Electron ionization induced metastable decompositions of isomeric trimethylsilylmethanol, (CH3)3SiCH2OH, and methoxytrimethylsilane, (CH3)3SiOCH3

The metastable decompositions of trimethylsilylmethanol, (CH₃)₃SiCH₂OH (MW: 104, 1) and methoxytrimethylsilane, (CH₃)₃SiOCH₃ (MW: 104, 2) upon electron ionization have been investigated by use of mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectroscopy and D labeling. The metastable ions of 1 ^·+ decompose to give the fragment ions m/z 89 (CH ₃ ^· loss) and 73 (^·CH₂OH loss), whereas those of 2 ^·+ only yield the fragment ion m/z 89 (CH ₃ ^· loss). The latter fragment ion is generated by loss of a methyl radical from the trimethylsilyl group via a simple cleavage reaction as shown by D labeling. However, the fragment ions m/z 89 and 73 from 1 ^·+ are generated following an almost statistical exchange of the original methyl and methylene hydrogen atoms in the molecular ion as shown also by D labeling. This exchange indicates a complex rearrangement of the molecular ion of 1 ^·+ prior to metastable decomposition for which as key step a 1,2-trimethylsilyl group migration from carbon to oxygen is suggested. A different behavior is also found between the source-generated m/z 89 ions from 1 ^·+ which decompose in the metastable time region to give ions m/z 61 by loss of ethylene and those from 2 ^·+ which decompose in the metastable region to yield ions m/z 59 by elimination of formaldehyde.     

Study of the Gas-Phase Intramolecular Aryltrifluoromethylation of Phenyl(Trifluoromethyl)Iodonium by ESI-MS/MS

The gas-phase reactions of the reactive λ ³-phenyl(trifluoromethyl)iodonium (PhI⁺(III)CF₃, 1 at m/z 273) to the radical cation of iodobenzene (PhI^?+, 2 at m/z 204) via the loss of ·CF₃ and the radical cation of trifluoromethylbenzene (PhCF₃ ^?+, 3 at m/z 146) via the loss of ·I, were studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Interestingly, the gas-phase intramolecular coupling reaction of CF₃ with phenyl via the CF₃ migration process of 1 at m/z 273 from iodine to the phenyl to give 3 at m/z 146 could only occur according to an intramolecular aromatic substitution mechanism. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the gas-phase intramolecular aryltrifluoromethylation of 1 at m/z 273 to 3 at m/z 146 occurred via a Meisenheimer complex intermediate (MC), where the triplevalent I center of 1 was reduced to monovalent I. Most importantly, the structure of 3 at m/z 146 derived from 1 at m/z 273 in ESI-MS/MS process was confirmed by comparison of its MS/MS with that of an authentic PhCF₃ ^?+ at m/z 146 acquired from the electron ionization (EI)-MS/MS analysis of PhCF₃. Thus, our studies revealed the intrinsic reactivity tendencies of λ³-phenyl(trifluoromethyl)iodonium under solvent-free conditions.      

Synthesis and molecular and crystal structures of binuclear complexes of Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III) nitrates with 4,4,10,10-tetramethyl-1,3,7,9-tetraazospiro[5.5]undecane-2,8-dione

