meso‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐boron(III)‐subporphyrin: Perimeter Iridium(III) Coordination

Peripherally metalated porphyrinoids are promising functional π‐systems displaying characteristic optical, electronic, and catalytic properties. In this work, 5‐(2‐pyridyl)‐ and 5,10,15‐tri(2‐pyridyl)‐B^III‐subporphyrins were prepared and used to produce cyclometalated subporphyrins by reactions with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂, which proceeded through an efficient C?H activation to give the corresponding mono‐ and tri‐Ir^III complexes, respectively. While the mono‐Ir^III complex was obtained as a diastereomeric mixture, a C₃‐symmetric tri‐Ir^III complex with the three Cp*‐units all at the concave side was predominantly obtained in a high yield of 90 %, which displays weak NIR phosphorescence even at room temperature in degassed CH₂Cl₂, differently from the mono‐Ir^III complexes.     

The more gold--the more enantioselective: cyclohydroaminations of γ-allenyl sulfonamides with mono-, bis-, and trisphospholane gold(I) catalysts

A series of chiral mono-, di-, and trinuclear gold(I) complexes have been prepared and used as precatalysts in the asymmetric cyclohydroamination of N-protected γ-allenyl sulfonamides. The stereodirecting ligands were mono-, di-, and tridentate 2,5-diphenylphospholanes, which possessed C(1), C(2), and C(3) symmetry, respectively, thereby rendering the catalytic sites in the di- and trinuclear complexes symmetry equivalent. The C(3)-symmetric trinuclear complex displayed the highest activity and enantioselectivity (up to 95?% ee), whilst its mono- and dinuclear counterparts exhibited considerably lower enantioselectivities and activities. A similar trend was observed in a series of mono-, di-, and trinuclear 2,5-dimethylphospholane gold(I) complexes. Aurophilic interactions were established from the solid-state structures of the trinuclear gold(I) complexes, thereby raising the question as to whether these secondary forces were responsible for the different catalytic behavior observed.     

4‐Ethynyl‐4‐hydroxycyclohexan‐1‐one and 4‐ethynyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,3,5,6‐tetramethylcyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one

The title compounds, C₈H₁₀O₂, (I), and C₁₂H₁₄O₂, (II), occurred as by‐products in the controlled synthesis of a series of bis­(gem‐alkynols), prepared as part of an extensive study of synthon formation in simple gem‐alkynol derivatives. The two 4‐(gem‐alkynol)‐1‐ones crystallize in space group P2₁/c, (I) with Z′ = 1 and (II) with Z′ = 2. Both structures are dominated by O—H?O=C hydrogen bonds, which form simple chains in the cyclo­hexane derivative, (I), and centrosymmetric dimers, of both symmetry‐independent mol­ecules, in the cyclo­hexa‐2,5‐diene, (II). These strong synthons are further stabilized by C[triple‐bond]C—H?O=C, C_methylene—H?O(H) and C_methyl—H?O(H) interactions. The direct intermolecular interactions between donors and acceptors in the gem‐alkynol group, which characterize the bis­(gem‐alkynol) analogues of (I) and (II), are not present in the ketone derivatives studied here.     

Mono‐ and Binuclear Rhodium and Platinum Complexes of 1, 3, 5‐Trimethyl‐1, 3, 5‐triaza‐2σ3λ3‐phosphorin‐4, 6‐dionyloxy‐substituted Calix[4]arenes

