The neutral cluster amminehexa‐μ2‐chlorido‐μ4‐oxido‐tris(1,4,6‐triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct‐4‐ene)tetracopper(II)

The title compound, [Cu₄Cl₆O(C₅H₉N₃)₃(NH₃)], is a neutral conformationally chiral cluster which crystallizes under the conditions described in this paper as a racemic conglomerate. It contains four Cu^II atoms in a tetrahedral coordination with a central O atom lying on a crystallographic threefold axis. Six chloride anions bridge the four Cu^II atoms. Three Cu^II atoms are bound by an N atom of a monodentate 1,4,6‐triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct‐4‐ene (Htbo) ligand and the remaining Cu^II atom is bound by a terminal ammine ligand. The geometry at each copper center is trigonal bipyramidal, produced by the bound N atom of Htbo or ammonia, the O atom in the axial position, and three chloride ions in the equatorial plane. The chloride anions form an octahedron about the oxygen center. The copper–ammonia bond lies along the crystallographic threefold axis, along which the molecules are packed in a polar head‐to‐tail fashion.     

Nucleophilic vinylic substitutions on unactivated substrates. : The behaviour of styryl alkyl sulphides and selenides towards sulphur and selenium nucleophiles.

Sodium alkanethiolates or lithium methyl selenide react with styryl alkyl sulphides and selenides, in DMF at 100°C, to give the products of vinylic or aliphatic substitution. The two nucleophilic reagents are extremely selective. In the case of RSNa the attack at the vinylic carbon atom is much faster than that at the aliphatic carbon atom and the (Z)- or (E)- styryl alkyl sulphides are obtained as the result of a stereospecific vinylic substitution which occurs with retention of configuration. On the contrary, in the case of MeSeLi, under the same experimental conditions, the only reaction occurring is the aliphatic substitution which affords the vinyl thiolate anions, as an equilibrium mixture of the (E)- and (Z)- isomers, or the vinyl selenide anions which retain the configuration of the starting styryl alkyl selenides.     

(–)‐α‐Isosparteine copper(II) diazide

In the title complex, [Cu(N₃)₂(C₁₅H₂₆N₂)], the Cu atom is surrounded by the two N atoms of the chelating (?)‐α‐isosparteine ligand and another two N atoms from the two azide anions, forming a distorted CuN₄ tetrahedron. The two azide anions are terminally bound to the Cu^II atom, and the dihedral angle between the N_sparteine—Cu—N_sparteine and N_azide—Cu—N_azide planes is 50.0 (2)°.     

Hydrogen atom and hydride anion addition to adenine: structures and energetics.

The radicals and anions derived from the 9H tautomer of adenine by adding a hydrogen atom to one of the four double bonds of the adenine framework have been studied. Computations were carried out using a carefully calibrated density functional (B3LYP) method and basis set (DZP++). Optimized geometries, energies, and vibrational frequencies are predicted for eight radicals and anions. The radicals are found to lie in a range of 22 kcal mol(-1), with the radical derived by addition to the C(8) carbon atom being the lowest lying energetically. The anions are predicted to be bound species in the gas phase with an energetic range of 43 kcal mol(-1). Anions produced by addition of a hydride ion to adenine carbon atoms are found to be the most favorable. Six of the anions are predicted to be stable species with respect to electron detachment. The adiabatic electron affinities, vertical electron affinities, and vertical detachment energies are computed for the first time. Electron affinities for these radicals range from 0.0 to 2.0 eV. Radicals produced by addition to a nitrogen atom have near-zero adiabatic electron affinities, while radicals produced by addition at carbon atoms have considerably higher electron affinities.     

Study on structures and electron affinities of small potassium–silicon clusters Si n K (n = 2–8) and their anions with Gaussian-3 theory

The neutral Si _n K (n = 2–8) clusters and their anions have been systematically studied by means of the higher level of Gaussian-3 schemes. Equilibrium geometries and electron affinities have been calculated and are discussed for each considered size. For neutral Si _n K clusters, the ground state structure is found to be “attaching structure”, in which the K atom is bound to Si _n clusters. The most stable isomer for their anions, however, is found to be “substitutional structures”, which is derived from Si_(n+1) by replacing the Si atom with a K. The dissociation energies of K atom from the lowest energy structures of Si _n K have also been estimated to examine relative stabilities.     

