The synthesis and
properties of a series of unsymmetrical thienopentalenes
are explored, including both monoareno and diareno derivatives. For
the synthesis of monoareno pentalenes, a carbopalladation cascade
reaction between alkynes and gem-dibromoolefins was
applied. Diareno pentalene derivatives were accessed via gold-catalyzed
cyclization of diynes. Thiophene was fused to pentalene in two different
geometries via its 2,3 and 3,4 bonds. 2,3-Fusion resulted in increased
antiaromaticity of the pentalene unit compared to the 3,4-fusion both
in the monoareno and diareno framework. Monothienopentalenes that
contained the destabilizing 2,3-fusion could not be isolated. For
diareno derivatives, the aromatic character of the different aryl
groups fused to the pentalene was not independent. Destabilizing fusion
on one side resulted in alleviated aromaticity on the other side and
vice versa. The synthesized molecules were characterized experimentally
by 1H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry,
and X-ray crystallography, and their aromatic character was assessed
using magnetic (NICS and ACID) and electronic indices (MCI and FLU).