On the Interaction between Deprotonated Cytosine [C(−H)]− and Ba2+: Infrared Multiphoton Spectroscopy and Dynamics

Gas-phase interactions between Ba²⁺ and deprotonated cytosine (C_(−H)) were studied in [C_(−H)Ba]⁺ and [C_(−H)BaC]⁺ complexes by IRMPD spectroscopy coupled to tandem mass-spectrometry in combination with DFT calculations. For the [C_(−H)BaC]⁺ complex only one [C_(−H)KAN1O−Ba-C_anti]⁺ isomer was found, although the presence of another structure cannot be excluded. This isomer features a central tetracoordinated Ba²⁺ that simultaneously interacts with keto-amino [C_(−H)]⁻ deprotonated on N1 and neutral keto-amino C. Both moieties are in different planes as a consequence of an additional NH…O=C hydrogen bond between C and [C_(−H)] ⁻ . A sequential IRMPD dynamics is observed in this complex. For the [C_(−H)Ba]⁺ complex produced by electrospray ionization two isomers ([C_(−H)KAN1OBa]⁺ and [C_(−H)KAN3OBa]⁺) were identified, in which Ba²⁺ interacts simultaneously with the C=O group and the N1 or N3 atom of the keto-amino [C_(−H)]⁻, respectively. A comparison with the related [C_(−H)Pb]⁺ complex (J. Y. Salpin et al., Chem. Phys. Chem. 2014 , 15, 2959–2971) is also presented.     

Structural characterization of flavonoid glycosides from leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using LC/MS/MS profiling of the target compounds

The aim of this study was to present integrated mass spectrometric methods for the structural characterization and identification of flavonoid glycoconjugates. During the liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses, TriVersa NanoMate chip‐based system with nanoelectrospray ionization and fraction collection was combined to a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. In the extract samples prepared from green leaves of wheat plantlets, 41 flavonoid derivatives were recognized. Part of the target natural products had the full structure being characterized after the registration of mass spectra, where m/z values for protonated [M + H]⁺ and deprotonated molecules [M ? H]^? were annotated. MS² and pseudo‐MS³ experiments were performed for [M + H]⁺ or [M ? H]^? and aglycone ions (Y₀^+/?‐type), respectively. It should be underlined that pseudo‐MS³ mass spectra were registered for aglycone product ions in the mass spectra of O‐glycosides present in the extract samples. In many cases, only tentative structural identification of aglycones was possible, mainly because of the presence of numerous C‐monoglycoside or C‐diglycoside in the samples. Acylation of the sugar moiety and/or methylation of the aglycone in the flavonoid glycosides under study was observed. The existence of isobaric and/or isomeric compounds was demonstrated in the extract studied. The collision‐induced dissociation mass spectra registered for C,O‐diglycosides and C,C‐diglycosides did not permit to draw complete structural conclusions about the compounds studied. For the investigated class of natural products, unambiguous classification of sugar moieties linked to the aglycones from the recorded mass spectra was not possible. Registration of the positive and negative ion mass spectra did not lead to the precise conclusion about the glycosylation position at C‐6 or C‐8, and O‐4′ or O‐7 atoms. It was possible, on the basis of the collected MS² spectra, to differentiate between O‐glycosides and C‐glycosides present in the samples analyzed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alogliptin and its benzoate salt

The crystal structure of the free base of the antidiabetic drug alogliptin [systematic name: 2‐({6‐[(3R)‐3‐aminopiperidin‐1‐yl]‐3‐methyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐yl}methyl)benzonitrile], C₁₈H₂₁N₅O₂, displays a two‐dimensional N—H...O hydrogen‐bonded network. It contains two independent molecules, which have the same conformation but differ in their hydrogen‐bond connectivity. In the crystal structure of the benzoate salt (systematic name: (3R)‐1‐{3‐[(2‐cyanophenyl)methyl]‐1‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐4‐yl}piperidin‐3‐aminium benzoate), C₁₈H₂₂N₅O₂⁺·C₇H₅O₂⁻, the NH₃⁺ group of the cation is engaged in three intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds to yield a hydrogen‐bonded layer structure. The benzoate salt and the free base differ fundamentally in the conformations of their alogliptin moieties.     

Gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of protonated benzofuran‐ and dihydrobenzofuran‐type neolignans investigated by accurate‐mass electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

We have investigated gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of protonated benzofuran neolignans (BNs) and dihydrobenzofuran neolignans (DBNs) by accurate‐mass electrospray ionization tandem and multiple‐stage (MSⁿ) mass spectrometry combined with thermochemical data estimated by Computational Chemistry. Most of the protonated compounds fragment into product ions B ([M + H–MeOH]⁺), C ([ B –MeOH]⁺), D ([ C –CO]⁺), and E ([ D –CO]⁺) upon collision‐induced dissociation (CID). However, we identified a series of diagnostic ions and associated them with specific structural features. In the case of compounds displaying an acetoxy group at C‐4, product ion C produces diagnostic ions K ([ C –C₂H₂O]⁺), L ([ K –CO]⁺), and P ([ L –CO]⁺). Formation of product ions H ([ D –H₂O]⁺) and M ([ H –CO]⁺) is associated with the hydroxyl group at C‐3 and C‐3′, whereas product ions N ([ D –MeOH]⁺) and O ([ N –MeOH]⁺) indicate a methoxyl group at the same positions. Finally, product ions F ([ A –C₂H₂O]⁺), Q ([ A –C₃H₆O₂]⁺), I ([ A –C₆H₆O]⁺), and J ([ I –MeOH]⁺) for DBNs and product ion G ([ B –C₂H₂O]⁺) for BNs diagnose a saturated bond between C‐7′ and C‐8′. We used these structure‐fragmentation relationships in combination with deuterium exchange experiments, MSⁿ data, and Computational Chemistry to elucidate the gas‐phase fragmentation pathways of these compounds. These results could help to elucidate DBN and BN metabolites in in vivo and in vitro studies on the basis of electrospray ionization ESI‐CID‐MS/MS data only.     

Mass spectrometric monitoring of oxidation of aliphatic C6–C8 hydrocarbons and ethanol in low pressure oxygen and air plasmas

Experimental and theoretical studies on the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons (n‐hexane, cyclohexane, n‐heptane, n‐octane and isooctane) and ethanol in 28 Torr O₂ or air plasma generated by a hollow cathode discharge ion source were made. Ions corresponding to [M + 15]⁺ and [M + 13]⁺ in addition to [M ? H]⁺ and [M ? 3H]⁺ were detected as major ions where M is the sample molecule. The ions [M + 15]⁺ and [M + 13]⁺ were assigned as oxidation products, [M ? H + O]⁺ and [M ? 3H + O]⁺, respectively. By the tandem mass spectrometry analysis of [M ? H + O]⁺ and [M ? 3H + O]⁺, H₂O, olefins (and/or cycloalkanes) and oxygen‐containing compounds were eliminated from these ions. Ozone as one of the terminal products in the O₂ plasma was postulated as the oxidizing reagent. As an example, the reactions of C₆H₁₄^+? with O₂ and of C₆H₁₃⁺ (CH₃CH₂CH⁺CH₂CH₂CH₃) with ozone were examined by density functional theory calculations. Nucleophilic interaction of ozone with C₆H₁₃⁺ leads to the formation of protonated ketone, CH₃CH₂C(=OH⁺)CH₂CH₂CH₃. In air plasma, [M ? H + O]⁺ became predominant over carbocations, [M ? H]⁺ and [M ? 3H]⁺. For ethanol, the protonated acetic acid CH₃C(OH)₂⁺ (m/z 61.03) was formed as the oxidation product. The peaks at m/z 75.04 and 75.08 are assigned as protonated ethyl formate and protonated diethyl ether, respectively, and that at m/z 89.06 as protonated ethyl acetate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low-energy,low-temperature mass spectra. 5-alkanals

The low-energy, low-temperature mass spectra of thirteen alkanals are reported and their predominant modes of fragmentation discussed in terms of energetics. Characteristic of this class of compounds is the very high proportion of odd-electron ions in the mass spectra, namely [M ? C_MH_2m]^+˙, [M ? H₂O]^+˙ and [M ? H₂O ? C_mH_2m]^+˙.     

