Boronate Ligands in Materials: Determining Their Local Environment by Using a Combination of IR/Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopies and DFT Calculations

Boronic acids (R‐B(OH)₂) are a family of molecules that have found a large number of applications in materials science. In contrast, boronate anions (R‐B(OH)₃^?) have hardly been used so far for the preparation of novel materials. Here, a new crystalline phase involving a boronate ligand is described, Ca[C₄H₉‐B(OH)₃]₂, which is then used as a basis for the establishment of the spectroscopic signatures of boronates in the solid state. The phase was characterized by IR and multinuclear solid‐state NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹B and ⁴³Ca), and then modeled by periodic DFT calculations. Anharmonic OH vibration frequencies were calculated as well as NMR parameters (by using the Gauge Including Projector Augmented Wave—GIPAW—method). These data allow relationships between the geometry around the OH groups in boronates and the IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic data to be established, which will be key to the future interpretation of the spectra of more complex organic–inorganic materials containing boronate building blocks.     

Tl2Te and its relationship with Tl5Te3

The crystal structure of Tl₂Te, dithallium telluride, has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The analysis of the structure shows that this compound is the first known representative of a new crystal structure type. The structural relationship with the related Tl₅Te₃ phase is discussed.     

Crystal Structure of N,N′-Di-tert-Butylurea as a N,O-Donating Ligand

Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry -     

Na[Li(NH2BH3)2]--the first mixed-cation amidoborane with unusual crystal structure

We describe the successful synthesis of the first mixed-cation (pseudoternary) amidoborane, Na[Li(NH(2)BH(3))(2)], with theoretical hydrogen capacity of 11.1 wt%. Na[Li(NH(2)BH(3))(2)] crystallizes triclinic (P1) with a = 5.0197(4) ?, b = 7.1203(7) ?, c = 8.9198(9) ?, α = 103.003(6)°, β = 102.200(5)°, γ = 103.575(5)°, and V = 289.98(5) ?(3) (Z = 2), as additionally confirmed by Density Functional Theory calculations. Its crystal structure is topologically different from those of its orthorhombic LiNH(2)BH(3) and NaNH(2)BH(3) constituents, with distinctly different coordination spheres of Li (3 N atoms and 1 hydride anion) and Na (6 hydride anions). Na[Li(NH(2)BH(3))(2)], which may be viewed as a product of a Lewis acid (LiNH(2)BH(3))/Lewis base (NaNH(2)BH(3)) reaction, is an important candidate for a novel lightweight hydrogen storage material. The title material decomposes at low temperature (with onset at 75 °C, 6.0% mass loss up to 110 °C, and an additional 3.0% up to 200 °C) while evolving hydrogen contaminated with ammonia.     

Poly[μ2‐chloro‐μ2‐1,4‐oxathiane‐κ2S:S‐copper(I)]

The title complex, [CuCl(C₄H₈OS)]_n, contains infinite spiral (CuS)_n chains linked by bridging Cl atoms into layers. The Cl atoms do not form polymeric fragments with Cu^I, but combine into isolated centrosymmetric Cu₂Cl₂ units. The compound is non‐isomorphous with the Br‐containing analogue, which contains Cu₈S₈ rings linked by Br atoms into chains. The O atom of the 1,4‐oxathiane mol­ecule does not realize its coordination abilities in the known copper(I)–halide complexes, while in copper(II)–halide complexes, oxathiane is coordinated via the S and O atoms. This falls into a pattern of the preferred inter­actions, viz. weak acid (Cu^I atom) with weak base (S atom) and harder acid (Cu^II atom) with harder base (O atom).     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the [Re2(CH3COO)2Cl4((CH3)2NCOCH3)2] Complex

Compound [Re₂(CH₃COO)₂Cl₄((CH₃)₂NCOCH₃)₂] is synthesized. The influence of parameters of the hydrothermal synthesis under elevated pressure on the yield of a target product and its molecular structure and physicochemical properties is studied. In the neutral complex with cis-arrangement of the bridging acetate and terminal chloride ligands with respect to the multiply bonded Re₂ ⁶⁺ complex-forming center, the Re–Re bond length is 2.2418(3) Å. Dimethylacetamide molecules are in the axial positions, the Re–O bond lengths being 2.304(3) and 2.321(4) Å. The influence of the donor ability of the axial substituents in analogous structures of the rhenium(III) binuclear clusters on the Re–Re and Re–L_ax bond lengths is analyzed.     