Binuclear complexes of Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III) nitrates with 4,4,10,10-tetramethyl-1,3,7,9-tetraazospiro[5.5]undecane-2,8-dione (C₁₁H₂₀N₄O₂, SC)—[Sm(NO₃)₃(SC)(H₂O)]₂(I), [Eu(NO₃)₃(SC)(H₂O)]₂ (II), [Gd(NO₃)₂(SC)(H₂O)₃)]₂(NO₃)₂ (III), [Tb(NO₃)₃(SC)(H₂O)]₂ (IV), [Dy(NO₃)₃(SC)(H₂O)]₂ (V), are synthesized, and their X-ray diffraction analyses are carried out. The crystals of complexes I–V are monoclinic: space group P2₁/n for III and P2₁/c for I, II, IV, and V. In centrosymmetric coordination complexes II, III, IV, and V, the Ln atoms are coordinated by two O(1) and O(2) atoms of two molecules of the SC ligands bound by a symmetry procedure (1 ? x, ?y, 1 ? z), three bidentate nitrate anions, and a water molecule. The coordination numbers of the metal atoms are equal to 9, and the coordination polyhedra are considerably distorted three-capped trigonal prisms, whose bases include the O(1), O(2), O(12) and O(3), O(7), O(9) atoms. The dihedral angle between the bases of the prism is 18°, and that between the mean planes of the side faces is 55°–71° for I, 17° and 55°–71° for II, 16° and 55°–70° for IV, and 16° and 55°–70° for V. The Sm...Sm distance in complex I is 9.44 Å, Eu...Eu in II is 9.42 Å, Tb...Tb in IV is 9.36Å, and Dy...Dy in V is 9.36Å. The gadolinium atom in complex III is coordinated by two oxygen atoms of two ligand molecules bound by a symmetry procedure (?x, ?y + 1, ?z + 1), two bidentate nitrate anions, and three water molecules. One of the nitro groups in compound III is localized in the external coordination sphere of the metal. The coordination number of gadolinium is 9, and the coordination polyhedron is a significantly distorted three-capped trigonal prism, whose base includes the O(1), O(2), O(7) and O(4), O(5), O(9) atoms. The dihedral angle between the bases of the prism is 22.8°, and that between the mean planes of the side faces is 53°–72°. The Gd...Gd distance in complex III is 9.17 Å.     

Synthese von (5,10)-(7,8)-Bisepoxiden aus α- und β-4-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-dion-Addukten von Vitamin D3 und Röntgenstrukturanalyse eines der Benzoylderivate

Oxidation of the α- and β-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-dione adducts of vitamin D₃ (2 and1) withMCPBA yields two diastereomeric mixtures of the (5,10)-(7,8)-dioxiranes3 a,3 b,3 c and4 a,4 b respectively. The corresponding benzoates5 a,5 b,6 a and6 b were prepared and the X-ray crystal structure of5 b was determined. This analysis proved5 b to be the (5R, 1 OS)-(7R, 8R)-dioxirane of the β-resp. (6S)-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-dione adduct1 of vitamin D₃.     

Über Reaktionen mit Betainen, 18. Mitt. Über Betaine und ihre Beziehungen zu N-Yliden. Trifluoracetyl-N-methylide und ihre Beziehungen zu den entsprechenden Ammoniumbasen

The betaines1b–d were prepared⁴ by systematic variation of the alkyl groups and were reacted with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride (TFA) to give the diacyl-ylides2b,c. The betain1d andTFA afford the trifluoroacetate3d ⁵. The salts3b,c, which result from hydrolysis of2b,c as well as3d (X=I) can be transformed in 75 to 83% yield into the monoacyl-ylides4b–d with the help of silver oxide. Aqueous solutions of4a–d exhibit alkalinepH, which points to the formation of the corresponding ammonium bases. In the case of4b,c the bases5b,c could be isolated. It can be shown, that4b,c and5b,c, respectively, undergo a reversible addition or elimination of one mole wather with great ease.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and fluorescent properties of two d 10-metal coordination polymers based on 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid

The first examples of two d ¹⁰ metal coordination polymers based on 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid and benzimidazole, namely, [Cd(bim)₄(1,5-nds)] 1 and [Ag(bim)₂]·½1,5-nds 2 (bim = benzimidazole, 1,5-nds = 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid) were synthesized successfully under solvothermal conditions. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by elemental analyses, IR, TG-DSC, PXRD, UV–Vis, and DFT. 1 exhibits a 3D supramolecular structure which started from 1D helical chain. 2 also shows a 3D architecture which was assembled via π–π interactions and hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bonds formed by 1,5-nds play an important role in increasing the dimensionality of architectures of 1 (from 1D to 3D) and 2 (from 0D to 1D). Moreover, both 1 and 2 show excellent luminescent properties, 335 nm for 1 (λ _ex = 286 nm) and 341 nm and 389 nm for 2 (λ _ex = 234 nm), and may be the suitable candidates of fluorescent materials. From UV–Vis spectra, the remarkable absorption peaks can be found at 276 nm for 1 and 271 nm for 2. The simulated UV–Vis spectra (290.30 nm for 1 and 271.64 nm for 2) by Gaussian 09 DFT correspond well with the experimental results. From the electron density distribution of frontier molecular orbitals, it is known that the two absorption bands are attributed to the intra-ligand electron transition from HOMO?26 to LUMO and from HOMO?3 to LUMO+1 for 1, from HOMO?1 to LUMO+18 and LUMO+19 for 2.     

Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures and fluorescent properties of five transition metal–organic hybrids incorporating an unsymmetrical benzotriazole carboxylate ligand

The hydrothermal reactions of nitrate or chloride salts of Co(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II) and Ag(I) with an unsymmetrical benzotriazole derivative 1H-1,2,3-benzotriazole-1-propionic acid (Hbtap) afforded five new metal–organic coordination polymers with formula of [M(btap)₂(H₂O)₂] _n (M = Co 1, Zn 2, Cd 3), [Hg(btap)Cl] _n (4) and {[Ag(btap)]·H₂O} _n (5), which were characterized by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. The anionic btap^? ligands in these complexes assume the same anti conformation, but show different coordination behaviors toward transition metal ions. Complexes 1, 2 and 3 are isostructural and reveal infinite one-dimensional (1D) looped-chain structures constructed by hexacoordinated metal centers and 2-connected btap^? bridges. Complex 4 features 1D zigzag polymeric arrays, which are interlinked with each other resulting in a chiral three-dimensional (3D) 4-connected framework. In complex 5, the 3-connected ligands join Ag(I) atoms into a 1D ribbon motif. The photoluminescence spectra of three d¹⁰ metal complexes 2, 3 and 4 were measured at room temperature. The emission peaks of these complexes resemble that of the free ligand and can be ascribed to the intraligand π–π* transitions.     

Autoassembly of cage structures

Thed,l-(1a) andmeso-forms (1b) of α,α'-dihydroxy-α,α'-dimethyladipic acid, dilactone (3), diiminodilactone (4), and lactonolactam (5) were obtained by the reaction of acetonylacetone with KCN and HCl. The transformations of1 to the esters2, dilactone3 to la, and diiminodilactone4 to dilactone3 were studied. It was shown that3 can be readily obtained from la by thermolysis, acid catalysis, and DCC action as well as by acid catalyzed cyclization of2a, while dilactone3 can be obtained from1b and2b in negligible yield only under drastic conditions, obviously, due to the partial epimirization of themeso-forms. The mild thermolysis of1b leads totrans-lactonoacid (6), from which the ester7 has been obtained. The effective acid catalyzed cyclization of amides8 and9 to3, lactamoamide12 to5, and amide14 to model lactone13 was found. The NMR spectra of the products were studied, and a¹H NMR test was suggested for identification ofd,l- andmeso-forms1 and2. The stereochemistry of monolactones6, 7, 9, 10a, 10b, 11, and dilactone3 was established. The differences in the chemical behavior of α,α'-dihydroxyglutaric and adipic acids were explained by the significant reduction of the non-bonded interactions of the substituents in the corresponding monolactones during the transfer from 1,3- to 1,4-substituted systems.     

Chemie des 5,7-Dihydroxy-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-b]pyridin-4(3H)-ons

Hydrolysis of the 4-alkyliminothiopyrano[2,3-b]pyridinedioles (5) and 4-alkylaminothiopyrano[2,3-b]pyridones (6) resp. with 10% NaOH gives 5,7-dihydroxy-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-b]pyridine-4(3H)-one (7).7 can be obtained in better yield by reaction of 4-dimethylamino-2(1H)-pyridinethione (8) with bistrichlorphenylethylamlonate (2). Aminolysis of7 affords the two isomeric products5 and6. On treatment with hydrazines,7 reacts only to 4-hydrazonoderivatives5. By heating in bromobenzene5d is cyclisized to 1H-5,1,2,6-thiatriaza-acenaphthylen-7-ol (11). On methylation with methyljodide5,6 and7 furnish the 7-methoxyproducts13,14 and12. By heating in 20% NaOH7 is transformed into the 2-thioxo-3-pyridylmethylketone16 A and its tautomer, 2-mercapto-3-pyridylmethylketone16 B. The structures of5,6 and7 are discussed.     

