Ring Currents in the Clar Goblet Calculated Using Configurational State Averaging

The closed-shell Hückel-London-Pople-McWeeny formalism for ring currents is extended to Aufbau configurations with open shells calculated as configurational averages. The method is applied to the non-Kekulean benzenoid known as the Clar goblet, recently synthesized on the Au(111) surface. Multiplicity of the ground state is a complication: for the Clar goblet, Hund's rule of maximum multiplicity implies a triplet whereas Ovchinnikov's rule implies a singlet. This disagreement has little effect on the predicted ring currents. Ring-current maps are calculated for the 36π dication, 40π dianion, and low-lying states of the 38π neutral, using Hückel-London and Hubbard-London models. All show twin diatropic perimeter currents on separate halves of the molecule. These are compared with ipsocentric pseudo-π and ab initio maps of induced π-current for closed-shell singlet configurations of dianion, dication, and neutral. Configurationally averaged Hückel-London calculations give a good account of the consistent diatropic ring currents in the Clar goblet for the three charge states.