Molecular and Spin Structures of a Through-Space Conjugated Triradical System

A through-space conjugated multi-phenalenyl triradical 1 a has been prepared and characterized. Partial occupancy of doubly degenerate molecular orbitals in 1 a leads to Jahn-Teller distortion, creating a molecular skeleton in which C_2v doublet states are lower in energy than undistorted D_3h doublet and quartet states. Triradical 1 a exists in an acute form in the solution state, whereas it adopts a preferred obtuse form in the solid state. The results of the investigation show that these two distorted forms are reversibly interconverted by thermal energy.