A quantum chemistry study: a new kind of boron nitrides

At the B3LYP/6-311+G** and the BP86/6-311+G** levels of theory, BNN, H(3)BNN, NNBH(2)-BH(2)NN, (BNN)(2)H(2), NNBBNN, (BNN)(3) (+), (BNN)(4), (BNN)(4) (2+), (BNN)(4) (2-), B(4)(NN)(2), (BNN)(5) (-), (BNN)(6), (BNN)(7) (+), and (BNN)(8) (2+) are investigated. Neutral (BNN)(4) is aromatic with its triplet state but antiaromatic with its singlet state. (BNN)(4) dication favors D(2d) structure, while (BNN)(4) dianion favors a planar D(4h) structure. (BNN)(3) (+), (BNN)(4) (2-), (BNN)(5) (-), (BNN)(6), (BNN)(7) (+), (BNN)(7) (3-), (BNN)(8) (2+), and (BNN)(8) (2-) are all aromatic with planar monocyclic conformation, following the 4n + 2 rule. Moreover, according to the CASSCF and MRCI calculations, the planar B(4)(NN)(2) of D(2h) symmetry prefers to be a sigma-pi diradical in spite of open-shell singlet or triplet and is also aromatic. Akin to the sigma-pi back interaction in compounds containing transition metal, there exists the sigma-pi back interaction between boron and N(2) ligand among some species reported herein, which strengthens B(-)N bond but activates N-N bond, especially in (4)Sigma(-) BNN. The T-shaped structure lies lowest in energy among seven isomers of the (BNN)(2)H(2) dimer, and the parallel-displaced structure is favored between two isomers of the (BNN)(6) dimer.