2X/def2-TZVPP level. These reactions proceed through formally aromatic transition states to form a bent-allene intermediate with relatively high activation barriers. Activation-strain analyses show that the major factor controlling this Hopf cyclization is the geometrical strain energy associated with the rotation of the terminal [A] group. This rotation is necessary for achieving a favorable HOMO-LUMO overlap with the yne-moiety [F] associated with the formation of the new A-F single bond. In addition, the relationship between the aromaticity of the corresponding cyclic transition states (all six-membered rings) and the computed activation barriers were analyzed. The calculations also indicate that the aromatization of the bent-allene structures takes place through two consecutive 1,2-hydrogen shifts, the second one exhibiting negligible energy barriers.

Synthesis and structural data of tetrabenzo[8]circulene

In 1976, the first attempted synthesis of the saddle-shaped molecule [8]circulene was reported. The next 37 years produced no advancement towards the construction of this complicated molecule. But remarkably, over the last six months, a flurry of progress has been made with two groups reporting independent and strikingly different strategies for the synthesis of [8]circulene derivatives. Herein, we present a third synthetic method, in which we target tetrabenzo[8]circulene. Our approach employs a Diels-Alder reaction and a palladium-catalyzed arylation reaction as the key steps. Despite calculations describing the instability of [8]circulene, coupled with the reported instability of synthesized derivatives of the parent molecule, the addition of four fused benzenoid rings around the periphery of the molecule provides a highly stable structure. This increased stability over the parent [8]circulene was predicted by using Clar's theory of aromatic sextets and is a result of the compound becoming fully benzenoid upon incorporation of these additional rings. The synthesized compound exhibits remarkable stability under ambient conditions-even at elevated temperatures-with no signs of decomposition over several months. The solid-state structure of this compound is significantly twisted compared to the calculated structure primarily as a result of crystal-packing forces in the solid state. Despite this contortion from the lowest-energy structure, a range of structural data is presented confirming the presence of localized aromaticity in this large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

Properties of atoms in electronically excited molecules within the formalism of TDDFT

The topological analysis of the electron density for electronic excited states under the formalism of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is presented. Relaxed electron densities for electronic excited states are computed by solving a Z-vector equation which is obtained by means of the Sternheimer interchange method. This is in contrast to previous work in which the electron density for excited states is obtained using DFT instead of TDDFT, that is, through the imposition of molecular occupancies in accordance with the electron configuration of the excited state under consideration. Once the electron density of the excited state is computed, its topological characterization and the properties of the atoms in molecules are obtained in the same manner that for the ground state. The analysis of the low-lying π→π* singlet and triplet vertical excitations of CO and C6H6 are used as representative examples of the application of this methodology. Altogether, it is shown how this procedure provides insights on the changes of the electron density following photoexcitation and it is our hope that it will be useful in the study of different photophysical and photochemical processes.

Quantum-chemical analyses of aromaticity, UV spectra, and NMR chemical shifts in plumbacyclopentadienylidenes stabilized by Lewis bases

We carried out a series of zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA)-density functional theory (DFT) and ZORA-time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations for molecular geometries, NMR chemical shifts, nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS), and electronic transition energies of plumbacyclopentadienylidenes stabilized by several Lewis bases, (Ph)2 ((t) BuMe2 Si)2 C4 PbL1 L2 (L1, L2 = tetrahydrofuran, Pyridine, N-heterocyclic carbene), and their model molecules. We mainly discussed the Lewis-base effect on the aromaticity of these complexes. The NICS was used to examine the aromaticity. The NICS values showed that the aromaticity of these complexes increases when the donation from the Lewis bases to Pb becomes large. This trend seems to be reasonable when the 4n-Huckel rule is applied to the fractional π-electron number. The calculated (13)C- and (207)Pb-NMR chemical shifts and the calculated UV transition energies reasonably reproduced the experimental trends. We found a specific relationship between the (13)C-NMR chemical shifts and the transition energies. As we expected, the relativistic effect was essential to reproduce a trend not only in the (207)Pb-NMR chemical shifts and J[Pb-C] but also in the (13)C-NMR chemical shifts of carbons adjacent to the lead atom.

