Aggregation patterns in alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanions: assembly of a sodium cage polymer by slip-stacking of dimers

The alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanion complexes PhSO(2)CHCNNa.THF], 3, t-BuSO(2)CHCNNa], 4, PhSO(2)CHCNK], 5, t-BuSO(2)CHCNK], 6, and MeSO(2)CHCNLi.TMEDA], 7, have been synthesized via the metalation of the parent (organo)sulfonylacetonitriles by BuLi, BuNa, or BnK in THF solution (or THF/TMEDA in the case of 7). In addition, complexes 3 and 7 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses and have been found to adopt related structures in the solid state. Complex 7 is a molecular dimer containing a central 12-membered (OSCCNLi)(2) ring core, with each metal rendered tetracoordinate by binding to a chelating TMEDA molecule. As found in related complexes, no direct carbanion to lithium contacts are present in the structure of 7. Complex 3 forms a polymeric cage structure composed of associated "dimeric" (OSCCNNa)(2) rings, similar to those found in 7. The larger sodium cations, and the presence of only one THF molecule/metal, allow additional contacts with the anions, leading to hexacoordination at the metal centers. These contacts include long-range transannular Na-N interactions (2.8042(14) A) across the central dimeric ring and "interdimer" Na-C connections (2.8718(15) A). Dissolution of complexes 3-6 and their lithiated derivatives PhSO(2)CHCNLi.TMEDA], 1, and t-BuSO(2)CHCNLi.THF], 2, in DMSO-d(6) results in almost identical chemical shifts for each type of ligand. This suggests that charge-separated complexes of the form RSO(2)CHCN](-)M(DMSO-d(6))(n)()](+) are formed in highly polar solution.