Facile Conversion of Red Phosphorus into Soluble Polyphosphide Anions by Reaction with Potassium Ethoxide

Soluble polyphosphide anions were successfully generated in a number of organic solvents by the reaction between shelf‐stable red phosphorus and potassium ethoxide. The species were identified by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy in solution and by X‐ray crystal‐structure determination of (Bu₄N)₂P₁₆ in the solid state. The reaction was scaled up to gram quantities by using a flow‐chemistry process.     

High‐Pressure Synthesis and Structural Investigation of H3P8O8N9: A New Phosphorus(V) Oxonitride Imide with an Interrupted Framework Structure

The first crystalline phosphorus oxonitride imide H₃P₈O₈N₉ (=P₈O₈N₆(NH)₃) has been synthesized under high‐pressure and high‐temperature conditions. To this end, a new, highly reactive phosphorus oxonitride imide precursor compound was prepared and treated at 12 GPa and 750 °C by using a multianvil assembly. H₃P₈O₈N₉ was obtained as a colorless, microcrystalline solid. The crystal structure of H₃P₈O₈N₉ was solved ab initio by powder X‐ray diffraction analysis, applying the charge‐flipping algorithm, and refined by the Rietveld method (C2/c (no. 15), a=1352.11(7), b=479.83(3), c=1820.42(9) pm, β=96.955(4)°, Z=4). H₃P₈O₈N₉ exhibits a highly condensed (κ=0.47), 3D, but interrupted network that is composed of all‐side vertex‐sharing (Q⁴) and only threefold‐linking (Q³) P(O,N)₄ tetrahedra in a Q⁴/Q³ ratio of 3:1. The structure, which includes 4‐ring assemblies as the smallest ring size, can be subdivided into alternating open‐branched zweier double layers {oB,${2{{2\hfill \atop \infty \hfill}}}$ }[²P₃(O,N)₇] and layers containing pairwise‐linked Q³ tetrahedra parallel (001). Information on the hydrogen atoms in H₃P₈O₈N₉ was obtained by 1D ¹H MAS, 2D homo‐ and heteronuclear (together with ³¹P) correlation NMR spectroscopy, and a ¹H spin‐diffusion experiment with a hard‐pulse sequence designed for selective excitation of a single peak. Two hydrogen sites with a multiplicity ratio of 2:1 were identified and thus the formula of H₃P₈O₈N₉ was unambiguously determined. The protons were assigned to Wyckoff positions 8f and 4e, the latter located within the Q³ tetrahedra layers.     

Computational Chemistry to the Rescue: Modern Toolboxes for the Assignment of Complex Molecules by GIAO NMR Calculations

The calculations of NMR properties of molecules using quantum chemical methods have deeply impacted several branches of organic chemistry. They are particularly important in structural or stereochemical assignments of organic compounds, with implications in total synthesis, stereoselective reactions, and natural products chemistry. In studying the evolution of the strategies developed to support (or reject) a structural proposal, it becomes clear that the most effective and accurate ones involve sophisticated procedures to correlate experimental and computational data. Owing to their relatively high mathematical complexity, such calculations (CP3, DP4, ANN‐PRA) are often carried out using additional computational resources provided by the authors (such as applets or Excel files). This Minireview will cover the state‐of‐the‐art of these toolboxes in the assignment of organic molecules, including mathematical definitions, updates, and discussion of relevant examples.     

On the Ambiphilic Reactivity of Geometrically Constrained Phosphorus(III) and Arsenic(III) Compounds: Insights into Their Interaction with Ionic Substrates

The ambiphilic nature of geometrically constrained Group 15 complexes bearing the N,N‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐phenolate)amide pincer ligand (ONO^3?) is explored. Despite their differing reactivity towards nucleophilic substrates with polarised element–hydrogen bonds (e.g., NH₃), both the phosphorus(III), P(ONO) ( 1 a ), and arsenic(III), As(ONO) ( 1 b ), compounds exhibit similar reactivity towards charged nucleophiles and electrophiles. Reactions of 1 a and 1 b with KOtBu or KNPh₂ afford anionic complexes in which the nucleophilic anion associates with the pnictogen centre ([(tBuO)Pn(ONO)]^? (Pn=P ( 2 a ), As ( 2 b )) and [(Ph₂N)Pn(ONO)]^? (Pn=P ( 3 a ), As ( 3 b )). Compound 2 a can subsequently be reacted with a proton source or benzylbromide to afford the phosphorus(V) compounds (tBuO)HP(ONO) ( 4 a ) and (tBuO)BzP(ONO) ( 5 a ), respectively, whereas analogous arsenic(V) compounds are inaccessible. Electrophilic substrates, such as HOTf and MeOTf, preferentially associate with the nitrogen atom of the ligand backbone of both 1 a and 1 b , giving rise to cationic species that can be rationalised as either ammonium salts or as amine‐stabilised phosphenium or arsenium complexes ([Pn{ON(H)O}]⁺ (Pn=P ( 6 a ), As ( 6 b )) and [Pn{ON(Me)O}]⁺ (Pn=P ( 7 a ), As ( 7 b )). Reaction of 1 a with an acid bearing a nucleophilic counteranion (such as HCl) gives rise to a phosphorus(V) compound HPCl(ONO) ( 8 a ), whereas the analogous reaction with 1 b results in the addition of HCl across one of the As?O bonds to afford ClAs{(H)ONO} ( 8 b ). Functionalisation at both the pnictogen centre and the ligand backbone is also possible by reaction of 7 a / 7 b with KOtBu, which affords the neutral species (tBuO)Pn{ON(Me)O} (Pn=P ( 9 a ), As ( 9 b )). The ambiphilic reactivity of these geometrically constrained complexes allows some insight into the mechanism of reactivity of 1 a towards small molecules, such as ammonia and water.     

Dynamic chirality: keen selection in the face of stereochemical diversity in mechanically bonded compounds

The template-directed syntheses, employing bisparaphenylene-[34]crown-10 (BPP34C10), 1,5-dinaphthoparaphenylene-[36]crown-10 (1/5NPPP36C10), and 1,5-dinaphtho-[38]crown-10 (1/5DNP38C10) as templates, of three [2]catenanes, whereby one of the two bipyridinium units in cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) is replaced by a bipicolinium unit, are described. The crude reaction mixtures comprising the [2]catenanes all contain slightly more of the homologous [3]catenanes, wherein a "dimeric" octacationic cyclophane has the crown ether macrocycles encircling the alternating bipyridinium units with the bipicolinium units completely unfettered. X-ray crystallography, performed on all three [2]catenanes and two of the three [3]catenanes reveals co-conformational and stereochemical preferences that are stark and pronounced. Both the [3]catenanes crystallize as mixtures of diastereoisomers on account of the axial chirality associated with the picolinium units in the solid state. Dynamic (1)H NMR spectroscopy is employed to probe in solution the relative energy barriers for rotations by the phenylene and pyridinium rings in the tetracationic cyclophane component of the [2]catenanes. Where there are co-conformational changes that are stereochemically "allowed", crown ether circumrotation and rocking processes are also investigated for the relative rates of their occurrence. The outcome is one whereby the three [2]catenanes containing BPP34C10, 1/5NPPP36C10, and 1/5DNP38C10 exist as one major enantiomeric pair of diastereoisomers amongst two, four, and eight diastereoisomeric pairs of enantiomers, respectively. The diastereoisomerism is a consequence of the presence of axial chirality together with helical and/or planar chirality in the same interlocked molecule. These [2]catenanes constitute a rich reserve of new stereochemical types that might be tapped for their switching and mechanical properties.     

A Tetracyclic Octaphosphane by Successive Addition,Inversion, and Condensation Reactions

An example of an octaphosphane of type R₂P₈ (R=(DDP)Ga) was isolated by treatment of cage compound (DDP)GaP₄ ( 2 , DDP=(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)(4-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino)pent-2-en-2-yl)amide) with (C₆F₅)₂PBr. The initially formed endo-exo butterfly shaped pentaphosphane 7 rapidly rearranges to the more stable exo–exo isomer 8 , which undergoes dimerization to decaphosphane 11 . Compound 11 unexpectedly eliminates tetraaryldiphosphane 13 to give tetracyclo[3.3.0.0^2,7.0^4,6]octaphosphane [(DDP)GaBr]₂P₈ ( 12 ). The reaction steps were confirmed by crystal structure analysis of the key intermediates and supported by kinetic studies using NMR techniques.     

A Stable,Soluble, and Crystalline Supramolecular System with a Triplet Ground State

A supramolecular complex was constructed by encapsulation of a ³O₂ molecule inside an open‐cage C₆₀ derivative. Its single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of the ³O₂ at the center of the fullerene cage. The CV measurements suggested that unprecedented dehydrogenation was promoted by the encapsulated ³O₂ after two‐electron reduction. The ESR measurements displayed the triplet character as well as the anisotropy of the ³O₂. Additionally, the SQUID measurements also demonstrated the paramagnetic behavior above 3 K without an antiferromagnetic transition. Upon photoirradiation with visible light, three phosphorescent bands at the NIR region were observed, arising from the exited ¹O₂ generated by self‐sensitization with the outer cage, whose lifetimes were not affected by the environments. These studies confirmed that the complex is a crystalline triplet system with incompatible “high spin density” but “small interspin interaction” properties.     

