A theoretical study of anion-pi interactions in seven-membered rings.

Several complexes of tropylium (1) with anions are optimized at the RI-MP2(full)/6-31++G** level of theory. This binding unit can interact very favorably with anions, and it combines the strength of the electrostatic interaction with the directionality of the anion-pi interaction. The complexes of 1 with anions are characterized by means of the Bader theory of "atoms-in-molecules," and the physical nature of the interaction has been analyzed by means of the molecular interaction potential with polarization tool. Experimental evidence of anion-pi interactions involving seven-membered rings has been found in the solid state.     

Anion-pi interactions as controlling elements in self-assembly reactions of Ag(I) complexes with pi-acidic aromatic rings

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz) and 3,6-bis(2'-pyridyl)-1,2-pyridazine (bppn) with the AgX salts (X = [PF6]-, [AsF6]-, [SbF6]-, and [BF4]-) afford complexes of different structural motifs depending on the pi-acidity of the ligand central ring and the outer-sphere anion. The bptz reactions lead to the polymeric [[Ag(bptz)][PF6]]infinity (1) and the dinuclear compounds [Ag2(bptz)2(CH3CN)2][PF6]2 (2) and [Ag2(bptz)2(CH3CN)2][AsF6]2 (3), as well as the propeller-type species [Ag2(bptz)3][AsF6]2 (4) and [Ag2(bptz)3][SbF6]2 (5a and 5b). Reactions of bppn with AgX produce the grid-type structures [Ag4(bppn)4][X]4 (6-9), regardless of the anion present. In 6-9, pi-pi stacking interactions are maximized, whereas multiple and shorter (therefore stronger) anion-pi interactions between the anions and the tetrazine rings are established in 1-5b. These differences reflect the more electron-rich character of the bppn pyridazine ring as compared to the bptz tetrazine ring. The evidence gleaned from the solid-state structures was corroborated by density functional theory calculations. In the electrostatic potential maps of the free ligands, a higher positive charge is present in the bptz as compared to the bppn central ring. Furthermore, the electrostatic potential maps of 3, 4, and 5b indicate an electron density transfer from the anions to the pi-acidic rings. Conversely, upon addition of the [AsF6]- ions to the cation of 7, there is negligible change in the electron density of the central pyridazine ring, which supports the presence of weaker anion-pi interactions in the bppn as compared to the bptz complexes. From the systems studied herein, it is concluded that anion-pi interactions play an important role in the outcome of self-assembly reactions.     

Anion-pi and pi-pi cooperative interactions regulating the self-assembly of nitrate-triazine-triazine complexes

We theoretically investigate the cooperative enhancement of the interactions between anions and electron-deficient aromatics by pi-pi stacking, focusing on the recent crystallographic observation of anion-pi-pi interactions in a synthesized coordination compound based on 1,3,5-triazine moieties. Using a combination of state-of-the-art dispersion-corrected density functional and quantum Monte Carlo calculations, we rationalize the unusual structural features observed in this nitrate-triazine-triazine complex. We show that the triazine rings are staggered and bent and slip with respect to each other with the nitrate bound off-center in a T-like configuration. Our results indicate that this pi-pi stacking is not simply enforced by the coordination of the triazines within the particular crystal structure but is regulated by cooperative anion-pi and pi-pi interactions. In the nitrate-triazine-triazine complex, this cooperative effect amounts to 6% of the total binding energy. Ways to further increase this energetic enhancement in the design of anion-host architectures are discussed.     

