The missing link: triplet fluorocarbonyl nitrene FC(O)N

The elusive triplet fluorocarbonyl nitrene, FC(O)N (X³A′′), has been generated in high yield from matrix‐isolated FC(O)N₃ by ArF excimer laser photolysis (λ=193 nm). As a side product FNCO was formed. The novel nitrene was characterized by IR, UV/Vis, EPR spectroscopy, and quantum‐chemical calculations. All six fundamental vibrations of FC(O)N at 1681.3, 1193.8, 879.8, 646.5, 588.7, and 434.8 cm^?1 (argon matrix, 16 K), their ^12/13C, ^16/18O, and ^14/15N isotopic shifts, and four electronic transitions at T₀=13 890, 25 428, 29 166, and 30 900 cm^?1 that exhibit vibrational fine structures have been detected. Under visible‐light irradiation at λ≥495 nm, FC(O)N reacted with molecular N₂ in the matrix cage at 6 K to give back FC(O)N₃, whereas near‐UV irradiation at λ≥335 nm yielded FNCO. The singlet–triplet energy gaps of different carbonyl nitrenes are discussed.     

Isomers of Disulfur Dinitride,S2N2

UV photolysis (λ=248 or 255 nm) of cyclic S₂N₂ isolated in solid argon matrices yields two open‐shell S₂N₂ isomers, trans SNSN (³A′′) and cis SNSN (³A′′), as well as a closed‐shell C_2v dimer (SN)₂ (¹A₁). These novel isomers have been characterized by their IR spectra and mutual photo‐interconversion reactions. Quantum chemical calculations support the experimental results and also provide insight into the complex potential energy surface of S₂N₂.     

Phosphoramidate‐Supported Cp*IrIII Aminoborane H2B=NR2 Complexes: Synthesis,Structure, and Solution Dynamics

Reaction of aminoboranes H₂B=NR₂ (R=iPr or Cy) with the cationic Cp*Ir^III phosphoramidate complex [IrCp*{κ²‐N,O‐Xyl(N)P(O)(OEt)₂}][BAr^F₄] generates the aminoborane complexes [IrCp*(H){κ¹‐N‐η²‐HB‐Xyl(N)P(OBHNR₂)(OEt)₂}][BAr^F₄] (R=iPr or Cy) in which coordination of a P=O bond with boron weakens the B=N multiple bond. For these complexes, solution‐ and solid‐state, as well as DFT computational techniques, have been employed to substantiate B?N bond rotation of the coordinated aminoborane.     

Estimation of isotropic nuclear magnetic shieldings in the CCSD(T) and MP2 complete basis set limit using affordable correlation calculations

A linear correlation between isotropic nuclear magnetic shielding constants for seven model molecules (CH₂O, H₂O, HF, F₂, HCN, SiH₄ and H₂S) calculated with 37 methods (34 density functionals, RHF, MP2 and CCSD(T)), with affordable pcS‐2 basis set and corresponding complete basis set results, estimated from calculations with the family of polarization‐consistent pcS‐n basis sets is reported. This dependence was also supported by inspection of profiles of deviation between CBS estimated nuclear shieldings and shieldings obtained with the significantly smaller basis sets pcS‐2 and aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐J for the selected set of 37 calculation methods. It was possible to formulate a practical approach of estimating the values of isotropic nuclear magnetic shielding constants at the CCSD(T)/CBS and MP2/CBS levels from affordable CCSD(T)/pcS‐2, MP2/pcS‐2 and DFT/CBS calculations with pcS‐n basis sets. The proposed method leads to a fairly accurate estimation of nuclear magnetic shieldings and considerable saving of computational efforts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Difluoro‐λ5‐Phosphinonitrile F2PN: Matrix Isolation and Photoisomerization into FPNF

Splendid isolation : Monomeric phosphazene F₂PN (¹A₁) was prepared for the first time through irradiation of F₂PN₃ in an argon matrix with an ArF excimer laser (λ=193 nm). Upon subsequent irradiation with a high‐pressure mercury arc lamp (λ=255 nm), F₂PN undergoes a 1,2‐fluorine shift to give iminophosphane cis‐FP?NF.