The reaction behaviour of 1, 3, 5‐triaza‐2σ³λ³‐phosphorin‐4, 6‐dionyloxy‐substituted calix[4]arenes towards mono‐ and binuclear rhodium and platinum complexes was investigated. Special attention was directed to structure and dynamic behaviour of the products in solution and in the solid state. Depending on the molar ratio of the reactands, the reaction of the tetrakis(triazaphosphorindionyloxy)‐substituted calix[4]arene ( 4 ) and its tert‐butyl‐derivative ( 1 ) with [(cod)RhCl]₂ yielded the mono‐ and disubstituted binuclear rhodium complexes 2 , 3 , and 5 . In all cases, a C₂‐symmetrical structure was proved in solution, apparently caused by a fast intramolecular exchange process between cone conformation and 1, 3‐alternating conformation. The X‐ray crystal structure determination of 5 confirmed [(calixarene)RhCl]₂‐coordination through two opposite phosphorus atoms with a P ⃜P separation of 345 pm. The complex displays crystallographic inversion symmetry, and the Rh₂Cl₂ core is thus exactly planar. Reaction of 1 and of the bis(triazaphosphorindionyloxy)‐bis(methoxy)‐substituted tert‐butyl‐calix‐[4]arene ( 7 ) with (cod)Rh(acac) in equimolar ratio and subsequent reaction with HBF₄ led to the expected cationic monorhodium complexes 5 and 8 , involving 1, 3‐alternating P‐Rh‐P‐coordination. The cone conformation in solution was proved by NMR spectroscopy and characteristic values of the ¹J(PRh) coupling constants in the ³¹P‐NMR‐spectra. Reaction of equimolar amounts of 4 with (cod)Rh(acac) or (nbd)Rh(acac) led, by substitution of the labile coordinated acetylacetonato and after addition of HBF₄, to the corresponding mononuclear cationic complexes 9 and 10 . Only two of the four phosphorus atoms in 9 and 10 are coordinated to the central metal atom. Displacement of either cycloocta‐1, 5‐diene or norbornadiene was not observed. For both compounds, the cone conformation was proved by NMR spectroscopy. Reaction of 4 with (cod)PtCl₂ led to the PtCl₂‐complex ( 11 ). As for all compounds mentioned above, only two phosphorus atoms of the ligand coordinate to platinum, while two phosphorus atoms remain uncoordinated (proved by δ³¹P and characteristic values of ¹J(PPt)). NMR‐spectroscopic evidence was found for the existence of the cone conformation in the cis‐configuration of 11 .     

Bulk cyclopolymerization of 1,2:5,6‐diepithio‐3,4‐di‐O‐methyl‐1,2:5,6‐tetradeoxy‐D‐mannitol with quaternary ammonium salts leading to gel‐free thiosugar polymer

The bulk cyclopolymerization of diepisulfide, 1,2:5,6‐diepithio‐3,4‐di‐O‐methyl‐1,2:5,6‐tetradeoxy‐D ‐mannitol ( 1 ), was studied using R₄N⁺Br^? (R = ? CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, and C₇H₁₅) and (C₄H₉)₄N⁺X^? (X = Cl, I, NO₃, and ClO₄) as the initiators. All the bulk polymerizations of 1 using quaternary tetraalkylammonium salts at 90 °C proceeded without gelation even at high conversion to produce gel‐free polymers consisting of 2,5‐anhydro‐1,5‐dithio‐D ‐glucitol (I) as the major cyclic repeating unit along with 1,5‐anhydro‐2,5‐dithio‐D ‐mannitol (II) and the desulfurized acyclic unit (III) as the minor units. The polymerization rate and molar fraction of the I unit increased with the increasing alkyl chain length of the tetraalkylammonium cation and the increasing nucleophilicity of the counteranion. Tetrabutylammonium chloride exhibited the highest catalytic activity and the highest stereoselectivity, that is, the thiosugar polymer with I:II:III = 81:15:4 and a number‐average molecular weight of 31.9 × 10³ was obtained in 85% yield for a polymerization time of 0.5 h. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 965–970, 2002     

4,6‐Dinitro‐N,N′‐di‐n‐octylbenzene‐1,3‐diamine, 4,6‐dinitro‐N,N′‐di‐n‐undecylbenzene‐1,3‐diamine and N,N′‐bis(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)octane‐1,8‐diamine

4,6‐Dinitro‐N,N′‐di‐n‐octylbenzene‐1,3‐diamine, C₂₂H₃₈N₄O₄, (I), 4,6‐dinitro‐N,N′‐di‐n‐undecylbenzene‐1,3‐diamine, C₂₈H₅₀N₄O₄, (II), and N,N′‐bis(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)octane‐1,8‐diamine, C₂₀H₂₄N₆O₈, (III), are the first synthetic meta‐dinitroarenes functionalized with long‐chain aliphatic amine groups to be structurally characterized. The intra‐ and intermolecular interactions in these model compounds provide information that can be used to help understand the physical properties of corresponding polymers with similar functionalities. Compounds (I) and (II) possess near‐mirror symmetry, with the octyl and undecyl chains adopting fully extended anti conformations in the same direction with respect to the ring. Compound (III) rests on a center of inversion that occupies the mid‐point of the central C—C bond of the octyl chain. The middle six C atoms of the chain form an anti arrangement, while the remaining two C atoms take hard turns almost perpendicular to the rest of the chain. All three molecules display intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amine and nitro groups, with the same NH group forming a bifurcated intermolecular hydrogen bond to the nitro O atom of an adjacent molecule. In each case, these interactions link the molecules into one‐dimensional molecular chains. In (I) and (II), these chains pack so that the pendant alkyl groups are interleaved parallel to one another, maximizing nonbonded C—H contacts. In (III), the alkyl groups are more isolated within the molecular chains and the primary nonbonded contacts between the chains appear to involve the nitro groups not involved in the hydrogen bonding.     

2‐Ethyl­phenyl acridine‐9‐carboxyl­ate and 2,5‐dimethyl­phenyl acridine‐9‐carboxyl­ate

The title compounds, 2‐ethyl­phenyl acridine‐9‐carboxyl­ate, C₂₂H₁₇NO₂, (I), and 2,5‐dimethyl­phenyl acridine‐9‐carboxyl­ate, C₂₂H₁₇NO₂, (II), form triclinic and monoclinic crystals, respectively. Related by a centre of symmetry, adjacent molecules of (I) are linked in the lattice via a network of C—H·π and non‐specific dispersive interactions. As a result, acridine moieties and independent phenyl moieties of (I) are parallel in the lattice. The molecules of (II), arranged in a `head‐to‐tail' manner and related by a centre of symmetry, form pairs stabilized via C—H·π interactions. These are linked in the crystal via dispersive interactions. Acridine and independent phenyl moieties lie parallel within the pairs, while adjacent pairs are perpendicular, forming a herring‐bone pattern.     

Syntheses,structures and catecholase activities of homo‐ and hetero‐trinuclear cobalt(II) complexes constructed from an acyclic naphthalenediol‐based bis(Salamo)‐type ligand

A series of homo‐ and hetero‐trinuclear cobalt(II) complexes [Co₃(L)(OAc)₂(CH₃CH₂OH)(H₂O)] ( 1 ), [Co₂Ba(L)(OAc)₂] ( 2 ) and [Co₂Ca(L)(OAc)₂]·CHCl₃ ( 3 ), containing an acyclic naphthalenediol‐based ligand H₄L were synthesized. All the three complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV – vis spectra and single crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. Comparative studies of the structures and spectroscopic properties are carried out on these complexes. All of the complexes show catechol oxidase activities in MeCN. Using UV – vis spectroscopy, we monitored the aerial oxidation of 3,5‐di‐tert ‐butylcatechol (3,5‐DTBCH₂) to 3,5‐di‐tert ‐butylquinone (3,5‐DTBQ), which confirms the essential role of these complexes in enhancing the catalytic reaction.     

