Beryllium‐Based Anion Sponges: Close Relatives of Proton Sponges

Through the use of high‐level ab initio and density functional calculations it is shown that 1,8‐diBeX‐naphthalene (X=H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, C(CF₃)₃) derivatives behave as anion sponges, very much as 1,8‐bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene derivatives behave as proton sponges. The electron‐deficient nature of the BeX substituents, which favors strong charge transfer from the anion towards the former, results in anion affinities that are among the largest ones reported for single neutral molecules.     

Strukturen sterisch überfüllter oder ladungsgestörter Moleküle. 9. Tetracyanethen-Kalium-Dimethoxyethan

Structures of Sterically Overcrowded or Charge Perturbed Molecules. 9. Tetracyanoethylene Potassium Dimethoxyethane The single crystal structure of [(NC)₂C?C(CN)₂ ^?K^⊕(H₃CO? CH₂CH₂? OCH₃)] reveals 4 formula units per monoclinic (P2₁/n) unit cell. The tetracyanoethylene radical anions are stapled within slightly undulated layers exhibiting alternating average intermolecular distances of 315 pm and 360 pm between their central C?C bonds. In- between the closer layers both are interspersed the eight-fold coordinated K^⊕ counter cations and the solvating dimethoxyethane molecules with contact distances K^⊕…?N of 282 to 306 pm and K^⊕…?O of 279 to 294 pm. The molecular halves of the radical anions (NC)₂C?C(CN)₂^? are twisted by 12° and the C?C, C? C and C?N bond length amount to 142, 142, and 114 pm, respectively. These structural features are discussed by comparison with those of analogous cyanohydrocarbon salts, with those of the neutral molecule, its largely interaction-free anion and its dianion as well as with results of geometry-optimized MNDO calculations.     

Strukturen ladungsgestörter oder räumlich überfüllter Moleküle. 15. Tetracyanethen-Natrium-Dimethoxyethan

Structures of Charge-Perturbed or Sterically Overcrowded Molecules. 16. Tetracyanoethylene Sodium Dimethoxyethane The Single crystal structure of [(NC)₂C? C(CN)₂?·Na⊕(H₃CO? CH₂CH₂? OCH₃)]∞ reveals two formula units within the triclinic (P1 ) unit cell. The tetracyanoethylene radical anions are arranged along parallel double layers, which are shifted relative to each other, and in between which are interspersed the sodium counter cations and their dimethoxyethane ligands. The distances within the double layers amount to 300 pm and the ones between them to 385 pm. The six-fold coordinated Na⊕ centers are surrounded by four radical anions with contact distances Na…?N between 250 and 254 pm as well as by a twofold solvent ligand with Na…?O of 238 and 241 pm. Due to the electron transfer to the acceptor molecule, its (NC)₂C-halves twist by 8° and the bond lengths of the N?C? C subunits, bent by each 3°, are shortened up to 2 pm. The structural parameters are compared to those of the analogous potassium salt [TCNE^?K^⊕DME], of the dianion , of the sodium salts [(NC)₃C^?Na^⊕]∞ as well as [(NC)₂C? C(CHCH)₂? C(CN)₂^?Na^⊕]_∞ and, in addition, are discussed based on geometry-optimized MNDO calculations.     

Electronic spectrum of dibiphenylene-ethene radical anion

The electronic absorption spectrum for the dibiphenylene-ethene radical anion ( ), generated electrochemically in dimethylsulfoxide solutions, is reported. Based on calculations by the LCAO-MO method in theHückel approximation and on the analysis of the band positions it is suggested that in the molecule two planar fluorenylidene fragments are twisted (60°) about the central C=C bond.

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Das Elektronenabsorptionsspektrum des Dibiphenylen-Radikalanions (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung Das Dibiphenylenethen-Radikalanion ( ) wurde elektrochemisch hergestellt und das Elektronenabsorptionsspektrum aufgenommen. Auf Grund von LCAO-MO Berechnungen in derHückel-Annäherung und der Analyse der Bandenlagen wird nahegelegt, daß im -Molekül zwei planare Fluorenyliden-Fragmente ca. 60° um die zentrale C=C-Bindung verdrillt angeordnet sind.

