Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. Part 31: Synthesis of rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-10-ol, and azocine-8-ol, the ortho-c and the para-c oxide-bridged phenylmorphan isomers

Two of the 12 possible oxide-bridged phenylmorphans, were synthesized, rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-10-ol (7) (the ortho-c compound), and rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-8-ol (8) (the para-c compound). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the dihedral angle between the least squares planes through the phenyl ring and the atoms C₁, C_11a, C₁₂, and C₃ in the piperidine ring in both 7·CHCl₃ and 8·HBr was 6.9°. The C₁₂-C_6a-C_6b-C_10a torsion angle was found to be 139.3° for both compounds. The angular relationship between the phenolic ring and the piperidine ring in phenylmorphans that interact with specific opioid receptors as agonists or antagonists is of considerable theoretical interest.     

Quantum-chemical study of the effect of butadiene interaction with anionic active sites on the polymer microstructure

The electronic and geometric structure of the models for prereaction complexes of the anionic active sites for polymerization of butadiene have been calculated using a modified CNDO method: C₄H₄Li-cis-C₄H₆(I), C₄H₇Li-trans-C₄H₆(II), (C₄H₇Li)₂-cis-C₄H₆(III) and (C₄H₇Li)₂-trans-C₄H₆. The configuration of complexes I and II resulting from the total energy minimization points to the preferential C₄H₆ attack on the α-C atom of the monomeric active site (AS) leading to 1,4-units in polybutadiene. A more pronounced complexation effect observed with I as compared to II was taken into account when interpreting data on the preferential formation of cis-1,4-structure within macromolecules. The structure of models III and IV and also a decrease in the difference of the energy of interaction with C₄H₆ incorporated in these models, as compared to models I and II, indicate a decrease in the 1,4-cis-units content with increasing initiator concentration. Based on results of the present study, an evaluation was also made of the effect of the interaction between the living macromolecule aggregates and diene on the dissociation processes.     

The solid state structure of arene-mercury(II) complexes from magic-angle spinning carbon-13 NMR and the solution carbon-13 NMR of some complexes of mercury(II) with arenes having bulky aliphatic substituents

The cross-polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(SbF₆)₂ - 2 Arene (Arene = C₆HMe₅, 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄, 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂Me₄, or C₆H₆) have been measured. The spectra of the complexes of C₆HMe₅ and 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄ are consistent with static η¹-bonding of the mercury to the arene at an unsubstituted carbon atom, while the spectra of the 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂Me₄ and C₆H₆ complexes show the arene to have time-averaged C_s or C₂, and C₆ symmetry respectively, at the temperature of measurement (300 K).The reduced temperature ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(Arene)_n²⁺ (n = 1 or 2; Arene = 1,3,5-C₆H₃R₃ (R = Me, i-Pr, or t-Bu)) in SO₂ solution are also reported and affirm that in these intramolecularly mobile species the mercury bonds in an η¹-manner, with unsubstituted aryl carbon atoms being the strongly preferred point of mercury attachment. This site preference is further demonstrated by the solution ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(Arene)_n²⁺ (Arene = 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂-Me₄, n = 1 or 2; Arene = 1,4-C₆H₄R₂, R = Me or t-Bu, n = 1). The spectra of the 1,4-C₆H₄R₂ complexes and Hg(p-C₆H₄-t-BuMe)²⁺ provide clear evidence for steric influence of the binding site.Like Hg(C₆Me₆)₂²⁺, but unlike most of the complexes of substituted benzenes which have been studied, Hg(1,3,5-C₆H₃-i-Pr₃)₂²⁺ exchanges only slowly with excess free ligand.     

Vibrational analysis of 1,4-diiodobutane

Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for 1,4-diiodobutane, and normal-coordinate calculations were made using a transferred 48-parameter modified v force field. This compound sometimes crystallizes in the GG' conformation with C₂ symmetry and sometimes in the TG conformation. No evidence was obtained for the presence of the TT (C_2h symmetry) or GG (C_i) conformers, but one or two additional conformers are present that must have a nonplanar chain of carbon atoms.     

Asymmetric tritiation of N-acetyl dehydrophenylalanyl-(S) phenylalanine (methylester) catalyzed with a rhodium (+) diop complex

Rhodium-(+)diop complex catalyzes the stereoselective addition of two tritium atoms in Ac-ΔPhe-(S) PheOMe (diop stands for isopropylidene - 2,3 - dihydroxy - 2,3- bis - diphenylphosphino - 1,4 - butane). Tritiated Ac(S) Phe-(S) PheOMe and Ac-(R) Phe-(S) PheOMe were obtained with a theoretical specific radioactivity. Each diastereoisomer was isolated in a pure state, their ³H-nmr spectra indicated the ratio and the sites (C_α-C_β) of ³H labelling. ³H-³H and ¹H-¹H coupling constants used together allowed the unequivocal assignment of the three staggered rotamers around C_α-C_β in the N-terminal phenylalanine moiety. The scope of the reaction for selective preparation of tritiated dipeptides is discussed.     

