CH2 + transfer to pyridine nucleophiles: a means of producing α-distonic ions

The distonic radical cation C₅H₅N⁺?^·CH₂ can be generated by the reactions of neutral pyridine with the radical cations of cyclopropane, ethylene oxide, and ketene, as well as with the [C₃H₆]⁺ ion from fragmentation of tetrahydrofuran. The distonic product ion can be distinguished from isomeric methylpyridine radical cations because the former gives characteristic [M?CH₂]⁺, [M ? CH₂NCH]⁺, and a doubly charged ion, all of which are produced on collisional activation. Furthermore, the distonic species completely transfers CH₂ ⁺ to more nucleophilic, substituted pyridines. These properties are all consistent with the assigned distonic structure. Another distonic isomer, the (3-methylene) pyridinium ion, can be distinguished from the (1-methylene)pyridinium ion on the basis of their different fragmentation behaviors. The latter ion exhibits higher stability (lower reactivity) than the prototypal [·CH₂NH₃ ⁺], making available a distonic species whose bimolecular reactivity can be readily investigated.     

Does Addition of NO2 to Carbon-Centered Radicals Yield RONO or RNO2? An Investigation Using Distonic Radical Ions

Nitrogen dioxide is used as a “radical scavenger” to probe the position of carbon-centered radicals within complex radical ions in the gas phase. As with analogous neutral radical reactions, this addition results in formation of an [M + NO₂]⁺ adduct, but the structural identity of this species remains ambiguous. Specifically, the question remains: do such adducts have a nitro- (RNO₂) or nitrosoxy- (RONO) moiety, or are both isomers present in the adduct population? In order to elucidate the products of such reactions, we have prepared and isolated three distonic phenyl radical cations and observed their reactions with nitrogen dioxide in the gas phase by ion-trap mass spectrometry. In each case, stabilized [M + NO₂]⁺ adduct ions are observed and isolated. The structure of these adducts is probed by collision-induced dissociation and ultraviolet photodissociation action spectroscopy and a comparison made to the analogous spectra of authentic nitro- and nitrosoxy-benzenes. We demonstrate unequivocally that for the phenyl radical cations studied here, all stabilized [M + NO₂]⁺ adducts are exclusively nitrobenzenes. Electronic structure calculations support these mass spectrometric observations and suggest that, under low-pressure conditions, the nitrosoxy-isomer is unlikely to be isolated from the reaction of an alkyl or aryl radical with NO₂. The combined experimental and theoretical results lead to the prediction that stabilization of the nitrosoxy-isomer will only be possible for systems wherein the energy required for dissociation of the RO-NO bond (or other low energy fragmentation channels) rises close to, or above, the energy of the separated reactants.      

Fragmentation Chemistry of [Met-Gly]•+, [Gly-Met]•+, and [Met-Met]•+ Radical Cations

Radical cations [Met-Gly]^?+, [Gly-Met]^?+, and [Met-Met]^?+ have been generated through collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [Cu^II(CH₃CN)₂(peptide)]^?2+ complexes. Their fragmentation patterns and dissociation mechanisms have been studied both experimentally and theoretically using density functional theory at the UB3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. The captodative structure, in which the radical is located at the α-carbon of the N-terminal residue and the proton is on the amide oxygen, is the lowest energy structure on each potential energy surface. The canonical structure, with the charge and spin both located on the sulfur, and the distonic ion with the proton on the terminal amino group, and the radical on the α-carbon of the C-terminal residue have similar energies. Interconversion between the canonical structures and the captodative isomers is facile and occurs prior to fragmentation. However, isomerization to produce the distonic structure is energetically less favorable and cannot compete with dissociation except in the case of [Gly-Met]^?+. Charge-driven dissociations result in formation of [b _n – H]^?+ and a ₁ ions. Radical-driven dissociation leads to the loss of the side chain of methionine as CH₃-S-CH?=?CH₂ producing α-glycyl radicals from both [Gly-Met]^?+ and [Met-Met]^?+. For [Met-Met]^?+, loss of the side chain occurs at the C-terminal as shown by both labeling experiments and computations. The product, the distonic ion of [Met-Gly]^?+, NH₃ ⁺CH(CH₂CH₂SCH₃)CONHCH^?COOH dissociates by loss of CH₃S^?. The isomeric distonic ion NH₃ ⁺CH₂CONHC^?(CH₂CH₂SCH₃)COOH is accessible directly from the canonical [Gly-Met]^?+ ion. A fragmentation pathway that characterizes this ion (and the distonic ion of [Met-Met]^?+) is homolytic fission of the C_β–C_γ bond to lose CH₃SCH₂ ^?.      