     

Mind the correct basis set: A case study for predicting gas phase acidities of small compounds using calculations from first principles

Some of the most popular computational methods have been utilized to determine a dependency of the acidity trend of the first‐row hydrides on a choice of basis set. For about three decades, methyl anion ( ) was known as the strongest base but after Tian et al. were able to produce the gas phase lithium monoxide anion (LiO–) they discovered it was a stronger base than (Tian et al., Proc Natl Acad Soc USA 2008, 105, 7647). Furthermore, the authors confirmed their experimental results using high‐level ab initio methods, namely W1 and W2C composite methods, as well as complete active space‐averaged quadratic coupled cluster and Brueckner Doubles with triple excitation contribution (BD(T)) within the aug‐cc‐pVQZ basis set. These methods are highly demanding in terms of the computational effort as well as a level of expertise needed from the user to correctly conduct such calculations. We have shown that the proper acidity trend, that is, , can be obtained with less expensive, ”black‐box” type methods if only the basis set is properly chosen. Our results prove that the diffuse augmented basis sets are absolutely necessary for appropriate predictions of acidities. Our calculations show that the correct order of is achieved by augmenting relatively small cc‐pVXZ (X = D,T) basis sets. A similar effect is observed for the family of Pople's basis sets. Our estimate for with CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ was 423.8 kcal/mol, which agrees very well with the experimental value 425.7 ± 6.1 kcal/mol. An important finding is that the proper acidity trend may be reversed if the basis sets are not correctly selected. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structure of electronically excited complexes in styrene and α-methylstyrene anion polymerizations

The spatial and electronic structure of styrene and α-methylstyrene monomer molecules and their complexes with living polymers in the ground singlet state (S ₀) and excited singlet (S ₁) and triplet (T ₁) states has been studied by RHF, ROHF/6-31G*, and DH quantum-chemical methods. The mechanism of anionic polymerization is considered in the context of the concept of electronic excitation in an elementary process. The excited states of (S·T)₁ biradical type are characterized by low energies (6–15 kcal/mole), which have the sense of activation energies E _a of chain propagation. Calculation gave higher values of E _a for free C^? anions compared to those for C^?M⁺ ion pairs, which indicates that anions show lower chemical activity in the general polymerization process.     

Density functional investigation on electron-transfer catalysis of cycloreversion of cyclobutane: radical anion mechanism

The mechanism of cycloreversion of cyclobutane radical anion (c-C(4)H(8) (-)) has been investigated at the UB3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level, and compared with those of neutral c-C(4)H(8) and c-C(4)H(8) (+) radical cation. Although both c-C(4)H(8) (-) and C(2)H(4) are shown to be Rydberg states unstable with respect to electron ejection, the activation barrier for the "rotating" cycloreversion of c-C(4)H(8) (-) (37.3 kcal/mol) is lower by about 25.2 kcal/mol than that of c-C(4)H(8), and even the intervention of tetramethylene radical anion intermediate may reduce the activation barrier for the cycloreversion of c-C(4)H(8) by about 8.4 kcal/mol, mainly due to stronger electron-deficiency of intermediate biradical species than close-shell cyclobutanes. For the cycloreversion for c-C(4)H(8) (-), side isomerization reaction may be efficiently prevented by the low kinetic stability of tetramethylene radical anion intermediate towards dissociation, just different from the radical cation case. Our theoretical results have suggested the possibility of electron-attachment catalysis of the cycloreversion of some electron-deficient substituted cyclobutanes.     

Potassium Salts of 2,5-Bis(trimethylsilyl)-Germolide: Switching between Aromatic and Non-Aromatic States

The reduction of a 1-mesityl-2,5-bis-trimethylsilylchlorogermole 8 with KC₈ is reported. While the reaction with one equivalent of KC₈ gave the dimer with a Ge−Ge bond 10 , excess of KC₈ (four equivalents) resulted in the formation of the potassium salt of the germole dianion, 11 with reductive cleavage of the Ge−C bond. Careful reduction with two equivalents of KC₈ in THF provided the potassium salt of the planar germolide 5 . Its solid-state structure revealed contact ion pairs with the potassium ion η⁵-coordinated to the germacyclopentadienide ring. The molecular structure of the anion indicates a high degree of cyclic electron delocalization, in agreement with results from DFT calculations. Separation of the ion pair by complexation of the potassium ions with 18-crown-6 triggers the isomerization to germolide 6 , which is characterized by a pyramidal coordination sphere of the germanium atom and a localized diene structure. The isomers 5 and 6 represent a rare example for a structurally manifested switch between a non-aromatic and an aromatic state induced by an external stimulus, in this case the complexation of the counter cation.     

Experimental and theoretical approaches toward anion-responsive tripod-lanthanide complexes: mixed-donor ligand effects on lanthanide complexation and luminescence sensing profiles

A new series of tripods were designed to form anion-responsive, luminescent lanthanide complexes. These tripods contain pyridine, thiazole, pyrazine, or quinoline chromophores combined with amide carbonyl oxygen and tertiary nitrogen atoms. Crystallographic and EXAFS studies of the 10-coordinated tripod-La(NO(3))(3) complexes revealed that each La(3+) cation was cooperatively coordinated by one tetradentate tripod and three bidentate NO(3)(-) anions in the crystal and in CH(3)CN. Quantum chemical calculations indicated that the aromatic nitrogen plays a significant role in lanthanide complexation. The experimentally determined stability constants of complexes of the tripod with La(NO(3))(3), Eu(NO(3))(3), and Tb(NO(3))(3) were in good agreement with the theoretically calculated interaction energies. Complexation of each tripod with lanthanide triflate gave a mixture of several lanthanide complex species. Interestingly, the addition of a coordinative NO(3)(-) or Cl(-) anion to the mixture significantly influenced the lanthanide complexation profiles. The particular combination of tripod and a luminescent Eu(3+) center gave anion-selective luminescence enhancements. Pyridine-containing tripods exhibited the highest NO(3)(-) anion-selective luminescence and thus permit naked-eye detection of the NO(3)(-) anion.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorodinitroamine,FN(NO2)2

NF₃ and N(NO₂)₃ are known compounds, whereas the mixed fluoronitroamines, FN(NO₂)₂ and F₂NNO₂, have been unknown thus far. One of these, FN(NO₂)₂, has now been prepared and characterized by multinuclear NMR and Raman spectroscopy. FN(NO₂)₂ is the first known example of an inorganic fluoronitroamine. It is a thermally unstable, highly energetic material formed by the fluorination of the dinitramide anion using NF₄⁺ salts as the preferred fluorinating agent.     

Anion binding and luminescent sensing using cationic ruthenium(II) aminopyridine complexes

The synthesis of a series of ruthenium(II) based anion sensors of the type [Ru(eta(6)-C(6)H(4)MeCHMe(2))Cl(L)(2)][BF(4)] (2) is reported in which ligand L represents a series of substituted pyridinylmethyl-amine derivatives. The carbazole based ligand L(3) exhibits a fluorescent intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) state that is quenched by ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) upon coordination to ruthenium in the 1:1 complex [Ru(eta(6)-C(6)H(4)MeCHMe(2))Cl(2)(L(3))] (1 c). The 1:2 complex 2 c is fluorescent, however, and acts as a fluorescent anion sensor because of the mixing of an anion-dependent charge-transfer component into the excited state. The 1:2 complexes of type 2 all exhibit interesting low symmetry (1)H NMR spectra that also are a useful handle on anion complexation. The electronic structures of L(3), 1 c and 2 c have been probed by time-dependent DFT calculations.     

Regioselectivity of reactions of vinyl- and isopropenylcyclopentadienide anions with electrophilic agents. Synthesis and crystal structures of complexes [C5H4C(Me)=CH2]ZrCl3 · 2THF and [C5Me4CH=CH2]ZrCl3 · 2THF

Regioselectivity of the reactions of lithium vinyl- and isopropenylcyclopentadienides C₅H₄C(R)=CH₂ ^-Li⁺(R = H, Me) and lithium tetramethylvinylcyclopentadienide C₅Me₄CH=CH₂ ^-Li⁺ with various electrophilic agents (Me₃SiCl, Me₃SnCl, Et₂PCl, 2-chloro-1, 3-dioxaphospholane, and MeI) was studied. Two new monocyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes, [C₅H₄C(Me) = CH₂]ZrCl₃ · 2THF and [C₅Me₄CH=CH₂]ZrCl₃ · 2THF, were synthesized. Their crystal structures were established by X-ray diffraction. The results of quantum chemical calculations for the C₅H₄C(R) = CH₂ ^- (R = H, Me) and C₅Me₄CH=CH₂ ^- anions by the DFT method (RMPW1PW91) with the 6-311+G(d, p) split valence basis set are in good agreement with experimental data on the regioselectivity of their reactions with electrophilic agents.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 390–399, February, 2005.     

