Three paramagnetic reduction stages of phenyl-substituted 1,2:9,10-dibenzo[2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes. Radical anions, triplet dianions, and radical trianions as studied by ESR and ENDOR spectroscopy

Reduction of di- and tetraphenyl-substituted 1,2:9,10-dibenzo[2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes, 3, 3-d'₂, 4,5, and 5-tBu₄ with potassium in ethereal solvents has been monitored by ESR and ENDOR spectroscopy. In each case, the first reduction step yields a radical anion in which the unpaired electron resides in one of the two lateral biphenyl or o-terphenyl mystems orthogonal to the central phane unit. Except under conditions of strong association with the K⁺ counterion, electron exchange between the two π-ystems is fast on the hyperfine time scale. Upon further reduction, a second electron is taken up, as revealed by the appearance of triplet dianions bearing one unpaired electron in each of the two lateral π-ystems (separation ca. 1 nm). The singlet state of the dianion of 5 has been estimated to lie only slightly higher (ca. 2 kJ mol⁻¹) than the triplet state; the simultaneous presence of the singlet dianions of 3 and 5 in the solutions is compatible with evidence from NMR spectroscopy. An even more prolonged contact with potassium metal leads to radical trianions with the unpaired electron accommodated in the central phane unit. These radical trianions can thus be regarded as the radical anions of [2.2]paracyclophane having two negatively charged lateral π-ystems attached to it. Detection of trianions in a quartet state by ESR spectroscopy proved to be difficult under the experimental conditions used. The sequential uptake of three electrons by 3-5 is discussed in the light of the reduction potentials of the constituent π-ystems.