Four Decades of the Chemistry of Planar Hypercoordinate Compounds.

The idea of planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) was considered implausible for a hundred years after 1874. Examples of ptC were then predicted computationally and realized experimentally. Both electronic and mechanical (e.g., small rings and cages) effects stabilize these unusual bonding arrangements. Concepts based on the bonding motifs of planar methane and the planar methane dication can be extended to give planar hypercoordinate structures of other chemical elements. Numerous planar configurations of various central atoms (main-group and transition-metal elements) with coordination numbers up to ten are discussed herein. The evolution of such planar configurations from small molecules to clusters, to nanospecies and to bulk solids is delineated. Some experimentally fabricated planar materials have been shown to possess unusual electrical and magnetic properties. A fundamental understanding of planar hypercoordinate chemistry and its potential will help guide its future development.

Reciprocal hydrogen bonding-aromaticity relationships.

Computed association energies and dissected nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) document the mutual enhancement (or reduction) of intermolecular interactions and the aromaticity of H-bonded substrates. H-bonding interactions that increase cyclic 4n + 2 π-electron delocalization boost aromaticity. Conversely, such interactions are weakened when aromaticity is decreased as a result of more localized quinoidal π character. Representative examples of the tautomeric equilibria of π-conjugated heterocyclic compounds in protic solvents and other H-bonding environments also illustrate such H-bonding/aromaticity interplay.

Al2C monolayer: the planar tetracoordinate carbon global minimum.

Inspired by our theoretical finding that C2Al6(2-) has a planar D2h minimum with two planar tetracoordinate carbons (ptCs), we computationally designed a new two-dimensional (2D) inorganic material, an Al2C monolayer. All carbons in this monolayer are ptC's, stabilized inductively by binding to four electropositive Al atoms in the same plane. The Al2C monolayer is semiconducting with an indirect minimum band gap and a slightly larger direct band gap. Good persistence of the Al2C monolayer is indicated by its moderate cohesive energy, the absence of imaginary modes in its phonon spectrum, and the high melting point predicted by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Moreover, a particle-swarm optimization (PSO) global minimum search found the Al2C monolayer to be the lowest-energy 2D structure compared to other Al2C alternatives. Dividing the Al2C monolayer results in one-dimensional (1D) Al2C nanoribbons, which are computed to have quite rich characteristics such as direct or indirect band gaps with various values, depending on the direction of the division and the resulting edge configuration.

Arenium ions are not obligatory intermediates in electrophilic aromatic substitution.

Our computational and experimental investigation of the reaction of anisole with Cl2 in nonpolar CCl4 solution challenges two fundamental tenets of the traditional SEAr (arenium ion) mechanism of aromatic electrophilic substitution. Instead of this direct substitution process, the alternative addition-elimination (AE) pathway is favored energetically. This AE mechanism rationalizes the preferred ortho and para substitution orientation of anisole easily. Moreover, neither the SEAr nor the AE mechanisms involve the formation of a σ-complex (Wheland-type) intermediate in the rate-controlling stage. Contrary to the conventional interpretations, the substitution (SEAr) mechanism proceeds concertedly via a single transition state. Experimental NMR investigations of the anisole chlorination reaction course at various temperatures reveal the formation of tetrachloro addition by-products and thus support the computed addition-elimination mechanism of anisole chlorination in nonpolar media. The important autocatalytic effect of the HCl reaction product was confirmed by spectroscopic (UV-visible) investigations and by HCl-augmented computational modeling.

Bay-type H···H "bonding" in cis-2-butene and related species: QTAIM versus NBO description.

We use comparative natural bond orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) methods to analyze the proximal bay-type H···H interactions in cis-2-butene and related species, which lead to controversial interpretation as attractive "HH bonding" in the QTAIM framework. We address the challenging questions concerning well established structural, conformational, and vibrational properties of such species that appear to be sharply at odds with the QTAIM interpretation. In contrast to the purported "HH bonding" of QTAIM theory, NBO-based evaluation of steric (donor-donor) and hyperconjugative (donor-acceptor) interactions unambiguously portrays such H···H contacts as dominated by steric clashes that are only partially softened by weak secondary hyperconjugative interactions, contributing negligibly (bHH < 0.01) to H···H bond order. Additional details of NBO-based versus QTAIM-based description are provided by natural bond critical point analysis of topological bond critical point properties, which further emphasizes the contrast between the problematic bay-type H···H contacts and remaining noncontroversial (consensus) chemical bonds. NBO analysis is thereby shown to be fully consistent with the traditional physical organic concept of repulsive bay-type H···H contacts, including the corollary array of structural, conformational, and vibrational properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

On the large σ-hyperconjugation in alkanes and alkenes.

