Are Metallacyclopentadienes Always Non-Aromatic?

Even though metallacyclopentadienes (MCPs) are among the most common metallacycles, their electron delocalization (aromaticity) has received far less attention than other metallacycles, such as metallabenzenes. We systematically studied the aromaticity of MCPs with energetic (isomerization stabilization energy), density (delocalization index) and magnetic (current density) aromaticity indices. The indices agree that metallacyclopentadienes are, in general, weakly aromatic at most. The 18e− complexes showed the expected weak aromaticity, and only the d8 molecules are somewhat anti-aromatic. However, the theoretical account of the aromaticity of the 16e− MCPs is more convoluted. We find that the aromatic criteria for a 16e−d4 ruthenacyclopentadiene disagree. The lack of agreement shows that significant electron delocalization is not always related to great stability or to strong diatropic currents.

Annealing Induced Saturation in Electron Concentration for V-Doped CdO

As-grown Ar-deposited Cd1−xVxO and Ar/O2-deposited Cd1−yVyO feature lower and higher electron concentrations than 4 × 1020 cm−3, respectively. After isothermal and isochronal annealing under N2 ambient, we find that the two series exhibit a decrease or increase in electron concentrations until ~4 × 1020 cm−3 which is close to Fermi stabilization energy (EFS) level of CdO, with the assistance of native defects. An amphoteric defects model is used to explain the changing trends in electron concentrations. The tendencies in mobility further confirm our results. This work may provide some strategies to predict the electrical properties in CdO.

Theoretical investigation of the stability, reactivity, and the interaction of methyl-substituted peridinium-based ionic liquids

This research work focuses on the reactivity, stability, and electronic interaction of pyridinium hydrogen nitrate (PHN)-based ionic liquids and the influence of methyl substituent on this class of ionic liquids: Ortho- (O-MPHN), meta- (M-MPHN), and para- (P-MPHN) substitution. Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations were performed at the density functional theory (DFT) with Becke’s Lee Yang and Parr functional (B3LYP) methods and DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) as basis set using GAUSSIAN 09W and GAUSSVIEW 6.0 software and the most important interaction between donor (Filled Lewis-type NBO’s) and the acceptor (vacant non-Lewis NBOs) were observed. From our natural bond orbital (NBO) result, it could be deduced that the higher the stabilization energy value, the greater the interaction between the donor and acceptor NBOs. The stability of the studied compounds is said to follow the order from O-MPHN > PHN > P-MPHN > M-MPHN based on the hyperconjugative interaction (stabilization energy) of the most significant interaction. The result of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), shows that PHN has the highest HOMO while the substituted derivatives have similar HOMO values between −7.70 and −7.98 eV thus PHN complex is the best electron donor while the substituted derivatives act as electron acceptors due to the presence of methyl group substituent which is observed to be electron deficient as a result of its withdrawal effect from the aromatic ring. Furthermore, the electron density, real space functions such as energy density and Laplacian of electron density at bond critical point (BCP) of the hydrogen bond interaction of the studied compounds were analyzed using Multifunctional Wavefunction analyzer software version 3.7 and it was observed that the hydrogen at position 6 and oxygen at position 11 (H6–O11) of M-methyl pyridinium nitrate with bond distance of 4.59 (Å) gave binding energy with the strongest electrostatic interaction between the cation and anion of the compounds under investigation. We also observed from our results that, substitution at the ortho position enhances the stability and strengthen the extent of charge transfer. This therefore implies that substitution at ortho position is more favorable for inter- and intramolecular interactions resulting to stabilization of the studied molecules.

Synthesis of a Highly Aromatic and Planar [10]Annulene

As the next neutral structure following Hückels rule, a planar and aromatic [10]annulene is ideal to study the link between ring size and aromaticity. However, the puckered geometry of the parent [10]annulene suggests that the aromatic stabilization energy is not sufficient to overcome the ring strain that exists when the system is forced into planarity. It has been shown computationally that this ring strain can be alleviated through the addition of two or more cyclopropane rings to the periphery, thereby creating theoretically aromatic structures. An alternative strategy to eliminating the issue of ring strain was demonstrated experimentally with the successful preparation of the highly aromatic 1,6-didehydro[10]annulene. However, the system rapidly cyclizes at -40°C to a naphthalene diradical due to the close proximity of the in-plane p-orbitals present in the system. Here we show that cyclopropanating one side of the unstable annulene successfully prevents the destabilizing cross-ring interaction while maintaining a highly aromatic structure. Remarkably, the formed [10]annulene is bench stable and can be stored for extended periods of time.<br>

Synthesis of a Highly Aromatic and Planar [10]Annulene

As the next neutral structure following Hückels rule, a planar and aromatic [10]annulene is ideal to study the link between ring size and aromaticity. However, the puckered geometry of the parent [10]annulene suggests that the aromatic stabilization energy is not sufficient to overcome the ring strain that exists when the system is forced into planarity. It has been shown computationally that this ring strain can be alleviated through the addition of two or more cyclopropane rings to the periphery, thereby creating theoretically aromatic structures. An alternative strategy to eliminating the issue of ring strain was demonstrated experimentally with the successful preparation of the highly aromatic 1,6-didehydro[10]annulene. However, the system rapidly cyclizes at -40°C to a naphthalene diradical due to the close proximity of the in-plane p-orbitals present in the system. Here we show that cyclopropanating one side of the unstable annulene successfully prevents the destabilizing cross-ring interaction while maintaining a highly aromatic structure. Remarkably, the formed [10]annulene is bench stable and can be stored for extended periods of time.<br>

