Novel octahedral tungsten sulfidocyanide cluster anion [W6S8(CN)6]6-

Novel tungsten octahedral sulfidocyanide cluster compounds Na6[W6S8(CN)6].18DMSO 1 and K6[W6S8(CN)6] 2 have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy.     

Metal-substituted Ti8C12 metallocarbohedrynes: toward less reactive clusters as building blocks of cluster-assembled materials

To form cluster-assembled materials, the clusters should have low reactivity and be characterized by a closed-shell electronic configuration with a large gap between the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO). Using spin-polarized density functional theory calculations, we investigate the M-substituted Ti(8)C(12) metallocarbohedrynes to search for less reactive clusters as building blocks for cluster-assembled materials (M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Sc, Y). The selected atoms in the correct stoichiometry would produce a metallocarbohedryne that is isoelectronic with the Ti(8)C(12)(2+), which has a closed-shell electronic configuration and an enhanced HOMO-LUMO gap of 1.735 eV. According to our results, the HOMO-LUMO gaps of the M-substituted Ti(8)C(12) metallocarbohedrynes are in the range of 0.715-0.979 eV for the case of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba and in the range of 0.865-1.294 eV for the case of Sc and Y. Among all the M-substituted metallocarbohedrynes we consider here, one of the isomers of Ti(6)Sc(2)C(12) is not only energetically more favorable but also exhibits a larger HOMO-LUMO gap of 1.294 eV. This result indicates that the Ti(6)Sc(2)C(12)(4) metallocarbohedryne should be less reactive than the Ti(8)C(12) metallocarbohedryne which has a narrow HOMO-LUMO gap of 0.146 eV. Moreover, we show that the intercluster interaction between two individual Ti(6)Sc(2)C(12)(4) metallocarbohedrynes is relatively weak compared to the Ti(8)C(12) dimer.     

Synthesis and characterization of hydrogen-bonded assemblies of W6S8L6 clusters

Ligand-exchange reactions involving octahedral W6S8 clusters and a family of pyridine-based ligands (isonicotinic acid, isonicotinamide, 4-hydroxypyridine, 4-aminopyridine, 4-pyridineacetamide) have been explored with the goal of preparing compounds that crystallize in hydrogen-bonded arrays. Two new compounds, W6S8(4-pyridineacetamide)6.DMF.4-pyridineacetamide (1) and W6S8(4-aminopyridine)6.4DMF (2), were isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds crystallize in the P2(1)/c space group with a = 16.461(1), b = 33.08(2), c = 13.165(10) A, beta = 103.270(15) degrees for 1 and a = 13.8988(5), b = 13.2791(5), c = 15.6293(6) A, beta = 108.5410(10) degrees for 2. Each compound was further characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Examination of the structures shows that 1 forms a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network in which each 4-pyridineacetamide ligand interacts with ligands on neighboring clusters or with the free ligand of crystallization. This is the first hydrogen-bonded network formed from W6S8 clusters. In 2, the amino groups act as hydrogen-bond donors toward DMF molecules of crystallization, but an extended array is not formed. In addition, the binding strengths of these pyridine-based ligands to the W6S8 cluster were studied through quantitative 1H NMR studies of ligand-exchange reactions. A qualitative relationship was found between ligand binding strengths and Hammett substituent constants for this group of ligands.     

Synthesis and characterization of oxidized W(6)S(8)L(6) clusters

Cationic [W(6)S(8)L(6)]PF(6) (L = PEt(3) (3), 4-tert-butylpyridine (4)) clusters were successfully synthesized and isolated for the first time by reacting the corresponding neutral W(6)S(8)L(6) (L = PEt(3) (1), 4-tert-butylpyridine (2)) clusters with [Cp(2)Fe]PF(6) as the oxidant. The products 3 and 4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography (only for 3) and shown to be the desired oxidized W(6)S(8) clusters with a metal electron count of 19. Magnetic property studies showed that they are paramagnetic compounds with S = (1)/(2). Their chemical properties and stability are also reported. Crystal data for 3.2 THF: space group, R3 (No. 148); a = 13.91170(10) A; c = 32.4106(2) A; Z = 3.     

Expanding the azaspiro[3.3]heptane family: synthesis of novel highly functionalized building blocks

The preparation of versatile azaspiro[3.3]heptanes carrying multiple exit vectors is disclosed. Expedient synthetic routes enable the straightforward access to these novel modules that are expected to have significance in drug discovery and design.     

Single-crystal structure of Cs2Re6S6Br8 rhenium thiobromide with acentric Re6 octahedral cluster units

Cs₂Re₆S₆Br₈ (trigonal, a = 10.001(5) Å, c = 14.676(5) Å) exhibits the same structure as Cs₂Mo₆Cl₈Br₆ and Cs₂Mo₆Br₁₄ that were described in a noncentro-and centrosymmetric space groups, respectively. The structure has been refined in P31c space group from a single crystal of actual composition Cs_1.95(1)Re₆S_5.82(3)Br_8.19(3) close to the cesium-rich end of the solid solution Cs₂Re₆S₆Br₈ — CsRe₆S₅Br₉. The centrosymmetry is respected by almost all the atoms of the asymmetric unit, but it is clearly broken by significant differences in the S/Br statistical distribution of the disordered “inner” ligands around the Re₆ cluster. Structural refinements from data collected at 100 K revealed that the Cs cation disorder is static. From the structure refinements, the stable isomers of the [Re₆S₆Br₂] and [Re₆S₅Br₃] cluster cores have been unambiguously determined.     

8-Oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ones: application to the asymmetric synthesis of polyoxygenated building blocks

The development and design of reliable and efficient methods for the construction of chiral building blocks are crucial in modern natural product synthesis. 8-Oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ones are readily accessible scaffolds with defined stereochemical features which have been exploited for non-aldol approaches to the preparation of chiral building blocks. Strategies for their enantioselective synthesis, including asymmetric cycloaddition methods, desymmetrization protocols, and "racemic switch operations", are presented and evaluated.     

New compounds in the cesium sulfobromide rhenium octahedral cluster chemistry: syntheses and crystal structures of Cs4Re6S8Br6 and Cs2Re6S8Br4

The exploration of the CsReSBr system, in order to identify new phases based on octahedral cluster anions, has produced single crystals of Cs₄Re₆S₈Br₆ (1) (trigonal, space group P-6c2, a=9.7825 (3) Å, c=18.7843 (5) Å, V=1556.77 (1) ų, Z=2, density=5.09 g cm⁻³, μ=36.07 mm⁻¹) and Cs₂Re₆S₈Br₄ (2) (monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=6.3664 (1) Å, b=18.4483 (4) Å, c=9.3094 (2) Å, β=104.2618 (8)°, V=1059.69 (4) ų, Z=2, density=6.14 g cm⁻³, μ=45.83 mm⁻¹). These two compounds have been obtained by high-temperature solid state route. Their structures have been solved and refined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure of Cs₄Re₆S₈Br₆ presents isolated anionic cluster units inscribed in a (Cs⁺)₁₂ cuboctahedron and the one of Cs₂Re₆S₈Br₄ exhibits ReS^i-a,a-iRe inter-unit bridges. The framework of the latter presents then a strongly 1-D character.     

NH4[BGe3O8]: a new borogermanate framework made of infinite-chain building blocks

A new microporous borogermanate NH4[BGe3O8] has been synthesized by a molten boric acid flux method with "reagent" quantities of water in which GeO2, ethylenediamine, H2O, and H3BO3 (5:8:14:25) were heated together at 513 K for 4 days. The structure consists of {Ge6O18}n chains, further linked together via BO4 tetrahedra, forming a three-dimensional open framework with intersecting channel systems including one-dimensional 10-membered-ring (MR) channels. Interestingly, the infinite chains {Ge6O18}n as building blocks, built of alternating 4- and 6-MRs made of vertex-sharing GeO4 tetrahedra, construct the borogermanate framework. It is noteworthy that the high viscosity of the reactive medium and the quantity of water play important roles in the formation of the compound.     

Ligand substitution in cubic clusters: surprising isolation of the cocrystallization products of Cu8(mu8-Se)[S2P(OEt)2]6 and Cu6[S2P(OEt)2]6

The cluster (Cu8(mu8-Se)[S2P(OEt)2]6)0.54(Cu6[S2P(OEt)2]6)0.46 (2) was prepared in 78% yield from the reaction of Cu8(Se)[Se2P(OPr)2]6 (1) and NH4S2P(OEt)2 in toluene. The central selenide ion in 2 was characterized by 77Se NMR at delta -976 ppm. The simulated solid-state 31P NMR spectrum shows two components with an intensity ratio close to 55:45. The peak centered at 100.7 ppm is assigned to the 31P nuclei in the hexanuclear copper cluster, and that at 101.1 ppm is due to the octanuclear copper cluster. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the cocrystallization structures of Cu8(Se)[S2P(OEt)2]6 (54%) and Cu6[S2P(OEt)2]6 (46%) (2: trigonal, space group R3, a=21.0139(13) A, c=11.404(3) A, gamma=120 degrees, Z=3). While the octanuclear copper cluster possesses a 3-fold crystallographic axis which pass through the Cu2, Se, and Cu(2A) atoms, the six copper atoms having the S6 point group symmetry in Cu6[S2P(OEt)2]6 form a compressed octahedron. The Cu8(mu8-Se) cubic core in Cu8(mu8-Se)[S2P(OEt)2]6 is larger in size than the metal core in Cu8(mu8-Se)[Se2P(OPr)2]6 (1) although the bite distance of the Se-containing bridging ligand is larger than that of the S ligand. To understand the nature of the structure contraction of the metal core and metal-mu8-Se interaction, molecular orbital calculations have been carried out at the B3LYP level of density functional theory. MO calculations suggest that Cu-mu8-Se interactions are not very strong and a half bond can be formally assigned to each Cu-mu8-Se bond. Moderate Cu...Cu repulsion exists, and it is the bridging ligands that are responsible for the observed Cu...Cu contacts. Hence, the S-ligating copper clusters have greater Cu...Cu separations because each Cu carries more positive charge in the presence of the more electronegative S-containing ligands.     

Pentadecadentate chelating ligands as building blocks for a [Fe6] cage with 12 exo-coordinated sodium cations

Complexation of the highly branched, pentadecadentate chelating ligand cis,cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetriamine-N,N,N',N',N",N"-hexaacetic acid (H(6)L) with iron(III) and sodium cations in the presence of carbonate anions leads to the formation of an [Fe6L2] cluster comprising an [Fe6] cage linked by 12 exo-coordinated sodium cations to form an extended 3D array.     

5C + 1S] annulation: a facile and efficient synthetic route toward functionalized 2,3-dihydrothiopyran-4-ones

[reaction: see text] A facile and efficient synthetic route toward highly substituted 2,3-dihydrothiopyran-4-ones 2 has been developed via a formal [5C + 1S] annulation of readily available alpha-alkenoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 1 with sodium sulfide nonahydrated salt (Na2S x 9H2O) and utilized in the synthesis of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-(morpholin-4-yl)-4H-thiopyran-4-one 5l, an inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK).     

[Cu12S6(PnPr3)8] and [Cu20S10(PnBu1Bu2)8]: Two sulfur bridged copper clusters with Cu-s cluster cores of known compositions but new structures

The synthesis and X-ray determination of two sulfur bridged copper clusters with the known compositions of [Cu₁₂S₆(PⁿPr₃)₈] and [Cu₂₀S₁₀(PⁿBu¹Bu₂)₈] but new molecular structures allow a comparison of these isomeric copper sulfide clusters. The Cu-S frameworks of the clusters with twelve copper atoms are highly topologically related and can both be derived flom a hypothetical naked [Cu₁₂,S₆] cluster that results from theoretical investigations. More dificult is the comparison of the two clusters containing 20 metal atoms. The two cluster types can be called either a prolate or an oblate isomer of [Cu₂₀S₁₀(pR₃)₈].     

Porous metal-organic frameworks based on metal-organic polyhedra with nanosized cavities as supramolecular building blocks: two-fold interpenetrating primitive cubic networks of [Cu6L8]12+ nanocages

Discrete metal-organic polyhedra (MOP) with nanosized cavities and/or clusters of MOP could be prepared when C3-symmetric facial ligands and a potential hexatopic Cu(II) ion are combined in the presence of perchlorate as a weak linker, while similar reaction conditions in the presence of a nitrate linker led to extended metal-organic frameworks made of MOP as supramolecular building blocks.