Carboxyl derivatives of phosphazenes

The review describes the modern methods of synthesis and chemical modification of carboxylcontaining phosphazenes. The possibility of their use in the synthesis of polyamides, epoxy resins, star-shaped and structured polymers, hydrogels, and metal complexes is considered. Carboxyl-containing phosphazenes and their derivatives are of great interest for medicine, electronics, photonics, and design of multipurpose hightech composite materials, offering wide opportunities for further research and application.     

Reaction of acetylenic esters and N-functionalized phosphazenes. 1,2-versus 1,4-addition of N-vinylic phosphazenes

Reaction of phosphazenes derived from aminophosphonates with acetylenic esters leads to conjugated phosphorus ylides. The formation of these stabilized ylides is explained through a [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the P = N linkage of the phosphazene (1,2-addition) and the triple bond of the acetylenic ester followed by ring opening of the azaphosphete intermediate. However, in the case of N-vinylic phosphazenes, the phosphazenes derived from triphenyl- and trimethyl-phosphine react as enamines (1,4-addition) with diacetylenic esters, whereas in phosphazenes derived from trimethylphosphine a 1,2-addition of ethyl propiolate to the P = N linkage of the phosphazene is produced.     

Synthesis and structure of nongeminally substituted cyclic phosphazenes with haloalkyl and thioester functional groups

Nongeminally substituted cyclic phosphazenes with various haloalkyl substituents were prepared using deprotonation-substitution reactions at the methyl groups of the cis isomers of nongeminally substituted cis-[Me(Ph)P=N]3, 2. Treatment of 2 with n-BuLi followed by reaction with organic halogenated reagents (RX=C2Cl6, BrC(O)CMe2Br, and ICH2COOEt) at low temperature afforded the various cyclic derivatives cis-[(XCH2)(Ph)PN]3 (3, X=Cl, 4, Br, and 5, I). The mono- and dibromoalkyl derivatives, cis-[Ph3(BrCH2)Me2P3N3], 6, and [Ph3(BrCH2)2MeP3N3], 7, were also isolated along with 4 when the electrophile was dibromoethane. Reaction of cis-[Ph(BrCH2)PN]3, 4, with KSC(O)Me gave cis-[Ph(MeC(O)SCH2)PN]3, 8. The structures of all the cis cyclic phosphazenes were determined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. All retained the basketlike shape with the hydrophobic phenyl groups opposite the haloalkyl groups on the P3N3 ring. Thermal analysis of the new cyclic trimers indicates that ring-opening polymerization does not occur. The melting points and the thermal stabilities of haloalkyl cyclophosphazenes were higher than those of the parent compound 2.     

On the electronic structure of ethidium

The electronic structure of the common intercalating agent ethidium bromide (3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide) is dominated by an interplay of electron donating and withdrawing effects mediated by its nitrogen atoms. X-ray crystallography, UV/Vis and IR absorption, fluorescence emission, and NMR spectroscopy are used to probe the electronic properties of the phenanthridinium "core" of ethidium as well as its exocyclic amines and 6-phenyl groups. Interestingly, despite its positive charge, most of ethidium's aromatic carbon and hydrogen atoms have high electron densities (compared to both 6-phenylphenanthridine and benzene). The data suggest that electron donation by ethidium's exocyclic amines dominates over the electron withdrawing effects of its endocyclic iminium in their combined influence on the electron densities of these atoms. Ethidium's nitrogen atoms are, conversely, electron deficient where the 5-position is the most electropositive, followed by the 3-amino, and lastly the 8-amino group. These results have been used to generate an empirically-based pi-electron density map of ethidium that may prove useful to understanding its nucleic acid binding specificity.     

Tuning the electronic structure of diboradiferrocenes

A series of diboradiferrocenes with different aryl substituents was prepared through reaction of B,B-dichlorodiboradiferrocene with arylcopper and Grignard reagents. The mesityl and pentafluorophenyl derivatives, - and -, were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography, and their electronic structure was examined by UV-visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. A comparison of the data for - and - with those of the parent compound - revealed the importance of electronic and steric effects of the substituents on the electronic structure of the compounds and ultimately the degree of electronic interaction between the two ferrocene moieties. An unusually large redox splitting of DeltaE = 703 mV was determined from the cyclic voltammogram of -.     

Revisiting the structure of Heliannuol L: A computational approach

Recently, structural elucidation of natural products has undergone a revolution. The combined use of different modern spectroscopic methods has allowed obtaining a complete structural assignment of natural products using small amounts of sample. However, despite the extraordinary ongoing advances in spectroscopy, the mischaracterization of natural products has been and remains a recurrent problem, especially when the substance presents several stereogenic centers. The misinterpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data has resulted in frequent reports addressing structural reassignment. In this context, a great effort has been devoted to developing quantum chemical calculations that simulate NMR parameters accurately, allowing to achieve a more precise spectral interpretation. In this work, we employed a protocol for theoretical calculations of ¹H NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants using density functional theory (DFT), followed by the application of the DP4+ method to revisit the structure of Heliannuol L, a member of the Heliannuol class, isolated from Helianthus annuus. Our results indicate that the originally proposed structure of Heliannuol L needs a stereochemical reassignment, placing the hydroxyl bonded to C10 in the opposite side of the methyl and hydroxyl groups bonded to C7 and C8, respectively.     

Experimental gas-phase basicity scale of superbasic phosphazenes

Seventeen superbasic phosphazenes and two Verkade's bases were used to supplement and extend the experimental gas-phase basicity scale in the superbasic region. For 19 strong bases the gas-phase basicity values (GB) were determined for the first time. Among them are such well-known bases as BEMP (1071.2 kJ/mol), Verkade's Me-substituted base (1083.8 kJ/mol), Et-N=P(NMe2)2-N=P(NMe2)3 (Et-P2 phosphazene, 1106.9 kJ/mol), and t-Bu-N=P(NMe2)3 (t-Bu-P1 phosphazene, 1058.0 kJ/mol). For the first time experimental GB values were determined for P2 phosphazenes. Together with our previous results self-consistent experimental gas-phase basicity scale between 1020 and 1107 kJ/mol is now established. This way an important region of the gas-phase basicity scale, which was earlier dominated by metal hydroxide bases, is now covered also with organic bases making it more accessible for further studies. The GB values for several superbases were calculated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311+G** level. For the phosphazene family the standard deviation of the correlation between the experimental and theoretical values was 6.5 kJ/mol.     

Linear, cyclic and polymeric phosphazenes

An assessment of the diversity of phosphazene chemistry is presented with an emphasis on recent developments and their significance. Fundamental properties of phosphazenes are examined such as structure, nomenclature and bonding, and the various synthetic procedures are catagorized. In addition, the more important reactivity patterns are detailed and analysed. The review compares all systems containing the phosphazene bond, and makes extensive reference to previous reviews on specific types of phosphazene.     

The electronic structure of the silyl halides

Calculations have been performed on the silyl and methyl halides, using the CNDO method and the photoelectron spectra of the silyl halides are interpreted from the results. Inclusion of d orbitals on silicon is found to be necessary so that the calculated ionisation potentials of silyl bromide and chloride are greater than the corresponding methyl compounds, in agreement with observation.One of us (J.J.) thanks the Scottish Education Department for a Maintenance Grant.     

On the electronic structure of dihalogenophosphenium cations

The bonding properties of the dihalogenophosphenium cations, PX₂⁽⁺⁾, X = F, Cl, Br, I, are evaluated by relativistic effective core potential calculations with a DZP basis set. Our investigations include an analysis of the singlet-triplet energy separation in the cations and the determination of the relative cation and anion stabilities in the gas phase, via corresponding group transfer reactions. A comparison is made with other stabilized, previously reported low-coordinated π-bonded phosphorus cations.     

The electronic structure of the boron hydrides

In parts I and II of this series [1] it has been demonstrated that localized three centre and two centre bonds may be used as basic functions for molecular orbital calculations on closed (cage) and open (basket) boron polyhedral molecules. In the present paper it is shown that the face and edge matrices of this theory are related to incidal and 1 and 2 simplexial matrices in the same way that Hückel matrices in the theory of unsaturated hydrocarbons are related to incidal matrices and 0 and 1 simplexial matrices. The theory is thus a topologically-correct extension of Hückel theory to three dimensions.

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Zusammenfassung In Teil I und II dieser Serie [1] wurde demonstriert, da\ lokalisierte Dreizentren- und Zweizentren-Bindungen als Basisfunktionen für MO-Rechnungen bei geschlossenen (KÄfig) und offenen (Korb) polyhedralen Borwasserstoff-Molekülen benutzt werden können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird gezeigt, da\ die OberflÄchen- und Randmatrizen dieser Theorie mit Incidal- sowie 1- und 2-Simplexmatrizen verwandt sind, in derselben Art wie die Hückel-Matrizen in der Theorie der ungesÄttigten Kohlenwasserstoffe mit Incidal-Matrizen sowie 0- und 1-Simplexmatrizen in Beziehung stehen. Die Theorie ist somit eine topologisch korrekte Erweiterung der Hückel-Theorie auf drei Dimensionen.

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Résumé Dans les parties I et II de cette suite d'articles on a démontré que des liaisons localisées à trois et à deux centres peuvent Être employées comme fonctions de base pour des calculs d'orbitales moléculaires sur des molécules polyhédriques boriques fermées («cage») et ouvertes («panier»). Dans cet article on montre que les matrices «faces» et «arÊtes» de cette théorie sont liées aux matrices d'incidence et aux matrices Simplexes 1 et 2 de la mÊme manière que dans la théorie de Hückel la matrice hamiltonienne est reliée aux matrices d'incidence et simplexes 0 et 1. La théorie est donc une extension à trois dimensions, correcte du point de vue topologique, de la méthode de Hückel.

     

The electronic structure of the boron hydrides

The expansion of topological basis functions for tetrahedral and octahedral boron cage molecules in terms of an explicit atomic orbital basis is considered. A maximum localisation criteria is used to define mixing coefficients. The overlap between face basis functions in the two geometries is 0.79 and only a very crude parameter transferability exists. However, some aspects of the relative molecular orbital energy levels generated with a topological basis appear to be an improvement on those using an atomic orbital basis.

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Zusammenfassung Die Entwicklung topologischer Basisfunktionen nach einer expliziten Basis von Atomorbitalen für käfigförmige, tetraedrische und oktaedrische Moleküle, die Boratome enthalten, wird untersucht. Ein Kriterium maximaler Lokalisierung wird zur Bestimmung der Mischungskoeffizienten verwendet. Die Überlappung zwischen den Basisfunktionen, die zu den Seiten der beiden Geometrien gehören, beträgt 0,79, und es existiert nur eine ungefähre Übertragbarkeit der Parameter. Einige Aspekte der relativen MO-Energiewerte, die mit einer topologischen Basis gewonnen wurden, stellen eine Verbesserung gegenüber der Verwendung einer Atomorbitalbasis dar.

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Résumé Développement des fonctions de base topologiques en termes d'une base explicite d'orbitales atomiques pour des molécules cages de bore tétraédrique et octaédrique. Un critère de localisation maximum est utilisé pour définir les coefficients de mélange. Le recouvrement entre les fonctions de base faciales dans les deux geometries est de 0.79 et la transférabilité des paramètres n'est que très grossière. Cependant, certains aspects relatifs des niveaux d'énergie des orbitales moléculaires engendrées avec une base topologique apparaissent plus satisfaisants que ceux obtenus avec une base d'orbitales atomiques.

     

The electronic structure of the disilavinylidene anion

The electronic structure of the disilavinylidene (H₂Si = Si)⁻ anion is investigated with the MC SCF CI and CEPA methods. In addition to the doublet ground state (²B₂) with an electron affinity of 1.65 eV, an excited state (⁴A'') is found which is still stable by about 0.6 eV.     

Theoretical electronic structure of the molecule ScBr

The potential energy curves have been investigated for the 23 lowest electronic states in the ^2s+1Λ^± representation of the molecule ScBr via CASSCF and MRCI (single and double excitations with Davidson correction) calculations. Seventeen electronic states have been studied theoretically for the first time. The harmonic frequency ω_e, the internuclear distance r_e, and the electronic energy with respect to the ground state T_e have been calculated. By using the canonical functions approach, the eigenvalues E_v, the rotational constant B_v, and the abscissas of the turning points (R_min, R_max) have been calculated for electronic states up to the vibrational level v = 32. The comparison of these values to the theoretical and experimental results available in the literature shows a good agreement. © 2007 Wiley Periodicalsm Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Theoretical electronic structure of the molecule ScI

Theoretical investigation of the 18 lowest electronic states of the molecule ScI in the representation ^2S+1Λ^(±) has been performed via CASSCF and MRCI (single and double excitation with Davidson correction) calculations. To the best of our knowledge these calculated electronic states are the first ones from ab initio methods. Thirteen electronic states between 4,500 cm^?1 and 21,000 cm^?1 have been studied for the first time and have not yet been observed experimentally. The harmonic frequency ω_e, the internuclear distance R_e, the electronic transition energy with respect to the ground state T_e, and the rotational constant B_e have been calculated for the considered electronic states. By using the canonical functions approach the eigenvalues E_υ and the rotational constants B_υ have also been calculated for the six lowest‐lying electronic states. The comparison of these results with the theoretical and the experimental data available in the literature shows a good agreement. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009