The phenalenyl motif: a magnetic chameleon.
The 12pi cation (3) and 14pi anion (4) derived from the phenalenyl radical (2) support diatropic ("aromatic") perimeter ring currents, but isoelectronic replacement of the central atom by either boron (5) or nitrogen (6) leads to paratropic ("antiaromatic") current; the ipsocentric approach to molecular magnetic response accounts for all four patterns in terms of competition between translationally and rotationally allowed virtual pi-pi* excitations.
Cyrański
Michał K
MK
Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 01-093 Warsaw, Poland.
Havenith
Remco W A
RW
Dobrowolski
Michał A
MA
Gray
Benjamin R
BR
Krygowski
Tadeusz M
TM
Fowler
Patrick W
PW
Jenneskens
Leonardus W
LW