Transition from atomic to molecular adsorption of oxygen on tungsten monomer anion

Using vibrationally resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, we studied oxygen adsorption on W monomer anions. Three oxygen atoms are atomically bound in a WO3- compound, whereas in WO4- the fourth oxygen atom is attached to the oxygen, forming a di-oxygen species, implying that atom to molecule transition of O2 takes place when the number of oxygen atoms attached to a W monomer anion exceeds three. Our results indicate that molecular adsorption of oxygen is preferred on electron-deficient metals, showing that the driving force of the atom to molecule transition for the chemisorption of diatomic molecules can be the variations of electronic structures of metal hosts.     

Reaction of perfluoroalkylcarbanions with thiocyanates

A nucleophile can attack a thiocyanate either on the sulfur atom or on the cyanide group. In the former case the product is a sulfide, in the later one a nitrile.Our goal was to study this reaction with perfluoroalkyl carbanions. Linear, ramified and cyclic magnesium or potassium anions were examined. It appears that, independently of the nature of the R group (CH₃, C₆H₅CH₂, C₆H₅), attack occurs on the sulfur atom leading only to the formation of sulfides.

In the case of RC₆H₅CH₂, cleavage of the sulfide by chlorine gives mainly the corresponding perfluoroalkylsulfenyl chloride.     

Trapping excess electrons in charge pockets on molecular surfaces in an argon matrix

Recently, we have proposed a series of hydrocarbon molecular surfaces (A.F. Jalbout, L. Adamowicz, Mol Phys 2006, 19, 3101), which had a hydrogen bonded network of OH groups on one side of the surface and hydrogen atoms on the opposite side. The addition of these OH groups increases the dipole moment of the system allowing for excess electrons to attach to the surface in dipole‐bound (DB) anion states. We have used this principle to study the interaction of the DB anions formed from the surfaces and an argon atom. The resulting anions are shown to be stable with respect to electron detachment. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of acetylacetone by permanganate ion

The kinetics and mechanism of permanganate ion oxidation of acetylacetone (Acac) was studied in acidic and alkaline media. The rate constants for keto, enol, and enolate anions were determined and discussed. Delocalization of the π‐electrons of the double bond by conjugation results in a slower oxidation rate of enol than can be usually observed for unsaturated compounds. In the case of the keto form, the acid‐catalyzed nucleophilic attack of permanganate ion occurs on the carbonyl‐C atom. For enolate anion a mechanism with basis‐catalyzed electron abstraction is suggested. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 444–450, 2006     

Visual detection of anions by a novel isothiourea-based chromophore.

S-Methyl-N-methyl-N'-(4-(N",N"-dimethylamino)phenyl)isothiourea, a novel isothiourea-based chromoionophore for anions, was synthesized. The reactivity for several anions was estimated by a visual method and UV-vis spectroscopy. By the addition of acetate ion, a blue shift in the absorption spectrum was observed in CHCl3, and the solvent color changed from yellow to colorless. These changes indicated that bound acetate ion interfered with the intramolecular charge transfer from the nitrogen atom of the diethylamino group to the isothiourea moiety. The addition of chloride ion caused a red shift of the chromophore and solvent color remained yellow. By the addition of dihydrogenphosphate ion, the precipitate was formed immediately. These anion-dependent natures of the chromoionophore allowed us to detect acetate and phosphate ions easily.     