A core-expanded subphthalocyanine analogue with a significantly distorted conjugated surface and unprecedented properties

The introduction of a seven-membered-ring unit in the place of a five-membered-ring unit in the structure of subphthalocyanine resulted in significant distortion of the bowl-shaped structure of the conjugated molecule as well as the following unprecedented properties: the preferential formation of the axially fluoro substituted species, the fluttering-dynamic-motion-induced rapid exchange of P and M enantiomers, markedly split Q-band absorption, and a clear difference in the ring-current effects arising from the convex and concave surfaces.

cine-Substitution reactions of metallabenzenes: an experimental and computational study

Alkali-resistant osmabenzene [(SCN)2(PPh3)2Os{CHC(PPh3)CHCICH}] (2) can undergo nucleophilic aromatic substitution with MeOH or EtOH to give cine-substitution products [(SCN)2(PPh3)2Os{CHC(PPh3)CHCHCR}] (R=OMe (3), OEt(4)) in the presence of strong alkali. However, the reactions of compound 2 with various amines, such as n-butylamine and aniline, afford five-membered ring species, [(SCN)2(PPh3)2Os{CH=C(PPh3)CH=C(CH=NHR')}] (R'=nBu(8), Ph(9)), in addition to the desired cine-substitution products, [(SCN)2(PPh3)2Os{CHC(PPh3)CHCHC(NHR')}] (R'=nBu(6), Ph(7)), under similar reaction conditions. The mechanisms of these reactions have been investigated in detail with the aid of isotopic labeling experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results reveal that the cine-substitution reactions occur through nucleophilic addition, dissociation of the leaving group, protonation, and deprotonation steps, which resemble the classical "addition-of-nucleophile, ring-opening, ring-closure" (ANRORC) mechanism. DFT calculations suggest that, in the reaction with MeOH, the formation of a five-membered metallacycle species is both kinetically and thermodynamically less favorable, which is consistent with the experimental results that only the cine-substitution product is observed. For the analogous reaction with n-butylamine, the pathway for the formation of the cine-substitution product is kinetically less favorable than the pathway for the formation of a five-membered ring species, but is much more thermodynamically favorable, again consistent with the experimental conversion of compound 8 into compound 6, which is observed in an in situ NMR experiment with an isolated pure sample of 8.

Boron-substituted 1,3-dihydro-1,3-azaborines: synthesis, structure, and evaluation of aromaticity

Getting the family together: A general synthetic strategy based on nucleophilic substitution provided B-substituted 1,3-dihydro-1,3-azaborines (see scheme), BN isosteres of arenes with potential for application in biomedicine and materials science. Experimental structural analysis and calculations suggest that the aromaticity of the 1,3-dihydro-1,3-azaborine heterocycle is intermediate between that of benzene and that of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine.

BN/CC isosteric compounds as enzyme inhibitors: N- and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine inhibit ethylbenzene hydroxylation as nonconvertible substrate analogues

Good substrate gone bad! BN/CC isosterism of ethylbenzene leads to N-ethyl-1,2-azaborine and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine. In contrast to ethylbenzene, which is the substrate for ethylbenzene dehydrogenase (EbDH), N-ethyl-1,2-azaborine (see scheme; Fc=Ferricenium tetrafluoroborate) and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine are strong inhibitors of EbDH. Thus, the changes provided by BN/CC isosterism can lead to new biochemical reactivity.

Double σ-Aromaticity in a Surface-Deposited Cluster: Pd4 on TiO2 (110)

We report double σ-aromaticity in a surface-deposited cluster, Pd4, on the TiO2 (110) surface. In the gas phase, Pd4 adopts a tetrahedral structure. However, surface binding promotes a flat, σ-aromatic cluster. This is the first time aromaticity has been found in surface-deposited clusters. The concept of aromaticity is expected to become instrumental in predicting and interpreting properties of such systems, much like it is for isolated molecules and clusters.

Electron-topological, energetic and π-electron delocalization analysis of ketoenamine-enolimine tautomeric equilibrium

The ketoenamine-enolimine tautometic equilibrium has been studied by the analysis of aromaticity and electron-topological parameters. The influence of substituents on the energy of the transition state and of the tautomeric forms has been investigated for different positions of chelate chain. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules method (QTAIM) has been applied to study changes in the electron-topological parameters of the molecule with respect to the tautomeric equilibrium in intramolecular hydrogen bond. Dependencies of the HOMA aromaticity index and electron density at the critical points defining aromaticity and electronic state of the chelate chain on the transition state (TS), OH and HN tautomeric forms have been obtained.

Valence isomerization of cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene and its heteroelement analogues

The valence isomerization of the all-carbon and heteroelement analogues of cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene into the corresponding bicyclo[4.1.0]hepta-2,4-dienes is reviewed to show the impact of the heteroatom on the stability of both valence isomers. The focus is on the parent systems and their synthetic applications.