X-ray structural analysis, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of newly synthesized salicylic acid derivatives

New salicylic (2-hydroxybenzoic) acid derivatives 1–6 were prepared by conventional heating or microwave irradiation of a mixture consisting of methyl salicylate and the corresponding amino alcohol (2,2′-dihydroxydiethylamine, 2,2′,2″-trihydroxytriethylamine or N-phenyl-2,2′-dihydroxydiethylamine) and metallic sodium as catalyst. For compounds 1, 3, and 5 X-ray structure analysis was performed, as well as molecular mechanics calculations (MMC), to define their conformation in terms of their energy minima. Comparison of crystal and MMC structures for these three compounds (1, 3, and 5) revealed that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds play an important role, stabilizing conformation of the most part of the molecule. The antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of the synthesized derivatives were evaluated in a series of in vitro tests. The newly synthesized compounds exhibited strong activity against hydroxyl radical, as well as promising lipid peroxidation inhibition. The study showed that the electronic effects of the groups at the N atom are responsible for neutralization of the OH radical, i.e., antioxidant activity. Compounds 1–3 exhibited sub-micromolar cytotoxicity against HeLa S3, whereas compounds 1, 3 and 5 efficiently inhibited the growth of PC3 cells.     

Synthesis and anti-viral activities of some 3-(naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)-5-phenylfuran-2(3H)-one candidates

3-(Naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)-5-phenylfuran-2(3H)-one 1 was prepared and converted into a variety of heterocyclic systems of synthetic and biological importance. Benzylamine was reacted with furanone 1 to afford compounds 2 and 3 according to the reaction conditions. Butanamide 2 was reacted with thionyl chloride or thiourea to give derivatives 4 and 5, respectively. Compound 3 was reacted with ethyl cyanoacetate to give the corresponding pyrrolopyridine derivative 6. Treatment of 1 with hydrazine hydrate afforded compounds 7 and 8 according to the reaction conditions. Also, compound 1 was reacted with phenyl hydrazine, hydroxyl amine, malononitrile or thiourea to give compounds 9–12, respectively. Cyclization of 7 with ethoxymethylene-malononitrile, ethyl-(ethoxymethylene)cyanoacetate, carbon disulphide or acetylacetone afforded the corresponding compounds 13–16, respectively. Condensation of 7 with p-nitrobenzaldehyde gave the corresponding hydrazone 17, which was treated with thioglycolic acid or chloroacetyl chloride to give compounds 18 and 19, respectively. Also, most of the prepared products were tested for anti-avian influenza virus and revealed promising antiviral activity against H5N1 virus [A/Chicken/Egypt/1/2006 (H5N1)] by determination of both TC ₅₀ and ED ₅₀ and confirmed by plaque reduction assay on MDCK cells. Compounds 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 showed the highest effect compared with the other tested compounds.     

Charge Site Mass Spectra: Conformation-Sensitive Components of the Electron Capture Dissociation Spectrum of a Protein

A conventional electron capture dissociation (ECD) spectrum of a protein is uniquely characteristic of the first dimension of its linear structure. This sequence information is indicated by summing the primary c ^m+ and z ^m+? products of cleavage at each of its molecular ion’s inter-residue bonds. For example, the ECD spectra of ubiquitin (M?+?nH)ⁿ⁺ ions, n?=?7–13, provide sequence characterization of 72 of its 75 cleavage sites from 1843 ions in seven c ^(1–7)+ and eight z ^(1–8)+? spectra and their respective complements. Now we find that each of these c/z spectra is itself composed of “charge site (CS)” spectra, the c ^m+ or z ^m+? products of electron capture at a specific protonated basic residue. This charge site has been H-bonded to multiple other residues, producing multiple precursor ion forms; ECD at these residues yields the multiple products of that CS spectrum. Closely similar CS spectra are often formed from a range of charge states of ubiquitin and KIX ions; this indicates a common secondary conformation, but not the conventional α-helicity postulated previously. CS spectra should provide new capabilities for comparing regional conformations of gaseous protein ions and delineating ECD fragmentation pathways.

