Azidoperfluoroalkanes: Synthesis and Application in Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition

We report an efficient and scalable synthesis of azidotrifluoromethane (CF₃N₃) and longer perfluorocarbon‐chain analogues (R_FN₃; R_F=C₂F₅, ⁿ C₃F₇, ⁿ C₈F₁₇), which enables the direct insertion of CF₃ and perfluoroalkyl groups into triazole ring systems. The azidoperfluoroalkanes show good reactivity with terminal alkynes in copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), giving access to rare and stable N ‐perfluoroalkyl triazoles. Azidoperfluoroalkanes are thermally stable and the efficiency of their preparation should be attractive for discovery programs.     

Copper Causes Regiospecific Formation of C4F8‐Containing Six‐Membered Rings and their Defluorination/Aromatization to C4F4‐Containing Rings in Triphenylene/1,4‐C4F8I2 Reactions

The presence of Cu in reactions of triphenylene (TRPH) and 1,4‐C₄F₈I₂ at 360 °C led to regiospecific substitution of TRPH ortho C(β) atoms to form C₄F₈‐containing rings, completely suppressing substitution on C(α) atoms. In addition, Cu caused selective reductive‐defluorination/aromatization (RD/A) to form C₄F₄‐containing aromatic rings. Without Cu, the reactions of TRPH and 1,4‐C₄F₈I₂ were not regiospecific and no RD/A was observed. These results, supported by DFT calculations, are the first examples of Cu‐promoted 1) regiospecific perfluoroannulation, 2) preparative C?F activation, and 3) RD/A. HPLC‐purified products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, low‐temperature PES, and ¹H/¹⁹F NMR.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Multiferrocenyl‐Substituted Group 4 Metallocene Complexes

The reaction of different metallocene fragments [Cp₂M] (Cp=η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl, M=Ti, Zr) with diferrocenylacetylene and 1,4‐diferrocenylbuta‐1,3‐diyne is described. The titanocene complexes form the highly strained three‐ and five‐membered ring systems [Cp₂Ti(η²‐FcC₂Fc)] ( 1 ) and [Cp₂Ti(η⁴‐FcC₄Fc)] ( 2 ) (Fc=[Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)]) by addition of the appropriate alkyne or diyne to Cp₂Ti. Zirconocene precursors react with diferrocenyl‐ and ferrocenylphenylacetylene under C? C bond coupling to yield the metallacyclopentadienes [Cp₂Zr(C₄Fc₄)] ( 3 ) and [Cp₂Zr(C₄Fc₂Ph₂)] ( 5 ), respectively. The exchange of the zirconocene unit in 3 by hydrogen atoms opens the route to the super‐crowded ferrocenyl‐substituted compound tetraferrocenylbutadiene ( 4 ). On the other hand, the reaction of 1,4‐diferrocenylbuta‐1,3‐diyne with zirconocene complexes afforded a cleavage of the central C? C bond, and thus, dinuclear [{Cp₂Zr(μ‐η¹:η²‐C?CFc)}₂] ( 6 ) that consists of two zirconocene acetylide groups was formed. Most of the complexes were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, showing attractive multinuclear molecules. The redox properties of 3 , 5 , and 6 were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Upon oxidation to 3 ⁿ⁺, 5 ⁿ⁺, and 6 ⁿ⁺ (n=1–3), decomposition occured with in situ formation of new species. The follow‐up products from 3 and 5 possess two or four reversible redox events pointing to butadiene‐based molecules. However, the dinuclear complex 6 afforded ethynylferrocene under the measurement conditions.     

Columnar Stacking of Partially Fluorinated [4]Helicenes: C−H⋅⋅⋅F Interactions Change the Stacking Orientation

The partial fluorination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons often produces a layered crystal packing, where fluorinated aromatic surfaces are stacked over nonfluorinated aromatic surfaces. Herein, we report the synthesis and crystal packing of partially fluorinated [4]helicenes with steric congestion resulting from H and F atoms in the fjord region. F₆‐[4]Helicene forms head‐to‐tail columnar stacks consisting of an alternate arrangement of perfluorinated and nonfluorinated naphthalene moieties. With decreasing fluorine content, aromatic stacking switched from arene?fluoroarene (Ar^H?Ar^F) hetero‐stacking to Ar^H?Ar^H/Ar^F?Ar^F homo‐stacking with the help of intermolecular C?H???F contacts in the fjord region. As a result, head‐to‐head columnar stacks appear. Therefore, the conventional Ar^H?Ar^F stacking motif is not always applicable to F_n‐[4]helicenes with twisted π‐surfaces.     

