Reductive activation of arenecarbonitriles for the reactions with some carbon-centered electrophiles: the reaction mechanisms and synthetic applications

Synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the developed approach to the activation of aromatic nitriles are considered. The approach is based on the transformation of aromatic nitriles into stable anionic reduced forms. The latter, as shown for the reactions with alkyl halides and cyanoarenes, are promising reactants for the reactions with carbon-centered electrophiles. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 754–765, April, 2008.     

Spectral properties and conformations of nonlinear ketocyanines

The electronic transitions in molecules of the ketocyanine dyes (polyenic ω,ω′-bisamino ketones) were calculated by quantum chemical methods. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between the experimental bands of the S-S absorption spectra and calculated electronic transitions for the ketocyanine with the central pyranone moiety and the corresponding salt assuming an acute angle between the chromophores and for the ketocyanine with the central pyridone moiety assuming an obtuse angle between the chromophores. Such molecular conformations were confirmed by the gNOESY ¹H NMR data for these dyes. The difference in the conformations of the dyes with the pyranone and pyridone moieties is due, most likely, to steric hindrance created by the central methyl groups in the molecules of the latter. The salts corresponding to these dyes have similar conformational differences. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1954–1958, October, 2007.     

Binary Lead Fluoride Pb3F8

The binary lead fluoride Pb₃F₈ was synthesized by the reaction of anhydrous HF with Pb₃O₄ or by the reaction of BrF₃ with PbF₂. The compound was characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR, Raman, and solid-state MAS ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric analysis, XP and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Solid-state quantum-chemical calculations are provided for the vibrational analyses and band assignments. The electronic band structure offers an inside view of the mixed valence compound.     

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.     

Insight into Local Structure and Molecular Dynamics in Organic Solid‐State Ionic Conductors

Elucidating the rate and geometry of molecular dynamics is particularly important for unravelling ion‐conduction mechanisms in electrochemical materials. The local molecular motions in the plastic crystal 1‐ethyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate ([C₂mpyr][BF₄]) are studied by a combination of quantum chemical calculations and advanced solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For the first time, a restricted puckering motion with a small fluctuation angle of 25° in the pyrrolidinium ring has been observed, even in the low‐temperature phase (?45 °C). This local molecular motion is deemed to be particularly important for the material to maintain its plasticity, and hence, its ion mobility at low temperatures.     

Unexpected conformational properties of 1-trifluoromethyl-1-silacyclohexane, C5H10SiHCF3: gas electron diffraction, low-temperature NMR spectropic studies, and quantum chemical calculations

The molecular structure of axial and equatorial conformers of 1-trifluoromethyl-1-silacyclohexane, (C5H10SiHCF3), as well as the thermodynamic equilibrium between these species was investigated by means of gas electron diffraction (GED), dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance (DNMR) spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP, MP2, and CBS-QB3). According to GED, the compound exists as a mixture of two Cs symmetry conformers possessing the chair conformation of the six-membered ring and differing in the axial or equatorial position of the CF3 group (axial=58(12) mol%/equatorial=42(12) mol%) at T=293 K. This result is in a good agreement with the theoretical prediction. This is, however, in sharp contrast to the conformational properties of the cyclohexane analogue. The main structural feature for both conformers is the unusually long exocyclic bond length Si--C 1.934(10) A. A low-temperature 19F NMR experiment results in an axial/equatorial ratio of 17(2) mol%:83(2) mol% at 113 K and a DeltaG (not equal) of 5.5(2) kcal mol-1. CBS-QB3 calculations in the gas-phase and solvation effect calculations using the PCM(B3LYP/6-311G*) and IPCM(B3LYP/6-311G*) models were applied to estimate the axial/equatorial ratio in the 100-300 K temperature range, which showed excellent agreement with the experimental results. The minimum energy pathways for the chair-to-chair inversion of trifluoromethylsilacyclohexane and methylsilacyclohexane were also calculated using the STQN(Path) method.     

Unravelling Local Atomic Order of the Anionic Sublattice in M(Al1−xGax)4 with M=Sr and Ba by Using NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanical Modelling

The quasibinary section of the intermetallic phases MAl₄ and MGa₄ with M=Sr and Ba have been characterised by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies and differential thermal analysis. The binary phases show complete miscibility and form solid solutions M(Al_1?xGa_x)₄ with M=Sr and Ba. These structures crystallise in the BaAl₄ structure type with four‐ and five‐bonded Al and/or Ga atoms (denoted as Al(4b), Al(5b), Ga(4b), and Ga(5b), respectively) that form a polyanionic Al/Ga sublattice. Solid state ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopic analysis and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations were applied to study the bonding of the Al centres and the influence of Al/Ga substitution, especially in the regimes with low degrees of substitution. M(Al_1?xGa_x)₄ with M=Sr and Ba and 0.925≤x≤0.975 can be described as a matrix of the binary majority compound in which a low amount of the Ga atoms has been substituted by Al atoms. In good agreement with the QM calculations, ²⁷Al NMR investigations and single crystal XRD studies prove a preferred occupancy of Al(4b) for these substitution regimes. Furthermore, two different local Al environments were found, namely isolated Al(4b1) atoms and Al(4b2), due to the formation of Al(4b)–Al(4b) pairs besides isolated Al(4b) atoms within the polyanionic sublattice. QM calculations of the electric field gradient (EFG) using superlattice structures under periodic boundary conditions are in good agreement with the NMR spectroscopic results.     

