Structures, energies, and spin-spin coupling constants of fluoro-substituted 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutanes: four-member B-P-B-P rings B2P2F(n)H(8-n) with n = 0, 1, 2, 4

An ab initio study has been carried out to determine the structures, relative stabilities, and spin-spin coupling constants of a set of 15 fluoro-substituted 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutanes B(2)P(2)F(n)H(8-n), for n = 0, 1, 2, 4, with four-member B-P-B-P rings. Except for B(2)P(2)F(4)H(4) with four fluorines bonded to two borons, these rings are puckered in a butterfly conformation. For a fixed number of fluorines, the isomers with B-F bonds are significantly more stable than those with P-F bonds. As the number of fluorines increases, the energy difference between the most stable isomer and the other isomers increases. Transition structures which interconvert axial and equatorial positions present relatively small inversion barriers. Coupling constants involving (31)P, namely, (1)J(B-P), (1)J(P-F), (2)J(P-P), (2)J(P-F), and (3)J(P-F) are large and are capable of providing structural information. They are sensitive to the number of fluorines present and can discriminate between axial, equatorial, and geminal B-F and P-F bonds, although not all do this to the same extent. (1)J(B-P) and (2)J(P-P) are similar in equilibrium and transition structures. Although transition structures no longer discriminate between axial and equatorial bonds, (1)J(P-F) and (3)J(P-F) remain sensitive to the number of fluorine atoms present.     

Probing P-H+-P hydrogen bonds: structures, binding energies, and spin-spin coupling constants

Ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been performed to determine the structures and binding energies of 22 open and 3 cyclic complexes formed from the sp2 [H(2)C=PH and HP=PH (cis and trans)] and sp3 [PH2(CH3) and PH3] hybridized phosphorus bases and their corresponding protonated ions. EOM-CCSD calculations have been carried out to obtain (31)P-(31)P and (31)P-(1)H coupling constants across P-H+-P hydrogen bonds. Two equilibrium structures with essentially linear hydrogen bonds have been found along the proton-transfer coordinate, except for complexes with P(CH3)H3+ as the proton donor to the sp2 bases. Although the isomer having the conjugate acid of the stronger base as the proton donor lies lower on the potential energy surface, it has a smaller binding energy relative to the corresponding isolated monomers than the isomer with the conjugate acid of the weaker base as the donor. The hydrogen bond of the latter has increased proton-shared character. All of the complexes are stabilized by traditional hydrogen bonds, as indicated by positive values of the reduced coupling constants (2h)K(P-P) and (1)K(P-H), and negative values of (1h)K(H-P). (2h)J(P-P) correlates with the P-P distance, a correlation determined primarily by the nature of the proton donor. For open complexes, (1)J(P-H) always increases relative to the isolated monomer, while (1h)J(H-P) is relatively small and negative. (2h)J(P-P) values are quite large in open complexes, but are much smaller in cyclic complexes in which the P-H+-P hydrogen bonds are nonlinear. Thus, experimental measurements of (2h)J(P-P) should be able to differentiate between open and cyclic complexes.     

Electronic influences on 3J(C,H) coupling constants via -S-, -S(O)- and -SO2-: their determination, calculation and comparison of detection methods

3J(C,H) coupling constants via a sulfur atom in two series of compounds, both including a sulfide, a sulfoxide and a sulfone, were detected experimentally and calculated by quantum mechanical methods. In the first series (1-3) the coupling between a hydrogen, bonded to an sp3 carbon, and an sp2 carbon is treated; the second series (4-6) deals with the coupling between a hydrogen, bonded to an sp3 carbon, and an sp3 carbon. Different pulse sequences (broadband HMBC, SelJres, 1D HSQMBC, J-HMBC-2, selective J-resolved long-range experiment and IMPEACH-MBC) proved to be useful in determining the long-range 3J(C,H) coupling constants. However, the dynamic behaviour of two of the compounds (4 and 6) led to weighted averages of the two coupling constants expected (concerning equatorial and axial positions of the corresponding hydrogens). DFT calculations proved to be useful to calculate not only the 3J(C,H) coupling constants but also the different contributions of FC, PSO, DSO and SD terms; the calculation of the Fermi contact term (FC) was found to be sufficient for the correct estimation of 3J(C,H) coupling constants.     

DFT calculations of 31P spin-spin coupling constants and chemical shift in dioxaphosphorinanes

One-bond heteronuclear spin-spin coupling constants (1)J(PX) (X=H, O, S, Se, C and N) between the phosphorus atom and axial and equatorial substituents in dioxaphosphorinanes are computed using density functional theory (DFT). The experimental values of these coupling constants for a variety of substituents can be applied to identify different diastereoisomers. The DFT calculations confirm the systematic trend observed in experiment, and indicate that the computed (1)J(PX) coupling constants are related to the length of the axial and equatorial bonds. A similar relation between the phosphorus chemical shift and the R(PX) bond length appears to be valid, with the exception of selenium substituents.     

Effect of substituents on the strength of A-Cl- (A = Si, Ge, and Sn) bonds in hypervalent systems: ACl5-, ACl4F-, and A(CH3)3Cl2-

The gas-phase strengths of the A-Cl(-) bonds in ACl(5)(-), ACl(4)F(-), and A(CH(3))(3)Cl(2)(-) (A = Si, Ge, and Sn) have been determined by measuring thresholds for collision-induced dissociation in a flowing afterglow-tandem mass spectrometer. Bond dissociation energies increase in the order Si < Ge < Sn. Replacement of the three equatorial chlorides with methyl groups weakens the bonds, while replacing one axial chloride with a fluoride strengthens the bonds. Computational results using the B3LYP model with several basis sets parallel the experimental periodic trends, but provide bond dissociation energies lower than experiment by 7-44 kJ mol(-1). MP2 computational results are in better agreement with experiment. The results are consistent with steric hindrance and electrostatic effects playing significant roles in the bonding energetics.     

DFT calculations of d0 M(NR)(CHtBu)(X)(Y) (M = Mo, W; R = CPh3, 2,6-iPr-C6H3; X and Y = CH2tBu, OtBu, OSi(OtBu)3) olefin metathesis catalysts: structural, spectroscopic and electronic properties

DFT(B3PW91) calculations have been carried out to rationalise the structural, electronic and spectroscopic properties of Mo and W imido M(NR1)(CHR2)(X)(Y) olefin metathesis catalysts by using either simplified or actual ligands of the experimental complexes. The calculated structures, energetics (preference for the syn isomer and alkylidene rotational barrier for the syn/anti interconversion), and spectroscopic properties (NMR J(C-H) coupling constants) are in good agreement with available experimental data. Additionally, the alkylidene nu(C-H) stretching frequencies, not available experimentally, have been calculated. These quasi-tetrahedral complexes have a linear imido group and a C-H alkylidene agostic interaction, which stabilizes the syn isomer. Whether looking at M(NR1)(CHR2)(X)(Y), M = Mo, W, or the isolobal Re complexes, Re(CR1)(CHR2)(X)(Y), a linear correlation is obtained between both the alkylidene nu(C-H) stretching frequencies and J(C-H) coupling constants with the calculated alkylidene C-H bond lengths. These correlations show that the strength of the alpha-C-H agostic interaction increases from alkylidyne Re to imido group 6 complexes and from Mo to W. The NBO and AIM Bader analyses show firstly that the imido and alkylidyne groups are both triply bonded to the metal, but that the triply bonded imido ligand is a weaker electron donor than the alkylidyne, hence the stronger alpha-C-H agostic interaction for group 6 imido complexes. Secondly, one of the pi bonds of the triply bonded ligand is weakened at the transition state of the alkylidene rotation: while no lone pair is formed, the metal-ligand triple bond is polarized. This is more favourable for an imido than for an alkylidyne ligand, hence the lower alkylidene rotational barrier for the former complexes. Conversely, the aryl imido is even less of an electron donor than the alkyl imido group, which in turn strengthens the alpha-C-H agostic interaction and lowers the alkylidene rotational barrier even more.     

