Methane Activation by Diatomic Molybdenum Carbide Cations

Metal carbide species have been proposed as a new type of chemical entity to activate methane in both gas‐phase and condensed‐phase studies. Herein, methane activation by the diatomic cation MoC⁺ is presented. MoC⁺ ions have been prepared and mass‐selected by a quadrupole mass filter and then allowed to interact with methane in a hexapole reaction cell. The reactant and product ions have been detected by a reflectron time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Bare metal Mo⁺ and MoC₂H₂⁺ ions have been observed as products, suggesting the occurrence of ethylene elimination and dehydrogenation reactions. The branching ratio of the C₂H₄ elimination channel is much larger than that of the dehydrogenation channel. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to explore in detail the mechanism of the reaction of MoC⁺ with CH₄. The computed results indicate that the ethylene elimination process involves the occurrence of spin conversions in the C?C coupling (doublet→quartet) and hydrogen atom transfer (quartet→sextet) steps. The carbon atom in MoC⁺ plays a key role in methane activation because it becomes sp³ hybridized in the initial stages of the ethylene elimination reaction, which leads to much lower energy barriers and more stable intermediates. This study provides insights into the C?H bond activation and C?C coupling involved in methane transformation over molybdenum carbide‐based catalysts.     

Dual Role of the 1,2,3‐Triazolium Ring as a Hydrogen‐Bond Donor and Anion–π Receptor in Anion‐Recognition Processes

Several bis(triazolium)‐based receptors have been synthesized as chemosensors for anion recognition. The central naphthalene core features two aryltriazolium side‐arms. NMR experiments revealed differences between the binding modes of the two triazolium rings: one triazolium ring acts as a hydrogen‐bond donor, the other as an anion–π receptor. Receptors 9²⁺?2BF₄ ^? (C₆H₅), 11²⁺?2BF₄ ^? (4‐NO₂?C₆H₄), and 13²⁺?2BF^4? (ferrocenyl) bind HP₂O₇^3? anions in a mixed‐binding mode that features a combination of hydrogen‐bonding and anion–π interactions and results in strong binding. On the other hand, receptor 10²⁺?2 BF₄ ^? (4‐CH₃O?C₆H₄) only displays combined Csp₂?H/anion–π interactions between the two arms of the receptors and the bound anion rather than triazolium (CH)⁺???anion hydrogen bonding. All receptors undergo a downfield shift of the triazolium protons, as well as the inner naphthalene protons, in the presence of H₂PO₄^? anions. That suggests that only hydrogen‐bonding interactions exist between the binding site and the bound anion, and involve a combination of cationic (triazolium) and neutral (naphthalene) C?H donor interactions. Theoretical calculations relate the electronic structure of the substituent on the aromatic group with the interaction energies and provide a minimum‐energy conformation for all the complexes that explains their measured properties.     

Dihydrogen Catalysis of the Reversible Formation and Cleavage of CH and NH Bonds of Aminopyridinate Ligands Bound to (η5‐C5Me5)IrIII

This study focuses on a series of cationic complexes of iridium that contain aminopyridinate (Ap) ligands bound to an (η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Ir^III fragment. The new complexes have the chemical composition [Ir(Ap)(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)]⁺, exist in the form of two isomers ( 1⁺ and 2⁺ ) and were isolated as salts of the BAr_F^? anion (BAr_F=B[3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃]₄). Four Ap ligands that differ in the nature of their bulky aryl substituents at the amido nitrogen atom and pyridinic ring were employed. In the presence of H₂, the electrophilicity of the Ir^III centre of these complexes allows for a reversible prototropic rearrangement that changes the nature and coordination mode of the aminopyridinate ligand between the well‐known κ²‐N,N′‐bidentate binding in 1⁺ and the unprecedented κ‐N,η³‐pseudo‐allyl‐coordination mode in isomers 2⁺ through activation of a benzylic C?H bond and formal proton transfer to the amido nitrogen atom. Experimental and computational studies evidence that the overall rearrangement, which entails reversible formation and cleavage of H?H, C?H and N?H bonds, is catalysed by dihydrogen under homogeneous conditions.     