Catalytic Trimerization of Ethylene with Highly Active Half-sandwich Titanium Complexes Bearing Pendant p-Fluorophenyl Groups

Two new complexes[η~5-C_5H_4CMe_2-(p-fluorophenyl)]TiCl_3(1)and[μ~5-C_5H_4C(cyclo-C_5H_(10))-(p-fluoro-phenyl)]TiCl_3(2)were synthesized and characterized.Their activities and selectivities for trimerization of ethylenewere investigated.The introduction of fluorine atom greatly weakened the arene coordination,but this disadvanta-geous factor can be eliminated by introduction of a bulky substituent,such as cyclo-C_5H_(10),to the bridging carbonlinked to the Cp ring.The combinative effect of the fluorine substitute and the bridging unit can make complex 2 asa highly active and selective catalyst for ethylene trimerization.Its productivity and selectivity for 1-hexene canreach 1024.0 kg·mol~(-1)·h(-1) and 99.3% respectively.     

Generation and Reactivity of {(Ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[diisopropylphosphine‐κP]}‐{[2,4,6‐tri(tert‐butyl)phenyl]phosphino‐κP}rhodium ([Rh{PH(tBu3C6H2)}(iPr2PCH2CH2PiPr2)]): Catalytic C−P Bond Formation via Intramolecular C−H/P−H Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling

The complex [Rh(η³‐benzyl)(dippe)] ( 1 ; dippe=bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane=(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[diisopropylphosphine]) reacted cleanly with Mes*PH₂ ( 2 ; Mes*=2,4,6‐^tBu₃C₆H₂) to provide a new Rh species [Rh(H)(dippe)(L)] ( 3 ), L being the 2,3‐dihydro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐phosphindole ligand 4 (=^tBu₂C₆H₂(CMe₂CH₂PH)) (Scheme 1). Complex 3 was converted to the corresponding chloride [Rh(Cl)(dippe)(L)] ( 6 ) when treated with CH₂Cl₂, whereas the dimeric species [Rh₂{μ‐^tBu₂C₆H₂(CMe₂CH₂P)}(μ‐H)(dippe)₂] ( 7 ) was formed upon thermolysis in toluene (Scheme 2). The structures of 6 and 7 ⋅C₇H₈ were determined by X‐ray crystallography. Complexes 1 and 3 served as catalyst precursors for the dehydrogenative coupling of C−H and P−H bonds in the conversion of 2 to 4 (Scheme 3). Deuteration studies with Mes*PD₂ exposed a complex series of bond‐activation pathways that appear to involve C−H activation of the dippe ligand by the Rh‐atom (Schemes 4 and 5)     

Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes bearing novel bis(β‐ketoamino) ligand and their catalytic activity toward copolymerization of norbornene and 5‐norbornene‐2‐yl acetate combined with B(C6F5)3

Two complexes Mt{C₁₀H₈(O)C[N(C₆H₅)]CH₃}₂ [Mt = Ni(II); Mt = Pd(II)] were synthesized, and the solid‐state structures of the complexes have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractions. Homopolymerization of norbornene (NB) and copolymerization of NB and 5‐norbornene‐2‐yl acetate (NB‐OCOCH₃) were carried out in toluene with both the two complexes mentioned above in combination with B(C₆F₅)₃. Both the catalytic systems exhibited high activity toward the homopolymerization of NB (as high as 2.7 × 10⁵ g_polymer/mol_Ni h, for Ni(II)/B(C₆F₅)₃ and 2.1 × 10⁵ g_polymer/mol_Pd h for Pd(II)/B(C₆F₅)₃, respectively.). Although the Pd(II)/B(C₆F₅)₃ shows very lower activity toward the copolymerization of NB with NB‐OCOCH₃, Ni(II)/B(C₆F₅)₃ shows a high activity and produces the addition‐type copolymer with relatively high molecular weights (MWs; 1.80–2.79 × 10⁵ g/mol) as well as narrow MW distribution (1.89–2.30). The NB‐OCOCH₃ content in the copolymers can be controlled up to 5.8–12.0% by varying the comonomer feed ratios from 10 to 50%. The copolymers exhibited high transparency, high glass transition temperature (T_g > 263.9 °C), better solubility, and mechanical properties compared with the homopolymer of NB. The reactivity ratios of the two monomers were determined to be r_NB‐OCOMe = 0.08, r_NB = 7.94 for Ni(II)/B(C₆F₅)₃ system, and r_NB‐OCOMe = 0.07, r_NB = 6.49, for Pd(II)/B(C₆F₅)₃ system by the Kelen‐Tüdõs method. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

