Hydrometallation of the Iminoboranes tBuB(NtBu) and [tBu(Me3Si)N]B(NtBu)

The hydrometallation of the iminoboranes XB(NtBu) ( 1 a : X = tBu; 1 b : X = tBu(Me₃Si)N) with Cp₂ZrHCl and Cp₂HfHCl gives products of the type X–BH=N(tBu)–MCp₂–Cl ( 7 a , b : M = Zr; 8 a , b : M = Hf). There is a B–H–M (3c2e) bond interaction. The BN multiple bond of the iminoboranes is more or less side‐on bound to the metal. Hence, iminoboranes again turn out to behave as analogues of alkynes.     

The Iminoborane tBuB≡NtBu as a Dipolarphile in (2+3) Cycloadditions

The iminoborane tBuB≡NtBu and the diazomethane tBuCH=N₂ give the (2+3) cycloadduct [—HC(tBu)—N=N—N(tBu)=B(tBu)—] in a 1:1 reaction and the seven‐membered ring [—C(tBu)=N—NH—N(tBu)=B(tBu)—N(tBu)=B(tBu)—] in a 2:1 reaction. The (2+3) cycloadduct decomposes above 0 °C to give the seven‐membered ring, N₂, and HC(tBu)=N—N=CH(tBu) in the ratio 2:1:1. The borane tBuB≡NtBu and organic azides R″N₃ yield the (2+3) cycloadducts [—R″N—N=N—N(tBu)=B(tBu)—] (R″ = Me, Et, Pr, Bu, iBu, sBu, C₅H₁₁, c‐C₅H₉, c‐C₆H₁₁, Bzl, EtOOC).     

The First Synthesis of the Sterically Encumbered Adamantoid Phosphazane P4(NtBu)6: Enabled by Mechanochemistry

All reported attempts to synthesize the tert‐butyl‐substituted adamantoid phosph(III)azane P₄(N^tBu)₆ have failed, leading to the classification of this molecule as inaccessible and a literature example of steric control in chemistry of phosphorus‐nitrogen compounds. We now demonstrate that this structure is readily accessible by a solvent‐free mechanochemical milling approach, highlighting the importance of mechanochemical reaction environments in evaluating chemical reactivity.     

Synthesis and X‐ray Structures of the Polycyclic Dimers {[PhB(μ‐NtBu)2AsN(tBu)H]LiI}2 and [PhB(μ‐NtBu)2AsN(tBu)Li]2

The metathesis of [PhB(μ‐NtBu)₂]AsCl and tBuN(H)Li in 1:1 molar ratio in diethyl ether produced the amido derivative [PhB(μ‐NtBu)₂AsN(tBu)H] ( 1 ) in good yield. The lithiation of 1 with one equivalent of nBuLi afforded the lithium salt [PhB(μ‐NtBu)₂AsN(tBu)Li] ( 2a ). Both 1 and 2a were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 2a is comprised of a U‐shaped, centrosymmetric dimer in which the monomeric [PhB(μ‐NtBu)₂AsN(tBu)]^?Li⁺ units are linked by Li‐N interactions to give a six‐rung ladder. Oxidation of 2a with one‐half equivalent of I₂ in diethyl ether resulted in hydrogen abstraction from the solvent to give the dimeric lithium iodide adduct {[PhB(μ‐NtBu)₂AsN(tBu)H]LiI}₂ ( 1 ·LiI) with a central Li₂I₂ ring.     

Synthesis of stable silicon heterocycles by reaction of organic substrates with a chlorosilylene [PhC(NtBu)2SiCl

Heteroleptic chlorosilylene (PhC(NtBu)(2)SiCl) (1) reacts with unsaturated organic compounds under oxidative addition. Reactions of 1 with cyclooctatetraene (COT) and a diimine afford [1+4]-cycloaddition products 3 and 6, respectively. In the case of COT, one Si-N bond of the amidinato ligand is cleaved, resulting in tetracoordinate silicon, whereas with a diimine a pentacoordinate silicon is formed. Treatment of 1 with ArN=C=NAr (Ar=2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)) yields silaimine complex 4 with cleavage of one of the C=N bonds. The facile isolation of silaimine complexes is probably due to the kinetic protection afforded by the bulky Ar moiety. When 1 is treated with tert-butyl isocyanate, cleavage of the C=O bond is observed, which leads to formation of the four-membered Si(2)O(2) cycle 5. The same product is formed when 1 is allowed to react with trimethylamine N-oxide. When 1 is treated with diphenyl disulfide, cleavage of the S-S bond occurs to form 7. All products have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, EI mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. In addition, the molecular structures of 3-6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Collectively, these results suggest that owing to the presence of the lone pair of electrons, the propensity of 1 to undergo oxidative addition is very high.     

