The stereodynamics of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-oxadiazinane and 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane—an experimental and theoretical study

Multinuclear dynamic NMR spectroscopy of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-oxadiazinane (3) revealed the existence of two conformers with differently oriented CF₃ groups with respect to the ring, and two dynamic processes: ring inversion and restricted rotation about the N-S bond. Two transition states connecting the two conformers and corresponding to clockwise and counterclockwise rotations about the N-S bond were found; the calculated activation barriers of about 12 kcal/mol are in excellent agreement with those measured experimentally for the related molecule 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane (1). X-ray analysis proved the existence of the symmetric isomer of 3, which is the minor isomer in solutions but the only one in the crystal due to packing effects. The normal Perlin effect (JCH_ax<JCH_eq) was observed for 2(6)-CH₂ in 3, whereas the reversed Perlin effect was found for the 4-CH₂ group in 3 as well as for all CH₂ groups in 1 both experimentally and theoretically. The latter effect in compounds 1, 3, and 1-(methylsulfonyl)-3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane (2) can be considered as a genuine reverse Perlin effect since larger values of ¹J_CH are observed for longer C-H bonds.     

Triphenylpyrylium salt-sensitized photoreactions of 1,4-diaryl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes through competitive single electron-transfer pathway and proton-catalyzed pathway

2,4,6-Triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate (TPPBF₄)-sensitized photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) reactions of 1,4-diaryl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes 5 (a: Ar¹ = Ar² = p-MeOC₆H₄, b: Ar¹ = Ar² = p-MeC₆H₄, c: Ar¹ = Ar² = Ph) underwent novel fragmentation through their radical cations to give 1,4-diarylbutan-1,4-diones 6 accompanied by elimination of ethylene. On the other hand, 4-aryl-cyclohex-3-en-1-ones 7, p-substituted phenols 8, and 4-aryl-4-aryloxycyclohexanones 9 were produced through proton-catalyzed pathways when the PET reactions of 5 were performed in the absence of a certain base such as 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (DTBP). Particularly, the formation of 9 is consistent with the novel cationic rearrangement involving nucleophilic O-1,2-aryl shifts and C-1,4-aryl shifts.     

Computational study of conformations and of sulfinyl oxygen-induced pentacoordination at silicon in 4-chloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide and 4,4-dichloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide

Second-order Møller-Plesset theory (MP2) and density functional theory (B3LYP) with the 6-311G(d,p) and 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets have been used to calculate the equilibrium geometries and relative energies of the chair, twist, and boat conformations of 4-chloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide and 4,4-dichloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide. The chair conformers of the axial sulfoxides are lower in energy than the chair conformers of the corresponding equatorial sulfoxides. MP2/6-311+G(d,p) predicted the chair conformer of axial trans-4-chloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide (4a) to be 6.12, 0.44, and 0.45 kcal/mol, respectively, more stable than the corresponding 1,4-twist (4b), 2,5-twist (4c) and 1,4-boat (4d) conformers and 6.93 kcal/mol more stable than the 2,5-boat transition state ([4e]^‡). Structures 4c and 4d are stabilized by intramolecular coordination of the sulfinyl oxygen with silicon that results in trigonal bipyramidal geometry at silicon. The 1,4-boat conformer (7d) of axial 4,4-dichloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide is also stabilized by transannular coordination of the sulfinyl oxygen with silicon. The energy difference (E_rel = 4.23 kcal/mol) between the chair conformer (7a) and 7d is larger than that between 4a and 4d. The relatively lower stability of the 1,4-boat conformer (7d) of axial 4,4-dichloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide (7a) may be due to repulsive interactions of the axial halogen and sulfinyl oxygen atoms. The relative energies and structures of the conformers and transition states of cis- and trans-4-chloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide and 4,4-dichloro-4-silathiacyclohexane 1-oxide are discussed in terms of hyperconjugative interactions, orbital interactions, nonbonded interactions, and intramolecular sulfinyl oxygen-silicon coordination.     

