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We report a facile synthesis of diindeno‐fused dibenzo[a,h]anthracene derivatives (DIDBA‐2Cl,DIDBA‐2Ph, andDIDBA‐2H)with different degrees of non‐planarity using three substituents (chloro, phenyl, and hydrogen) of various sizes. The planarization of their cores, as evidenced by the decreased end‐to‐end torsional angles, was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. Their enhanced energy gaps with twisting were investigated by a combination of spectroscopic and electrochemical methods with density functional theory, which showed a transition from singlet open‐shell to closed‐shell configuration. Moreover, their doubly reduced states,DIDBA‐2Ph²⁻andDIDBA‐2H²⁻, were achieved by chemical reduction. The structures of dianions were identified by X‐ray crystallographic analysis, which elucidated that the electron charging further distorted the backbones. The electronic structure of the dianions was demonstrated by experimental and theoretical approaches, suggesting decreased energy gaps with larger non‐planarity, different from the neutral species.

The electronic, optical, and solid state properties of a series of monoradicals, anions and cations obtained from starting neutral diradicals have been studied. Diradicals based ons‐indacene and indenoacenes, with benzothiophenes fused and in different orientations, feature a varying degree of diradical character in the neutral state, which is here related with the properties of the radical redox forms. The analysis of their optical features in the polymethine monoradicals has been carried out in the framework of the molecular orbital and valence bond theories. Electronic UV‐Vis‐NIR absorption, X‐ray solid‐state diffraction and quantum chemical calculations have been carried out. Studies of the different positive‐/negative‐charged species, both residing in the same skeletalπ‐conjugated backbone, are rare for organic molecules. The key factor for the dual stabilization is the presence of the starting diradical character that enables to indistinctively accommodate a pseudo‐hole and a pseudo‐electron defect with certainly small reorganization energies for ambipolar charge transport.

The design and synthesis of persistent tetraaryl[4]cumulenes are reported. Derivatives with phenyl endgroups ([4]Phand[4]Ph/Ar*) are susceptible to reactions during synthesis and/or purification that complicate isolation of the desired product, particularly intermolecular dimerization reactions. Incorporation of (3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl)phenyl endgroups (Ar*) provides increased stability, culminating in the stable and isolable [4]cumulene[4]Ar*. Cumulene[4]Ar*remains, however, susceptible to dimerization under pressing conditions, and[4]Ar*also readily reacts with electrophiles under mild conditions that lead to intramolecular cyclization. Given the structural complexity of the side products in these studies (compounds3,10,14,17,18), X‐ray crystallography plays a vital role in their identification.

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.

The stepwise chemical reduction of a molecular warped nanographene (WNG) having a negatively curved π‐surface and defined C₈₀H₃₀composition 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 itsπ‐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.

The chemical reduction of π‐conjugated bilayer nanographene1(C₁₃₈H₁₂₀) with K and Rb in the presence of 18‐crown‐6 affords [K⁺(18‐crown‐6)(THF)₂][{K⁺(18‐crown‐6)}₂(THF)_0.5][C₁₃₈H₁₂₂³⁻] (2) and [Rb⁺(18‐crown‐6)₂][{Rb⁺(18‐crown‐6)}₂(C₁₃₈H₁₂₂³⁻)] (3). Whereas K⁺cations are fully solvent‐separated from the trianionic core thus affording a “naked”1^.3−anion, Rb⁺cations are coordinated to the negatively charged layers of1^.3−. According to DFT calculations, the localization of the first two electrons in the helicene moiety leads to an unprecedented site‐specific hydrogenation process at the carbon atoms located on the edge of the helicene backbone. This uncommon reduction‐induced site‐specific hydrogenation provokes dramatic changes in the (electronic) structure of1as the helicene backbone becomes more compressed and twisted upon chemical reduction, which results in a clear slippage of the bilayers.

The dianion and dication of tetramesityl‐substituted tetracyclopentatetraphenylene, a circulene consisting of alternating five‐ and six‐membered rings, have been generated by reduction with alkali metals and oxidation with antimony(V) halides, respectively. They are theoretically predicted to adopt double annulenoid structures called annulene‐within‐an‐annulene models in which the outer and inner conjugation circuits are significantly decoupled. The theoretical structures were experimentally proven by X‐ray crystallographic analyses and the electronic configurations were supported by MCD spectra. Based on the¹³C NMR chemical shifts, negative and positive charges are shown to be located mainly at the outer periphery, indicating that the dianion and dication have delocalized 22‐π and 18‐π electron outer perimeters, respectively, and 8‐π electron structure at the inner ring. Notably, the dianion has an open‐shell character, whereas the dication has a closed‐shell ground state.

The chemical reduction of a π‐expanded polycyclic framework comprising a cyclooctatetraene moiety, octaphenyltetrabenzocyclooctatetraene, with lithium metal readily affords the corresponding tetra‐anion instead of the expected aromatic dianion. As revealed by X‐ray crystallography, the highly contorted tetra‐anion is stabilized by coordination of two internally bound Li⁺, while two external cations remain solvent separated. The variable‐temperature⁷Li NMR spectra in THF confirm the presence of three types of Li⁺ions and clearly differentiate internal binding, consistent with the crystal structure. Density‐functional theory calculations suggest that the formation of the highly charged tetra‐reduced carbanion is stabilized through Li⁺coordination under the applied experimental conditions.

Chemical reduction of a benzo‐fused double [7]helicene (1) with two alkali metals, K and Rb, provided access to three different reduced states of1. The doubly‐reduced helicene1²⁻has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as a solvent‐separated ion triplet with two potassium counterions. The triply‐ and tetra‐reduced helicenes,1³⁻and1⁴⁻, have been crystallized together in an equimolar ratio and both form the contact‐ion complexes with two Rb⁺ions each, leaving three remaining Rb⁺ions wrapped by crown ether and THF molecules. As structural consequence of the stepwise reduction of1, the central axis of helicene becomes more compressed upon electron addition (1.42 Å in1⁴⁻vs. 2.09 Å in1). This is accompanied by an extra core twist, as the peripheral dihedral angle increases from 16.5° in1to 20.7° in1⁴⁻. Theoretical calculations provided the pattern of negative charge build‐up and distribution over the contorted helicene framework upon each electron addition, and the results are consistent with the X‐ray crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic data.

Anionic forms of a macrocyclic cyclophane were crystallized by treating the neutral hydrocarbon with alkali metals (Li, Na and K). The di-anions show decreased bond-length alternation, consistent with global aromaticity, whereas the anti-aromatic tetra-anion has a low-symmetry geometry.