Coordination compounds with XeF2, AsF3 and HF as ligands to metal ions: a review of reaction systematics, Raman spectra and metal, fluoro-ligand polyhedra

The reactions between Ln(AsF₆)₃ (Ln: lanthanide) and excess of XeF₂ in anhydrous HF (aHF) as a solvent yield coordination compounds [Ln(XeF₂)₃](AsF₆)₃ or LnF₃ together with Xe₂F₃AsF₆ or mixtures of all mentioned products depending on the fluorobasicity of XeF₂ and LnF₃ along the series. XeF₂ in a basic aHF is able to oxidize Pr³⁺ to Pr⁴⁺ besides Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺ and Tb³⁺ to Tb⁴⁺. The tetrafluorides obtained are weaker fluorobases as XeF₂ and are immediately exchanged with XeF₂ yielding Xe₂F₃AsF₆ and LnF₄. The analogous reaction between Ln(BiF₆)₃ and XeF₂ in aHF yields [Ln(XeF₂)₃](BiF₆)₃, Ln: La, Nd. Raman spectra of the compounds [Ln(XeF₂)_n](AF₆)₃ (A: As, Bi) show that no XeF⁺ salts are formed. The interaction of XeF₂ with metal ion is covalent over the fluorine bridge. Analogous reactions of Ln(AsF₆)₃ with AsF₃ in aHF yield [Ln(AsF₃)₃](AsF₆)₃ which are stable in a dynamic vacuum at temperatures lower than 233 K. In reactions between M(AF₆)₂ (M: alkaline earth metal and Pb, A: As, Sb) and XeF₂ in aHF as a solvent, compounds of the type [M(XeF₂)_n](AF₆)₂ were synthesized. Analogous reactions with AsF₃ yield coordination compounds of the type [M(AsF₃)_n](AsF₆)₂. During the preparation of M^x(AsF₆)_x (M: metal in oxidation state x+) by the reaction between metal fluoride and excess of AsF₅ in aHF it was found that HF could also act as a ligand to the metal ions (e.g. Ca(HF)(AsF₆)₂).     

Synthesis of novel salts with HF, AsF3 and XeF2 as ligands to metal cations

A review of all known compounds of the type [Mⁿ(L)_m](AF₆)_n (M is a metal in the oxidation state n; A = P, As, Sb and Bi; L = HF, AsF₃ and XeF₂) is given with the emphasis on the compounds isolated and characterized by our group. The synthetic routes for the preparation of these compounds are given together with a brief analysis of their structures. In the case of L = XeF₂ the influence of the properties of the cation and the anion on the structural diversity of these coordination compounds is discussed. A brief analysis of their Raman spectra is also given.     

Syntheses, structures and Raman spectra of Cd(BF4)(AF6) (A = Ta, Bi) compounds

The compounds, Cd(BF₄)(TaF₆) and Cd(BF₄)(BiF₆), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Both isostructural compounds crystallize in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group with a = 8.2700(6) Å, b = 9.3691(6) Å, c = 8.8896(7) Å, β = 94.196(3)°, V = 686.94(9) Å³ for Cd(BF₄)(TaF₆) and a = 8.3412(8) Å, b = 9.4062(8) Å, c = 8.9570(7) Å, β = 93.320(5)°, V = 701.58(11) Å³ for Cd(BF₄)(BiF₆). Eight fluorine atoms (4 BF₄⁻ + 4 AF₆⁻) form a surrounding around the cadmium atom in the shape of distorted square antiprism. These compounds are not isostructural with mixed-anion analogues of Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb studied earlier.     

Tutorial review: Bohr circular orbit diagrams for some fluorine-containing molecules

Examples are provided of Bohr circular orbit diagrams to represent the electronic structures of some fluorine-containing molecules. The orbit diagrams are constructed from a 2n × n factorisation of the atomic shell-structure formula 2n², with n = 1, 2, 3, … Particular attention is given to orbit diagrams and the associated valence bond structures for the hypercoordinate molecules and ions PF₅ and NF₅, F₃⁻ and XeF₂, IF₅ and XeF₅⁺, XeF₅⁻, IF₈⁻, XeF₈²⁻, ReF₈⁻ and TaF₈³⁻, ZrF₈⁴⁻, ZrF₇³⁻, Re₂F₈²⁻, and high-spin CoF₆³⁻.Aspects of the electronic structures of D_3h-symmetry PF₅ and NF₅ are contrasted via the use of orbital valence bond considerations, and the results of STO-3G valence bond calculations are reported for these species.     

Preparation and characterisation of mononuclear Pd(II) complexes with 1,8-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane (bddo) ligand: Spectroscopy studies and crystal structure of trans-[Pd(SCN)2(bddo)]

Mononuclear palladium(II) complexes containing a pyrazole-thioether ligand, with general formula trans-[Pd(X)₂(bddo)] (X = CN⁻ (1), SCN⁻ (2) or N₃⁻ (3); bddo = 1,8-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane), have been prepared. Similar reactivity carried out with pyridine or triphenylphosphine has been assayed. When pyridine is used, a mixture of [Pd(bddo)(py)₂](BF₄)₂ ([4](BF₄)₂) and [Pd(bddo)](BF₄)₂ is obtained. When triphenylphosphine is used, only [Pd(bddo)](BF₄)₂ is obtained. The complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, IR and NMR spectroscopies. X-ray crystal structure of trans-[Pd(SCN)₂(bddo)] (2) is presented. In this complex the metal atom is coordinated by the two azine nitrogen atoms of the pyrazole rings and two SCN⁻ anions in trans disposition.     

New cationic palladium (II) and rhodium (I) complexes of [Ph2PCH2C(Ph)N(2,6-Me2C6H3)]

Treatment of the bulky iminophosphine ligand [Ph₂PCH₂C(Ph)N(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃)] (L) with [M(CH₃CN)₂(ligand)]⁺ⁿ, where for M = Pd(II): ligand = η³-allyl, n = 1, and for M = Rh(I), ligand: 2(C₂H₄), 2(CO) or cod, n = 0, yields the mono-cationic iminophosphine complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(L)][BF₄] (1), [Rh(cod)(L)][BF₄] (2), [Rh(CO)(CH₃CN)(L)][BF₄] (3), and cis-[Rh(L)₂][BF₄] (4). All the new complexes have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 shows moderate activity in the copolymerisation of CO and ethene but is inactive towards Heck coupling of 4-bromoacetophenone and n-butyl acrylate.     

The enthalpies of formation of XeF6(c), XeF4(c), XeF2(c), and PF3(g)

The energies of reaction of XeF₆(c), XeF₄(c), and XeF₂(c) with PF₃(g) were measured in a bomb calorimeter. These results were combined with the enthalpy of fluorination of PF₃(g), which was redetermined to be −(151.98 ± 0.07) kcal_th mol⁻¹, to derive (at 298.15 K) ΔH_f^o(XeF₆, c, I) = −(80.82 ± 0.53) kcal_th mol⁻¹, ΔH_f^o(XeF₄, c) = −(63.84 ± 0.21) kcal_th mol⁻¹, and ΔH_f^o(XeF₂, c) = −(38.90 ± 0.21) kcal_th mol⁻¹. The enthalpies of formation of the solid xenon fluorides were combined with reported enthalpies of sublimation to derive (at 298.15 K) ΔH_f^o(XeF₆, g) = −(66.69 ± 0.61) kcal_th mol⁻¹, ΔH_f^o(XeF₄, g) = −(49.28 ± 0.22) kcal_th mol⁻¹, and ΔH_f^o(XeF₂, g) = −(25.58 ± 0.21) kcal_th mol⁻¹. The average bond dissociation enthalpies,〈D^o〉(XeF, 298.15 K), are (29.94 ± 0.16), (31.15 ± 0.13), and (31.62 ± 0.16) kcal_th mol⁻¹ in XeF₆(g), XeF₄(g), and XeF₂(g), respectively. The enthalpy of formation of PF₃(g) was determined to be −(228.8 ± 0.3) kcal_th mol⁻¹.     

