Tetradecacobalt(II)‐Containing 36‐Niobate [Co14(OH)16(H2O)8Nb36O106]20− and Its Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Activity

A gigantic Co₁₄‐containing 36‐niobate, Na₁₂K₈[Co₁₄(OH)₁₆(H₂O)₈Nb₃₆O₁₀₆] ? 71H₂O ( 1 ), has been prepared by the hydrothermal method and structurally characterized. Polyanion [Co₁₄(OH)₁₆(H₂O)₈Nb₃₆O₁₀₆]^20? ( 1 a ) comprises a central Co₇ core, surrounded by another seven isolated Co²⁺ ions and six Lindqvist‐type (Nb₆O₁₉) hexaniobate fragments. This is the first example of a high‐nuclear cobalt‐cluster‐containing polyoxoniobate. The photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity of Pt‐loaded 1 was observed in methanol solution under irradiation using a 300 W Xe lamp.     

Octakis(ɛ‐caprolactam‐κO)erbium(III) hexaisothiocyanatochromate(III)

The title compound, [Er(C₆H₁₁NO)₈][Cr(NCS)₆], is a new structure type for [Ln(ɛ‐caprolactam)₈][Cr(NCS)₆], where Ln is a lanthanide. There are two independent cations and two independent anions in the asymmetric unit. The Er atom is in a distorted square‐antiprismatic environment of eight O atoms of the organic ligands; Er—O bond distances are in the range 2.29–2.44 Å. The coordination environment of the Cr atom is a slightly distorted octahedron; Cr—N bond distances vary from 1.99 to 2.01 Å. The mutual packing of the cations and the anions follows a distorted NaCl motif. One cation has the Er atom on a twofold axis and one of the anions has the Cr atom on a twofold axis.     

Triaquatris(2,6‐dinitrophenolato‐κ2O1,O2)yttrium(III)

In the title compound, [Y(C₆H₃N₂O₅)₃(H₂O)₃], the Y atom is nine‐coordinate with a slightly distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic coordination geometry. The Y^III ion is coordinated to three bidentate 2,6‐di­nitro­phenolate ligands and three water mol­ecules. The Y—O bond distances are in the range 2.217 (3)–2.754 (4) Å, with the Y—O distances from the nitro groups being longer than those from the water mol­ecules and the phenol groups. The coordinated NO₂ groups are almost coplanar with the benzene rings.     

(μ‐Oxalato‐O1,O2:O1′,O2′)bis[aqua(diethyl­enetri­amine)nickel(II)] bis(hexafluorophosphate) dihydrate

The title compound, [Ni₂(C₂O₄)(C₄H₁₃N₃)₂(H₂O)₂](PF₆)₂·‐2H₂O, contains a dinuclear oxalato‐bridged nickel(II) complex cation. The structure determination reveals the presence of a centrosymmetric binuclear complex where the oxalate ligand is coordinated in a bis­‐bidentate mode to the Ni atoms. The distorted octahedral environment of each Ni atom is completed by the three N atoms of the diethyl­enetri­amine ligand in a fac arrangement and by one O atom from a water mol­ecule. PF₆^? acts as counter‐anion. A two‐dimensional network of hydrogen bonds links the cations and anions and stabilizes the structure.     

A tetranuclear copper(II) cluster: bis(μ‐4‐chlorobenzoato‐κ2O:O′)(4‐chlorobenzoato‐κ2O,O′)(4‐chlorobenzoato‐κO)tetrakis(μ3‐2‐pyridylmethanolato‐κ4N,O:O:O)tetracopper(II)

The title compound, [Cu₄(C₇H₄ClO₂)₄(C₆H₆NO)₄], consists of isolated tetranuclear clusters, where the Cu²⁺ cations are five‐ and sixfold coordinated by O atoms from the 4‐chlorobenzoate anions and by pyridine N and methanolate O atoms from bidentate 2‐pyridylmethanolate ligands. While three Cu atoms are six‐coordinated by an NO₅ donor set forming distorted octahedra, the fourth Cu atom is five‐coordinated by an NO₄ donor set forming a distorted tetragonal–pyramidal coordination around the Cu atom. The nucleus is a deformed cubane‐like Cu₄O₄ structure, with Cu...Cu distances in the range 3.0266 (11)–3.5144 (13) Å.     