Cyclorhenated compounds derived from 1,4-diaryl-1-azabutadienes: preparation, structures and reactions

PhCH₂Re(CO)₅ reacted with 1,4-diaryl-1-azabutadienes to give cyclometallated (η²-(C,N)-azabutadiene)Re(CO)₄ (4) together with the substituted derivatives (η¹-(N)-azabutadiene)(η²-(C,N)-azabutadiene)Re(CO)₃ (6 and 7) The substituted product was shown by NMR and X-ray crystal structure analysis to be an inseparable mixture of isomers differing in the conformation of the η¹-ligand about the NC bond—trans for (6) and cis for (7). Reaction of the mixture of 6 and 7 from 1,4-diphenyl-1-azabutadiene with phenyl acetylene gave η⁵-(1,2,4-triphenyl-1-aza-cyclohexadienyl)Re(CO)₃.     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds. 73. Photolysis of cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol and acetone

Irradiation of cis-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1a) in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol in hexane with a low-pressure mercury lamp bearing a Vycor filter proceeded with high stereospecificity to give cis-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2a), in 33% isolated yield, together with a 15% yield of 1-[(tert-butoxy)methylphenylsilyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (3). The photolysis of trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1b) with tert-butyl alcohol under the same conditions gave stereospecifically trans-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2b) in 41% isolated yield, along with a 12% yield of 3. Similar photolysis of 1a and 1b with tert-butyl alcohol-d₁ produced 2a and 2b, respectively, in addition to 1-[(tert-butoxy)(monodeuteriomethyl)(phenyl)silyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane. When 1a and 1b were photolyzed with acetone in a hexane solution, cis- and trans-2,3-benzo-1-isopropoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (4a and 4b) were obtained in 25% and 23% isolated yield. In both photolyses, 1-(hydroxymethylphenylsilyl)-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (5) was also isolated in 4% and 5% yield, respectively. The photolysis of 1a with acetone-d₆ under the same conditions gave 4a-d₆ and 5-d₁ in 18% and 4% yields.     

Synthesis characterization and X-ray crystal structures of cis-1,4-diaminocyclohexane-platinum(II) nucleobase adducts

Platinum complexes of the type [Pt(cis-1,4-DACH)(L)₂]X, where cis-1,4-DACH = cis-1,4-diaminocyclohexane; L = adenine (ade) (1), hypoxanthine (hyp) (2), 9-methylguanine (9-megua) (3), cytosine (cyt) (4), or 1-methylcytosine (1-mecyt) (5); and X = SO₄ or Cl₂ groups, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹⁵Pt nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The crystals of [Pt(cis-1,4-DACH)(9-megua)₂]SO₄[9-megua-H]₂SO₄ (3) and [Pt(cis-1,4-DACH)(1-mecyt)₂]Cl₂ · 6H₂O (5) were also subjected to single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The base/PtN4 coordination plane dihedral angles were 74.55° and 85.61° in complex 3 and 78.12° and 81.80° in complex 5. The platinum had distorted square planar geometry in both complexes; the two adjacent corners were occupied by the two nitrogen atoms of cis-1,4-DACH, and the other two corners were occupied by the two N7 atoms of 9-megua in complex 3 and the two N3 atoms of 1-mecyt in complex 5. The cis-1,4-DACH, which has a unique twist-boat configuration, formed a seven-member chelating ring with platinum, which led to considerable strain during bidentate cis-1,4-DACH binding. Cations of both complexes 3 and 5 adopted C₂ molecular symmetry. These adducts were the models for the intrastand cross-links that were relevant to the binding of the Pt(II) antitumor drugs to DNA.     