The conventional view that the σCC and σCH bonds in alkanes and unsaturated hydrocarbons are so highly localized that their non-steric interactions are negligible is scrutinized by the block-localized wavefunction (BLW) method. Even molecules considered conventionally to be "strain free" and "unperturbed" have surprisingly large and quite significant total σ-BLW-delocalization energies (DEs) due to their geminal and vicinal hyperconjugative interactions. Thus, the computed BLW-DEs (in kcal mol(-1)) for the antiperiplanar conformations of the n-alkanes (C(N)H(2N+2), N = 1-10) range from 11.6 for ethane to 82.2 for n-decane and are 50.9 for cyclohexane and 91.0 for adamantane. Although σ-electron delocalization in unsaturated hydrocarbons usually is ignored, the σ-BLW-DEs (in kcal mol(-1)) are substantial, as exemplified by D2h ethylene (9.0), triplet D2d ethylene (16.4), allene (19.3), butadiene (19.0), hexatriene (28.3), benzene (28.1), and cyclobutadiene (21.1). While each individual geminal and vicinal hyperconjugative interaction between hydrocarbon σ-bonding and σ-antibonding orbitals tends to be smaller than an individual π conjugative interaction (e.g., 10.2 kcal mol(-1) in anti-1,3-butadiene, the presence of many σ-hyperconjugative interactions (e.g., a total of 12 in anti-1,3-butadiene, see text), result in substantial total σ-stabilization energies (e.g., 19.0 kcal mol(-1) for butadiene), which may surpass those from the π interactions. Although large in magnitude, σ-electron delocalization energies often are obscured by cancellation when two hydrocarbons are compared. Rather than being strain-free, cyclohexane, adamantane, and diamantane suffer from their increasing number of intramolecular 1,4-C…C repulsions resulting in elongated C-C bond lengths and reduced σ-hyperconjugation, compared to the (skew-free) antiperiplanar n-alkane conformers. Instead of being inconsequential, σ-bond interactions are important and merit consideration.

Aromaticity in transition structures.

Aromaticity is an essential concept in chemistry, employed to account for the unusual stability, reactivity, molecular structures, and other properties of many unsaturated organic compounds. This concept was later extended to inorganic molecules and to saturated systems with mobile electrons, as well as to transition structures, the focus of the present review. Although transition structures are inherently delocalized, not all exhibit aromaticity. We contrast here examples of pericyclic reaction transition structures (where aromaticity is significant) with those for illustrative pseudo-pericyclic reactions (where aromaticity is less or not important). Non-pericyclic reactions may also have aromatic transition structures. State-of-the-art computational methods to evaluate the aromaticity of transition structures are described briefly.

Correlation effects on the relative stabilities of alkanes.

The "alkane branching effect" denotes the fact that simple alkanes with more highly branched carbon skeletons, for example, isobutane and neopentane, are more stable than their normal isomers, for example, n-butane and n-pentane. Although n-alkanes have no branches, the "kinks" (or "protobranches") in their chains (defined as the composite of 1,3-alkyl-alkyl interactions-including methine, methylene, and methyl groups as alkyl entities-present in most linear, cyclic, and branched alkanes, but not methane or ethane) also are associated with lower energies. Branching and protobranching stabilization energies are evaluated by isodesmic comparisons of protobranched alkanes with ethane. Accurate ab initio characterization of branching and protobranching stability requires post-self-consistent field (SCF) treatments, which account for medium range (∼1.5-3.0 Å) electron correlation. Localized molecular orbital second-order Møller-Plesset (LMO-MP2) partitioning of the correlation energies of simple alkanes into localized contributions indicates that correlation effects between electrons in 1,3-alkyl groups are largely responsible for the enhanced correlation energies and general stabilities of branched and protobranched alkanes.

A Hückel theory perspective on Möbius aromaticity.

Heilbronner's Hückel molecular orbital treatment of Möbius 4n-π annulenes is revisited. When uneven twisting in π-systems of small Möbius rings is accounted for, their resonance energies become comparable to iso-π-electronic linear alkenes with the same number of carbon atoms. Larger Möbius rings distribute π-twisting more evenly but exhibit only modest aromatic stabilization. Dissected nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS), based on the LMO (localized molecular orbital)-NICS(0)π index confirm the magnetic aromaticity of the Möbius annulenes considered.

Substituent effects on "hyperconjugative" aromaticity and antiaromaticity in planar cyclopolyenes.

Computed aromatic stabilization energies (ASEs) and dissected nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICSπzz) quantify the effect of hyperconjugation on the (anti)aromaticities of the planar conformations of three, five, seven, and nine membered (CnHn)CR2 (R = H, SiH3, F) rings. CH2 and especially C(SiH3)2 groups supply two "pseudo" π electrons hyperconjugatively along with the olefinic π electrons in the ring, whereas a CF2 group acts like a partially vacant p orbital. Following the Hückel rule, compounds with 4n+2 (or 4n) pseudo π electrons are "hyperconjugatively" aromatic (or antiaromatic).

