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The induced magnetic field of C2N (N = 3-14) carbon rings was dissected to contributions from out-of-plane and in-plane π orbitals revealing two concurrent long range shielding or deshielding cones as a manifestation of the dual aromatic and antiaromatic character of C4n+2 and of C4n rings respectively. Aromaticity based on the magnetic criterion was evaluated with regard to the bonding pattern and geometrical characteristics that elucidate the influence of bond length and bond angle alteration on out-of-plane and in-plane magnetic responses. Ground state polyynic geometries of C4n+2 rings exhibit comparable shielding cones to annulenes, decreasing the magnetic response with regard to the ring size and similar πout and πin diatropicity. Transition state cumulenic rings display increased aromaticity expressed by a very strong constant magnetic response and augmented πout diatropicity with regard to πin. The variations of the induced magnetic field are explained on the basis of frontier orbital interactions through rotational excitations, which enable further rationalization of the aromatic/antiaromatic behavior.

International audience; Materials combining amplified nonlinear optical responses and wide optical gaps that ensure high laser-induced damage thresholds and broadband transparency are highly required for photonic applications. In this article, we use well-established quantum chemical methods to demonstrate that a special class of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, in which multiple borazine (B3N3) units substitute aromatic carbon sextets, are suitable for the design and synthesis of systems meeting both above requirements. Computations conducted in a wide assortment of purposely designed nanographene model systems exposed robust doping/property relations which point out that multiple B3N3 doping can be considered as an efficient strategy to enhance the quadratic nonlinear optical responses of a given polyaromatic hydrocarbon maintaining at the same time wide optical gaps. A detailed analysis of the underlying charge transfer mechanism revealed that the observed features stem from local in character electronic excitations occurring between the incorporated B3N3 units and neighboring aromatic sextets.

Dications of cycloparaphenyles ([n]CPPs) are known to exhibit in-plane global aromaticity, contained in a nanobelt structure. Recently synthesized ortho and meta isomers of [n]CPPs break the radial symmetry of π structure incorporating perpendicular oriented π orbitals. Herein we set to explore the aromaticity of neutral and dicationic ortho and meta isomers of [8]CPP by dissecting the induced magnetic field to contributions of the twofold radial/perpendicular π system using delocalized canonical molecular orbitals (CMO), and introducing the natural localized molecular orbitals (NLMO) analysis with DFT methods. The dications sustain a reduced global aromatic character of the radial π system under a perpendicular orientation of the external field which declines from ortho to meta isomer and reinforces local aromaticity of ortho ring while it destroys aromaticity of meta ring. Aromaticity variations are determined by symmetry governed rotational excitations of frontier π orbitals. The parallel orientation reveals a substantial reduction of local aromaticity verified with NICSπ analysis and electron delocalization indices.

The induced magnetic field of B40 was dissected into contributions from π, σ and core electrons revealing the origins for the formation of the strong long range shielding response characterizing the spherical aromatic nature of the cavernous D2d structure. Our analysis showed the complementary role of π and σ orbitals for the formation of the global shielding cone, with weak π contributions at a long range and strong σ contributions inside the cage, supporting the molecule as double aromatic with weak π and strong σ delocalization. Similar local variations of both π and σ magnetic responses were identified portraying peripheral diatropic and local paratropic currents. The weak π aromaticity is explained on the basis of symmetry rules pertaining to its electronic structure which forbid small gap paratropic rotational excitations.

The induced magnetic field of fullerenes is strongly dependent on the charge state, where C60 is depicted as a nonaromatic species, in contrast to C6010+ which exhibits a strong spherical aromatic character. Here, we account for the response of relevant charged stable building blocks for novel extended networks with variable applications, as observed in A12C60 and A6C60 phases (A = alkali metal), given by, Li12C60 and Na6C60, as well as four different charge states of C60q (q = +10, 0, −6, −12), to an external magnetic field is studied in detail, focusing on the contributions from the π and σ systems to the induced magnetic field. C60, C606–, and C6012– accounts for the variation of their isolated species upon addition of charge, whereas C6010+ is a hypothetical highly aromatic counterpart. Our results show that each spherical shell and each canonical molecular orbital exhibit characteristic patterns, revealing the direct dependence of the magnetic response, and therefore of spherical aromatic character, ...

The induced magnetic fields originating from the π system of planar conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbons and spherical fullerenes are accurately reproduced by their corresponding hydrogen skeletal models (HSMs). Moreover, the individual contribution per molecular orbital is also reproduced unraveling simple symmetry rules related to canonical molecular orbitals. Hence, fast, handy and accurate 3D visualization of shielding and deshielding cones is realized, enabling the interpretation of global and local π aromaticity and antiaromaticity of PAHs and spherical species in a simple and concise manner to facilitate further interpretations of large sized hydrocarbon systems.