Mono- and Bis(imidazolidinium ethynyl) Cations and Reduction of the Latter To Give an Extended Bis-1,4-([3]Cumulene)-p-carboquinoid System

Citation:

Barry BM, Soper RG, Hurmalainen J, Mansikkamaki A, Robertson KN, McClennan WL, Veinot AJ, Roemmele TL, Werner-Zwanziger U, Boeré RT, et al. Mono- and Bis(imidazolidinium ethynyl) Cations and Reduction of the Latter To Give an Extended Bis-1,4-([3]Cumulene)-p-carboquinoid System. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION. 2018;57:749-754.

Abstract:

An extended pi-system containing two [3]cumulene fragments separated by a p-carboquinoid and stabilized by two capping N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been prepared. Mono- and bis(imidazolidinium ethynyl) cations have also been synthesized from the reaction of an NHC with phenylethynyl bromide or 1,4-bis(bromoethynyl)benzene. Cyclic voltammetry coupled with synthetic and structural studies showed that the dication is readily reduced to a neutral, singlet bis-1,4-([3]cumulene)-p-carboquinoid as a result of the pi-accepting properties of the capping NHCs.