Three 2,5‐dialkoxy‐1,4‐diethynylbenzene derivatives

2,5‐Diethoxy‐1,4‐bis[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]benzene, C₂₀H₃₀O₂Si₂, (I), constitutes one of the first structurally characterized examples of a family of compounds, viz. the 2,5‐dialkoxy‐1,4‐bis[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]benzene derivatives, used in the preparation of oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s via Pd/Cu‐catalysed cross‐coupling. 2,5‐Diethoxy‐1,4‐diethynylbenzene, C₁₄H₁₄O₂, (II), results from protodesilylation of (I). 1,4‐Diethynyl‐2,5‐bis(heptyloxy)benzene, C₂₄H₃₄O₂, (III), is a long alkyloxy chain analogue of (II). The molecules of compounds (I)–(III) are located on sites with crystallographic inversion symmetry. The large substituents either in the alkynyl group or in the benzene ring have a marked effect on the packing and intermolecular interactions of adjacent molecules. All the compounds exhibit weak intermolecular interactions that are only slightly shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the interacting atoms. Compound (I) displays C—H...π interactions between the methylene H atoms and the acetylenic C atom. Compound (II) shows π–π interactions between the acetylenic C atoms, complemented by C—H...π interactions between the methyl H atoms and the acetylenic C atoms. Unlike (I) or (II), compound (III) has weak nonclassical hydrogen‐bond‐type interactions between the acetylenic H atoms and the ether O atoms.     

Coordination Behavior of Sterically Protected Phosphaalkenes on the AuCl Moiety Leading to Catalytic 1,6‐Enyne Cycloisomerization

Mes*‐substituted 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene, 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,4‐diphosphinidenecyclobutene, 2,2‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐1‐phosphaethene, and 3,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐diphosphapropenes (Mes*=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl) were employed as P ligands of gold(I) complexes. The (E,E)‐2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene functioned as a P2 ligand for digold(I) complex formation with or without intramolecular Au–Au contact, which depends on the conformation of the 1,3‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene. The 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,4‐diphosphinidenecyclobutene, which has a rigid s‐cis P?C? C?P skeleton, afforded the corresponding digold(I) complexes with a slight distortion of the planar diphosphinidenecyclobutene framework and intramolecular Au–Au contact. In the case of the 2,2‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐1‐phosphaethene, only the phosphorus atom coordinated to gold, and the sulfur atom showed almost no intra‐ or intermolecular coordination to gold. On the other hand, the 1,3‐diphosphapropenes behaved as nonequivalent P2 ligands to afford the corresponding mono‐ and digold(I) complexes. Some phosphaalkene–gold(I) complexes showed catalytic activity for 1,6‐enyne cycloisomerization without cocatalysts such as silver hexafluoroantimonate.     

Channel‐forming solvates of 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine and its solvent‐free tautomer 6‐chloro‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone

On crystallization from CHCl₃, CCl₄, CH₂ClCH₂Cl and CHCl₂CHCl₂, 6‐chloro‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone, C₅H₄ClNO₂, (I), undergoes a tautomeric rearrangement to 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine, (II). The resulting crystals, viz. 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine chloroform 0.125‐solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂·0.125CHCl₃, (IIa), 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine carbon tetrachloride 0.125‐solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂.·0.125CCl₄, (IIb), 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine 1,2‐dichloroethane solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂·C₂H₄Cl₂, (IIc), and 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂·C₂H₂Cl₄, (IId), have I4₁/a symmetry, and incorporate extensively disordered solvent in channels that run the length of the c axis. Upon gentle heating to 378 K in vacuo, these crystals sublime to form solvent‐free crystals with P2₁/n symmetry that are exclusively the pyridone tautomer, (I). In these sublimed pyridone crystals, inversion‐related molecules form R²₂(8) dimers via pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The dimers are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds into R⁴₆(28) motifs, which join to form pleated sheets that stack along the a axis. In the channel‐containing pyridine solvate crystals, viz. (IIa)–(IId), two independent host molecules form an R²₂(8) dimer via a pair of O—H...N hydrogen bonds. One molecule is further linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds to two 4₁ screw‐related equivalents to form a helical motif parallel to the c axis. The other independent molecule is O—H...O hydrogen bonded to two related equivalents to form tetrameric R⁴₄(28) rings. The dimers are π–π stacked with inversion‐related dimers, which in turn stack the R⁴₄(28) rings along c to form continuous solvent‐accessible channels. CHCl₃, CCl₄, CH₂ClCH₂Cl and CHCl₂CHCl₂ solvent molecules are able to occupy these channels but are disordered by virtue of the site symmetry within the channels.     

