Bonding Analysis of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Tautomers and Phosphine Ligands in Transition‐Metal Complexes: A Theoretical Study

DFT calculations at the BP86/TZ2P level were carried out to analyze quantitatively the metal–ligand bonding in transition‐metal complexes that contain imidazole (IMID), imidazol‐2‐ylidene (nNHC), or imidazol‐4‐ylidene (aNHC). The calculated complexes are [Cl₄TM(L)] (TM=Ti, Zr, Hf), [(CO)₅TM(L)] (TM=Cr, Mo, W), [(CO)₄TM(L)] (TM=Fe, Ru, Os), and [ClTM(L)] (TM=Cu, Ag, Au). The relative energies of the free ligands increase in the order IMID<nNHC<aNHC. The energy levels of the carbon σ lone‐pair orbitals suggest the trend aNHC>nNHC>IMID for the donor strength, which is in agreement with the progression of the metal–ligand bond‐dissociation energy (BDE) for the three ligands for all metals of Groups 4, 6, 8, and 10. The electrostatic attraction can also be decisive in determining trends in ligand–metal bond strength. The comparison of the results of energy decomposition analysis for the Group 6 complexes [(CO)₅TM(L)] (L=nNHC, aNHC, IMID) with phosphine complexes (L=PMe₃ and PCl₃) shows that the phosphine ligands are weaker σ donors and better π acceptors than the NHC tautomers nNHC, aNHC, and IMID.     

Synthesis of Complexes with Abnormal “Protic” N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Neutral 4‐iodo‐N‐ethylimidazole 3 oxidatively adds to [Pt(PPh₃)₄] to give, in the presence of different tetraalkylammonium salts, complexes trans‐[ 4 ], trans‐[ 5 ], and trans‐[ 6 ] containing an anionic C4‐bound heterocycle with an unsubstituted ring‐nitrogen atom. Complex trans‐[ 4 ] reacts with the proton source NH₄I under protonation of the ring‐nitrogen atom to produce complex trans‐[ 7 ]I which bears an NH,NR‐substituted aNHC ligand. The reaction of trans‐[ 4 ] with CH₃I yields the complex trans‐[ 8 ]I which has a classical aNHC ligand with two alkylated ring‐nitrogen atoms.     

An Abnormal N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Carbon Dioxide Adduct from Imidazolium Acetate Ionic Liquids: The Importance of Basicity

In the reaction of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate [C₂C₁Im][OAc] ionic liquid with carbon dioxide at 125 °C and 10 MPa, not only the known N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–CO₂ adduct I , but also isomeric aNHC‐CO₂ adducts II and III were obtained. The abnormal NHC‐CO₂ adducts are stabilized by the presence of the polarizing basic acetate anion, according to static DFT calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics studies. A further possible reaction pathway is facilitated by the high basicity of the system, deprotonating the initially formed NHC‐CO₂ adduct I , which can then be converted in the presence of the excess of CO₂ to the more stable 2‐deprotonated anionic abnormal NHC–CO₂ adduct via the anionic imidazolium‐2,4‐dicarboxylate according to DFT calculations on model compounds. This suggests a generalizable pathway to abnormal NHC complex formation.     

Introduction of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene as an efficient organocatalyst: ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

The recently isolated abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) has been established as an efficient organocatalyst in ring opening polymerization of three different cyclic esters rac-lactide (rac-LA), ε-caprolactone (ε-CL), and δ-valerolactone (δ-VL). Preliminary DFT calculations indicate that aNHC can be a better organocatalyst than the corresponding nNHC counterpart.     

Lewis base mediated dismutation of trichlorosilane

An abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) has been used as a Lewis base to initiate dismutation of trichlorosilane. This report presents the reactivity differences of a normal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) versus aNHC with heavier group 14 elements. Three novel compounds (NHC)(2)·SiCl(2)H(2) (2), aNHC·SiCl(2)H(2) (3), and aNHC·GeCl(2) (4) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis, solid-state NMR and DFT calculations.     

Abnormal N-heterocyclic Carbene Based Ni(II) π-allyl Complex towards Molecular Oxygen Activation

Abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) based Ni(II) π-allyl complexes ( 3 and 4 ) were synthesized starting from a Ni(0) precursor. These complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray crystallography ( 4 ) and elemental analysis data. The underlying mechanism for the formation of Ni(II) η³-allyl complexes from a Ni(0) precursor on treatment with a free abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene in absence of any external additive or oxidant was unraveled. Later, complex 3 was exposed to O₂ gas under ambient pressure resulting in molecular oxygen activation to form a μ-hydroxo bridged Ni(II) dimer.     