The thiolate anion as a nucleophile Part III. Reactions with various fluorobenzenes

The reactions of the fluorobenzenes, C₆F₅H, o-C₆H₂F₄, m-C₆H₂F₄, p-C₆H₂F₄, 1,3,5-C₆F₃H₃, 1,2,4-C₆F₃H₃, o-C₆F₂H₄, m-C₆F₂H₄, p-C₆F₂H₄ and C₆F₅H with thiolate anion nucleophiles RS^? (primarily MeS^?), have been studied in ethylene glycol/pyridine mixtures as a solvent. Multiple replacement of fluorine atoms was observed in the more highly fluorinated compounds, but in all cases two aromatic fluorine atoms were not replaced. Difluorobenzene and fluorobenzene did not react. The product orientations have been deduced from their NMR spectra. The mass spectra of the isomeric products C₆F₂H₃(SMe), C₆F₃H₂(SMe) and C₆F₂H₂(SMe)₂ have been examined.     

Carbon-Fluorine Bondings of Fluorinated Fullerene and Graphite

Carbon-fluorine bondings of fluorinated fullerenes and fluorine-graphite intercalation compound C_xF were investigated in detail on the basis of XPS data and the potential model using the charge distribution calculated by semiempirical method. It has been confirmed by the present study that two peaks in the C_1s spectra observed for fluorinated fullerenes are assigned to carbon atoms bonded to fluorine atoms and those unbound to fluorine atoms, and the small difference in charges and Madelung potentials of fluorine atoms in different circumstances well explains the single peak in F_1s spectra of fluorinated fullerenes. In the calculated structures of 1,3-C₆₀F₂ and 1,2-C₆₀F_x (x = 2?6) used as the models of C_xF, three kinds of carbon-fluorine bondings were observed corresponding to nearly ionic, semicovalent and covalent C? F bondings. The calculated result supports that the bi-intercalation structure of stage 1 C_xF consists of nearly ionic and semi-covalent fluorines.     

The preperation and coordination properties of 1,4-diaza-3-methylbutadiene-2-ylpalladium(II) complexes with different substituents on the imino nitrogen atoms

The complexes trans-[PdCl{$\text{C(=NR)C}$(ME)=NR'} (PPh₃)₂] (R=C₆H₁₁,p-C₆H₄OMe; R$\text{.}\text{?}$=p-C₆H₄OMe, Me) containing a σ-bonded 1,4-diaza-3-menthyl-butadiene-2-yl group with different substituents on the nitrogen atoms have been prepared by two routes. The first involves initial methylation of the mixed isonitrile complex [PdCl₂(CNR)(CNR')]by HgMe₂, followed by reaction with PPh₃ ($\text{Pd}\text{PPh}{}_3$molar ratio $\text{1}\text{2}$). The second method involves condensation of primary aliphatic amines with the carbonyl group of the 1-azabut-1-en-3-one-2-yl moiety of the complex trans-[PdCl{$\text{C(=NR)C}$(Me) = 0} (PPh₃)₂]. The 1,4-diaza-3-methylbutadiene-2-yl derivatives act through their imino nitrogen atoms as chelating ligands towards anhydrous metal chlorides MCl₂ (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn). Magnetic moment measurements and the far-infrared and electronic spectra of these adducts indicate an essentially pseudo-tetrahedral configuration at M in the solid and in solution. With the ZnCl₂ adducts, the ¹H NMR pattern for the phenyl protons of the p-methoxyphenyl N-substituents dependss upon the position of the substituent i the 1,4-diazabutadiene chain.     

