Redox chemistry of tellurium bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(V)azane disulfide and diselenide systems: a spectroscopic and structural study

The redox chemistry of tellurium-chalcogenide systems is examined via reactions of tellurium(IV) tetrachloride with Li[(t)()BuN(E)P(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P(E)N(H)(t)Bu] (3a, E = S; 3b, E = Se). Reaction of TeCl(4) with 2 equiv of 3a in THF generates the tellurium(IV) species TeCl(3)[HcddS(2)][H(2)cddS(2)] 4a [cddS(2) = (t)BuN(S)P(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P(S)N(t)Bu] at short reaction times, while reduction to the tellurium(II) complex TeCl(2)[H(2)cddS(2)](2) 5a is observed at longer reaction times. The analogous reaction of TeCl(4) and 3b yields only the tellurium(II) complex TeCl(2)[H(2)cddSe(2)](2) 5b. The use of 4 equiv of 3a or 3b produces Te[HcddE(2)](2) (6a (E = S) or 6b (E = Se)). NMR and EPR studies of the 5:1 reaction of 3a and TeCl(4) in THF or C(6)D(6) indicate that the formation of the Te(II) complex 6a via decomposition of a Te(IV) precursor occurs via a radical process to generate H(2)cddS(2). Abstraction of hydrogen from THF solvent is proposed to account for the formation of 2a. These results are discussed in the context of known tellurium-sulfur and tellurium-nitrogen redox systems. The X-ray crystal structures of 4a.[C(7)H(8)](0.5), 5a, 5b, 6a.[C(6)H(14)](0.5), and 6b.[C(6)H(14)](0.5) have been determined. The cyclodiphosph(V)azane dichalcogenide ligand chelates the tellurium center in an E,N (E = S, Se) manner in 4a.[C(7)H(8)](0.5), 6a.[C(6)H(14)](0.5), and 6b.[C(6)H(14)](0.5) with long Te-N bond distances in each case. Further, a neutral H(2)cddS(2) ligand weakly coordinates the tellurium center in 4a small middle dot[C(7)H(8)](0.5) via a single chalcogen atom. A similar monodentate interaction of two neutral ligands with a TeCl(2) unit is observed in the case of 5a and 5b, giving a trans square planar arrangement at tellurium.     

Acid-base equilibria in gamma-butyrolactone studied by use of pH-ISFETs

pH-ISFETs were used in the study of acid-base equilibria in gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). After the spectrophotometric determination of the pK(a) value of 3,5-dichloropicric acid, the pK(a) values and homo-conjugation constants of various acids (including the conjugate acids of bases) were determined potentiometrically using a Ta(2)O(5)-type pH-ISFET. The values of pK(a) in GBL were in a linear relation with those in propylene carbonate (PC) and 1.0 units smaller on average. The difference in pK(a) between GBL and PC was mainly attributable to the difference in proton solvation. The autoprotolysis constant of GBL, roughly estimated by a rapid titration with a Si(3)N(4)-ISFET, was about 30 on the pK(SH) scale. A comparative study was made of the response speeds of the Ta(2)O(5)- and Si(3)N(4)-type pH-ISFETs and a conventional pH-glass electrode. The result was Si(3)N(4)-ISFET > Ta(2)O(5)-ISFET > glass electrode. Because GBL is not stable against acids and bases, the use of pH-ISFETs was much more convenient than the use of the conventional glass electrode.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of aryl dithioacetates with pyridines in acetonitrile

Kinetic studies of the pyridinolysis (XC(5)H(4)N) of aryl dithioacetates (CH(3)C(=S)SC(6)H(4)Z) are carried out in acetonitrile at 60.0 degrees C. A biphasic Br?nsted plot is obtained with a change in slope from a large value (beta(X) congruent with 0.9) to a small value (beta(X) congruent with 0.4) at pK(a) degrees = 5.2, which is attributed to a change in the rate-limiting step from breakdown to formation of a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate, T(+/-), in the reaction path as the basicity of the pyridine nucleophile increases. A clear-cut change in the cross-interaction constants rho(XZ) from a large positive value (rho(XZ) = +1.34) to a small negative value (rho(XZ) = -0.15) supports the mechanistic change proposed.     

Anionic Roussin's red esters (RREs) syn-/anti-[Fe(mu-SEt)(NO)2]2(-): the critical role of thiolate ligands in regulating the transformation of RREs into dinitrosyl iron complexes and the anionic RREs

The anionic syn-/ anti-[Fe(mu-SEt)(NO) 2] 2 (-) ( 2a) were synthesized and characterized by IR, UV-vis, EPR, and X-ray diffraction. The geometry of the [Fe(mu-S) 2Fe] core is rearranged in going from [{Fe(NO) 2} (9)-{Fe(NO) 2} (9)] Roussin's red ester [Fe(mu-SEt)(NO) 2] 2 ( 1a) (Fe...Fe distance of 2.7080(5) A) to the [{Fe(NO) 2} (9)-{Fe(NO) 2} (10)] complex 2a (Fe...Fe distance of 2.8413(6) A) to minimize the degree of Fe...Fe interaction to stabilize complex 2a. On the basis of X-ray absorption (Fe K- and L-edge), EPR and SQUID, complex 2a is best described as the anionic [{Fe(NO) 2} (9)-{Fe(NO) 2} (10)] Roussin's red ester with the fully delocalized mixed-valence core. The complete bridged-thiolate cleavage yielded DNIC [(EtS) 2Fe(NO) 2] (-) ( 3a) in the reaction of 2 equiv of [EtS] (-) and complex 1a, whereas reaction of 2 equiv of [(t)BuS] (-) with [Fe(micro-S (t)Bu)(NO) 2] 2 (1b) gave DNIC [((t)BuS) 2Fe(NO) 2] (-) (3b) and the anionic Roussin's red ester [Fe(mu-S (t)Bu)(NO) 2] 2 (-) (2b) through bridged-thiolate cleavage in combination with reduction. In contrast to the inertness of DNIC 3b toward complex 1b, nucleophile DNIC 3a induces the reduction of complex 1a to produce the anionic Roussin's red ester 2a. Interestingly, dissolution of complex 3a in MeOH at 298 K finally led to the formation of a mixture of complexes 2a and 3a, in contrast to the dynamic equilibrium of complexes 3b and 1b observed in dissolution of complex 3b in MeOH. These results illustrate the aspect of how the steric structures of nucleophiles ([EtS] (-) vs [ (t)BuS] (-) and [(EtS) 2Fe(NO)2](-) vs [((t)BuS) 2Fe(NO)2] (-)) function to determine the reaction products.     

Chalcogenide-Lewis acid mediated reactions of electron-deficient alkynes with aldehydes

Reactions of but-3-yn-2-one (2) with aldehydes 1 in the presence of a Lewis acid and dimethyl sulfide (3 a) predominantly gave (E)-alpha-(halomethylene)aldols 4-5 in high yields, while reactions of methyl propiolate (6 a) mainly afforded (Z)-3-halogeno-2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylates 7-8 in low to moderate yields. A reaction of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (10) with 1 a in the presence of TiCl(4) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylthiourea (3 c) produced maleate (E)-11 (40 %) and butenolide 12 (40 %). When a reaction of 6 a with 1 a was carried out in the presence of TiBr(4) and 3 a (0.2 equiv) at -20 degrees C for 60 h, 3-(methylthio)-2-(hydroxyalkyl)acrylate 9 a was obtained in an 8 % yield. Experiments were conducted in order to elucidate the formation mechanism of 9 a, and it was made clear that 9 a was formed via the processes of the Michael addition of sulfide 3 a to alkynoate 6 a and an aldol reaction with 1 a and demethylation.     

Reaction of nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(13) with Dicobalt Octacarbonyl: Crystal Structures of the Complexes [Co(2)(CO)(2)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)], [Co(2)(CO)(PMe(2)Ph)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)], and [CoCl(PMe(2)Ph)(2)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))

