Epipremnum Aureum

by | Mar 19, 2018 | Epipremnum Aureum

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Cyclotetradecaheptaene, often referred to as [14]annulene, is a hydrocarbon with molecular formula C14H14, which played an important role in the development of criteria (Hückel's rule) for aromaticity, a stabilizing property of central importance in physical organic chemistry. It forms dark-red needle-like crystals.[1]

Structure and aromaticity

Although the conjugated ring of [14]annulene contains 4n+2 electrons, it only exhibits limited evidence for being aromatic. It does not fully conform to Hückel's rule because none of its cis/trans isomers can adopt a completely planar conformation due to crowding of the interior hydrogens.[2] There is evidence that it has two isomeric forms of comparable stability (trans, cis, trans, cis, trans, trans, cis- with four interior hydrogens (shown in the infobox) and trans, cis, trans, cis, trans, cis, cis- with three interior hydrogens) which rapidly interconvert at room temperature but can be observed at low temperature by NMR.[3] Its 1H NMR spectrum shows evidence of aromatic ring currents that result in an upfield shift for the interior hydrogens. In contrast, the corresponding [12]- and [16]annulenes, which are weakly antiaromatic or nonaromatic, have downfield shifted interior hydrogens. However, unlike the undoubtedly aromatic [18]annulene, [14]annulene does not bear the hallmark aromatic property of chemical stability, and it quickly decomposes when exposed to light and air.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Chiang, Chian C.; Paul, Iain C. (1972). "Crystal and Molecular Structure of [14]Annulene". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 94 (13): 4741–4743. doi:10.1021/ja00768a058.
  2. ^ G. M. Badger. Aromatic Character and Aromaticity. Cambridge University Press. p. 96.
  3. ^ H., Lowry, Thomas (1987). Mechanism and theory in organic chemistry. Richardson, Kathleen Schueller. (3rd ed.). New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0060440848. OCLC 14214254.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Sondheimer, Franz; Gaoni, Yehiel (1960). "Unsaturated Macrocyclic Compounds. XV. Cyclotetradecaheptaene". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 82 (21): 5765–5766. doi:10.1021/ja01506a061.


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