Stable silicon-centered localized singlet 1,3-diradicals XSi(GeY2)2SiX: theoretical predictions

Orbital phase design of diradicals

Over the last three decades the rational design of diradicals has been a challenging issue because of their special features and activities in organic reactions and biological processes. The orbital phase theory has been developed for understanding the properties of diradicals and designing new candidates for synthesis. The orbital phase is an important factor in promoting the cyclic orbital interaction. When all of the conditions: (1) the electron-donating orbitals are out of phase; (2) the accepting orbitals are in phase; and (3) the donating and accepting orbitals are in phase, are simultaneously satisfied, the system is stabilized by the effective delocalization and polarization. Otherwise, the system is less stable. According to the orbital phase continuity requirement, we can predict the spin preference of π-conjugated diradicals and relative stabilities of constitutional isomers. Effects of the intramolecular interaction of bonds and unpaired electrons on the spin preference, thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of the singlet and triplet states of localized 1,3-diradicals were also investigated by orbital phase theory. Taking advantage of the ring strains, several monocyclic and bicyclic systems were designed with appreciable singlet preference and kinetic stabilities. Substitution effects on the ground state spin and relative stabilities of diradicals were rationalized by orbital interactions without loss of generality. Orbital phase predictions were supported by available experimental observations and sophisticated calculation results. In comparison with other topological models, the orbital phase theory has some advantages. Orbital phase theory can provide a general model for both π-conjugated and localized diradicals. The relative stabilities and spin preference of all kinds of diradicals can be uniformly rationalized by the orbital phase property. The orbital phase theory is applied to the conformations of diradicals and the geometry-dependent behaviors. The insights gained from the orbital phase theory are useful in a rational design of stable 1,3-diradicals.

Generation and intermolecular trapping of 1,2-diaza-4-silacyclopentane-3,5-diyls in the denitrogenation of 2,3,5,6-tetraaza-7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene: an experimental and computational study

In our previous computational study, we found that silicon and nitrogen atoms have a notable effect on the reactivity of 1,2-diaza-4-silacyclopentane-3,5-diyls. Thus, the singlet state of the diradical was calculated to be much more stable than the corresponding ring-closing product, i.e., 2,3-diaza-5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane, and the triplet state of the diradical. In the present study, derivatives of the diradical were generated experimentally in the denitrogenation of precursor azoalkanes, i.e., 2,3,5,6-tetraaza-7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enes, which can be prepared by cycloaddition of a diazasilole with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dione (PTAD) or 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dione (MTAD). The diradicals were trapped intermolecularly to afford polycyclic compounds. The computational studies (UB3LYP/6-31G*) of the denitrogenation of a model azoalkane suggested that stepwise denitrogenation with an activation energy of ca. 22 kcal/mol is the thermodynamically favored pathway for generation of the singlet diradical 1,2-diaza-4-silacyclopentane-3,5-diyl derivative via a 1,4-diazenyldiradical intermediate. The low activation energy of the denitrogenation reaction was consistent with the experimental observation that the azoalkane was labile under the preparation conditions used in this study.