The compounds [Co(2)(CO)(8)] and nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(13) react in CH(2)Cl(2) to give a complex mixture of products consisting primarily of two isomers of the dicobalt species [Co(2)(CO)(2)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)] (1), together with small amounts of a mononuclear cobalt compound [Co(CO)(2)(eta(5)-10-CO-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10))] (5) and a charge-compensated carborane nido-9-CO-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11) (6). In solution, isomers 1a and 1b slowly equilibrate. However, column chromatography allows a clean separation of 1a from the mixture, and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study revealed that each metal atom is ligated by a terminal CO molecule and in a pentahapto manner by a nido-C(2)B(9)H(11) cage framework. The two Co(CO)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)) units are linked by a Co-Co bond [2.503(2) ?], which is supported by two three-center two-electron B-H right harpoon-up Co bonds. The latter employ B-H vertices in each cage which lie in alpha-sites with respect to the carbons in the CCBBB rings bonded to cobalt. Addition of PMe(2)Ph to a CH(2)Cl(2) solution of a mixture of the isomers 1, enriched in 1b, gave isomers of formulation [Co(2)(CO)(PMe(2)Ph)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)] (2). Crystals of one isomer were suitable for X-ray diffraction. The molecule 2a has a structure similar to that of 1a but differs in that whereas one B-H right harpoon-up Co bridge involves a boron atom in an alpha-site of a CCBBB ring coordinated to cobalt, the other uses a boron atom in the beta-site. Reaction between 1b and an excess of PMe(2)Ph in CH(2)Cl(2) gave the complex [CoCl(PMe(2)Ph)(2)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))] (3), the structure of which was established by X-ray diffraction. Experiments indicated that 3 was formed through a paramagnetic Co(II) species of formulation [Co(PMe(2)Ph)(2)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))]. Addition of 2 molar equiv of CNBu(t) to solutions of either 1a or 1b gave a mixture of two isomers of the complex [Co(2)(CNBu(t))(2)(eta(5)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)] (4). NMR data for the new compounds are reported and discussed.     

A probable hydrogen-bonded Meisenheimer complex: an unusually high S(N)Ar reactivity of nitroaniline derivatives with hydroxide ion in aqueous media

Observations show that nitroanilines exhibit an unusually high S(N)Ar reactivity with OH(-) in aqueous media in reactions that produce nitrophenols. S(N)Ar reaction of 4-nitroaniline (2a) in aqueous NaOH for 16 h yields 4-nitrophenol (4a) quantitatively, whereas a similar reaction of 4-nitrochlorobenzene (1a) gave 4a in 2% yield together with recovered 1a in 97%, suggesting that the leaving ability of the NH(2) group far surpasses that of Cl under these conditions. An essential feature of S(N)Ar reactions of nitroanilines is probably that the NH(2) leaving group participates in a hydrogen-bonding interaction with H(2)O. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for a set of 4-nitroaniline, OH(-), and H(2)O suggest a possible formation of a Meisenheimer complex stabilized by hydrogen-bonding interactions and a six-membered ring structure. The results obtained here contrast with conventional S(N)Ar reactivity profiles in which nitroanilines are nearly unreactive with nucleophiles in organic solvents.     

Kinetics of radical heterolysis reactions forming alkene radical cations

Rate constants for heterolytic fragmentation of beta-(ester)alkyl radicals were determined by a combination of direct laser flash photolysis studies and indirect kinetic studies. The 1,1-dimethyl-2-mesyloxyhexyl radical (4a) fragments in acetonitrile at ambient temperature with a rate constant of k(het) > 5 x 10(9) s(-1) to give the radical cation from 2-methyl-2-heptene (6), which reacts with acetonitrile with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of k = 1 x 10(6) s(-1) and is trapped by methanol in acetonitrile in a reversible reaction. The 1,1-dimethyl-2-(diphenylphosphatoxy)hexyl radical (4b) heterolyzes in acetonitrile to give radical cation 6 in an ion pair with a rate constant of k(het) = 4 x 10(6) s(-1), and the ion pair collapses with a rate constant of k < or = 1 x 10(9) s(-1). Rate constants for heterolysis of the 1,1-dimethyl-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-2-(diphenylphosphatoxy)ethyl radical (5a) and the 1,1-dimethyl-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-2-(trifluoroacetoxy)ethyl radical (5b) were measured in various solvents, and an Arrhenius function for reaction of 5a in THF was determined (log k = 11.16-5.39/2.3RT in kcal/mol). The cyclopropyl reporter group imparts a 35-fold acceleration in the rate of heterolysis of 5a in comparison to 4b. The combined results were used to generate a predictive scale for heterolysis reactions of alkyl radicals containing beta-mesyloxy, beta-diphenylphosphatoxy, and beta-trifluoroacetoxy groups as a function of solvent polarity as determined on the E(T)(30) solvent polarity scale.     