[η6‐1‐Chloro‐2‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)benzene](η5‐cyclopentadienyl)iron(II) hexafluoridophosphate and (η5‐cyclopentadienyl){2‐[η6‐2‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)phenyl]phenol}iron(II) hexafluoridophosphate

In the complex salt [η⁶‐1‐chloro‐2‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)benzene](η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl)iron(II) hexafluoridophosphate, [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₁₀H₁₂ClN)]PF₆, (I), the complexed cyclopentadienyl and benzene rings are almost parallel, with a dihedral angle between their planes of 2.3 (3)°. In a related complex salt, (η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl){2‐[η⁶‐2‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)phenyl]phenol}iron(II) hexafluoridophosphate, [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₁₆H₁₇NO)]PF₆, (II), the analogous angle is 5.4 (1)°. In both complexes, the aromatic C atom bound to the pyrrolidine N atom is located out of the plane defined by the remaining five ring C atoms. The dihedral angles between the plane of these five ring atoms and a plane defined by the N‐bound aromatic C atom and two neighboring C atoms are 9.7 (8) and 5.6 (2)° for (I) and (II), respectively.     

Atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition of fluorine‐doped tin(IV) oxide from fluoroalkyltin precursors

Perfluoroalkytin compounds R_(4−n)Sn(R_f)_n (R = Me, Et, Bu, R_f = C₄F₉, n = 1; R = Bu, R_f = C₄F₉, n = 2, 3; R = Bu, R_f = C₆F₁₃, n = 1) have been synthesized, characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, and evaluated as precursors for the atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition of fluorine‐doped SnO₂ thin films. All precursors were sufficiently volatile in the range 84–136 °C and glass substrate temperatures of ca 550 °C to yield high‐quality films with ca 0.79–2.02% fluorine incorporation, save for Bu₃SnC₆F₁₃, which incorporated <0.05% fluorine. Films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thickness, haze, emissivity, and sheet resistance. The fastest growth rates and highest quality films were obtained from Et₃SnC₄F₉. An electron diffraction study of Me₃SnC₄F₉ revealed four conformations, of which only the two of lowest abundance showed close F Sn contacts that could plausibly be associated with halogen transfer to tin, and in each case it was fluorine attached to either the γ‐ or δ‐carbon atoms of the R_f chain. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organonickel(II) Complexes with Anionic N-Donor Ligands. Hydration of coordinated nitriles at a nickel(II) site

