[Cd(Sn9)2]6− and [Cd(Ni@Sn9)2]6−: Reactivity and coordination chemistry of empty and Ni-centered [Sn9]4− Zintl ions

To investigate the reactivity of homoatomic clusters [E₉]^4? (E = Si-Pb) and intermetalloid clusters [M@E₉]^q?, the reactions of the Zintl anions [Sn₉]^4? and [Ni@Sn₉]^4? with the CdMes₂ (Mes = Mesitylene) in the presence of 2.2.2-crypt were carried out. Two new compounds [K(2.2.2-crypt)]₆[(Sn₉)Cd(Sn₉)]·en (1) and [K(2.2.2-crypt)]₆[(Ni@Sn₉)Cd(Ni@Sn₉)]·en (2) were afforded. Both 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and can be viewed as two [Sn₉]^4? or [Ni@Sn₉]^4? subunits bridged by Cd ion in an η³:η³ coordination mode. Quantum chemical calculations reveal the relationships between the geometries and electronic structures of clusters 2a, [Ni₃Ge₁₈]^4? and [Cu₄@Sn₁₈]^4?. Further electron localization technique (AdNDP method) was performed to explain chemical bonding patterns of 1a.     

Diversity of Functionalized Germanium Zintl Clusters: Syntheses and Theoretical Studies of [Ge9PdPPh3]3− and [Ni@(Ge9PdPPh3)]2−

Abstract  A new Zintl cluster [Ge₉PdPPh₃]³⁻ has been isolated as (2,2,2-crypt)K⁺ salt through the reaction of K₄Ge₉ and Pd[PPh₃]₄ in ethylenediamine solutions and characterized via single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The as-prepared bimetallic [Ge₉PdPPh₃]³⁻ cluster could successfully trap a nickel atom to form a trimetallic cluster [Ni@(Ge₉PdPPh₃)]²⁻. The coordination of Ge₉ ⁴⁻ by PdPPh₃ induces a one-electron oxidation and encapsulation of the Ni atom into the Ge₉ ³⁻ cage leads to a further one-electron oxidation and a geometry transformation from C_4v (nido) to C_3v (closo). Graphical Abstract   Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Synthesis and structures of mercury and cadmium complexes: [Ph4Sb] 2 + [Hg2I6]2−·Ph2Hg, [Ph4Sb] 2 + [E2I6]2− (E = Hg, Cd), and [Ph4Sb] 2 + [Hg4I10]2−

The reaction of pentaphenylantimony with mercury iodide affords the ionic complex [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Hg₂I₆]^2?·Ph₂Hg (I). The [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Hg₂I₆]^2? (II) and [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Cd₂I₆]^2? (III) complexes are synthesized from tetraphenylantimony iodide and mercury and cadmium iodides. The [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Hg₄I₁₀]^2? complex (IV) is prepared from tetraphenylantimony 2,4-dimethylbenzenesulfonate and mercury iodide. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the Sb atom in the [Ph₄Sb]⁺ cations of complex I has virtually ideal tetrahedral coordination (the CSbC angles are 108.09°–109.64°). In the central square fragment Hg₂I₂ of the [Hg₂I₆]^2? anion, the Hg-I_br bond lengths are 2.825 and 3.075 Å, and the terminal iodine atoms are more strongly bonded to the mercury atoms (Hg-I_term 2.691 and 2.700 Å). The [Cd₂I₆]^2? anion in complex III has a similar structure (the Cd-I_bridg and Cd-I_term distances are 2.865, 2.872 and 2.723, 2.748 Å, respectively). The anions in complex IV are joined by I…Hg (3.651 Å) and I…I (4.058 Å) interactions into an infinite dimeric network.     