Further studies of tetrakis(N,N′-dialkylbenzamidinato)diruthenium(III) chloro and alkynyl compounds: molecular engineering of metallayne monomers

Three diruthenium(III) compounds Ru₂(L)₄Cl₂, where L is mMeODMBA (N,N′-dimethyl-3-methoxybenzamidinate, 1a), DiMeODMBA (N,N′-dimethyl-3,5-dimethoxy benzamidinate, 1b), or DEBA (N,N′-diethylbenzamidinate, 1c), were prepared from the reactions between Ru₂(OAc)₄Cl and respective HL under reflux conditions. Metathesis reactions between 1 and LiC₂Y resulted in bis-alkynyl derivatives Ru₂(L)₄(C₂Y)₂ [Y=Ph (2), SiMe₃ (3), SiⁱPr₃ (4) and C₂SiMe₃ (5)]. The parent compounds 1 are paramagnetic (S=1), while bis-alkynyl derivatives 2-5 are diamagnetic and display well-solved ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra. Molecular structures of compounds 1b, 1c, 2c, 3c and 4b were established through single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, which revealed RuRu bond lengths of ca. 2.32 Å for parent compounds 1 and 2.45 Å for bis-alkynyl derivatives. Cyclic voltammograms of all compounds feature three one-electron couples: an oxidation and two reductions, while the reversibility of observed couples depends on the nature of axial ligands.     

Quinoxalines. Part 12: Synthesis and structural study of 1-(thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoxalines—the dehydrogenative cyclization with hydroxylamine hydrochloride

Starting with 2-acetylquinoxaline a novel class of heterocyclic compounds, the 1-(thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoxalines 4, were prepared by following two different synthetic procedures: 2-acetylquinoxaline reacted with thiosemicarbazide to the thiosemicarbazones 1a which was (i) cyclized with α-halogeno ketones to the thiazoles 3. These compounds were dehydrogenated in acidic medium to the title compounds 4. (ii) The thiosemicarbazone 1a could be also dehydrogenated using NH₂OH·HCl to the thioamide 5a and these, finally, were cyclized with α-halogeno ketones to the title compounds 4. Only thiazole 3a was isolated, the other thiazoles 3 were dehydrogenated in a one-pot procedure. From the thioamide 5a also both the compounds 9, by reacting with dibromodiacetyl, and 10, by treatment with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, were obtained. The analysis of both the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra was not straightforward but could be attained finally by employing the whole arsenal of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

Syntheses and structures of iron carbonyl complexes derived from N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine and N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine

The reaction of N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine (1) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile yielded di-(μ₃-thia)nonacarbonyltriiron (2), μ-[N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethyl)-η¹:η¹(N);η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido]hexacarbonyldiiron (3), and N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)amine (4). If the reaction was carried out at 45 °C, di-μ-[N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-η¹(N);η¹(S)-2-thiolethylamino]-μ-carbonyl-tetracarbonyldiiron (5) and trace amount of 4 were obtained. Stirring 5 in refluxing acetonitrile led to the thermal decomposition of 5, and ligand 1 was recovered quantitatively. However, in the presence of excess amount of Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile, complex 5 was converted into 2-4. On the other hand, the reaction of N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine (6) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile produced 2, μ-[N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-η¹ (N_py);η¹:η¹(N); η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido]pentacarbonyldiiron (7), and μ-[N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-η²(C,N);η¹:η¹(S)-2- thiolethylamino]hexacarbonyldiiron (8). Reactions of both complex 7 and 8 with NOBF₄ gave μ-[(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-η¹(N_py);η¹:η¹(N);η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido](acetonitrile)tricarbonylnitrosyldiiron (9). These reaction products were well characterized spectrally. The molecular structures of complexes 3, 7-9 have been determined by means of X-ray diffraction. Intramolecular 1,5-hydrogen shift from the thiol to the methine carbon was observed in complexes 3, 7, and 9.     