The standard enthalpy of formation of XeF5[BF4] crystals

The enthalpies of interaction of XeF₅[BF₄](cr) (XeF₆ · BF₃) with water and an aqueous solution of alkali were measured on an isothermic-shell calorimeter at 298.15 K. The results of measurements and literature data were used to calculate the standard enthalpy of formation of XeF₅[BF₄](cr) at 298.15 K, Δ_f H ^∘ = −1547 ± 10 kJ/mol. Original Russian Text ? S.N. Solov’ev, A.A. Firer, K.A. Minasyan, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 7, pp. 1394–1395.     

Alkaline earth metal poly(hydrogen fluorides) hexafluoroarsenates(V) and hexafluorophosphate(V): M2(H2F3)(HF2)2(AF6) (M = Ca, A = As; M = Sr, A = As, P)

New compounds of the type M₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AF₆) with M = Ca, A = As and M = Sr, A = As, P) were isolated. Ca₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AsF₆) was prepared from Ca(AsF₆)₂ with repeated additions of neutral anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF). It crystallizes in a space group P4₃22 with a = 714.67(10) pm, c = 1754.8(3) pm, V = 0.8963(2) nm³ and Z = 4. Sr₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AsF₆) was prepared at room temperature by dissolving SrF₂ in aHF acidified with AsF₅ in mole ratio SrF₂:AsF₅ = 2:1. It crystallizes in a space group P4₃22 with a = 746.00(12) pm, c = 1805.1(5) pm, V = 1.0046(4) nm³ and Z = 4. Sr₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(PF₆) was prepared from Sr(XeF₂)_n(PF₆)₂ in neutral aHF. It crystallizes in a space group P4₁22 with a = 737.0(3) pm, c = 1793.7(14) pm, V = 0.9744(9) nm³ and Z = 4. The compounds M₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AF₆) gradually lose HF at room temperature in a dynamic vacuum or during being powdered for recording IR spectra or X-ray powder ray diffraction patterns. All compounds are isotypical with coordination of nine fluorine atoms around a metal center forming a distorted Archimedian antiprism with one face capped. This is the first example of the compounds in which H₂F₃⁻ and HF₂⁻ anions simultaneously bridge metal centers forming close packed three-dimensional network of polymeric compounds with low solubility in aHF. The HF₂⁻ anions are asymmetric with usual F?F distances of 227.3-228.5 pm. Vibrational frequency (ν₁) of HF₂⁻ is close to that in NaHF₂. The anion H₂F₃⁻ exhibits unusually small F?F?F angle of 95.1°-97.6° most probably as a consequence of close packed structure.     

3-(Aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoates of mercury(II) and phenylmercury(II)

Compounds [HQ]₂[Hg(L)₂] and [HQ][PhHg(L)] [where HQ = diisopropylammonium cation; L = pspa, fspa, tspa, where p = 3-(phenyl), f = 3-(2-furyl), t = 3-(2-thienyl), and spa = 2-sulfanylpropenoato] have been prepared by the reaction of mercury(II) acetate or phenylmercury(II) acetate with the corresponding acid in the presence of diisopropylamine in ethanol. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, FAB mass spectrometry and IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C) spectroscopy. The crystal structures of the [HQ]₂[Hg(L)₂] compounds show the presence of diisopropylammonium cations and [Hg(L)₂]²⁻ anions. In each anion the Hg atom is in an HgO₂S₂ environment and this can be described as nido-tbp. The crystal structures of the [HQ][PhHg(L)] compounds show the presence of diisopropylammonium cations and [PhHg(L)]⁻ anions in which the Hg atom adopts an HgCOS distorted T-environment. The NMR data suggest that the coordination mode of the ligand L²⁻ determined by X-ray diffractometry in the solid remains in solution.     

Synthesis and structures of nickel(II) and copper(II) compounds of 5,5,7,13-tetramethyl-13-nitro-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane and the 13-ethyl-5,5,7-trimethyl-homologue

Reduction by NaBH₄ of the imine functions of (5,7,7,13-tetramethyl-13-nitro-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-4-ene)-nickel(II) and -copper(II), and of their 13-ethyl-5,7,7-trimethyl-homologues, yield the nitro-substituted cyclic tetraamine cations (5,5,7,13-tetramethyl-13-nitro-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)-nickel(II) and -copper(II), [M(neh)]²⁺, and (13-ethyl-5,5,7-trimethyl-homologues, [M(nph)]²⁺, respectively. The nickel(II) cations form square–planar, singlet ground, state salts with poorly coordinating anions and octahedral, triplet ground state, compounds with additional ligands, trans-β-[Ni(neh)A₂], A⁻ = Cl⁻, NCS⁻ and trans-β-[Ni(neh)A₂](ClO₄)₂, X = NH₃, MeCN, all with nitrogen configuration III, 1R,4R,8S,11S = β. With oxalate the chain-polymeric compound catena-trans-β-[Ni(neh)(μ-C₂O₄)]_n · 3n(H₂O) is formed. Folded macrocycle compounds cis-α-[Ni(neh)(C₅H₇O₂)]ClO₄ and cis-α-[{Ni(neh)}₂(C₂O₄)](ClO₄)₂ are formed with the chelates acetylacetonate and oxalate, with configuration 1R,4R,8R,11R = α. These react with HClO₄ to form metastable α-[Ni(neh)](ClO₄)₂ with retention of configuration. The copper(II) cations form crimson salts with poorly coordinating anions and compounds of the type β-[Cu(neh)A]ClO₄ of varying shades of blue with coordinating anions. Structures of singlet ground state square–planar nickel(II) compounds β-[Ni(neh)](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O, β-[Ni(neh)](ClO₄)₂, β-[Ni(neh)]₂[ZnCl₃(OH₂)]₂[ZnCl₄] · H₂O and α-[Ni(neh)](ClO₄)₂, the triplet ground state chain-polymeric compound catena-trans-β-[Ni(neh)(μ-C₂O₄)]_n · 3n(H₂O) and of square–pyramidal β-[Cu(nph)Cl]ClO₄ are reported.     

From hypervalent xenon difluoride and aryliodine(III) difluorides to onium salts: Scope and limitation of acidic fluoroorganic reagents in the synthesis of fluoroorgano xenon(II) and iodine(III) onium salts

Fluorinated organodifluoroboranes R_fBF₂ are in general suitable reagents to transform XeF₂ and RIF₂ into the corresponding onium tetrafluoroborate salts [R_fXe][BF₄] and [R(R_f)I][BF₄], respectively. (4-C₅F₄N)BF₂ and trans-CF₃CFCFBF₂ which represent boranes of high acidity form no Xe-C onium salts in reactions with XeF₂ but give the desired iodonium salts with RIF₂ (R = C₆F₅, o-, m-, p-C₆FH₄). The reaction of (4-C₅F₄N)BF₂ with XeF₂ ends with a XeF₂-borane adduct. C₆F₅Xe(4-C₅F₄N), the first Xe-(4-C₅F₄N) compound, was obtained when C₆F₅XeF was reacted with Cd(4-C₅F₄N)₂. We describe the synthesis of (4-C₅F₄N)IF₂ and reactions of (4-C₅F₄N)IF₂ and C₆F₅IF₂ with (4-C₅F₄N)BF₂. Analogous to [(4-C₅F₄N)₂I][BF₄] and [C₆F₅(4-C₅F₄N)I][BF₄] aryl(perfluoroalkenyl)iodonium salts [R(R′)I][BF₄] were obtained from RIF₂ (R = C₆F₅, o-, m-, p-C₆FH₄) and R′BF₂ (R′ = trans-CF₃CFCF, CF₂CF). The gas phase fluoride affinities pF⁻ of selected fluoroorganodifluoroboranes R_fBF₂ and their hydrocarbon analogs are calculated (B3LYP/6-31+G^*) and discussed with respect to their potential to introduce R_f-groups into hypervalent EF₂ bonds. Four aspects which influence the transformation of hypervalent EF₂ bonds (E = Xe, R′I) under the action of Lewis acidic reagents RAF_n−1 (A = B, P; n = 3, 5) into the corresponding [RE][AF_n+1] salts are presented and the important role of the acidity is emphasized. Fluoride affinities may help to plan the introduction of organo groups into EF₂ moieties and to expand the types of acidic reagents. Thus C₆H₅PF₄ with a pF⁻ value comparable to that of R_fBF₂ compounds is able to introduce the C₆H₅ group into RIF₂ (R = C₆F₅, p-C₆FH₄).     

Selection of entrainers in the 1-hexene/n-hexane system with a limited solubility

Vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) have been measured for five 1-hexene/n-hexane/ionic liquid systems and 1-hexene/n-hexane/NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) system with a headspace-gas chromatography (HSGC) apparatus at 333.15 K. The ionic liquids investigated were 1,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₂MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₄MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻, 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₈MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻, 1,3-dimethylimidazolium dicyanamide [C₂MIM]⁺[N(CN)₂]⁻ and 1-octylquinolinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [C₈Chin]⁺[BTA]⁻. It was found that at low feeding concentration of 1-hexene and n-hexane, the separation ability of ionic liquids is in the order of [C₂MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻ > [C₄MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻ ≈ [C₂MIM]⁺[N(CN)₂]⁻ > [C₈MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻ > [C₈Chin]⁺[BTA]⁻, which is consistent with the priori prediction of the COSMO-RS (conductor-like screening model for real solvents) model. But at high feeding concentration, the separation ability of ionic liquids is in the order of [C₂MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻ < [C₄MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻ ≈ [C₂MIM]⁺[N(CN)₂]⁻ < [C₈MIM]⁺[BF₄]⁻ < [C₈Chin]⁺[BTA]⁻. The liquid demixing effect should be taken into account. The activity coefficients of 1-hexene and n-hexane at infinite dilution calculated with the COSMO-RS model were correlated using the NRTL, Wilson and UNIQUAC model. In this work the predictive results from the COSMO-RS model and UNIFAC model for the 1-hexene/n-hexane and 1-hexene/n-hexane/NMP systems were compared. The UNIFAC model is one of the most important academic contributions by Prof. Jürgen Gmehling.     

Homoleptic [M(XeF2)6] cations of copper(II) and zinc(II)—Syntheses and crystal structures of [M(XeF2)6](SbF6)2 (M = Cu, Zn)

[Cu(XeF₂)₆](SbF₆)₂ crystallizes in the rhombohedral symmetry with a = 1003.6(2) pm, c = 2246.5(12) pm at 200 K and Z = 3, space group (No. 148). [Zn(XeF₂)₆](SbF₆)₂ is isostructural to [Cu(XeF₂)₆](SbF₆)₂ with a = 1007(2) pm and c = 2243(6) pm. The structures are characterized by isolated homoleptic [M(XeF₂)₆]²⁺ (M = Cu, Zn) cations and of [SbF₆]⁻ octahedra.Reactions of M(SbF₆)₂ (M = Cu, Zn) with XeF₂ in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) and reactions of MF₂ with Xe₂F₃SbF₆ in aHF always yield a mixture of [M(XeF₂)₆](SbF₆)₂, Xe₂F₃SbF₆ and MF₂.     

