Silver‐Free Activation of Ligated Gold(I) Chlorides: The Use of [Me3NB12Cl11]− as a Weakly Coordinating Anion in Homogeneous Gold Catalysis

Phosphane and N‐heterocyclic carbene ligated gold(I) chlorides can be effectively activated by Na[Me₃NB₁₂Cl₁₁] ( 1 ) under silver‐free conditions. This activation method with a weakly coordinating closo‐dodecaborate anion was shown to be suitable for a large variety of reactions known to be catalyzed by homogeneous gold species, ranging from carbocyclizations to heterocyclizations. Additionally, the capability of 1 in a previously unknown conversion of 5‐silyloxy‐1,6‐allenynes was demonstrated.     

Silver Salts of the Weakly Coordinating Anion [Me3NB12Cl11]–

Silver(I) salts of weakly coordinating anions (WCA) are commonly applied as oxidizing agents or halide abstracting reagents. The feasibility of a particular silver salt for such applications strongly depends on the “nakedness“ of the silver cation. In this study the reactivity of Ag[Me₃NB₁₂Cl₁₁] in different solvents was investigated. Crystal structures of a variety of complexes were obtained. In several crystal structures two boron clusters are bridged by Ag–Cl contacts. This leads to polymeric structures (e.g. for Ag[Me₃NB₁₂Cl₁₁]·0.5CH₂Cl₂ and Ag[Me₃NB₁₂Cl₁₁]·SO₂). Sterically demanding aromatics like mesitylene, pyrene, and acenaphthene are η¹‐ or η²‐bonded to the silver atom and also form coordination polymers, whereas benzene as a ligand leads to a molecular structure, in which two benzene molecules are η²‐coordinated to the silver cation. In contrast, strong σ donor ligands like pyridine and triphenylphosphine give homoleptic silver complexes and thus cation and anion are separated. Furthermore, the ability of Ag[Me₃NB₁₂Cl₁₁] for performing metathesis reactions was investigated. The reaction with Au^ICl gave the [Au(NCMe)₂]⁺ cation.     

Generation and Applications of the Hydroxide Trihydrate Anion, [OH(OH2)3]−, Stabilized by a Weakly Coordinating Cation

The reaction of a strongly basic phosphazene (Schwesinger base) with water afforded the corresponding metastable hydroxide trihydrate [OH(OH₂)₃]^? salt. This is the first hydroxide solvate that is not in contact with a cation and furthermore one of rare known water‐stabilized hydroxide anions. Thermolysis in vacuum results in the decomposition of the hydroxide salt and quantitative liberation of the free phosphazene base. This approach was used to synthesize the Schwesinger base from its hydrochloride salt after anion exchange in excellent yields of over 97 %. This deprotonation method can also be used for the phosphazene‐base‐catalyzed preparation of the Ruppert–Prakash reagent Me₃SiCF₃ using fluoroform (HCF₃) as the trifluoromethyl building block and sodium hydroxide as the formal deprotonation agent.     

A Highly Hexane Soluble Lithium Salt and other Starting Materials of the Fluorinated Weakly Coordinating Anion [Al{OC(CF3)2(CH2SiMe3)}4]−

The lithium salt of the weakly coordinating alkoxyaluminate anion Li[Al(OC(CF₃)₂(CH₂SiMe₃))₄] ( 2 ) is soluble in polar and even in non‐polar solvents. Especially the solubility in n‐hexane confirms 2 to be an excellent candidate for Li ion catalysis. Its polymeric structure consists of a seven coordinated Li⁺ cation, coordinating a [Al(OC(CF₃)₂(CH₂SiMe₃)]^? anion that serves as hexadentate O₂F₄ ligand and a further bridging F atom of a second anion. Compound 2 reacts with ClCPh₃ giving the [CPh₃]⁺ salt which is at least stable in CD₂Cl₂ over days at 298 K, but decomposes after storage at 333 K for several days.     

A Stable Crystalline Copper(I)–N2O Complex Stabilized as the Salt of a Weakly Coordinating Anion

Nitrous oxide is considered a poor ligand, and therefore only a handful of well‐defined metal–N₂O complexes are known. Oxidation of copper powder with an extreme oxidant, [Ag₂I₂][ An ]₂ ([ An ]^?=[Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄]^?) in perfluorinated hexane leads to Cu^I[ An ], the first auxiliary ligand‐free Cu^I salt of the perfluorinated alkoxyaluminate anion. The compound is capable of forming a stable and crystalline complex with nitrous oxide, Cu(N₂O)[ An ], where the Cu?N₂O bond is by far the strongest among all other molecular metal–N₂O complexes known. Thorough characterization of the compounds together with the crystal structure of Cu(N₂O)[ An ] complex supported with DFT calculations are presented. These give insight into the bonding in the Cu⁺–N₂O system and confirm N‐end coordination of the ligand.     

Tetraalkylammonium Salts of Weakly Coordinating Aluminates: Ionic Liquids,Materials for Electrochemical Applications and Useful Compounds for Anion Investigation

Weak and robust ? Tetraalkylammonium salts of weakly coordinating fluorinated alkoxyaluminates are easily accessible, chemically robust materials that show interesting physico‐chemical properties like low melting points, high electrochemical stability and electric conductivity in weakly polar solvents such as CH₂Cl₂, Ph‐F and toluene.

     

Ethyl‐Zinc(II)‐Cation Equivalents: Synthesis and Hydroamination Catalysis

Ion‐like ethylzinc(II) compounds with weakly coordinating aluminates [Al(OR^F)₄]^? and [(R^FO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR^F)₃]^? (R^F=C(CF₃)₃) were synthesized in a one‐pot reaction and fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, and by quantum chemical calculations. The catalytic activity of ion‐like Et‐Zn[Al(OR^F)₄] in intermolecular hydroamination and in the unusual double hydroamination of anilines and alkynes was investigated. Favorable performance was also found in comparison to the Et₂Zn/ [PhNMe₂H]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? system generated in situ at lower catalyst loadings of 2.5 mol %.     

Synthesis,Properties, and Application of Tetrakis(pentafluoroethyl)gallate, [Ga(C2F5)4]−

Weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) are important for academic reasons as well as for technical applications. Tetrakis(pentafluoroethyl)gallate, [Ga(C₂F₅)₄]^?, a new WCA, is accessible by treatment of [GaCl₃(dmap)] (dmap=4‐dimethylaminopyridine) with LiC₂F₅. The anion [Ga(C₂F₅)₄]^? proved to be reluctant towards deterioration by aqueous hydrochloric acid or lithium hydroxide. Various salts of [Ga(C₂F₅)₄]^? were synthesized with cations such as [PPh₄]⁺, [CPh₃]⁺, [(O₂H₅)₂(OH₂)₂]²⁺, and [Li(dec)₂]⁺ (dec=diethyl carbonate). Thermolysis of [(O₂H₅)₂(OH₂)₂][Ga(C₂F₅)₄]₂ gives rise to a dihydrate of tris(pentafluoroethyl)gallane, [Ga(C₂F₅)₃(OH₂)₂]. All products were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, and elemental analysis. Furthermore, an outlook for the application of [Li(dec)₂][Ga(C₂F₅)₄] as a conducting salt in lithium‐ion batteries is presented.     

From Ion‐Like Ethylzinc Aluminates to [EtZn(arene)2]+[Al(ORF)4]− Salts

Attempts to prepare previously unknown simple and very Lewis acidic [RZn]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? salts from ZnR₂, AlR₃, and HO?R^F delivered the ion‐like RZn(Al(OR^F)₄) (R=Me, Et; R^F=C(CF₃)₃) with a coordinated counterion, but never the ionic compound. Increasing the steric bulk in RZn⁺ to R=CH₂CMe₃, CH₂SiMe₃, or Cp*, thus attempting to induce ionization, failed and led only to reaction mixtures including anion decomposition. However, ionization of the ion‐like EtZn(Al(OR^F)₄) compound with arenes yielded the [EtZn(arene)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? salts with arene=toluene, mesitylene, or o‐difluorobenzene (o‐DFB)/toluene. In contrast to the ion‐like EtZn(η³‐C₆H₆)(CHB₁₁Cl₁₁), which co‐crystallizes with one benzene molecule, the less coordinating nature of the [Al(OR^F)₄]^? anion allowed the ionization and preparation of the purely organometallic [EtZn(arene)₂]⁺ cation. These stable materials have further applications as, for example, initiators of isobutene polymerization. DFT calculations to compare the Lewis acidities of the zinc cations to those of a large number of organometallic cations were performed on the basis of fluoride ion affinity. The complexation energetics of EtZn⁺ with arenes and THF was assessed and related to the experiments.     

The Superacid HBr/AlBr3: Protonation of Benzene and Ordered Crystal Structure of [C6H7]+[Al2Br7]−

Crystalline and properly ordered protonated benzene as the [C₆H₇]⁺[Al₂Br₇]^??(C₆H₆) salt 1 are obtained by the combination of solid AlBr₃, benzene, and HBr gas. Compound 1 was characterized and verified by NMR, Raman and X‐Ray spectroscopy. This unexpected simple and straight forward access shows that HBr/AlBr₃ is an underestimated superacid that should be used more frequently.     

Silver(I) Complexes of the Weakly Coordinating Solvents SO2 and CH2Cl2: Crystal Structures,Bonding, and Energetics of [Ag(OSO)][Al{OC(CF3)3}4], [Ag(OSO)2/2][SbF6], and [Ag(CH2Cl2)2][SbF6]

Pushing the limits of coordination chemistry : The most weakly coordinated silver complexes of the very weakly coordinating solvents dichloromethane and liquid sulfur dioxide were prepared. Special techniques at low temperatures and the use of weakly coordinating anions allowed structural characterization of [Ag(OSO)][Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄], [Ag(OSO)_2/2][SbF₆], and [Ag(Cl₂CH₂)₂][SbF₆] (see figure). An investigation of the bonding shows that these complexes are mainly stabilized by electrostatic monopole–dipole interactions.

     

Hydrophobic Encapsulated Phosphonium Salts—Synthesis of Weakly Coordinating Cations and their Application in Wittig Reactions

Large and rigid tetraarylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate salts have been synthesized representing weakly coordinating cations with diameters of several nanometers. Divergent dendritic growth by means of thermal Diels–Alder cycloaddition was employed for the construction of the hydrophobic polyphenylene framework up to the third generation. X‐ray crystal structure analysis of first‐generation phosphonium tetrafluoroborate supported the rigidity of the non‐collapsible shell around the phosphorus center and gave insight into solid‐state packing and cation–anion distances. Copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne ligation served as reliable method for the preparation of a first‐generation triazolylphenyl hybrid phosphonium cation under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, from the synthesis of triarylbenzylphosphonium bromides, Wittig precursors with unprecedented bulky substituents in the α‐position were accessible. Employment of these precursors under Wittig conditions by treatment with base and subsequent reaction with aldehydes preferentially provided (Z)‐olefins with bulky polyphenylene substituents.     

Investigation of Large Polychloride Anions: [Cl11]−, [Cl12]2−, and [Cl13]−

For decades the chemistry of polyhalides was dominated by polyiodides and more recently also by an increasing number of polybromides. However, apart from a few structures containing trichloride anions and a single report on an octachloride dianion, [Cl₈]^2?, polychlorine compounds such as polychloride anions are unknown. Herein, we report on the synthesis and investigation of large polychloride monoanions such as [Cl₁₁]^? found in [AsPh₄][Cl₁₁], [PPh₄][Cl₁₁], and [PNP][Cl₁₁]?Cl₂, and [Cl₁₃]^? obtained in [PNP][Cl₁₃]. The polychloride dianion [Cl₁₂]^2? has been obtained in [NMe₃Ph]₂[Cl₁₂]. The novel compounds have been thoroughly characterized by NMR spectroscopy, single‐crystal Raman spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The assignment of their spectra is supported by molecular and periodic solid‐state quantum‐chemical calculations.     

Efficient Synthesis and Properties of Single‐Crystalline [SnTe4]4− Salts

Single‐crystalline K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ salts of the ortho‐tellurostannate anion have been prepared by a very efficient fusing/extraction/evaporation method. The resulting compounds with the general composition [A₄(H₂O)_n][SnTe₄] can be transferred into mixed H₂O/en solvates by solving the hydrates in 1,2‐diaminoethane (en) and ensuing layering by toluene. A mixed Rb⁺/Ba²⁺ salt results from a partial cation exchange of the Rb⁺ hydrate phase in solution. All hydrates react to polytellurides when exposed to air and represent useful starting materials for the synthesis of transition metal complexes with [SnTe₄]^4? groups as binary main group elemental ligands. [K₄(H₂O)_0.5][SnTe₄] ( 1 ), [Rb₄(H₂O)₂][SnTe₄] ( 2 ), [Cs₄(H₂O)₂][SnTe₄] ( 3 ), [K₄(H₂O)(en)][SnTe₄] ( 4 ), [Rb₄(H₂O)_0.67(en)_0.33][SnTe₄] ( 5 ), [Cs₄(H₂O)_0.5(en)_0.5][SnTe₄] ( 6 ), and [Rb₂Ba(H₂O)₁₁][SnTe₄] ( 7 ) were characterized by means of X‐ray diffractometry and optical absorption spectroscopy.     

Step‐by‐Step Synthesis of the Endohedral Stannaspherene [Ir@Sn12]3− via the Capped Cluster Anion [Sn9Ir(cod)]3−

The endohedral stannaspherene cluster anion [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? was synthesized in two steps. The reaction of K₄Sn₉ with [IrCl(cod)]₂ (cod: 1,5‐cyclooctadienyl) in ethylenediamine (en) solution first yielded the [K(2,2,2‐crypt)]⁺ salt (2,2,2‐crypt: 4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane) of the capped cluster anion [Sn₉Ir(cod)]^3?. Subsequently, crystals of this compound were dissolved in en, followed by the addition of triphenylphosphine or 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and treatment at elevated temperatures. [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? was obtained and characterized as the [K(2,2,2‐crypt)]⁺ salt. The isolation of [Sn₉Ir(cod)]^3? as an intermediate product establishes that the formation of the stannaspherene [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? occurs through the oxidation of [Sn₉Ir(cod)]^3?. Among the structurally characterized tetrel cluster anions, [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? is a unique example of a stannaspherene, and one of the rare spherical clusters encapsulating a metal atom that is not a member of Group 10. Single‐crystal structure determination shows that the novel Zintl ion cluster has nearly perfect icosahedral I_h point symmetry.