Electronic structure and spectra of [Fe(CN)6SO3]4−

The complex ion [Fe(CN)₆SO₃]⁴⁻ has been prepared in aqueous solution and as the zinc salt in the solid state. The electronic and IR spectra of the complex ion (I) have been recorded. MO calculations have been performed to understand the electronic structure of complex I. The electronic spectra of I and hexacyanoferrate(II) [HCF(II)] have been calculated and compared with the experimental results for I, HCF(II) and HCF(III). The experimental and theoretical results suggest that the oxidation state of Fe in I is + 3 and not +2 and the SO₃ moiety is bonded to one of the nitrogen atoms of the cyano group.     

Stabilization of Guanidinate Anions [CN3]5− in Calcite-Type SbCN3

The stabilization of nitrogen-rich phases presents a significant chemical challenge due to the inherent stability of the dinitrogen molecule. This stabilization can be achieved by utilizing strong covalent bonds in complex anions with carbon, such as cyanide CN⁻ and NCN²⁻ carbodiimide, while more nitrogen-rich carbonitrides are hitherto unknown. Following a rational chemical design approach, we synthesized antimony guanidinate SbCN₃ at pressures of 32–38 GPa using various synthetic routes in laser-heated diamond anvil cells. SbCN₃, which is isostructural to calcite CaCO₃, can be recovered under ambient conditions. Its structure contains the previously elusive guanidinate anion [CN₃]⁵⁻, marking a fundamental milestone in carbonitride chemistry. The crystal structure of SbCN₃ was solved and refined from synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and was fully corroborated by theoretical calculations, which also predict that SbCN₃ has a direct band gap with the value of 2.20 eV. This study opens a straightforward route to the entire new family of inorganic nitridocarbonates.     

Synthesis, Electrochemistry and Crystal Structure of the [Ni36Pt4(CO)45]6− and [Ni37Pt4(CO)46]6− Hexaanions

The [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6- and [Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- clusters have been obtained in mixture upon reaction in acetonitrile of [Ni₆(CO)₁₂]^2- salts with K₂PtCl₄ in a 2.5:1 molar ratio. The two hexaanions were indistinguishable by spectroscopic techniques. Crystallization of their trimethylbenzylammonium salts led to crystals of composition 0.5[NMe₃CH₂Ph]₆[Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]-0.5[NMe₃CH₂Ph]₆[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]·C₃H₈O, hexagonal,space group P6₃ (No. 173), a=17.853(9), c=27.127(13) Å, Z=2; final R=0.057. The metal core of the [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6- anion consists of a Pt₄ tetrahedron fully encapsulated in a shell of 36 Ni atoms belonging to a very distorted and incomplete ₅ tetrahedron. The [Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- hexaanion derives from the former by capping the unique triangular face of the metal polyhedron with an additional Ni(CO) fragment. The [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6--[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- mixture is rapidly degraded to the known [Ni₉Pt₃(CO)₂₁]^4- cluster by exposure to carbon monoxide. Its reaction with protic acids initially affords the corresponding [H_6-nNi₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^n--[H_6-nNi₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^n- (n=5, 4) derivatives, and eventually leads to rearrangement to the known [H_6-n Ni₃₈Pt₆(CO)₄₈]^n- species. Both [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6--[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- and [HNi₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^5--[HNi₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^5- mixtures have been chemically and electrochemically reduced to their corresponding [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^n--[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^n- (n=7–9) and [HNi₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^n--[HNi₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^n- (n=6–8) mixtures.     

Tailoring Heterometallic Cluster Functional Building Blocks: Synthesis,Separation, Structural and DFT Studies of [Re6−xMoxSe8(CN)6]n−

Influence of the metal core composition and geometry on the structure, spectroscopic properties and redox potentials was investigated for the first time for heterometallic (Re/Mo)₆ octahedral clusters. The discrete anionic clusters [Re_6-xMo_xSe₈(CN)₆]ⁿ⁻ (x=2, 3; n=4, 5) were obtained as individual salts. Their isomeric composition and bond-length distribution were inspected using a combination of single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, NMR, EXAFS, and DFT calculations.     