Expanded‐Ring N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes Efficiently Stabilize Gold(I) Cations,Leading to High Activity in π‐Acid‐Catalyzed Cyclizations

A series of six‐ and seven‐membered expanded‐ring N‐heterocyclic carbene (er‐NHC) gold(I) complexes has been synthesized using different synthetic approaches. Complexes with weakly coordinating anions [(er‐NHC)AuX] (X^?=BF₄^?, NTf₂^?, OTf^?) were generated in solution. According to their ¹³C NMR spectra, the ionic character of the complexes increases in the order X^?=Cl^?<NTf₂^?<OTf^?<BF₄^?. Additional factors for stabilization of the cationic complexes are expansion of the NHC ring and the attachment of bulky substituents at the nitrogen atoms. These er‐NHCs are bulkier ligands and stronger electron donors than conventional NHCs as well as phosphines and sulfides and provide more stabilization of [(L)Au⁺] cations. A comparative study has been carried out of the catalytic activities of five‐, six‐, and seven‐membered carbene complexes [(NHC)AuX], [(Ph₃P)AuX], [(Me₂S)AuX], and inorganic compounds of gold in model reactions of indole and benzofuran synthesis. It was found that increased ionic character of the complexes was correlated with increased catalytic activity in the cyclization reactions. As a result, we developed an unprecedentedly active monoligand cationic [(THD‐Dipp)Au]BF₄ (1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydrodiazepin‐2‐ylidene gold(I) tetrafluoroborate) catalyst bearing seven‐membered‐ring carbene and bulky Dipp substituents. Quantitative yields of cyclized products were attained in several minutes at room temperature at 1 mol % catalyst loadings. The experimental observations were rationalized and fully supported by DFT calculations.     

The new three‐dimensional supramolecule bis{μ‐2‐[(4‐hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazonomethyl]phenolato}bis[aquacopper(II)] dinitrate

In the title centrosymmetric binuclear complex, [Cu₂(C₁₄H₁₁N₂O₃)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂, the two metal centres are bridged by the phenolate O atoms of the ligand, forming a Cu₂O₂ quadrangle. Each Cu atom has a distorted square‐pyramidal geometry, with the basal donor atoms coming from the O,N,O′‐tridentate ligand and a symmetry‐related phenolate O atom. The more weakly bound apical donor O atom is supplied by a coordinated water molecule. When a further weak Cu...O interaction with the 4‐hydroxy O atom of a neighbouring cation is considered, the extended coordination sphere of the Cu atom can be described as distorted octahedral. This interaction leads to two‐dimensional layers, which extend parallel to the (100) direction. The two‐dimensional polymeric structure contrasts with other reported structures involving salicylaldehyde benzoylhydrazone ligands, which are usually discrete mono‐ or dinuclear Cu complexes. The nitrate anions are involved in a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network, featuring intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

B(C6F5)3‐Catalyzed Selective Chlorination of Hydrosilanes

The chlorination of Si−H bonds often requires stoichiometric amounts of metal salts in conjunction with hazardous reagents, such as tin chlorides, Cl₂, and CCl₄. The catalytic chlorination of silanes often involves the use of expensive transition‐metal catalysts. By a new simple, selective, and highly efficient catalytic metal‐free method for the chlorination of Si−H bonds, mono‐, di‐, and trihydrosilanes were selectively chlorinated in the presence of a catalytic amount of B(C₆F₅)₃ or Et₂O⋅B(C₆F₅)₃ and HCl with the release of H₂ as a by‐product. The hydrides in di‐ and trihydrosilanes could be selectively chlorinated by HCl in a stepwise manner when Et₂O⋅B(C₆F₅)₃ was used as the catalyst. A mechanism is proposed for these catalytic chlorination reactions on the basis of competition experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.     

