Molecules with 4n π electrons should display Baird aromaticity in the triplet state, but isolation of ring systems with this electronic ground state is stymied by structural distortion. Now, a benzene diradical dianion has been stabilized by being held rigid in a binucleating ligand as well as through magnetic exchange; single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and NICS calculations support its ground-state Baird aromaticity.
- Colin A. Gould
- Jonathan Marbey
- Jeffrey R. Long
