Friedel–Crafts acylation of antiaromatic norcorroles: electronic and steric modulation of the paratropic current

Abstract

Acyl chlorides react with norcorrolatonickel(II) in dichloromethane in the presence of AlCl₃ at room temperature affording two isomeric monoketone derivatives in moderate yields. For acetyl chloride, also diketones were detected and separated. Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization studies were corroborated using DFT calculations.