Tuning the Electronic Properties of the Dative N−B Bond with Associated O−B Interaction: Electron Localizability Indicator from X‐Ray Wavefunction Refinement

Despite the immense growth in interest in difluoroborate dyes, the nature of the interactions of the boron atom within the N‐BF₂‐O kernel is not yet fully understood. Herein, a set of real‐space bonding indicators is used to quantify the electronic characteristics of the dative N?B bond in difluoroborate derivatives. The atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) partitioning scheme is complemented by the electron localizability indicator (ELI‐D) approach, and both were applied to experimental and theoretical electron‐density distributions (X‐ray constrained wavefunction fitting vs. DFT calculations). Additionally, Fermi orbital analysis was introduced for small DFT models to support and extend the findings for structures that contain BF₂.     

The Solid Solution Sr1−xBaxGa2: Substitutional Disorder and Chemical Bonding Visited by NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanical Calculations

Complete miscibility of the intermetallic phases (IPs) SrGa₂ and BaGa₂ forming the solid solution Sr_1?xBa_xGa₂ is shown by means of X‐ray diffraction, thermoanalytical and metallographic studies. Regarding the distances of Sr/Ba sites versus substitution degree, a model of isolated substitution centres (ISC) for up to 10 % cation substitution is explored to study the influence on the Ga bonding situation. A combined application of NMR spectroscopy and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations proves the electric field gradient (EFG) to be a sensitive measure of different bonding situations. The experimental resolution is boosted by orientation‐dependent NMR on magnetically aligned powder samples, revealing in first approximation two different Ga species in the ISC regimes. EFG calculations using superlattice structures within periodic boundary conditions are in fair agreement with the NMR spectroscopy data and are discussed in detail regarding their application on disordered IPs.     

Boron‐Based Chiral Helix Be6B102− and Be6B11− Clusters: Structures,Chemical Bonding,and Formation Mechanism

Boron forms a rich variety of low‐dimensional nanosystems, including the newly discovered helix Be₆B₁₀^2? ( 1 ) and Be₆B₁₁^? ( 2 ) clusters. We report herein on the elucidation of chemical bonding in clusters 1 / 2 , using the modern quantum chemistry tools of canonical molecular orbital analyses and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP). It is shown that clusters 1 / 2 contain a chiral helix Be₂B₁₀Be₂ or Be₂B₁₁Be₂ skeleton with a total of 11 and 12 segments, respectively, which effectively curve into “helical pseudo rings” and chemically consist of two “quasicircles” as defined by their anchoring Be centers. The helix skeleton is connected via Lewis‐type B?B and Be?B?Be σ bonds, being further stabilized by island π/σ bonds and a loose π bond at the junction. The Be₆ component in 1 / 2 assumes a distorted prism shape only physically, and it is fragmented into four parts: two terminal Be₂ dimers and two isolated Be centers. A Be₂ dimer at the far end manages to bend over and cap a quasicircle from one side of B plane. Consequently, each quasicircle of a helical pseudo ring is capped from opposite sides by two Be₂/Be units, facilitating intramolecular charge‐transfers of 5 electrons from Be to B. Overall, the folding of B helix involves as many as 10 electrons. The enormous electrostatics offers the ultimate driving forces for B helix formation.     

Darstellung und spektroskopische Charakterisierung der Monofluorohydro-closo-Borate [B6H5F]2− und [B12H11F]2−

Preparation and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Monofluorohydro-closo-borates [B₆H₅F]^2? and [B₁₂H₁₁F]^2? By treatment of [B₆H₆]^2? with 1-(chloromethyl)-4-fluoro-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-bis(tetrafluoroborate)in acetonitrile monofluorohydro-closo-hexaborate [B₆H₅F]^2? ( 1 ) is formed in good yields. [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? reacts with unhydrous HF yielding the monofluorododecaborate [B₁₂H₁₁F]^2? ( 2 ). These compounds are separated by ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl(DEAE) cellulose from by-products. The ¹¹B nmr spectra exhibit the characteristic patterns (1 : 4 : 1) of a monosubstituted B₆ octahedron and (1 : 5 : 5 : 1) of a monosubstituted B₁₂ icosahedron with strong downfield shifts of the ipso-B nuclei at +9.3 ppm ( 1 ) and at +9.0 ppm ( 2 ). The ¹⁹F nmr spectra reveal quartets at ?212 ppm ( 1 ) and ?209 ppm ( 2 ) proving a B? F bonding. In the i.r. spectra, for ( 1 ) in the Raman spectrum too, cage vibrations depending on the F substituent at 1195 ( 1 ) and at 1182/1154 cm^?1 ( 2 ) are observed. The Raman spectra show the B₆F stretching mode at 535 cm^?1 and the B₁₂F stretching vibration at 445 cm^?1.     