     

ESR‐Vis/NIR Spectroelectrochemical Study of C70(CF3)2−. and C70(C2F5)2−. Radical Anions

A spectroelectrochemical study of the two isostructural asymmetric perfluoroalkyl derivatives C₁‐7,24‐C₇₀(CF₃)₂ and C₁‐7,24‐C₇₀(C₂F₅)₂ is presented. Reversible formation of their stable monoanion radicals is monitored by cyclic voltammetry and by in situ ESR‐Vis‐NIR spectroelectrochemistry. The ESR spectrum of the C₇₀(CF₃)₂^?. radical is a 1:3:3:1 quartet with a ¹⁹F hyperfine coupling constant (a(F)) of 0.323(4) G, demonstrating that the unpaired spin is coupled to only one of the two CF₃ groups. The ¹³C satellites are assigned to specific carbon atoms. The ESR spectrum of the C₇₀(C₂F₅)₂^?. radical is an apparent octet with an apparent a(F) value of 0.83(2) G. DFT calculations suggest that this pattern is due to the superposition of spectra for four nearly isoenergetic C₇₀(C₂F₅)₂^?. conformers. Time‐dependent DFT calculations suggest that the NIR band at 1090 nm exhibited by both C₇₀(R_f)₂^?. radical anions is assigned to the SOMO→LUMO+3 transition. The analogous NIR band exhibited by the closed‐shell C₇₀(CF₃)₂^2? dianion was blue‐shifted to 1000 nm.     

The synergistic co‐operation of N—H…O=P hydrogen bonds and C—H…OX weak intermolecular interactions (X is =P or —C) in the (CH3O)2P(O)(NH–NHC6F5) amidophosphoester: a combined X‐ray crystallographic and theoretical study

The asymmetric unit of O,O′‐dimethyl [(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorophenyl)hydrazinyl]phosphonate, C₈H₈F₅N₂O₃P, is composed of two symmetry‐independent molecules with significant differences in the orientations of the C₆F₅ and OMe groups. In the crystal structure, a one‐dimensional assembly is mediated from classical N—H…O hydrogen bonds, which includes R₂²(8), D(2) and some higher‐order graph‐set motifs. By also considering weak C—H…O=P and C—H…O—C intermolecular interactions, a two‐dimensional network extends along the ab plane. The strengths of the hydrogen bonds were evaluated using quantum chemical calculations with the GAUSSIAN09 software package at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory. The LP(O) to σ*(NH) and σ*(CH) charge‐transfer interactions were examined according to second‐order perturbation theory in natural bond orbital (NBO) methodology. The hydrogen‐bonded clusters of molecules, including N—H…O and C—H…O interactions, were constructed as input files for the calculations and the strengths of the hydrogen bonds are as follows: N—H…O [R₂²(8)] > N—H…O [D(2)] > C—H…O. The decomposed fingerprint plots show that the contribution portions of the F…H/H…F contacts in both molecules are the largest.     

Bonding in Cationic MCH2+ (M=K–La,Hf–Rn): A Theoretical Study on Periodic Trends

DFT and CCSD(T) calculations have been performed to investigate the bonding situation of 54 cationic methylene complexes, MCH₂⁺ (M=K–La, Hf–Rn). A comparison of the computed results with experimentally and CBS‐QB3‐derived data demonstrates the reliability of B3LYP/def2‐QZVP with regard to the bond dissociation energies. Further, the bonding character of the MCH₂⁺ complexes is revealed by geometrical and molecular‐orbital (MO) analysis. The comparison of the periodic trends within the s‐, p‐, and d‐block MCH₂⁺ carbenes shows a pattern different for main‐group versus transition‐metal complexes. By combining this work with the recently reported trends for the f‐block lanthanide carbenes MCH₂⁺, a systematic and comprehensive overview can be obtained.     

Reactivity Towards Europium(III) of the Radiolysis Products of the Ionic Liquid 1‐Methyl‐3‐butyl‐1H‐imidazolium Bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide (C4‐mimTf2N) and Effect of Water: A TRLFS (Time‐Resolved Laser‐Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy) Preliminary Study

The effect of laser irradiation at λ_exc 266 nm onto the fluorescence characteristics of Eu^III in solution of the ionic liquid 1‐methyl‐3‐butyl‐1H‐imidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide (C₄‐mimTf₂N) was examined for various amounts of H₂O added. Stable radiolytic products that were generated at very low doses (in the range of 4 kGy) were very reactive with Eu^III and led to the appearance of a new europium luminescent species that was characterized by lifetime, relative intensity, and emission spectrum. Although the lifetime and the intensity depended on the H₂O content, the emission spectrum was not influenced by H₂O. It was shown that large amounts of H₂O, although not preventing radiolysis of C₄‐mimTf₂N, inhibited the complexation with Eu^III.     

