Reversible carbon–boron bond formation at platinum centers through σ-BH complexes

A reversible carbon–boron bond formation has been observed in the reaction of the coordinatively unsaturated, cyclometalated, Pt(ii) complex [Pt(I^tBuⁱPr′)(I^tBuⁱPr)][BAr^F], 1, with tricoordinated boranes HBR₂. X-ray diffraction studies provided structural snapshots of the sequence of reactions involved in the process. At low temperature, we observed the initial formation of the unprecedented σ-BH complexes [Pt(HBR₂)(I^tBuⁱPr′)(I^tBuⁱPr)][BAr^F], one of which has been isolated. From −15 to +10 °C, the σ-BH species undergo a carbon–boron coupling process leading to the platinum hydride derivative [Pt(H)(I^tBuⁱPr–BR₂)(I^tBuⁱPr)][BAr^F], 4. Surprisingly, these compounds are thermally unstable undergoing carbon–boron bond cleavage at room temperature that results in the 14-electron Pt(ii) boryl species [Pt(BR₂)(I^tBuⁱPr)₂][BAr^F], 2. This unusual reaction process has been corroborated by computational methods, which indicate that the carbon–boron coupling products 4 are formed under kinetic control whereas the platinum boryl species 2, arising from competitive C–H bond coupling, are thermodynamically more stable. These findings provide valuable information about the factors governing productive carbon–boron coupling reactions at transition metal centers.

A reversible carbon–boron bond formation has been observed in the reaction of the coordinatively unsaturated, cyclometalated, Pt(ii) complex [Pt(I^tBuⁱPr′)(I^tBuⁱPr)][BAr^F], 1, with tricoordinated boranes HBR₂.     

Synthesis of lanthanide(II)–imine complexes and their use in carbon–carbon and carbon–nitrogen unsaturated bond transformation

Ytterbium and samarium metals reduced aromatic ketimines to give directly divalent azalanthanacyclopropane complexes 1 quantitatively, the structure of which was characterized by X-ray analysis. The imine complexes 1 catalyzed dehydrogenative silylation of terminal alkynes, hydrosilylation of imines and alkenes, and intermolecular hydrophosphination of alkynes. Moreover, dehydrogenative double silylation of conjugated dienes was achieved with 1.     

Enhanced Aerogen–π Interaction by a Cation–π Force

The interaction between a noble gas atom and an aromatic π‐electron system, which mainly originates from the London dispersion force, is very weak and has not attracted enough attention yet. Herein, we reported a type of notably enhanced aerogen–π interaction between cation–π systems and noble gas atoms. The binding strength of a divalent cation–π system with a xenon atom is comparable to a moderate hydrogen bond (up to ca. 7 kcal mol^?1), whereas krypton and argon atoms produce slightly weaker interactions. Energy‐decomposition analysis reveals that the induction interaction is responsible for the stabilization of divalent cation–π?Xe species besides the dispersion interaction. Our results might be helpful to increase the understanding of some unsolved mysteries of aerogens.     

A novel two‐dimensional metal–organic supramolecular framework including π–π stacking and hydrogen‐bond interactions

[μ‐N,N′‐Bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide‐<!?show [forcelb]><!?tlsb=0.12pt>1:2κ²N:N′]bis{[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide‐κN]diiodidomercury(II)}, [Hg₂I₄(C₁₈H₁₄N₄O₂)₃], is an S‐shaped dinuclear molecule, composed of two HgI₂ units and three N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide (L) ligands. The central L ligand is centrosymmetric and coordinated to two Hg^II cations via two pyridine N atoms, in a syn–syn conformation. The two terminal L ligands are monodentate, with one uncoordinated pyridine N atom, and each adopts a syn–anti conformation. The HgI₂ units show highly distorted tetrahedral (sawhorse) geometry, as the Hg^II centres lie only 0.34 (2) or 0.32 (2) Å from the planes defined by the I and pyridine N atoms. Supramolecular interactions, thermal stability and solid‐state luminescence properties were also measured.     

Photophysical properties of σ–π‐conjugated alternating oligothienylene–oligosilylene polymers

UV‐visible absorption and fluorescence properties of three series of σ–π‐conjugated polymers (copolymers of alternative oligothienylene and oligosilylene units) have been studied in dioxane solution. The energies of the absorption maximum, fluorescence maximum, and the 0–0 transition are found to be linearly dependent on the reciprocal of the number of thiophene rings in the repeating unit of the polymer chain, but almost independent of the silicon atom number. The σ–π‐conjugation in the polymers results in red shift in the absorption and fluorescence maxima, higher fluorescence quantum yields, and longer fluorescence lifetimes of the polymers, with respect to their corresponding analogous α‐oligothiophenes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1873–1880, 1999     

σ–π Continuum in Indole–Palladium(II) Complexes

The intrinsic features of (hetero‐arene)–metal interactions have been elusive mainly because the systematic structure analysis of non‐anchored hetero‐arene–metal complexes has been hampered by their labile nature. We report successful isolation and systematic structure analysis of a series of non‐anchored indole–palladium(II) complexes. It was revealed that there is a σ–π continuum for the indole–metal interaction, while it has been thought that the dominant coordination mode of indole to a metal center is the Wheland‐intermediate‐type σ‐mode in light of the seemingly strong electron‐donating ability of indole. Several factors which affect the σ‐ or π‐character of indole–metal interactions are discussed.     

Reversible oxygenation of a “tail-base” ferroporphyrin covalently bound to highly cross-linked polystyrene

A modified iron deuteroporphyrin, with an attached imidazole axial base was covalently bound to a highly cross-linked aminopolystyrene. After reduction of the iron, the effect of exposure to oxygen in the solid state was monitored by UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Several oxygenation---deoxygenation cycles were performed without any noticeable irreversible oxidation to iron(III). Reversible binding of carbon monoxide was similarly observed.     

Hole Mobility Modulation in Single‐Crystal Metal Phthalocyanines by Changing the Metal–π/π–π Interactions

Weak intermolecular interactions in organic semiconducting molecular crystals play an important role in determining molecular packing and electronic properties. Single crystals of metal‐free and metal phthalocyanines were synthesized to investigate how the coordination of the central metal atom affects their molecular packing and resultant electronic properties. Single‐crystal field‐effect transistors were made and showed a hole mobility order of ZnPc>MnPc>FePc>CoPc>CuPc>H₂Pc>NiPc. Density functional theory (DFT) and 1D polaron transport theory reach a good agreement in reproducing the experimentally measured trend for hole mobility. Additional detail analysis at the DFT level suggests the metal atom coordination into H₂Pc planes can tune the hole mobility via adjusting the intermolecular distances along the shortest axis with closest parallel π stackings.     

Synthesis and optical properties of σ–π conjugated organic–inorganic hybrid gels

Organic–inorganic hybrid gels containing Si‐vinylene units have been synthesized by a hydrosilylation reaction of tri‐ or tetra‐ethynyl aryl compounds, 1,3,5‐triethynylbenzene (TEB), 3,3′,5,5′‐tetraethynylbiphenyl (TEBP), or tetrakis(4‐ethynylphenyl)methane (TEPM), and bisdimethylsilyl compounds, 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) or 1,4‐bisdimetylsilylbenzene (BDMSB), in toluene. Network structure of the resulting gels was quantitatively characterized by a scanning microscopic light scattering. The reactions yielded the gels having homogeneous network structure of 1.5–2.9 nm mesh size under the monomer concentrations that were relatively higher than the critical gelation concentration. The gels obtained from TEB showed broad absorption in the range from 340 to 370 nm, and emission in the range from 440 to 490 nm. The TEB–BDMSB gels showed remarkable red shift of the emission in comparison with that of the corresponding reaction solutions derived from the network formed by σ–π conjugation. The TEPM–TMDS, BDMSB gels exited by 280 nm showed not only the emission peak at around 360 nm derived from TEPM, but the broad peak at around 420 nm, which should be derived from interaction between phenyl groups of TEPM in the gels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1360–1368     

The valence bond calculations for conjugated hydrocarbons having 24–28 π‐electrons

A novel algorithm is introduced for coding all Slater determinants in the covalent space with conserved S_Z, the z component of total spin S for a classical valence bond (VB) model. It effectively minimizes the search time and the storing space in the central memory of the computer. In cooperation with symmetry reductions based on molecular point group and spin inversion, the VB calculations have been extended to benzenoid hydrocarbons of up to 28 π‐electrons that have 4×10⁷ configurations. The low‐lying states of benzenoids with 24, 26, and 28 π‐electrons have been obtained for 62 species. To rationalize the aromaticity of benzenoids in a VB scheme, the resonance energy per hexagon (REPH) is defined. A linear correlation between the REPH and the energy gap of the ground (singlet) state and the first excited (triplet) state for 89 benzenoids is established. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 856–869, 2000     

Synthesis of ω‐sulfonated polystyrene via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and postpolymerization modification