Alkali metal (Na and K)-mediated supramolecular assembly of oxovanadium(V) complexes: Synthesis and structural characterization

The syntheses and characterization of alkali metal complexes [{VO₂L}M(H₂O}_n] (1 and 2) [M = Na⁺ (1), K⁺ (2)] of anionic cis-dioxovanadium(V) species (LVO₂⁻) of the Schiff base 2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde have been reported. The number of coordinated water molecules in [{VO₂L}M(H₂O}_n] decreases as the charge density of the alkali metal ion decreases (n = 5 for Na⁺ and 1 for K⁺). These compounds represented M⁺-mediated supramolecular assembly [{VO₂L}M(H₂O}_n]_∝ with an infinite polymeric structure containing an alternating array of cis-dioxo vanadium(V), [VO₂L]⁻, units and aquated metal ion centres, as confirmed by X-ray crystallographic investigation of both. All the compounds are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV–Vis and NMR spectroscopy.     

Zinc(II) complexes of 1,3-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)propane: Anion dependency, crystal structure and DNA binding study

Zinc(II) complexes of the formula [Zn(L)(X)₂] (where X = Cl⁻, N₃⁻, NCO⁻ and SCN⁻ (1a-d, respectively)) and {[Zn(L)(ClO₄)(H₂O)](ClO₄)}_n (2), were isolated in the pure form on the reaction of 1,3-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)propane (L) with different zinc(II) salts. All the complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic tools. The X-ray crystallographic analyses of the complexes 1d and 2 showed that the former is mononuclear while complex 2 is a 1D coordination polymer, {[Zn(L)(ClO₄)(H₂O)](ClO₄)}_n, due to a different coordination mode of the tetradentate ligand L. The zinc(II) ions present an octahedral coordination geometry in both compounds, which is more distorted in the mononuclear complex 1d. The study indicates that the counter anion of the zinc(II) salt used as reactant leads to a different type of complex when isolated as a crystalline material. A spectroscopic study of the interaction of complex, 2 with calf thymus-DNA (CT-DNA) in Tris-HCl buffer showed a significant non-intercalative interaction with a binding constant (K_b) of 4.7 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, and the linear Stern-Volmer quenching constant (K_sv) and the binding sites (n) were found to be 1.3 × 10³ and 0.92 respectively, calculated from ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescence displacement experiments.     

Spin-crossover in cobalt(II) compounds containing terpyridine and its derivatives

In this review article we discuss the unique and novel magnetic properties for the cobalt(II) compounds with a variety of terpy derivatives including substituents at the 4-position. These are also compared with the unsubstituted terpy cobalt(II) complex. Since the first SCO cobalt(II) complex with terpy ligand was reported, this system has been widely studied. SCO cobalt(II) complexes possessing terpy or OH-terpy ligand reveal incomplete or gradual SCO behavior. The pyterpy-appended cobalt(II) complex shows SCO depending on the guest molecules involved. Cobalt(II) complexes with long-alkylated terpy ligands, [Co(Cn-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (n = 16, 14 and 12) have been synthesized and some were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. Furthermore, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility indicated that the non-solvated compounds [Co(Cn-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (n = 16, 14 and 12) exhibit “reverse spin transition” phenomenon with wide thermal hysteresis around room temperature. In addition, the solvated compound [Co(C12-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂·EtOH·0.5H₂O shows “re-entrant SCO” behavior. The long alkyl chains in SCO cobalt(II) complexes can lead to novel physical properties resulting from a synergetic effect between SCO and response of the flexibility toward external stimuli.     