Unravelling Local Atomic Order of the Anionic Sublattice in M(Al1−xGax)4 with M=Sr and Ba by Using NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanical Modelling

The quasibinary section of the intermetallic phases MAl₄ and MGa₄ with M=Sr and Ba have been characterised by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies and differential thermal analysis. The binary phases show complete miscibility and form solid solutions M(Al_1?xGa_x)₄ with M=Sr and Ba. These structures crystallise in the BaAl₄ structure type with four‐ and five‐bonded Al and/or Ga atoms (denoted as Al(4b), Al(5b), Ga(4b), and Ga(5b), respectively) that form a polyanionic Al/Ga sublattice. Solid state ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopic analysis and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations were applied to study the bonding of the Al centres and the influence of Al/Ga substitution, especially in the regimes with low degrees of substitution. M(Al_1?xGa_x)₄ with M=Sr and Ba and 0.925≤x≤0.975 can be described as a matrix of the binary majority compound in which a low amount of the Ga atoms has been substituted by Al atoms. In good agreement with the QM calculations, ²⁷Al NMR investigations and single crystal XRD studies prove a preferred occupancy of Al(4b) for these substitution regimes. Furthermore, two different local Al environments were found, namely isolated Al(4b1) atoms and Al(4b2), due to the formation of Al(4b)–Al(4b) pairs besides isolated Al(4b) atoms within the polyanionic sublattice. QM calculations of the electric field gradient (EFG) using superlattice structures under periodic boundary conditions are in good agreement with the NMR spectroscopic results.     

Endohedrally Filled [Ni@Sn9]4− and [Co@Sn9]5− Clusters in the Neat Solids Na12Ni1−xSn17 and K13−xCo1−xSn17: Crystal Structure and 119Sn Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

A systematic approach to the formation of endohedrally filled atom clusters by a high‐temperature route instead of the more frequent multistep syntheses in solution is presented. Zintl phases Na₁₂Ni_1?xSn₁₇ and K_13?xCo_1?xSn₁₇, containing endohedrally filled intermetalloid clusters [Ni@Sn₉]^4? or [Co@Sn₉]^5? beside [Sn₄]^4?, are obtained from high‐temperature reactions. The arrangement of [Ni@Sn₉]^4? or [Co@Sn₉]^5? and [Sn₄]^4? clusters, which are present in the ratio 1:2, can be regarded as a hierarchical replacement variant of the hexagonal Laves phase MgZn₂ on the Mg and Zn positions, respectively. The alkali‐metal positions are considered for the first time in the hierarchical relationship, which leads to a comprehensive topological parallel and a better understanding of the composition of these compounds. The positions of the alkali‐metal atoms in the title compounds are related to the known inclusion of hydrogen atoms in the voids of Laves phases. The inclusion of Co atoms in the {Sn₉} cages correlates strongly with the number of K vacancies in K_13?xCo_1?xSn₁₇ and K_5?xCo_1?xSn₉, and consequently, all compounds correspond to diamagnetic valence compounds. Owing to their diamagnetism, K_13?xCo_1?xSn₁₇, and K_5?xCo_1?xSn₉, as well as the d‐block metal free binary compounds K₁₂Sn₁₇ and K₄Sn₉, were characterized for the first time by ¹¹⁹Sn solid‐state NMR spectroscopy.     

Peculiar All‐Metal σ‐Aromaticity of the [Au2Sb16]4− Anion in the Solid State

Gas‐phase clusters are deemed to be σ‐aromatic when they satisfy the 4n+2 rule of aromaticity for delocalized σ electrons and fulfill other requirements known for aromatic systems. While the range of n values was shown to be quite broad when applied to short‐lived clusters found in molecular‐beam experiments, stability of all‐metal cluster‐like fragments isolated in condensed phase was previously shown to be mainly ascribed to two electrons (n=0). In this work, the applicability of this concept is extended towards solid‐state compounds by demonstrating a unique example of a storable compound, which was isolated as a stable [K([2.2.2]crypt)]⁺ salt, featuring a [Au₂Sb₁₆]^4? cluster core possessing two all‐metal aromatic AuSb₄ fragments with six delocalized σ electrons each (n=1). This discovery pushes the boundaries of the original idea of Kekulé and firmly establishes the usefulness of the σ‐aromaticity concept as a general idea for both small clusters and solid‐state compounds.     