Preparation, characterization, and reactivities of thienyl nickel complexes bearing indenyl ligands

The complexes (1-R, 2-R′-indenyl)NiPPh₃(thienyl) (R′=H, R=Me (1); Et (2); i-Pr (3); CH₂Ph (4); R′=Ph, R=Me (5)) have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and, in the case of 1, 2 and 5, by X-ray crystallographic studies. When combined with MAO, these compounds catalyze the polymerization of phenylacetylene to cis-transoidal poly(phenylacetylene) with M_w in the range of 5-7.5×10⁴ Da. NMR studies have revealed that MAO methylates these complexes without ionizing the Nithienyl bond; this implies that the polymerization reactions likely follow a non-cationic mechanism similar to that catalyzed by the corresponding NiCCPh complexes studied previously. Complexes 1-5 reacted with CF₃SO₃H to produce the corresponding NiOSO₂CF₃ compounds by protonation at the α-C of the thienyl moiety. The compound (1-Bzindenyl)Ni(PPh₃)(OSO₂CF₃) (9) has been isolated and fully characterized.     

Synthesis of redox-active biscalix[4]quinones and their electrochemical properties

Biscalix[4]arenes, 7 and 8, have been synthesized by a one-pot coupling method and a stepwise approach, respectively. One-pot reaction in a pressurized vessel resulted in the symmetric biscalix[4]arene 7 in high yield. Oxidation of compounds 7 and 8 by Tl(CO₂CF₃)₃ in CF₃COOH yielded biscalix[4]quinones, 9 and 10, respectively. Preliminary electrochemical studies by cyclic voltammetry of 9 and 10 show significant changes of their voltammograms upon addition of Na⁺.     

Spiro,ansa-derivatives of cyclotetraphosphazenes with a tetrafluorobutane-1,4-diol

The reaction of the octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene, N₄P₄Cl₈ (1), in three stoichiometries (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) with the sodium derivative of the fluorinated diol, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorobutane-1,4-diol (2), in THF solution at room temperature produced seven products, whose structures have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, ¹H, ¹⁹F, ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallography, where suitable single crystals were obtained: the mono-spiro compound, N₄P₄Cl₆(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O) (3), its ansa isomer (4), cis- and trans-bis-spiro derivatives N₄P₄Cl₄(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₂ (5 and 6), tris-spiro compound N₄P₄Cl₂(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₃ (7), its mono-spiro-bis-ansa isomer (8) and tetrakis-spiro compound N₄P₄(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₄, (9). X-ray crystallographic studies confirmed that the structure of the mono-spiro-bis-ansa isomer (8) has been reported as a first example in the literature. The results of all reactions were compared with previous work on the reaction of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene, N₃P₃Cl₆ with the sodium derivative of the diol (2), in a 1:1.2 mole ratio in the in the same solvent, THF, and with the reaction of octafluorocyclotetraphosphazene, N₄P₄F₈, with the silyl derivative of the diol (2), (Me₃SiOCH₂CF₂)₂, in a 1:0.4 mole ratio in THF.     

Reaction of guaiazulene with o-formylbenzoic acid in diethyl ether (or methanol) in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid: comparative studies on H and C NMR spectral properties of 3-guaiazulenylmethylium- and 3-guaiazulenium-ion structures

