Next Article in Journal
Noether Symmetries and Covariant Conservation Laws in Classical, Relativistic and Quantum Physics
Previous Article in Journal
Chiroptical Properties of Amino Acids: A Density Functional Theory Study
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Synthesis and Reactions of Dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes

Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama-city, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
Symmetry 2010, 2(2), 950-969; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym2020950
Submission received: 28 January 2010 / Revised: 11 March 2010 / Accepted: 20 April 2010 / Published: 21 April 2010

Abstract

:
Pentalene has recently received a considerable amount of attention as a ligand in sandwich-type transition metal complexes. In contrast, dibenzo[a,e]pentalene (hereafter denoted as dibenzopentalene), which is more π-extended than pentalene, has received less attention, despite its potential usefulness as a building block of ladder-type π-conjugated molecules, which have recently received growing interest. However, very recently, several novel efficient methods for the synthesis of dibenzopentalenes have been reported. This review surveys recent advances in the synthesis and reactions of dibenzopentalenes and describes the aromaticity of their ionic species.

1. Introduction

The parent pentalene has 8π electrons, which indicates its antiaromatic nature, and is very highly reactive, having only been observed using a matrix isolation technique at −196 °C (Chart 1) [1,2]. In contrast, its dianion has 10π electrons and is calculated to have considerable aromaticity [3]. The stable pentalene dianion was first synthesized in 1962 [4,5] and the X-ray crystal structure of its dilithium salt was reported in 1991 [6]. On the other hand, no reports on the generation of a pentalene dication have appeared to date, and its aromaticity is still controversial [3,7]. The pentalene dianions are now widely used as ligands of sandwich-type transition metal complexes [8,9,10,11]. However, the dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes (hereafter denoted as dibenzopentalenes), which are more π-extended than the pentalenes have received less attention despite their potential usefulness as building blocks of ladder-type π-conjugated molecules, which are of growing recent interest (Figure 1). The main reason for this is a limited number of methods for the synthesis of dibenzopentalene frameworks, even though synthesis of a dibenzopentalene was first reported in 1912 [12]. However, very recently, efficient and unique methods for the synthesis of dibenzopentalenes together with reports of their reactivity have successively appeared. It is therefore time to briefly survey the recent advances in the synthesis and reactions of dibenzopentalenes and to discuss the aromaticity of their derivatives.

2. Early Studies on the Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes

The first synthesis of dibenzopentalenes 1a-b was reported by Brand in 1912 [12]. The key starting compound was diphenylsuccindanedione 2 [13,14,15], which was synthesized from diphenylsuccinic acid. Treatment of 2 with phenylmagnesium bromide and p-tolylmagnesium bromide followed by an addition of ammonium chloride afforded the corresponding diols 3a and 3b, respectively (Scheme 1) [12]. Diols 3a and 3b were treated with formic acid to provide dibenzopentalenes 1a and 1b. This method could be applied to introduce other aryl or alkyl groups, such as o-anisyl [16], p-anisyl [16], methyl [17] and ethyl [17] groups, leading to the formation of dibenzopentalenes 3c-3f (Scheme 1).
The parent dibenzopentalene 1g was first synthesized from dihydrodibenzopentalene 4a, which was prepared from diphenylsuccindanedione 2 via tetrachlorodibenzopentalene 4b (Scheme 2) [18]. Diphenylsuccindanedione 2 reacted with phosphorus pentachloride to afford 4b [19,20], which was treated with zinc to provide 4a [20]. Treatment of 4b with bromine followed by silver acetate provided the parent dibenzopentalene 1g in 59% yield (Scheme 2) [18].
Dibromodibenzopentalene 1h was prepared by the thermolysis of dibenzotricyclic tetrabromide 5 [21] and by the reaction of 5 with sodium iodide (Scheme 3) [22]. Bromination of tetrahydrodibenzopentalene 6 followed by dehydrobromination also afforded 1h (Scheme 3) [22].

3. Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes by Thermolysis

Thermolysis, such as the flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) technique, is sometimes a very powerful tool for the creation of rigid π-frameworks through somewhat unexpected and complex reaction pathways.
Bis(pentachlorophenyl)acetylene 7 was heated at 350 °C for 45 min to afford perchloro-1,2,3-triphenylnaphtalene 8 (42%) as a main product with perchloro-2,3,8-triphenylbenzofulvene 9 (31%) and perchlorodibenzopentalene 10 (1%) (Scheme 4) [23]. Prolonged heating of 7 for 2 h revealed an increase of the yield of 10 (23%) and a decrease of the yields 9 (10%): hence, dibenzopentalene 10 was formed via 9.
Flash vacuum pyrolysis of diphenylbutadiyne 11 at 1120 °C/0.03 Torr gave a pyrolysate (22% mass recovery), which consisted of dibenzopentalene 1g (19%), fluoranthene 12 (59%), acephenanthrylene 13 (13%), aceanthrylene 14 (2%) and unreacted 11 (7%) (Scheme 5) [24].
Flash vacuum pyrolysis of 3-phenylnaphthalene-1,2-dicarboxylix anhydride 15 at 900 °C/0.04 mmHg also gave dibenzopentalene 1g (95%) and a plausible mechanism for the formation of 1g was proposed (Scheme 6) [25].
Flash vacuum pyrolysis of 9,10-bis[(methoxysilyl)methyl]anthracene 16 at 550 °C/10−3 mmHg also gave dibenzopentalene 1g (48%), and a very complicated mechanism was proposed (Scheme 7) [26].
Benzo[b]biphenylene 16, benzo[b]fluorenone 17 and 5,12-naphthacene quinone 18 were also heated in the gas phase to provide dibenzopentalene 1g and fluoranthene 12, and the ratios of 1g to 12 were dependent on the reaction temperature (Scheme 8) [27].
Thermolysis is indeed efficient for the preparation of dibenzopentalenes. However, it needs a special apparatus: hence, it is rather difficult to carry out. Moreover, it is difficult to prepare functionalized dibenzopentalenes using thermolysis.

4. Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes from Dibenzocyclooctene Derivatives through Skeletal Rearrangement

Anionic dibenzocyclooctene derivatives are known to undergo skeletal rearrangements to afford the corresponding dibenzopentalenes.
Treatment of 5,6,11,12-tetrabromodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene 19 with alkyllithiums followed by an addition of phenyllithium and electrophiles provided dihydrodibenzopentalenes 4c-4i (Scheme 9) [28]. However, when compound 19 was treated with phenyllithium without a treatment with electrophiles, 5,10-diphenyldibenzopentalane 1a was also obtained.
A similar method starting from dibenzocyclooctadiyne 20 was very recently reported [29]. Dibenzocyclooctadiyne 20 reacted with alkyllithiums to provide the corresponding anionic intermediates 21, which underwent isomerization to anionic dibenzopentalenes 22. The reactions were terminated with electrophiles to afford dibenzopentalenes 1h-1s in very good yields (61–78%) (Scheme 10) [29].
To introduce an aryl group to the dibenzopentalene skeleton, treatment of 20 with butyllithium followed by iodine afforded iodo-derivative 1t, which reacted with arylboronic acids and aryltributylstannanes through Suzuki-Miyaura and Migita-Kosugi-Stille coupling reactions, respectively, to provide the corresponding aryl derivatives 1u-1y in good yields (50–70%) (Scheme 11) [29].

5. Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes through Reductive Cyclization

The intramolecular cyclization reactions of o-substituted phenylacetylenes are of considerable use for the preparation of benzannulated five-membered ring compounds, such as indenes, indoles, benzofurans and benzothiophenes [30,31]. A very sophisticated application of this methodology to prepare dibenzopentalene skeletons was very recently reported by Yamaguchi [32]. Reduction of o,o’-bis(arylcarbonyl)diphenylacetylenes 23 with lithium naphthalenide produced dibenzopentalenes 1 (8–25% yields) together with 5,10-dihydroxy-5,10-dihydrodibenzopenatanes 4 (29–52% yields) (Scheme 12). Since dihydroxy derivative 4k reacted with lithium naphthalenide to afford the corresponding dibenzopentalenes 1a in 49% yield (Scheme 13), Li2O was eliminated from dilithium alkoxide intermediate 24.
Another example of reductive cyclization of a phenylacetylene to form a dibenzopentalene is rather unexpected. We recently reported the reduction of phenyl(tri-i-propylsilyl)acetylene 25a with lithium providing dilithium dibenzopentalenide 26a as well as 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadiene 27a, which were treated with iodine to afford the corresponding dibenzopentalene 1aa (8%) and 1,4-diiodo-1,3-butadiene 28a (28%), respectively (Scheme 14) [33]. Since phenylsilylacetylenes are usually reduced by lithium to afford 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadienes [34,35], the formation of dilithium dibenzopentalenide 26a is surprising and unprecedented. However, the reduction of phenyl(t-butyldimethylsilyl)acetylene 25b with lithium produced only the corresponding 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadiene 27b: thus, the reaction mode is quite sensitive to bulkiness of the silyl substituent of phenysilylacetylene, even though the reason for this is still unclear.

6. Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes in the Presence of Catalysts