Structural and thermal characterization of Zn2−xCoxTiO4

In this work, spinels with the general formula Zn_2?xCo_xTiO₄ were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method and thermally treated at 1,000 °C. The powder precursors were characterized by TG/DTA. A decrease in the DTA peak temperature with the amount of zinc was observed. After the thermal treatment, the characterizations were performed by XRD, IR, colorimetry and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The XRD patterns of all the samples showed the presence of the spinel phase. Infrared spectroscopy showed the presence of ester complexes for Zn₂TiO₄ after thermal treatment at 500 °C, which disappeared after cobalt addition, indicating that organic material elimination was favored.     

Single-Metal-Encapsulated Double-Cage [Pt@Sn17]4−: An Exception from Group 14 Endohedral Clusters

Group 14 endohedral clusters containing a metal center inside usually possess a single cage topological structure, but here an unexpected single-metal-filled double-cage cluster, [Pt@Sn₁₇]⁴⁻ ( 1 a ) is reported. It can be seen as a combination of the more extended Pt-filled [Pt@Sn₉] cage and hollow [Sn₉] cage sharing a central Sn atom, which is offset from the central position. This double-cage species represents the largest group 14 intermetalloid cluster encapsulating a single transition metal atom. DFT calculations show that the capsule-like architecture of [Sn₁₇]⁴⁻, similar to that found in [Pt₂@Sn₁₇]⁴⁻, is unstable if filled with a single Pt atom and collapses to the title cluster 1 a upon geometry optimization. Deviation of the central Sn atom occurs due to the vibronic coupling as a consequence of pseudo-Jahn-Teller distortion leading to the bent C_s-symmetrical structure, in contrast to the more symmetrical D_2d cage previously reported in [Ni₂@Sn₁₇]⁴⁻.     

Atom Exchange Versus Reconstruction: (GexAs4−x)x− (x=2, 3) as Building Blocks for the Supertetrahedral Zintl Cluster [Au6(Ge3As)(Ge2As2)3]3−

The Zintl anion (Ge₂As₂)²⁻ represents an isostructural and isoelectronic binary counterpart of yellow arsenic, yet without being studied with the same intensity so far. Upon introducing [(PPh₃)AuMe] into the 1,2-diaminoethane (en) solution of (Ge₂As₂)²⁻, the heterometallic cluster anion [Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]³⁻ is obtained as its salt [K(crypt-222)]₃[Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]⋅en⋅2 tol ( 1 ). The anion represents a rare example of a superpolyhedral Zintl cluster, and it comprises the largest number of Au atoms relative to main group (semi)metal atoms in such clusters. The overall supertetrahedral structure is based on a (non-bonding) octahedron of six Au atoms that is face-capped by four (Ge_xAs_4−x)^x− (x=2, 3) units. The Au atoms bind to four main group atoms in a rectangular manner, and this way hold the four units together to form this unprecedented architecture. The presence of one (Ge₃As)³⁻ unit besides three (Ge₂As₂)²⁻ units as a consequence of an exchange reaction in solution was verified by detailed quantum chemical (DFT) calculations, which ruled out all other compositions besides [Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]³⁻. Reactions of the heavier homologues (Tt₂Pn₂)²⁻ (Tt=Sn, Pb; Pn=Sb, Bi) did not yield clusters corresponding to that in 1 , but dimers of ternary nine-vertex clusters, {[AuTt₅Pn₃]₂}⁴⁻ (in 2 – 4 ; Tt/Pn=Sn/Sb, Sn/Bi, Pb/Sb), since the underlying pseudo-tetrahedral units comprising heavier atoms do not tend to undergo the said exchange reactions as readily as (Ge₂As₂)²⁻, according to the DFT calculations.     

Stabilization and Binding of [V4O12]4− and Unprecedented [V20O54(NO3)]n− to Lysozyme upon Loss of Ligands and Oxidation of the Potential Drug VIVO(acetylacetonato)2

High-resolution crystal structures of lysozyme in the presence of the potential drug V^IVO(acetylacetonato)₂ under two different experimental conditions have been solved. The crystallographic study reveals the loss of the ligands, the oxidation of V^IV to V^V and the subsequent formation of adducts of the protein with two different polyoxidovanadates: [V₄O₁₂]⁴⁻, which interacts with lysozyme non-covalently, and the unprecedented [V₂₀O₅₄(NO₃)]ⁿ⁻, which is covalenty bound to the side chain of an aspartate residue of symmetry related molecules.     