Reaction of guaiazulene (1) with o-formylbenzoic acid (2) in diethyl ether in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at 25 °C for 90 min gives the corresponding monocarbenium-ion compound, [2-(carboxy)phenyl](3-guaiazulenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (3), quantitatively, which upon treatment with aq NaHCO₃ leads to 3-(3-guaiazulenyl)-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one (5) in 96% isolated yield. Similarly, reaction of 1 with 2 in methanol under the same conditions as the above reaction affords two kinds of inseparable monocarbenium-ion compounds, 3 and (3-guaiazulenyl)[2-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methylium hexafluorophosphate (4) with an equilibrium between them, which upon reaction with a solution of NaBH₄ in ethanol at 25 °C for 30 min leads to 5 in 46% isolated yield and (3-guaiazulenyl)[2-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methane (6) in 37% isolated yield. Along with the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral properties of a solution of 5 in trifluoroacetic acid-d₁ at 25 °C, whose molecular structure is converted to a ca. 1:1 equilibrium mixture of 7 possessing a partial structure of the 3-guaiazulenylmethylium-ion and 8 possessing a partial structure of the 3-guaiazulenium-ion, comparative studies on the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral properties of 7 and 8 with those of the monocarbenium-ion compound, (3-guaiazulenyl)[4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methylium hexafluorophosphate (A), 5, and 6 are reported. From these NMR studies, it can be inferred that the positive charge of the 3-guaiazulenylmethylium-ion part of 7 apparently is transferred to the seven-membered ring, generating a resonance form of the 3-guaiazulenylium-ion structure η′, and the same result can be inferred for the previously documented monocarbenium-ion compounds A-I. Moreover, referring to a comparative study on the C-C bond lengths of A observed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis with those of the optimized (3-guaiazulenyl)[4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methylium-ion structure for A calculated by a WinMOPAC (Ver. 3.0) program using PM3, AM1, or MNDOD as a semiempirical Hamiltonian, the optimized [2-(carboxy)phenyl](3-guaiazulenyl)methylium-ion structure for 3 calculated using PM3 is described.     

Iron pentacarbonyl assisted photochemical route to 2,5- and 2,6-divinyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones from 1-ene-3-ynes

Photochemical reaction between the enynes, (Z)-1-methoxybut-1-ene-3-yne, 1 or isopropenyl acetylene, 2 with CO in presence of Fe(CO)₅ yields the 2,6- and 2,5-divinyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones: 2,6-bis{(Z)-2-methoxyvinyl}-1,4-benzoquinone (3, 42%), 2,5-bis{(Z)-2-methoxyvinyl}-1,4-benzoquinone (4, 31.5%), [{η²,η²:2,6-di(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,4-benzoquinone}tricarbonyliron] (5, 45%), and {η²,η²:2,5-di(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,4-benzoquinone}tricarbonyliron] (6, 65%).     

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium(III) trifluorovinyl phosphine complexes and attempted intramolecular dehydrofluorinative coupling of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and trifluorovinyl phosphine ligands

The trifluorovinyl phosphine complexes [Cp*RhCl₂{PR_3−x(CFCF₂)_x}] (1x = 1, a R = Ph, b Prⁱ, c Et; 2x = 2, R = Ph) have been prepared by treatment of [Cp*RhCl(μ-Cl)]₂ with the relevant phosphine. The salt [Cp*RhCl(CNBu^t){PPh₂(CFCF₂)}]BF₄, 3, was prepared by addition of Bu^tNC to 1a in the presence of NaBF₄. The salt [Cp*RhCl{κP,κS-(CF₂CF)PPh(C₆H₄SMe-2)}]BF₄ was prepared as a mixture of cis (5a) and trans (5b) isomers by treatment of [Cp*RhCl(μ-Cl)]₂ with the phosphine-thioether (CF₂CF)PPh(C₆H₄SMe-2), 4, in the presence of NaBF₄. The structures of 1a-c and 5a have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Intramolecular dehydrofluorinative carbon-carbon coupling between pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and trifluorovinylphosphine ligands of 1a, 3 and 5 has been attempted. No reaction was observed on treatment of the neutral complex [Cp*RhCl₂{PPh₂(CFCF₂)}], 1a, with proton sponge, however, 5a underwent dehydrofluorinative coupling to yield [{η⁵,κP,κS-(C₅Me₄CH₂CFCF)PPh(C₆H₄SMe-2)}RhCl]BF₄, 6. Other reactions, in particular addition of HF across the vinyl bonds of 5, occurred leading to a mixture of products. The cation of 3 underwent similar reactions.     