Insight into Oxide‐Bridged Heterobimetallic Al/Zr Olefin Polymerization Catalysts

Reaction of (TBBP)AlMe ? THF with [Cp*₂Zr(Me)OH] gave [(TBBP)Al(THF)?O?Zr(Me)Cp*₂] (TBBP=3,3’,5,5’‐tetra‐tBu‐2,2'‐biphenolato). Reaction of [DIPPnacnacAl(Me)?O?Zr(Me)Cp₂] with [PhMe₂NH]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? gave a cationic Al/Zr complex that could be structurally characterized as its THF adduct [(DIPPnacnac)Al(Me)?O?Zr(THF)Cp₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? (DIPPnacnac=HC[(Me)C=N(2,6‐iPr₂?C₆H₃)]₂). The first complex polymerizes ethene in the presence of an alkylaluminum scavenger but in the absence of methylalumoxane (MAO). The adduct cation is inactive under these conditions. Theoretical calculations show very high energy barriers (ΔG=40–47 kcal mol^?1) for ethene insertion with a bridged AlOZr catalyst. This is due to an unfavorable six‐membered‐ring transition state, in which the methyl group bridges the metal and ethene with an obtuse metal‐Me‐C angle that prevents synchronized bond‐breaking and making. A more‐likely pathway is dissociation of the Al‐O‐Zr complex into an aluminate and the active polymerization catalyst [Cp*₂ZrMe]⁺.     

Stable Anilinyl Radicals Coordinated to Nickel: X‐ray Crystal Structure and Characterization

Two anilinosalen and a mixed phenol‐anilinosalen ligands involving sterically hindered anilines moieties were synthesized. Their nickel(II) complexes 1 , 2 , and 3 were prepared and characterized. They could be readily one‐electron oxidized (E_1/2=?0.30, ?0.26 and 0.10 V vs. Fc⁺/Fc, respectively) into anilinyl radicals species [ 1]⁺ , [ 2]⁺ , and [ 3]⁺ , respectively. The radical complexes are extremely stable and were isolated as single crystals. X‐ray crystallographic structures reveal that the changes in bond length resulting from oxidation do not exceed 0.02 Å within the ligand framework in the symmetrical [ 1]⁺ and [ 2]⁺ . No quinoid bond pattern was present. In contrast, larger structural rearrangements were evidenced for the unsymmetrical [ 3]⁺ , with shortening of one C_ortho? C_meta bond. Radical species [ 1]⁺ and [ 2]⁺ exhibit a strong absorption band at around 6000 cm^?1 (class III mixed valence compounds). This band is significantly less intense than [ 3]⁺ , consistent with a rather localized anilinyl radical character, and thus a classification of this species as class II mixed‐valence compound. Magnetic and electronic properties, as well as structural parameters, have been computed by DFT methods.     

Hydrogen‐bonded and π‐interaction assembly in two 8‐alkoxycarbonyl‐1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐enium chloride salts

The crystal structures of 8‐phenoxycarbonyl‐1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐enium chloride, C₁₆H₂₁N₂O₂⁺·Cl⁻, (I), and 8‐methoxycarbonyl‐1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐enium chloride monohydrate, C₁₁H₁₉N₂O₂⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, (II), recently reported by Carafa, Mesto & Quaranta [Eur. J. Org. Chem. (2011), pp. 2458–2465], are analysed and discussed with a focus on crystal interaction assembly. Both compounds crystallize in the space group P2₁/c. The crystal packings are characterized by dimers linked through π–π stacking interactions and intermolecular nonclassical hydrogen bonds, respectively. Additional intermolecular C—H...Cl interactions [in (I) and (II)] and classical O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds [in (II)] are also evident and contribute to generating three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks.     

Positive chemical ionization triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry and ab initio computational studies of the multi‐pathway fragmentation of phthalates

We report the first positive chemical ionization (PCI) fragmentation mechanisms of phthalates using triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry and ab initio computational studies using density functional theories (DFT). Methane PCI spectra showed abundant [M + H]⁺, together with [M + C₂H₅]⁺ and [M + C₃H₅]⁺. Fragmentation of [M + H]⁺, [M + C₂H₅]⁺ and [M + C₃H₅]⁺ involved characteristic ions at m/z 149, 177 and 189, assigned as protonated phthalic anhydride and an adduct of phthalic anhydride with C₂H₅⁺ and C₃H₅⁺, respectively. Fragmentation of these ions provided more structural information from the PCI spectra. A multi‐pathway fragmentation was proposed for these ions leading to the protonated phthalic anhydride. DFT methods were used to calculate relative free energies and to determine structures of intermediate ions for these pathways. The first step of the fragmentation of [M + C₂H₅]⁺ and [M + C₃H₅]⁺ is the elimination of [R? H] from an ester group. The second ester group undergoes either a McLafferty rearrangement route or a neutral loss elimination of ROH. DFT calculations (B3LYP, B3PW91 and BPW91) using 6‐311G(d,p) basis sets showed that McLafferty rearrangement of dibutyl, di(‐n‐octyl) and di(2‐ethyl‐n‐hexyl) phthalates is an energetically more favorable pathway than loss of an alcohol moiety. Prominent ions in these pathways were confirmed with deuterium labeled phthalates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A fluoro­phenylboron‐functionalized zirconium silsesquioxane complex