The hydroxo complex (Bu₄N)₂[Ni₂(C₆F₅)₄(μ-OH)₂]reacts with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro benzenamine (C₆F₅-NH₂), 1,3-diaryltriaz-1-enes (ArNH? N=N? Ar, Ar = Ph, 4-MeC₆H₄, 4-MeOC₆H₄), 7-aza-1H-indole (= 1H-pyrrolo[2.3-b]pyridine; Hazind), N-phenylpyridin-2-amine(pyNHPh), and N-phenylpyridine-2-carboxamide (py-CONHPh) at room temperature in acetone to give the binuclear complexes (Bu₄N)₂[Ni₂(C₆F₅)₄(μ-C₆F₅NH)₂] ( 1 ) and (Bu₄N)₂[{Ni(C₆F₅)₂} 2(μ-OH)(μ-azind)] ( 2 ) and the mononuclear complexes Bu₄N[Ni(C₆F₅)2(ArN₃Ar)] ( 3 – 5 ), Bu₄N[Ni(C₆F₅)₂(pyNPh)] ( 6 ), and Bu₄N[Ni(C₆F₅)₂(pyCONPh)] ( 7 ). The hydroxo.complex (Bu₄N)₂[{Ni(C₆F₅)2-(μ-OH)}₂] promotes the nucleophilic addition of water to pyridine-2-carbonitrile, 2-aminoacetonitrile, and 2-(dimethylamino)acetonitrile, and complexes 8 – 10 containing pyridine-2-carboxamidato, 2-aminoacetamidato and 2-(dimethylamino)acetamidato ligands are formed. Analytical (C, H, N) and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H and ¹⁹F-NMR, and FAB-MS) data were used for structural assignments. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of (Bu₄N)₂[{Ni(C₆F₅)₂}₂(μ-OH)(μ-azind)] ( 2 ) established the binuclear nature of the anion; the two Ni-atoms are bridged by an OH group and a 7-aza-7H-indol-7-yl group, but the central Ni? O? Ni? N? C? N ring is not planar, the dihedral angle between the Ni? O? Ni and Ni? N? C? N? Ni planes being 84.4°.     

High Fluorine Content Bis(fluoro‐Ponytailed) Bipyridine Palladium Complexes as Catalyst for Mizoroki‐Heck Reactions under Fluorous Biphasic Catalysis Conditions

Two highly fluorinated bipyridine derivatives, (4,4′‐bis(R_fCH₂OCH₂)‐2,2′‐bpy) {R_f = n‐C₁₀F₂₁ ( 1a ), n‐C₁₀F₂₃ ( 1b )}, have been synthesized starting from 4,4′‐bis(BrCH₂)‐2,2′‐bpy and the corresponding fluorinated alkoxides. The fluorine contents of ligands 1a‐b are 62.3% and 63.3%, respectively, both being white solids, virtually insoluble in CH₂Cl₂ or DMF and highly fluorophilic with a partition ratio between DMF and n‐C₈F₁₈ less than 1:1000. The reaction of ligands 1a‐b with [Pd(CH₃CN)₂Cl₂] results in novel Pd complexes [PdCl₂(4,4′‐bis‐(R_fCH₂OCH₂)‐2,2′‐bpy)] where R_f = n‐C₁₀F₂₁ ( 2a ), n‐C₁₀F₂₃ ( 2b ), respectively. The Pd complexes 2a‐b are pale yellow solids, soluble only in fluorinated solvents. The Pd complexes 2a‐b have been satisfactorily tested for Mizoroki‐Heck arylation under fluorous biphasic catalysis conditions in that the Pd complexes 2a‐b are easily recovered and maintain good catalytic activity after 8 consecutive cycles (> 90% yield). The TGA studies indicate that the Pd complexes 2a‐b are thermally stable up to 300 °C.     

Magnitude and origin of the attraction and directionality of the halogen bonds of the complexes of C6F5X and C6H5X (X = I, Br, Cl and F) with pyridine

The geometries and interaction energies of complexes of pyridine with C₆F₅X, C₆H₅X (X=I, Br, Cl, F and H) and R_FI (R_F=CF₃, C₂F₅ and C₃F₇) have been studied by ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The CCSD(T) interaction energies (E_int) for the C₆F₅X–pyridine (X=I, Br, Cl, F and H) complexes at the basis set limit were estimated to be ?5.59, ?4.06, ?2.78, ?0.19 and ?4.37 kcal mol^?1, respectively, whereas the E_int values for the C₆H₅X–pyridine (X=I, Br, Cl and H) complexes were estimated to be ?3.27, ?2.17, ?1.23 and ?1.78 kcal mol^?1, respectively. Electrostatic interactions are the cause of the halogen dependence of the interaction energies and the enhancement of the attraction by the fluorine atoms in C₆F₅X. The values of E_int estimated for the R_FI–pyridine (R_F=CF₃, C₂F₅ and C₃F₇) complexes (?5.14, ?5.38 and ?5.44 kcal mol^?1, respectively) are close to that for the C₆F₅I–pyridine complex. Electrostatic interactions are the major source of the attraction in the strong halogen bond although induction and dispersion interactions also contribute to the attraction. Short‐range (charge‐transfer) interactions do not contribute significantly to the attraction. The magnitude of the directionality of the halogen bond correlates with the magnitude of the attraction. Electrostatic interactions are mainly responsible for the directionality of the halogen bond. The directionality of halogen bonds involving iodine and bromine is high, whereas that of chlorine is low and that of fluorine is negligible. The directionality of the halogen bonds in the C₆F₅I– and C₂F₅I–pyridine complexes is higher than that in the hydrogen bonds in the water dimer and water–formaldehyde complex. The calculations suggest that the C? I and C? Br halogen bonds play an important role in controlling the structures of molecular assemblies, that the C? Cl bonds play a less important role and that C? F bonds have a negligible impact.     