Transfer of amido groups from isolated rhodium(I) amides to alkenes and vinylarenes

The reaction of monomeric and dimeric rhodium(I) amido complexes with unactivated olefins to generate imines is reported. Transamination of {(PEt(3))(2)RhN(SiMePh(2))(2)} (1a) or its -N(SiMe(3))(2) analogue 1b with p-toluidine gave the dimeric [(PEt(3))(2)Rh(mu-NHAr)](2) (Ar = p-tolyl) (2a) in 80% isolated yield. Reaction of 2a with PEt(3) generated the monomeric (PEt(3))(3)Rh(NHAr) (Ar = p-tolyl) (3a). PEt(3)-ligated arylamides 2a and 3a reacted with styrene to transfer the amido group to the olefin and to form the ketimine Ph(Me)C=N(p-tol) (4a) in 48-95% yields. The dinuclear amido hydride (PEt(3))(4)Rh(2)(mu-NHAr)(mu-H) (Ar = p-tolyl) (5a) was formed from reaction of 2a in 95% yield, and a mixture of this dimeric species and the (PEt(3))(n)RhH complexes with n = 3 and 4 was formed from reaction of 3a in a combined 75% yield. Propene reacted with 2a to give Me(2)C=N(p-tol) (4b) and 5a in 90 and 57% yields. Propene also reacted with 3a to give 4b and 5a in 65 and 94% yields. Analogues of 2a and 3a with varied electronic properties also reacted with styrene to form the corresponding imines, and moderately faster rates were observed for reactions of electron-rich arylamides. Kinetic studies of the reaction of 3a with styrene were most consistent with formation of the imine by migratory insertion of olefin into the rhodium-amide bond to generate an aminoalkyl intermediate that undergoes beta-hydrogen elimination to generate a rhodium hydride and an enamine that tautomerizes to the imine.     

Synthesis of monomeric Fe(II) and Ru(II) complexes of tetradentate phosphines

rac-Bis[{(diphenylphosphino)ethyl}-phenylphosphino]methane (DPPEPM) reacts with iron(II) and ruthenium(II) halides to generate complexes with folded DPPEPM coordination. The paramagnetic, five-coordinate Fe(DPPEPM)Cl(2) (1) in CD(2)Cl(2) features a tridentate binding mode as established by (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structure analysis of the analogous bromo complex, Fe(DPPEPM)Br(2) (2) revealed a pseudo-octahedral, cis-α geometry at iron with DPPEPM coordinated in a tetradentate fashion. However, in CD(2)Cl(2) solution, the coordination of DPPEPM in 2 is similar to that of 1 in that one of the external phosphorus atoms is dissociated resulting in a mixture of three tridentate complexes. The chloro ruthenium complex cis-Ru(κ(4)-DPPEPM)Cl(2) (3) is obtained from rac-DPPEPM and either [RuCl(2)(COD)](2) [COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene] or RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(4). The structure of 3 in both the solid state and in CD(2)Cl(2) solution features a folded κ(4)-DPPEPM. This binding mode was also observed in cis-[Fe(κ(4)-DPPEPM)(CH(3)CN)(2)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (4). Addition of an excess of CO to a methanolic solution of 1 results in the replacement of one of the chloride ions by CO to yield cis-[Fe(κ(4)-DPPEPM)Cl(CO)](Cl) (5). The same reaction in CH(2)Cl(2) produces a mixture of 5 and [Fe(κ(3)-DPPEPM)Cl(2)(CO)] (6) in which one of the internal phosphines has been substituted by CO. Complexes 2, 3, 4, and 5 appear to be the first structurally characterized monometallic complexes of κ(4)-DPPEPM.     