Hetero-metallic frameworks of [Pd(CN)4] and Cu(II) with triamines: A rare example of a tetracyanometallate bridged 2D coordination polymer

Four cyano bridged Cu(II)–Pd(II) heterometallic complexes, [Cu(dpt)Pd(CN)₄]_n (1), {[Cu₂(medpt)₂Pd(CN)₄](ClO₄)₂ · 3H₂O}_n (2), {[Cu₂(dien)₂Pd(CN)₄](ClO₄)₂ · 2CH₃OH}_n (3) and {[Cu₂(iPrdien)₂Pd(CN)₄](ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O}_n (4) [dpt = 3,3′-iminobispropylamine; medpt = 3,3′-diamino-N-methyldipropylamine; dien = diethylenetriamine and iprdien = N′-isopropyldiethylenetriamine] have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, magnetic measurement and thermal study. Complexes 1, 2 and 3 are 1D coordination polymers, while 4 presents a 2D network. In 1, the cis-directed cyanide ligands of [Pd(CN)₄]²⁻ anions link two Cu(dpt) units to form a neutral coordination polymer, whereas in 2, 3 and 4, all the cyanide groups of [Pd(CN)₄]²⁻ take part in bonding with four adjacent Cu(II) ions, resulting in cationic coordination polymers counterbalanced by perchlorate anions. The structures are compared with those of analogous [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻ derivatives. The magnetic behavior shows antiferromagnetic interactions in all the complexes.     

Phase transitions, structural changes and molecular motions in [Zn(NH3)4](BF4)2 studied by neutron scattering, X-ray powder diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance

Nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR and ¹⁹F NMR) measurements performed at 90-295 K, inelastic incoherent neutron scattering (IINS) spectra and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) patterns registered at 22-190 K, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) measurements performed at 86-293 K, provided evidence that the crystal of [Zn(NH₃)₄](BF₄)₂ has four solid phases. The phase transitions occurring at: T_C3=101 K, T_C2=117 K and T_C1=178 K, as were detected earlier by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), were connected on one hand only with an insignificant change in the crystal structure and on the other hand with a drastic change in the speed of the anisotropic, uniaxial reorientational motions of the NH₃ ligands and BF₄⁻ anions (at T_C3 and at T_C2) and with the dynamical orientational order-disorder process (“tumbling”) of tetrahedral [Zn(NH₃)₄]²⁺ and BF₄⁻ ions (at T_C1). The crystal structure of [Zn(NH₃)₄](BF₄)₂ at room temperature was determined by XRPD as orthorhombic, space group Pnma (No. 62), a=10.523 Å, b=7.892 Å, c=13.354 Å and Z=4. Unfortunately, it was not possible to determine the structure of the intermediate and the low-temperature phase. However, we registered the change of the lattice parameters and unit cell volume as a function of temperature and we can observe only a small deviation from near linear dependence of these parameters upon temperature in the vicinity of the T_C1 phase transition.     

Synthesis, properties, and oxidizing function of 6-substituted 7,9-dimethylcyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrrole-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Uracil-annulated heteroazulenes, 6-substituted 7,9-dimethylcyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrrole-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates 7a,b·BF₄⁻, which are the isoelectronic compounds of 5-dezazaflavin, were synthesized. X-Ray crystal analysis and MO calculations were carried out to clarify the structural characteristics of 7a,b·BF₄⁻. The stability of cations 7a,b is expressed by the pK_R+ values which were determined spectrophotometrically to be 10.9 and 11.2, respectively. The electrochemical reduction of 7a,b exhibited high reduction potentials at −0.84 and −0.87 (V vs Ag/AgNO₃) upon cyclic voltammetry (CV). A good linear correlation between the pK_R+ values and reduction potentials (E1_red) of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ and reference compounds 4·BF₄⁻ and 5·BF₄⁻ was obtained. In a search of the reactivity, reactions of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ with some nucleophiles, hydride and diethylamine, were carried out to clarify that the introduction of nucleophiles to give regio-isomers is dependent on the nucleophile. The photo-induced oxidation reactions of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ toward some alcohols under aerobic conditions were carried out to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds in more than 100% yield [based on compounds 7a,b·BF₄⁻], suggesting the oxidizing function of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ toward alcohols in the autorecycling process.