(MeLi)4(dem)1.5]infinity] and [(thf)3Li3M3[(NtBu)3S--how to reduce aggregation of parent methyllithium

Organolithium compounds play the leading role among the organometallic reagents in synthesis and in industrial processes. Up to date industrial application of methyllithium is limited because it is only soluble in diethyl ether, which amplifies various hazards in large-scale processes. However, most reactions require polar solvents like diethyl ether or THF to disassemble parent organolithium oligomers. If classical bidentate donor solvents like TMEDA (TMEDA= N,N,N',N'tetramethyl-1,2-ethanediamine) or DME (DME=1,2-dimethoxyethane) are added to methyllithium, tetrameric units are linked to form polymeric arrays that suffer from reduced reactivity and/or solubility. In this paper we present two different approaches to tune methyllithium aggregation. In [[(MeLi)4(dem)1,5)infinity] (1; DEM = EtOCH2OEt, diethoxymethane) a polymeric architecture is maintained that forms microporous soluble aggregates as a result of the rigid bite of the methylene-bridged bidentate donor base DEM. Wide channels of 720 pm in diameter in the structure maintain full solubility as they are coated with lipophilic ethyl groups and filled with solvent. In compound 1 the long-range Li3CH3...Li interactions found in solid [[(MeLi)4]infinity] are maintained. A different approach was successful in the disassembly of the tetrameric architecture of [((MeLi)4]infinity]. In the reaction of dilithium triazasulfite both the parent [(MeLi)4] tetramer and the [[Li2[(NtBu)3S]]2] dimer disintegrate and recombine to give an MeLi monomer stabilized in the adduct complex [(thf)3Li3Me-[(NtBu)3S]] (2). One side of the Li3 triangle, often found in organolithium chemistry, is shielded by the tripodal triazasulfite, while the other face is mu3-capped by the methanide anion. This Li3 structural motif is also present in organolithium tetramers and hexamers. All single-crystal structures have been confirmed through solid-state NMR experiments to be the same as in the bulk powder material.     

Neue mehrkernige Indium–Stickstoff‐Verbindungen – Synthese und Kristallstrukturen von [In4X4(NtBu)4] (X = Cl,Br, I) und [In3Br4(NtBu)(NHtBu)3]

New Polynuclear Indium Nitrogen Compounds – Synthesis and Crystal Structures of [In₄X₄(N^tBu)₄] (X = Cl, Br, I) and [In₃Br₄(N^tBu)(NH^tBu)₃] The reaction of the indium trihalides InX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) with LiNH^tBu in THF leads to the In₄N₄‐heterocubanes [In₄X₄(N^tBu)₄] (X = Cl 1 , Br 2 , I 3 ). Additionally [In₃Br₄(N^tBu)(NH^tBu)₃] ( 4 ) was obtained as a by‐product in the synthesis of 2 . 1 – 4 have been characterized by x‐ray crystal structure analysis. 1 – 3 consist of In₄N₄ heterocubane cores with an alternating arrangement of In and N atoms. The In atoms are coordinated nearly tetrahedrally by three N‐atoms and a terminal halogen atom. 4 contains a tricyclic In₃N₄ core which can be formally derived from an In₄N₄‐heterocubane by removing one In atom.     

Chalcogenide Derivatives of the seco‐Cubane [Sn3(μ2‐NHtBu)2(μ2‐NtBu)(μ3‐NtBu)]

A series of monochalcogenide derivatives of the seco‐cubane [Sn₃(μ₂‐NHtBu)₂(μ₂‐NtBu)(μ₃‐NtBu)] has been prepared and characterized by NMR and X‐ray crystallographic studies. These complexes exhibit different tin‐chalcogen bonding modes. In the case of the monotelluride, a terminal Sn=Te bond was observed in solution and in the solid state, whereas for the monosulfide, a μ₂ bridging mode was adopted by the sulfur atoms. The monoselenide was found to employ both bonding modes in solution, although only the terminal Sn=Se bonding mode was structurally characterized. The complexes undergo chalcogen exchange between tin atoms in solution, and this process was studied by variable temperature NMR.     

Cation–Cation Interactions,Magnetic Communication,and Reactivity of the Pentavalent Uranium Ion [U(NtBu)2]+

Communication is important : The dimeric bis(imido) uranium complex [{U(NtBu)₂(I)(tBu₂bpy)}₂] (see picture; U green, N blue, I red) has cation–cation interactions between [U(NR)₂]⁺ ions. This f¹–f¹ system also displays f orbital communication between uranium(V) centers at low temperatures, and can be oxidized to generate uranium(VI) bis(imido) complexes.