Diplatinum(III) complexes with four bridging 1-methylcytosinato nucleobases derived from a mononuclear trans-(NH3)2PtII complex and CuII

A heteronuclear complex of composition trans-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(N4-1-MeC(-)-N3)(2)Cu(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (1a), with 1-MeC(-) = 1-methylcytosinate, has been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. 1a (Cu,Pt) is a linkage isomer of a previously described compound with the two metals inverted (Pt,Cu). The intermetallic distances are significantly different in the two types of compounds, 2.6109(9) A in 1a, yet 2.49-2.56 A in several forms of the linkage isomer. When heated in water in the presence of air, 1a is converted in low yield into diplatinum(III) compounds [(H(3)N)Pt(1-MeC(-)-N3,N4)(4)Pt(NH(3))](2+) (2a) and [(H(2)O)Pt(1-MeC(-)-N3,N4)(4)Pt(NH(3))](2+) (2b), which were crystallized as ClO(4)(-) salts. In a modified procedure a third representative of this group of diplatinum(III) compounds, [(O(2)N)Pt(1-MeC(-)-N3,N4)(4)Pt](+) (2c) was isolated. All three compounds contain the four bridging 1-MeC ligands in a head,tail,head,tail arrangement with Pt-Pt distances (2.4516(7)-2.4976(9) A) that are the shortest ones among diplatinum(III) compounds containing nucleobases.     

Three-step calcination synthesis of high-purity Li8ZrO6 with CO2 absorption properties

Li(8)ZrO(6) contains a high lithium content and may bear a great ability of CO(2) absorption, yet the reports about the properties of CO(2) absorption on Li(8)ZrO(6) are few to date for its difficulty in production. In this paper, high-purity Li(8)ZrO(6) is synthesized via a three-step calcination method combined with an effective lithium source and a suitable initial Li/Zr molar ratio. The produced Li(8)ZrO(6) possesses a great CO(2) absorption capacity of about 53.98 wt % at 998 K, which could be well-maintained in a wide range of CO(2) partial pressures of 0.1-1.0 bar although it decreased gradually during the multicycle process of CO(2) absorption-desorption in a 10% CO(2) feed stream because of the high working temperature. These properties imply that Li(8)ZrO(6) may be a new option for high-temperature CO(2) capture applied in industrial processes such as a steam methane reformer.     

Design of a peptide hairpin containing a central three-residue loop

The construction of a designed beta-hairpin structure, containing a central three-residue loop has been successfully achieved in the synthetic nonapeptide Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-(D)Pro-(L)Pro-(D)Ala-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (2). The design is based on expanding the two-residue loop established in the peptide beta-hairpin Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-(D)Pro-(L)Pro-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (1). Characterization of the registered beta-hairpins in peptides 1 and 2 is based on the observation of key nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) in CDCl(3) and CD(3)OH. Solvent titration and temperature dependence of NH chemical shifts establish the identity of NH groups involved in interstrand hydrogen bonding. In peptide 2, the antiparallel registry is maintained, with the formation of a (D)Pro-(L)Pro-(D)Ala loop, stabilized by a 5-->1 hydrogen bond between Val3 CO and Leu7 NH groups (C(13), alpha-turn) and a 3-->1 hydrogen bond between (D)Pro4 CO and (d)Ala6 NH groups (C(7), gamma-turn). NMR derived structures suggest that in peptide 2, (d)Ala(6) adopts an alpha(L) conformation. In peptide 1, the (D)Pro-(L)Pro segment adopts a type II' beta-turn. Replacement of (D)Ala (6) in peptide 2 by (L)Ala in peptide 3 yields a beta-hairpin conformation, with a central (D)Pro-(L)Pro two-residue loop. Strand slippage at the C-terminus results in altered registry of the antiparallel strands.     

Formation of organolithium hetero-aggregates [Li4Ar2(nBu)2] (Ar=C6H4CH(Me)NMe2-2) during the directed ortho-lithiation of [1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene

(R)-[1-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene reacts with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio in pentane to quantitatively yield a unique hetero-aggregate (2 a) containing the lithiated arene, unreacted nBuLi, and the complexed parent arene in a 1:1:1 ratio. As a model compound, [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)] (2 b) was prepared from the quantitative redistribution reaction of the parent lithiated arene Li(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2) with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio. The mono-Et(2)O adduct [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)(OEt(2))] (2 c) and the bis-Et(2)O adduct [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)(OEt(2))(2)] (2 d) were obtained by re-crystallization of 2 b from pentane/Et(2)O and pure Et(2)O, respectively. The single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 2 b-d show that the overall structural motifs of all three derivatives are closely related. They are all tetranuclear Li aggregates in which the four Li atoms are arranged in an almost regular tetrahedron. These structures can be described as consisting of two linked dimeric units: one Li(2)Ar(2) dimer and a hypothetical Li(2)nBu(2) dimer. The stereochemical aspects of the chiral Li(2)Ar(2) fragment are discussed. The structures as observed in the solid state are apparently retained in solution as revealed by a combination of cryoscopy and (1)H, (13)C, and (6)Li NMR spectroscopy.     