Pseudohalogen Chemistry in Ionic Liquids with Non-innocent Cations and Anions

Within the second funding period of the SPP 1708 “Material Synthesis near Room Temperature”,which started in 2017, we were able to synthesize novel anionic species utilizing Ionic Liquids (ILs) both, as reaction media and reactant. ILs, bearing the decomposable and non-innocent methyl carbonate anion [CO₃Me]⁻, served as starting material and enabled facile access to pseudohalide salts by reaction with Me₃Si−X (X=CN, N₃, OCN, SCN). Starting with the synthesized Room temperature Ionic Liquid (RT-IL) [nBu₃MeN][B(OMe)₃(CN)], we were able to crystallize the double salt [nBu₃MeN]₂[B(OMe)₃(CN)](CN). Furthermore, we studied the reaction of [WCC]SCN and [WCC]CN (WCC=weakly coordinating cation) with their corresponding protic acids HX (X=SCN, CN), which resulted in formation of [H(NCS)₂]⁻ and the temperature labile solvate anions [CN(HCN)_n]⁻ (n=2, 3). In addition, the highly labile anionic HCN solvates were obtained from [PPN]X ([PPN]=μ-nitridobis(triphenylphosphonium), X=N₃, OCN, SCN and OCP) and HCN. Crystals of [PPN][X(HCN)₃] (X=N₃, OCN) and [PPN][SCN(HCN)₂] were obtained when the crystallization was carried out at low temperatures. Interestingly, reaction of [PPN]OCP with HCN was noticed, which led to the formation of [P(CN)₂]⁻, crystallizing as HCN disolvate [PPN][P(CN⋅HCN)₂]. Furthermore, we were able to isolate the novel cyanido(halido) silicate dianions of the type [SiCl_0.78(CN)_5.22]²⁻ and [SiF(CN)₅]²⁻ and the hexa-substituted [Si(CN)₆]²⁻ by temperature controlled halide/cyanide exchange reactions. By facile neutralization reactions with the non-innocent cation of [Et₃HN]₂[Si(CN)₆] with MOH (M=Li, K), Li₂[Si(CN)₆] ⋅ 2 H₂O and K₂[Si(CN)₆] were obtained, which form three dimensional coordination polymers. From salt metathesis processes of M₂[Si(CN)₆] with different imidazolium bromides, we were able to isolate new imidazolium salts and the ionic liquid [BMIm]₂[Si(CN)₆]. When reacting [Mes(nBu)Im]₂[Si(CN)₆] with an excess of the strong Lewis acid B(C₆F₅)₃, the voluminous adduct anion {Si[CN⋅B(C₆F₅)₃]₆}²⁻ was obtained.     