Dodecamethyl-closo-dodecaborate(2-)

Bis(tetraethylammonium) dodecamethyl-closo-dodecaborate(2-), [NEt(4)](2)[closo-B(12)Me(12)], [NEt(4)](2)2, was prepared employing modified Friedel-Crafts reaction conditions from [NEt(4)](2)[closo-B(12)H(12)], [NEt(4)](2)1, trimethylaluminum, and methyl iodide. The [NEt(4)](2)2 salt provides sufficient solubility in water to allow the synthesis of the important alkali metal salts A(2)2 (A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) using cation-exchange procedures. The solid state structure of colorless [AsPh(4)](2)2 reveals a nearly perfect icosahedral B(12) cluster with B-B bonds ranging from 1.785(3) to 1.807(3) A and B-C bonds of 1.597(3)-1.625(3) A. In contrast, the crystal structure of dark-red [Py(2)CH(2)]2 (obtained from [NEt(4)](2)2 and [Py(2)CH(2)]Br(2)) contains a distorted icosahedral dianion [B-B = 1.740(13)-1.811(14) A, B-C = 1.591(13)-1.704(13) A]. In the [Py(2)CH(2)]2 salt, the dianion 2(2-) and its dipositive dipyridiniomethane counterion form a red charge-transfer complex. One-electron oxidation of 2(2)(-) by ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate affords the blue, air-stable radical [hypercloso-B(12)Me(12)](*-), dodecamethyl-hypercloso-dodecaborate(1-), 2(*-), isolated as the PPN salt. X-ray crystallography reveals that the geometries of the B(12) clusters observed in hypercloso-[PPN]2 and closo-[AsPh(4)](2)2 are identical and essentially undistorted icosahedra. The anion in the [PPN]2 structure contains B-B bonds ranging from 1.784(8) to 1.806(7) A and a range of B-C bonds from 1.596(7) to 1.616(7) A.     

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments of the epimeric menthane-1-carboxylic acids

Complete NMR analyses with full assignments for (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral data for both epimers of menthane-1-carboxylic acid are described. The NMR properties of the recently synthesized axial isomer had not been previously described, and through use of a variety of 1D and 2D techniques, additional information is provided for the equatorial isomer. As well as assignments of chemical shifts, homonuclear coupling constants were determined for the equatorial isomer and most of coupling constants were measured for the axial isomer.     

DFT studies of the conformational/structural dependencies of geminal 1H,1H scalar coupling 2J(H,H') in substituted methanes

A study is presented of the structural dependencies for scalar, interproton J-coupling across two bonds in a series of substituted methanes. The coupled perturbed, density functional theory method with a B3PW91 functional and aug-cc-pVTZ-J basis sets is used to examine coupling between geminal protons (2)J(H,H') in methane and a series of substituted compounds CH(3)X (X = CH3, CH(2)CH(3), CH=CH2, CH=O, and NH2) as functions of the dihedral angle phi measured about the C1-X2 bonds. All four contributions are obtained but all conformational effects are dominated by the Fermi contact term. Simple linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO)-molecular orbital (MO) sum-over-states methods are used to examine the relationships of the coupling constants with dihedral angles as well as internal H-C-H and H-C1-X2 angles. This study explores some novel aspects of geminal H-H coupling including an analysis of the asymmetry in the conformational dependencies arising from non-next-nearest neighbor interactions. For each of the substituted methanes, explicit trigonometric/exponential expressions are given and these accurately reproduce the (2)J(H,H') structural dependencies with standard deviations usually less than 0.03 Hz. The molecular structures for representative bicyclic molecules were fully optimized, and DFT results for (2)J(H,H') reproduce all the trends in the experimental data. A discussion is given on the applicability of the equations for H--H coupling in the substituted methanes to coupling in the bicyclic molecules.     

Ab initio EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants for hydrogen-bonded formamide complexes: bridging complexes with NH3, (NH3)2, H2O, (H2O)2, FH, and (FH)2

EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants across hydrogen bonds have been computed for complexes in which NH3, H2O, and FH molecules and their hydrogen-bonded dimers form bridging complexes in the amide region of formamide. The formamide one-bond N-H coupling constant [(1)J(N-H)] across N-H...X hydrogen bonds increases in absolute value upon complexation. The signs of the one-bond coupling constants (1h)J(H-X) indicate that these complexes are stabilized by traditional hydrogen bonds. The two-bond coupling constants for hydrogen bonds with N-H as the donor [(2h)J(N-X)] and the carbonyl oxygen as the acceptor [(2h)J(X-O)] increase in absolute value in the formamide/dimer relative to the corresponding formamide/monomer complex as the hydrogen bonds acquire increased proton-shared character. The largest changes in coupling constants are found for complexes of formamide with FH and (FH)2, suggesting that bridging FH monomers and dimers in particular could be useful NMR spectroscopic probes of amide hydrogen bonding.     