Two succinic acid derivatives of 2‐ethyl‐6‐methylpyridin‐3‐ol

Crystals of bis(2‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxy‐6‐methylpyridinium) succinate–succinic acid (1/1), C₈H₁₂NO⁺·0.5C₄H₄O₄²⁻·0.5C₄H₆O₄, (I), and 2‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxy‐6‐methylpyridinium hydrogen succinate, C₈H₁₂NO⁺·C₄H₅O₄⁻, (II), were obtained by reaction of 2‐ethyl‐6‐methylpyridin‐3‐ol with succinic acid. The succinate anion and succinic acid molecule in (I) are located about centres of inversion. Intermolecular O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds are responsible for the formation of a three‐dimensional network in the crystal structure of (I) and a two‐dimensional network in the crystal structure of (II). Both structures are additionally stabilized by π–π interactions between symmetry‐related pyridine rings, forming a rod‐like cationic arrangement for (I) and cationic dimers for (II).     

Discrete Cationic Zinc and Magnesium Complexes for Dual Organic/Organometallic‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate

We describe herein an original approach for the efficient immortal ring‐opening polymerization (iROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) under mild conditions using dual‐catalyst systems combining a discrete cationic metal complex with a tertiary amine. A series of new zinc and magnesium cationic complexes of the type [{NNO}M]⁺[anion]^? ({NNO}^?=2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐{[(2′‐dimethylaminoethyl)methylamino]methyl}phenolate; M=Zn, [anion]^?=[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? ( 2 ), [H₂N‐ {B(C₆F₅)₃}₂]^? ( 3 ), and [EtB(C₆F₅)₃]^? ( 4 ); M=Mg, [anion]^?=[H₂N{B(C₆F₅)₃}₂]^? ( 7 )) have been prepared from the corresponding neutral compounds [{NNO}ZnEt] ( 1 ) and [{NNO}‐ Mg(nBu)] ( 6 ). Compounds 2 – 4 and 7 exist as free ion pairs, as revealed by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy in THF solution, and an X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the bis(THF) adduct of compound 7 , 7? (THF)₂. The neutral complexes 1 and 6 , in combination with one equivalent or an excess of benzyl alcohol (BnOH), initiate the rapid iROP of TMC, in bulk or in toluene solution, at 45–60 °C (turnover frequency, TOF, up to 25–30 000 mol(TMC)?mol(Zn)?h^?1 for 1 and 220–240 000 mol(TMC)?mol(Mg)?h^?1 for 6 ), to afford H‐PTMC‐OBn with controlled macromolecular features. ROP reactions mediated by the cationic systems 2 /BnOH and 7 /BnOH proceeded much more slowly (TOF up to 500 and 3 000 mol(TMC)?mol(Zn or Mg)?h^?1 at 110 °C) than those based on the parent neutral compounds 1 /BnOH and 6 /BnOH, respectively. Use of original dual organic/organometallic catalyst systems, obtained by adding 0.2–5 equiv of a tertiary amine such as NEt₃ to zinc cationic complexes [{NNO}Zn]⁺[anion]^? ( 2 – 4 ), promoted high activities (TOF up to 18 300 mol(TMC)?mol(Zn)?h^?1 at 45 °C) giving H‐PTMC‐OBn with good control over the M_n and M_w/M_n values. Variation of the nature of the anion in 2 – 4 did not significantly affect the performance of these catalyst systems. On the other hand, the dual magnesium‐based catalyst system 7 /NEt₃ proved to be poorly effective.     

The C—H⃛O hydrogen bond in (di­cyano­methyl)­ammonium p‐toluene­sulfonate

In the title compound, C₃H₄N₃⁺·C₇H₇O₃S^?, the activated C—H group of the cation forms a short but bent C—H?O hydrogen bond with a sulfonate O atom of the anion; C?O = 3.075 (5) Å and C—H?O = 130°.     

