Stable N,N’-Diarylated Dihydrodiazaacene Radical Cations

Abstract

Three stable N,N’-diarylated dihydroazaacene radical cations were prepared by oxidation of neutral N,N’-diarylated dihydroazaacenes synthesized via palladium-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig aminations of aryl iodides with N,N’-dihydroazaacenes. Both neutral as well as oxidized species were investigated via UV-vis spectroscopy, single crystal analysis, and DFT calculations. All the radical cations are surprisingly stable—their absorption spectra in dichloromethane remain unchanged in ambient conditions for at least 24 hours.