Triazine‐Cored Lanthanide‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks Featuring Unique Water Chains and Strong Characteristic Emissions

A new triazine‐cored tricarboxylic acid, N,N′,N“‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐triyltris(cis‐4‐aminocyclohexane‐carboxylic acid) (H₃L), has been prepared by replacing the chlorine atoms of cyanuric chloride with cis‐4‐aminocyclohexane‐carboxylic acid, which has been used for the construction of a series of triazine‐cored lanthanide‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). All these MOFs were structurally authenticated, revealing that they are isostructural and exist as two‐dimensional (2D) coordination networks with the general formula [Ln(L)(H₂O)₂]?5.5 H₂O (Ln= 1?Gd , 2?Tb , 3?Eu ). A unique one‐dimensional water chain, composed of primary tetrameric cyclic rings and dodecameric cyclic rings, has been found entrapped in the lattice. Moreover, all these compounds display bright characteristic photoluminescence. Particularly, for 1 , apart from the strong blue emission peak (Φ_f=20.6 %) corresponding to the intraligand transition under near‐UV excitation, the characteristic emissions of Gd³⁺ cation (Φ_f=5.0 %) were unexpectedly observed upon excitation at 273 nm.     

A Detailed Study of the (Electro)chemical Behavior of Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide Based Ionic Liquids at Different Purification Steps

A systematic investigation of the major impurities content as well as of their effect on the electrochemical behavior of synthesized N‐butyl‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium (Py_1.4), N‐(2‐methoxyethyl)‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium (Py_1.102) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (bmim) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide has been carried out and the efficacy of an optimized multistep purification protocol for obtaining ILs suitable for electrochemical applications has been verified.     

Ag(I)配位聚合物[Ag2(bpp)2(H2O)]·pydc·7H2O的合成、表征及性质研究

水热合成了基于吡啶-3,5-二羧酸(H2pydc)的含Ag(I)配位聚合物 [Ag2(bpp)2(H2O)]·pydc·7H2O (1) (其中bpp = 1,3-双(4-吡啶)丙烷)。X射线单晶结构分析表明,在一维化合物1中,发现了包含(H2O)12水簇单元的二维氢键层状结构。有趣的是,在该二维层中, 每个pydc2-阴离子作为“桥”连接了两个(H2O)12单元和两个自由水分子。另外,对化合物1的荧光、热重、粉末衍射等也进行了研究和讨论。     

Mechanism and Linear Free Energy Relationships in Michael‐Type Addition of 4‐Substituted Anilines to Activated Olefin in Acetonitrile

Kinetic studies for the Michael‐type reactions of ethyl‐3‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐2‐(nonafluorobutane)sulfonylpro‐penoate 1 with 4‐X‐substituted anilines 2a–e (X = OCH₃, CH₃, H, F, and Cl) have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20°C. A quadratic dependence of the pseudo–first‐order rate constants (k_obsd) versus [ 2a–e ] has been observed and has been interpreted in terms of a dimer nucleophile mechanism. The finding of a relatively large negative ρ value (?3.09) for the Hammett plot suggests that the intermediate ( I^± ) is highly zwitterionic in nature. A linear correlation (r² = 0.9989) between the Hammett's substituent constants σ and nucleophilicity parameters N of 4‐X‐substituted anilines in acetonitrile has been observed. The electrophilicity parameters E of the olefin 1 is evaluated, using the correlations σ versus N and log k versus σ and compared with the electrophilicities of analogously Michael acceptors.     

Quasi‐Dual‐Packed‐Kerneled Au49(2,4‐DMBT)27 Nanoclusters and the Influence of Kernel Packing on the Electrochemical Gap

Although face‐centered cubic (fcc), body‐centered cubic (bcc), hexagonal close‐packed (hcp), and other structured gold nanoclusters have been reported, it was unclear whether gold nanoclusters with mix‐packed (fcc and non‐fcc) kernels exist, and the correlation between kernel packing and the properties of gold nanoclusters is unknown. A Au₄₉(2,4‐DMBT)₂₇ nanocluster with a shell electron count of 22 has now been been synthesized and structurally resolved by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, which revealed that Au₄₉(2,4‐DMBT)₂₇ contains a unique Au₃₄ kernel consisting of one quasi‐fcc‐structured Au₂₁ and one non‐fcc‐structured Au₁₃ unit (where 2,4‐DMBTH=2,4‐dimethylbenzenethiol). Further experiments revealed that the kernel packing greatly influences the electrochemical gap (EG) and the fcc structure has a larger EG than the investigated non‐fcc structure.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel amphiphilic block copolymers di‐, tri‐, multi‐, and star blocks of PEG and PIB