The synthesis of chain‐end sulfonated polystyrene [PS (ω‐sulfonated PS)] by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization followed by postpolymerization modification was investigated by two methods. In the first method, the polymer was converted to a thiol‐terminated polymer by aminolysis. This polymer was then sulfonated by oxidation of the thiol end‐group with m‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m‐CPBA) to produce a sulfonic acid end‐group. In the second method, the RAFT‐polymerized polymer was directly sulfonated by oxidation with m‐CPBA. After purification by column chromatography, ω‐sulfonated PS was obtained by both methods with greater than 95% end‐group functionality as measured by titration. The sulfonic acid end‐group could be neutralized with various ammonium or imidazolium counter ions through acid–base or ionic metathesis reactions. The effect of the ionic end‐groups on the glass transition temperature of the PS was found to be consistent with what is known for PS ionomers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Electrocatalytic applications of a sol–gel derived cobalt phthalocyanine–dispersed carbon–ceramic electrode

The preparation and characterization of a surface renewable carbon–ceramic electrode, SiO₂/SnO₂/C-graphite/(SiPy⁺)₄CoPcTs⁻⁴, is reported. Cobalt(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (CoPcTs⁻⁴) absorbed on a 3-n-propylpyridinium chloride silsesquioxane polymer was dispersed in a stannic-silica C-graphite sol–gel matrix. The performance of SiO₂/SnO₂/C-graphite/(SiPy⁺)₄CoPcTs⁻⁴ as electrode material was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in the electrocatalytic oxidation of oxalic acid and nitrite. The modified carbon–ceramic material was characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, BET specific surface area, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.     

Synthesis of a well-defined cyclic polystyrene via α-carboxyl, ω-amino heterodifunctional polystyrene

Living anionic polymerization of styrene was carried out in benzene at room temperature using 1-(3-lithiopropyl)-4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-(3-bromopropyl)-1-aza-2,5-disilacyclopentane as an initiator and terminator, respectively, to obtain α-2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propoxycarbonyl, ω-amino heterodifunctional polystyrene. It was hydrolyzed to α-carboxyl, ω-amino heterodifunctional polystyrene which gave a well-defined cyclic polystyrene by the intramolecular cyclization under high dilution conditions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2027–2033, 1999     

Synergistic and diminutive effects between triel bond and regium bond: Attractive interactions between π‐hole and σ‐hole

High quantum chemical calculations have been performed for binary complexes of MCN···ZX₃ (M = Cu, Ag, Au; Z = B, Al; X = H, F) and C₂H₄···AlX₃. The strength of triel bonding depends on the nature of triel and coin metal atoms as well as the F substituents and electron donors. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis confirms a σ‐hole at the M‐C bond end of MCN, engaging in a regium bond with C₂H₄ in an increasing sequence of AgCN < CuCN < AuCN. The complex C₂(CN)₄···AuCN is unstable in view of MEPs, but a big attractive interaction energy (?38 kcal/mol) is produced when both molecules approach, which is mainly caused by polarization including orbital interactions. Both types of interactions are strengthened in ternary complex of C₂H₄···MCN···ZX₃ but are weakened in NCAu···C₂H₄···AlX₃ and C₂(CN)₄···AuCN···ZH₃. It is found that the variation from synergistic to diminutive effects can be modulated by four CN groups in C₂(CN)₄. Interestingly, the binding distances of both interactions have an unexpected change. The cooperativity of both interactions has been explained with MEP and charge transfer. When C₂H₄ binds with AlX₃ or AuCN, its π electron density is greatly decreased and even its MEP becomes positive, but it is still able to participate in a regium bond or a triel bond.     

Reactivity Controlling Factors for an Aromatic Carbon‐Centered σ,σ,σ‐Triradical: The 4,5,8‐Tridehydroisoquinolinium Ion

The chemical properties of the 4,5,8‐tridehydroisoquinolinium ion (doublet ground state) and related mono‐ and biradicals were examined in the gas phase in a dual‐cell Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) mass spectrometer. The triradical abstracted three hydrogen atoms in a consecutive manner from tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cyclohexane molecules; this demonstrates the presence of three reactive radical sites in this molecule. The high (calculated) electron affinity (EA=6.06 eV) at the radical sites makes the triradical more reactive than two related monoradicals, the 5‐ and 8‐dehydroisoquinolinium ions (EA=4.87 and 5.06 eV, respectively), the reactivity of which is controlled predominantly by polar effects. Calculated triradical stabilization energies predict that the most reactive radical site in the triradical is not position C4, as expected based on the high EA of this radical site, but instead position C5. The latter radical site actually destabilizes the 4,8‐biradical moiety, which is singlet coupled. Indeed, experimental reactivity studies show that the radical site at C5 reacts first. This explains why the triradical is not more reactive than the 4‐dehydroisoquinolinium ion because the C5 site is the intrinsically least reactive of the three radical sites due to its low EA. Although both EA and spin–spin coupling play major roles in controlling the overall reactivity of the triradical, spin–spin coupling determines the relative reactivity of the three radical sites.