A Gaussian-3 theoretical study of small silicon-lithium clusters: electronic structures and electron affinities of SinLi(-) (n = 2-8)

The molecular structures of neutral Si n Li ( n = 2-8) species and their anions have been studied by means of the higher level of the Gaussian-3 (G3) techniques. The lowest energy structures of these clusters have been reported. The ground-state structures of neutral clusters are "attaching structures", in which the Li atom is bound to Si n clusters. The ground-state geometries of anions, however, are "substitutional structures", which is derived from Si n+1 by replacing a Si atom with a Li (-). The electron affinities of Si n Li and Si n have been presented. The theoretical electron affinities of Si n are in good agreement with the experiment data. The reliable electron affinities of Si n Li are predicted to be 1.87 eV for Si 2Li, 2.06 eV for Si 3Li, 2.01 eV for Si 4Li, 2.61 eV for Si 5Li, 2.36 eV for Si 6Li, 2.21 eV for Si 7Li, and 3.18 eV for Si 8Li. The dissociation energies of Li atom from the lowest energy structures of Si n Li and Si atom from Si n clusters have also been estimated respectively to examine relative stabilities.     

Interaction of the uracil dipole-bound electron with closed-shell systems (Ar and N2)

A very diffuse, but spatially confined, electron trapped in a dipole–bound state of a polar molecule provides an excellent target for testing the interaction of a localized electron positioned outside the molecular frame of its host molecule with other atomic or molecular systems. In this work we use ab initio calculations to investigate systems where a dipole–bound electron attached to a uracil molecule is interacting with an N₂ molecule and an Ar atom. Neither of the two systems forms a stable anion and in the aducts they form with the dipole–bound electron the electron becomes suspended between the uracil molecule and Ar or N₂. Calculations are performed to determine the vertical electron detachment energies of these anions and to determine the molecular rearrangements occurring when the excess electron is removed from them.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Stereo- and Site-Selectivity in the Reaction of Chiral Episelenonium Ion with Carbon Nucleophile

Abstract

There are two important aspects in the reaction of chiral episelenonium ion (episelenonium ion bearing chiral carbon in the three-membered ring) with carbon nucleophile; namely, (1) whether the chiral carbon racemizes during the reaction or not, and (2) the carbon nucleophile attacks the carbon atom (carbophilic attack) or selenium atom (selenophilic attack) in the three-membered ring. When carbon nucleophile such as alkenyl silyl ethers, trimethylsilyl cyanide, and allyltrimethyl-silane are employed, steric protection of the selenium atom by the attachment of tri-tert-butylphenyl (TTBP) group to the selenium atom is inevitable to avoid both of the racemization of the chiral carbon atom and selenophilic attack of the carbon nucleophile. When aromatic compounds are employed as carbon nucleophile, on the other hand, selenophilic attack is rarely observed irrespective of the nature of the aryl group on the selenium atom and introduction of electron withdrawing group into the aryl group on the selenium atom is effective to retard the racemization of the chiral carbon atom.     

Palladium catalyzed reaction of allylic geminal diacetates with nucleophiles

The influence of ligands on the palladium catalyzed reaction of allylic-1,1-diol diacetate (1) with sodium dimethyl malonate was studied. When PPh₃ was used as the ligand, the malonate anion was found to attack the carbonyl carbon atom, but it would attack the allylic carbon atom while dppe was used as the ligand. The properties of nucleophiles also influence the position of attack. By suitable choice of the nucleophiles and ligands, dialkylated products can be obtained from 1.     

Stereospecific polymerization of propylene on systems TiX3-AlEt3

It has been shown that replacement of Cl atoms by I and Br atoms leads to decrease in the activity of the catalytis systems TiCl₃-AlEt₃ owing to decrease in the number of active centres. This decrease is probably due to the fact that a group of titanium atoms bound by halogen bridges, and not a single atom, is involved in the catalytis act. The most effective way of enhancing the isospecificity of the active centre is to induce the iodine-containing compound to act upon the TiCl₃ crystal surface. However, no simple correlation between the stereospecificity of the catalytis systems, ion radii of the anions and distances M-M and M-X was found.     

Radical induced fragmentation of amino acid esters using triphenylcorrole(CuIII) complexes

A triphenylcorrole(CuIII) complex is covalently bound to amino acid esters at the nitrogen atom. As a result radical anions are generated, inducing the occurrence of side-chain reactions under CID conditions. Almost all of the amino acid esters that were studied show abundant ions that correspond to fragmentation at the alpha carbon either with or without the loss of the alkoxy ester moiety. Distinctive CID spectra were also recorded for leucine and isoleucine complexes. Initial results with short peptides are also shown.     

