Aromatic stabilization of functionalized corannulene cations

Stepwise Generation of Mono-, Di-, and Triply-Reduced Warped Nanographenes: Charge-Dependent Aromaticity, Surface Nonequivalence, Swing Distortion, and Metal Binding Sites

The stepwise chemical reduction of a molecular warped nanographene (WNG) having a negatively curved π-surface and defined C₈₀ H₃₀ composition with Cs metal used as the reducing and complexing agent allowed the isolation of three different reduced states with one, two, and three electrons added to its π-conjugated system. This provided a unique series of nanosized carbanions with increasing negative charge for in-depth structural analysis of consequences of controlled electron charging of non-planar nanographenes, using X-ray crystallographic and computational tools. The 3D molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps identified the negative charge localization at the central part of the WNG surface where selective coordination of Cs⁺ ions is confirmed crystallographically. In-depth theoretical investigation revealed a complex response of the WNG to the stepwise electron acquisition. The extended and contorted π-surface of the WNG undergoes subtle swinging distortions that are accompanied by notable changes in the electronic structure and site-dependent aromaticity of the resulting carbanions.

Synthesis and Structural Elucidation of Bisdibenzocorannulene in Multiple Redox States

We report an anti-folded bowl-shaped bisdibenzocorannulene (BDBC) featuring a new chair-cyclohexane-like hexagon as a bridge of two dibenzocorannulene moieties. The neutral compound showed multiple redox-active properties and could be converted to the corresponding redox states through chemical reduction or oxidation. Chemical reduction of BDBC by stoichiometric addition of metallic potassium in the presence of [18]crown-6 ether, provided a radical anion BDBC^.- and a dianion BDBC^2- , respectively; while chemical oxidation by silver hexafluoroantimonate(V), converted the neutral compound to an open-shell singlet diradical dication (BDBC^.. )²⁺ . The structural consequences of both electron-reduction and oxidation were closely related to the release of ring-strain of the bowl-shaped π-scaffold and imposed steric hindrance of the hexagonal bridge. In addition, the unusual open-shell nature of the dication could mainly be attributed to the changing of localized antiaromaticity in the closed-shell structure to delocalized character in the biradical, and thus the emergence of weakly bonded π-electrons.

Magnetic Shielding Study of Bonding and Aromaticity in Corannulene and Coronene

Bonding and aromaticity in the bowl-shaped C5v and planar D5h geometries of corannulene and the planar D6h geometry of coronene are investigated using 3D isosurfaces and 2D contour plots of the isotropic magnetic shielding σiso(r) and, for planar geometries, of the out-of-plane component of the shielding tensor σzz(r). Corannulene and coronene both feature conjoined shielded “doughnuts” around a peripheral six-membered carbon ring, suggesting strong bonding interactions and aromatic stability; a deshielded region inside the hub ring of corannulene indicates that this ring is antiaromatic, more so in planar corannulene. The switch from the planar to the bowl-shaped geometry of corannulene is shown to enhance both bonding and the local aromaticities of the five- and six-membered rings; these factors, in addition to ring strain reduction, favour the bowl-shaped geometry. The most and least shielded bonds in both corannulene and coronene turn out to be the spoke and hub bonds, respectively. The higher π electron activity over spoke bonds in planar corannulene and coronene is supported by σzz(r) contour plots in planes 1 Å above the respective molecular planes; these findings about spoke bonds are somewhat unexpected, given that ring current studies indicate next to no currents over spoke bonds.

Coupling of two curved polyaromatic radical-anions: stabilization of dimers by counterions

In this study, a comprehensive theoretical investigation of both kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities was performed for dimeric dianionic systems (C₂₀H₁₀)₂^2- and (C₂₈H₁₄)₂^2-, neutralized by two alkali metal cations. The influence of the counterions was of primary interest. The impact of the additional/spectator ligand(s) was elucidated by considering adducts with four molecules of diglyme or two molecules of 18-crown-6 ether. Importantly, both types of systems - in the form of contact-ion pair (CIP) and solvent-separated ion pair (SSIP) - were considered. The SSIP set was augmented by the adduct, in which the dimeric dianionic species were neutralized with purely organic cations N(CH₃)₄⁺ and P(CH₃)₄⁺. Detailed analysis of the bonding revealed that the presence of the counterions made these systems thermodynamically stable. This finding is in sharp contrast with results obtained for isolated (PAH)₂^2- systems, which were previously found to be thermodynamically unstable, but kinetically persistent. The introduction of the alkali metal cations to the system significantly increases the ionic term (ΔE_elstat), whereas the repulsive ΔE_Pauli one was found to be substantially reduced. Considering that the orbital component (ΔE_orb) exhibited only a moderate decrease and the preparation energy (ΔE_prep) showed no changes, the above-mentioned changes in ΔE_elstat and ΔE_Pauli provided a clear explanation for the increase of the thermodynamic stability of the target species. Importantly, a clear correlation between the size of the alkali metal cation and stability of the target dimeric product was established. Thermodynamic stability of the system rises with a decrease in the size of M⁺ due to enlargement of the ΔE_orb. Evaluated energy barriers (as spin-crossing points between singlet and triplet energy surfaces) were found to be equal to +15.85 kcal mol^-1 and +18.5 kcal mol^-1 for [(Cs⁺)₂{(C₂₀H₁₀)₂^2-}] and [(Cs⁺)₂{(C₂₈H₁₄)₂^2-}], respectively, which is substantially higher than those calculated for isolated (PAH)₂^2- systems (+10.00 kcal mol^-1 for (C₂₀H₁₀)₂^2- and +12.35 kcal mol^-1 for (C₂₈H₁₄)₂^2-). Thus, this study identified the presence of counterions as the key factor, which have a dramatic influence on the thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of the aimed dianionic dimeric systems, which are formed by two curved polyaromatic monoanion-radicals.