Supramolecular networks of silver(I) and iron(II) complexes of the third generation tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3) (pz = pyrazolyl ring)

The new ligand Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3) (pz = pyrazolyl ring), prepared from the reaction of HOCH(2)C(pz)(3) and Ph(2)P(O)Cl in the presence of base, reacts with either AgBF(4) or Fe(BF(4))(2).6H(2)O in a 2/1 molar ratio to yield {[Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)Ag}(BF(4)) () and {[Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)Fe}(BF(4))(2) (), respectively. In the structure of , the silver is in an unusual planar geometry with each of the ligands in a kappa(2)-kappa(0) coordination mode. Slow evaporation of a thf solution of yields crystalline [Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3)Ag](2)(thf)(2)}(BF(4))(2) (). In each cationic unit of , the two Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3) ligands coordinate to the same two silver(i) centers in a kappa(2)-kappa(1) bonding mode, with a silver atom separation of 3.36 A. The supramolecular structure of both and is dominated by a pair of cooperative hydrogen bonding interactions between the Ph(2)P(O) secondary tecton and a hydrogen atom from a methylene group situated on a neighboring building block, which arranges the cations in chains. The reaction of HC(pz)(3) and AgO(3)SCF(3) (AgOTf) yields {[HC(pz)(3)](2)Ag(2)}(OTf)(2) (). The cationic unit in has a structure very similar to that of , but with a much shorter distance between the silver atoms at 2.86 A. The supramolecular structure of is dominated by an unusual pyrazolyl embrace interaction where the acceptor ring in the C-Hpi interaction is the pyrazolyl ring kappa(1)-bonded to silver in the adjacent dimeric unit rather than the other ring in a kappa(2)-bonded Cpz(2) unit. This interaction arranges the cations in chains which are further organized into sheets by the triflate anions that link the chains via combined AgO/CHO interactions. The iron in is octahedral with each tris(pyrazolyl)methane unit in the kappa(3)-tripodal coordination mode. The supramolecular structure is sheets formed by hydrogen bonding between the Ph(2)P(O) oxygen and a meta-position hydrogen on one of the diphenylphosphine rings from an adjacent cation.     

A repertoire of pyridinium-phenyl-methyl cross-talk through a cascade of intramolecular electrostatic interactions

Direct intramolecular cation-pi interaction between phenyl and pyridinium moieties in 1a(+) has been experimentally evidenced through pH-dependent (1)H NMR titration. The basicity of the pyridinyl group (pK(a) 2.9) in 1a can be measured both from the pH-dependent chemical shifts of the pyridinyl protons as well as from the protons of the neighboring phenyl and methyl groups as a result of electrostatic interaction between the phenyl and the pyridinium ion in 1a(+) at the ground state. The net result of this nearest neighbor electrostatic interaction is that the pyridinium moiety in 1a becomes more basic (pK(a) 2.92) compared to that in the standard 2a (pK(a) 2.56) as a consequence of edge-to-face cation (pyridinium)-pi (phenyl) interaction, giving a free energy of stabilization (DeltaDeltaG(o)pKa) of -2.1 kJ mol(-1). The fact that the pH-dependent downfield shifts of the phenyl and methyl protons give the pK(a) of the pyridine moiety of 1a also suggests that the nearest neighbor cation (pyridinium)-pi (phenyl) interaction also steers the CH (methyl)-pi (phenyl) interaction in tandem. This means that the whole pyridine-phenyl-methyl system in 1a(+) is electronically coupled at the ground state, cross-modulating the physicochemical property of the next neighbor by using the electrostatics as the engine, and the origin of this electrostatics is a far away point in the molecule-the pyridinyl-nitrogen. The relative chemical shift changes and the pK(a) differences show that the cation (pyridinium)-pi (phenyl) interaction is indeed more stable (DeltaDeltaG(o)pKa = -2.1 kJ mol(-1)) than that of the CH (methyl)-pi (phenyl) interaction (DeltaDeltaG(o)pKa = -0.8 kJ mol(-1)). Since the pK(a) of the pyridine moiety in 1a is also obtained through the pH-dependent shifts of both phenyl and methyl protons, it suggests that the net electrostatic mediated charge transfer from the phenyl to the pyridinium and its effect on the CH (methyl)-pi (phenyl) interaction corresponds to DeltaG(o)pKa of the pyridinium ion (approximately 17.5 kJ mol(-1)), which means that the aromatic characters of the phenyl and the pyridinium rings in 1a(+) have been cross-modulated owing to the edge-to-face interaction proportional to this DeltaG(o)pKa change.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of Sterically Protected Molybdenum Trihydride Redox Pairs: A Paramagnetic “Stretched” Dihydrogen Complex?