In silico study of binding affinity of nitrogenous bicyclic heterocycles: fragment-to-fragment approach

The binding affinity of model aromatic amino acids and heterocycles and their derivatives condensed with pyridine were investigated in silico and are presented in the framework of fragment-to-fragment approach. The presented model describes interaction between pharmacophores and biomolecules. Scrupulous data analysis shows that expansion of the π-electron system by heterocycles annelation causes the shifting up of high energy levels, while the appearance of new the dicoordinated nitrogen atom is accompanied by decreasing of the donor-acceptor properties. Density Functional Theory (DFT) wB97XD/6-31(d,p)/calculations of π-complexes of the heterocycles 1-3 with model fragments of aromatic amino acids, which were formed by π-stack interaction, show an increase in the stabilization energy of π-complexes during the moving from phenylalanine to tryptophan. DFT calculation of pharmacophore complexes with model proton-donor amino acid by the hydrogen bonding mechanism (H-B complex) shows that stabilization energy (DE) increases from monoheterocycles to their condensed derivatives. The expansion of the π-electron system by introducing phenyl radicals to the oxazole cycle as reported earlier [18] leads to a decrease in the stabilization energy of the [Pharm-BioM] complexes in comparison with the annelated oxazole by the pyridine cycle.

Synthesis, Structure and Physical Properties of (trans-TTF-py2)1.5(PF6)·EtOH: A Molecular Conductor with Weak CH∙∙∙N Hydrogen Bondings

The studies of crystal structures with hydrogen bonds have been actively pursued because of their moderate stabilization energy for constructing unique structures. In this study, we synthesized a molecular conductor based on 2,6-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,4,5,8-tetrathiafulvalene (trans-TTF-py2). Two pyridyl groups were introduced into the TTF skeleton toward the structural exploration in TTF-based molecular conductors involved by hydrogen bonds. In the obtained molecular conductor, (trans-TTF-py2)1.5(PF6)·EtOH, short contacts between the pyridyl group and the hydrogen atom of the TTF skeleton were observed, indicating that hydrogen bonding interactions were introduced in the crystal structure. Spectroscopic measurements and conductivity measurement revealed semiconducting behavior derived from π-stacked trans-TTF-py2 radical in the crystal structure. Finally, these results are discussed with the quantified hydrogen bonding stabilization energy, and the band calculation of the crystal obtained from density functional theory calculation.

When solvent becomes reactant: a study of 6-aminothiocytosine derivatives

The dissolution of 6-aminothiocytosine in common solvents (such as methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide and dichloromethane) under alkaline conditions is shown to afford new compounds with a 6-aminothiocytosine skeleton: 2,2′-disulfanediylbis(pyrimidine-4,6-diamine) (1), C8H10N8S2, 2,2′-[methanediylbis(sulfanediyl)]bis(pyrimidine-4,6-diamine) (2), C9H12N8S2, 2-[(methoxymethyl)sulfanyl]pyrimidine-4,6-diamine (3), C6H10N4OS, and poly[(μ-4,6-diaminopyrimidine-2-sulfinato)potassium(I)] (4), [K(C4H5N4O2S)] n . The crystal architectures of these compounds are found to be strongly influenced by extensive hydrogen-bond networks, although some individual features are also observed. Specifically, 1 is characterized by very short C—H...N hydrogen bonds, 2 features apparently weak and long C—H...π, C—H...S and π–π contacts as the greatest contributors to stabilization energy, while 3 contains ribbons of molecules formed by centrosymmetric dimers of two types, and 4 is characterized by layers with principal structural units comprising distorted six-molecule rings. The intermolecular interactions in 1–4 are characterized in terms of their geometry, topology and energy, and the corresponding results are confirmed and visualized using Hirshfeld surface analysis.

Bases, solvates and salts: new benzimidazole- and pyridine-scaffolded ligands

The intermolecular interactions in the structures of a series of Schiff base ligands have been thoroughly studied. These ligands can be obtained in different forms, namely, as the free base 2-[(2E)-2-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethylidene)-1-methylhydrazinyl]pyridine, C10H11N5, 1, the hydrates 2-[(2E)-2-(1H-imidazol-2-ylmethylidene)-1-methylhydrazinyl]-1H-benzimidazole monohydrate, C12H12N6·H2O, 2, and 2-{(2E)-1-methyl-2-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylidene]hydrazinyl}-1H-benzimidazole 1.25-hydrate, C13H14N6·1.25H2O, 3, the monocationic hydrate 5-{(1E)-[2-(1H-1,3-benzodiazol-2-yl)-2-methylhydrazinylidene]methyl}-1H-imidazol-3-ium trifluoromethanesulfonate monohydrate, C12H13N6 +·CF3O3S−·H2O, 5, and the dicationic 2-{(2E)-1-methyl-2-[(1H-imidazol-3-ium-2-yl)methylidene]hydrazinyl}pyridinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate), C10H13N5 2+·2CF3O3S−, 6. The connection between the forms and the preferred intermolecular interactions is described and further studied by means of the calculation of the interaction energies between the neutral and charged components of the crystal structures. These studies show that, in general, the most important contribution to the stabilization energy of the crystal is provided by π–π interactions, especially between charged ligands, while the details of the crystal architecture are influenced by directional interactions, especially relatively strong hydrogen bonds. In one of the structures, a very interesting example of the nontypical F...O interaction was found and its length, 2.859 (2) Å, is one of the shortest ever reported.