New reactions of a dibenzo[a,e]pentalene

Reduction of dibenzo[a,e]pentalene 3 (denoted as dibenzopentalene hereafter) with excess lithium gave dilithium dibenzopentalenide 1. Since oxidation of 1 with iodine gave 3, redox behavior between 1 and 3 is controllable and reversible. Reaction of 3 with methyllithium gave lithium 5-methyldibenzopentalenide 5, the formation of which was evidenced by some trapping experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Reactions of 3 with halogens gave 5,10-dihalodibenzopentalenes, 8 and 9. Some optical properties of novel dibenzopentalene derivatives are also demonstrated.     

The Solid Solution Sr1−xBaxGa2: Substitutional Disorder and Chemical Bonding Visited by NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanical Calculations

Complete miscibility of the intermetallic phases (IPs) SrGa₂ and BaGa₂ forming the solid solution Sr_1?xBa_xGa₂ is shown by means of X‐ray diffraction, thermoanalytical and metallographic studies. Regarding the distances of Sr/Ba sites versus substitution degree, a model of isolated substitution centres (ISC) for up to 10 % cation substitution is explored to study the influence on the Ga bonding situation. A combined application of NMR spectroscopy and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations proves the electric field gradient (EFG) to be a sensitive measure of different bonding situations. The experimental resolution is boosted by orientation‐dependent NMR on magnetically aligned powder samples, revealing in first approximation two different Ga species in the ISC regimes. EFG calculations using superlattice structures within periodic boundary conditions are in fair agreement with the NMR spectroscopy data and are discussed in detail regarding their application on disordered IPs.     

PGSE NMR diffusion overhauser studies on [Ru(Cp*)(eta6-arene)][PF6], plus a variety of transition-metal, inorganic, and organic salts: an overview of ion pairing in dichloromethane

PGSE diffusion, 19F, 1H HOESY and 13C NMR studies for a series of [Ru(Cp*)(eta6-arene)][PF6] (1) salts are presented. The solid-state structure of [Ru(Cp*)(eta6-fluorobenzene)][PF6] (1 c) is reported. The extent of the ion pairing and the relative positions of the ions are shown to depend on the arene. For the solvent dichloromethane, new and literature PGSE data for PF6(-) salts of transition-metal, inorganic, and organic salts are compared. Taken together, these new results show that the charge distribution and the ability of the anion to approach the positively charged positions (steric effects due to molecular shape) are the determining factors in deciding the amount of ion pairing. DFT calculations of the charges in four salts of type 1, as well as in a variety of other salts, using a natural population analysis (NPA), support this view. This represents the first attempt, using experimental data, to understand, correlate, and partially explain the various degrees of ion pairing in a widely different collection of salts.     

Electrochemical reduction and oxidation of fullerenopyrrolidines and the ESR spectra of paramagnetic intermediates

Electroreduction and electrooxidation of monosubstituted N-methyl[60]fullerenopyrrolidines were studied by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic microelectrolysis in the cavity of an ESR spectrometer. Stepwise reversible transfer of three electrons to the fullerenopyrrolidine molecule results in the formation of stable radical anions (according to ESR, g = 2.0000, H = 0.8 G), dianions, and radical trianions (according to ESR, g = 2.0015, H = 1.5 G). The reduction potentials vary over narrow limits depending on the nature of the substituents in the pyrrolidine fragment of the compounds. Electrooxidation is irreversible and occurs in either one or two steps. For compounds containing the aniline, indole, or phenol fragment, the first step is associated with oxidation of these fragments and only after that, is the fullerenopyrrolidine core oxidized. Oxidation of the pyrrolidine fragment is substantially more difficult than that of tertiary amines.     

Elucidating the Germanium Distribution in ITQ-13 Zeolites by Density Functional Theory**

ITQ-13 is a medium-pore zeolite that can be prepared in all-silica form and as silicogermanate with Si/Ge ratios as low as 3. Usually synthesised in the presence of fluoride, ITQ-13 is among the very few systems containing fluoride anions in two distinct cage types, cube-like d4r units and [4 ⋅ 5⁶] cages. Here, dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to investigate the energetically most favourable Ge distributions for Si/Ge ratios between 55 and 6. The calculations show Ge atoms are incorporated at both the corners of d4r cages and at the basal plane of the [4 ⋅ 5⁶] cages, in accordance with ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. Two Ge atoms at adjacent corners of [4 ⋅ 5⁶] cages are stable at the highest Ge content considered (Si/Ge=6). Such a local environment has not yet been considered in the experimental literature. A calculation of the corresponding ¹⁹F NMR resonance points to overlap with other resonances, which might preclude its clear identification. Additional calculations investigate the variation of the dynamic behaviour of the fluoride anions as a function of the local environment as well as the selective defluorination of the [4 ⋅ 5⁶] cages.     

Synthesis,Structure and Photochemistry of Dibenzylidenecyclobutanones

A series of symmetrical dibenzylidene derivatives of cyclobutanone were synthesized with the goal of studying the physicochemical properties of cross-conjugated dienones (ketocyanine dyes). The structures of the products were established and studied by X-ray diffraction and by NMR and electronic spectroscopy. All the products had E,E-geometry. The oxidation and reduction potentials of the dienones were determined by cyclic voltammetry. The potentials were shown to depend on the nature, position, and number of substituents in the benzene rings. A linear correlation was found between the difference of the electrochemical oxidation and reduction potentials and the energy of the long-wavelength absorption maximum. This correlation can be employed to analyze the properties of other compounds of this type. Quantum chemistry was used to explain the observed regularities in the electrochemistry, absorption, and fluorescence of the dyes. The results are in good agreement with the experimental redox potentials and spectroscopy data.