Synthesis and characterization of carbene derivatives of Th@C3v(8)-C82 and U@C2v(9)-C82: exceptional chemical properties induced by strong actinide–carbon cage interaction

Chemical functionalization of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) is essential for the application of these novel carbon materials. Actinide EMFs, a new EMF family member, have presented unique molecular and electronic structures but their chemical properties remain unexplored. Here, for the first time, we report the chemical functionalization of actinide EMFs, in which the photochemical reaction of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂ and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂ with 2-adamantane-2,3′-[3H]-diazirine (AdN₂, 1) was systematically investigated. The combined HPLC and MALDI-TOF analyses show that carbene addition by photochemical reaction afforded three isomers of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad and four isomers of U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad (Ad = adamantylidene), presenting notably higher reactivity than their lanthanide analogs. Among these novel EMF derivatives, Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(I, II, III) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(I, II, III) were successfully isolated and were characterized by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy. In particular, the molecular structures of first actinide fullerene derivatives, Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(I) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(I), were unambiguously determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, both of which show a [6,6]-open cage structure. In addition, isomerization of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(II), Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(III), U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(II) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(III) was observed at room temperature. Computational studies suggest that the attached carbon atoms on the cages of both Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(I) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(I) have the largest negative charges, thus facilitating the electrophilic attack. Furthermore, it reveals that, compared to their lanthanide analogs, Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂ and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂ have much closer metal–cage distance, increased metal-to-cage charge transfer, and strong metal–cage interactions stemming from the significant contribution of extended Th-5f and U-5f orbitals to the occupied molecular orbitals, all of which give rise to their unusual high reactivity. This study provides first insights into the exceptional chemical properties of actinide endohedral fullerenes, which pave ways for the future functionalization and application of these novel EMF compounds.

Photochemical reaction of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂ and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂ with 2-adamantane-2,3′-[3H]-diazirine (AdN₂, 1) afforded three isomers of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad and four isomers of U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad (Ad = adamantylidene), respectively.     

Thermodynamic Properties of the n-Alkanes C19H40 to C26H54 and Their Binary Phase Diagrams

The shapes of the C₂₂H₄₆-C₂₄H₅₀ and C₂₃H₄₈-C₂₄H₅₀ binary phase diagrams were analyzed. In the C₂₂H₄₆-C₂₄H₅₀ binary system the increased stability of the binary compounds with increasing temperature can be explained by the much larger heat capacity and entropy of the binary compounds compared to that of the components C₂₂H₄₆ and C₂₄H₅₀. In the C₂₃H₄₈-C₂₄H₅₀ system this effect is much less pronounced. The measured enthalpy data of n-alkanes C₁₉H₄₀ to C₂₄H₅₀ and of the binary system C₂₂H₄₆-C₂₄H₅₀ were analyzed to obtain the ‘excess’ heat capacity per atom of carbon {[C _p/(Rm)]-3} (Rm being the number of carbon atoms). The ‘excess’ heat capacity per carbon atom is the value of the heat capacity above the Debye high temperature value of 3R. At low temperatures (below 280 K) one is in the Debye temperature θ_D region. At higher temperatures the large ‘excess’ heat capacity of the solids explains the movements in the carbon chains. In the liquid the excess heat capacity is small and corresponds numerically to the anharmonic vibrations in low melting metals. In contrast to metals, where the difference in heat capacity between liquid and solid below the melting point is positive C _p(L-s)>0, in the alkanes studied it is strongly negative C _p(L-s)?0. This explains the shape of the binary phase diagrams C₂₂H₄₆-C₂₄H₅₀, C₂₄H₅₀-C₂₆H₅₄, C₂₂H₄₆-C₂₃H₄₈ and C₂₃H₄₈-C₂₄H₅₀.     

Synthesis of compounds with polymetallic chains including boron atoms of a carborane cage

Compounds with B-Hg-Ge or Ge-Hg-B-B-Hg-Ge chains in which the boron atoms are members of a carborane cage have been prepared by treatment of the digermane (C₆F₅)₃GeGeEt₃, with B-mercurated derivatives of the carboranes m-C₂H₂B₁₀H₉HgX (X = Cl, OCOCF₃) and m-C₂H₂B₁₀H₈(HgOCOCF₃)₂. Treatment of HGe(C₆F₅)₂Ge(C₆F₅)₂H with methyl(m-carboran-9-yl)mercury resulted in a compound with a B-Hg-Ge-Ge-Hg-B chain containing two carborane cages at the ends of the chain. The compound prepared can take part in oxidative insertion of Pt(PPh₃)_n (n = 3,4) to give the chains B-Hg-Pt-Ge, Ge-Pt-Hg-B-B-Hg-Ge and B-Hg-Pt-Ge-Ge-Pt-Hg-B.     

Polyterephthalates of 2,3-disubstituted butanediols-1,4: Effect of aliphatic substituents on Tg and Tm of the polyesters

Poly(2,3-dialkylbutanediol-1,4 terephthalates) with the alkyl substituents CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, iso-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, and n-C₁₀H₂₁, andn-C₁₆H₃₃ were synthesized from the corresponding 2,3-dialkylbutanediols-1,4 and dimethyl terephthalate or terephthaloyl chloride. The substituents of the butanediol-1,4 portion of the polyterephthalates influence the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the carbon atoms near the branching site, the glass transition (T_g), and the crystallizability. Small alkyl substituents do not change the T_g of the polymers, whereas bulky substituents such as the isopropyl group increase the T_g and long normal alkyl groups as substituents decrease the T_g of the polymers. Crystallinity in these polyterephthalates was found only with CH₃ and C₁₆H₃₃ as the 2,3-dialkyl substituents in the butanediol-1,4 portion of the polyester. This crystallinity of polyterephthalate of 2,3-di-C₁₆H₃₃ substituted butanediol-1,4 could be assigned to side-chain crystallization of the paraffinic groups.     

A novel parallel interpenetrating two‐dimensional (4,4) network: poly[[μ2‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene](μ2‐naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)zinc(II)]

In the title coordination compound, [Zn(C₁₂H₆O₄)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]_n, the two Zn^II centers exhibit different coordination environments. One Zn^II center is four‐coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral environment surrounded by two carboxylate O atoms from two different naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (1,4‐ndc) anions and two N atoms from two distinct 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (1,4‐bix) ligands. The coordination of the second Zn^II center comprises two N atoms from two different 1,4‐bix ligands and three carboxylate O atoms from two different 1,4‐ndc ligands in a highly distorted square‐pyramidal environment. The 1,4‐bix ligand and the 1,4‐ndc anion link adjacent Zn^II centers into a two‐dimensional four‐connected (4,4) network. The two (4,4) networks are interpenetrated in a parallel mode.     

Influence des interactions attractives non liees sur les stabilites relatives d'ethers et d'acetates d'enol renfermant un groupe styryle

The measure of relative stabilities of β-alcoxystyrene isomers I: C₆H₅-CHCH-OR shows that the trans compound is the most stable when RCH₃ and C₂H₅ and the cis compound is the most stable when Ri-C₃H₇ and t-C₄H₉. The orientation of the OR group can be determined by RMN ¹³C. The stabilities of these molecules are discussed in terms of non bounded attractive interactions. This interpretation is confirmed by the measure of relative stabilities of α-methyl β-alcoxy (and acetoxy)-styrene isomers II: C₆H₅-C(CH3)CH-OR. (RCH₃, C₂H₅ et COCH₃).     

Coordination chemistry of anticrowns: Complexation of cyclic trimeric perfluoro-o-phenylenemercury with nitro compounds

Cyclic trimeric perfluoro-o-phenylenemercury (o-C₆F₄Hg)₃ (1) is capable of reacting with nitromethane to give complex {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](CH₃NO₂)} (2) containing one molecule of the nitro compound per one macrocycle molecule. In this complex, the nitromethane ligand is bound to 1 by its both oxygen atoms, one of which is simultaneously coordinated to all three Hg centres of the macrocycle while the other interacts with a single Hg centre. The complex of similar composition, {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₆H₅NO₂)} (3), is produced in the interaction of 1 with nitrobenzene. In this complex too, the both oxygen atoms of the nitro group are involved in the bonding to the macrocycle. A distinctive feature of 3 is that here one oxygen atom of the coordinated nitro derivative is bound by only two Hg centres of 1 whereas the other interacts again with a single Hg site. The reaction of 1 with 5-nitroacenaphthene affords a 1:1 complex, {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₁₂H₉NO₂)} (4), having a polydecker sandwich structure in the crystal. Unlike in 3, the aromatic rings of the nitroarene units in 4 are disposed virtually in parallel to the macrocycles. The nitro compound in 4 behaves again as a bidentate ligand, forming three Hg-O bonds with one of the adjacent macrocycles and a single Hg-O bond with another molecule of 1. The complex is characterized also by shortened Hg-C contacts between the Hg centres of 1 and the carbon atoms of the nitroarene moiety as well as shortened C-C contacts between the carbon atoms of the nitroarene and the macrocycle. In the interaction of 1 with 1-nitropyrene, complexes of two compositions, viz. {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₁₆H₉NO₂)} (5) and {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₁₆H₉NO₂)₃} (6) are formed. An X-ray diffraction study of 6 has shown that in this adduct two of three coordinated molecules of the nitro compound are located on one side of the metallacycle plane while the third nitroarene molecule is disposed on its other side. The aromatic rings of all three nitropyrene ligands in 6 are practically parallel to the mean plane of the macrocycle. In contrast to 2-4, each molecule of the nitroarene in 6 is bonded to 1 by a single oxygen atom which is coordinated only to one Hg centre. In the case of one of the nitropyrene ligands that forms much longer Hg-O bond with 1 than two others, an additional contribution to the bonding is made by shortened Hg-C contacts between the macrocycle and the carbon atoms of the aromatic pyrene core and also by shortened C-C contacts between the carbon atoms of the coordinated nitroarene and 1. The synthesized adducts are the first examples of complexes of an anticrown with nitro compounds.     

