Structural characterization of rare intramolecularly (1,4-Te?N) bonded diorganotellurides and their monomeric complexes with mercury(II) halides: Metal assisted C-H?X (Hg) interactions leading to supramolecular architecture

Monomeric tellurides 4-RC₆H₄(SB)Te [SB = 2-(4,4′-NO₂C₆H₄CHNC₆H₃-Me); R = H, 1a; Me, 1b; OMe, 1c], which incidentally represent the first example of a telluride with 1,4-Te?N intramolecular interaction, have been prepared and characterized by solution and solid-state ¹²⁵Te NMR, ¹³C NMR and X-ray crystallography. Interplay of weak C-H?O and C-H?π interactions in the crystal lattice of 1b and 1c are responsible for the formation of supramolecular motifs. These tellurides undergo expected oxidative addition reactions with halogens and interhalogens and also interact coordinatively with mercury(II) halides to give 1:2 complexes, HgX₂[4-RC₆H₄(SB)Te]₂ (X = Cl, R = H, 2a; Me, 2b; OMe, 2c and X = Br, R = H, 3a; Me, 3b; and OMe, 3c) with no sign of Te-C bond cleavage, as has been reported for some 1,5-Te?N(O) intramolecularly bonded tellurides. The complexes 2a and 3c are the first structurally characterized monomeric 1:2 adducts of mercury(II) halides with Te ligands. The 1,4-Te?N intramolecular interactions in the solid-state are retained in the complexes highlighting simultaneously the Lewis acid and base character of the Te(II) atom. Packing of molecules in the crystal lattice of 2a and 3c reveals that non-covalent C-H?Cl/Br interactions involving metal-bound halogen atoms possess significant directionality and in combination with coordinative covalent interactions may be of potential use in creating inorganic supramolecular synthons.     

Cover Feature: Rare Spin Avoided σ-σ Diradical Planar Tetracoordinate Boron Cluster: A Proto-Star for Planar Pentacoordination (ChemPhysChem 18/2023)

We report a global planar star-like cluster B₃Li₃ featuring three planar tetracoordinate boron centres with a rare spin avoided σ-σ diradical character. The cluster was found to be stable towards dissociation into different fragments. The spin density was found to be localized solely on the three boron atoms in the molecular plane. This spin avoided σ-σ diradical character leads to the extension of the coordination number to yield a neutral B₃Li₃H₃ and a cationic B₃Li₃H₃⁺ cluster with three planar pentacoordinate boron centres in their global minimum structures. The planar geometry of the aninonic B₃Li₃H₃⁻ cluster is slightly higher in energy. The planar global clusters were found to maintain planarity in their ligand protected benzene bound complexes, B₃Li₃(Bz)₃, B₃Li₃H₃(Bz)₃ and B₃Li₃H₃(Bz)₃⁺ with high ligand dissociation energies offering candidature for experimental detection.