Structural integration of tellurium oxide into mixed-network-former glasses: connectivity distribution in the system NaPO(3)-TeO(2).

Sodium phosphate tellurite glasses in the system (NaPO(3))(x)(TeO(2))(1-) (x) were prepared and structurally characterized by thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a variety of complementary solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Unlike the situation in other mixed-network-former glasses, the interaction between the two network formers tellurium oxide and phosphorus oxide produces no new structural units, and no sharing of the network modifier Na(2)O takes place. The glass structure can be regarded as a network of interlinked metaphosphate-type P(2) tetrahedral and TeO(4/2) antiprismatic units. The combined interpretation of the O 1s XPS data and the (31)P solid-state NMR spectra presents clear quantitative evidence for a nonstatistical connectivity distribution. Rather, the formation of homoatomic P--O--P and Te--O--Te linkages is favored over mixed P--O--Te connectivities. As a consequence of this chemical segregation effect, the spatial sodium distribution is not random, as also indicated by a detailed analysis of (31)P/(23)Na rotational echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiments.     

Dendrimer‐Type Peptoid‐Decorated Hexaphenylxylenes and Tetraphenylmethanes: Synthesis and Structure in Solution and in the Gas Phase

Branched organic nanostructures are useful scaffolds that find multiple applications in a variety of fields. Here, we present a novel approach to dendrimer‐like structures. Our design contains a rigid hydrocarbon‐based core (hexaphenylxylylene/tetraethynylphenylmethane) combined with a library of N‐substituted oligoglycines (so‐called peptoids) providing a flexible shell. The use of click chemistry allows rapid assembly of the nanostructures. The possibility of tuning the size and the solubility of this new type of nanostructure will be advantageous for future applications such as heterogeneous catalysis.     

Structural Revisions of a Class of Natural Products: Scaffolds of Aglycon Analogues of Fusicoccins and Cotylenins Isolated from Fungi

The reisolation and structural revision of brassicicene D is described, and inspired us to reassign the core skeletons of brassicicenes C–H, J and K, ranging from dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctane to tricyclo[9.2.1.0^3,7]tetradecane using quantum‐chemical predictions and experimental validation strategies. Three novel, highly modified fusicoccanes, brassicicenes L–N, were also isolated from the fungus Alternaria brassicicola, and their structures were unequivocally established by spectroscopic data, ECD calculations, and crystallography. The reassigned structures represent the first class of bridgehead double‐bond‐containing natural products with a bicyclo[6.2.1]undecane carbon skeleton. Furthermore, their stabilities were first predicted with olefin strain energy calculations. Collectively, these findings extend our view of the application of computational predictions and biosynthetic logic‐based structure elucidation to address problems related to the structure and stability of natural products.     

Structural Characterisation of the Li Argyrodites Li7PS6 and Li7PSe6 and their Solid Solutions: Quantification of Site Preferences by MAS‐NMR Spectroscopy

Li₇PS₆ and Li₇PSe₆ belong to a class of new solids that exhibit high Li⁺ mobility. A series of quaternary solid solutions Li₇PS_6?xSe_x (0≤x≤6) were characterised by X‐ray crystallography and magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS‐NMR) spectroscopy. The high‐temperature (HT) modifications were studied by single‐crystal investigations (both F$\bar 4$ 3m, Z=4, Li₇PS₆: a=9.993(1) Å, Li₇PSe₆: a=10.475(1) Å) and show the typical argyrodite structures with strongly disordered Li atoms. HT‐Li₇PS₆ and HT‐Li₇PSe₆ transform reversibly into low‐temperature (LT) modifications with ordered Li atoms. X‐ray powder diagrams show the structures of LT‐Li₇PS₆ and LT‐Li₇PSe₆ to be closely related to orthorhombic LT‐α‐Cu₇PSe₆. Single crystals of the LT modifications are not available due to multiple twinning and formation of antiphase domains. The gradual substitution of S by Se shows characteristic site preferences closely connected to the functionalities of the different types of chalcogen atoms (S, Se). High‐resolution solid‐state ³¹P NMR is a powerful method to differentiate quantitatively between the distinct (PS_4?nSe_n)^3? local environments. Their population distribution differs significantly from a statistical scenario, revealing a pronounced preference for P? S over P? Se bonding. This preference, shown for the series of LT samples, can be quantified in terms of an equilibrium constant specifying the melt reaction Se_P+S^2??S_P+Se^2?, prior to crystallisation. The ⁷⁷Se MAS‐NMR spectra reveal that the chalcogen distributions in the second and third coordination sphere of the P atoms are essentially statistical. The number of crystallographically independent Li atoms in both LT modifications was analysed by means of ⁶Li{⁷Li} cross polarisation magic angle spinning (CPMAS).