Evaluation of triplet aromaticity by the isomerization stabilization energy.

The many manifestations of aromaticity have long fascinated both experimentalists and theoreticians. Due to their degenerate half-filled MOs, triplet [n]annulenes with 4n π-electrons are also aromatic, but the degree of their stabilization has been difficult to quantify. The isomerization stabilization energy (ISE) method has been applied to evaluate the triplet aromaticity. The reliability of this approach is indicated by the strong correlation of the ISE results with NICS(1)zz, a magnetic indicator of triplet state aromaticity.

Nonamethylcyclopentyl cation rearrangement mysteries solved.

The C1 nonamethylcyclopentyl cation minimum undergoes complete methyl scrambling in SbF5 with a 7 kcal/mol barrier. This corresponds to the rate-limiting conformational interconversion of enantiomeric hyperconjomers via a C(s) transition structure (above right). A remarkable, more rapid, second process only exchanges methyls within sets of four and five (blue and red, see above), as has been observed experimentally at low temperatures. The computed ∼2 kcal/mol barrier involves a C(s) [1s,2s] sigmatropic methyl shift transition structure (above left).

Why do two π-electron four-membered Hückel rings pucker?

Notwithstanding their two (i.e., 4n + 2) π electrons, four-membered ring systems, 1-4, favor puckered geometries (1a-4a) despite the reduction in vicinal π overlap and in the ring atom bond angles. This nonplanar preference is due to σ → π* hyperconjugative interactions across the ring (A) rather than to partial 1,3-bonding (B). Electronegative substituents (e.g., F in C(4)F(4)(2+)) reduce the σ → π* electron delocalization, and planar geometries result. In contrast, electropositive groups (e.g., SiH(3) in C(4)(SiH(3))(4)(2+)) enhance hyperconjugation and increase the ring inversion barriers substantially.

Is C60 buckminsterfullerene aromatic?

C(60) does not have "superaromatic" or even aromatic character, but is a spherically π antiaromatic and enormously strained species. This explains its very large and positive heat of formation (610 ± 30 kcal mol(-1)). The π electron character of C(60) was analyzed by dissected nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS). The results were employed to examine the scope and limitations of Hirsch's 2(N + 1)(2) spherical aromaticity rule for several globular cages. C(20)(2+) (18 π electrons) and C(60)(10+) (50 π electrons) are spherically π aromatic, but C(20) (20 π electrons) and C(60) (60 π electrons) are spherically π antiaromatic, due to the high paratropicity of their half-filled π subshells. Limitations for Hirsch's rule, for clusters with more than 50 π electrons, are illustrated by e.g. the π aromaticity of the 66 π electron C(60)(6-) and the lack of π aromaticity of the 72 π electron C(48)N(12) and C(60)(12-).

Many M©B(n) boron wheels are local, but not global minima.

Twenty-six planar boron wheels with a central hypercoordinate atom (M©B(n), M is a 2nd or 3rd period element) were designed following the Schleyer-Boldyrev concept of geometric and electronic fit whereby in-plane σ- as well as π-aromaticity contribute to the chemical bonding. Global minimum searches using an efficient newly implemented method reveal that most of these boron wheels are only local, rather than global minima. However, the Be©B(8) triplet planar wheel global minimum is a new member of the planar hypercoordinate M©B(n) family. Six categories classify the structures of the other global minima: planar wheels, planar non-wheel forms, quasi-two-center-wheels, as well as leaf-like, pyramid-like, and umbrella-like geometries.

Verification of stereospecific dyotropic racemisation of enantiopure D and L-1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane in non-polar media.

The first example of a dyotropic rearrangement of an enantiomerically pure, conformationally unconstrained, vicinal dibromide confirms theoretical predictions: D and L-1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane racemise stereospecifically in refluxing benzene without crossover to the meso-isomer. An orbital analysis of this six-electron pericyclic process is presented.

D3h CN3Be3+ and CO3Li3+: viable planar hexacoordinate carbon prototypes.

Searches for planar hexacoordinate carbon (phC) species comprised of only seven atoms uncovered good CX(3)M(3) prototypes, D(3h) CN(3)Be(3)(+) and CO(3)Li(3)(+). The latter is the global minimum. It might also be possible to detect the deep-lying kinetically-viable D(3h) CN(3)Be(3)(+) local minimum, based on its robustness toward molecular dynamic simulations and its very high isomerization barrier.

Why the mechanisms of digermyne and distannyne reactions with H2 differ so greatly.

Despite their formal relationship to alkynes, Ar'GeGeAr', Ar'SnSnAr', and Ar*SnSnAr* [Ar' = 2,6-(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))(2)C(6)H(3); Ar* = 2,6-(2,4,6-iPr(3)C(6)H(2))(2)-3,5-iPr(2)C(6)H] exhibit high reactivity toward H(2), quite unlike acetylenes. Remarkably, the products are totally different. Ar'GeGeAr' can react with 1-3 equiv of H(2) to give mixtures of Ar'HGeGeHAr', Ar'H(2)GeGeH(2)Ar', and Ar'GeH(3). In contrast, Ar'SnSnAr' and Ar*SnSnAr* react with only 1 equiv of H(2) but give different types of products, Ar'Sn(µ-H)(2)SnAr' and Ar*SnSnH(2)Ar*, respectively. In this work, this disparate behavior toward H(2) has been elucidated by TPSSTPSS DFT computations of the detailed reaction mechanisms, which provide insight into the different pathways involved. Ar'GeGeAr' reacts with H(2) via three sequential steps: H(2) addition to Ar'GeGeAr' to give singly H-bridged Ar'Ge(µ-H)GeHAr'; isomerization of the latter to the more reactive Ge(II) hydride Ar'GeGeH(2)Ar'; and finally, addition of another H(2) to the hydride, either at a single Ge site, giving Ar'H(2)GeGeH(2)Ar', or at a Ge-Ge joint site, affording Ar'GeH(3) + Ar'HGe:. Alternatively, Ar'Ge(µ-H)GeHAr' also can isomerize into the kinetically stable Ar'HGeGeHAr', which cannot react with H(2) directly but can be transformed to the reactive Ar'GeGeH(2)Ar'. The activation of H(2) by Ar'SnSnAr' is similar to that by Ar'GeGeAr'. The resulting singly H-bridged Ar'Sn(µ-H)SnHAr' then isomerizes into Ar'HSnSnHAr'. The subsequent facile dissociation of the latter gives two Ar'HSn: species, which then reassemble into the experimental product Ar'Sn(µ-H)(2)SnAr'. The reaction of Ar*SnSnAr* with H(2) forms in the kinetically and thermodynamically more stable Ar*SnSnH(2)Ar* product rather than Ar*Sn(µ-H)(2)SnAr*. The computed mechanisms successfully rationalize all of the known experimental differences among these reactions and yield the following insights into the behavior of the Ge and Sn species: (I) The active sites of Ar'EEAr' (E = Ge, Sn) involve both E atoms, and the products with H(2) are the singly H-bridged Ar'E(µ-H)EHAr' species rather than Ar'HEEHAr' or Ar'EEH(2)Ar'. (II) The heavier alkene congeners Ar'HEEHAr' (E = Ge, Sn) cannot activate H(2) directly. Instead, Ar'HGeGeHAr' must first isomerize into the more reactive Ar'GeGeH(2)Ar'. Interestingly, the subsequent H(2) activation by Ar'GeGeH(2)Ar' can take place on either a single Ge site or a joint Ge-Ge site, but Ar'SnSnH(2)Ar' is not reactive toward H(2). The higher reactivity of Ar'GeGeH(2)Ar' in comparison with Ar'SnSnH(2)Ar' is due to the tendency of group 14 elements lower in the periodic table to have more stable lone pairs (i.e., the inert pair effect) and is responsible for the differences between the reactions of Ar'EEAr' (E = Ge, Sn) with H(2). Similarly, the carbene-like Ar'HGe: is more reactive toward H(2) than is Ar'HSn:. (III) The doubly H-bridged Ar'E(µ-H)(2)EAr' (E = Ge, Sn) species are not reactive toward H(2).

Why Cyclooctatetraene Is Highly Stabilized: The Importance of "Two-Way" (Double) Hyperconjugation.

Despite its highly nonplanar geometry, the tub-shaped D2d cyclooctatetraene (COT) minimum is far from being an unconjugated polyene model devoid of important π interactions. The warped skeleton of D2d COT results in the large stabilization (41.1 kcal/mol) revealed by its isodesmic bond separation energy (BSE). This originates largely from the "two-way" hyperconjugation, back and forth across the C-C single bonds, between the CC/CH σ(σ*) and the C═C (π*)π orbitals. These hyperconjugative effects compensate for the substantial, but not complete, loss of π conjugation upon ring puckering. C-C single bond rotation of 1,3-butadiene involves a similar interplay between π conjugation and "two-way" double hyperconjugation and serves as a simple model for the inversion of D2d to D4h COT. The perpendicular rotational transition states of many other systems, e.g., the allyl cation, styrene, biphenyl, and ethene, are stabilized similarly by "two-way" hyperconjugation.