Structural diversity in the coordination of 1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐diarsinine as a cyclic ditopic organoarsenic ligand to metal ions

A number of different complexation structures of cis‐1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐dimethyl‐2,3,5,6‐tetrakis(t‐butoxycarbonyl)‐1,4‐diarsinine (cis‐DHDAtBu) with gold(I) and iridium(III) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectra, X‐ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. Mono‐ and di‐nuclear gold(I) chloride complexes with cis‐DHDAtBu were obtained by simple addition of gold(I) chloride to cis‐DHDAtBu. A hetero‐trinuclear gold‐platinum‐gold complex (PtAu₂Cl₄(cis‐DHDAtBu)₂) was obtained by complexation of a mononuclear platinum(II) complex (trans‐PtCl₂(cis‐DHDAtBu)₂), which was obtained by complexation of cis‐DHDAtBu with a half‐equimolar amount of PtCl₂(PhCN)₂, with a twice‐equimolar amount of gold(I) chloride. An iridium(III) complex with cis‐DHDAtBu (IrCl₃(cis‐DHDAtBu)₂) was prepared from hydrated iridium(III) chloride and cis‐DHDAtBu. The complex comprises a five‐membered chelate cis‐DHDAtBu and an usual monodentate cis‐DHDAtBu. The interior angles at around the arsenic and the As–C—C bond angles were significantly varied from 113.4° to 129.4° in the present crystal. These observations suggest that the flexibility of the bond angles at around the arsenic center is inherent property in the present organoarsenic compounds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:16–26, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20747     

5‐Hydroxyalkyl derivatives of tert‐butyl 2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate: diastereoselectivity of the Mukaiyama crossed‐aldol‐type reaction

The title compounds, rac‐(1′R,2R)‐tert‐butyl 2‐(1′‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₁₇H₂₀N₂O₆, (I), rac‐(1′S,2R)‐tert‐butyl 2‐[1′‐hydroxy‐3′‐(methoxycarbonyl)propyl]‐3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₈, (II), and rac‐(1′S,2R)‐tert‐butyl 2‐(4′‐bromo‐1′‐hydroxybutyl)‐5‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₁₃H₂₀BrNO₄, (III), are 5‐hydroxyalkyl derivatives of tert‐butyl 2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydropyrrole‐1‐carboxylate. In all three compounds, the tert‐butoxycarbonyl (Boc) unit is orientated in the same manner with respect to the mean plane through the 2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole ring. The hydroxyl substituent at one of the newly created chiral centres, which have relative R,R stereochemistry, is trans with respect to the oxo group of the pyrrole ring in (I), synthesized using acetaldehyde. When a larger aldehyde was used, as in compounds (II) and (III), the hydroxyl substituent was found to be cis with respect to the oxo group of the pyrrole ring. Here, the relative stereochemistry of the newly created chiral centres is R,S. In compound (I), O—H...O hydrogen bonding leads to an interesting hexagonal arrangement of symmetry‐related molecules. In (II) and (III), the hydroxyl groups are involved in bifurcated O—H...O hydrogen bonds, and centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers are formed. The Mukaiyama crossed‐aldol‐type reaction was successful when using the 2‐nitrophenyl‐substituted hydroxypyrrole, or the unsubstituted hydroxypyrrole, and boron trifluoride diethyl ether as catalyst. The synthetic procedure leads to a syn configuration of the two newly created chiral centres in all three compounds.     

Difference in photochemical behavior in 3,6‐ and 2,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐3H‐azepine: The first photochemical bond formation between 2‐ and 6‐position of 3H‐azepine ring

Different photochemical behavior between 3,6‐ and 2,5‐di‐t‐butyl‐3H‐azepine was observed. The former gave wavelength dependent products 3,5‐di‐t‐butylpyridine on irradiation through Pyrex filter via photolysis and 4,7‐di‐t‐butyl‐2‐azabicyclo[3.2.0]hepta‐2,6‐diene on irradiation through quartz filter via photo‐isomerization. Meanwhile, 2,5‐di‐t‐butyl derivative gave exclusively a labile 2,5‐di‐t‐butyl‐6‐azabicyclo‐[3.2.0]hepta‐2,6‐diene on irradiation through Pyrex filter via hitherto unknown photoisomerization mode of the bond formation between 2‐ and 6‐position of the ring.     

Three different fluoro‐ or chloro‐substituted 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐phenyl‐β‐D‐ribofuranoses

Crystal structures are reported for three fluoro‐ or chloro‐substituted 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐phenyl‐β‐D‐ribofuranoses, namely 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)‐β‐D‐ribofuranose, C₁₁H₁₁F₃O₄, (I), 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐(2,4,6‐trifluorophenyl)‐β‐D‐ribofuranose, C₁₁H₁₁F₃O₄, (II), and 1′‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1′‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranose, C₁₁H₁₃ClO₄, (III). The five‐membered furanose ring of the three compounds has a conformation between a C2′‐endo,C3′‐exo twist and a C2′‐endo envelope. The ribofuranose groups of (I) and (III) are connected by intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds to six symmetry‐related molecules to form double layers, while the ribofuranose group of (II) is connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds to four symmetry‐related molecules to form single layers. The O...O contact distance of the O—H...O hydrogen bonds ranges from 2.7172 (15) to 2.8895 (19) Å. Neighbouring double layers of (I) are connected by a very weak intermolecular C—F...π contact. The layers of (II) are connected by one C—H...O and two C—H...F contacts, while the double layers of (III) are connected by a C—H...Cl contact. The conformations of the molecules are compared with those of seven related molecules. The orientation of the benzene ring is coplanar with the H—C1′ bond or bisecting the H—C1′—C2′ angle, or intermediate between these positions. The orientation of the benzene ring is independent of the substitution pattern of the ring and depends mainly on crystal‐packing effects.     

Two isomorphous cobalt(II) complexes: poly[[diaqua‐μ‐2,5‐dicarboxybenzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato‐μ‐1,2‐di‐4‐pyridylethene‐cobalt(II)] 1,2‐di‐4‐pyridylethene solvate] and the 1,2‐di‐4‐pyridylethane analogue

The two isomorphous title structures, formulated as {[Co(C₁₀H₄O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)(H₂O)₂]·C₁₂H₁₀N₂}_n, (I), and {[Co(C₁₀H₄O₈)(C₁₂H₁₂N₂)(H₂O)₂]·C₁₂H₁₂N₂}_n, (II), respectively, are reported. They crystallize in the space group P with only one formula unit in the asymmetric unit, so that the organic ligands lie about inversion centres and the Co atom lies on an inversion centre. The Co atoms are octahedrally coordinated by a carboxylate O atom from 2,5‐dicarboxybenzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (H₂btc), one N atom from 1,2‐di‐4‐pyridylethene (L) in (I) or from 1,2‐di‐4‐pyridylethane (L) in (II), and one coordinated water molecule, plus their inversion‐related species. This particular coordination results in a two‐dimensional array, with an elemental unit in the shape of a parallelogram having the Co^II cations at the corners, linked in one direction by L bridges and in the opposite direction by H₂btc groups. The L solvent molecules act as pillars between parallel planes, linking them by strong hydrogen bonds where the H atoms lie midway between the formal donor/acceptor atoms in a `shared' mode. Comparison is made with structures presenting the same structural motif, strongly suggesting that the two‐dimensional arrangement reported here might be a very stable robust building block for molecular engineering purposes.     

1,2,4‐Triazol‐3‐ylidenes with an N‐2,4‐Dinitrophenyl Substituent as Strongly π‐Accepting N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of new Rh and Au complexes bearing 1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ylidenes with a N‐2,4‐dinitrophenyl (N‐DNP) substituent are described. IR, NMR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and computational analyses of the Rh complexes revealed that the N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) behaved as strong π acceptors and weak σ donors. In particular, a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis revealed that the contributions of the Rh→C_carbene π backbonding interaction energies (ΔE_bb) to the bond dissociation energies (BDE) of the Rh? C_carbene bond for [RhCl(NHC)(cod)] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) reached up to 63 %. The Au complex exhibited superior catalytic activity in the intermolecular hydroalkoxylation of cyclohexene with 2‐methoxyethanol. The NBO analysis suggested that the high catalytic activity of the Au^I complex resulted from the enhanced π acidity of the Au atom.