Cyclo carbon

This article summarizes efforts undertaken towards the synthesis of the cyclo[ ]carbons, the first molecular carbon allotropes for which a rational preparative access has been worked out. Subsequently, a diversity of perethynylated molecules will be reviewed together, they compose a large molecular construction kit for acetylenic molecular scaffolding in one, two and three dimensions. Finally, progress in the construction and properties of oligomers and polymers with a poly(triacetylene) backbone, the third linearly conjugated, non-aromatic all-carbon backbone, will be reviewed. 

The state of research on the two classes of acetylenic compounds described in this article, the cyclo[ ]carbons and tetraethynylethene derivatives, differs drastically. The synthesis of bulk quantities of a cyclocarbon remains a fascinating challenge in view of the expected instability of these compounds. These compounds would represent a fourth allotropic form of carbon, in addition to diamond, graphite, and the fullerenes. The full spectral characterization of macroscopic quantities of cyclo-C should provide a unique experimental calibration for the power of theoretical predictions dealing with the electronic and structural properties of conjugated n-chromophores of substantial size and number of heavy atoms. We believe that access to bulk cyclocarbon quantities will eventually be accomplished by controlled thermal or photochemical cycloreversion reactions of structurally defined, stable precursor molecules similar to those described in this review. 

The link between cyclo[ ]carbons and tetraethynylethene is the occurrence of both structural motifs as repeat units in fascinating two-dimensional all-carbon networks [3,4]. The development of viable preparative approaches toward these elusive acetylenic networks represents one of the true challenges for synthesis at the turn of the millennium. 

In this chapter, keeping in mind the generation, characterization, and reactions of the cyclic polyynes, the interplay of organic chemistry and carbon cluster science during the last decade is presented. First, following short historical remarks (Section 6.2.1), recent research activity on the production of cyclo[ ]carbons from well-defined organic precursors is surveyed (Section 6.2.2). Second, major structural and electronic properties of mono-cyclic carbon clusters are presented in the context of theoretical considerations (Section 6.2.3), followed by observational results of photoelectron spectroscopy (Section 6.2.4). Third, considerations on the infrared activity of cyclic Cio will be presented (Section 6.2.5). Finally, this chapter ends with experimental as well as theoretical proposals for the structures of multicyclic polyynes (Section 6.3) and their relevance to the formation of fullerenes, in particular from polycyclic polyynes (Section 6.4). 

Tobe and Wakabayashi utilized, on the other hand, [4.3.2]propella-1,3,11-triene units as the leaving group which would generate a carbon-carbon triple bond in a retro [2-1-2] sense ([2-1-2] cycloreversion), and prepared dehydroannulenes 4a-c and 5a,b as precursors of cyclo[ ]carbons of n=12, 16, 20, 18, and 24, respectively [5]. In their negative mode LD TOF mass spectra, the formation of monocyclic C anions ( = 12, 16, 18,... 

Polyphospha cyclo carbons type (RP) (C=C) have been synthesised for example [80]. 

The napthanes (C H2n), or cycloalkanes, are ring or cyclic saturated structures, such as cyclo-hexane (CgH 2) though rings of other sizes are also possible. An important series of cyclic structures is the arenes (or aromatics, so called because of their commonly fragrant odours), which contain carbon-carbon double bonds and are based on the benzene molecule. 

Introduce a solution of 100 g. of sodium bisulphite in 200 ml. of water and continue the stirring, preferably for 10 hours with exclusion of air. A thick precipitate separates after a few minutes. Collect the bisulphite compound by suction filtration, wash it with ether until colourless, and then decompose it in a flask with a lukewarm solution of 125 g. of sodium carbonate in 150 ml. of water. Separate the ketone layer, extract the aqueous layer with four 30 ml. portions of ether, dry the combined organic layers over anhydrous magnesium sulphate, remove the ether at atmospheric pressure, and distil the residual oil under reduced pressure from a Qaisen flask with fractionating side arm (Fig. II, 24, 5). Collect the cyclo-heptanone at 64r-65°/12 mm. the yield is 23 g. 

Alkenes in (alkene)dicarbonyl(T -cyclopentadienyl)iron(l+) cations react with carbon nucleophiles to form new C —C bonds (M. Rosenblum, 1974 A.J. Pearson, 1987). Tricarbon-yi(ri -cycIohexadienyI)iron(l-h) cations, prepared from the T] -l,3-cyclohexadiene complexes by hydride abstraction with tritylium cations, react similarly to give 5-substituted 1,3-cyclo-hexadienes, and neutral tricarbonyl(n -l,3-cyciohexadiene)iron complexes can be coupled with olefins by hydrogen transfer at > 140°C. These reactions proceed regio- and stereospecifically in the successive cyanide addition and spirocyclization at an optically pure N-allyl-N-phenyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene-l-carboxamide iron complex (A.J. Pearson, 1989). 

As you can see cycloalkanes are named under the lUPAC system by adding the prefix cyclo to the name of the unbranched alkane with the same number of carbons as the ring Substituent groups are identified m fhe usual way Their posifions are specified by numbering fhe carbon atoms of fhe ring m fhe direction fhaf gives fhe lowesf num ber to fhe subsfifuenfs af fhe firsf pomf of difference... 

Among disubstituted alkenes trans RCH=CHR is normally more stable than as RCH=CHR Exceptions are cycloalkenes cis cyclo alkenes being more stable than trans when the nng contains fewer than 11 carbons... 

Because the carbon atom attached to the ring is positively polarized a carbonyl group behaves m much the same way as a trifluoromethyl group and destabilizes all the cyclo hexadienyl cation intermediates m electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions Attack at any nng position m benzaldehyde is slower than attack m benzene The intermediates for ortho and para substitution are particularly unstable because each has a resonance structure m which there is a positive charge on the carbon that bears the electron withdrawing substituent The intermediate for meta substitution avoids this unfavorable juxtaposition of positive charges is not as unstable and gives rise to most of the product... 

Monocyclic Aliphatic Hydrocarbons. Monocyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons (with no side chains) are named by prefixing cyclo- to the name of the corresponding open-chain hydrocarbon having the same number of carbon atoms as the ring. Radicals are formed as with the alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. Examples ... 

Gycloaddition Reactions. Isocyanates undergo cyclo additions across the carbon—nitrogen double bond with a variety of unsaturated substrates. Addition across the C=0 bond is less common. The propensity of isocyanates to undergo cycli2ation reactions has been widely explored for the synthesis of heterocycHc systems. Substrates with C=0, C=N, C=S, and C=C bonds have been found to yield either 2 + 2, 2 + 2 + 2, or 2 + 4 cycloadducts or a variety of secondary reaction products (2). 

The 27T-electrons of the carbon-nitrogen double bond of 1-azirines can participate in thermal symmetry-allowed [4 + 2] cycloadditions with a variety of substrates such as cyclo-pentadienones, isobenzofurans, triazines and tetrazines 71AHC(13)45). Cycloadditions also occur with heterocumulenes such as ketenes, ketenimines, isocyanates and carbon disulfide. It is also possible for the 27r-electrons of 1-azirines to participate in ene reactions 73HCA1351). 

When a ring is made up of repeating units of two or three hetero atoms, it may be named by specifying the unit and the number involved, prefixed by cyclo . This system is most appropriate for rings containing no carbon. 

Molecular orbital calculations indicate that cyclo C-18 carbyne should be relatively stable and experimental evidence for cyclocarbynes has been found [25], Fig. 3B. Diederich et al [25] synthesised a precursor of cyclo C-18 and showed by laser flash heating and time-of flight mass spectrometry that a series of retro Diels-Alder reactions occurred leading to cyclo C-18 as the predominant fragmentation pattern. Diederich has also presented a fascinating review of possible cyclic all-carbon molecules and other carbon-rich nanometre-sized carbon networks that may be susceptible to synthesis using organic chemical techniques [26]. 

In the 6jS-bromoacetyI derivative of 3,5a-cyclo-cholestan-6jS-oI, the 6 -oxygen-l9 carbon distance in the crystal is about 3.19 A (private communication from Prof. Dorothy Hodgkin, Oxford), (f. also H. R. Harrison, D. Crowfoot Hodgkin, E. N. Maslen and W. D. S. Motherwell./. Chem. Soc. C, 1971, 1275). 

Both the carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen double bonds of fluoroketenes can take part in [2+2] cycloadditions, but with cyclopentadiene, only cyclo butanones are produced via concerted [2 +2 ] additions [J34] (equation 58) Cycloadditions involving the carbon-oxygen double bonds to form oxetanes are discussed on page 855 Difluoroketene is veiy short lived and difficult to intercept but has been trapped successfully by very electron rich addends to give 2 2 di fluorocyclobutanones m moderate yields [/55] (equation 59)... 

In 1978, a German-Swiss team of organic chemists reported the synthesis of a cycloalkane with 96 carbons in its ring (cyclo-C96Hi92). 

One of the advantages of the enamine alkylation reaction over direct alkylation of the ketone under the influenee of strong base is that the major product is the monoalkylated derivative 29,32). When dialkylation is observed, it occurs at the least substituted carbon in contrast to alkylation with base, where the a-disubstituted product is formed. Dialkylation becomes the predominant reaction when a strong organic base is added and an excess of alkyl halide is used (29). Thus 1-N-pyrrolidino-l-cyclo-hexene (28) on treatment with two moles of allyl bromide in the presence of ethyl dicyclohexylamine (a strong organic base which is not alkylated under the reaction conditions) gave a 95 % yield of 2,6-diallylcyclohexanone (29). 

Diaminopyrimidines fused to a number of heterocycles (35) were also cyclized with one-carbon inserting agents to the corresponding hetero-cyclo-l,2,4-triazolo[l,5-c]pyrimidines 36 (75M1111 81JHC43 97JIC27). 

The irradiation of the thiophene in gas phase yields ethylene, allene, methyl-acetylene, carbon disulfide, and vinylacetylene. No Dewar thiophene or cyclo-propene derivatives were isolated (69CJC2965). The irradiation in liquid phase gave the Dewar thiophene which can be trapped as a Diels-Alder adduct with furan (85JA723). The Dewar thiophene and cyclopropene-3-thiocarbaldehyde can be obtained by irradiation in argon matrices at 10 K (86JA1691). 

The key step in this sequence, achieved by exposure of 46 lo a mixture of sulfuric acid and acetic anhydride, involves opening of the cyclopropane ring by migration of a sigma bond from the quaternary center to one terminus of the former cyclo-l>ropane. This complex rearrangement, rather reminiscent of the i enone-phenol reaction, serves to both build the proper carbon. keleton and to provide ring C in the proper oxidation state. 

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