Observation of Transition‐Metal–Boron Triple Bonds in IrB2O− and ReB2O−

Multiple bonds between boron and transition metals are known in many borylene (:BR) complexes via metal d_π→BR back‐donation, despite the electron deficiency of boron. An electron‐precise metal–boron triple bond was first observed in BiB₂O^? [Bi≡B?B≡O]^? in which both boron atoms can be viewed as sp‐hybridized and the [B?BO]^? fragment is isoelectronic to a carbyne (CR). To search for the first electron‐precise transition‐metal‐boron triple‐bond species, we have produced IrB₂O^? and ReB₂O^? and investigated them by photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum‐chemical calculations. The results allow to elucidate the structures and bonding in the two clusters. We find IrB₂O^? has a closed‐shell bent structure (C_s, ¹A′) with BO^? coordinated to an Ir≡B unit, (^?OB)Ir≡B, whereas ReB₂O^? is linear (C_∞v, ³Σ^?) with an electron‐precise Re≡B triple bond, [Re≡B?B≡O]^?. The results suggest the intriguing possibility of synthesizing compounds with electron‐precise M≡B triple bonds analogous to classical carbyne systems.     

Combined 1H, 13C and 11B NMR and mass spectral assignments of boronate complexes of D‐(+)‐glucose,D‐(+)‐mannose,methyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside,methyl‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside and methyl‐α‐D‐mannopyranoside

Complex formation between N‐butylboronic acid and D ‐(+)‐glucose, D ‐(+)‐mannose, methyl‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside, methyl‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside and methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside under neutral conditions was investigated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) D ‐(+)‐Glucose and D ‐(+)‐mannose formed complexes where the boronates are attached to the 1,2:4,6‐ and 2,3:5,6‐positions of the furanose forms, respectively. On the other hand, the boronic acid binds to the 4,6‐positions of the two methyl derivatives of glucose and galactose. Methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside binds two boronates at the 2,3:4,6‐positions. ¹¹B NMR was used to show the ring size of the complexed sugars and the boronate. GC–MS confirmed the assignments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Eine neue Kolorierungsvariante des α‐Mn‐Strukturtyps mit Hauptgruppenelementen in K5Pb24 – Kristallstruktur,Supraleitung und Struktur‐Eigenschafts‐Beziehung

Novel Coloring of the α‐Mn Structure Type with Main Group Elements in K₅Pb₂₄ – Crystal Structure, Superconductivity, and Structure Property Relationship K₅Pb₂₄ was synthesized from the elements in a welded niobium ampoule at 800 °C. The crystal structure was determined from X‐ray single crystal data. Space group I 4 3m, a = 12.358(1) Å, Z = 2, Pearson symbol cI58. The structure of K₅Pb₂₄ shows an ordered atomic distribution on the four crystallographic sites of the α‐Mn structure type. The aristotype is decomposed into cluster units consisting of 48 Pb atoms. The structural subunits are built from four 16‐vertex Frank Kasper polyhedra, which consist of 15 Pb and one K atom (K1). The 16‐vertex polyhedra are centered with another K atom (K2). Four such polyhedra share a common corner (K1) and several edges. 18 shared edges form a truncated tetrahedra of twelve Pb atoms. These atoms form together with four K1 atoms (located in the center of the Frank Kasper polyhedra) a Friauf polyhedra. The result is a ‘supratetrahedra‘ of 48 Pb atoms enclosing five K atoms. The body centered arrangement of this units results in a three‐dimensional framework of Pb atoms. The title compound is the lead‐richest phase of the K/Pb system. Superconducting properties are observed from temperature dependent susceptibility measurements. Field dependent measurements reveal a hard type II superconductor. LMTO and EH band structure calculations verify the metallic behavior. An analysis of the density of states with the help of the electron localization function (ELF) shows the presence of lone pairs in this intermetallic phase. The role of lone pairs is discussed with respect to the superconducting property.     

Structural Transformation with “Negative Volume Expansion”: Chemical Bonding and Physical Behavior of TiGePt

The synthesis and a joint experimental and theoretical study of the crystal structure and physical properties of the new ternary intermetallic compound TiGePt are presented. Upon heating, TiGePt exhibits an unusual structural phase transition with a huge volume contraction of about 10 %. The transformation is characterized by a strong change in the physical properties, in particular, by an insulator–metal transition. At temperatures below 885 °C TiGePt crystallizes in the cubic MgAgAs (half‐Heusler) type (LT phase, space group F$\bar 4$ 3m, a=5.9349(2) Å). At elevated temperatures, the crystal structure of TiGePt transforms into the TiNiSi structure type (HT phase, space group Pnma, a=6.38134(9) Å, b=3.89081(5) Å, c=7.5034(1) Å). The reversible, temperature‐dependent structural transition was investigated by in‐situ neutron powder diffraction and dilatometry measurements. The insulator–metal transition, indicated by resistivity measurements, is in accord with band structure calculations yielding a gap of about 0.9 eV for the LT phase and a metallic HT phase. Detailed analysis of the chemical bonding in both modifications revealed an essential change of the Ti–Pt and Ti–Ge interactions as the origin of the dramatic changes in the physical properties.     

