Breathing viability into cyclonona‐3,5,7‐trienylidenes via α‐dimethyl and ά‐moieties at DFT

Cyclonona‐3,5,7‐trienylidene ( 1 ) changes from being a transition state (TS) to minimum states when substituted by α‐methyl groups and ά‐X, where X = CMe 2 , NMe, PMe, O, S, cyclopropyl, and SiMe 2 ( 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , respectively) at density functional theory. Specifically, the parent carbene 1 exhibits a negative vibrational force constant and proves to be an unreachable electrophilic TS while shows C s symmetry with an NBO atomic charge of +0.70 on its carbenic center. It has a triplet ground state with a rather small singlet‐triplet energy gap (Δ E s–t  = −4.1 kcal/mol). In contrast, all of its seven scrutinized derivatives enjoy reachable global minima, with C 1 symmetry, desired nucleophilicity, and singlet closed shell (S cs ) ground states (for all but 8 which remains triplet). Stability is indicated by relative Δ E s–t values: 2  >  3  >  4  >  5  >  6  >  7  >  1  >  8 . The highest Δ E s–t as well as NBO carbenic atomic negative charge (−0.74) are displayed by 2 . Our carbenes ( 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ) appear more nucleophilic than the synthesized N ‐heterocyclic carbenes (imidazol‐2‐ylidenes). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.