Structural diversity in the self-assembly of Ag(I) complexes containing 2-amino-5-halopyrimidine

A series of Ag(I) complexes containing the 2-amino-5-halopyrimidine ligands have been synthesized and their structures characterized by X-ray crystallography. The isomorphous complexes Ag(L-Cl)₂(CF₃SO₃) (L-Cl = 2-amino-5-chloropyrimidine), 1, and Ag(L-Br)₂(CF₃SO₃) (L-Br = 2-amino-5-bromopyrimidine), 2, are mononuclear, while [Ag(L-Br)(CF₃SO₃)]₆·6C₄H₁₀O, 3, and [Ag(L-I)(CF₃SO₃)]₆ (L-I = 2-amino-5-iodopyrimidine), 4, show cyclic self-assembly of six Ag(Ι) atoms and six L-X ligands, resulting in 24-membered metallocycles. The complex [Ag(L-I)(CF₃SO₃)]_∞, 5, forms 1D zigzag chains which are linked through C-I?Ag and Ag?O interactions to form a 3D structure. The tetranuclear complexes [Ag(L-X)(NO₃)]₄ [X = Cl, 6; Br, 7] form 16-membered metallocycles, while [Ag(L-X)(ClO₄)]_∞ [X = Cl, 8; Br, 9] exhibit helical chains. The different structure of 5 from 1 and 2 appears to be due to the stronger nucleophilic character of the iodine atom. In these complexes, the relatively smaller NO₃⁻ anions lead to the formation of tetranuclear metallocycles and the larger CF₃SO₃⁻ anions support the hexanuclear metallocycles, whereas the ClO₄⁻ anions induce the helical chains.     

Syntheses, structures and photoluminescence of a series of coordination frameworks based on dicarboxylate anion and bis(imidazole) ligand

In this article, ten new coordination frameworks, namely, [Ni(H₂O)₆]·(L3) (1), [Zn(L3)(H₂O)₃] (2), [Cd(L3)(H₂O)₃]·5.25H₂O (3), [Ag(L1)(H₂O)]·0.5(L3) (4), [Ni(L3)(L1)] (5), [Zn(L3)(L1)_0.5]·H₂O (6), [Cd(L3)(L1)_0.5(H₂O)] (7), [CoCl(L3)_0.5(L1)_0.5] (8), [ZnCl(L3)_0.5(L2)_0.5] (9), and [CoCl(L3)_0.5(L2)_0.5] (10), where L1 = 1,1′-(1,4)-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), L2 = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(2-ethylbenzimidazole) and H₂L3 = 3,3′-(p-xylylenediamino)bis(benzoic acid), have been synthesized by varying the metal centers and nitrogen-containing secondary ligands. These structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, elemental analyses and IR spectra. In 1, the L3 anion is not coordinated to the Ni(II) center as a free ligand. The Ni(II) ion is coordinated by water molecules to form the cationic [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ complex. The hydrogen bonds between L3 anions and [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations result in a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure of 1. In compounds 2 and 3, the metal centers are linked by the organic L3 anions to generate 1D infinite chain structures, respectively. The hydrogen bonds between carboxylate oxygen atoms and water molecules lead the structures of 2 and 3 to form 3D supramolecular structures. In 4, the L3 anion is not coordinated to the Ag(I) center, while the L1 ligands bridge adjacent Ag(I) centers to give 1D Ag-L1 chains. The hydrogen bonds among neighboring L3 anions form infinite 2D honeycomb-like layers, in the middle of which there exist large windows. Then, 1D Ag-L1 chains thread in the large windows of the 2D layer network, giving a 3D polythreaded structure. Considering the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and L3 anions, the structure is further linked into a 3D supramolecular structure. Compounds 5 and 7 were synthesized through their parent compounds 1 and 3, respectively, while 6 and 9 were obtained by their parent compound 2. In 5, the L3 anions and L1 ligands connect the Ni(II) atoms to give a 3D 3-fold interpenetrating dimondoid topology. Compound 6 exhibits a 3D three-fold interpenetrating α-Po network structure formed by L1 ligands connecting Zn-L3 sheets, while compound 7 shows a 2D (4,4) network topology with the L1 ligands connecting the Cd-L3 double chains. In compound 8, the L1 ligands linked Co-L3 chains into a 2D layer structure. Two mutual 2D layers interpenetrated in an inclined mode to generate a unique 3D architecture of 8. Compounds 9 and 10 display the same 2D layer structures with (4,4) network topologies. The effects of the N-containing ligands and the metal ions on the structures of the complexes 1-10 were discussed. In addition, the luminescent properties of compounds 2-4, 6, 7 and 9 were also investigated.     

