skip to main content

Attention:

The NSF Public Access Repository (PAR) system and access will be unavailable from 8:00 PM ET on Friday, March 21 until 8:00 AM ET on Saturday, March 22 due to maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.


Title: Repercussions of multi-electron uptake by a twistacene: a reduction-induced double dehydrogenative annulation
Chemical reduction of highly-twisted 9,10,11,20,21,22-hexaphenyltetrabenzo[a,c,l,n]pentacene (C74H46, 1) was investigated using Li and Cs metals as the reducing agents. The Cs-induced reduction of 1 in the presence of 18-crown-6 ether enabled the isolation of a solvent-separated ion pair (SSIP) with a “naked” monoanion. Upon reduction with Li metal, a double reductive dehydrogenative annulation of 1 was observed to afford a new C74H422– dianion. The latter was shown to undergo a further reduction to C74H424– without additional core transformation. All products were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. Subsequent in-depth theoretical analysis of one vs. two and four electron uptake by 1 provided insights into how the changes of geometry, aromaticity and charge facilitated the core transformation of twistacene observed upon two-fold reduction. These experimental and theoretical results pave the way to understanding of the reduction-induced core transformations of highly twisted and strained π-systems.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2003411 1834750
PAR ID:
10491569
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
RSC
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Organic Chemistry Frontiers
Volume:
10
Issue:
23
ISSN:
2052-4129
Page Range / eLocation ID:
5823 to 5833
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Chemical reduction of pentacene (C22H14,1) with Group 1 metals ranging from Li to Cs revealed that1readily undergoes a two‐fold reduction to afford a doubly‐reduced12−anion in THF. With the help of 18‐crown‐6 ether used as a secondary coordinating agent, five π‐complexes of12−with different alkali metal counterions have been isolated and fully characterized. This series of complexes enables the first evaluation of alkali‐metal ion binding patterns and structural changes of the12−dianion based on the crystallographically confirmed examples. The difference in coordination of the smallest Li+ion vs. heavier Group 1 congeners has been demonstrated. In addition, the use of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 in the reaction of1with Na metal allowed the isolation of the unique solvent‐separated ion product with a “naked” dianion,12−. The detailed structural analyses of the series revealed the C−C bond alteration and core deformation of pentacene upon two‐fold reduction and complexation. The negative charge localization at the central six‐membered ring of12−identified by theoretical calculations corroborates with the X‐ray crystallographic results. Subsequent in‐depth theoretical analysis provided a detailed description of changes in the electronic structure and aromaticity of pentacene upon reduction.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Chemical reduction of OBO‐fused double[5]helicene with Group 1 metals (Na and K) has been investigated for the first time. Two doubly‐reduced products have been isolated and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, revealing a solvent‐separated ion triplet (SSIT) with Na+ions and a contact‐ion pair (CIP) with K+ion. As the key structural outcome, the X‐ray crystallographic analysis discloses the consequences of adding two electrons to the double helicene core in the SSIT without metal binding and reveals the preferential binding site in the CIP with K+counterions. In both products, an increase in the twisting of the double helicene core upon charging was observed. The negative charge localization at the central core has been identified by theoretical calculations, which are in full agreement with X‐ray crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic results. Notably, it was confirmed that the two‐electron reduction of OBO‐fused double[5]helicene is reversible.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Chemical reduction of OBO‐fused double[5]helicene with Group 1 metals (Na and K) has been investigated for the first time. Two doubly‐reduced products have been isolated and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, revealing a solvent‐separated ion triplet (SSIT) with Na+ions and a contact‐ion pair (CIP) with K+ion. As the key structural outcome, the X‐ray crystallographic analysis discloses the consequences of adding two electrons to the double helicene core in the SSIT without metal binding and reveals the preferential binding site in the CIP with K+counterions. In both products, an increase in the twisting of the double helicene core upon charging was observed. The negative charge localization at the central core has been identified by theoretical calculations, which are in full agreement with X‐ray crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic results. Notably, it was confirmed that the two‐electron reduction of OBO‐fused double[5]helicene is reversible.

     
    more » « less
  4. null (Ed.)
    The consequences of four-electron addition to [8]cycloparaphenylene ([8]CPP, 1 ) have been evaluated crystallographically, revealing a significant core deformation. The structural analysis exposes an elliptical distortion observed upon electron transfer, with the deformation parameter (D.P.) increased by 28% in comparison with neutral [8]CPP. The C–C bond length alteration pattern also indicates a quinoidal structural rearrangement upon four-fold reduction. The large internal cavity of [8]CPP 4− allows the encapsulation of two {K + (THF) 2 } cationic moieties with two additional cations bound externally in the solid-state structure of [{K + (THF) 2 } 4 ([8]CPP 4− )]. The experimental structural data have been used as a benchmark for the comprehensive theoretical description of the geometric changes and electronic properties of the highly-charged [8]CPP 4− nanohoop in comparison with its neutral parent. While neutral [8]CPP and the [8]CPP 2− anion clearly show aromatic behavior of all six-membered rings, subsequent addition of two more electrons completely reverses their aromatic character to afford the highly-antiaromatic [8]CPP 4− anion, as evidenced by structural, topological, and magnetic descriptors. The disentanglement of electron transfer from metal binding effects allowed their contributions to the overall core perturbation of the negatively-charged [8]CPP to be revealed. Consequently, the internal coordination of potassium cations is identified as the main driving force for drastic elliptic distortion of the macrocyclic framework upon reduction. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Designed site‐directed dimerization of the monoanion radicals of a π‐bowl in the solid state is reported. Dibenzo[a,g]corannulene (C28H14) was selected based on the asymmetry of the charge/spin localization in the C28H14.−anion. Controlled one‐electron reduction of C28H14with Cs metal in diglyme resulted in crystallization of a new dimer, [{Cs+(diglyme)}2(C28H14−C28H14)2−] (1), as revealed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction study performed in a broad range of temperatures. The C−C bond length between two C28H14.−bowls (1.560(8) Å) measured at −143 °C does not significantly change upon heating of the crystal to +67 °C. The single σ‐bond character of the C−C linker is confirmed by calculations. The trans‐disposition of two bowls in1is observed with the torsion angles around the central C−C bond of 172.3(5)° and 173.5(5)°. A systematic theoretical evaluation of dimerization pathways of C28H14.−radicals confirmed that the trans‐isomer found in1is energetically favored.

     
    more » « less