Metal-organic frameworks exhibiting strong anion-pi interactions

Coordination polymers offer a significant potential for applications in adsorption, guest and anion recognition and sensing. Their structure commonly provides binding sites for such specific interactions as pi-pi stacking and XH...pi hydrogen bonding. The latter reflects the ability of the pi-cloud to interact with positively polarized atoms. An electrostatic interaction between anionic species and electron deficient heterocycles, which parallels the above binding scheme, is also possible and very recently the existence of anion-pi interactions was proved in the solid state and in solution. This effect may be significant also for biomolecule/solution interfaces, as it occurs in protein structures. In fact, such interactions could be especially relevant for host-guest chemistry of coordination polymers, particularly for functionalization of hydrophobic crystal cavities and for the design of geometrically rigid anion receptors. However, typical electron deficient heterocycles such as 1,3,5-triazines and 1,2,4,5-tetrazines are very weak donors and they are hardly suitable for bridging metal ions and the generation of coordination frameworks. As a system that combines efficient donor properties towards transition metal ions and a pronounced ability for anion-pi interactions we have developed unsubstituted pyridazino[4,5-d]pyridazine, which was readily accessible by a novel one-pot synthesis involving inverse electron demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition (Scheme 1). Unusual anion binding properties of the ligand may be clearly related to its electron-deficiency (LUMO energy -1.591 vs. -0.288 eV for the parent pyridazine), influenced also by N-coordination to such Lewis acids as metal ions.     

Structural versatility of anion-pi interactions in halide salts with pentafluorophenyl substituted cations

A series of pentafluorophenyl substituted ammonium, iminium, amidinium, and phosphonium halides are presented which show extensive anion-pi interactions. Hereby, the well-known anion-donor-pi-acceptor as well as "eta6" anion-pi-complex type interactions are observed. The latter is supported by fixation of the anion on top of the aromatic system through hydrogen bonding. This arrangement was investigated by theoretical methods showing a highly attractive anion-pi interaction. In addition an eta2-type coordination of the anions to only two C-atoms of the electron-deficient ring system is described.     

Discrete and infinite 1D, 2D/3D cage frameworks with inclusion of anionic species and anion-exchange reactions of Ag3L2 type receptor with tetrahedral and octahedral anions

Complexes [PF6 subset(Ag3(titmb)2](PF6)2 (8) and {SbF6 subset[Ag3(titmb)2](SbF6)2}.H2O.1.5 CH3OH (9) are obtained by reaction of titmb and Ag+ salts with different anions (PF6(-) and SbF6(-)), and crystal structures reveal that they are both M3L2 cage complexes with short Ag...F interactions between the silver atoms and the fluorine atoms of the anions. In complex 8, a novel cage dimer is formed by weak Ag...F contacts; an unique cage tetramer formed via Ag...pi interactions (Ag...eta5-imidazole) between dimers and an infinite 1D cage chain is presented. However, each of the external non-disordered SbF6(-) anions connect with six cage 9s via Ag...F contacts, and each cage 9 in turn connects with three SbF6(-) anions to form a 2D network cage layer; and the layers are connected by pi-pi interactions to form a 3D network. The anion-exchange reactions of four Ag3L2 type complexes ([BF4 subset(Ag3(titmb)2](BF4)2 (6), [ClO4 subset(Ag3(titmb)2](ClO4)2 (7b), [PF6 subset(Ag3(titmb)2](PF6)2 (8) and [SbF6 subset(Ag3(titmb)2](SbF6)2.1.5CH3OH (9)) with tetrahedral and octahedral anions (ClO4(-), BF4(-), PF6(-) and SbF6(-)) are also reported. The anion-exchange experiments demonstrate that the anion selective order is SbF6(-) > PF6(-) > BF4(-), ClO4(-), and this anion receptor is preferred to trap octahedral and tetrahedral anions rather than linear or triangle anions; SbF6(-) is the biggest and most preferable one, so far. The dimensions of cage complexes with or without internal anions, anion-exchange reactions, cage assembly and anion inclusions, silver(I) coordination environments, Ag-F and Ag-pi interactions of Ag3L2 complexes 1-9 are discussed.     