A simple but efficient strategy has been developed for the synthesis of novel di‐, tri‐, multi‐, and star‐block copolymers comprising poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polyisobutylene (PIB) blocks. The synthesis principle involves the coupling of appropriately terminally functionalized PEG and PIB sequences, specifically the hydrosilation of mono‐, di‐, and tetra‐allyl‐telechelic PEGs (PEG‐allyl, allyl‐PEG‐allyl, and C(‐PEG‐allyl)₄ by mono‐ and di‐Si(CH₃)₂H telechelic PIBs (PIB‐SiH and HiS‐PIB‐SiH). Representative block copolymers, for example, PEG‐PIB, PIB‐PEG‐PIB, (‐PIB‐PEG‐)_n, and C(‐PEG‐PIB)₄ have been assembled and their structures determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The bulk and surface morphology of select triblocks have been investigated by DSC and AFM and the findings interpreted in terms of phase‐separated PEG and PIB microdomains. The swelling behavior in water of various block copolymers also has been studied. Block copolymers containing 50–70 wt % PIB produce hydrogels, the integrity of which is maintained by physical crosslinks by PIB segments. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3200–3209, 2000     

Copper(I)-anilide complex [Na(phen)3][Cu(NPh2)2]: an intermediate in the copper-catalyzed N-arylation of N-phenylaniline

Complex [Na(phen)₃][Cu(NPh₂)₂] ( 2 ), containing a linear bis(N‐phenylanilide)copper(I) anion and a distorted octahedral tris(1,10‐phenanthroline)sodium counter cation, has been isolated from the catalytic C? N cross‐coupling reaction with the CuI/phen/tBuONa (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) catalytic system. Complex 2 can react with 4‐iodotoluene to produce 4‐methyl‐N,N‐diphenylaniline ( 3 a ) with 70.6 % yield. In addition, 2 can work as an effective catalyst for C? N coupling under the same reaction conditions, thus indicating that 2 is the intermediate of the catalytic system. Both [Cu(NPh₂)₂]^? and [Cu(NPh₂)I]^? have been observed by in situ electron ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) under catalytic reaction conditions, thus confirming that they are intermediates in the reaction. A catalytic cycle has been proposed based on these observations. The molecular structure of 2 has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Exchange Interaction of a Novel Heterospin Polynuclear Complex Containing Transition Metals and Imino Nitroxide Radicals: {[(CuL)Nid (IM‐2Py)2] (C104)2}2·2H2O

A novel heterospin complex {[(CuL) Ni(IM‐2Py)₂] (ClO₄)₂}₂· 2H₂O (L = 2,3‐dioxo‐5,6:14, 15‐dibenzo‐1,4,8,12‐tetraazacyclo‐pentadeca 7, 12‐diene, IM‐2Py = 2‐(2′‐pyridyl)‐4, 4, 5, 5‐tetramethyl‐4, 5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl) has been synthesized and its crystal structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. In order to interpret the exchange interaction of tins asymmetric heterospin system, a theoretical model has been established. Using this theoretical model the magnetic susceptibility data have been fitted and lead to coupling constant values equal to 1.4 cm^?1 (Ni‐Rad) and‐38.0 cm^?1(Ni‐Cu), respectively.     

Highly Efficient C?H Oxidative Activation by a Porous MnIII–Porphyrin Metal–Organic Framework under Mild Conditions

A simple strategy to rationally immobilize metalloporphyrin sites into porous mixed‐metal–organic framework (M′MOF) materials by a metalloligand approach has been developed to mimic cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in a biological system. The synthesized porous M′MOF of [Zn₂(MnOH–TCPP)(DPNI)] ? 0.5 DMF ? EtOH ? 5.5 H₂O ( CZJ‐1 ; CZJ=Chemistry Department of Zhejiang University; TCPP=tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin); DPNI=N,N′‐di(4‐pyridyl)‐1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxydiimide) has the type of doubly interpenetrated cubic α‐Po topology in which the basic Zn₂(COO)₄ paddle‐wheel clusters are bridged by metalloporphyrin to form two‐dimensional sheets that are further bridged by the organic pillar linker DPNI to form a three‐dimensional porous structure. The porosity of CZJ‐1 has been established by both crystallographic studies and gas‐sorption isotherms. CZJ‐1 exhibits significantly high catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane with conversion of 94 % to the mixture of cyclohexanone (K) and cyclohexanol (A) (so‐called K–A oil) at room temperature. We also provided solid experimental evidence to verify the catalytic reaction that occurred in the pores of the M′MOF catalyst.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Glutarimide Alkaloids Cordiarimides A,B, Crotonimides A,B, and Julocrotine

Five glutarimide alkaloids cordiarimide A ( 5 ), cordiarimide B ( 6 ), crotonimide A ( 3 ), crotonimide B ( 4 ), and julocrotine ( 2 ) have been synthesized starting from Boc‐L‐glutamine ( 7 ). The benzylic alcohol chiral centre of cordiarimides B ( 6 ) has been established in 6:1 diastereoselectivity by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation using Zhou's catalytic system Pd(CF₃CO₂)₂/(R,R)‐Me‐DuPhos.     