Bis(η⁵‐cyclo­penta­dienyl)[rel‐(1R,5S,7R,14S)‐(1,3,5,7,9,11,14‐hepta­cyclo­pentyl‐7,14‐dioxidotri­cyclo­[7.3.3^1,9.1^5,11]­hepta­siloxan‐3‐yloxy)­bis­(penta­fluoro­phenyl)­borane(2−)]­zirconium, [Zr(C₅H₅)₂(C₄₇H₆₃BF₁₀O₁₂Si₇)], consists of [ZrCp₂] (Cp is cyclopentadienyl) and [(C₆F₅)₂B] moieties bound to a silsesquioxane core. The silsesquioxane binds to the Zr atom through two of its O atoms to form a distorted tetrahedron. The [(C₆F₅)₂B] moiety is bound to the silsesquioxane through an O atom, forming an Si—O—B bond angle of 168.4 (4)°. The steric and electronic effects of the Zr atom and the borate moieties force the silsesquioxane core to distort. These distortions can be seen by examination of the Si—O—Si bond angles.     

Hydro­gen‐bonded supramolecular motifs in 4,4′‐bipyridinium 8‐hydroxy‐7‐iodo­quinoline‐5‐sulfonate dihydrate

In the title compound, C₁₀H₉N₂⁺·C₉H₅INO₄S⁻·2H₂O, the 4,4′‐bi­pyridine mol­ecule is protonated at one of the pyridine N atoms. These moieties self‐assemble into a supramolecular chain along the a axis through N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds. The quinolinol OH group acts as a donor with respect to a sulfonate O atom [O—H⋯O(sulfonate)] and acts as an acceptor with respect to a C—H group of ferron [C—H⋯O(hydroxy)], forming a supramolecular chain along the b axis. These two types of supramolecular chains (one type made up of bi­pyridine motifs and the other made up of sulfoxine motifs) interact viaπ–π stacking, generating a three‐dimensional framework. These chains are further crosslinked by C—­H⋯O hydrogen bonds and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving water mol­ecules.     

Estimation of peptide N–Cα bond cleavage efficiency during MALDI‐ISD using a cyclic peptide

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization in‐source decay (MALDI‐ISD) induces N–C_α bond cleavage via hydrogen transfer from the matrix to the peptide backbone, which produces a c′/z? fragment pair. Subsequently, the z? generates z′ and [z + matrix] fragments via further radical reactions because of the low stability of the z?. In the present study, we investigated MALDI‐ISD of a cyclic peptide. The N–C_α bond cleavage in the cyclic peptide by MALDI‐ISD produced the hydrogen‐abundant peptide radical [M + 2H]⁺? with a radical site on the α‐carbon atom, which then reacted with the matrix to give [M + 3H]⁺ and [M + H + matrix]⁺. For 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene (1,5‐DAN) adducts with z fragments, post‐source decay of [M + H + 1,5‐DAN]⁺ generated from the cyclic peptide showed predominant loss of an amino acid with 1,5‐DAN. Additionally, MALDI‐ISD with Fourier transform‐ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry allowed for the detection of both [M + 3H]⁺ and [M + H]⁺ with two ¹³C atoms. These results strongly suggested that [M + 3H]⁺ and [M + H + 1,5‐DAN]⁺ were formed by N–C_α bond cleavage with further radical reactions. As a consequence, the cleavage efficiency of the N–C_α bond during MALDI‐ISD could be estimated by the ratio of the intensity of [M + H]⁺ and [M + 3H]⁺ in the Fourier transform‐ion cyclotron resonance spectrum. Because the reduction efficiency of a matrix for the cyclic peptide cyclo(Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐D‐Phe‐Val) was correlated to its tendency to cleave the N–C_α bond in linear peptides, the present method could allow the evaluation of the efficiency of N–C_α bond cleavage for MALDI matrix development. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogen‐bonding interactions in the 4‐aminobenzoic acid salt of atenolol monohydrate