Model Calculations of Radiation-Induced Damage in 1-Methyluracil:9-Ethyladenine

Detailed EPR and ENDOR experiments on the cocrystalline complex of 1-methyluracil:9-Ethyladenine (MUEA) have revealed that the major radiation-induced products observed at 10 K on MU are: MUEA1, a radical formed by net hydrogen abstraction from the N1-CH₃ methyl group, MUEA2, the MU radical anion, and MUEA3, the C5 H-addition radical. The following four products were observed on the adenine moiety at 10 K, MUEA4, the N3 protonated adenine anion, MUEA5, the native adenine cation, MUEA6, the amino deprotonated adenine cation, and MUEA7, the C8 H-addition radical formed by net H-addition to C8 of the adenine base. The geometries, energetics, and hyperfine properties of all possible radicals of MU and EA, the native anions and cations, as well as radicals formed via net hydrogen atom abstraction (deprotonated cations) or addition (protonated anions) were investigated theoretically. All systems were optimized using the hybrid Hartree–Fock–density functional theory functional B3LYP, in conjunction with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set of Pople and co-workers. Calculations of the anisotropic hyperfine couplings for all the radicals observed in MUEA are presented and are shown to compare favorably with the experimentally measured hyperfine couplings. The calculated ionizations potentials indicate that EA would be the preferred oxidation site. In MUEA, both the adenine cation and its N4-deprotonated derivative were observed. The calculated electron affinities indicate that MU would be the preferred reduction site. In MUEA radical, MUEA2 is a uracil reduction product, however the protonation state of this radical could not be determined experimentally. Calculations suggest that MUEA2 is actually the C4=O protonated anion.     

Novel polyoxometalate-templated, 3-D supramolecular networks based on lanthanide dimers: synthesis,structure, and fluorescent properties of [Ln2(DNBA)4(DMF)8][Mo6O19] (DNBA = 3,5-dinitrobenzoate)

The spherical Lindquist type polyoxometalate, Mo(6)O(19)(2)(-), has been used as a noncoordinating anionic template for the construction of novel three-dimensional lanthanide-aromatic monocarboxylate dimer supramolecular networks [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)][Mo(6)O(19)] (Ln = La 1, Ce 2, and Eu 3, DNBA = 3,5-dinitrobenzoate, DMF = dimethylformamide). The title compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffractions. X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that two Ln(III) ions are bridged by four 3,5-dinitrobenzoate anions as asymmetrically bridging ligands, leading to dimeric cores, [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)](2+); [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)](2+) groups are joined together by pi-pi stacking interactions between the aromatic groups to form a two-dimensional grid-like network; the 2-D supramolecular layers are further extended into 3-D supramolecular networks with 1-D box-like channels by hydrogen-bonding interactions, in which hexamolybdate polyanions reside. The compounds represent the first examples of 3-D carboxylate-bridged lanthanide dimer supramolecular "host" networks formed by pi-pi stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions encapsulating noncoordinating "guest" polyoxoanion species. The fluorescent activity of compound 3 is reported.     

Influence of anionic sulfonate-containing co-ligands on the solid structures of silver complexes supported by 4,4'-bipyridine bridges

In this paper, ten new silver compounds, namely [Ag(bipy)](L1).H2O (1), [Ag(bipy)](L2).2H2O (2), [Ag2(bipy)2(H2O)2](L3).H2O (3), [Ag(L4)(bipy)].H2O (4), [Ag(L5)(bipy)] (5), [Ag(L6)(bipy)].0.5CH3CN (6), [Ag3(L7)2(bipy)2].2(H2O) (7), [Ag2(L8)(bipy)1.5(H2O)].H2O (8), [Ag2(L9)(bipy)2(H2O)2] (9) and [Ag3(L10)(bipy)2][(bipy)(H2O)2].(H2O)3.5 (10) (where bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine, L1 = 6-amino-1-naphthalenesulfonate anion, L2 = 2-naphthalenesulfonate anion, L3 = sulfosalicylate anion, L4 = p-aminobenzenesulfonate anion, L5 = 4-dimethyaminoazobenzenen-4'-sulfonate anion, L6 = 2,5-dichloro-4-amino-benzenesulfonate anion, L7 = 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonate anion, L8 = 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonate anion, L9 = 2,6-naphthalenedisulfonate anion and L10 = 1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulfonate anion), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In compounds 1-6, Ag(I) centers are linked by bipy ligands to form 1D Ag-bipy chain structures, in which the sulfonate anions of compounds 1-3 act as counter ions. The sulfonate anions of compounds 4 and 5 connect Ag-bipy chains to form 1D double chain structures, respectively. The sulfonate anions of compound 6 connect Ag-bipy chains to form a 2D layer structure. Unexpectedly, compound 7 shows a hinged chain structure, and these chains interlace with each other through hydrogen bonds and pi-pi interactions to generate a 3D structure with channels along the c axis. Compounds 8 and 9 show 1D ladder-like structures. In compound 10, the Ag-bipy chains are connected by sulfonate anions to generate a 3D poly-threaded network, in which an isolated Ag-bipy chain is inserted. The results indicate that the anionic sulfonate-containing co-ligands play an important role in the final structures of the Ag(I) complexes. Additionally, the luminescent properties of these compounds were also studied.     