A fluorophore‐labelled copper complex: crystal structure,hybrid cyclic water–perchlorate cluster and biological properties

A fluorophore‐labelled copper(II) complex, aquabis(dimethylformamide‐κO )(perchlorato‐κO )[2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐oxazolo[4,5‐f ][1,10]phenanthroline]copper(II) perchlorate monohydrate, [Cu(ClO₄)(C₂₂H₁₂N₄O)(C₃H₇NO)₂(H₂O)]ClO₄·H₂O, has been synthesized and characterized. A cyclic hydrogen‐bonded water–perchlorate anionic cluster, i.e. [(ClO₄)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁻, has been identified within the structure. Each cyclic anionic cluster unit is interconnected by hydrogen bonding to the cation. The cations join into an infinite hydrogen‐bonded chain running in the [010] direction. Furthermore, interaction of the complex with calf‐thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) and cellular localization within the cells was explored. Spectroscopic studies indicate that the compound has a good affinity for DNA and stains the nucleus of the cells.     

Simple and convenient synthesis of 2‐(substituted‐benzylsulfanyl)‐4,5‐dihydrothiazoles and their antimicrobial activity studies

A simple and convenient procedure for the preparation of 2‐(substitutedbenzylsulfanyl)‐4,5‐dihydrothia‐zoles by the reaction of 4,5‐dihydro‐thiazole‐2‐thiol and benzyl bromides in acetone/K₂CO₃ condition has been reported.     

Bis(hinokitiolato)copper(II): modification (III)

Bis(hinokitiolato)copper(II), Cu(hino)₂, exhibits both antibacterial and antiviral properties, and has been previously shown to exist in two modifications. A third modification has now been confirmed, namely tetrakis(μ₂‐3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)bis(3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)tricopper(II)–bis(μ₂‐3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)bis[(3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)copper(II)] (1/1), [Cu(C₁₀H₁₁O₂)₂]₃·[Cu(C₁₀H₁₁O₂)₂]₂, where 3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olate is the systematic name for the hinokitiolate anion. This new modification is composed of discrete [cis‐Cu(hino)₂]₂[trans‐Cu(hino)₂] trimers and [cis‐Cu(hino)₂]₂ dimers. The Cu atoms are bridged by μ₂‐O atoms from the hinokitiolate ligands to give distorted square‐pyramidal and distorted octahedral Cu^II coordination environments. Hence, the Cu^II environments are CuO₅/CuO₆/CuO₅ for the trimer and CuO₅/CuO₅ for the dimer. Each trimer and dimer has crystallographically imposed inversion symmetry. The trimer has never been observed before, the dimer has been seen only once before, and the combination of the two together in the same lattice is unprecedented. The CuO₅ cores exhibit four strong basal Cu—O bonds [1.915 (2)–1.931 (2) Å] and one weak apical Cu—O bond [2.652 (2)–2.658 (2) Å]. The CuO₆ core exhibits four strong equatorial Cu—O bonds [1.922 (2)–1.929 (2) Å] and two very weak axial Cu—O bonds [2.911 (3) Å]. The bite angles for the chelating hinokitiolate ligands range from 83.13 (11) to 83.90 (10)°.     

Synthesis of Enaminone‐Pd(II) Complexes and Their Application in Catalysing Aqueous Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross Coupling Reaction

A series of Pd(II)‐enaminone complexes, termed Pd(eao)₂, have been synthesized and characterized. The investigation on the catalytic activities of these new Pd(II)‐reagents has proved that the Pd(eao)₂‐ 1 possesses excellent catalytic activity for the Suzuki‐ Miyaura cross coupling reactions of aryl bromides/chlorides with aryl/vinyl boronic acids in the environmentally benign media of aqueous PEG400 at low loading (5 mol‰). The superiority of this Pd(II)‐reagent to those commercial Pd(II) and Pd(0) catalysts in catalyzing the reactions has been confirmed by parallel experiments. What's more, Pd(eao)₂‐ 2 has been found as a practical catalyst for the homo‐coupling reactions of aryl boronic acids.