Catalytic reactions for the preparation of dibenzopentalenes have also been reported. In early studies, the key starting compound was 1,2-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (29a), treatment of which with PtCl4 in benzene afforded a Pt-complex of dibenzopentalene 1bb, an unstable compound that converted to 1bb during purification (Scheme 15) [36,37]. The yield of 1bb was 85%. This method was later applied for the preparation of dibenzopentalenes 1cc-1ff (Scheme 15) [38]. When PdCl2 was used as a catalyst, a Pd-complex of 1bb was isolated and treatment of the resulting complex with triphenylphosphine provided 1bb, even though the yield was very low. A mixture of H2PtCl6·6H2O and Aliquat 336® (Aliquat = methyltrioctylammonium chloride) was also used as a catalyst for the preparation of 1bb with 80% yield [39]. When the reactions were carried out in the presence of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, the corresponding adducts 1gg-1ii were obtained (25–36% yields) together with 1bb (Scheme 16) [40].
The cyclization reactions of 1,2-bis(phenylethynyl)benzenes to afford dibenzopentalenes were surprisingly catalyzed by tellurium (Scheme 17) [38]. Heating of 29a with a catalytic amount of tellurium in pentachloroethane (PCE) under reflux provided dibenzopentalene 1jj in 61% yield through a halogen transfer reaction (Scheme 17). When 29a was heated with a catalytic amount of tellurium in tetrabromoethane at 170 °C, the corresponding bromodibenzopentalene 1kk was obtained in 6% yield (Scheme 18) [38]. Treatment of 29b with a catalytic amount of tellurium in PCE under reflux produced a 1:1 mixture of 1ll and 1mm in 79% yield. Likewise, 29c reacted in PCD in the presence of a catalytic amount of tellurium to afford an 1:1 mixture of 1nn and 1oo in 83% yield.
Two phenylacetylenes, one of which has a halogen atom and the other of which has a Bu3Sn group were coupled in the presence of CsF, tBu3P and Pd2(dba)3 to give dibenzopentalenes (Scheme 19) [41]. The coupling reaction of 30a and 31a under the reaction conditions shown in Scheme 19 provided dibenzopentalene 1a in 61% yield. A crossover coupling reaction of 30b and 31a under the same conditions afforded homocoupled products 1a (20% yield) and 1qq (trace), as well as the crossover-coupled product 1pp (40% yield), suggesting that the homocoupling reaction of 31a would proceed.
Heating of 31a and 31b afforded 1a and 1qq, respectively in very high yields with 2 equivalents of hydroquinone, Cs2CO3 and CsF in the presence of catalytic amounts of tBu3P and Pd2(dba)3 in 1,4-dioxane at 135 °C (Scheme 20) [41]. This method could be applied for the preparation of a variety of dibenzopentalenes (55–72% yields) (Scheme 21) [41]. The most striking feature of this catalytic system is that a heteroaromatic analog 34 of a dibenzopentalene was able to be synthesized.
Another catalytic synthesis of a dibenzopentalene from 2-halophenylacetylene was carried out using Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 and CuI (Scheme 22) [42]. Heating of a mixture of 2-iodophenylacetylene 35 with Pd(PhCN)Cl2, PPh3 and CuI in toluene and diisopropylamine at 90 °C provided dibenzopentalene 1tt in 67% yield (Scheme 22). Although this system is simpler than that in Scheme 21, no further applications for the synthesis of dibenzopentalenes have been reported.
Being inspired by this catalytic system, an extremely simple synthesis of dibenzopentalenes from 2-bromoethynylbenzenes was reported. Treatment of 2-bromoethynylbenzene 25d with an equivalent of Ni(PPh3)2Cl2 and 1.5 equivalents of Zn at 80 °C produced dibenzopentalene 1uu in 41% yield (Scheme 23) [43]. Reaction of 25d with Ni(cod)2 and PPh3 at 50 °C afforded Ni complex 36, which was transformed into 1uu at 80 °C. In the initial step, a generated intermediate Ni(0) complex Ni(PPh3)2 therefore underwent oxidative addition to 25d to give 36. The yield of 1uu was improved to 46% in the presence of Ni(cod)2, PPh3 and Zn at 110 °C. This method enabled the synthesis of a variety of dibenzopentalenes (13–24% yields) (Scheme 24 and Scheme 25) [43]. It is noted that the electronic nature of substituents on the aromatic rings did not affect the formation of dibenzopentalenes.
A unique two-step synthesis of a dibenzopentalene was also reported recently. The two starting compounds 37 [44] and 38 were prepared from commercially available 3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde in five and three steps, respectively. Compounds 37 and 38 were subjected to standard Heck reaction conditions to afford indene derivative 39 in 53% yield (Scheme 26) [45]. Oxidative cyclization of 39 occurred in the presence of FeCl3 to provide dibenzopentalene 1ab in 38% yield (Scheme 26) [45].

7. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene Polymer by Electrochemical Polymerization

Starting from diketone 2, thienyl-substituted dibenzopentalenes were synthesized by the classical method (Scheme 27) [15]. Diketone 2 reacted with thienyllithium or thienylmagnesium bromide to afford the corresponding adducts, which were treated with acid to provide thienyl-substituted dibenzopentalenes 1ac-1ae. When a cyclic voltammetric analysis of 1ac was carried out, the growth of a new redox system was observed upon scanning between −1.0 and 1.2 V and the electrode was modified, suggesting polymerization of 1ac on the electrode. The anodic study of the modified electrode between −1.0 and 1.5 V revealed that the original species on the modified electrode was further modified, perhaps due to intramolecular cyclization or polymerization through the benzene moiety (Scheme 28) [15]. The band gap of the resulting polymer was estimated to be about 2.2 V.

8. Aromaticity of Dibenzopentalenes

To evaluate aromaticity of dibenzopentalene, current densities in π-systems induced by external magnetic fields were calculated [46]. The current pattern of dibenzopentalene has three distinct regions, and the central paratropic ring current in the two five-membered rings is bordered by diatropic ring currents in the two benzene rings. The paratropic ring current in the central five-membered rings is derived from two π-electrons in the HOMO, whereas the diatropic benzene ring currents arise from several orbitals that lie just below the HOMO. This regional character of the current patterns is consistent with NICS [47] values for individual rings: the NICS values of the five- and six-membered rings are 7.4 and −9.8 ppm, respectively.

