High-fidelity Recognition of Organotrifluoroborate Anions (R−BF3−) as Designer Guest Molecules

The recognition of boron compounds is well developed as boronic acids but untapped as organotrifluoroborate anions (R−BF₃⁻). We are exploring the development of these and other designer anions as anion-recognition motifs by considering them as substituted versions of the parent inorganic ion. To this end, we demonstrate strong and reliable binding of organic trifluoroborates, R−BF₃⁻, by cyanostar macrocycles that are size-complementary to the inorganic BF₄⁻ progenitors. We find that recognition is modulated by the substituent's sterics and that the affinities are retained using the common K⁺ salts of R−BF₃⁻ anions.     

Chiral molecular glass: synthesis and characterization of enantiomerically pure thiophene-based [7]helicene

Synthesis of thiophene-based [7]helicenes, which are functionalized for both design of organic chiral glasses with strong chiroptical properties and for further homologation to higher [n]helicenes, is reported. The key synthetic transformations are kinetic resolution of the intermediate diketone and the annelation step forming the center benzene ring by means of an intramolecular McMurry reaction. Based upon X-ray crystallographic determinations of the absolute configurations for (+)-enantiomers of the diketone and the [7]helicene, stereochemical correlation between the (R) axial chirality of the diketone and the (M) helical chirality of the [7]helicene is established. One such enantiopure trimethylsilyl-substituted [7]helicene possesses enchanced chiroptical properties and forms a chiral molecular glass.     

A facile approach to a d4 RuN: moiety

Replacement of chloride in (PNP)RuCl, PNP = (tBu2PCH2SiMe2)2N, by Me3SiN3 gives a pre-redox adduct that, already at -30 degrees C, releases N2 to produce the mononuclear nonplanar Ru(IV) nitride (PNP)RuN, characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray methods. DFT calculations show the planar structure to be only 1.6 kcal/mol less stable, which explains the time-averaged simplicity of the 1H NMR spectrum, as well as the large vibrational amplitude of the nitride ligand.     

Multifunctional behavior by a Bis-(phosphinimino)methanide ligand: eta 2- vs eta 3-coordination vs Bronsted basicity

The reaction of [(Cymene)RuCl2]2 with the chelate LiHC(PPh2NPh)2 occurs to remove both chloride ligands, to furnish a cationic Ru(II) complex with the monoanionic ligand bound eta3, through two N and an sp3 carbon. This cation is also produced from the conjugate acid of the ligand H2C(PPh2NPh)2 because this molecule can serve as a Br?nsted base, to deprotonate the acidic carbon of another molecule of H2C(PPh2NPh)2. DFT calculations show an energy surface where (Cymene)RuHC(PPh2NPh)2L is more stable with a Ru-CH(PPh2NPh)2 bond and with L = Cl- or MeCN not coordinated to Ru, than to an eta2-HC(PPh2NPh)2 structure with coordinated L; this is tested experimentally. The greater tendency for this ligand to be coordinated eta3 vs analogous diketiminates is discussed. The nucleophilicity of Cgamma in structure 1, vs that of donors L = Cl- or MeCN, is evaluated to understand the preference of the bis(phosphinimino)methanide to be bidentate or tridentate.     

Gallane complexes with amido-amine ligands

Gallane complexes bearing amido-amine ligands -N(R)CH2CMe2CH2NMe2 [R = H or SiMe3 (TMS)], (H2Ga[N(H)CH2CMe2CH2NMe2])2, 1, H2Ga[N(TMS)CH2CMe2CH2NMe2], 2, (H(Cl)Ga[N(H)CH2CMe2CH2NMe2])2, 3, ([(TMS)2N](H)Ga[N(H)CH2CMe2CH2NMe2])2, 4, and HGa[N(TMS)CH2CMe2CH2NMe2]2, 5, were synthesized from the reactions of the quinuclidine adducts of mono- and dichlorogallane with the corresponding lithium amides. Structural determinations of compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed all were dimeric with bridging amido groups. Rather than bond to gallium the tertiary amine groups in 1 and 4 were hydrogen-bonded to the amino N-H. In the structure of compound 3 the amine group occupied an axial position in the trigonal bipyramidal geometry of the five-coordinate gallium. The results were rationalized in terms of the steric and electronic properties of gallium ligands.     

