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Zhu Q, Chen S, Chen D, Lin L, Xiao K, Zhao L, Solà M, Zhu J. The application of aromaticity and antiaromaticity to reaction mechanisms. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 3:926-938. [PMID: 38933008 PMCID: PMC11197727 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aromaticity, in general, can promote a given reaction by stabilizing a transition state or a product via a mobility of π electrons in a cyclic structure. Similarly, such a promotion could be also achieved by destabilizing an antiaromatic reactant. However, both aromaticity and transition states cannot be directly measured in experiment. Thus, computational chemistry has been becoming a key tool to understand the aromaticity-driven reaction mechanisms. In this review, we will analyze the relationship between aromaticity and reaction mechanism to highlight the importance of density functional theory calculations and present it according to an approach via either aromatizing a transition state/product or destabilizing a reactant by antiaromaticity. Specifically, we will start with a particularly challenging example of dinitrogen activation followed by other small-molecule activation, C-F bond activation, rearrangement, as well as metathesis reactions. In addition, antiaromaticity-promoted dihydrogen activation, CO2 capture, and oxygen reduction reactions will be also briefly discussed. Finally, caution must be cast as the magnitude of the aromaticity in the transition states is not particularly high in most cases. Thus, a proof of an adequate electron delocalization rather than a complete ring current is recommended to support the relatively weak aromaticity in these transition states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics & Information Displays (KLOEID) and Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), SICAM, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shuwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Dandan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Kui Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Miquel Solà
- Institute of Computational Chemistry and Catalysis and Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, C/ M. Aurèlia Capmany, 69, 17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
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