9. Ionic Species of Dibenzopentalenes

Redox behavior of dibenzopentalenes is of considerable interest because two-electron oxidation and reduction of dibenzopentalenes afford the corresponding 14π dications and 18π dianions, respectively, which are both expected to be aromatic.
Treatment of dibenzopentalenes 1e and 1g with excess SbF5 in SO2ClF resulted in dark green and violet-purple solutions, respectively, attributed to the formation of dications 40 (Scheme 29) [48,49]. The 1H NMR spectra of the resulting solutions showed considerable downfield resonances, compared with those of the starting 1e and 1g, suggesting that dications 40 are aromatic.
Dianion 26b of the parent dibenzopentalene 1g was synthesized by the reaction of dihydrodibenzopentalene 4a with butyllithium (Scheme 30) [48,49]. Although the H1 and H9 resonated upfield, compared with those of 1g, the other protons on the benzene rings were deshielded, suggesting diatropic ring current over the perimeter of the framework. It is therefore concluded that 26b should be regarded as a peripheral aromatic dianion. Dianion 26c of dibenzopentalene 1e was synthesized by the reaction of 1e with lithium, and a considerably aromatic character was observed (Scheme 30) [48,49].
Very recently, the first report on the molecular structure of a dianion of a dibenzopentalene has appeared (Scheme 14) [33]. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of 26a revealed that the five-membered rings contain nearly equalized C−C bond lengths, whereas a slight bond alternation in those of the six-membered ring is found, suggesting preferable aromatic delocalization in the five-membered ring over benzenoid delocalization. Similar trends were also found in some benzannulated anions [50,51,52,53,54,55,56]. Dianion 26a was also synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding dibenzopentalene 1aa with lithium (Scheme 31) [57]. Oxidation of 26a occurred by treatment with iodine to provide 1aa.
Dications and dianions are formed through the cation radical and the anion radical, respectively. The synthesis of cation radicals 41a and 41b of dibenzopentalenes were accomplished by the reactions of dibenzopentalenes 1e and 1g with aluminum trichloride, the formation of which was evidenced by ESR spectroscopy (Scheme 32) [58]. Respective anion radicals 42a and 42b of 1e and 1g were synthesized by the reactions of 1e and 1g with potassium (Scheme 33) [58].
Subsequent challenging tasks are to characterize molecular structures of cation radicals, anion radicals and dications of dibenzopentalenes.

10. Reactions of Dibenzopentalenes

Although a variety of dibenzopentalenes can now be synthesized, their reactivity has been explored very little. Very recently, unique reactions of a dibenzopentalene were reported. Dibenzopentalene 1aa reacted with methyllithium to quantitatively produce lithium 5-methyldibenzopentalenide 42, the structure of which was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis (Scheme 34) [57]. Since 6,6-dimethylfulvene derivative reacted with methyllithium to give the corresponding lithium t-butylcyclopentadienide [59], 1aa reacted with methyllithium as a fulvene to give 43. The C−C bond lengths of the cyclopentadienyl anion moiety differ slightly, in contrast to dilithium dibenzopentalenide 26a [33], which displays no alternation of the C−C bonds in the five-membered ring. The six-membered ring adjoining the anionic five-membered ring also has different C−C bond lengths in the anion. On the other hand, remarkable alternation of the C−C bonds is found in the cyclopentadiene ring of 43. Nucleus-Independent-Chemical-Shifts (NICS) values calculated at 1.0 Å above (−12.5 ppm) and below (−12.9 ppm) the cyclopentadienide ring [47,60] of the model compound of 43 are negative, suggesting aromatic character of the cyclopentadienide ring.
Dibenzopentalene 1aa reacted with bromine and iodine to provide the corresponding dihalodibenzopentalenes 1af and 1ag in very high yields (Scheme 35) [57]. Dihalodibenzopentalenes would be good starting compounds for further functionalization of dibenzopentalenes.

11. Summary and Outlook

Dibenzopentalenes have long been known, and their unique redox behavior leading to 14π and 18π aromatic species is well established. However, their chemistry is still limited because of the lack of versatile synthetic methods. Very recently, there have been reported several efficient methods for the synthesis of a wide variety of dibenzopentalenes, together with their unique reactions. It is therefore appropriate to cultivate a new chemistry of dibenzopentalenes, which would be applied as building blocks of new π-extended sandwich complexes and redox-active materials.

Acknowledgments

This paper is dedicated to Robert West on the occasion of his nomination as an honorary member from the Chemical Society of Japan. This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), No. 17750032 (M. S.) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. M. Saito acknowledges a research grant from the Sumitomo Foundation.