A Highly Selective Two‐Photon Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Cadmium(II) Based on Intramolecular Electron Transfer and its Imaging in Living Cells

A new quinoline‐based probe was designed that shows one‐photon ratiometric and two‐photon off–on changes upon detecting Cd²⁺. It exhibits fluorescence emission at 407 nm originating from quinoline groups in Tris‐HCl (25 mM , pH 7.40), H₂O/EtOH (8:2, v/v). Coordination with Cd²⁺ causes quenching of the emission at 407 nm and simultaneously yields a remarkable redshift of the emission maximum to 500 nm with an isoemissive point at 439 nm owing to an intramolecular charge‐transfer mechanism. Thus, dual‐emission ratiometric measurement with a large redshift (Δλ=93 nm) and significant changes in the ratio (F₅₀₀/F₄₃₉) of the emission intensity (R/R₀ up to 27) is established. Moreover, the sensor H₂L displays excellent selectivity response, high sensitive fluorescence enhancement, and strong binding ability to Cd²⁺. Coordination properties of H₂L towards Cd²⁺ were fully investigated by absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy, which indicated the formation of a 2:1 H₂L/Cd²⁺ complex. All complexes were characterized by X‐ray crystallography, and TD‐DFT calculations were performed to understand the origin of optical selectivity shown by H₂L. Two‐photon fluorescence microscopy experiments have demonstrated that H₂L could be used in live cells for the detection of Cd²⁺.     

A computational mechanistic study of the deamination reaction of melamine

A detailed computational study of the deamination reaction of melamine by OH^–, n H₂O/OH^–, n H₂O (where n = 1, 2, 3), and protonated melamine with H₂O, has been carried out using density functional theory and ab initio calculations. All structures were optimized at M06/6‐31G(d) level of theory, as well as with the B3LYP functional with each of the basis sets: 6‐31G(d), 6‐31 + G(d), 6‐31G(2df,p), and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd). B3LYP, M06, and ω B97XD calculations with 6‐31 + G(d,p) have also been performed. All structures were optimized at B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) level of theory for deamination simulations in an aqueous medium, using both the polarizable continuum solvation model and the solvation model based on solute electron density. Composite method calculations have been conducted at G4MP2 and CBS‐QB3. Fifteen different mechanistic pathways were explored. Most pathways consisted of two key steps: formation of a tetrahedral intermediate and in the final step, an intermediate that dissociates to products via a 1,3‐proton shift. The lowest overall activation energy, 111 kJ mol^?1 at G4MP2, was obtained for the deamination of melamine with 3H₂O/OH^?.     

Potassium gallium hydrogenphosphate fluoride,K2Ga[H(HPO4)2]F2

Hydrothermally synthesized dipotassium gallium {hydrogen bis[hydrogenphosphate(V)]} difluoride, K₂Ga[H(HPO₄)₂]F₂, is isotypic with K₂Fe[H(HPO₄)₂]F₂. The main features of the structure are ([Ga{H(HPO₄)₂}F₂]²⁻)_n columns consisting of centrosymmetric Ga(F₂O₄) octahedra [average Ga—O = 1.966 (3) Å and Ga—F = 1.9076 (6) Å] stacked above two HPO₄ tetrahedra [average P—O = 1.54 (2) Å] sharing two O‐atom vertices. The charge‐balancing seven‐coordinate K⁺ cations [average K—O,F = 2.76 (2) Å] lie in the intercolumn space, stabilizing a three‐dimensional structure. Strong [O...O = 2.4184 (11) Å] and medium [O...F = 2.6151 (10) Å] hydrogen bonds further reinforce the connections between adjacent columns.     

Encapsulation Chalcogen Anions in Perfluorinated Silicon Fullerene: X2−@Si20F20 (X=O,S, Se)

The structures and stabilities of cage Si₂₀F₂₀ and its endohedral complexes X²⁻@Si₂₀F₂₀ (X=O, S, Se) were determined at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) levels of density functional theory (DFT). It is found that the adiabatic electron affinity (EA_ad) of host cage Si₂₀F₂₀ (I_h) is higher than that of isolated O atom (4.24 vs. 1.46 eV). This suggests the Si₂₀F₂₀ cage can selectively trap and stabilize the capsulated spherical anions. The calculations predict that X=S and Se are nearly located at the center of the cage, and O dramatically deviates from the center in C_3v symmetry. Moreover, the corresponding X²⁻@Si₂₀F₂₀ complexes have more negative inclusion energies (ΔE_inc) and thermodynamic parameters (ΔZ) than X²⁻@C₂₀F₂₀. The amount of charge that is being transferred from the encapsulated anions to the cage increases with the atomic radius, i.e., from O²⁻ (ca. 45%), S²⁻ (ca. 51%) to Se²⁻ (ca. 59%), and such a novel model of cage may have practical uses as potential and electrical building units of nanoscale materials.     

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.     

Enantioselective Intramolecular [2+2] Photocycloaddition Reactions of 4‐Substituted Coumarins Catalyzed by a Chiral Lewis Acid

Eight coumarins, which carry a terminal alkene tethered by a CH₂XCH₂ group to their 4‐position (X=CH₂, CMe₂, O, S, NBoc, NZ, NTs, NBn), were synthesized in overall yields of 51–80 %. Starting materials for the syntheses were either commercially available 4‐hydroxycoumarin or 4‐formylcoumarin. The intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of these coumarins gave diastereoselectively products with a tetracyclic 3,3a,4,4a‐tetrahydro‐1H‐cyclopenta[2,3]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]chromen‐5(2H)‐one skeleton. Direct irradiation at λ=300 nm in dichloromethane (c=10 mM ) led to product formation in good yields for most substrates, presumably via a singlet excited state intermediate. Due to the low coumarin absorption at λ >350 nm the photocycloaddition was slow upon irradiation at λ=366 nm. Addition of a chiral oxazaborolidine‐based Lewis acid (50 mol %) increased the reaction rate at λ=366 nm and induced a significant enantioselectivity in the [2+2] photocycloaddition. Six out of eight coumarin substrates (X=CH₂, CMe₂, O, NBoc, NZ, NTs) gave the respective products in yields of 72–96 % and with 74–90 % enantiomeric excess (ee) upon irradiation in dichloromethane (c=20 mM ) at ?75 °C. The Lewis acid presumably acts by coordination to the coumarin carbonyl oxygen atom, which leads to a bathochromic shift (redshift) of the UV absorption and which increases the singlet state lifetime. A second electrostatic interaction of the hydrogen atom at C3 with the oxygen atom of the oxazaborolidine is likely.     

Organoiridium Photosensitizers Induce Specific Oxidative Attack on Proteins within Cancer Cells

Strongly luminescent iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(C,N)₂(S ,S )]⁺ ( 1 ) and [Ir(C,N)₂(O,O)] ( 2 ), containing C,N (phenylquinoline), O,O (diketonate), or S,S (dithione) chelating ligands, have been characterized by X‐ray crystallography and DFT calculations. Their long phosphorescence lifetimes in living cancer cells give rise to high quantum yields for the generation of ¹O₂, with large 2‐photon absorption cross‐sections. 2 is nontoxic to cells, but potently cytotoxic to cancer cells upon brief irradiation with low doses of visible light, and potent at sub‐micromolar doses towards 3D multicellular tumor spheroids with 2‐photon red light. Photoactivation causes oxidative damage to specific histidine residues in the key proteins in aldose reductase and heat‐shock protein‐70 within living cancer cells. The oxidative stress induced by iridium photosensitizers during photoactivation can increase the levels of enzymes involved in the glycolytic pathway.     

Why Does the Intramolecular Trimethylene‐Bridged Frustrated Lewis Pair Mes2PCH2CH2CH2B(C6F5)2 Not Activate Dihydrogen?

The methyl labelled C₃‐bridged frustrated phosphane borane Lewis pair (P/B FLP) 2 b was prepared by treatment of Mes₂PCl with a methallyl Grignard reagent followed by anti‐Markovnikov hydroboration with Piers’ borane [HB(C₆F₅)₂)]. The FLP 2 b is inactive toward dihydrogen under typical ambient conditions, in contrast to the C₂‐ and C₄‐bridged FLP analogues. Dynamic NMR spectroscopy showed that this was not due to kinetically hindered P???B dissociation of 2 b . DFT calculations showed that the hydrogen‐splitting reaction of the parent compound 2 a is markedly endergonic. The PH⁺/BH^? H₂‐splitting product of 2 b was indirectly synthesized by a sequence of H⁺/H^? addition. It lost H₂ at ambient conditions and confirmed the result of the DFT analysis.     