Rigid-rod anion-pi slides for multiion hopping across lipid bilayers

Shape-persistent oligo-p-phenylene-N,N-naphthalenediimide (O-NDI) rods are introduced as anion-pi slides for chloride-selective multiion hopping across lipid bilayers. Results from end-group engineering and covalent capture as O-NDI hairpins suggested that self-assembly into transmembrane O-NDI bundles is essential for activity. A halide topology VI (Cl > F > Br approximately I, Cl/Br approximately Cl/I > 7) implied strong anion binding along the anion-pi slides with relatively weak contributions from size exclusion (F >or= OAc). Anomalous mole fraction effects (AMFE) supported the occurrence of multiion hopping along the pi-acidic O-NDI rods. The existence of anion-pi interactions was corroborated by high-level ab initio and DFT calculations. The latter revealed positive NDI quadrupole moments far beyond the hexafluorobenzene standard. Computational studies further suggested that anion binding occurs at the confined, pi-acidic edges of the sticky NDI surface and is influenced by the nature of the phenyl spacer between two NDIs. With regard to methods development, a detailed analysis of the detection of ion selectivity with the HPTS assay including AMFE in vesicles is provided.     

Subtle role of polyatomic anions in molecular construction: structures and properties of AgX bearing 2,4'-thiobis(pyridine) (X(-) = NO(3)(-), BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), PF(6)(-), CF(3)CO(2)(-), and CF(3)SO(3)(-))

Studies on the subtle effects and roles of polyatomic anions in the self-assembly of a series of AgX complexes with 2,4'-Py(2)S (X(-) = NO(3)(-), BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), PF(6)(-), CF(3)CO(2)(-), and CF(3)SO(3)(-); 2,4'-Py(2)S = 2,4'-thiobis(pyridine)) have been carried out. The formation of products appears to be primarily associated with a suitable combination of the skewed conformers of 2,4'-Py(2)S and a variety of coordination geometries of Ag(I) ions. The molecular construction via self-assembly is delicately dependent upon the nature of the anions. Coordinating anions afford the 1:1 adducts [Ag(2,4'-Py(2)S)X] (X(-) = NO(3)(-) and CF(3)CO(2)(-)), whereas noncoordinating anions form the 3:4 adducts [Ag(3)(2,4'-Py(2)S)(4)]X(3) (X(-) = ClO(4)(-) and PF(6)(-)). Each structure seems to be constructed by competition between pi-pi interactions of 2,4'-Py(2)S spacers vs Ag.X interactions. For ClO(4)(-) and PF(6)(-), an anion-free network consisting of linear Ag(I) and trigonal Ag(I) in a 1:2 ratio has been obtained whereas, for the coordinating anions NO(3)(-) and CF(3)CO(2)(-), an anion-bridged helix sheet and an anion-bridged cyclic dimer chain, respectively, have been assembled. For a moderately coordinating anion, CF(3)SO(3)(-), the 3:4 adduct [Ag(3)(2,4'-Py(2)S)(4)](CF(3)SO(3))(3) has been obtained similarly to the noncoordinating anions, but its structure is a double strand via both face-to-face (pi-pi) stackings and Ag.Ag interactions, in contrast to the noncoordinating anions. The anion exchanges of [Ag(3)(2,4'-Py(2)S)(4)]X(3) (X(-) = BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), and PF(6)(-)) with BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), and PF(6)(-) in aqueous media indicate that a [BF(4)(-)] analogue is isostructural with [Ag(3)(2,4'-Py(2)S)(4)]X(3) (X(-) = ClO(4)(-) and PF(6)(-)). Furthermore, the anion exchangeability for the noncoordinating anion compounds and the X-ray data for the coordinating anion compounds establish the coordinating order to be NO(3)(-) > CF(3)CO(2)(-) > CF(3)SO(3)(-) > PF(6)(-) > ClO(4)(-) > BF(4)(-).     