Synthesis of bismuth complexes from bismuth iodide and ammonium and phosphonium salts

The complexes [Et₂NH₂] ₃ ⁺ [BiCl₆]^3? (I), [NH₄]⁺[BiI₄(C₅H₅N)₂]^?·2C₅H₅N (II), [Ph₃MeP] ₂ ⁺ [BiI₅]^2? (III), [Ph₃MeP] ₂ ⁺ [BiI₅(C₅H₅N)]^2?·C₅H₅N (IV), [Ph₃MeP] ₃ ⁺ [Bi₃I₁₂]^3? (V), [Ph₃(i-Pr)P] ₃ ⁺ [Bi₃I₁₂]^3?·2Me₂C=O (VI), [Ph₃BuP] ₂ ⁺ [Bi₂I₈·₂Me₂C=O]^2? (VII), and [Ph₃BuP] ₂ ⁺ [Bi₂I₈·2Me₂S=O]^2? (VIII) were obtained by reactions of bismuth iodide with ammonium and phosphonium iodides in acetone, pyridine, or dimethyl sulfoxide.     

A 13C and 31P N.M.R. Investigation of restricted rotation in [Pt(η3-allyl){P(cyclohexyl)3}2]+ [PF6]- and related compounds

The dynamic behaviour of [Pt(/gh³-allyl){P(cyclohexyl)₃}₂]⁺[PF₆]^- has been reinvestigated, and the earlier interpretation of restricted rotation about the Pt—P endorsed. The activation parameters were obtained. [Pt(/gh³-allyl)(PPrⁱ₃)₂]⁺[PF₆]^- behaves similarly, while it has not prove possible to stop the rotation in [Pt(/gh³-allyl){P(CH₂Ph)₃}₂]⁺[PF₆]^-.     

The ionized methylene transfer from the distonic radical cation +CH2-O-CH2 to heterocyclic compounds. A pentaquadrupole mass spectrometric study

Ion-molecule reactions of the mass-selected distonic radical cation ⁺CH₂-O-CH ₂ ^· (1) with several heterocyclic compounds have been investigated by multiple stage mass spectro- metric experiments performed in a pentaquadrupole mass spectrometer. Reactions with pyridine, 2-, 3-, and 4-ethyl, 2-methoxy, and 2-n-propyl pyridine occur mainly by transfer of CH ₂ ^+· to the nitrogen, which yields distonic N-methylene-pyridinium radical cations. The MS³ spectra of these products display very characteristic collision-induced dissociation chemistry, which is greatly affected by the position of the substituent in the pyridine ring. Ortho isomers undergo a δ-cleavage cyclization process induced by the free-radical character of the N-methylene group that yields bicyclic pyridinium cations. On the other hand, extensive CH ₂ ^+· transfer followed by rapid hydrogen atom loss, that is, a net CH⁺ transfer, occurs not to the heteroatoms, but to the aromatic ring of furan, thiophene, pyrrole, and N-methyl pyrrole. The reaction proceeds through five- to six-membered ring expansion, which yields the pyrilium, thiapyrilium, N-protonated, and N-methylated pyridine cations, respectively, as indicated by MS³ scans. Ion 1 fails to transfer CH ₂ ^+· to tetrahydrofuran, whereas a new α-distonic sulfur ion is formed in reactions with tetrahydrothiophene. Unstable N-methylene distonic ions, likely formed by transfer of CH ₂ ^+· to the nitrogen of piperidine and pyrrolidine, undergo rapid fragmentation by loss of the α-NH hydrogen to yield closed-shell immonium cations. The most thermodynamically favorable products are formed in these reactions, as estimated by ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-31G(d,p)//6-31G(d,p) + ZPE level of theory.     

Structure and Reactivity of the Distonic and Aromatic Radical Cations of Tryptophan

