<p>Hückel’s (4<i>n</i> + 2) rule plays a vital role in rationalizing and predicting the aromaticity of annulenes (C<sub><i>n</i></sub>H<sub><i>n</i></sub>) and cyclic systems with delocalized electrons. The π-electron behavior in annulenes can be described by a two-dimensional (2D) jellium model, where π molecular orbitals (MOs) are treated as superatomic 2D orbitals (S, P, D …). Herein, heteroatoms (B, N, O) were introduced to replace C atoms in annulenes to extend the aromatic rule of monocyclic species beyond Hückel’s (4<i>n</i> + 2) framework. Electronic structures and aromaticity of C<sub><i>n</i></sub>H<sub><i>n</i></sub> (<i>n</i> = 4, 6, 8) and their heteroatom counterparts, B<sub><i>n</i></sub>N<sub><i>n</i></sub>H<sub>2<i>n</i></sub> and B<sub><i>n</i></sub>O<sub><i>n</i></sub>H<sub><i>n</i></sub> (<i>n</i> = 2, 3, 4), were compared. C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub>, B<sub>3</sub>N<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6,</sub> and B<sub>3</sub>O<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub> with 6π electrons are aromatic with a superatomic closed-shell configuration of |S<sup>2</sup>|P<sup>4</sup>|, consistent with Hückel’s rule. Intriguingly, despite being 4<i>n</i> system, B<sub>4</sub>N<sub>4</sub>H<sub>8</sub>/B<sub>4</sub>O<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub> (8π) exhibit aromaticity, different from antiaromatic C<sub>8</sub>H<sub>8</sub>. Additionally, antiaromaticity of B<sub>2</sub>N<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>/B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> (4π) are weakened, exhibiting a new type of aromaticity. This is attributed to the significant splitting of the doubly degenerate superatomic P or D orbitals induced by the electronegativity difference between heteroatoms, which stabilizes the occupied orbitals (P<sub><i>x</i></sub>, D<sub><i>xy</i></sub>) relative to their unoccupied counterparts (P<sub><i>y</i></sub>, D<sub><i>x2-y2</i></sub>). This work enriches the fundamental understanding of aromaticity by proposing the 2<i>n</i>π (<i>n</i> ≥ 2) aromaticity in hetero-monocyclic molecules. </p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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2nπ Aromaticity in Hetero-onocyclic Molecules

  • Dan Li,
  • Mengxuan Ling,
  • Longjiu Cheng

摘要

Hückel’s (4n + 2) rule plays a vital role in rationalizing and predicting the aromaticity of annulenes (CnHn) and cyclic systems with delocalized electrons. The π-electron behavior in annulenes can be described by a two-dimensional (2D) jellium model, where π molecular orbitals (MOs) are treated as superatomic 2D orbitals (S, P, D …). Herein, heteroatoms (B, N, O) were introduced to replace C atoms in annulenes to extend the aromatic rule of monocyclic species beyond Hückel’s (4n + 2) framework. Electronic structures and aromaticity of CnHn (n = 4, 6, 8) and their heteroatom counterparts, BnNnH2n and BnOnHn (n = 2, 3, 4), were compared. C6H6, B3N3H6, and B3O3H3 with 6π electrons are aromatic with a superatomic closed-shell configuration of |S2|P4|, consistent with Hückel’s rule. Intriguingly, despite being 4n system, B4N4H8/B4O4H4 (8π) exhibit aromaticity, different from antiaromatic C8H8. Additionally, antiaromaticity of B2N2H4/B2O2H2 (4π) are weakened, exhibiting a new type of aromaticity. This is attributed to the significant splitting of the doubly degenerate superatomic P or D orbitals induced by the electronegativity difference between heteroatoms, which stabilizes the occupied orbitals (Px, Dxy) relative to their unoccupied counterparts (Py, Dx2-y2). This work enriches the fundamental understanding of aromaticity by proposing the 2nπ (n ≥ 2) aromaticity in hetero-monocyclic molecules.

Graphical Abstract