NMR analysis of 6‐(2′,3′‐dihydro‐1′H‐inden‐1′‐yl)‐1H‐indene

¹H, ¹³C and two‐dimensional NMR analyses were applied to determine the NMR parameters of 6‐(2′,3′‐dihydro‐1′H‐inden‐1′‐yl)‐1H‐indene. The measurements were accomplished with 0.5 mg of the substance, this quantity being sufficient to determine the chemical shifts of all the H and C atoms, and also the appropriate coupling constants and to give the complete NMR resonance assignments of the molecule. The predicted patterns of the four different H atoms of the methylene groups of the indane structural element coincided completely with the complex patterns in the NMR spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and complete NMR characterization of 4‐alkyl‐2‐(6‐substituted‐1,3‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl)benzenols

This paper describes the complete assignment of all carbons and hydrogens of several newly synthesized 6‐substituted 2‐(2‐hydroxyaryl)benzoxazoles from 2,2′‐dihydroxydiaryl Schiff bases by the use of two‐dimensional NMR techniques. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A structural study of (1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS)‐2,4‐dibenzoyl‐1,3,5‐triphenylcyclohexan‐1‐ol chloroform hemisolvate and (1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS)‐2,4‐dibenzoyl‐1‐phenyl‐3,5‐bis(2‐methoxyphenyl)cyclohexan‐1‐ol

(1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS)‐2,4‐Dibenzoyl‐1,3,5‐triphenylcyclohexan‐1‐ol or (4‐hydroxy‐2,4,6‐triphenylcyclohexane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(phenylmethanone), C₃₈H₃₂O₃, (1), is formed as a by‐product in the NaOH‐catalyzed synthesis of 1,3,5‐triphenylpentane‐1,5‐dione from acetophenone and benzaldehyde. Single crystals of the chloroform hemisolvate, C₃₈H₃₂O₃·0.5CHCl₃, were grown from chloroform. The structure has triclinic (P) symmetry. One diastereomer [as a pair of (1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS)‐enantiomers] of (1) has been found in the crystal structure and confirmed by NMR studies. The dichoromethane hemisolvate has been reported previously [Zhang et al. (2007). Acta Cryst. E 63 , o4652]. (1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS)‐2,4‐Dibenzoyl‐3,5‐bis(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylcyclohexan‐1‐ol or [4‐hydroxy‐2,6‐bis(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐4‐phenylcyclohexane‐1,3‐diyl]bis(phenylmethanone), C₄₀H₃₆O₅, (2), is also formed as a by‐product, under the same conditions, from acetophenone and 2‐methoxybenzaldehyde. Crystals of (2) have been grown from chloroform. The structure has orthorhombic (Pca2₁) symmetry. A diastereomer of (2) possesses the same configuration as (1). In both structures, the cyclohexane ring adopts a chair conformation with all bulky groups (benzoyl, phenyl and 2‐methoxyphenyl) in equatorial positions. The molecules of (1) and (2) both display one intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond.     

One‐step synthesis of 6‐acetamido‐3‐(N‐(2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl) sulfamoyl) naphthalene‐1‐yl 7‐acetamido‐4‐hydroxynaphthalene‐2‐sulfonate and its characterization with 1D and 2D NMR techniques

A one‐step method was reported for the synthesis of 6‐acetamido‐3‐(N‐(2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl) sulfamoyl) naphthalene‐1‐yl 7‐acetamido‐4‐hydroxynaphthalene‐2‐sulfonate by treating 7‐acetamido‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthalenesulfonyl chloride with equal moles of N, N‐dimethylethylenediamine in acetonitrile in the presence of K₂CO₃. The chemical structure of the obtained compounds was characterized by MS, FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, gCOSY, TOCSY, gHSQC, and gHMBC. The chemical shift differences of ¹H and ¹³C being δ 0.04 and 0.2, respectively, were unambiguously differentiated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of 2‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles by 15N and 13C NMR spectroscopy

¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts of 2‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles were assigned on the basis of the ¹H–¹⁵N HMBC experiment. Chemical shifts of the nitrogen and carbon atoms in the oxadiazole ring correlate with the Hammett σ‐constants of substituents in the aryl ring (r² ≥ 0.966 for N atoms). ¹⁵N NMR data are a suitable and sensitive means for characterizing long‐range electronic substituent effects. Additionally, ¹³C NMR data for these compounds are presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.