An Experimental Study on the Effect of Substituents on Aromatic–Aromatic Interactions in Dithia[3,3]‐metaparacyclophanes

Simple model systems based on the 2,11‐dithia[3,3]‐metaparacyclophane skeleton were synthesized to study the effects of substituents on the intramolecular aromatic–aromatic interactions between benzene rings. X‐ray crystallography established that, in their more stable conformations, these metaparacyclophanes featured partially overlapping aromatic rings (interplanar distances of about 3.5 Å), with the planes of the aromatic systems arranged in a slightly tilted disposition (interplanar angles in the range 5–19°). Calculations showed that these derivatives underwent topomerization by flipping of the meta‐substituted ring over the para‐substituted one, a process in which the two rings adopted a continuum of edge‐to‐face dispositions, including an orthogonal one, which were less stable than the starting face‐to‐face arrangement. The energy barriers to the isomerization process were experimentally determined by variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy, by using an internal temperature standard to assess even minor differences in energy (relative experimental error: (±0.1 kJ mol^?1). The variation in the barriers as a function of the different substituents on the interacting ring was small and apparently unrelated to the effect of the substituents on the polarity of the π‐systems. An explanation based on the charge‐penetration effect seemed more‐suitable to rationalize the observed trends in the barriers.     

Computational (DFT) and Experimental (EXAFS) Study of the Interaction of [Ir(IMes)(H)2(L)3] with Substrates and Co‐substrates Relevant for SABRE in Dilute Systems

Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) is an emerging hyperpolarization method in NMR spectroscopy, in which hyperpolarization is transferred through the scalar coupling network of para‐hydrogen derived hydrides in a metal complex to a reversibly bound substrate. Substrates can even be hyperpolarized at concentrations below that of the metal complex by addition of a suitable co‐substrate. Here we investigate the catalytic system used for trace detection in NMR spectroscopy with [Ir(IMes)(H)₂(L)₃]⁺ (IMes=1,3‐dimesitylimidazol‐2‐ylidene) as catalyst, pyridine as a substrate and 1‐methyl‐1,2,3‐triazole as co‐substrate in great detail. With density functional theory (DFT), validated by extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments, we provide explanations for the relative abundance of the observed metal complexes, as well as their contribution to SABRE. We have established that the interaction between iridium and ligands cis to IMes is weaker than that with the trans ligand, and that in mixed complexes with pyridine and triazole, the latter preferentially takes up the trans position.     

The Electronic Ground State of [Fe(CO)3(NO)]−: A Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study

During the past 10 years iron‐catalyzed reactions have become established in the field of organic synthesis. For example, the complex anion [Fe(CO)₃(NO)]^?, which was originally described by Hogsed and Hieber, shows catalytic activity in various organic reactions. This anion is commonly regarded as being isoelectronic with [Fe(CO)₄]^2?, which, however, shows poor catalytic activity. The spectroscopic and quantum chemical investigations presented herein reveal that the complex ferrate [Fe(CO)₃(NO)]^? cannot be regarded as a Fe^?II species, but rather is predominantly a Fe⁰ species, in which the metal is covalently bonded to NO^? by two π‐bonds. A metal–N σ‐bond is not observed.     

The Quest for PdII–PdII Interactions: Structural and Spectroscopic Studies and Ab Initio Calculations on Dinuclear [Pd2(CN)4(μ‐diphosphane)2] Complexes

Structural and spectroscopic properties of and theoretical investigations on dinuclear [Pd₂(CN)₄(P–P)₂] (P–P=bis(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)methane ( 1 ), bis(dimethylphosphanyl)methane ( 2 )) and mononuclear trans‐[Pd(CN)₂(PCy₃)₂] ( 3 ) complexes are described. Xray structural analyses reveal Pd???Pd distances of 3.0432(7) and 3.307(4) Å in 1 and 2 , respectively. The absorption bands at λ>270 nm in 1 and 2 have 4d →5p_σ electronic‐transition character. Calculations at the CIS level indicate that the two low‐lying dipole‐allowed electronic transition bands in model complex [Pd₂(CN)₄(μ‐H₂PCH₂PH₂)₂] at 303 and 289 nm are due to combinations of many orbital transitions. The calculated interaction‐energy curve for the skewed dimer [{trans‐[Pd(CN)₂(PH₃)₂]}₂] is attractive at the MP2 level and implies the existence of a weak Pd^II–Pd^II interaction.     

Locating Dynamic Species with X‐ray Crystallography and NMR Spectroscopy: Acetone in p‐tert‐Butylcalix[4]arene

The exact location and orientation of dynamic species in structural studies continues to be a serious challenge, yet it is of paramount importance in modeling guest–host interactions so as to improve our understanding of the multiple weak interactions that govern many chemical and biological processes. The acetone guest in the tBC (p‐tert‐butylcalixarene) host presents such a challenge, as initial guest positions obtained from single crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) are incompatible with the ²H NMR spectrum. A detailed consideration of the diffraction data showed that more complicated structural models could be constructed that were consistent with the NMR data and still yielded satisfactory diffraction residuals. These models agree that one acetone methyl group is inserted into the deep cavity, and that it exchanges with the second methyl group outside. The outside methyl group in turn can switch positions with the carbonyl group, but the distribution of the methyl and carbonyl groups over the two sites is not equal. One factor that poses additional difficulty in deciding between models is whether the actual space group is tetragonal (P4/n), or twinned monoclinic (P2/n). All of the structural models considered here disagree substantially with the one proposed in an earlier publication.     

Defect Models of As‐Made High‐Silica Zeolites: Clusters of Hydrogen‐Bonds and Their Interaction with the Organic Structure‐Directing Agents Determined from 1H Double and Triple Quantum NMR Spectroscopy

Internal defect SiOH and SiO^? groups evolve during the structure formation of high‐Si zeolites in the presence of a cationic organic structure‐directing agent (SDA). These negatively charged defects do not completely disappear upon calcination. Herein we investigate the clustering of defect groups and their location within the pore walls of four zeolites. ZSM‐12, ZSM‐5, and SSZ‐74 have three clustered SiOH groups which are hydrogen‐bonded to SiO^?, whereas SSZ‐24 has only two. These defects interact with the structure‐directing quaternary ammonium ions preferably close to the charge center, unless steric shielding is present. The framework topologies of ZSM‐12, ZSM‐5, and SSZ‐24 have connected six‐rings where the organics interact with the defects. It is suggested that these six‐ring patterns form connectivity defects. SSZ‐74 is unique, it does not contain an extended six‐ring motif, so vacancy defects form instead.     

Transients from a mixture of [(R(O)Sn)2C(CH3)2]2 and (RCl2Sn)2C(CH3)2 [R = (SiMe3)2CH]: an identification in situ by 1D 119Sn and 2D 1H?119Sn HMQC NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry

The reaction of the 2,2‐bis(organodichlorostannyl)propane [(Me₃Si)₂CH(Cl₂)Sn]₂CMe₂ (A) with the corresponding organotin oxide {[(Me₃Si)₂CH(O)Sn]₂CMe₂}₂ (B) does not provide the corresponding normally expected tetraorganodistannoxane {[(Me₃Si)₂CH(Cl)SnCMe₂Sn(Cl)CH(SiMe₃)₂]O}_n but a complex reaction mixture. One major product, namely the 2,4,6,8‐tetraorgano‐2,6‐dichloro‐1,5,9‐trioxa‐2,4,6,8‐tetrastannabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivative [(Me₃Si)₂CHSnCMe₂Sn(Cl)CH(SiMe₃)₂]₂O₃ (C) was identified in situ by 2D ¹H? ¹¹⁹Sn and ¹H? ¹³C heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation NMR spectroscopy as well as electrospray mass spectrometry. Compound C is proposed to be in equilibrium with an ionic species C′, the cation of which has an adamantane‐type structure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monitoring and Understanding the Paraelectric–Ferroelectric Phase Transition in the Metal–Organic Framework [NH4][M(HCOO)3] by Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

The paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition in two isostructural metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) [NH₄][M(HCOO)₃] (M=Mg, Zn) was investigated by in situ variable‐temperature ²⁵Mg, ⁶⁷Zn, ¹⁴N, and ¹³C solid‐state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy. With decreasing temperature, a disorder–order transition of NH₄⁺ cations causes a change in dielectric properties. It is thought that [NH₄][Mg(HCOO)₃] exhibits a higher transition temperature than [NH₄][Zn(HCOO)₃] due to stronger hydrogen‐bonding interactions between NH₄⁺ ions and framework oxygen atoms. ²⁵Mg and ⁶⁷Zn NMR parameters are very sensitive to temperature‐induced changes in structure, dynamics, and dielectric behavior; stark spectral differences across the paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition are intimately related to subtle changes in the local environment of the metal center. Although ²⁵Mg and ⁶⁷Zn are challenging nuclei for SSNMR experiments, the highly spherically symmetric metal‐atom environments in [NH₄][M(HCOO)₃] give rise to relatively narrow spectra that can be acquired in 30–60 min at a low magnetic field of 9.4 T. Complementary ¹⁴N and ¹³C SSNMR experiments were performed to probe the role of NH₄⁺–framework hydrogen bonding in the paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition. This multinuclear SSNMR approach yields new physical insights into the [NH₄][M(HCOO)₃] system and shows great potential for molecular‐level studies on electric phenomena in a wide variety of MOFs.     

Charged Si9 Clusters in Neat Solids and the Detection of [H2Si9]2− in Solution: A Combined NMR,Raman, Mass Spectrometric,and Quantum Chemical Investigation

Polyanionic silicon clusters are provided by the Zintl phases K₄Si₄, comprising [Si₄]⁴⁻ units, and K₁₂Si₁₇, consisting of [Si₄]⁴⁻ and [Si₉]⁴⁻ clusters. A combination of solid‐state MAS‐NMR, solution NMR, and Raman spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and quantum‐chemical investigations was used to investigate four‐ and nine‐atomic silicon Zintl clusters in neat solids and solution. The results were compared to ²⁹Si isotope‐enriched samples. ²⁹Si‐MAS NMR and Raman shifts of the phase‐pure solids K₄Si₄ and K₁₂Si₁₇ were interpreted by quantum‐chemical calculations. Extraction of [Si₉]⁴⁻ clusters from K₁₂Si₁₇ with liquid ammonia/222crypt and their transfer to pyridine yields in a red solid containing Si₉ clusters. This compound was characterized by elemental and EDX analyses and ²⁹Si‐MAS NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Charged Si₉ clusters were detected by ²⁹Si NMR in solution. ²⁹Si and ¹H NMR spectra reveal the presence of the [H₂Si₉]²⁻ cluster anion in solution.     

The Role of Pd2+/Pd0 in Hydrogenation by [Pd(2‐pymo)2]n: An X‐ray Absorption and IR Spectroscopic Study

The metal–organic framework (MOF) [Pd(2‐pymo)₂]_n (2‐pymo=2‐pyrimidinolate) was used as catalyst in the hydrogenation of 1‐octene. During catalytic hydrogenation, the changes at the metal nodes and linkers of the MOF were investigated by in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and IR spectroscopy. With the help of extended X‐ray absorption fine structure and X‐ray absorption near edge structure data, Quick‐XAS, and IR spectroscopy, detailed insights into the catalytic relevance of Pd²⁺/Pd⁰ in the hydrogenation of 1‐octene could be achieved. Shortly after exposure of the catalyst to H₂ and simultaneously with the hydrogenation of 1‐octene, the aromatic rings of the linker molecules are hydrogenated rapidly. Up to this point, the MOF structure remained intact. After completion of linker hydrogenation, the linkers were also protonated. When half of the linker molecules were protonated, the onset of reduction of the Pd²⁺ centers to Pd⁰ was observed and the hydrogenation activity decreased, followed by fast reduction of the palladium centers and collapse of the MOF structure. Major fractions of Pd⁰ are only observed when the hydrogenation of 1‐octene is almost finished. Consequently, the Pd²⁺ nodes of the MOF [Pd(2‐pymo)₂]_n are identified as active centers in the hydrogenation of 1‐octene.     

[Me3Si(CF3)F]− and [Me3Si(CF3)2]−: Reactive Intermediates in Fluoride-Initiated Trifluoromethylation with Me3SiCF3— An NMR Study

The long-postulated reactive intermediates of polar fluoride-inititated trifluoromethylations with Me₃SiCF₃ (see scheme) were identified by NMR spectroscopy as [Me₃Si(CF₃)F]⁻ and [Me₃Si(CF₃)₂]⁻_.