Aromatic vs aliphatic C-H cleavage of alkyl-substituted pyridines by (PNPiPr)Re compounds

Both (PNP)Re(H)(4) and (PNP)ReH(cyclooctyne) (PNP(i)(Pr) = ((i)Pr(2)PCH(2)SiMe(2))(2)N) react with alkylpyridines NC(5)H(4)R to give first (PNP)ReH(2)(eta(2)-pyridyl) and cyclooctene and then, when not sterically blocked, (PNP)Re(eta(2)-pyridyl)(2) and cyclooctane. The latter are shown by NMR, X-ray diffraction, and DFT calculations to have several energetically competitive isomeric structures and pyridyl N donation in preference to PNP amide pi-donation. DFT studies support NMR solution evidence that the most stable bis pyridyl structure is one that is doubly eta(2)- with the pyridyl N donating to the metal center. When both ortho positions carry methyl substituents, cyclooctane and the carbyne complex (PNP)ReH(tbd1;C-pyridyl) are produced. Excess 2-vinyl pyridine reacts with (PNP)Re(H)(4) preferentially at the vinyl group, to give 2-ethyl pyridine and the sigma-vinyl complex (PNP)ReH[eta(2)-CH=CH(2-py)]. The DFT and X-ray structures show, by various comparisons, the ability of the PNP amide nitrogen to pi-donate to an otherwise unsaturated d(4) Re(III) center, showing short Re-N distances consistent with the presence of pi-donation.     

On the Adams–Riemann–Roch theorem in positive characteristic

Let p > 0 be a prime number. We give a short proof of the Adams–Riemann–Roch theorem for the p-th Adams operation, when the involved schemes live in characteristic p. We also answer a question of B. Köck.     

Towards a synthetic model of the photosynthetic water oxidizing complex: [Mn3O4(O2CMe)4(bpy)2] containing the [MnIV3(mu-O)4]4+ core

The 3 MnIV title compound has been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography and magnetochemistry; the complex contains a [Mn(mu-O)2Mn(mu-O)2Mn]4+ core and possesses an S = 3/2 ground state.     

The first noncoordinated phosphonium diylide, [Me2P(C13H8)2]-, and its ylidic and cationic counterparts: synthesis, structural characterization, and interaction with the heavy group 2 metals

Treatment of potassium or lithium fluorenide with MePCl2 generates the organophosphine MeP(C13H9)2, which on reaction with methyl iodide produces the phosphonium species [Me2P(C13H9)2]I in 74% yield. In the solid state, H...I contacts of < 3.3 A help generate a layered structure in which the fluorenyl rings are nearly parallel. On subsequent reaction of [Me2P(C13H9)2]I with either KH or K[N(SiMe3)2], the corresponding neutral phosphoylide, Me2P(C13H9)(C13H8), forms in 67% yield and was structurally characterized. The phosphonium iodide [Me2P(C13H9)2]I was allowed to react with Ae[N(SiMe3)2]2 (Ae = Ca, Ba), and the product from the reaction with the calcium complex was structurally identified as the salt [CaI(thf)5][Me2P(C13H8)2]. The anion, which is outside the coordination sphere of the calcium, represents the first structurally authenticated example of a free phosphonium diylide. The P-C(ylidic) bond length of 1.748(4) A reflects some partial multiple bond character. 1H and 31P NMR spectra suggest that the barium analogue is similar. Density functional theory calculations were performed on representative phosphonium diylides as an aid to interpreting the bonding in this class of compounds. Despite the strong electrostatic attraction that usually drives metal-ligand binding in highly ionic systems, calcium and barium prefer to coordinate to a single iodide ion and several neutral oxygen donors rather than to the charged diylide.