title: Unsaturated dodecahedranes--in quest of the C20H14 1,4,16-triene and C20H12 1,4,10(14),16-tetraene, and their cations and anions.
abstract: The highly pyramidal, highly strained 1,4,16-dodecahedratriene (4) and C20H12 1,4,10(14),16-dodecahedratetraene (5) are cage olefins with an intriguing "inner life". For 5 DFT calculations give information about the energetic and geometrical consequences of one-/two-electron oxidation and reduction. Attempts to prepare 4 and 5 through thermal retro[2+2]/[4+2]cycloaddition strategies proved unsuccessful. Still, the C20H14/C20H12 cage cations and anions are liberated upon electron impact or gas-discharge ionization of their thermally extremely stable tris-/tetrakisanthraceno-anellated derivatives. Mass-selection (photoelectron (PE) characterization) of the anions failed, however, due to the very small anion intensity, the preferential formation of hydrogen-poor ions, and minor cage disruption.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinbold
authors.forename: Emmerich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sackers
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osswald
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hunkler
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wörth
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knothe
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morgner
authors.forename: Issendorff Bernd
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: von
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prinzbach