Oxidative insertion of amines into conjugated macrocycles: transformation of antiaromatic norcorrole into aromatic azacorrole

Metallaantiaromaticity of 10-Platinacorrole Complexes

The aromaticity of cyclic π-conjugated organometallic compounds is known as metallaaromaticity. π-Conjugated metallacycles, such as metallabenzenes and metallapentalenes, have been investigated in order to understand the involvement of the d electrons from the metal center in the π-conjugated systems of the organic ligands. Here, we report the synthesis of Pd(II) 10-platinacorrole complexes with cyclooctadiene (COD) and norbornadiene (NBD) ligands. While the Pd(II) 10-platinacorrole COD complex adopts a distorted structure without showing appreciable antiaromaticity, the corresponding NBD complex exhibits a distinct antiaromatic character due to its highly planar conformation. Detailed density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that two d orbitals are involved in macrocyclic π-conjugation. We furthermore demonstrated that Craig-Möbius antiaromaticity is not present in the studied system. The synthesis of 10-platinacorroles enables a systematic comparison of the antiaromaticity and aromaticity of closely related porphyrin analogues, providing a better understanding of π-conjugation that involves d orbitals.

Aromaticity Reversal Induced by Vibrations in Cyclo[16]carbon

Aromaticity is typically regarded as an intrinsic property of a molecule, correlated with electron delocalization, stability, and other properties. Small variations in the molecular geometry usually result in small changes in aromaticity, in line with Hammond's postulate. For example, introducing bond-length alternation in benzene and square cyclobutadiene by modulating the geometry along the Kekulé vibration gradually decreases the magnitude of their ring currents, making them less aromatic and less antiaromatic, respectively. A sign change in the ring current, corresponding to a reversal of aromaticity, typically requires a gross perturbation such as electronic excitation, addition or removal of two electrons, or a dramatic change in the molecular geometry. Here, we use multireference calculations to show how movement along the Kekulé vibration, which controls bond-length alternation, induces a sudden reversal in the ring current of cyclo[16]carbon, C16. This reversal occurs when the two orthogonal π systems of C16 sustain opposing currents. These results are rationalized by a Hückel model which includes bond-length alternation, and which is combined with a minimal model accounting for orbital contributions to the ring current. Finally, we successfully describe the electronic structure of C16 with a "divide-and-conquer" approach suitable for execution on a quantum computer.