Stereochemical dependence of 3JCH coupling constants in 2-substituted 4-t-butyl-cyclohexanone and their alcohol derivatives

Theoretical and experimental studies on (3)J(C2H6eq) NMR spin-spin coupling constants in both the 2-X-4-t-butyl-cyclohexanone (X = H, CH(3), F, Cl, and Br) and in their alcohol derivatives series are reported. Results thus found are rationalized in terms of the transmission of the Fermi contact contribution to such couplings. To this end, dependencies of (3)J(C2H6eq) couplings versus the C(2)-C(1)-C(6) angle are compared in both series for equatorial and axial X orientations. The main trend is described in terms of the rear lobes interaction. Besides, for X = halogen atom in equatorial orientation a rather strong interaction between oxygen and halogen lone pairs is observed, and its influence on (3)J(C2H6eq) couplings is discussed and rationalized in terms of different Fermi contact transmission pathways.     

Stereoelectronic effects in cyclic sulfoxides, sulfones, and sulfilimines: application of the Perlin effect to conformational analysis

The 1JC--H coupling constants in conformationally constrained sulfoxides, bissulfoxides, sulfoxide-sulfones, and sulfilimines derived from 2-benzylidene-1,3-dithiane and 2-(2,2-dimethylpropylidene)-1,3-dithiolane were measured by means of HMQC and HSQC NMR experiments and the Perlin effects were calculated. The type and the relative configuration of S==X groups (X= O, NTos) in these compounds have a strong influence on the magnitude of coupling constants for axial and equatorial C--H bonds, respectively. Axial S==O bonds give rise to a stereoelectronic effect on antiperiplanar axial C--H bonds. The resultant weakening of the respective C--H bonds leads to a smaller coupling constant than for a respective equatorial C--H bond. Equatorial S==O groups have an influence on beta-C--H bonds through a homoanomeric effect. Here, the axial C--H bond is weakened and a smaller coupling constant is measured. Sulfilimine groups show similar effects to sulfoxide groups.     

The Co-CH(3) Bond in Imine/Oxime B(12) Models. Influence of the Orientation and Donor Properties of the trans Ligand As Assessed by FT-Raman Spectroscopy