Complexes [MoCp(#)(PMe(3))(2)H(3)] (Cp(#)=1,2,4-C(5)H(2)tBu(3), 2 a; C(5)HiPr(4), 2 b) have been synthesized from the corresponding compounds [MoCp(#)Cl(4)] (1 a, 1 b) and fully characterized, including by X-ray crystallography and by a neutron diffraction study for 2 a. Protonation of 2 a led to complex [Mo(1,2,4-C(5)H(2)tBu(3))(PMe(3))(2)H(4)](+) (3 a) in THF and to [Mo(1,2,4-C(5)H(2)tBu(3))(PMe(3))(2)(MeCN)H(2)](+) (4 a) in MeCN. Complex 4 b analogously derives from protonation of 2 b in MeCN, whereas the tetrahydride complex 3 b is unstable. One-electron oxidation of 2 a and 2 b by [FeCp(2)]PF(6) produces the EPR-active 17-electron complexes 2 a(+) and 2 b(+). The former is thermally more stable than the latter and could be crystallographically characterized as the PF(6) (-) salt by X-ray diffraction, providing evidence for the presence of a stretched dihydrogen ligand (H...H=1.36(6) angstroms). Controlled thermal decomposition of 2 a(+) yielded the product of H(2) elimination, the 15-electron monohydride complex [Mo(1,2,4-C(5)H(2)tBu(3))(PMe(3))(2)H]PF(6) (5 a), which was characterized by X-ray crystallography and by EPR spectroscopy at liquid He temperature. The compound establishes an equilibrium with the solvent adduct in THF. An electrochemical study by cyclic voltammetry provides further evidence for a rapid H(2) elimination process from the 17-electron complexes. In contrast to the previously investigated [MoCp*(dppe)H(3)](+) system (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), the decomposition of 2 a(+) by H(2) substitution with a solvent molecule appears to follow a dissociative pathway in MeCN.     

Amide-silyl ligand exchanges and equilibria among group 4 amide and silyl complexes

M(NMe2)4 (M = Zr, 1a; Hf, 1b) and the silyl anion (SiButPh2)- (2) in Li(THF)2SiButPh2 (2-Li) were found to undergo a ligand exchange to give [M(NMe2)3(SiButPh2)2]- (M = Zr, 3a; Hf, 3b) and [M(NMe2)5]- (M = Zr, 4a; Hf, 4b) in THF. The reaction is reversible, leading to equilibria: 2 1a (or 1b) + 2 2 <--> 3a (or 3b) + 4a (or 4b). In toluene, the reaction of 1a with 2 yields [(Me2N)3Zr(SiButPh2)2]-[Zr(NMe2)5Li2(THF)4]+ (5) as an ionic pair. The silyl anion 2 selectively attacks the -N(SiMe3)2 ligand in (Me2N)3Zr-N(SiMe3)2 (6a) to give 3a and [N(SiMe3)2]- (7) in reversible reaction: 6a + 2 2 <--> 3a + 7. The following equilibria have also been observed and studied: 2M(NMe2)4 (1a; 1b) + [Si(SiMe3)3]- (8) <--> (Me2N)3M-Si(SiMe3)3 (M = Zr, 9a; Hf, 9b) + [M(NMe2)5]- (M = Zr, 4a; Hf, 4b); 6a (or 6b) + 8 <--> 9a (or 9b) + [N(SiMe3)2]- (7). The current study represents rare, direct observations of reversible amide-silyl exchanges and their equilibria. Crystal structures of 5, (Me2N)3Hf-Si(SiMe3)3 (9b), and [Hf(NMe2)4]2 (dimer of 1b), as well as the preparation of (Me2N)3M-N(SiMe3)2 (6a; 6b) are also reported.     