Lithium Bis(pentafluorophenyl)amide — Syntheses and Structural Characterization of its Complexes with Diethyl Ether and THF

The title compound, viz. (C₆F₅)₂NLi was prepared as dimeric complexes with Et₂O or THF by the reaction of (C₆F₅)₂NH (DFDPA) with n‐BuLi. Identity and structures were established by elemental analyses, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of dimeric [(C₆F₅)₂NLi(Et₂O)]₂ ( 1 ) and [(C₆F₅)₂NLi(THF)]₂ ( 2 ) were determined by X‐ray diffraction methods.     

Pentafluorobenzoato‐dimolybdenum(II) Solvate and Co‐crystal Complexes with Benzene and Naphthalin

The quadruply bonded Mo₂⁴⁺ complex Mo₂(DAniF)₃(OOCC₆F₅) ( 1 ) [DAniF = N,N′‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)formamidinate] was synthesized. The solvate Mo₂(DAniF)₃(OOCC₆F₅) · (C₆H₆) ( 2 ) and co‐crystal Mo₂(DAniF)₃(OOCC₆F₅) · (C₁₀H₈) ( 3 ) complexes were obtained by self‐assembly of crystals of 1 with benzene and naphthalin, respectively. Compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 were structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In monomer 1 , the Mo–Mo bond length of 2.0874(6) Å is typical for dimolybdenum quadruple bonds. The solvate complex 2 was stabilized by weak π–π stacking interactions between the benzene molecule and the pentafluorophenyl ring (as indicated by a center‐to‐center distance of 3.838(10) Å and a center‐to‐plane distance of 3.712(4) Å between phenyl and pentafluorophenyl ring) and intermolecular C–H ··· F–C interactions (the shortest F ··· H distance is 2.560(2) Å). In complex 3 , a one‐dimensional chain was formed by C–H ··· F–C interactions between the hydrogen atoms in naphthalin and the fluorine atoms in the monomer (H ··· F distances of 2.582(2) Å). Information on the structures in solution of the three crystals was obtained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

C–C bridged Ni(II) complexes bearing β‐keto‐9‐fluorenyliminato ligands prepared by different in situ bonding mechanisms and their use in catalytic (co)polymerization of norbornene and styrene

Two C–C bridged Ni(II) complexes bearing β‐keto‐9‐fluorenyliminato ligands with electron‐withdrawing groups (─CF₃), Ni{PhC(O)CHC[N(9‐fluorenyl)]CF₂}₂ (Ni 1 ) and Ni{CF₃C(O)CHC[N(9‐fluorenyl)]Ph}₂ (Ni 2 ), were synthesized by metal coordination reaction and different in situ bonding mechanisms. The C–C bridged bonds of Ni 1 were formed by in situ intramolecular trifluoromethyl and 9‐fluorenyl carbon–carbon cross‐coupling reaction and those of Ni 2 were formed by in situ intramolecular 9‐fluorenyl carbon–carbon radical coupling reaction mechanism. The obtained complexes were characterized using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The crystal and molecular structures of Ni 1 and Ni 2 with C–C bridged configuration were determined using X‐ray diffraction. Ni 1 and Ni 2 were used as catalysts for norbornene (NB) polymerization after activation with B(C₆F₅)₃ and the catalytic activities reached 10⁶ g_polymer mol_Ni^?1 h^?1. The copolymerization of NB and styrene catalyzed by the Ni 1 /B(C₆F₅)₃ system showed high activity (10⁵ g_polymer mol_Ni^?1 h^?1) and the catalytic activities decreased with increasing feed content of styrene. All vinyl‐type copolymers exhibited high molecular weight (10⁴ g mol^?1), narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.71–2.80), high styrene insertion ratios (11.13–50.81%) and high thermal stability (T_d > 380°C) and could be made into thin films with high transparency in the visible region (400–800 nm).     