Near-IR FT-Raman spectroscopy was used to probe the properties of three types of methyl imine/oxime B(12) model compounds in CHCl(3) solution. These types differ in the nature of the 1,3-propanediyl chain and were selected to test the influence of electronic and steric effects on the Co-CH(3) stretching (nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3) frequency, a parameter related to Co-C bond strength. For the first type studied, [LCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](0/+) ((DO)(DOH)pn = N(2),N(2)(')-propane-1,3-diylbis(2,3-butanedione 2-imine 3-oxime)), nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 decreased from 505 to 455 cm(-)(1) with stronger electron-donating character of the trans axial ligand, L, in the order Cl(-), MeImd, Me(3)Bzm, 4-Me(2)Npy, py, 3,5-Me(2)PhS(-), PMe(3), and CD(3)(-). This series thus allows the first assessment of the effect of negative axial ligands on nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3; these ligands (L = Cl(-), 3,5-Me(2)PhS(-), CD(3)(-)) span the range of trans influence. The CH(3) bending (delta(CH3)) bands were observed at 1171, 1159, and 1150/1105 cm(-)(1), respectively. The decrease in C-H stretching frequencies (nu(CH)) of the axial methyl suggests that the C-H bond strength decreases in the order Cl(-) > 3,5-Me(2)PhS(-) > CD(3)(-). This result is consistent with the order of decreasing (13)C-(1)H NMR coupling constants obtained for the axial methyl group. The trend of lower nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 and nu(CH) frequencies and lower axial methyl C-H coupling constant for stronger electron-donating trans axial ligands can be explained by changes in the electronic character of the Co-C bond. The symmetric CH(3)-Co-CH(3) mode (nu(CH)()3(-)(Co)(-)(CH)()3) for (CH(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn) was determined to be 456 cm(-)(1) (421 cm(-)(1) for (CD(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn). The L-Co-CH(3) bending mode (delta(L)(-)(Co)(-)(CH)()3) was detected for the first time for organocobalt B(12) models; this mode, which is important for force field calculations, occurs at 194 cm(-)(1) for ClCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3) and at 186 cm(-)(1) for (CH(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn. The nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequencies were all lower than those reported for the corresponding cobaloxime type LCo(DH)(2)CH(3) (DH = monoanion of dimethylglyoxime) models for planar N-donor L. This relationship is attributed to a steric effect of L in [LCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](+). The puckered 1,3-propanediyl chain in [LCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](+) forces the planar L ligands to adopt a different orientation compared to that in the cobaloxime models. The consequent steric interaction bends the equatorial ligand toward the methyl group (butterfly bending); this distortion leads to a longer Co-C bond. In a second imine/oxime type, a pyridyl ligand is connected to the 1,3-propanediyl chain and oriented so as to minimize butterfly bending. The nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequency for this new lariat model was close to that of pyCo(DH)(2)CH(3). In a third type, a bulkier 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl group replaces the 1,3-propanediyl chain. The nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 bands for two complexes with L = Me(3)Bzm and py were 2-5 cm(-)(1) lower in frequency than those of the corresponding [L(Co((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](+) complexes. The decrease in the axial nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequencies is probably due to the steric effect of the equatorial ligand. Thus, the nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequency can be useful for investigating both steric and electronic influences on the Co-C bond.     

Density functional investigation of reaction of borohydride cation BH2+ with propylene

The reactions of BH2+ with propylene (CH2=CHCH3) to form both the adducts BC3H8+ and the H2-elimination products BC3H6+ + H2 have been investigated at the density functional B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. It is shown that the electrophilic attacks of BH2+ towards two olefinic carbons of H2C=CHCH3 and two subsequent 1,3-H-shifts may form four low-lying BC3H8+ isomers (with the relative energies in parentheses in kcal/mol): 1 BH2+.CH2CHCH3 (0.0), 1' BH2+.CH3CHCH2 (6.3), 3 BHCH2CH2CH3+ (4.3), and 4 BHCH(CH3)2+ (5.0), respectively. On the other hand, further H2-eliminations may also occur easily between B-C bonds of isomers 1 and 1' and between C-C bonds of isomers 3 and 4 to form two dissociation products (P1) HBCHCHCH3+ + H2 and (P2) HBC(CH3)CH2+ + H2, with H2-elimination from isomer 1 to be energetically most favorable. According to our calculated mechanism, the collisional stabilization processes of low-lying isomers 1, 1', 3, and 4 may compete extensively with their H2-eliminations processes for the title reaction, leading mainly to some linear carborane cations. This study may be helpful for understanding the stereochemical aspects of borohydride cations towards alkylenes.     

NMR studies on derivatives of heteroaromatic compounds: exceptionally small carbon-carbon couplings, 1J(CC), in 2-lithiothiophene, 2-lithio-N-methylpyrrole and 2-lithiofuran

Spin-spin carbon-carbon coupling constants across one bond and carbon proton coupling constants across one, two and three bonds have been measured for a large series of derivatives of five-membered heterocyclic compounds. This included 2-methyl and 2-lithio derivatives of furan, N-methyl pyrrole and thiophene and a series of 2-R-substituted thiophenes where R = O-t-Bu, Cl, Br, I, Si(CH3)3, MgBr and MgTh. For the long-range C-H couplings their signs have been determined in several compounds by the use of modern 2D NMR techniques, and in all the cases they have been found to be positive. A good linear dependence upon electronegativity of the substituent has been observed for 1J(CC), 2J(C2H3), and 3J(C2H4). Very small 1J(CC) couplings of ca. 30 Hz only have been found in all three lithio compounds; they belong to the smallest couplings of this type reported up to now. They are accompanied by very large and positive two-bond couplings, 2J(C2H3) of ca. +20 Hz, which in turn are the largest couplings of this type reported so far. In both cases the changes observed are interpreted in terms of the changes in the Fermi contact contribution.     