Mode selective tunneling dynamics observed by high resolution spectroscopy of the bending fundamentals of 14NH2D and 14ND2H

High resolution (0.004 and 0.01 cm(-1) instrumental bandwidth) interferometric Fourier transform infrared spectra of (14)NH2D and (14)ND2H were measured on a Bomem DA002 spectrometer in a supersonic jet expansion and at room temperature. We report the analysis of the bending fundamentals of (14)NH2D with term values Tv(s)=1389.9063(2) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1390.4953(2) cm(-1) for the nu(4b) fundamental and Tv(s)=1605.6404(7) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1591.0019(7) cm(-1) for the nu(4a) fundamental, and of (14)ND2H with term values of Tv(s)=1233.3740(2) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1235.8904(2) cm(-1) for the nu(4a) fundamental and Tv(s)=1461.7941(9) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1461.9918(19) cm(-1) for the nu(4b) fundamental. In all cases Tv(s) gives the position of the symmetric inversion sublevel (with positive parity) and Tv(a) the position of the antisymmetric inversion sublevel (with negative parity). The notation for the fundamentals nu(4a) and nu(4b) is chosen by correlation with the degenerate nu(4) mode in the C(3v) symmetric molecules NH3 and ND3. The degeneracy is lifted in Cs symmetry and a indicates the symmetric, b the antisymmetric normal mode with respect to the Cs symmetry plane in NH2D and ND2H. Assignments were established with certainty by means of ground state combination differences. About 20 molecular parameters of the effective S-reduced Hamiltonian could be determined accurately for each fundamental. In particular, the effect of Fermi resonances of the 2nu(2) overtone with the nu(4a) bending mode was observed, leading to an increased inversion splitting in the case of ND2H and to a strongly increased inversion splitting and an inverted order of the two inversion levels in NH2D. Rotational perturbations observed with the nu(4b) bending fundamentals are probably due to Coriolis interactions with the inversion overtone 2nu(2). The results are important for understanding isotope effects on the inversion in ammonia as well as its selective catalysis and inhibition by excitation of different vibrational modes, as treated by quantum dynamics on high dimensional potential hypersurfaces of this molecule.     

Half-pseudoferrocene cations from nucleophilic addition of o-carboranyl anions to the [(η6-mesitylene)2Fe](2+) dication

Reactions between the mesitylene (mes) dication [(η(6)-mes)(2)Fe](2+) (1a) [(PF(6)(-))(2) salt] and lithium o-carboranes Li[1-R-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11)] (2) (R = H, 2a; Me, 2b; Ph, 2c) at low temperature (-60 °C, 1 h, followed by stirring for 2 h at r.t.) in THF resulted in a clean addition of the corresponding carborane anions to one of the unsubstituted arene sites in 1a, forming a series of orange monocations of general structure [(η(5)-mes-exo-6-{2-R-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11)})Fe(η(6)-mes)](+) (3) (R = H, 3a; Me, 3b; Ph, 3c) which were isolated as PF(6)(-) salts (3PF(6)) in yields ranging 50-75%. Individual complexes were obtained on purification by LC or preparative TLC on a silica gel substrate, using MeCN-CH(2)Cl(2) mixtures as the mobile phase. Interestingly, the room-temperature reaction between 2a (threefold excess) and 1a(PF(6))(2) with a reverse order of addition of the reaction components yielded an orange salt [(η(5)-mes-exo-6-{1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11)})Fe(η(6)-mes)](+)[closo-nido-H(11)B(10)C(2)-C(2)B(10)H(12)](-) (3acCA) (cCA = conjucto-carborane anion = [closo-nido-H(11)B(10)C(2)-C(2)B(10)H(12)](-)) as a sole product in 71% yield. The formation of this conjucto anion can be taken as a strong support for the participation of a radical-chain mechanism in the ostensible nucleophilic addition which we suppose to be initiated by the formation of the [(mes)(2)Fe(+)]˙ radical cation. The structures of both 3PF(6) and 3acCA have been established by X-ray diffraction and the constitution of all compounds isolated is in agreement with elemental analyses, multinuclear NMR data, and MS spectra.