References and Notes

  1. Hafner, K.; Dönges, R.; Goedecke, E.; Kaiser, R. Concerning Pentalene, 2-Methylpentalene, and 1,3-Dimethylpentalene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1973, 12, 337–339. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Dönges, R.; Hafner, K.; Lindner, H.J. Bildung und Isomerisierung des Dimeren Pentalens. Tetrahedron Lett. 1976, 17, 1345–1348. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Zywietz, T.K.; Jiao, H.; Schleyer, P.v.R.; de Meijere, A. Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity in Oligocyclic Annelated Five-Membered Ring Systems. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 3417–3422. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Rosenberger, M.; Katz, T.J. The Pentalenyl Dianion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1962, 84, 865–866. [Google Scholar]
  5. Katz, T.J.; Rosenberger, M.; O’Hara, R.K. The Pentalenyl Dianion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1964, 86, 249–252. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Stezowski, J.J.; Hoier, H.; Wilhelm, D.; Clark, T.; Schleyer, P.v.R. The structure of an aromatic 10π electron ‘dianion’: Dilithium pentalenide. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1985, 1263–1264. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Aihara, J.-I. Bond-Length Equalization and Aromaticity in Charged π-Systems. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2004, 77, 2179–2183. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Balazs, G.; Cloke, F.G.N.; Gagliardi, L.; Green, J.C.; Harrison, A.; Hitchcock, P.B.; Shahi, A.R.M.; Summerscales, O.T. A Dichromium(II) Bis(η8-pentalene) Double-Sandwich Complex with a Spin Equilibrium: Synthetic, Structural, Magnetic, and Theoretical Studies. Organometallics 2008, 27, 2013–2020. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Ashley, A.E.; Cooper, R.T.; Wildgoose, G.G.; Green, J.C.; O’Hare, D. Homoleptic Permethylpentalene Complexes: “Double Metallocenes” of the First-Row Transition Metals. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 15662–15677. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Cloke, F.G.N. Organometallic Pentalene Complexes. Pure Appl. Chem. 2001, 73, 233–238. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Summerscales, O.T.; Cloke, F.G.N. The Organometallic Chemistry of Pentalene. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2006, 250, 1122–1140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Brand, K. Über Gefärbte Kohlenwasserstoffe der Diphensuccinden-Reihe. Ber. Detsch. Chem. Ges. 1912, 45, 3071–3077. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Roser, W. Einwirkung von concentrirter Schwefelsäure auf Diphenylbernsteinsäure: Diphensuccindon. Liebigs Ann. 1888, 247, 152–157. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Mittal, R.S.D.; Sothi, S.C. Azulenes and Related Substances—XV: Azuleno[2,1-a]azulene (part 1): Reaction of 3,6,7,8-Tetrahydrodibenzopentalene with Diazomethane; Synthesis of 11H-Indeno[2,1-a]azulene. Tetrahedron 1973, 29, 1321–1325. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Yang, J.; Lakshmikantham, M.V.; Cava, M.P.; Lorcy, D.; Bethelot, J.R. Synthesis and Characterization of 5,10-Bis(2-thienyl)indeno[2,1-a]indene Derivatives: The First Examples of Conducting Polymers Containing a Rigid Bis(thienyl)butadiene Core. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 6739–6742. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  16. Brand, K.; Hoffmann, F.W. Über gefärbte Phenol-äther der Diphenylsuccinden-Reihe. Ber. Detsch. Chem. Ges. 1920, 53, 815–821. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Brand, K.; Schläger, F. Über farblose und farbige 9,12-Dialkyl-diphenylsuccindadiene-9,11. Ber. Detsch. Chem. Ges. 1923, 56, 2541–2545. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Blood, C.T.; Linstead, R.P. Fused Carbon Rings. Part XXI. Dibenzopentalene. J. Chem. Soc. 1952, 2263–2268. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Brand, K.; Müller, O. Über das 9.12-Dichlor-diphensuccindadien-9.11 und das Diphensuccinden-10. Ber. Detsch. Chem. Ges. 1922, 55, 601–608. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Wawzonek, S. An Attempt to Synthesize a Substituted Cycloöctatetraene. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1940, 62, 745–749. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Jensen, F.R.; Coleman, W.E. Formation of 1,4-Dibromo-2,3-benzobiphenylene, 2,3-Benzobiphenylene, and 1,2,5,6-Tetrabromo-3,4:7,8-dibenzotricyclo[4,2,0,02,5]octadiene. Tetrahedron Lett. 1959, 1, 7–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Cava, M.P.; Pohlke, R.; Mitchell, M.J. Condensed Cyclobutane Aromatic Compounds. XXV. The Thermal Decomposition of 1,2,5,6-Tetrabromo-3,4,7,8-dibenzotricyclo[4.2.0.02,5]octadiene. J. Org. Chem. 1963, 28, 1861–1863. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Ballester, M.; Castañer, J.; Riera, J.; Armet, O. A New Synthesis, Chemical Behavior, and Spectra of Perchlorodiphenylacetylene. J. Org. Chem. 1986, 51, 1100–1106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Brown, R.F.C.; Eastwood, F.W.; Wong, N.R. The Ethyne-Ethylidene Rearrangement: Formation of Indeno[2,1-a]indene and Fluoranthene on Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of 1,4-Diphenylbutadiyne. Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 3607–3608. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Anderson, M.R.; Brown, R.F.C.; Coulston, K.J.; Eastwood, F.W.; Ward, A. The Pyrolysis of Phenylnaphthalenedicarboxylic Anhydrides: Products of Ring Contraction and of Radical Cyclization. Aust. J. Chem. 1990, 43, 1137–1150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Kendall, J.K.; Shechter, H. Intramolecular Behaviors of Anthryldicarbenic Systems: Dibenzo[b,f]pentalene and 1H,5H-Dicyclobuta[de,kl]anthracene. J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 6643–6649. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Preda, D.V.; Scott, L.T. Phenyl Migrations in Dehydroaromatic Compounds. A New Mechanistic Link between Alternant and Nonalternant Hydrocarbons at High Temperatures. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1489–1492. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Hellwinkel, D.; Hasselbach, H.-J.; Lämmerzahl, F. Carbanion-Induced Skeletal Rearrangements: From the Dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene to the Indeno[2,1-a]indene Framework. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1984, 23, 705–706. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Babu, G.; Orita, A.; Otera, J. Facile Carbolithiation of Bent Alkyne without Catalyst. Tandem Route to Dibenzo[b,f]pentalenes from Dibenzocyclooctadiyne. Chem. Lett. 2008, 37, 1296–1297. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Zeni, G.; Larock, R.C. Synthesis of Heterocycles via Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Addition. Chem. Rev. 2006, 106, 4644–4680. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Patil, N.P.; Yamamoto, Y. Coinage Metal-Assisted Synthesis of Heterocycles. Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 3395–3442. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Zhang, H.; Karasawa, T.; Tamada, H.; Wakamiya, A.; Yamaguchi, S. Intramolecular Reductive Double Cyclization of o,o’-Bis(arylcarbonyl)diphenylacetylenes: Synthesis of Ladder π-Conjugated Skeletons. Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 3076–3079. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Saito, M.; Nakamura, M.; Tajima, T.; Yoshioka, M. Reduction of Phenyl Silyl Acetylene with Lithium: Unexpected Formation of a Dilithium Dibenzopentalenide. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 1504–1507. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. Evans, A.G.; Evans, J.C.; Emes, P.J.; Phelan, T.J. Reactions of Radical Anions. Part IX. The Radical Anion of 1-Phenyl-2-trimethylsilylacetylene. J. Chem. Soc. B 1971, 315–318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Ashe, A.J., III; Kampf, J.W.; Savla, P.M. The Structure of (1Z,3Z)-1,4-Bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-bis(lithiotetramethylethylenediamine)-2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene. A Double Bridged Dilithium Compound. Organometallics 1993, 12, 3350–3353. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Müller, V.E.; Munk, K.; Ziemek, P.; Sauerbier, M. Palladium(II)- und Platin(IV)-Komplexe von 1,2-Bis-phenyläthinyl-benzol. Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1968, 713, 40–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Müller, V.E.; Munk, K.; Fritz, H.-G.; Sauerbier, M. Indeno-indene aus Schwermetallkomplexen von 1,2-Bis-phenyläthinyl-benzol. Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1969, 723, 76–82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Blum, J.; Baidossi, W.; Badrieb, Y.; Hoffman, R.E. Tellurium-Mediated Halogen Transfer from Polyhaloalkanes to Diyne Acceptors. J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 4738–4742. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Badrieh, Y.; Blum, J.; Amer, I.; Vollhardt, K.P.C. Cyclo-oligomerization and Rearrangement of Some Phenylated Diynes by the RhCl3-Aliquat 336 and by the H2PtCl6-Aliquat 336 Catalysts under Phase Transfer Conditions. J. Mol. Catal. 1991, 66, 295–312. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Badrieh, Y.; Greenwald, A.; Schumann, H.; Blum, J. Some Unusual Reactions of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzene with Sulfur, Carbon Monoxide and Alkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates. Chem. Ber. 1992, 125, 667–674. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Levi, Z.U.; Tilley, T.D. Versatile Synthesis of Pentalene Derivatives via the Pd-Catalyzed Homocoupling of Haloenynes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 2796–2797. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Chakrabirty, M.; Tessier, C.A.; Youngs, W.J. Unusual Formation of a Cyclyne Dimer and an Indenoindene Derivative. J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 2947–2949. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Kawase, T.; Konishi, A.; Hirao, Y.; Matsumoto, K.; Kurata, H.; Kubo, T. An Extremely Simple Dibenzopentalene Synthesis from 2-Bromoethynylbenzenes Using Nickel(0) Complexes: Construction of Its Derivatives with Various Functionalities. Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 2653–2661. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Snyder, S.A.; Zografos, A.L.; Lin, Y. Total Synthesis of Resveratrol-Based Natural Products: A Chemoselective Solution. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 8186–8191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  45. Jeffrey, J.L.; Sarpong, R. An Approach to the Synthesis of Dimeric Resveratrol Natural Products via a Palladium-catalyzed Domino Reaction. Tetrahedron Lett. 2009, 50, 1969–1972. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  46. Fowler, P.W.; Steiner, E.; Havenith, R.W.A.; Jenneskens, L.W. Current Density, Chemical Shifts and Aromaticity. Magn. Reson. Chem. 2004, 42, S68–S78. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  47. Schleyer, P.v.R.; Maerker, C.; Dransfeld, A.; Jiao, H.; Hommes, N.J.R.V.E. Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shifts: A Simple and Efficient Aromaticity Probe. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 6317–6318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Willner, I.; Rabinovitz, M. 1,9-Dimethyldibenzo[b,f]pentalene Dication and Dianion. New 14π and 18π Aromatic Systems. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1978, 100, 337–338. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Willner, I.; Becker, J.Y.; Rabinovitz, M. Manifestation of Dual Aromaticity in Doubly Charged Annelated Pentalenes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1979, 101, 395–401. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Jiao, H.; Schleyer, P.v.R.; Mo, Y.; McAllister, M.A.; Tidwell, T.T. Magnetic Evidence for the Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity of Charged Fluorenyl, Indenyl, and Cyclopentadienyl Systems. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 7075–7083. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Choi, S.-B.; Boudjouk, P.; Wei, P. Aromatic Benzannulated Silole Dianions. The Dilithio and Disodio Salts of a Silaindenyl Dianion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 5814–5815. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Choi, S.-B.; Boudjouk, P.; Qin, K. Aromatic Benzannulated Germole Dianions. The Dilithio and Disodio Salts of a Germaindenyl Dianion. Organometallics 2000, 19, 1806–1809. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Liu, Y.; Stringfellow, T.C.; Ballweg, D.; Guzei, I.A.; West, R. Structure and Chemistry of 1-Silafluorenyl Dianion, Its Derivatives, and an Organosilicon Diradical Dianion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 49–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  54. Liu, Y.; Ballweg, D.; Müller, T.; Guzei, I.A.; Clark, R.W.; West, R. Chemistry of the Aromatic 9-Germafluorenyl Dianion and Some Related Silicon and Carbon Species. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 12174–12181. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  55. Saito, M.; Shimosawa, M.; Yoshioka, M.; Ishimura, K.; Nagase, S. Synthesis of Stannaindenyl Anions and a Dianion. Organometallics 2006, 25, 2967–2971. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Saito, M.; Shimosawa, M.; Yoshioka, M.; Ishimura, K.; Nagase, S. Synthesis and Characterization of Dimetallostannafluorenes. Chem. Lett. 2006, 35, 940–941. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. Saito, M.; Nakamura, M.; Tajima, T. New Reactions of a Dibenzo[a,e]pentalene. Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14, 6062–6068. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Fürderer, P.; Gerson, F.; Rabinovitz, M.; Willner, I. Radical Ions in the Pentalene Series [1]. Part II. Dibenzo[b,f]pentalene and its 5,10-Dimethyl Derivative. Helv. Chim. Acta 1978, 61, 2981–2988. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Atormyan, L.; Mkoyan, S.; Urazowski, I.; Broussier, R.; Ninoreille, S.; Perron, P.; Gautheson, B. Novel Chiral ansa-Metallocene Complexes of Titanium and Zirconium with a Semirigid Bridge. Organometallics 1995, 14, 2601–2604. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Schleyer, P.v.R.; Manoharan, M.; Wang, Z.-X.; Kiran, B.; Jiao, H.; Puchta, R.; Hommes, N.J.R.v.E. Dissected Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shift Analysis of π-Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity. Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 2465–2468. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Figure 1. Pentalene and Dibenzo[a,e]pentalene.
Figure 1. Pentalene and Dibenzo[a,e]pentalene.
Symmetry 02 00950 g001
Scheme 1. Early Studies on the Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes from Diphenylsuccindanedione 2.
Scheme 1. Early Studies on the Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes from Diphenylsuccindanedione 2.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch001
Scheme 2. Preparation of the Parent Dibenzopentalene 1g.
Scheme 2. Preparation of the Parent Dibenzopentalene 1g.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch002
Scheme 3. Preparation of the Dibromodibenzopentalene 1h.
Scheme 3. Preparation of the Dibromodibenzopentalene 1h.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch003
Scheme 4. Thermolysis of Perchloro-1,2,3-triphenylnaphtalene 8.
Scheme 4. Thermolysis of Perchloro-1,2,3-triphenylnaphtalene 8.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch004
Scheme 5. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of Diphenylbutadiyne 11.
Scheme 5. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of Diphenylbutadiyne 11.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch005
Scheme 6. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of 3-Phenylnaphthalene-1,2-dicarboxylic Anhydride 15.
Scheme 6. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of 3-Phenylnaphthalene-1,2-dicarboxylic Anhydride 15.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch006
Scheme 7. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of 9,10-Bis[(methoxysilyl)methyl]anthracene 16.
Scheme 7. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of 9,10-Bis[(methoxysilyl)methyl]anthracene 16.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch007
Scheme 8. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of Benzannulated Compounds.
Scheme 8. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of Benzannulated Compounds.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch008
Scheme 9. Reactions of 5,6,11,12-Tetrabromodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene 19 with Lithium Reagents.
Scheme 9. Reactions of 5,6,11,12-Tetrabromodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene 19 with Lithium Reagents.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch009
Scheme 10. Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes from Dibenzocyclooctadiyne 20.
Scheme 10. Preparation of Dibenzopentalenes from Dibenzocyclooctadiyne 20.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch010
Scheme 11. Preparation of Aryl-substituted Dibenzopentalenes.
Scheme 11. Preparation of Aryl-substituted Dibenzopentalenes.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch011
Scheme 12. Reductive Cyclization of o,o’-Bis(arylcarbonyl)diphenylacetylenes 23.
Scheme 12. Reductive Cyclization of o,o’-Bis(arylcarbonyl)diphenylacetylenes 23.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch012
Scheme 13. Mechanism for the Formation of Dibenzopentalene.