A multichannel thiacalix[4]arene-based fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+, F− ions and imaging of living cells

Abstract

The fluorescent sensor (3) based on the 1,3-alternate conformation of the thiacalix[4]arene bearing the coumarin fluorophore, appended via an imino group, has been synthesised. Sensing properties were evaluated in terms of a colorimetric and fluorescence sensor for Zn²⁺ and F^?. High selectivity and excellent sensitivity were exhibited, and ‘off-on’ optical behaviour in different media was observed. All changes were visible to the naked eye, whilst the presence of the Zn²⁺ and F^? induces fluorescence enhancement and the formation of a 1:1 complex with 3. In addition, 3 exhibits low cytotoxicity and good cell permeability and can readily be employed for assessing the change of intracellular levels of Zn²⁺ and F^?.     

[Nb@Ge13/14]3−: New Family Members of Ge-Based Intermetalloid Clusters

During the past two decades, single-atom-centered medium-sized germanium clusters [M@Ge_n] (M=transition metals, n>12) have been extensively explored, both from theoretical perspectives and experimental gas-phase syntheses. However, the actual structural arrangements of the Ge₁₃ and Ge₁₄ endohedral cages are still ambiguous and have long remained an unresolved problem for experimental implementation. In this work, we successfully synthesize 13-/14-vertex Ge clusters [Nb@Ge₁₃]³⁻ ( 1 ) and [Nb@Ge₁₄]³⁻ ( 2 ), which are structurally characterized and exhibit unprecedented topologies, neither classical deltahedra nor 3-connected polyhedral structures. Theoretical analysis indicates that the major stabilization of the Ge backbones arises due to the substantial interaction of Ge 4p-AOs with the endohedral Nb 4d-AOs through three/four-center two-electron bonds with an enhanced electron density accumulated over the shortest Nb−Ge13 contact in 1 . Low occupancies of the direct two-center two-electron (2c–2e) Nb−Ge and Ge−Ge σ bonds point to a considerable degree of electron delocalization over the Ge cages revealing their electron deficiency.     

Catalytic oxidation of benzoin and p-substituted benzhydrol by p-benzoquinone or air in the presence of [FeII(SPh)4]2− and [FeII(SePh)4]2−

[Fe^II(SPh)₄]²⁻ (1) and [Fe^II(SePh)₄]²⁻ (2) exhibit high catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzoin with p-benzoquinone or air and of p-substituted benzhydrol with air under mild conditions (1 atm, 25 °C). p-Substitution of benzhydrols shows a trend in the oxidation rate: 4-Cl>H>4-OMe. Furthermore, the observed isotope effect of k_H/k_D = 4.0 (catalyzed by [Fe(Sph)₄]²⁻ (1)) and 3.3 (catalyzed by [Fe(SePh)₄]²⁻ (2)) in the p-benzoquinone oxidation of benzoin indicates that the methine hydrogen of benzoin and benzhydrol is released as a proton in the rate-determining step.     

Synthesis and structure of osmium complexes [Ph3PR]2[OsCl6]·4DMSO

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Reaction of sodium hexachloroosmate(IV) dihydrate with (2-oxopropyl)- and (2-carboxyethyl)-triphenylphosphonium chlorides in dimethyl sulfoxide afforded...     

Synthesis and Complexation Properties of Novel Biscalixarene Composed of Calix[4]arene and Thiacalix[4]arene Subunits

Biscalixarenes, as examples of higher order molecular architectures than normal calixarene derivatives, were studied extensively in the recent years due to they possess two calixarene cavities which have the potential for complexing with two guests in two…     

Calix[4]dithiacrown-6 and Its Platinum Complex

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