The diphosphate monoanion in the gas phase: a joint mass spectrometric and theoretical study

H(3)P(2)O(7) (-) ions were obtained in an electrospray ion source of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI/FTICR) mass spectrometer from a CH(3)CN/H(2)O (1:1) pyrophosphoric acid solution and in the ionic source of a triple quadrupole (TQ) mass spectrometer from the chemical ionisation (CI) of pyrophosphoric acid introduced by a thermostatically controlled direct insertion probe. The ions were structurally characterised by mass spectrometric techniques and theoretical calculations. Consistent with collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) mass spectrometric results, theoretical calculations identified the linear diphosphate anion (I) as the most stable isomer on the H(3)P(2)O(7) (-) potential energy surface. The joint application of mass spectrometric techniques and theoretical methods provided information on the dissociative processes of diphosphate anions in the gas phase. Finally, this study provides an insight into the structures and stabilities of the [H(3)PO(4).PO(3)](-), [HP(2)O(6).H(2)O](-) and [H(2)PO(4).HPO(3)](-) clusters and allows the stability and structure of the dimetaphosphate anion, HP(2)O(6) (-), to be investigated at the B3LYP6-31+G* and CCSD(T) levels of theory.     

New Furano-sesquiterpenoids from Mediterranean Sponges

A mixture of sponges of the East Pyrenean Mediterranean is shown to contain the known sponge products longifolin ( 1 ), avarol ((+)- 3 ), and avarone ( 4 ) and the terrestrial-plant product sesquirosefuran ( 2 ), besides to the new furano-sesquiterpenoids tavacfuran (= 3-methyl-2-[(3′Z)-3′-methyl-4″-methyl-2″-furyl-3′-butenyl]furan; ( 5 ) and tavacpallescensin (= 5,10-dihydro-6,9-dimethyl-4H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]furan; 6 ) and the new furano-butenolide sesquiterpenoids tavacbutenolide-1 (= (±-4-ethoxy-2-methyl-4-)[(2′E)-2′-methyl-4′-(3″-methyl-2″-furyl)-2′-butenyl]-2-buten-4-olide; (±)- 7 ) and tavacbutenolide-2 (= (±)-4-ethoxy-3-methyl-4-[2′E)-3′-methyl-4′-(4″-methyl-2″-furyl)-2′-butenyl]-2-buten-4-olide; (±)- 8 ). Structural assignments are based on NMR data and on the synthesis of the (E)-isomer of 5 . The sponge Dysidea tupha of the same area is also shown to contain the two sesquiterpenoids ent-furodysinin ((?)- 14 ), which is enantiomeric to a product of a Dysidea sp. of Australian waters, and tuphabutenolide ((+)- 15 ).     

From Weakly Coordinating to Non‐Coordinating Anions? A Simple Preparation of the Silver Salt of the Least Coordinating Anion and Its Application To Determine the Ground State Structure of the Ag(η2‐P4)2+ Cation

The unexpected but facile preparation of the silver salt of the least coordinating [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion (R=C(CF₃)₃) by reaction of Ag[Al(OR)₄] with one equivalent of PCl₃ is described. The mechanism of the formation of Ag[(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃] is explained based on the available experimental data as well as on quantum chemical calculations with the inclusion of entropy and COSMO solvation enthalpies. The crystal structures of (RO)₃Al←OC₄H₈, Cs⁺[(RO)₂(Me)Al‐F‐Al(Me)(OR)₂]^?, Ag(CH₂Cl₂)₃⁺[(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? and Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺[(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? are described. From the collected data it will be shown that the [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion is the least coordinating anion currently known. With respect to the fluoride ion affinity of two parent Lewis acids Al(OR)₃ of 685 kJ mol^?1, the ligand affinity (441 kJ mol^?1), the proton and copper decomposition reactions (?983 and ?297 kJ mol^?1) as well as HOMO level and HOMO–LUMO gap and in comparison with [Sb₄F₂₁]^?, [Sb(OTeF₅)₆]^?, [Al(OR)₄]^? as well as [B(R^F)₄]^? (R^F=CF₃ or C₆F₅) the [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion is among the best weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) according to each value. In contrast to most of the other cited anions, the [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃] anion is available by a simple preparation in conventional inorganic laboratories. The least coordinating character of this anion was employed to clarify the question of the ground state geometry of the Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺ cation (D_2h, D₂ or D_2d?). In agreement with computational data and NMR spectra it could be shown that the rotation along the Ag‐(P‐P‐centroid) vector has no barrier and that the structure adopted in the solid state depends on packing effects which lead to an almost D_2h symmetric Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺ cation (0 to 10.6° torsion) for the more symmetrical [Al(OR)₄]^? anion, but to a D₂ symmetric Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺ cation with a 44° twist angle of the two AgP₂ planes for the less symmetrical [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion. This implies that silver back bonding, suggested by quantum chemical population analyses to be of importance, is only weak.