Structures and energetics of the deprotonated adenine-uracil base pair, including proton-transferred systems

The B3LYP/DZP++ level of theory has been employed to investigate the structures and energetics of the deprotonated adenine-uracil base pairs, (AU-H)-. Formation of the lowest-energy structure, [A(N9)-U]- (which corresponds to deprotonation at the N9 atom of adenine), through electron attachment to the corresponding neutral is accompanied by proton transfer from the uracil N3 atom to the adenine N1 atom. The driving force for this proton transfer is a significant stabilization from the base pairing in the proton transferred form. Such proton transfer upon electron attachment is also observed for the [A(N6b)-U]- and [A(C2)-U]- anions. Electron attachment to the A-U(N3) radical causes strong lone pair repulsion between the adenine N1 and the uracil N3 atoms, driving the two bases apart. Similarly, lone pair repulsion in the anion A(N6a)-U causes the loss of coplanarity of the two base units. The computed adiabatic electron attachment energies for nine AU-H radicals range from 1.86 to 3.75 eV, implying that the corresponding (AU-H)- anions are strongly bound. Because of the large AEAs of the (AU-H) radicals, the C-H and N-H bond dissociation in the AU- base pair anions requires less energy than the neutral AU base pair. The computed C-H and N-H bond dissociation energies for the AU- anion (i.e., the AU base pair plus one electron) are in the range 1.0-3.2 eV, while those for neutral AU are 4.08 eV or higher.     

Substituent effects in pi-pi interactions: sandwich and T-shaped configurations

Sandwich and T-shaped configurations of benzene dimer, benzene-phenol, benzene-toluene, benzene-fluorobenzene, and benzene-benzonitrile are studied by coupled-cluster theory to elucidate how substituents tune pi-pi interactions. All substituted sandwich dimers bind more strongly than benzene dimer, whereas the T-shaped configurations bind more or less favorably depending on the substituent. Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) indicates that electrostatic, dispersion, induction, and exchange-repulsion contributions are all significant to the overall binding energies, and all but induction are important in determining relative energies. Models of pi-pi interactions based solely on electrostatics, such as the Hunter-Sanders rules, do not seem capable of explaining the energetic ordering of the dimers considered.     

Anion-pi interactions

This tutorial review provides an overview of the theoretical and experimental investigations that resulted in the recognition of anion-pi interactions, i.e., non-covalent forces between electron deficient aromatic systems and anions. Several pioneering theoretical studies revealed that these interactions are energetically favorable (approximately 20-50 kJ mol(-1)). Anion-pi interactions are gaining significant recognition, and their pivotal role in many key chemical and biological processes is being increasingly appreciated. The design of highly selective anion receptors and channels represent important advances in this nascent field of supramolecular chemistry.     

Wittig reactions on photoprotoporphyrin IX: new synthetic models for the special pair of the photosynthetic reaction center

A first example of spirochlorin-chlorin dimer with fixed distances and orientations as potential model for the "special pair" of the photosynthetic reaction center is discussed. For the preparation of such a novel structure, the Wittig reagent of the desired "spacer" 5 was reacted with photoprotoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester 3 to produce the intermediate dimer 6, which on intramolecular [4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition gave an unexpected spirochlorin-chlorin dimer 9. Dehydration of dimer 6 under acid-catalyzed conditions generated the corresponding spirochlorin-porphyrin dimer 16 in quantitative yield. The asymmetry in dimer 6 caused by the biphenyl-type anisotropic effect was confirmed by NMR and model studies. The formation of dihydrobenzoporphyrin 14 by reacting chlorin 3 with the phosphonium salt of p-methylbenzylbromide 10 and isolation of 8-phenanthrenevinylporphyrin 19 from chlorin 7 further confirmed our proposed mechanism for the formation of a spirochlorin-chlorin dimer 9. Following a similar approach, chlorin 3 on reacting with bis-phosphonium salt of 4, 4'-bischloromethylbiphenyl produced conjugated chlorin dimer 25. The spectroscopic data obtained from these dimers suggest that, in these compounds, the individual chromophores are not behaving as an individual molecule, but as a single macrocycle. To examine whether the pi-pi interaction exhibited by dimer 9 resembles the structural arrangement of bacteriochlorophylls in reaction center (RC), we investigated the geometrical parameters used to characterize the pi-pi interactions in tetrapyrrolic macrocycles. Starting from the crystallographic coordinates of 9, the molecular mechanics energy minimization was performed to obtain the model dimer structure. The geometrical parameters that measure the single pyrrole ring overlap were used to compare the model structure with the crystallographic coordinates of the special pair in photosynthetic reaction center. The results indicated that the ring A of spirochlorin and the ring C of chlorin in our model dimer 9 mimic the ring A-ring A interaction found in the crystallographic special pairs, which are strategically placed by the surrounding photosynthetic reaction center protein matrix.     