Atenolol {or 4‐[2‐hydroxy‐3‐(isopropylamino)propoxy]phenylacetamide} crystallizes with 4‐aminobenzoic acid to give the salt {3‐[4‐(aminocarbonylmethyl)phenoxy]‐2‐hydroxypropyl}isopropylammonium 4‐aminobenzoate monohydrate, C₁₄H₂₃N₂O₃⁺·C₇H₆NO₂⁻·H₂O. In the crystal structure, the water molecule, the carboxylate group of 4‐aminobenzoate, and the hydroxy and ether O atoms of atenolol form a supramolecular R₃³(11) heterosynthon. Three other types of supramolecular synthons link the asymmetric unit into a two‐dimensional structure.     

The ortho effect in the mass spectra of ortho/para isomers of bisphenol a derivatives and related compounds

New examples of the ortho effect in bisphenol A derivatives including interaction of the hydrogen of the ortho-hydroxy group with the neighbouring aromatic ring have been observed. The characteristic ions [M ? PhOH]^+middot; (m/z = 134) and [M ? CH₃ ? PhOH]⁺ (m/z = 119) were shown to form through the hydrogen transfer from hydroxy and isopropyl groups, respectively. The spectra of cyclic derivatives having ortho-hydroxy functions show [M ? 43]⁺, [M ? C₈H₉O]⁺, m/z = 147, m/z = 135 and [M ? C₉H₁₀O]⁺ ions. The proposed mechanims of the corresponding transformations were supported by mass spectra of deuterated analogues, methyl and trimethyl silyl ethers.     

Density functional theory and RRKM calculations of decompositions of the metastable E‐2,4‐pentadienal molecular ions

The potential energy profiles for the fragmentations that lead to [C₅H₅O]⁺ and [C₄H₆]^+? ions from the molecular ions [C₅H₆O]^+? of E‐2,4‐pentadienal were obtained from calculations at the UB3LYP/6‐311G + + (3df,3pd)//UB3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory. Kinetic barriers and harmonic frequencies obtained by the density functional method were then employed in Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus calculations of individual rate coefficients for a large number of reaction steps. The pre‐equilibrium and rate‐controlling step approximations were applied to different regions of the complex potential energy surface, allowing the overall rate of decomposition to be calculated and discriminated between three rival pathways: C? H bond cleavage, decarbonylation and cyclization. These processes should have to compete for an equilibrated mixture of four conformers of the E‐2,4‐pentadienal ions. The direct dissociation, however, can only become important in the high‐energy regime. In contrast, loss of CO and cyclization are observable processes in the metastable kinetic window. The former involves a slow 1,2‐hydrogen shift from the carbonyl group that is immediately followed by the formation of an ion‐neutral complex which, in turn, decomposes rapidly to the s‐trans‐1,3‐butadiene ion [C₄H₆]^+?. The predominating metastable channel is the second one, that is, a multi‐step ring closure which starts with a rate‐limiting cis—trans isomerization. This process yields a mixture of interconverting pyran ions that dissociates to the pyrylium ions [C₅H₅O]⁺. These results can be used to rationalize the CID mass spectrum of E‐2,4‐pentadienal in a low‐energy regime. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular networks in 4‐chloroanilinium, 2‐hydroxyanilinium and 3‐hydroxyanilinium hydrogen phthalates

The title salts, 4‐chloroanilinium hydrogen phthalate (PCAHP), C₆H₇ClN⁺·C₈H₅O₄⁻, 2‐hydroxyanilinium hydrogen phthalate (2HAHP), C₆H₈NO⁺·C₈H₅O₄⁻, and 3‐hydroxyanilinium hydrogen phthalate (3HAHP), C₆H₈NO⁺·C₈H₅O₄⁻, all crystallize in the space group P2₁/c. The asymmetric unit of 2HAHP contains two independent ion pairs. The hydrogen phthalate ions of 2HAHP and 3HAHP show a short intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond, with O...O distances ranging from 2.3832 (15) to 2.3860 (14) Å. N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, together with short C—H...O contacts in PCAHP and 3HAHP, generate extended hydrogen‐bond networks. PCAHP forms a two‐dimensional supramolecular sheet extending in the (100) plane, whereas 2HAHP has a supramolecular chain running parallel to the [100] direction and 3HAHP has a two‐dimensional network extending parallel to the (001) plane.     

Gas‐phase fragmentation of metal adducts of alkali‐metal oxalate salts

Upon collisional activation, gaseous metal adducts of lithium, sodium and potassium oxalate salts undergo an expulsion of CO₂, followed by an ejection of CO to generate a product ion that retains all three metals atoms of the precursor. Spectra recorded even at very low collision energies (2 eV) showed peaks for a 44‐Da neutral fragment loss. Density functional theory calculations predicted that the ejection of CO₂ requires less energy than an expulsion of a Na⁺ and that the [Na₃CO₂]⁺ product ion formed in this way bears a planar geometry. Furthermore, spectra of [Na₃C₂O₄]⁺ and [³⁹K₃C₂O₄]⁺ recorded at higher collision energies showed additional peaks at m/z 90 and m/z 122 for the radical cations [Na₂CO₂]^+? and [K₂CO₂]^+?, respectively, which represented a loss of an M^? from the precursor ions. Moreover, [Na₃CO₂]⁺, [³⁹K₃CO₂]⁺ and [Li₃CO₂]⁺ ions also undergo a CO loss to form [M₃O]⁺. Furthermore, product‐ion spectra for [Na₃C₂O₄]⁺ and [³⁹K₃C₂O₄]⁺ recorded at low collision energies showed an unexpected peak at m/z 63 for [Na₂OH]⁺ and m/z 95 for [³⁹K₂OH]⁺, respectively. An additional peak observed at m/z 65 for [Na₂¹⁸OH] ⁺ in the spectrum recorded for [Na₃C₂O₄]⁺, after the addition of some H₂¹⁸O to the collision gas, confirmed that the [Na₂OH] ⁺ ion is formed by an ion–molecule reaction with residual water in the collision cell. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ion-neutral complex-mediated hydrogen exchange in ionized n-butanol: A mechanism for ‘non-specific’ hydrogen migrations

Water elimination from ionized n-butanol reflects near randomization of all hydrogens in ions decomposing after ～10^?5s. This probably takes place in ion-neutral complexes by formation of a cyclobutane ion–H₂O complex and/or rearrangement within [C₄H₈]⁺˙ in open-chain [C₄H₈⁺˙? H₂O] complexes, in either case accompanied by hydrogen exchange between water and open-chain hydrocarbon moieties. Extensive hydrogen rearrangements in which restraints on conventional transition-state ring size have little apparent influence may generally be ion–neutral complex-mediated processes.     

Chiral anionic layers in tartramide spiroborate salts and variable solvation for [NR4][B(TarNH2)2] (R = Et,Pr or Bu)

The spiroborate anion, namely, 2,3,7,8‐tetracarboxamido‐1,4,6,9‐tetraoxa‐5λ⁴‐boraspiro[4.4]nonane, [B(TarNH₂)₂]^?, derived from the diol l ‐tartramide TarNH₂, [CH(O)(CONH₂)]₂, shows a novel self‐assembly into two‐dimensional (2D) layer structures in its salts with alkylammonium cations, [NR₄]⁺ (R = Et, Pr and Bu), and sparteinium, [HSpa]⁺, in which the cations and anions are segregated. The structures of four such salts are reported, namely, the tetrapropylazanium salt, C₁₂H₂₈N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?, the tetraethylazanium salt hydrate, C₈H₂₀N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·6.375H₂O, the tetrabutylazanium salt as the ethanol monosolvate hemihydrate, C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·C₂H₅OH·0.5H₂O, and the sparteinium (7‐aza‐15‐azoniatetracyclo[7.7.1.0^2,7.0^10,15]heptadecane) salt as the ethanol monosolvate, C₁₅H₂₇N₂⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·C₂H₅OH. The 2D anion layers have preserved intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the amide groups and a typical metric repeat of around 10 × 15 Å. The constraint of matching the interfacial area organizes the cations into quite different solvated arrangements, i.e. the [NEt₄] salt is highly hydrated with around 6.5H₂O per cation, the [NPr₄] salt apparently has a good metric match to the anion layer and is unsolvated, whilst the [NBu₄] salt is intermediate and has EtOH and H₂O in its cation layer, which is similar to the arrangement for the chiral [HSpa]⁺ cation. This family of salts shows highly organized chiral space and offers potential for the resolution of both chiral cations and neutral chiral solvent molecules.