Utilizing the Azaazulene Scaffolds in the Design of New Organic Superbases

[Image: see text] New neutral organic superbases with 1-azaazulene(s) as a molecular backbone are computationally designed, employing two basic substituents: dimethylaminocyclopropen-imines (CPI) and dimethylaminocyclopropeniminophosphazenes (CPI-P). Their proton affinities, gas basicities, and pK(a) values in acetonitrile are obtained using density functional theory. Azaazulenes substituted with CPI have a computed PA in the gas phase ranging between 272.9 and 306.8 kcal mol(–1), with pK(a) values in acetonitrile between 28.8 and 36 units. The substitution with the CPI-P group resulted in even stronger superbases, with a PA from 296.5 to 335.2 kcal mol(–1) and corresponding pK(a) values from 33.9 to 50 units. This exceptionally strong thermodynamic basicity is accompanied by very high kinetic basicity as well; contrary to typical proton sponges, the release of a proton from the conjugate superbase does not demand high activation energy. Because synthetic routes for both substituents and azaazulenes are already known, newly designed superbases represent suitable targets for synthesis and application.