10‐Methyl‐ and 9,10‐dimethyl­acridinium methyl sulfate

The title compounds, C₁₄H₁₂N⁺·CH₃O₄S^?, (I), and C₁₅H₁₄N⁺·CH₃O₄S^?, (II), respectively, crystallize with the planar 10‐methylacridinium or 9,10‐di­methyl­acridinium cations arranged in layers, parallel to the twofold axis in (I) and perpendicular to the 2₁ axis in (II). Adjacent cations in both compounds are packed in a `head‐to‐tail' manner. The methyl sulfate anion only exhibits planar symmetry in (II). The cations and anions are linked through C—H?O interactions involving three O atoms of the anion, six acridine H atoms and the CH₃ group on the N atom in (I), and the four O atoms of the anion, three acridine H atoms and the carbon‐bound CH₃ group in (II). The methyl sulfate anions are oriented differently in the two compounds relative to the cations, being nearly perpendicular in (I) but parallel in (II). Electrostatic interaction between the ions and the network of C—H?O interactions leads to relatively compact crystal lattices in both structures.     

The Role of Ion Pairs in the Second‐Order NLO Response of 4‐X‐1‐Methylpiridinium Salts

A series of 4‐X‐1‐methylpyridinium cationic nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores (X=(E)‐CH?CHC₆H₅; (E)‐CH?CHC₆H₄‐4′‐C(CH₃)₃; (E)‐CH?CHC₆H₄‐4′‐N(CH₃)₂; (E)‐CH?CHC₆H₄‐4′‐N(C₄H₉)₂; (E,E)‐(CH?CH)₂C₆H₄‐4′‐N(CH₃)₂) with various organic (CF₃SO₃^?, p‐CH₃C₆H₄SO₃^?), inorganic (I^?, ClO₄^?, SCN^?, [Hg₂I₆]^2?) and organometallic (cis‐[Ir(CO)₂I₂]^?) counter anions are studied with the aim of investigating the role of ion pairing and of ionic dissociation or aggregation of ion pairs in controlling their second‐order NLO response in anhydrous chloroform solution. The combined use of electronic absorption spectra, conductimetric measurements and pulsed field gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR experiments show that the second‐order NLO response, investigated by the electric‐field‐induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) technique, of the salts of the cationic NLO chromophores strongly depends upon the nature of the counter anion and concentration. The ion pairs are the major species at concentration around 10^?3 M , and their dipole moments were determined. Generally, below 5×10^?4 M , ion pairs start to dissociate into ions with parallel increase of the second‐order NLO response, due to the increased concentration of purely cationic NLO chromophores with improved NLO response. At concentration higher than 10^?3 M , some multipolar aggregates, probably of H type, are formed, with parallel slight decrease of the second‐order NLO response. Ion pairing is dependent upon the nature of the counter anion and on the electronic structure of the cationic NLO chromophore. It is very strong for the thiocyanate anion in particular and, albeit to a lesser extent, for the sulfonated anions. The latter show increased tendency to self‐aggregate.     

The ternary complex 4‐(2‐pyridyl)pyridinium–3,5‐di­nitro­benzoate–3,5‐di­nitro­benzoic acid (1/1/1)

In the title ternary complex, C₁₀H₉N₂⁺·C₇H₃N₂O₆^?·C₇H₄N₂O₆, the pyridinium cation adopts the role of the donor in an intermolecular N—H?O hydrogen‐bonding interaction with the carboxyl­ate group of the 3,5‐di­nitro­benzoate anion. The mol­ecules of the ternary complex form molecular ribbons perpendicular to the b direction, which are stabilized by one N—H?O, one O—H?O and five C—H?O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The ribbons are further interconnected by three intermolecular C—H?O hydrogen bonds into a three‐dimensional network.     

Hexa­methyl­enetetraminium 2,4,6‐tri­nitro­phenolate

In the title complex, the 1:1 ionic adduct of hexa­methyl­enetetraminium and 2,4,6‐tri­nitro­phenolate, C₆H₁₃N₄⁺·­C₆H₂N₃O₇^?, the cation acts as a donor for bifurcated hydrogen bonds to the O atoms of the phenolate and one of the nitro groups of the 2,4,6‐tri­nitro­phenolate anion. The crystal structure is built from sheets of cations and anions, and is stabilized by intermolecular C—H?O and C—H?π interactions.     