Synthesis of binuclear rhodacarboranes from 1,4-and 1,3-C6H4(CH2-9-C2H2B9H9-7,8-nido]2 2− dianions and (Ph3P)3RhCl

1,4- and 1,3-C₆H₄(CH₂-9-C₂H₂B₉H₉-7,8-nido]₂ ^2? dianions obtained fromnido-7,8-dicarbollide ion and 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)- and 1,3-bis(bromomethyl)benzenes react with (Ph₃P)₃RhCl to give binuclear rhodacarboranes, 1,4- and 1,3-[3,3-(Ph₃P)₂-3-H-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H₁₀-4-CH₂]₂C₆H4.     

(Indenyl)iridacarborane (η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-indenyl)Ir(η-7,8-C<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript>): synthesis,structure, and bonding

A reaction of iodide [(η⁵-indenyl)IrI₂]_n (1) with thallium dicarbollide Tl[Tl(η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁)] leads to (indenyl)iridacarborane (η⁵-indenyl)Ir(η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁) (2) in 32% yield. The X-ray diffraction study showed that in the structure of 2, the five-membered rings C₅ and C₂B₃ have a cisoid conformation, in which the bridgehead carbon atoms of the indenyl ligand are arranged opposite to the carborane cage carbon atoms. The DFT calculations showed that the Ir—indenyl bond in compound 2 is weaker than the Ir—Cp bond in the complex (η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁)IrCp.     

Reaction of C60 with KMnF4 : Isolation and characterization of a new isomer of C60F8 and re-evaluation of the structures of C60F7(CF3) and the known isomer of C60F8

The volatile fluorofullerene products of high-temperature reactions of C₆₀ with the ternary manganese(III, IV) fluorides KMnF₄, KMnF₅, A₂MnF₆ (A⁺ = Li⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺), and K₃MnF₆ were monitored as a function of reaction temperature, reaction time, and stoichiometric ratio by in situ Knudsen-cell mass spectrometry. When combined with fluorofullerene product ratios from larger-scale (bulk) screening reactions with the same reagents, an optimized set of conditions was found that yielded the greatest amount of C₆₀F₈ (KMnF₄/C₆₀ mol ratio 28-30, 470 °C, 4-5 h). Two isomers of C₆₀F₈ were purified by HPLC, one of which has not been previously reported. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level combined with 1D and 2D ¹⁹F NMR, FTIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy indicate that the C₆₀F₈ isomer previously reported to be 1,2,3,8,9,12,15,16-C₆₀F₈ is actually 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18-C₆₀F₈, making it the first high-temperature fluorofullerene with non-contiguous fluorine atoms. The new isomer, which was found to be 1,2,7,8,9,12,13,14-C₆₀F₈, is predicted to be 5.5 kJ mol⁻¹ more stable than 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18-C₆₀F₈ at the DFT level. In addition, new DFT calculations and spectroscopic data indicate that the compound previously isolated from the high-temperature reaction of C₆₀ and K₂PtF₆ and reported to be 16-CF₃-1,2,3,8,9,12,15-C₆₀F₇ is actually 18-CF₃-1,2,3,6,8,12,15-C₆₀F₇.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of cyclopentadienyl(1,4-dimethyl-1,4-dibora-2,5-cyclohexadiene)cobalt

The synthesis of the organometallic derivative cyclopentadienyl(1,4-dimethyl-1,4-diboracyclohexa-2,5-diene)cobalt is described. This complex, [(CH₃BC₄H₄BCH₃)Co(η-C₅H₅)], forms red-oranged monoclinic crystals, space group P2₁/a with Z = 4 in a unit cell of dimensions a 11.362(7), b, 7.467(7), c 13.290(12) Å, β 103.76(6)°. The structure has been elucidated by heavy-atom methods from 1732 reflections (I > 2σ(I)) measured on a Syntex P2₁ four-circle diffractometer and refined to R = 0.055. In the coordination complex all six atoms of the cyclohexadiene ring are within bonding distance of the metal atom, but the two boron atoms bend away from the metal atom, and the ring elongates slightly in the B---B direction. As a standard of comparison the known geometry of the free ligand [1,4-difluoro-1,4-dibora-2,3,5,6-tetramethylcyclohexa-2,5-diene] is used. The terminal methyl groups on the boron atoms, by contrast, bend slightly back towards the metal atom. The cyclopentadienyl ring remains planar but is positionally disordered.