Scheme 13. Mechanism for the Formation of Dibenzopentalene.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch013
Scheme 14. Formation of Dibenzopentalene by Reduction of Phenylsilylacetylene.
Scheme 14. Formation of Dibenzopentalene by Reduction of Phenylsilylacetylene.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch014
Scheme 15. Formation of Dibenzopentalene from 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (29a).
Scheme 15. Formation of Dibenzopentalene from 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (29a).
Symmetry 02 00950 sch015
Scheme 16. Cyclization of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (29a) in the Presence of Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates.
Scheme 16. Cyclization of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (29a) in the Presence of Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch016
Scheme 17. Cyclization of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzenes Catalyzed by Tellurium in Pentachloroethane.
Scheme 17. Cyclization of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzenes Catalyzed by Tellurium in Pentachloroethane.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch017
Scheme 18. Cyclization of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzenes Catalyzed by Tellurium in Tetrabromoethane.
Scheme 18. Cyclization of 1,2-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzenes Catalyzed by Tellurium in Tetrabromoethane.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch018
Scheme 19. Coupling of Two Acetylenes in the Presence of CsF, tBu3P and Pd2(dba)3.
Scheme 19. Coupling of Two Acetylenes in the Presence of CsF, tBu3P and Pd2(dba)3.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch019
Scheme 20. Homocoupling of Acetylenes with hydroquinone, Cs2CO3 and CsF in the Presence of tBu3P and Pd2(dba)3.
Scheme 20. Homocoupling of Acetylenes with hydroquinone, Cs2CO3 and CsF in the Presence of tBu3P and Pd2(dba)3.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch020
Scheme 21. Preparation of a Variety of Functionalized Dibenzopentalenes.
Scheme 21. Preparation of a Variety of Functionalized Dibenzopentalenes.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch021
Scheme 22. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene from 2-Iodophenylacetylene.
Scheme 22. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene from 2-Iodophenylacetylene.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch022
Scheme 23. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene with Ni(0) Catalyst.
Scheme 23. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene with Ni(0) Catalyst.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch023
Scheme 24. Preparation of Functionalized Dibenzopentalenes with Ni(0) Catalyst.
Scheme 24. Preparation of Functionalized Dibenzopentalenes with Ni(0) Catalyst.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch024
Scheme 25. Preparation of Diaryl-substituted Dibenzopentalenes with Ni(0) Catalyst.
Scheme 25. Preparation of Diaryl-substituted Dibenzopentalenes with Ni(0) Catalyst.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch025
Scheme 26. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene through a Coupling Reaction of Stilbene and Tolane.
Scheme 26. Preparation of Dibenzopentalene through a Coupling Reaction of Stilbene and Tolane.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch026
Scheme 27. Preparation of Thienyl-substituted Dibenzopentalenes from Diketone 2.
Scheme 27. Preparation of Thienyl-substituted Dibenzopentalenes from Diketone 2.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch027
Scheme 28. Electrochemical Polymerization of Dibenzopentalene 1ac.
Scheme 28. Electrochemical Polymerization of Dibenzopentalene 1ac.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch028
Scheme 29. Formation of Dications of Dibenzopentalenes.
Scheme 29. Formation of Dications of Dibenzopentalenes.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch029
Scheme 30. Formation of Dianions of Dibenzopentalenes.
Scheme 30. Formation of Dianions of Dibenzopentalenes.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch030
Scheme 31. Reversible Redox Behavior of Dibenzopentalene 1aa.
Scheme 31. Reversible Redox Behavior of Dibenzopentalene 1aa.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch031
Scheme 32. Formation of Cation Radicals of Dibenzopentalenes.
Scheme 32. Formation of Cation Radicals of Dibenzopentalenes.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch032
Scheme 33. Formation of Anion Radicals of Dibenzopentalenes.
Scheme 33. Formation of Anion Radicals of Dibenzopentalenes.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch033
Scheme 34. Reaction of Dibenzopentalene 1aa with Methyllithium.
Scheme 34. Reaction of Dibenzopentalene 1aa with Methyllithium.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch034
Scheme 35. Reaction of Dibenzopentalene 1aa with Halogens.
Scheme 35. Reaction of Dibenzopentalene 1aa with Halogens.
Symmetry 02 00950 sch035

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Saito, M. Synthesis and Reactions of Dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes. Symmetry 2010, 2, 950-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym2020950

AMA Style

Saito M. Synthesis and Reactions of Dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes. Symmetry. 2010; 2(2):950-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym2020950

Chicago/Turabian Style

Saito, Masaichi. 2010. "Synthesis and Reactions of Dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes" Symmetry 2, no. 2: 950-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym2020950

APA Style

Saito, M. (2010). Synthesis and Reactions of Dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes. Symmetry, 2(2), 950-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym2020950

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop