Diatropic current

Angular momentum arguments show that the Jt-electron-rich nature of (4 +2) SN heterocycles is the key to their diatropic current. Formal expansion of (4 +2)-Jt-carbocyclic systems by insertion of NSN motifs in every CC bond is predicted to lead to structures that support diatropic ring currents explicit ab initio calculation of magnetic response predicts the 24-center, 30n-electron heterocycle S6N12(CH)6, formally derived from benzene, to be aromatic on the basis of this criterion <2002JA11202>. 

Clearly, a different picture arises with CMO-NICS. However, CMO-NICS do not have the nice conceptual interpretability as orbital resolved ring currents. The latter, in the ipsocentric formulation, arise purely from occupied-virtual transitions whereas in CMO-NICS many other terms are involved too, including occupied-occupied interactions [88], This may lead to the, according to us wrong conclusion, that the strong diatropic currents in the compounds studied here are also in part due to the n system. 

The aromatic compounds generate a diamagnetic (diatropic) current opposites to the applied magnetic field (Bq) whereas the antiaromatic compounds generate a paramagnetic current (paratropic), which enforces the effect of the applied magnetic field [48,50-54], The diatropic and paratropic terms refer to their effects in the chemical shift of a trial nncleus [33],... 

In annelated ring systems, one can note a certain locality of the currents In biphenylene, for instance, diatropic current flows are found in the benzene moieties, much like in the parent benzene itself, whereas the central cyclobutadienyl-like four-mem-bered ring is characterized by a distinct paratropic ring current. In general, the overall picture expected from the Hiickel rule is seen in these current-density plots, but in most cases only when the n system is regarded separately (which, strictly speaking, is only possible for planar molecules). The total current density is usually dominated by local diatropic currents around the individual nuclei. 

The criterion of ipsocentric ring current has been used to assess aromaticity in S-N heterocycles (and related inorganic ring systems). Current density maps indicate that the ten r-electron systems [SsNs], [S4N3] " and [S4N4] ", and the fourteen r-electron system [S5N5] " support diatropic k currents, reinforced by a circulations. 

The scientific interest in porphyrin ligands (Fig. 5) derives in part from their ability to accommodate a large series of different elements, often in various oxidation states. On the other hand porphyrins are planar molecules with a delocalized 18 Ti-electron system and a diatropic ring current [25], which makes them interesting for the design of new materials with applications in photochemistry [25-27]. 

It follows that aromaticity can be determined from an NMR spectrum. If the protons attached to the ring are shifted downfield from the normal alkene region, we can conclude that the molecule is diatropic, and hence aromatic. In addition, if the compound has protons above or within the ring (we shall see an example of the latter on p. 69), then if the compound is diatropic, these will be shifted upfield. One drawback to this method is that it cannot be applied to compounds that have no protons in either category, for example, the dianion of squaiic acid (p. 69). Unfortunately, NMR is of no help here, since these spectra do not show ring currents. ... 

Annulene and dehydro[22]annulene are also diatropic. A dehydroben-zo[22]annulene has been prepared that has eight C=C units, is planar and possesses a weak induced ring current. In the latter compound there are 13 outer protons at 6.25-8.45 8 and 7 inner protons at 0.70-3.45 5. Some aromatic bridged [22]annu-lenes are also known. The [26]annulene has not yet been prepared, but several dehydro[26]annulenes are aromatic.Furthermore, the dianion of 1,3,7,9,13,15, 19,21-octadehydro[24]annulene is another 26-electron system that is aromatic. Ojima and co-workers prepared bridged dehydro derivatives of [26], [30], and [34]annulenes. All of these are diatropic. The same workers prepared a bridged tetradehydro[38]annulene, which showed no ring current. On the other hand, the dianion of the cyclophane 89 also has 38 perimeter electrons, and this species is diatropic. ... 

Homoaromatic Compounds. When cyclooctatetraene is dissolved in concentrated H2SO4, a proton adds to one of the double bonds to form the homotropylium ion (107). In this species an aromatic sextet is spread over seven carbons, as in the tropylium ion. The eighth carbon is an sp carbon and so cannot take part in the aromaticity. The NMR spectra show the presence of a diatropic ring current H/, is found at 5= - 0.3 at 5.1 6 Hj and H7 at... 

Using similar methodology, macrocycle 126 was prepared, as well as the unusual monoene 127 [76]. Considerable debate in the literature over the last thirty years has focused on whether dehydrobenzoannulenes are able to sustain induced ring currents [5al. Although fusion of arenes to the annulenic core provides rigidity and stability, this also weakens the diatropicity/paratropicity of the macrocycle significantly. Until quite recently, the number of planar systems available for study was limited however, with the the addition of 123 and 126, the series of alkyne-linked, tribenzo-fused dehydroannulenes is complete from... 

NMR data for aza[18]annulene 234 show a wide separation between the centers of the inner and outer proton lH NMR multiplets (Ad =11 ppm), indicative of a strong diamagnetic ring current.270 271 The bis-dehydro system 235 with 22 jr-electrons in the aromatic ring is diatropic.272... 

A bispyridine derivative of dibenzo-hexaaza[18]-annulene 236 was prepared by Bell and Guzzo.275 Fur an building blocks were used in the syntheses of the diatropic compounds 237 and 238.276-278 The chemical shifts of the indicated hydrogens show that the diamagnetic ring current decreases in the order 237 > 238 (Scheme 83). 

All the same, the quantitative determination of the aromaticity and antiaromaticity from the ring current model may be complicated by at least two problems. First, experimentally observable values of magnetic susceptibilities and their exaltations and anisotropies as well as the H-NMR chemical shifts are not necessarily determined exclusively by ring currents hence, all other effects have to be identified and removed. Naturally, for this model to work, the contribution by the ring current must be predominant. Another problem is that the calculated results on ring current intensities for molecules from the diatropic-paratropic border area may vary qualitatively depending on the method of calculation (80PAC1541). 

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