EPR studies on regio-selective H-abstraction by “magic blue” reagent from polymers

The radical reactions of polyolefin and olefin copolymers (4-9), polydienes and diene coplymers (10-15), and polysiloxane (16) with “magic blue” reagent containing H-abstracting agent-bis{perfluoro-1-[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethyl}nitroxide [FSO₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)]₂N(O) (2)and spin trap-perfluoro-1-nitroso-[1-(2-fluoro-sulfonyl)ethoxy]ethane FSO₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)NO (3) were studied by EPR detection of the spin adducts of the corresponding polymeric radicals generated in the H-abstraction step to the spin trap 3, namely, the nitroxides FSO₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)N(O) (polymer-H) 17-29. EPR studies have provided information about the regio-selectivity of H-abstraction, the subsequent radical steps followed H-abstraction and grounded a possibility of employing “magic blue” reagent in polymer modification via H-abstraction-initiated grafting polymerization.     

Synthesis of a novel tetracyclic azaindolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine ring system

Synthesis of a series of novel fused tetracyclic mono- and diazaindolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine heterocyclic compounds 3a-o has been achieved in a two-step one-pot reaction set up starting from commercially available or easily accessible inputs. For example, reaction of di-lithiated (N-Boc)-2-amino-3-methylpyridine Li₂-2a with Weinreb amide of 2-(2,4-difluorophenoxy)-2,2-dimethylacetic acid 1a, followed by TFA treatment furnished the tetracyclic compound 3a, which is essentially a fusion of 7-azaindole and 3,4-dihydro[1,4]benzoxazine, in 70% isolated yield. A competitive elimination by-product 4a was also observed (24% isolated yield) in this case. Based on our initial results, a structural basis and molecular mechanism have been suggested to explain these two parallel reactions. Consequently, with appropriate structural tuning of 1, formation of the individual products can be controlled.     

Endo and exo cyclometallated iron carbonyl complexes derived from N-(N′-methyl-2-pyrrolylmethylidene)-2-thienylmethylamine

The reaction of N-(N′-methyl-2-pyrrolylmethylidene)-2-thienylmethylamine (1) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing toluene gives endo cyclometallated iron carbonyl complexes 2 and 5, exo cyclometallated iron carbonyl complex 3, and unexpected iron carbonyl complex 4. Complexes 2, 3, and 5 are geometric isomers. Complex 5 differs from complex 2 in the switch of the original substituent from α to β position of the pyrrolyl ring, and the pyrrolyl ring bridges to the diiron centers in μ-(3,2-η¹:η²) coordination mode in stead of μ-(2,3-η¹:η²). In complex 4, the pyrrolyl moiety of the original ligand 1 has been displaced by a thienyl group, which comes from the same ligand. Single crystals of 2, 3, and 5 were subjected to the X-ray diffraction analysis. The major product 2 undergoes: (i) thermolysis to recover the original ligand 1; (ii) reduction to form a hydrogenation product, 6, of the original ligand; (iii) substitution to form a monophosphine-substituted complex 7; (iv) chemical as well as electrochemical oxidation to produce a carbonylation product, γ-butyrolactam 8.