[(NHC)NiIIH]‐Catalyzed Cross‐Hydroalkenylation of Cyclopropenes with Alkynes: Cyclopentadiene Synthesis by [(NHC)NiII]‐Assisted C−C Rearrangement

A cross‐hydroalkenylation/rearrangement cascade (HARC), using a cyclopropene and alkyne as substrate pairs, was achieved for the first time by using new [(NHC)Ni(allyl)]BAr^F catalysts (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbenes). By controlling the (NHC)Ni^IIH relative insertion reactivity with cyclopropene and alkyne, a broad scope of cyclopentadienes was obtained with highly selectively. The structural features of the new (NHC)Ni^II catalyst were important for the success of the reaction. The mild reaction conditions employed may serve as an entry for exploring (NHC)Ni^II‐assisted vinylcyclopropane rearrangement reactivity.     

Mechanistic Studies on the Gas‐Phase Dehydrogenation of Alkanes at Cyclometalated Platinum Complexes

In the ion/molecule reactions of the cyclometalated platinum complexes [Pt(L? H)]⁺ (L=2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy), 2‐phenylpyridine (phpy), and 7,8‐benzoquinoline (bq)) with linear and branched alkanes C_nH_2n+2 (n=2–4), the main reaction channels correspond to the eliminations of dihydrogen and the respective alkenes in varying ratios. For all three couples [Pt(L? H)]⁺/C₂H₆, loss of C₂H₄ dominates clearly over H₂ elimination; however, the mechanisms significantly differs for the reactions of the “rollover”‐cyclometalated bipy complex and the classically cyclometalated phpy and bq complexes. While double hydrogen‐atom transfer from C₂H₆ to [Pt(bipy? H)]⁺, followed by ring rotation, gives rise to the formation of [Pt(H)(bipy)]⁺, for the phpy and bq complexes [Pt(L? H)]⁺, the cyclometalated motif is conserved; rather, according to DFT calculations, formation of [Pt(L? H)(H₂)]⁺ as the ionic product accounts for C₂H₄ liberation. In the latter process, [Pt(L? H)(H₂)(C₂H₄)]⁺ (that carries H₂ trans to the nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic ligand) serves, according to DFT calculation, as a precursor from which, due to the electronic peculiarities of the cyclometalated ligand, C₂H₄ rather than H₂ is ejected. For both product‐ion types, [Pt(H)(bipy)]⁺ and [Pt(L? H)(H₂)]⁺ (L=phpy, bq), H₂ loss to close a catalytic dehydrogenation cycle is feasible. In the reactions of [Pt(bipy? H)]⁺ with the higher alkanes C_nH_2n+2 (n=3, 4), H₂ elimination dominates over alkene formation; most probably, this observation is a consequence of the generation of allyl complexes, such as [Pt(C₃H₅)(bipy)]⁺. In the reactions of [Pt(L? H)]⁺ (L=phpy, bq) with propane and n‐butane, the losses of the alkenes and dihydrogen are of comparable intensities. While in the reactions of “rollover”‐cyclometalated [Pt(bipy? H)]⁺ with C_nH_2n+2 (n=2–4) less than 15 % of the generated product ions are formed by C? C bond‐cleavage processes, this value is about 60 % for the reaction with neo‐pentane. The result that C? C bond cleavage gains in importance for this substrate is a consequence of the fact that 1,2‐elimination of two hydrogen atoms is no option; this observation may suggest that in the reactions with the smaller alkanes, 1,1‐ and 1,3‐elimination pathways are only of minor importance.     