Guest inclusion in cyclic imides containing flexible tethers

Guest inclusion properties of two cyclic imides which have carboxylic acids connected through flexible tether, namely, 4-(1,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-isoindol-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (1) and 4-(1,3-dioxo-1H,3H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (2) are studied. The crystals of host 1 containing one molecule of 1, the crystals of 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) cocrystal of 1 containing one molecule of 1 and half molecule of bpy (1a), the crystals of 1,4-dioxane solvate of 1 containing two molecule of 1 and one and half molecule of 1,4-dioxane (1b) and the crystals of quinoline solvate of 1 containing one molecule of 1 and one molecule of quinoline (1c) in their crystallographic asymmetric units are investigated. Intermolecular hydrogen bonded two dimensional (2D) sheet structure of 1 and 3D channel network of 1b are comprised of cyclic R ₂ ² (8) hydrogen bond motifs; whereas cleavage of dimeric carboxylic acid R ₂ ² (8) motifs occurs in the structures of 1a and 1c in which 3D host–guest networks are comprised of discrete O–H···N and cyclic R ₂ ² (7) interactions, respectively. Various types of weak interactions between the two symmetry nonequivalent host molecule are found to be responsible for the formation of channels (14 × 11 Å) filled by guest 1,4-dioxane molecules in the crystal lattice of 1b. Two different solvates of 2 containing one molecule of 2 with a water molecule (2a) and one molecule of 2 with a quinoline molecule (2b) in their crystallographic asymmetric units, respectively, are also crystallized in different space groups. The quinoline molecules are held with host molecules by discrete O–H···N and C–H···O interactions and reside inside the voids formed by 3D repeated hexameric assemblies of host molecules in the crystal lattice of 2b.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure, and photoluminescence of Pb(II) and Mn(II) coordination polymers based on imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline

Two new coordination polymers, [Pb(IDPT)₂(NO₃)₂] (I) and [Mn(IDPT)(SO₄)(H₂O)₂] (II) (IDPT = imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The results reveal that the complex I belongs to monoclinic crystal system, space group C2/c and complex II belongs to monoclinic crystal system, P2₁/c space group. The cell parameters are: a = 19.1970(13), b = 7.3875(5), c = 17.3825(12) Å, β = 100.47(10)°, V = 2424.0(3) ų, Z = 4, F(000) = 1488 for I; a = 10.9135(6), b = 7.0230(4), c = 19.7034(10) Å, β = 99.32(10)°, V = 1490.25(14) ų, Z = 4, F(000) = 828 for II. In the structure of complex I, the metal center Pb(II) is six-coordinated, displays an octahedral geometry. Each molecule is further connected with neighboring one via π-π interactions into 1D chain. In complex II, Mn(II) is six-coordinated to form a distorted octahedral geometry. Compound II displays 1D supramolecular chain formed through hydrogen bonds. Additionally, the fluorescent properties for the complexes were investigated. Complexes I and II exhibit strong photoluminescence with emission maximum at 583 and 529 nm at room temperature.     

Tribromogermyl monochelates — derivatives of N,N-disubstituted 2-hydroxycarboxylic amides

Reactions of GeBr₄ with N,N-dimethyl-2-trimethylsiloxypropionamide (2a), (S)-2-trime-thylsiloxypropionpyrrolidide ((S)-2b), and N,N-dimethyl-O-(trimethylsilyl)mandelamide (2c) afforded pentacoordinated neutral (O,O)-monochelates, viz., N,N-dimethyl-2-tribromoger-myloxypropionamide (3a), (S)-2-tribromogermyloxypropionpyrrolidide ((S)-3b), and N,N-dimethyl-O-(tribromogermyl)mandelamide (3c), respectively. X-ray diffraction study was performed for tribromides 3a, (S)-3b, and 3c, as well as for the N,N-dimethylmandelamide (1c) described earlier. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the Ge atom in tribromides 3a, (S)-3b, and 3c is pentacoordinated and has trigonal bipyramidal configuration with two halogen atoms and oxygen atom of the ether group in the equatorial positions and the halogen atom and the amide oxygen atom in the axial fragment, the bonds in which are somewhat longer as compared to the analogous bonds in tetracoordinated Ge compounds.     

Crystalline inclusion compounds of new hydroxy hosts featuring a pentaaryl substituted cyclopentadienol framework

The new host compounds 2 and 3 containing a biphenyl or terphenyl moiety attached to the 1-position of a bulky 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylcyclopentadiene-1-ol building unit have been synthesized. Crystal structures of corresponding inclusion complexes with n-hexane (2a), DMSO (2b) and THF (3a) are reported and comparatively discussed involving known inclusion structures of 1, being the parent of this particular class of host molecules. The structural modification from 1 via 2?C3 gives rise to distinct changes of the inclusion property concerning molecular assembly and stoichiometric ratio of the crystal components.     

Zur Chemie der 5-Alkylamino-4H-thiopyrano[2,3-b]pyridin-4-one

4-Alkylaminopyridinethiones · HCl (1 · HCl) react with bis-trichlorethylmalonate (3) predominantly to 5-alkylamino-4H-thiopyrano [2,3-b]pyridine-4-ones (6). With alcohols in the presence of acids at 25°C6 undergoes an alcoholysis to the corresponding alkyl-3-(2-thioxo-3-pyridyl)propionates (9). On heating in dilute alkali6 is hydrolysed via 4-alkylamino-2-thioxopyridyl-propylketones (11) to the tautomers, 4-hydroxy-2-thioxopyridylpropylketone (12 A) and 2-thioxo-3-(1-hydroxybutenyl)-4-piperidon (12 B), resp. On refluxing with alkali the ethyl-pyridylpropionate9 a is cyclisized to the 1-alkyl-1,6-naphthyridine-2(1H)-one (4 a), but boiling in ethanolic acid hydrolyses9 a via the pyridylpropionic acid10 to 4-alkyl-aminopyridylpropylketone (11 a). The latter can be transformed via the tautomers12 A,B and 2-methylthio-3-pyridylpropylketone (13) to the 4-hydroxy-3-butyrylpyridone (14 A) and its tautomer, 3-(1-hydroxy-butenyl)-piperidine-2,4-diones (14 B) resp. The structure of14 A,B is established by reaction of 4-isopropylamino-2(1H)-pyridone (2) with butanoylchloride to the 4-isopropylamino-3-butyrypyridone (15) and hydrolysis of15 to the tautomers14 A,B.     

Synthesis of some new α,α-dioxoketene-N,S- and -N,N-acetals derived from secondary aliphatic amines

A total of 11 new α,α-dioxoketene- N,S -acetals (2a–2k) and two new α,α-dioxoketene- N,N -acetals (3j and 3k) have been synthesised by treating 3-[bis(methylthiol)methylene]pentane-2,4-dione (1) with increasing mole ratios of secondary aliphatic amines at room temperature, in either toluene or ethanol. Eight non-cyclic N -methylalkyl and N -ethylalkyl amines and the azacyclopentane of pyrrolidine yielded exclusively mono-substituted N,S -acetals (2a–2i), while the azacyclohexanes of piperidine and morpholine yielded the mono-substituted N,S -acetals 2j and 2k and the double-substituted N,N -acetals 3j and 3k. The conversion yields for the reactions in ethanol are considerably higher than those in toluene. Furthermore, the secondary aliphatic amines with an N -methylalkyl moiety, which have one primary α-carbon and less steric crowding around the nucleophilic nitrogen, appear to be more reactive towards 1 than those with the N -ethylalkyl group, which have two primary α-carbons; further, the latter amines are more reactive than the amines with secondary α-carbons.     

Molecular geometry and electronic structures of stable organic derivatives of divalent germanium and tin [(\operatorname{Me} _3 \operatorname{Si} )_2 \operatorname{N} {\kern 1pt} ---{\kern 1pt} Me_2 ]_n (M = Ge, n = 1; M = Sn, n = 2): a theoretical study

The molecular geometry and electronic structure of stable organic derivatives of divalent germanium and tin, [(Me₃Si)₂N-M-OCH₂CH₂NMe₂]_n (M = Ge (4), n = 1; M = Sn (5), n =2) and their isomers with broken (4a, 5a) and closed (4b, 5b) intramolecular coordination bonds M←NMe₂, were studied by the density functional (PBE/TZ2P/SBK-JC) and NBO methods. Factors responsible for stability of their dimers 4c and 5c were established. Dimerization of 5b in the gas phase is a thermodynamically favorable process (ΔG ⁰ = ?2.1 kcal mol^?1) while that of 4b is thermally forbidden (ΔG ⁰ = 10.1 kcal mol^?1), which is consistent with experimental data. The M←NMe₂ coordination bond energies, ΔE ⁰, were found to be ?5.3 and ?8.6 kcal mol^?1 for M = Ge and Sn, respectively. NBO analysis showed that the metal atoms M in molecules 4 and 5 are weakly hybridized. The lone electron pairs of the M atoms have strong s-character while vacant orbitals of these atoms, LP* M, are represented exclusively by the metal np_z-AOs. The strongest orbital interactions between subunits in dimers 4c and 5c involve electron density donation from the lone electron pairs of oxygen atoms (LP O) to the LP* M orbitals.