Site‐Directed Dimerization of Bowl‐Shaped Radical Anions to Form a σ‐Bonded Dibenzocorannulene Dimer

Designed site‐directed dimerization of the monoanion radicals of a π‐bowl in the solid state is reported. Dibenzo[a,g]corannulene (C₂₈H₁₄) was selected based on the asymmetry of the charge/spin localization in the C₂₈H₁₄^.? anion. Controlled one‐electron reduction of C₂₈H₁₄ with Cs metal in diglyme resulted in crystallization of a new dimer, [{Cs⁺(diglyme)}₂(C₂₈H₁₄?C₂₈H₁₄)^2?] ( 1 ), as revealed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction study performed in a broad range of temperatures. The C?C bond length between two C₂₈H₁₄^.? bowls (1.560(8) Å) measured at ?143 °C does not significantly change upon heating of the crystal to +67 °C. The single σ‐bond character of the C?C linker is confirmed by calculations. The trans‐disposition of two bowls in 1 is observed with the torsion angles around the central C?C bond of 172.3(5)° and 173.5(5)°. A systematic theoretical evaluation of dimerization pathways of C₂₈H₁₄^.? radicals confirmed that the trans‐isomer found in 1 is energetically favored.     

Tetra­butyl­ammonium α‐acetyl‐γ‐butyrolactonate containing a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network

The title compound, C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₆H₇O₃^?, crystallizes with two independent anions and two independent cations in the asymmetric unit. Each anion adopts an s‐trans conformation and forms O?H—C hydrogen bonds to the α‐methyl­ene groups of four neighbouring tetra­butyl­ammonium cations, to create a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network.     

Elucidating Interactions between DMSO and Chelate‐Based Ionic Liquids

The C?D bond stretching vibrations of deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide ([D₆]DMSO) and the C₂?H bond stretching vibrations of 1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoropentane‐2,4‐dione (hfac) ligand in anion are chosen as probes to elucidate the solvent–solute interaction between chelate‐based ionic liquids (ILs) and DMSO by vibrational spectroscopic studies. The indirect effect from the interaction of the adjacent S=O functional group of DMSO with the cation [C₁₀mim]⁺ and anion [Mn(hfac)₃]^? of the ILs leads to the blue‐shift of the C?D stretching vibrations of DMSO. The C₂?H bond stretching vibrations in hfac ligand is closely related to the ionic hydrogen bond strength between the cation and anion of chelate‐based ILs. EPR studies reveal that the crystal field of the central metal is kept when the chelate‐based ILs are in different microstructure environment in the solution.     

Secondary interactions in n‐(chloromethyl)pyridinium chlorides (n = 2, 3, 4)

In the isomeric title compounds, viz. 2‐, 3‐ and 4‐(chloro­methyl)pyridinium chloride, C₆H₇ClN⁺·Cl^?, the secondary interactions have been established as follows. Classical N—H?Cl^? hydrogen bonds are observed in the 2‐ and 3‐isomers, whereas the 4‐isomer forms inversion‐symmetric N—H(?Cl^??)₂H—N dimers involving three‐centre hydrogen bonds. Short Cl?Cl contacts are formed in both the 2‐isomer (C—Cl?Cl^?, approximately linear at the central Cl) and the 4‐isomer (C—Cl?Cl—C, angles at Cl of ca 75°). Additionally, each compound displays contacts of the form C—H?Cl, mainly to the Cl^? anion. The net effect is to create either a layer structure (3‐isomer) or a three‐dimensional packing with easily identifiable layer substructures (2‐ and 4‐isomers).     