Synthesis,reactivity and preliminary biological activity of iron(0) complexes with cyclopentadienone and amino‐appended N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands

Neutral and cationic cyclopentadienone (CpO) N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) bis‐carbonyl iron(0) complexes bearing, appended to the NHC ligand, either a terminal amino group on the lateral chain, [Fe(η⁴‐CpO)(CO)₂(κC‐NHC(CH₂)_nNH₂)] with n = 2 ( 2a ) and 3 ( 2b ), or a cationic NMe₃⁺ fragment, [Fe(η⁴‐CpO)(CO)₂(κC‐NHC(CH₂)₂NMe₃)](I) ( 3 ), were prepared and characterized in terms of their structure, stability and reactivity. The photochemical properties of 2a and 2b were examined both in organic solvents and in water, revealing the photoactivated release of one CO ligand followed by the formation of the chelated complex [Fe(η⁴‐CpO)(CO)(κ²C,N‐NHC(CH₂)₂NH₂)] ( 4 ), whose molecular structure was confirmed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. This metallacyclization occurs only in the case of 2a , with the ethylene spacer between NHC ring and NH₂ group in the lateral chain, allowing the formation of a stable 6‐membered ring. On the other hand, 2b undergoes decomposition upon irradiation. The reactivity in aqueous solutions revealed the chemical speciation of the complexes at different pH and especially under physiological conditions (phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 and 37 °C). The lack of data on the biological properties of iron(0) complexes prompted us to preliminarily investigate their cytotoxicity against model cancer cells (AsPC‐1 and HPAF‐II), along with a determination of their lipophilicity.     

Six,Seven or Eight Coordinate FeII,CoII or NiII Complexes of Amide‐Appended Tetraazamacrocycles for ParaCEST Thermometry

Fe^II, Co^II and Ni^II complexes of two tetraazamacrocycles (1,4,8,11‐tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane ( L1 ) and 1,4,7,10‐tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane ( L2 ) show promise as paraCEST agents for registration of temperature (paraCEST=paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer). The Fe^II, Co^II and Ni^II complexes of L1 show up to four CEST peaks shifted ≤112 ppm, whereas analogous complexes of L2 show only a single CEST peak at ≤69 ppm. Comparison of the temperature coefficients (C_T) of the CEST peaks of [Co( L2 )]²⁺, [Fe( L2 )]²⁺, [Ni( L1 )]²⁺ and [Co( L1 )]²⁺ showed that a CEST peak of [Co( L1 )]²⁺ gave the largest C_T (?0.66 ppm ^oC^?1 at 4.7 T). NMR spectral and CEST properties of these complexes correspond to coordination complex symmetry as shown by structural data. The [Ni( L1 )]²⁺ and [Co( L1 )]²⁺ complexes have a six‐coordinate metal ion bound to the 1‐, 4‐amide oxygen atoms and four nitrogen atoms of the tetraazamacrocycle. The [Fe( L2 )]²⁺ complex has an unusual eight‐coordinate Fe^II bound to four amide oxygen atoms and four macrocyclic nitrogen atoms. For [Co( L2 )]²⁺, one structure has seven‐coordinate Co^II with three bound amide pendents and a second structure has a six‐coordinate Co^II with two bound amide pendents.     

Di‐μ‐sulfido‐bis[diaqua(18‐crown‐6)­barium(II)]–saccharin (1/2)

The mol­ecule of the title compound {systematic name: di‐μ‐sulfido‐bis[di­aqua(1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxa­cyclo­octade­cane‐κ⁶O)barium(II)] bis­[1,2‐benzisothiazol‐3(2H)‐one 1,1‐dioxide]}, [Ba₂S₂(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)₂(H₂O)₄](C₇H₅NO₃S)₂, lies on an inversion centre. The Ba^II atom encapsulated by the 18‐crown‐6 ring is coordinated by the six O atoms of the crown, two water O atoms and two bridging S atoms. The four‐membered ring composed of the Ba^II atoms and the bridging S atoms makes a dihedral angle of 67.1 (1)° with the crown‐ether ring. The aromatic ring system of the saccharin moiety is essentially planar. The packing is built up from layers of the mol­ecules and is stabilized by three intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds.