9,10-Dihydrophenanthrene with Two Spiro(dibenzocycloheptatriene) Units: A Highly Strained Caged Hydrocarbon Exhibiting Reversible Electrochromic Behavior

The title dispiro hydrocarbon 1 was designed as a new electrochromic material. This multiply clamped hexaphenylethane-type electron donor was prepared from 2,2′-diiodobiphenyl via biphenyl-2,2′-diylbis(dibenzotropylium) 2(2+) salt. X-ray analysis of 1 revealed a highly strained structure as reflected by an elongated “ethane” bond [bond length: 1.6665(17) Å] and nearly eclipsed conformation. The weakened bond was cleaved upon two-electron oxidation to regenerate the deeply colored dication 2(2+). The reversible interconversion between 1 and 2(2+) is accompanied not only by a drastic color change but also by C–C bond formation/cleavage. Thus, the voltammogram showed a pair of well-separated redox waves, which is characteristic of “dynamic redox (dyrex)” behavior. The tetrahydro derivative of 1 with two units of spiro(dibenzocycloheptadiene), which suffers from more severe steric congestion, was also prepared. The crystallographically determined bond length for the central C–C bond [1.705(4) Å] is greatest among the values reported for 9,9,10,10-tetraaryl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives.