Protonation‐Induced Antiaromaticity in Octaaza[8]circulenes: Cyclooctatetraene Scaffolds Constrained with Four Amidine Moieties.

The switching of cyclic π‐conjugation pathways using external stimuli is an attractive research topic in the field of organic chemistry. Here, we synthesized C4h‐symmetric octaaza[8]circulenes with four peripherally arranged amidine moieties that exhibit enhanced antiaromaticity upon protonation. Titration experiments with methanesulfonic acid revealed the formation of the tetraprotonated forms of the octaaza[8]circulenes in solution. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses and theoretical calculations indicated that the contribution of the 8π antiaromatic character of the octaaza[8]circulenes is enhanced by the delocalization of charge through the protonation of the pyridine rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]