Photolysis of triphenylcarbonium, tropylium, and triphenylcyclopropenium ion

Rupturing aromaticity by periphery overcrowding

The balance between strain relief and aromatic stabilization dictates the form and function of non-planar π-aromatics. Overcrowded systems are known to undergo geometric deformations, but the energetically favourable π-electron delocalization of their aromatic ring(s) is typically preserved. In this study we incremented the strain energy of an aromatic system beyond its aromatic stabilization energy, causing it to rearrange and its aromaticity to be ruptured. We noted that increasing the steric bulk around the periphery of π-extended tropylium rings leads them to deviate from planarity to form contorted conformations in which aromatic stabilization and strain are close in energy. Under increasing strain, the aromatic π-electron delocalization of the system is broken, leading to the formation of a non-aromatic, bicyclic analogue referred to as 'Dewar tropylium'. The aromatic and non-aromatic isomers have been found to exist in rapid equilibrium with one another. This investigation demarcates the extent of steric deformation tolerated by an aromatic carbocycle and thus provides direct experimental insights into the fundamental nature of aromaticity.

Photochemical reactions of substituted cyclopropenium salts

Photochemical reactions of triphenylcyclopropenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)gallate (TPCPGa) and diphenyl-(2-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-cyclopropenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)gallate (DPMNCPGa) (Chart 1) have been investigated in acetonitrile. Traces of water were required for the photochemical reactions to proceed. The disappearance of both TPCPGa and DPMNCPGa obeys zero-order kinetics with rate constants (k) having a linear dependence on the concentration of water. Electron-transfer from water to the cyclopropenium cation is proposed as the primary process in the formation of the cyclopropenyl radical. The latter dimerizes leading to the photoproducts.