One-dimensional oxalato-bridged Cu(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) complexes with purine and adenine as terminal ligands

The reaction of nucleobases (adenine or purine) with a metallic salt in the presence of potassium oxalate in an aqueous solution yields one-dimensional complexes of formulas [M(mu-ox)(H(2)O)(pur)](n) (pur = purine, ox = oxalato ligand (2-); M = Cu(II) [1], Co(II) [2], and Zn(II) [3]), [Co(mu-ox)(H(2)O)(pur)(0.76)(ade)(0.24)](n)(4) and ([M(mu-ox)(H(2)O)(ade)].2(ade).(H(2)O))(n) (ade = adenine; M = Co(II) [5] and Zn(II) [6]). Their X-ray single-crystal structures, variable-temperature magnetic measurements, thermal behavior, and FT-IR spectroscopy are reported. The complexes 1-4 crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a (No. 14) with similar crystallographic parameters. The compounds 5 and 6 are also isomorphous but crystallize in the triclinic space group P (No. 2). All compounds contain one-dimensional chains in which cis-[M(H(2)O)(L)](2+) units are bridged by bis-bidentate oxalato ligands with M(.)M intrachain distances in the range 5.23-5.57 A. In all cases, the metal atoms are six-coordinated by four oxalato oxygen atoms, one water molecule, and one nitrogen atom from a terminal nucleobase, building distorted octahedral MO(4)O(w)N surroundings. The purine ligand is bound to the metal atom through the most basic imidazole N9 atom in 1-4, whereas in 5 and 6 the minor groove site N3 of the adenine nucleobase is the donor atom. The crystal packing of compounds 5 and 6 shows the presence of uncoordinated adenine and water crystallization molecules. The cohesiveness of the supramolecular 3D structure of the compounds is achieved by means of an extensive network of noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions). Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes in the range 2-300 K show the occurrence of antiferromagnetic intrachain interactions.     

Multiple intermolecular interaction modes of positively charged residues with adenine in ATP-binding proteins

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) plays an essential role in all forms of life. Molecular recognition of ATP in ATP-binding proteins is a subject of great importance for understanding enzymatic mechanisms and for drug design. We have carried out a large-scale data mining of the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to analyze molecular determinants for recognition of ATP, in particular, the adenine base, by ATP-binding proteins. A novel distribution pattern of charged residues around the adenine base was discovered: lysine residues tend to occupy the major groove N7 side of the adenine base, and the arginine residues situate preferentially above or below the adenine bases. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it facilitates multiple modes of intermolecular interactions, that is, cation-pi interactions and a hydrogen bond between lysine and adenine, and cation-pi and pi-pi stacking interactions between arginine and adenine. For the two representative Lys...Adenine and Arg...Adenine interactions, intermolecular interaction energies were subsequently analyzed by means of the supermolecular approach at the MP2 level with solvation free energy correction using the SM5.42R model of Cramer and Truhlar, which gave rise to significant interaction strengths.     