Interaction of 1,3,2,4‐Benzodithiadiazines with Aromatic Phosphines and Phosphites

Although an interaction between hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon 1,3,2,4‐benzodithiadiazines ( 1 ) and P(C₆H₅)₃ continuously produces chiral 1,2,3‐benzodithiadiazol‐2‐yl iminophosporanes ( 2 ; in this work, 5,7‐difluoro derivative 2a ) via 1:1 condensation, an interaction between 1 and other PR₃ reagents gives different products. With R  OC₆H₅ and both hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon 1 , only X=P(OC₆H₅)₃ (X = S, O) were identified in the complex reaction mixtures by ¹³С and ³¹Р NMR and GC‐MS. With R = C₆F₅, no interaction with the archetypal 1 was observed but catalytic addition of atmospheric water to the heterocycle afforded 2‐amino‐N‐sulfinylbenzenesulfenamide ( 4 ). With electrophilic B(C₆F₅)₃ instead of nucleophilic P(C₆F₅)₃, only adduct H₃N→B(C₆F₅)₃ and a new polymorph of C₆F₅B(OH)₂ were isolated and identified by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). A molecular structure of 2a was confirmed by XRD, and the π‐stacked orientation of one of phenyl groups and heterocyclic moiety was observed. This structure is in general agreement with that calculated at the RI‐MP2 level of theory, as well as at three different levels of DFT theory with the PBE and B3LYP functionals. Mild thermolysis of 2a in a dilute decane solution gave persistent 5,7‐difluoro‐1,2,3‐benzodithiazolyl ( 3a ) identified by EPR in combination with DFT calculations.     

Distinguishing the Strength of Electronic Coupling for Mo2‐Containing Mixed‐Valence Compounds within the Class III Regime

Two, symmetrical, mixed‐valence (MV), complex cations—{[Mo₂(DAniF)₃]₂(μ‐oxamidate)}⁺ ( 1 ⁺) and {Mo₂(DAniF)₃]₂(μ‐dithiooxamidate)}⁺ ( 2 ⁺; DAniF=N,N′‐di(p‐anisyl)formamidinate)—are significantly differentiated in terms of electronic coupling between the two [Mo₂] units. For 1 ⁺ the intervalence (IV) charge‐transfer band in the near‐IR spectrum is truncated in half on the low‐energy side as predicted for MV compounds at the Class II–III limit (2H_ab/λ=1; for which H_ab=electronic coupling matrix element and λ=reorganization energy). In contrast, the very strongly coupled analogue 2 ⁺, as indicated by 2H_ab/λ=3.5 (> >1), exhibits a higher energy and more symmetrical IV band. As rare examples, this pair of MV species shows distinct optical behaviors for MV systems crossing the Class III region. Optical analysis and DFT calculations are carried out to elucidate the transformation from vibronic to electronic vertical transition.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Di-n-butyltin（Ⅳ） Complex with 2-Oxo-propionic Acid （4-Pyridinecarbonyl） Hydrazone

The novel complex di‐n‐butyltin(IV) 2‐oxo‐propionic acid (4‐pyridinecarbonyl) hydrazone, (n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn‐[O₂CC(CH₃)=N‐N=C(‐O)C₅N‐4] (H₂O) has been synthesized and its structure has been determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The complex crystallizes in orthorhombic system with space group Pca2₁. Crystal data: a=2.7540(9) nm, b=0.9676(3) nm, c= 1.5750(5) nm, V=4.197(2) nm³, D_c= 1.444 g/cm³, Z=8. μ= 1.241 mm^?1. F(000)= 1856, R₁=0.0462 and wR₂=0.1001. In the crystals of the title complex, the tin atom is in six‐coordination with a distorted octahedral geometry, three oxygen atoms [O(1), O(3) and O(4)] and one nitrogen atom N(1) forming the equatorial plane and C(10)‐Sn(1)‐C(14) being the axis. Two molecules form a dimer with weak interactions of Sn‐O bonding and hydrogen bonds.