Molecular ions of 3,3′-bi(2-R-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxopyrrolinylidene) 1,1′-dioxides

The electrochemical reduction of 3,3′-bi(2-R-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxopyrrolinylidene) 1,1′-dioxides (R = CF3, Me, Ph, But), which are cyclic dinitrons with conjugated C=C bond, in acetonitrile is an EE process producing stable radical anions and dianions, whereas the electrochemical oxidation is an EEC (R = Me, Ph) or EE process (R = But) with formation of radical cations (except for the case of R = CF3) and dications (R = But) stable under standard conditions. Radical cations of the dioxides with R = Me, Ph, and But and radical anions of the whole series of the compounds studied, including R = CF3, were characterized by ESR spectroscopy combined with electrochemical measurements and quantum-chemical calculations. The electrochemical behavior of the But-substituted dinitron is unique: the EE processes in the region of negative and positive potentials with formation of the dianion, radical anion, radical cation, and dication stable at T = 298 K were observed for the first time within one cycle of potential sweep in the CV curve measured in MeCN.