Cation-pi-anion interaction: a theoretical investigation of the role of induction energies

Cation-pi and the corresponding anion-pi interactions have in general been investigated as binary complexes despite their association with counterions. However, a recent study of the ammonia channel highlights the important but overlooked role of anions in cation-pi interactions. In an effort to examine the structural and energetic consequences of the presence of counterions, we have carried out detailed ab initio calculations on some model cation-pi-anion ternary complexes and evaluated the nonpair potential terms, three-body contributions, and attractive and repulsive energy components of the interaction energy. The presence of the anion in the vicinity of the pi system leads to a large redistribution of electron density and hence leads to an inductive stabilization. The resulting electronic and geometrical changes have important consequences in both chemical and biological systems. Compared to cation-pi-anion ternary complexes, the magnitude of the cation-pi interaction in pi-cation-anion ternary complexes is markedly lower because of charge transfer from the anion to the cation.     

Racemic monoperoxovanadium(V) complexes with achiral OO and ON donor set heteroligands: synthesis, crystal structure and stereochemistry of [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pic)].2H2O and [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pca)

Monoperoxovanadium(V) complexes, [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pic)].2H2O (1) and [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pca)] (2) [NH3(CH2)2NH3 = ethane-1,2-diammonium(2+), ox=oxalate(2-), pic=pyridine-2-carboxylate(1-), pca=pyrazine-2-carboxylate(1-)], were synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis, IR and Raman spectroscopies. The five equatorial positions of the pentagonal bipyramid around the vanadium atoms are occupied by the eta2-peroxo ligand, two oxygen atoms of the ox, and the nitrogen atom of the pic or pca ligands, respectively. The oxo ligand and the oxygen atom of pic or pca are in the axial positions. Networks of X-HO (X=C, N or O) hydrogen bonds, and pi-pi interactions between aromatic rings in and anion-pi interactions in , determine the molecular packings and build up the supramolecular architecture. Three stereochemical rules for occupation of the donor sites in two-heteroligand [VO(O2)(L1)(L2)] complexes (L1, L2 are bidentate neutral or differently charged anionic heteroligands providing an OO, NN or ON donor set) are discussed. and crystallize as racemic compounds. The 51V NMR spectra proved that the parent complex anions of and partially decompose on dissolution in water to the monoperoxo-ox, -pic or -pca complexes.     

Probing anion-pi interactions in 1-D Co(II), Ni(II), and Cd(II) coordination polymers containing flexible pyrazine ligands

Two flexible thioether-containing heterocyclic ligands bis(2-pyrazylmethyl)sulfide (L1) and 2-benzylsulfanylmethylpyrazine (L2) have arene rings with differing pi-acidities which were used to probe anion-pi binding in five 1-D coordination polymers formed from the metal salts Co(ClO4)2, Ni(NO3)2, and Cd(NO3)2. In {[Co(L1)(MeCN)2](ClO4)2}infinity (1), {[Ni(L1)(NO3)2]}infinity (2), and {[Cd2(L1)(MeCN)(H2O)(NO3)4].H2O}infinity (3.H2O), the symmetrical ligand L1 was bound facially to the metal center and was bridged through a pyrazine donor to an adjacent metal forming a polymer chain. The folding of L1 formed U-shaped pi-pockets in 1 and 3.H2O which encapsulated free and bound anions, respectively. The anions interacted with the pi-acidic centers in a variety of different binding modes including anion-pi-anion and pi-anion-pi sandwiching. A wider pi-pocket was formed in 2 which also contained anion-pi interactions. The polymer chains in 2 were interdigitated through a rare type of complementary T-shaped N(pyrazine)...pi interaction. In {[Co(L2)(H2O)3](ClO4)2.H2O}infinity (4.H2O) and {[Cd(L2)(H2O)(NO3)2]}infinity (5), the unsymmetrical ligand L2 chelated the metal center and bridged through a pyrazine donor to an adjacent metal forming a polymer chain. The ligand arrangement resulted in the anions in both structures being involved in only anion-pi-anion sandwich interactions. In 4.H2O, the noncoordinated ClO4- anions interacted with only one chain while in 5 the coordinated NO3- anions acted as anion-pi supramolecular synthons between chains. Comparison between the polymers formed with ligands L1 and L2 showed that only the more pi-acidic ring was involved in the anion-pi interactions.