In this work, we regiospecifically generate and compare the gas-phase properties of two isomeric forms of tryptophan radical cations—a distonic indolyl N-radical (H₃N⁺ - TrpN^?) and a canonical aromatic π (Trp^?+) radical cation. The distonic radical cation was generated by nitrosylating the indole nitrogen of tryptophan in solution followed by collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the resulting protonated N-nitroso tryptophan. The π-radical cation was produced via CID of the ternary [Cu^II(terpy)(Trp)] ^?2+ complex. CID spectra of the two isomeric species were found to be very different, suggesting no interconversion between the isomers. In gas-phase ion-molecule reactions, the distonic radical cation was unreactive towards n-propylsulfide, whereas the π radical cation reacted by hydrogen atom abstraction. DFT calculations revealed that the distonic indolyl radical cation is about 82 kJ/mol higher in energy than the π radical cation of tryptophan. The low reactivity of the distonic nitrogen radical cation was explained by spin delocalization of the radical over the aromatic ring and the remote, localized charge (at the amino nitrogen). The lack of interconversion between the isomers under both trapping and CID conditions was explained by the high rearrangement barrier of ca.137 kJ/mol. Finally, the two isomers were characterized by infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy in the ~1000–1800 cm^–1 region. It was found that some of the main experimental IR features overlap between the two species, making their distinction by IRMPD spectroscopy in this region problematic. In addition, DFT theoretical calculations showed that the IR spectra are strongly conformation-dependent.      

Gas-Phase Reactivity of Peptide Thiyl (RS•), Perthiyl (RSS•), and Sulfinyl (RSO•) Radical Ions Formed from Atmospheric Pressure Ion/Radical Reactions

In this study, we demonstrated the formation of gas-phase peptide perthiyl (RSS?) and thiyl (RS?) radical ions besides sulfinyl radical (RSO?) ions from atmospheric pressure (AP) ion/radical reactions of peptides containing inter-chain disulfide bonds. The identity of perthiyl radical was verified from characteristic 65 Da (?SSH) loss in collision-induced dissociation (CID). This signature loss was further used to assess the purity of peptide perthiyl radical ions formed from AP ion/radical reactions. Ion/molecule reactions combined with CID were carried out to confirm the formation of thiyl radical. Transmission mode ion/molecule reactions in collision cell (q2) were developed as a fast means to estimate the population of peptide thiyl radical ions. The reactivity of peptide thiyl, perthiyl, and sulfinyl radical ions was evaluated based on ion/molecule reactions toward organic disulfides, allyl iodide, organic thiol, and oxygen, which followed in order of thiyl (RS?) > perthiyl (RSS?) > sulfinyl (RSO?). The gas-phase reactivity of these three types of sulfur-based radicals is consistent with literature reports from solution studies.      

Gas-Phase Oxidation of Neutral Basic Residues in Polypeptide Cations by Periodate

The gas-phase oxidation of doubly protonated peptides containing neutral basic residues to various products, including [M + H + O]⁺, [M – H]⁺, and [M – H – NH₃]⁺, is demonstrated here via ion/ion reactions with periodate. It was previously demonstrated that periodate anions are capable of oxidizing disulfide bonds and methionine, tryptophan, and S-alkyl cysteine residues. However, in the absence of these easily oxidized sites, we show here that systems containing neutral basic residues can undergo oxidation. Furthermore, we show that these neutral basic residues primarily undergo different types of oxidation (e.g., hydrogen abstraction) reactions than those observed previously (i.e., oxygen transfer to yield the [M + H + O]⁺ species) upon gas-phase ion/ion reactions with periodate anions. This chemistry is illustrated with a variety of systems, including a series of model peptides, a cell-penetrating peptide containing a large number of unprotonated basic sites, and ubiquitin, a roughly 8.6 kDa protein.

Open image in new window

Graphical Abstract ?

     

Complex Formation of Potassium Hexachloroplatinate with 18-Crown-6 and Dibenzo-18-Crown-6 in Acetonitrile

The products of the reactions between potassium hexachloroplatinate {K₂PtCl₆} and 18-crown-6 or dibenzo-18-crown-6 in acetonitrile were studied. Pure crystalline compounds [2K·2(18-crown-6)· 2CH₃CN]²⁺·[PtCl₆]^2-·2H₂O, [2K·dibenzo-18-crown-6·CH₃CN]^{2 +}·[PtCl₆]^{2 -}, and [2K·dibenzo-18-crown-6·CH₃CN]^{2 +}·[Pt₂Cl₁₀]^{2 -} were obtained. Physicochemical properties of these compounds were studied, and their near- and far-IR IR spectra and thermogravimetric curves were considered. The composition of the complexes is determined by metal:ligand molar ratio and crown ether nature. It was found that acetonitrile is coordinated via the nitrogen atom.     