Synthesis and photoelectron spectroscopic studies of N(CH2CH2NMe)3P=E (E = O, S, NH, CH2)

The synthesis and the crystal and molecular structure of N(CH(2)CH(2)NMe)(3)P=CH(2) is reported. The P-N(ax) distance is rather long in N(CH(2)CH(2)NMe)(3)P=CH(2). The ylide N(CH(2)CH(2)NMe)(3)P=CH(2) proved to be a stronger proton acceptor than proazaphosphatrane N(CH(2)CH(2)NMe)(3)P, since it was shown to deprotonate N(CH(2)CH(2)NMe)(3)PH(+). The extremely strong basicity of the ylide is in accordance with its low ionization energy (6.3 eV), which is the lowest in the presently investigated series N(CH(2)CH(2)NMe)(3)P=E (E: CH(2), NH, lone pair, O and S), and to the best of our knowledge it is the smallest value observed for a non-conjugated phosphorus ylide. Computations reveal the existence of two bond strech isomers, and the stabilization of the phosphorus centered cation by electron donation from the equatorial and the axial nitrogens. Similar stabilizing effects operate in the case of protonation of E. A fine balance of these different interactions determines the P-N(ax) distance, which is thus very sensitive to the level of the theory applied. According to the quantum mechanical calculations, methyl substitution at the equatorial nitrogens flattens the pyramidality of this atom, increasing its electron donor capability. As a consequence, the PN(ax) distance in the short-transannular bonded protonated systems and the radical cations is longer by about 0.5 A in the N(eq)(Me) than in the N(eq)(H) systems. Accordingly, isodesmic reaction energies show that a stabilization of about 25 and 10 kcal/mol is attributable to the formation of the transannular bond in case of N(eq)(H) and the experimentally realizable N(eq)(Me) species, respectively.     

Complexes with N-H(+)-P hydrogen bonds: structures, binding energies, and spin-spin coupling constants

Ab-initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been performed to determine the structures and binding energies of proton-bound complexes stabilized by N-H+-P hydrogen bonds and to investigate the nature of the proton-transfer coordinate in these systems. Double minima are found only when the difference between the protonation energies of the N and P bases is less than about 4 kcal/mol. The isomer in which the protonated nitrogen base is the donor lies lower on the potential surface and also has a greater binding energy relative to the corresponding isolated monomers. Equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) calculations have been employed to obtain one- and two-bond spin-spin coupling constants across these hydrogen bonds. Two-bond coupling constants (2h)J(N-P) correlate with N-P distances, irrespective of whether the donor ion is N-H+ or P-H+. One-bond coupling constants (1)J(N-H) and (1h)J(H-P) for complexes stabilized by N-H+...P hydrogen bonds correlate with corresponding distances, but similar correlations are not found for (1)J(P-H) and (1h)J(H-N) for complexes with P-H+...N hydrogen bonds. Negative values of (1h)K(H-N) and (1h)K(H-P) indicate that the hydrogen bonds in these complexes are traditional. Comparisons are made with complexes stabilized by N-H+-N and P-H+-P hydrogen bonds.     

New monodentate amidine superbasic ligands with a single configuration in fac-[Re(CO)3(5,5'- or 6,6'-Me2bipyridine)(amidine)]BF4 complexes

Treatment of two precursors, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(L)(CH(3)CN)]BF(4) [L = 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5,5'-Me(2)bipy) (1) and 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (6,6'-Me(2)bipy) (2)], with five C(2)-symmetrical saturated heterocyclic amines yielded 10 new amidine complexes, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(L)(HNC(CH(3))N(CH(2)CH(2))(2)Y)]BF(4) [Y = CH(2), (CH(2))(2), (CH(2))(3), NH, or O]. All 10 complexes possess the novel feature of having only one isomer (amidine E configuration), as established by crystallographic and (1)H NMR spectroscopic methods. We are confident that NMR signals of the other possible isomer (amidine Z configuration) would have been detected, if it were present. Isomers are readily detected in closely related amidine complexes because the double-bond character of the amidine C-N3 bond (N3 is bound to Re) leads to slow E to Z isomer interchange. The new fac-[Re(CO)(3)(L)(HNC(CH(3))N(CH(2)CH(2))(2)Y)]BF(4) complexes have C-N3 bonds with essentially identical double-bond character. However, the reason that the Z isomer is so unstable as to be undetectable in the new complexes is undoubtedly because of unfavorable clashes between the equatorial ligands and the bulky N(CH(2)CH(2))(2)Y ring moiety of the axial amidine ligand. The amidine formation reactions in acetonitrile (25 °C) proceeded more easily with 2 than with 1, indicating that the distortion in 6,6'-Me(2)bipy resulting from the proximity of the methyl substituents to the inner coordination sphere enhanced the reactivity of the coordinated CH(3)CN. Reaction times for 1 and 2 exhibited a similar dependence on the basicity and ring size of the heterocyclic amine reactants. Moreover, when the product of the reaction of 1 with piperidine, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))N(CH(2)CH(2))(2)CH(2))]BF(4), was challenged in acetonitrile-d(3) or CDCl(3) with a 5-fold excess of the strong 4-dimethylaminopyridine ligand, there was no evidence for replacement of the amidine ligand after two months, thus establishing that the piperidinylamidine ligand is a robust ligand. This chemistry offers promise as a suitable means for preparing isomerically pure conjugated fac-[(99m)Tc(CO)(3)L](n±) imaging agents, including conjugates with known bioactive heterocyclic amines.     

Do traditional, chlorine-shared, and ion-pair halogen bonds exist? An ab initio investigation of FCl:CNX complexes

Ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been carried out to determine the structures, binding energies, and bonding of complexes FCl:CNX, with X = CN, NC, NO(2), F, CF(3), Cl, Br, H, CCF, CCH, CH(3), SiH(3), Li, and Na. Equation-of-motion coupled cluster calculations have also been carried out to determine the coupling constants (1)J(F-Cl), (1X)J(Cl-C), and (2X)J(F-C) across these halogen bonds. As the strength of the base is systematically increased, the nature of the halogen bond changes from traditional, to chlorine-shared, to ion-pair. The type of halogen bond present in a complex can be readily determined from its structure, binding energy, AIM bonding analyses, and spin-spin coupling constants. Coupling constants across halogen bonds are compared with corresponding coupling constants across traditional, proton-shared, and ion-pair hydrogen bonds.     

X-ray structures and homolysis of some alkylcobalt(III) phthalocyanine complexes

The first crystallographic data for sigma-bonded alkylcobalt(III) phthalocyanine complexes are reported. A single-crystal X-ray structure of CH(3)CH(2)Co(III)Pc (Pc = dianion of phthalocyanine) reveals that the solid consists of centrosymmetric face-to-face dimers in which the CH(3)CH(2)Co(III)Pc units retain their square pyramidal geometry. The structure appears to be the first one reported for a five-coordinate RCo(III)(chelate) complex with an electron-deficient equatorial system. The Co-C bond in CH(3)CH(2)Co(III)Pc (2.031(5) A) is the longest found in five-coordinate RCo(III)(chel) complexes (R = simple primary alkyl group). Another X-ray study demonstrates that CH(3)Co(III)Pc(py) has a distorted octahedral geometry with axial bonds of very similar length to those in methylcobalamin. The axial bonds are shorter than those in its octaethylporphyrin analogue, in accordance with a weaker trans axial influence in six-coordinate complexes containing an electron-deficient phthalocyanine equatorial ligand. A different trend has been observed for five-coordinate RCo(III)(chel) complexes: electron-rich equatorial systems seem to make the Co-C axial bond shorter. Kinetic data for the homolysis of RCo(III)Pc complexes (R = Me, Et) in dimethylacetamide are also reported. Homolysis of ethyl derivatives is faster. The Co-C bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for the pyridine adducts of the methyl and the ethyl derivative are 30 +/- 1 and 29 +/- 1 kcal/mol, respectively. The BDE for CH(3)CoPc(py) is considerably lower than that for MeCbl despite the very similar lengths of the axial bonds in the two complexes. The results of this work do not support any correlation between the Co-C bond length and the bond strength as defined by BDE.