Diradical B/N-Doped Polycyclic Hydrocarbons

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2023 Feb 20;62(9):e202217470. doi: 10.1002/anie.202217470. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

Abstract

Heterocyclic diradicaloids with atom-precise control over open-shell nature are promising materials for organic electronics and spintronics. Herein, we disclose quinoidal π-extension of a B/N-heterocycle for generating B/N-type organic diradicaloids. Two quinoidal π-extended B/N-doped polycyclic hydrocarbons that feature fusion of the B/N-heterocycle motif with the antiaromatic s-indacene or dicyclopenta[b,g]naphthalene core were synthesized. This quinoidal π-extension and B/N-heterocycle leads to their open-shell electronic nature, which stands in contrast to the multiple-resonance effect of conventional B/N-type emitters. These B/N-type diradicaloids have modulated (anti)aromaticity and enhanced diradical characters comparing with the all-carbon analogues, as well as intriguing properties, such as magnetic activities, narrow energy gaps and highly red-shifted absorptions. This study thus opens the new space for both of B/N-doped polycyclic π-systems and heterocyclic diradicaloids.

Keywords: Antiaromaticity; Diradical Character; Diradicaloids; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons; Quinoidal Conjugation.