Tetraepoxy[22]annulen(2.2.2.0): Ein neuartiges Tetraepoxy-verbrücktes, neutrales, aromatisches [22]Annulen†

Tetraepoxy[22]annulene(2.2.2.0): a Tetraepoxy-Bridged Neutral Aromatic [22]Annulene of a New Type We describe the synthesis of tetraepoxy[22]annulene(2.2.2.0) 4, the first aromatic annulene of type B by a cyclizing twofold Wittig reaction of 2,2′-bifuran-5,5′-dicarbaldehyde (5) and the bis[phosphonium] salt 8. The configuration of 4, mainly determined by NMR spectroscopy is (Z,E,Z). According to the UV/VIS spectrum and the 1H-NMR data, the electronic situation in 4 is quite different from that of tetraepoxy[22]annulene(3.0.3.0) 2 and tetraepoxy[22]annulene(2.1.2.1) 3. According to variable-temperature 1H-NMR spectroscopy, 4 is a highly dynamic system, where the (E)-double bond rotates around the adjacent σ-bonds. At ca. −130°, this dynamic process is frozen, and 4 appears as a diatropic aromatic system; the free activation energy of the rotation ΔG≠ is ca. 8.75 kcal/mol.