Intriguing Role of a Quaternary Ammonium Cation in the Dissociation Chemistry of Keggin Polyoxometalate Anions

The gas-phase fragmentations of a series of Keggin polyoxometalate anions with molecular formula of TBA_n[XM₁₂O₄₀] (X = P, Si; M = Mo, W) were studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The bare polyoxoanions [XM₁₂O₄₀]^n- as well as the non-covalent complexes {TBA[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^(n-1)- and {TBA_m[XM₁₂O₄₀]₂}^3- displayed characteristic dissociation pathways. Fragmentation of [XM₁₂O₄₀]^n- led to pairs of complementary product anions whose total stoichiometry and charge matched those of the precursor anion, consistent with the previous study by Ma et al. The nature of the non-covalent interaction between [XM₁₂O₄₀]^n- and TBA⁺ was addressed in detail via the example of {TBA[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^(n-1)-. The non-covalent interaction [1] primarily dominated by the Coulombic attraction of the opposite charges completely changed the dissociation chemistry of [XM₁₂O₄₀]^n-. The non-covalent complexes {TBA[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^(n-1)- and {TBA_m[XM₁₂O₄₀]₂}^3-, formed by the charge reduction during the electrospray process, underwent distinct dissociation routes: {TBA[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^(n-1)- fragmented to give rise to its product ion {(C₄H₉)[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^(n-1)- by cleaving the N−C covalent bond inside the TBA⁺ cation whereas {TBA_m[XM₁₂O₄₀]₂}^3- dissociated into a pair of product ions, {TBA_i[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^2- and {TBA_m-i[XM₁₂O₄₀]}^-, by breaking the non-covalent bond between [XM₁₂O₄₀]^n- and TBA⁺. In addition, energy-variable CID was used to map the relative stabilities of the ion clusters in the gas phase, which was in excellent agreement with the relative orders of thermal stability in the condensed phase.     

Magnesium tetraorganyl derivatives of group 13 metals as intermediate products in the synthesis of group 13 metal alkyls and aryls

Reactions of organomagnesium halides with group 13 metal halides lead to the formation of R₃M type compounds (R = alkyl, aryl; M = Al, Ga, In) and are considered as the simplest methods of R₃M compound syntheses. These seemingly simple reactions reveal a much more complex chemistry involving mixed magnesium-group 13 metal compounds. To elucidate the reaction course of reactions of organomagnesium halides with group 13 metal halides, we have studied reactions of R₃M with organomagnesium halides. The interaction of Et₃M with R¹MgX led to the formation of following products being mixtures of crystalline ionic complexes with the general composition of [Et_4-nR¹_nM]⁻[XMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf): [Et_2.2Al(CH=CH₂)_1.8]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 1 ), [Et₃Ga(CH=CH₂)]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 2 ), [Et₄Al]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 3 ), [Et₄Ga]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 4 ), [Et_2.9Al(C₆H₅)_1.1]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 5 ), [Et_2.9Ga(C₆H₅)_1.1]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 6 ), [Et_3.4GaMe_0.6]⁻[IMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 7 ) and [Et₄In]⁻[BrMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) ( 8 ). A comparison of the production course of group 13 metal trialkyls R₃M with a thermal decomposition of 1–8 products showed that reactions of MX₃ with RMgX (X = Br, I; R = alkyl, aryl) yield initially intermediate ionic compounds, which must then be thermally decomposed to obtain pure R₃M compounds. If group 13 metal bromides and iodides, and alkyl (aryl)magnesium bromides and iodides in thf are used, only intermediate products with the [R₄M]⁻[XMg (thf)₅]⁺·(thf) structure are formed.     

Competition in the formation of ion–neutral complexes. Expulsion of methane from the molecular ion of acetamide

An ion–neutral complex is a non-covalently bonded aggregate of an ion with one or more neutral molecules in which at least one of the partners rotates freely (or nearly so) in all directions. A density-of-states model is described, which calculates the proportion of ion–neutral complex formation that ought to accompany simple bond cleavages of molecular ions. Application of this model to the published mass spectrum of acetamide predicts the occurrence of ions that have not hitherto been reported. Relative intensities on the order of 0.1 (where the abundance of the most intense fragment ion = 1) ere predicted for [M – HO]⁺ and [M – CH₄]⁺˙ ions, which have the same nominal masses as the prominent [M – NH₃]⁺˙ and [M – NH₂]⁺ fragments. High-resolution mass spectrometric experiments confirm the presence of the predicted fragment ions. The [M – HO]⁺ and [M – CH₄]⁺˙ fragments were observed with relative abundances of 0.02 and 0.04, respectively. Differences between theory and experiment may be ascribed to effects of competing distonic ion pathways.     

Cyclopentadienylcobalt Complexes Containing Two Phosphine Ligands

The ionic complexes [C₅H₅Co(L)(Ph₂PMe)I]⁺ [I]^- (L = Ph₃P and Ph₂PMe) were prepared by the reactions of cyclopentadienyl(triphenylphosphine)cobalt and cyclopentadienyl(methyldiphenylphosphine)cobalt diiodides with methyldiphenylphosphine. The treatment of these complexes with sodium tetraphenylborate results in the formation of [C₅H₅Co(L)(Ph₂PMe)I]⁺[BPh₄]^- compounds.     

Ethene loss kinetics of methyl 2-methyl butanoate ions studied by threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence: The enol ion of methyl propionate heat of formation

Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the unimolecular chemistry of gas-phase methyl 2-methyl butanoate ions [CH₃CH₂CH(CH₃)COOCH₃^·+]. This ester ion isomerizes to a lower energy distonic ion [CH₂CH₂CH(CH₃)COHOCH₃^·+] prior to dissociating by the loss of C₂H₄. The asymmetric time of flight distributions, which arise from the slow rate of dissociation at low ion energies, provide information about the ion dissociation rates. By modeling these rates with assumed k(E) functions, the thermal energy distribution for room temperature sample, and the analyzer function for threshold electrons, it was possible to extract the dissociative photoionization threshold for methyl 2-methyl butanoate which at 0 K is 9.80 ± 0.01 eV as well as the dissociation barrier of the distonic ion of 0.86 ± 0.01 eV. By combining these with an estimated heat of formation of methyl 2-methyl butanoate, we derive a 0 K heat of formation of the distonic ion CH₂CH₂CH(CH₃)COHOCH₃^·+ of 101.0 ± 2.0 kcal/mol. The product ion is the enol of methyl propionate, CH₃CHCOHOCH₃^·+, which has a derived heat of formation at 0 K of 106.0 ± 2.0 kcal/mol.     

Reactivity of Cyanide and Thiocyanate Towards the Nitrosyl Carbonyl [Co(CO)3(NO)]

The reaction of equimolar amounts of [Co(CO)₃(NO)] and [PPN]CN, PPN⁺ = (PPh₃)₂N⁺, in THF at room temperature resulted in ligand substitution of a carbonyl towards the cyanido ligand presumably affording the complex salt PPN[Co(CO)₂(NO)(CN)] as a reactive intermediate species which could not be isolated. Applying the synthetic protocol using the nitrosyl carbonyl in excess, the title reaction afforded unexpectedly the novel complex salt PPN[Co₂(μ-CN)(CO)₄(NO)₂] ( 1 ) in high yield. Because of many disorder phenomena in crystals of 1 the corresponding NBu₄⁺ salt of 1 has been prepared and the molecular structure of the dinuclear metal core in NnBu₄[Co₂(μ-CN)(CO)₄(NO)₂] ( 2 ) was determined by X-ray crystal diffraction in a more satisfactory manner. In contrast to the former result, the reaction of [PPN]SCN with [Co(CO)₃(NO)] yielded the mononuclear complex salt PPN[Co(CO)₂(NO)(SCN-κN)] ( 3 ) in good yield whose molecular structure in the solid was even determined and its composition additionally confirmed by spectroscopic means.     

Cyanidosilicates—Synthesis and Structure

Starting from fluoridosilicate precursors in neat cyanotrimethylsilane, Me₃Si?CN, a series of different ammonium salts [R₃NMe]⁺ (R=Et, ⁿPr, ⁿBu) with the novel [SiF(CN)₅]^2? and [Si(CN)₆]^2? dianions was synthesized in facile, temperature controlled F^?/CN^? exchange reactions. Utilizing decomposable, non‐innocent cations, such as [R₃NH]⁺, it was possible to generate metal salts of the type M₂[Si(CN)₆] (M⁺=Li⁺, K⁺) via neutralization reactions with the corresponding metal hydroxides. The ionic liquid [BMIm]₂[Si(CN)₆] (m.p.=72 °C, BMIm=1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium) was obtained by a salt metathesis reaction. All the synthesized salts could be isolated in good yields and were fully characterized.     

N2 Activation in NiI–NN–NiI Units: The Influence of Alkali Metal Cations and CO Reactivity

After single electron reduction of the dinitrogen complex [L^tBuNi(μ‐η¹:η¹‐N₂)NiL^tBu] ( I ) with KC₈, reaction of the resulting compound K[L^tBuNi(μ‐η¹:η¹‐N₂)NiL^tBu] ( II ) with sodium sand yields KNa[L^tBuNi(μ‐η¹:η¹‐N₂)NiL^tBu] ( 1 ), which contains two different alkali metal ions. Treatment of I with two equivalents of sodium sand leads to the symmetric complex Na₂[L^tBuNi(μ‐η¹:η¹‐N₂)NiL^tBu] ( 2 ). Complexes 1 and 2 were investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis as well as by Raman spectroscopy, and the results were compared with the data of K₂[L^tBuNi(μ‐η¹:η¹‐N₂)NiL^tBu] ( III ), which contains two K⁺ ions. Thus, it became obvious that the nature of the alkali metal ion M in compounds M₂[L^tBuNi(μ‐η¹:η¹‐N₂)NiL^tBu] has hardly any influence on the degree of NN bond activation. Furthermore, it was shown that treatment of the dinickel(I) complex III with CO leads to the dinickel(0) compound K₂[L^tBuNi(CO)]₂ ( 4 ) and N₂. Reaction of the unreduced dinickel(I) complex I with CO leads to a more simple replacement of the N₂ ligand and formation of [L^tBuNi(CO)] ( 3 ).     

The significance of field ionisation kinetics to ion structure: Isomerisation and decompostition of [C4H8]+· radical ions

The kinetics of formation of [C₃H₅]⁺[M ? CH₃]⁺, [C₃H₄]⁺·[M ? CH₄]⁺· and [C₂H₄]⁺·[M ? C₂H₄]⁺· from but-1-ene, cis- and trans-but-2-ene, 2-methylpropene, cyclobutane and methylcyclopropance following field ionisation have been determined as a function of time 20 (or 30) picoseconds to 1 nanosecond and at two points in the microsecond time-frame. The results are consistent with the supposition that at the shortest accessible times (20 to 30 picoseconds) the structure of the [C₄H₈]⁺· molecular ion qualitatively resembles that of its neutral precursor, but suggest that prior to decomposition within nanoseconds the various molecular ions (excepting cyclobutane where the processes are slower) attain a common structure or mixture of structures. Reaction pathways of the presumed known ion structures are delineated from the nature of decompostion at the shortest times.