Dissociation of the disilatricyclic diallylic dianion [(C4Ph4SiMe)2]-2 to the silole anion [MeSiC4Ph4]- by halide ion coordination or halide ion nucleophilic substitution at the silicon atom

The reductive cleavage of the Si-Si bond in 1,1-bis(1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclopentadiene) [(C(4)Ph(4)SiMe)(2)] (1) with either Li or Na in THF gives the silole anion [MeSiC(4)Ph(4)]- (2). The head-to-tail dimerization of the silole anion 2 gives crystals of the disilatricyclic diallylic dianion [(C(4)Ph(4)SiMe)(2)]-2 (3). The derivatization of 3 (crystals) with bromoethane (gas) under reduced pressure provides [(MeSiC(4)Ph(4)Et)(2)] (4) quantitatively. The reverse addition of 3 in THF to trimethylsilyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and bromoethane in THF gives 1-methyl-1-trimethylsilyl-1-silole [Me(3)SiMeSiC(4)Ph(4)] (6), 1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentenyl-1-methyl-1-silole [C(4)Ph(4)H(2)SiMe-MeSiC(4)Ph(4)] (7), and 1-methyl-2,5-diethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentenyl-1-methyl-1-silole [C(4)Ph(4)Et(2)SiMe-MeSiC(4)Ph(4)] (8), respectively. The reaction products unambiguously suggest that the silole anion [MeSiC(4)Ph(4)]- is generated by coordination of the chloride ion at the silicon atom in 3 or by the nucleophilic substitution of either chloride or bromide ion at one of two silicon atoms in 3. The quenching reaction of 3 dissolved in THF with water gives 1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-2-butene, the disiloxane of 1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentenyl [O(MeSiC(4)Ph(4))(2)] (10) and methyl silicate.

Stability and aromaticity of nH(2)@B(12)N(12) (n=1-12) clusters

Standard ab initio and density functional calculations are carried out to determine the structure, stability, and reactivity of B₁₂N₁₂ clusters with hydrogen doping. To lend additional support, conceptual DFT-based reactivity descriptors and the associated electronic structure principles are also used. Related cage aromaticity of this B₁₂N₁₂ and nH₂@B₁₂N₁₂ are analyzed through the nucleus independent chemical shift values.

β-Hydroxy carbocation intermediates in solvolyses of di- and tetra-hydronaphthalene substrates

Solvolysis of trichloroacetate esters of 2-methoxy-1,2-dihydro-1-naphthols shows a remarkably large difference in rates between the cis and trans isomers, k(cis)/k(trans) = 1800 in aqueous acetonitrile. This mirrors the behaviour of the acid-catalysed dehydration of cis- and trans-naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiols to form 2-naphthol, for which k(cis)/k(trans) = 440, but contrasts with that for solvolysis of tetrahydronaphthalene substrates, 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes, for which k(cis)/k(trans) = 0.5. Evidence is presented showing that the trans isomer of the dihydro substrates reacts unusually slowly rather than the cis isomer unusually rapidly. Comparison of rates of solvolysis of 1-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and the corresponding (cis) substrate with a 2-hydroxy group indicates that a β-OH slows the reaction by nearly 2000-fold, which represents a typical inductive effect characteristic also of cis-dihydrodiol substrates. The slow reaction of the trans-dihydrodiol substrate is consistent with initial formation of a β-hydroxynaphthalenium carbocation with a conformation in which a C-OH occupies an axial position β to the carbocation centre preventing stabilisation of the carbocation by C-H hyperconjugation, which would occur in the conformation initially formed from the cis isomer. It is suggested that C-H hyperconjugation is particularly pronounced for a β-hydroxynaphthalenium ion intermediate because the stability of its no-bond resonance structure reflects the presence of an aromatic naphthol structure.

Environment influences on the aromatic character of nucleobases and amino acids

Geometric (HOMA) and magnetic (NICS) indices of aromaticity were estimated for aromatic rings of amino acids and nucleobases. Cartesian coordinates were taken directly either from PDB files deposited in public databases at the finest resolution available (≤ 1.5 Å), or from structures resulting from full gradient geometry optimization in a hybrid QM/MM approach. Significant environmental effects imposing alterations of HOMA values were noted for all aromatic rings analysed. Furthermore, even extra fine resolution (≤ 1.0 Å) is not sufficient for direct estimation of HOMA values based on Cartesian coordinates provided by PDB files. The values of mean bond errors seem to be much higher than the 0.05 Å often reported for PDB files. The use of quantum chemistry geometry optimization is strongly advised; even a simple QM/MM model comprising only the aromatic substructure within the QM region and the rest of biomolecule treated classically within the MM framework proved to be a promising means of describing aromaticity inside native environments. According to the results presented, three consequences of the interaction with the environment can be observed that induce changes in structural and magnetic indices of aromaticity. First, broad ranges of HOMA or NICS values are usually obtained for different conformations of nearest neighborhood. Next, these values and their means can differ significantly from those characterising isolated monomers. The most significant increase in aromaticities is expected for the six-membered rings of guanine, thymine and cytosine. The same trend was also noticed for all amino acids inside proteins but this effect was much smaller, reaching the highest value for the five-membered ring of tryptophan. Explicit water solutions impose similar changes on HOMA and NICS distributions. Thus, environment effects of protein, DNA and even explicit water molecules are non-negligible sources of aromaticity changes appearing in the rings of nucleobases and aromatic amino acids residues.