Prediction of the conditions for breathing of metal organic framework materials using a combination of X-ray powder diffraction, microcalorimetry, and molecular simulation

The adsorption of C1 to C4 linear hydrocarbons in the flexible metal organic framework MIL-53(Cr) has been followed by adsorption manometry coupled with microcalorimetry and Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. This experimental investigation was completed by molecular modeling. In the case of methane, the solid remains rigid whatever the adsorbate amount. However for the C2-C4 series, an increasing flexibility of the structure is observed, which is ascribed first to a breathing of the material from a large pore to a narrow pore form followed by a further expansion at high pressure. The collected thermodynamic and structural information suggests that a minimum adsorption enthalpy of ca. 20 kJ mol (-1) in the initial large pore structure of MIL-53(Cr) is required to induce the structural transition "large to narrow pore". Further, the enthalpy of adsorption can be used to predict the pressure at which the structure reopens. Finally, the magnitude of the breathing can be related to the size of the probe molecule via the van der Waals volume. The above trends have been successfully verified in the case of water and carbon dioxide. This combined experimental and theoretical approach gives the first elements for the prediction of whether or not the MIL53 and similar flexible structures will respond to gas loading and what would be the pressure required and further the amplitude of the induced breathing.     

Structure of Complexes Formed in the CuX2–Cu–N-Allylisoquinolinium Chloride System (X = Cl,Br)

The crystals of N-allylisoquinolinium chlorides of the compositions [C₉H₇N(C₃H₅)]₂Cu^IICl₄ (I), [C₉H₇N(C₃H₅)]Cu^ICl₂ · H₂O (II), and [C₉H₇N(C₃H₅)]Cu^ICl_1.43Br_0.57 · H₂O (III) were prepared by alternating-current electrosynthesis. X-ray diffraction analysis (using diffractometer models DARCH1 for I, STOE for II, and KUMA/CCD for III, MoK radiation) showed that the crystals of I are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 14.91(1) Å, b = 10.41(1) Å, c = 16.90(1) Å, = 109.73(8)°, V = 2470(8) ų, Z = 4. The crystals of isostructural compounds II and III are triclinic, space group P, Z = 2; crystals II: a = 7.2446(6) Å, b = 7.4379(6) Å, c = 12.110(1) Å, = 80.95(1)°, = 85.55(1)°, = 86.60(1)°, V = 641.8(2) ų; crystals III: a = 7.253(2) Å, b = 7.459(4) Å, c = 12.151(5) Å, = 80.82(4)°, = 83.73(3)°, = 86.81(4)°, V = 644.6(9) ų. The structure of I is composed of Cu^IICl₄ ^2– tetrahedra and N-allylisoquinolinium cations united by C–H···Cl hydrogen bonds in corrugated layers. The crystal structures of -complexesII and III are built of [C₉H₇(C₃H₅)]₂Cu₂ ^IX₄ dimers, which form layers along the c axis due to the C–H···X hydrogen bonds. An important role in the structure formation is played by water molecules, which crosslink the organometallic layers to form a three-dimensional framework through the O–H···X contacts.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Aldehydes to Vinyl Sulfones and Vinyl Phosphonates as Challenging Michael Acceptors

Chiral framework : Chiral amines with pyrrolidine frameworks catalyze the enantioselective conjugate addition of a wide range of aldehydes to various vinyl sulfones and vinyl phosphonates in high yields and with enantioselectivities up to >99 % ee (see scheme). The high versatility of the Michael adducts is exemplified by various functionalizations with conservation of the optical purity.