[3+2] Fragmentation of a Pentaphosphido Ligand by Cyanide

The activation of white phosphorus (P₄) by transition‐metal complexes has been studied for several decades, but the functionalization and release of the resulting (organo)phosphorus ligands has rarely been achieved. Herein we describe the formation of rare diphosphan‐1‐ide anions from a P₅ ligand by treatment with cyanide. Cobalt diorganopentaphosphido complexes have been synthesized by a stepwise reaction sequence involving a low‐valent diimine cobalt complex, white phosphorus, and diorganochlorophosphanes. The reactions of the complexes with tetraalkylammonium or potassium cyanide afford a cyclotriphosphido cobaltate anion 5 and 1‐cyanodiphosphan‐1‐ide anions [R₂PPCN]^? ( 6‐R ). The molecular structure of a related product 7 suggests a novel reaction mechanism, where coordination of the cyanide anion to the cobalt center induces a ligand rearrangement. This is followed by nucleophilic attack of a second cyanide anion at a phosphorus atom and release of the P₂ fragment.     

气相离子-分子反应B2H3-+CS2——B2H3S-+CS的理论研究

用密度泛函方法B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)和高级电子相关的偶合簇法CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)研究了气相离子-分子反应B₂H₃^-+CS₂B₂H₃S^-+CS的机理.结果表明,B₂H₃最可能进攻CS₂中碳原子形成三元环中间体,随后通过氢迁移和最终消除CS的反应步骤形成硫原子转移产物H₃BBS^-+CS,反应大量放热且不需要活化能.B₂H₃直接对CS₂中硫原子进攻夺取硫原子的反应方式存在一定能垒阻碍.计算结果有助于深入了解B₂H₃,B₃H-6和B₄H₇^-等缺电子硼氢负离子的反应行为.     

Resonance states of atomic anions

We study destabilization of an atom in its ground state with decrease of its nuclear charge. By analytic continuation from bound to resonance states, we obtain complex energies of unstable atomic anions with nuclear charge that is less than the minimum “critical” charge necessary to bind N electrons. We use an extrapolating scheme with a simple model potential for the electron, which is loosely bound outside the atomic core. Results for O^2? and S^2? are in good agreement with earlier estimates. Alternatively, we use the Hylleraas basis variational technique with three complex nonlinear parameters to find accurately the energy of two‐electron atoms as the nuclear charge decreases. Results are used to check the less accurate one‐electron model. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 82: 255–261, 2001     

Structures and energetics of the deprotonated adenine-uracil base pair, including proton-transferred systems

The B3LYP/DZP++ level of theory has been employed to investigate the structures and energetics of the deprotonated adenine-uracil base pairs, (AU-H)-. Formation of the lowest-energy structure, [A(N9)-U]- (which corresponds to deprotonation at the N9 atom of adenine), through electron attachment to the corresponding neutral is accompanied by proton transfer from the uracil N3 atom to the adenine N1 atom. The driving force for this proton transfer is a significant stabilization from the base pairing in the proton transferred form. Such proton transfer upon electron attachment is also observed for the [A(N6b)-U]- and [A(C2)-U]- anions. Electron attachment to the A-U(N3) radical causes strong lone pair repulsion between the adenine N1 and the uracil N3 atoms, driving the two bases apart. Similarly, lone pair repulsion in the anion A(N6a)-U causes the loss of coplanarity of the two base units. The computed adiabatic electron attachment energies for nine AU-H radicals range from 1.86 to 3.75 eV, implying that the corresponding (AU-H)- anions are strongly bound. Because of the large AEAs of the (AU-H) radicals, the C-H and N-H bond dissociation in the AU- base pair anions requires less energy than the neutral AU base pair. The computed C-H and N-H bond dissociation energies for the AU- anion (i.e., the AU base pair plus one electron) are in the range 1.0-3.2 eV, while those for neutral AU are 4.08 eV or higher.