Structure, spectroscopy and magnetism of 1,4-dihydro-1,4-diazine radical cations: Exceptionally stable intermediates related to methylviologen and flavosemiquinone radicals

-1,4-Dialkyl-1,4-dihydro-1,4-diazine radical cations 1–3 have been established in recent years as unusually stable intermediates of corresponding two-step redox systems. The stability is evident from large comproportionation constants Kc > 1012 and from the isolability of persistent radical cation salts with counter anions such as Br-, I-, I3 -, PF6 -, BPh4-, or (TCNQ2)-. The structures of several crystalline derivatives have been determined, showing planar π systems and, in one instance, an anion-dependent tendency to form π/π dimers. Effects of dimerization are also evident from comparative magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1,4-diethyl-1,4-dihydroquinoxalinium iodide and tetraphenylborate. UV/Vis absorption spectra of the radical cations have been determined and interpreted with the help of molecular orbital calculations. The most simple member of the series, 1,4-diethyl-1,4-dihydropyrazinum radical cation 1, exhibits a long wavelength forbidden band (2B1u → 2Au) with a conspicuous vibrational fine structure. The results obtained for the small but very stable new radical cations 1 and 2 provide clues to the stability of flavosemiquinone oxidation states in pertinent oxidoreductase enzymes and show ways to new components for the design of materials with anisotropic physical properties.