Boosting Low‐Valent Aluminum(I) Reactivity with a Potassium Reagent

The reagent RK [R=CH(SiMe₃)₂ or N(SiMe₃)₂] was expected to react with the low‐valent (^DIPPBDI)Al (^DIPPBDI=HC[C(Me)N(DIPP)]₂, DIPP=2,6‐iPr‐phenyl) to give [(^DIPPBDI)AlR]^?K⁺. However, deprotonation of the Me group in the ligand backbone was observed and [H₂C=C(N‐DIPP)?C(H)=C(Me)?N?DIPP]Al^?K⁺ ( 1 ) crystallized as a bright‐yellow product (73 %). Like most anionic Al^I complexes, 1 forms a dimer in which formally negatively charged Al centers are bridged by K⁺ ions, showing strong K⁺???DIPP interactions. The rather short Al–K bonds [3.499(1)–3.588(1) Å] indicate tight bonding of the dimer. According to DOSY NMR analysis, 1 is dimeric in C₆H₆ and monomeric in THF, but slowly reacts with both solvents. In reaction with C₆H₆, two C?H bond activations are observed and a product with a para‐phenylene moiety was exclusively isolated. DFT calculations confirm that the Al center in 1 is more reactive than that in (^DIPPBDI)Al. Calculations show that both Al^I and K⁺ work in concert and determines the reactivity of 1 .     

A dihydrogen phosphate anionic network as a host lattice for cations in 1‐methylpiperazine‐1,4‐diium bis(dihydrogen phosphate) and 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyridinium dihydrogen phosphate–orthophosphoric acid (1/1)

In the salt 1‐methylpiperazine‐1,4‐diium bis(dihydrogen phosphate), C₅H₁₃N₂²⁺·2H₂PO₄⁻, (I), and the solvated salt 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyridinium dihydrogen phosphate–orthophosphoric acid (1/1), C₁₀H₉N₂⁺·H₂PO₄⁻·H₃PO₄, (II), the formation of O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the dihydrogen phosphate (H₂PO₄⁻) anions and the cations constructs a three‐ and two‐dimensional anionic–cationic network, respectively. In (I), the self‐assembly of H₂PO₄⁻ anions forms a two‐dimensional pseudo‐honeycomb‐like supramolecular architecture along the (010) plane. 1‐Methylpiperazine‐1,4‐diium cations are trapped between the (010) anionic layers through three N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In solvated salt (II), the self‐assembly of H₂PO₄⁻ anions forms a two‐dimensional supramolecular architecture with open channels projecting along the [001] direction. The 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyridinium cations are trapped between the open channels by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds. From a study of previously reported structures, dihydrogen phosphate anions show a supramolecular flexibility depending on the nature of the cations. The dihydrogen phosphate anion may be suitable for the design of the host lattice for host–guest supramolecular systems.     

catena‐Poly[[silver(I)‐μ‐1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane] hemi(naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate) dihydrate]: a three‐dimensional metallo‐supramolecular sandwich lamellar network

The title compound, {[Ag(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)](C₁₀H₆O₆S₂)_0.5·2H₂O}_n, (I), features a three‐dimensional supramolecular sandwich architecture that consists of two‐dimensional cationic layers composed of polymeric chains of silver(I) ions and 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane (bpp) ligands, linked by Ag...Ag and π–π interactions, alternating with anionic layers in which uncoordinated naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate (nds²⁻) anions and solvent water molecules form a hydrogen‐bonded network. The asymmetric unit consists of one Ag^I cation linearly coordinated by N atoms from two bpp ligands, one bpp ligand, one half of an nds²⁻ anion lying on a centre of inversion and two solvent water molecules. The two‐dimensional {[Ag(bpp)]⁺}_n cationic and {[(nds)·2H₂O]²⁻}_n anionic layers are assembled into a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework through long secondary coordination Ag...O interactions between the sulfonate O atoms and Ag^I centres and through nonclassical C—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Formation,Dynamic Behavior,and Chemical Transformation of Pt Complexes with a Rotaxane‐like Structure

