title: Scope and limitations of Baird's theory on triplet state aromaticity: application to the tuning of singlet-triplet energy gaps in fulvenes.
abstract: Utilizing Baird's theory on triplet state aromaticity, we show that the singlet-triplet energy gaps (DeltaE(ST)) of pentafulvenes are easily varied through substitution by as much as 36 kcal mol(-1). This exploits the fact that fulvenes act as aromatic chameleons in which the dipoles reverse on going from the singlet ground state (S(0)) to the lowest pipi* triplet state (T1); thus, their electron distributions are adapted so as to achieve some aromaticity in both states. The results are based on quantum chemical calculations with the OLYP density functional theory method and the CASPT2 ab initio method, as well as spectroscopic determination of DeltaE(ST) by triplet sensitization. The findings can also be generalized to fulvenes other than the pentafulvenes, even though the effect is attenuated as the size of the fulvene increases. Our studies thus reveal that triplet-state aromaticity can greatly influence the properties of conjugated compounds in the T1 state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Box 576, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. henrik.ottosson@biorg.uu.se
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ottosson
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kilså
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chajara
authors.forename: Mari Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Piqueras
authors.forename: Raül
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Haruhisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muthas
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; C416807:polyaniline; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C017332:fulvene; C013658:propylene