(Dibenzyl sulfoxide‐κO)bis(1,3‐diphenylpropane‐1,3‐dionato‐κ2O,O′)dioxouranium(VI)

In the title compound, [UO₂(C₁₅H₁₁O₂)₂(C₁₄H₁₄OS)], the U^VI atom is coordinated by seven O atoms in a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal geometry. Both di­phenyl­propane‐1,3‐dionate systems are nearly planar. The sulfoxide moiety is in a distorted tetrahedral geometry, while its two aromatic rings are nearly orthogonal to one another. The crystal packing is stabilized by two bifurcated hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving both uranyl O atoms.     

Bis(μ‐3‐nitrobenzene‐1,2‐dicarboxyl­ato)‐κ8O1,O2:O2,O3;O3,O2:O2,O1‐bis­[triaqua­(2‐carboxy‐3‐nitro­benzoato‐κ2O,O′)lanthanum(III)] dihydrate

The title compound, [La₂(C₈H₃NO₆)₂(C₈H₄NO₆)₂(H₂O)₆]·2H₂O, consists of dimeric units related by an inversion center. The two La^III atoms are linked by two bridging bidentate carboxyl­ate groups and two monodentate carboxyl­ate groups. Each La^III atom is nine‐coordinated by six O atoms from five different carboxyl­ate groups and three from water mol­ecules. Hydrogen bonds between the water mol­ecules and between the solvent water and a carboxyl­ate O atom are observed in the structure. In the crystal packing, there are slipped π–π stacking inter­actions between the parallel benzene rings. Both hydrogen‐bonding and π–π inter­actions combine to stabilize the three‐dimensional supra­molecular network.     

(Nitrato‐κO)bis(pyridine‐2‐carboxamide‐κ2N1,O)mercury(II) nitrate

In the title compound, [Hg(NO₃)(C₆H₆N₂O)₂]NO₃, the Hg^II atom is five‐coordinate. The distorted square‐pyramidal mercury(II) coordination environment is achieved by two N,O‐bidentate picolinamide ligands, with one O‐monodentate nitrate ion in the apical position. A seven‐coordinate extended coordination environment is completed by two additional weak Hg...O interactions, one from the coordinated nitrate ion and one from the other nitrate ion, to give seven‐coordination. The molecules are linked into a two‐dimensional network by N—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Aqua(4,4′‐oxy­dibenzoato‐κO)­cadmium(II)

The Cd atom in the polymeric title compound, [Cd(C₁₄H₈O₅)(H₂O)]_n, is linked to four carboxyl O atoms and a water mol­ecule in a five‐coordinate coordination polyhedron that is midway between a square pyramid and a trigonal bipyramid. The Cd atom and the water molecules both lie on the same twofold axis and the central O atom of the 4,4′‐oxydibenzoate moiety lies on another twofold axis. Covalent Cd—O bonds lead to the formation of a layer architecture perpendicular to the twofold axis, the layers being held together by hydrogen bonds in the third direction.     

Diamminebis(2,4,6‐tribromophenolato‐O)copper(II)

The title compound, [Cu(C₆H₂Br₃O)₂(NH₃)₂], a monomeric centrosymmetric Cu^II complex, crystallizes in the monoclinic system. The CuO₂N₂ coordination sphere is trans planar, [Cu—O 1.943 (5) Å and Cu—N 1.977 (6) Å], with the fifth and sixth coordination sites occupied by Br atoms from the phenoxide ions [Cu—Br 3.129 (1) Å], resulting in an elongated distorted octahedral structure for the CuO₂N₂Br₂ coordination. Each of the NH₃ groups forms two hydrogen bonds with the Br and O atoms of the CuO₂N₂Br₂ moiety of a neighbouring mol­ecule. This arrangement constitutes a one‐dimensional chain along the x axis of the unit cell.     

Tetraaquabis(3,5‐dicarboxybenzoato‐O)cobalt(II)

The hydro­thermal reaction of cobalt(II) chloride with trimesate (3,5‐di­carboxy­benzoate) ions in aqueous solution gives the novel title complex, [Co(C₉H₅O₆)₂(H₂O)₄]. The Co^II ion lies on an inversion centre and is octahedrally coordinated to two trimesate anions and four water mol­ecules. Hydro­gen bonds ensure the three‐dimensional architecture of the structure.     

{N‐[2‐(η5‐Cyclopentadienyl)ethyl]‐4‐toluenesulfonamido‐N,O}(tetrahydrofuran‐O)bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato‐O)titanium(II)

The title compound, [Ti(CF₃O₃S)₂(C₁₄H₁₅NO₂S)(C₄H₈O)], contains a unique ligand system in which the Ti ion is bound to the N and O atoms of a 2‐p‐toluene­sulfon­amide ligand, which is linked by an ethyl group to a coordinated cyclo­penta­diene moiety. The distorted octahedral geometry about the Ti ion is completed by two tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate ligands and a tetra­hydro­furan mol­ecule. Comparison with related compounds shows that both the Ti—N and Ti—O bonds of the sulfon­amide, although longer than normal values, indicate significant bonding interactions.     

Heterogeneous Wheel‐Shaped Cu20‐Polyoxotungstate [Cu20Cl(OH)24(H2O)12(P8W48O184)]25− Catalyst for Solvent‐Free Aerobic Oxidation of n‐Hexadecane

The selective oxidation of alkanes as a green process remains a challenging task because partial oxidation is easier to achieve with sacrificial oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide, alkyl hydroperoxides or iodosylbenzene, than with molecular oxygen or air. Here, we report on a heterogeneous catalyst for n‐hexadecane oxidation comprised of the wheel shaped Cu₂₀‐polyoxotungstate [Cu₂₀Cl(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂(P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄)]^25? anchored on 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (apts)‐modified SBA‐15. The catalysts were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N₂‐adsorption measurements and Fourier transform infrared reflectance (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. The heterogeneous Cu₂₀‐polyanion system catalyzed the solvent‐free aerobic oxidation of n‐hexadecane to alcohols and ketones by using air as the oxidant under ambient conditions. The catalyst exhibits an exceptionally high turn over frequency (TOF) of 20 000 h^?1 at 150 °C and is resistant to poisoning by CS₂. Moreover, it can be easily recovered and reused by filtration without loss of its catalytic activity. Possible homogeneous contributions also have been examined and eliminated. Thus, this system can use air as oxidant, which, in combination with its good overall performance and poison tolerance, raises the prospect of this type of heterogeneous catalyst for practical applications.     

Synthesis of Methyl (20R,22E)‐ and (20S,22E)‐3‐Oxochola‐1,4,22‐ trien‐24‐oate

Methyl (22E)‐3‐oxochola‐1,4,22‐trien‐24‐oate ( 4 ; C₂₅H₃₄O₃) is a naturally occurring steroid with unknown configuration at C(20). Starting from the (20S)‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinorchol‐4‐en‐22‐al ( 1a ), we prepared both diastereoisomeric methyl esters 4a and 4b by a three‐step procedure (Scheme). In the case of 4b , the initial epimerization of aldehyde 1a was followed by completion of the sequence and then separation via fractional crystallization to afford pure (20R)‐methyl ester 4a and its (20S)‐diastereomer 4b . Only the analytical data of the (20S)‐compound 4b were in good agreement with those reported for the natural product.     

[Re5(μ-H)4(CO)20]− and [Re5(μ-H)5(CO)20], Two Isolobal Analogues of Cyclopentane

The first five-membered rings of metal atoms connected by M–M or M-H-M bonds only have been obtained by a Re₂+Re₃ condensation in which a polyhydride acts as a bridging bidentate ligand toward a coordinatively unsaturated fragment (see scheme below). In spite of the octahedral coordination of the Re centers, the Re₅ rings display conformations (twisted and envelope) comparable with those observed for organic five-membered rings of tetrahedral carbon atoms.     

The new polynuclear titanium(IV) complex [(Cp*TiCl)(μ‐O)2(Cp*Ti)2(μ‐O)(μ‐O)2]2Ti (Cp* is η5‐C5Me5)

A new polynuclear titanium(IV) complex, dichloro­deca‐μ₂‐oxo‐hexa­kis­(penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)hexa­titanium(IV), [Ti₆(C₁₀H₁₅)₆Cl₂O₁₀], has been synthesized by hydro­lysis of a titanium complex bearing an N‐(2‐hydr­oxy‐3,5‐dimethyl­benz­yl)diethano­lamine Mannich ligand. The mol­ecule has two O‐bridged Ti₃O₃ rings linked to two similar rings through a tetra­hedrally O‐coordinated Ti atom. All Ti atoms except the central one are coordinated to penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl (Cp*) ligands. The Cp* ligands are arranged with approximate symmetry with respect to the Ti/O/Cl core.