Homolytic Versus Heterolytic Bond Breaking in Functionalized [R-C20 H10 ]+ Systems

The comprehensive theoretical investigation of stability of functionalized corannulene cations [R-C₂₀ H₁₀ ]⁺ with respect to two alternative bond-breaking mechanisms, namely, homolytic or radical ([R-C₂₀ H₁₀ ]⁺  → R^•  + C₂₀ H₁₀ ^+• ) and heterolytic or cationic ([R-C₂₀ H₁₀ ]⁺  → R⁺  + C₂₀ H₁₀ ), was accomplished. The special focus was on the influence of the nature of R-group on the energetics of the bond cleavage. Detailed study of energetics of both mechanisms has revealed that the systems with small alkyl groups such as methyl tend to undergo bond breaking in accordance with homolytic mechanism. Subsequent elongation of the chain of the R-group resulted in shifting the paradigm, making heterolytic path more energetically favorable. Subsequent analysis of different components of the bonding between R-group and corannulene polyaromatic core helped to shed light on trends observed. In both mechanisms, the covalent contribution was found to be dominating, whereas ionic part contributes ~25-27%. Two leading components of ΔE_orb , C₂₀ H₁₀ → R and R → C₂₀ H₁₀ , were identified with NOCV-EDA approach. While the homolytic pathway is best described as R → C₂₀ H₁₀ process, the heterolytic mechanism shows domination of the C₂₀ H₁₀ → R term. Surprisingly, the preparation energy (ΔE_prep ) was identified as a key player in stability tendencies found. In other words, the relative stability of corresponding molecular fragments (here R-groups as the corannulene fragment remains the same for all systems) in their cationic or radical forms determine the preference given to a specific bond breaking path and, as consequence, the total stability of target functionalized cations. These conclusions were further confirmed by extending a set of R-groups to conjugated (allyl, phenyl), bulky (iPr, tBu), β-silyl (CH₂ SiH₃ , CH₂ SiMe₃ ), and benzyl (CH₂ Ph) groups. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comprehensive Theoretical Study of Interactions between Ag+ and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The first comprehensive and systematic theoretical exploration of the bonding nature and energetics of the interactions between Ag(I) cation and a wide set of π-ligands was accomplished. This set ranges from simple ethylene and aromatic benzene to planar and curved polyaromatic molecules and to closed-cage C₆₀ -fullerene. Simultaneous application of two energy decomposition schemes based on different ideas, namely, NBO-NEDA and EDA-NOCV, allowed shedding light on the nature of the bonding and its energetics. Importantly, our results unambiguously indicate that reliable results can be obtained only if using more than one theoretical approach. All methods clearly revealed the importance and even domination of the ionic contribution of the bonding in all adducts, except for those of C₆₀ -fullerene, in which the covalent component was found to be the largest. Subsequent decomposition of the orbital term onto components showed that it consists of two major parts: (i) ligand-to-metal (π(C=C)→s(Ag), L→M) and (ii) metal-to-ligand (M→L) terms, with significant domination of the former. Interestingly, while the L→M component is essentially the same for all systems considered, the nature of the M→L one depends on the coordination site of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In most of adducts, the M→L can be described as d_xy (Ag)→π^* (C=C) donation, whereas for systems [Ag-spoke-C₁₂ H₈ ]⁺ and [Ag-spoke-C₂₀ H₁₀ ]⁺ it corresponds to the d_z ² (Ag)→π^* (C=C) type of interaction. As a result, the coordination mode in such complexes is switched from η² -type to η¹ . Thus, the nature of the bonding, its energetics and even coordination mode in adducts of unsaturated hydrocarbons with late transition metal cations should be considered as a function of many components, which primarily includes the topology and aromaticity of the (poly)aromatic molecules.

Stepwise deprotonation of sumanene: electronic structures, energetics and aromaticity alterations

Stepwise deprotonation of sumanene resulted in complete delocalization of electron density as well as aromatization of 5-membered rings.

Stability of functionalized corannulene cations [R-C20 H10 ](+) : An influence of the nature of R-Group

The first comprehensive theoretical study of stability of hub-functionalized corannulene cations [R-C20 H10 ](+) as the function of the nature of R-group was accomplished. The initial set of linear alkyl R-group of different length (R=(CH2 )n CH3 , n = 0-9) was augmented by groups which form stable organic cations, such as tert-butyl, isopropyl, allyl, and phenyl. Investigation of relative stability (with bonding energy as the measure) was accompanied by detailed study of changes in aromaticity using a large set of descriptors, as well as by the evaluation of energetics of possible migration of R-group from the hub-site to the spoke-position. Decrease in stability of functionalized corannulene cations with lengthening of R-group and/or replacing it with branched alkyl group was found to be the general trend. At the same time, π-conjugated groups such as allyl or phenyl ones, stabilize the system. All methods/approaches applied unambiguously indicated that the actual stability of the hub-functionalized corannulene cations is indeed a multi faceted phenomenon. Important contributions come from different interplay between attractive (ΔEorb vs. ΔEelstat ) and repulsive (ΔEPauli ) components of the bonding, from changes in aromatic behavior of rings in polyaromatic fragment, and from activation barrier for the process of migration of R-group. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.