The reaction of [Pt(CH₂COMe)(Ph)(cod)] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) with (ArCH₂NH₂CH₂‐C₆H₄COOH)⁺(PF₆)^? (Ar=4‐tBuC₆H₄ or 9‐anthryl) in the presence of cyclic oligoethers such as dibenzo[24]crown‐8 (DB24C8) and dicyclohexano[24]crown‐8 (DC24C8) produces {(ce)[ArCH₂NH₂CH₂C₆H₄COOPt(Ph)(cod)]}⁺(PF₆)^? (ce=DB24C8 or DC24C8, Ar=4‐tBuC₆H₄ or 9‐anthryl) with interlocked structures. FABMS and NMR spectra of a solution of these compounds indicate that the Pt complexes with a secondary ammonium group and DB24C8 (or DC24C8) make up the axis and cyclic components, respectively. Temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR spectra of a solution of {(DB24C8)[4‐tBuC₆H₄CH₂NH₂CH₂‐C₆H₄COOPt(Ph)(cod)]}⁺(PF₆)^? ({(DB24C8)[ 4 ‐H]}⁺(PF₆)^?) show equilibration with free DB24C8 and the axis component. The addition of DB24C8 to a solution of {(DC24C8)[ 4 ‐H]}⁺(PF₆)^? causes partial exchange of the macrocyclic component of the interlocked molecules, giving a mixture of {(DC24C8)[ 4 ‐H]}⁺(PF₆)^?, {(DB24C8)[ 4 ‐H]}⁺(PF₆)^?, and free macrocyclic compounds. The reaction of 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃COCl with {(DB24C8)[ 4 ‐H]}⁺(PF₆)^? affords the organic rotaxane {(DB24C8)(4‐tBuC₆H₄CH₂NH₂CH₂‐C₆H₄COOCOC₆H₃Me₂‐3,5)}⁺(PF₆)^? through C? O bond formation between the aroyl group and the carboxylate ligand of the axis component. The addition of 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) to a solution of {(DB24C8)[ 4 ‐H]}⁺(PF₆)^? induces the degradation of the interlocked structure to form a complex with trigonal bipyramidal coordination, [Pt(Ph)(bpy)(cod)]⁺(PF₆)^?, whereas the reaction of bpy with [Pt(OCOC₆H₄Me‐4)(Ph)(cod)] produces the square‐planar complex [Pt(OCOC₆H₄Me‐4)(Ph)(bpy)].     

“Roll‐over” Cyclometalation of 2,2′‐Bipyridine Platinum(II) Complexes in the Gas Phase: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

In a combined experimental/computational investigation, the gas‐phase behavior of cationic [Pt(bipy)(CH₃)((CH₃)₂S)]⁺ ( 1 ) (bipy=2,2′‐bipyridine) has been explored. Losses of CH₄ and (CH₃)₂S from 1 result in the formation of a cyclometalated 2,2′‐bipyrid‐3‐yl species [Pt(bipy?H)]⁺ ( 2 ). As to the mechanisms of ligand evaporation, detailed labeling experiments complemented by DFT‐based computations reveal that the reaction follows the mechanistically intriguing “roll‐over” cyclometalation path in the course of which a hydrogen atom from the C(3)‐position is combined with the Pt‐bound methyl group to produce CH₄. Activation of a C? H‐bond of the (CH₃)₂S ligand occurs as well, but is less favored (35 % versus 65 %) as compared to the C(3)? H bond activation of bipy. In addition, the thermal ion/molecule reactions of [Pt(bipy?H)]⁺ with (CH₃)₂S have been examined, and for the major pathway, that is, the dehydrogenative coupling of the two methyl groups to form C₂H₄, a mechanism is suggested that is compatible with the experimental and computational findings. A hallmark of the gas‐phase chemistry of [Pt(bipy?H)]⁺ with the incoming (CH₃)₂S ligand is the exchange of one (and only one) hydrogen atom of the bipy fragment with the C? H bonds of dimethylsulfide in a reversible “roll‐over” cyclometalation reaction. The Pt^II‐mediated conversion of (CH₃)₂S to C₂H₄ may serve as a model to obtain mechanistic insight in the dehydrosulfurization of sulfur‐containing hydrocarbons.