Fluorothiazynes, 50 years old and still exciting: electrophilic attack at the thiazyl nitrogen of NSF2NS(O)F2

One of the most interesting compounds in sulfur nitrogen fluorine chemistry is NSF₂NS(O)F₂ (3) (reported by Glemser and Höfer 30 years ago): in the NS backbone a triple and a double bond are connected by a single bond. Electrophiles (metal cations, fluoro Lewis acids, “CH₃⁺”) attack this multifunctional system exclusively at the thiazyl nitrogen of the triple bond. [M(NSF₂NS(O)F₂)₄][AsF₆]₂ (M = Ni (4b), Cu (4c)), [Re(CO)₅(NSF₂NS(O)F₂)][AsF₆]⁻ (5), F₅A·NSF₂NS(O)F₂ (A = As (6), Sb (7)), F₃B·NSF₂NS(O)F₂ (8) and [H₃CNSF₂NS(O)F₂]⁺[AsF₆]⁻ (9) were isolated. The X-ray structures of 4c, 6, 8 and 9 are reported, bonding in these complexes is compared with the recently reported related NSAr₂NS(X)Ar₂ (X = O, NH) species.     

Tetrameric fluorophosphazene, (NPF(2))(4), planar or puckered?

The results obtained in a comprehensive experimental study on the redetermination of the structure of N(4)P(4)F(8) with single-crystal X-ray diffraction, gas electron diffraction (GED), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) establish clearly that, in contrast to the previous report, the eight-membered heterocycle is not planar. Above the phase transition temperature of -74 degrees C, the ring appears pseudoplanar. However, the N(4)P(4) ring is disordered and is puckered above the phase transition when the disorder is modeled correctly. Below the phase transition the ring clearly resembles that of the saddle (K form) of N(4)P(4)Cl(8). The unit cell of the low-temperature phase is derived from that of the higher temperature phase by doubling the c-axis and removing one-half of the symmetry elements. Full structure optimizations were performed at the HF/6-31G and B3LYP/6-31G levels and fully support the experimental diffraction data.     

The first N-alkyl-N′-polyfluorohetaryl sulfur diimide

The first AlkNSNHet_F sulfur diimide 6 (Alk=adamant-1-yl, Het_F=2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyrid-4-yl) was prepared by trapping of the corresponding alkylthiazylamide [AlkNSN]⁻3 with pentafluoropyridine, followed by X-ray structural characterization. For 6, the Z,E configuration was found. From the reaction of 3 with octafluoronaphthalene, hexafluorinated naphthothiadiazole 7 was isolated along with the parent AlkNH₂.     

1,2,5]Thiadiazolo[3,4-c][1,2,5]thiadiazolidyl: a long-lived radical anion and its stable salts

[1,2,5]Thiadiazolo[3,4-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (1) is synthesized in 62% yield by fluoride ion-induced condensation of 3,4-difluoro-1,2,5-thiadiazole with (Me(3)SiN=)(2)S. The reversible electrochemical reduction of 1 leads to the long-lived [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c][1,2,5]thiadiazolidyl radical anion (2) and further to the dianion (3). The radical anion 2 is also obtained by the chemical reduction of the precursor 1 with t-BuOK in MeCN. The radical anion 2 is characterized by ESR spectroscopy in solution and in the crystalline state. The stable salts [K(18-crown-6)][2] and [K(18-crown-6)][2].MeCN (8 and 9, respectively) are isolated from the spontaneous decomposition of the [K(18-crown-6)][PhXNSN] (6, X = S; 7, X = Se) salts in MeCN solution followed by XRD characterization. The radical anion 2 acts as a bridging ligand in 8 and as chelating ligand in 9. The structural changes observed by XRD in going from 1 to 2 are explained by means of DFT/(U)B3LYP/6-311+G calculations.     

Anionic triazine systems

The synthesis of TAS+ C3N3F4- (1) (TAS+ = (Me2N)3S+) and the reactions of 1 with Me3SiOSiMe3 and Me3SiCF3 to give TAS+ C3N3F2O- (2) and TAS+[(NCF)(NCCF3)(NC(CF3)(2)]- (4) are reported. An isomer of 4, TAS+[(NCCF3)2(NCFCF3)]-, compound 6, was obtained by fluoride ion addition to (CF3CN)3. From the reactions with Me3SiNMe2 neutral fluoroamino triazines C3N3Fn(NMe2)(n-1) (n = 1, 2) were isolated. Possible reaction pathways are discussed, the X-ray structures of 1, 2, 4 and 6 were determined.     

Syntheses of a stable tristibine and of related antimony compounds with the 2,6-dimesitylphenyl (Dmp) substituent

DmpSbBr₂ (Dmp = 2,6-Mes₂C₆H₃) (1) is obtained by the reaction of DmpMgBr with SbCl₃. The reaction of 1 with KI in ethanol gives DmpSbI₂ (2). Dmp(Ph)SbBr (3) is prepared from DmpMgBr and PhSbCl₂. Compound 1 or 3 react with LiAlH₄ to form DmpSbH₂ (4) or Dmp(Ph)SbH (5). Compound 4 reacts with MeI in presence of DBU to give Dmp(Me)SbH (6). DmpSb(SbMe₂)₂ (7) is obtained from 4 and Me₄Sb₂. Elimination of hydrogen from 6 gives [Dmp(Me)Sb]₂ (8). Hydrolysis of 3 gives Dmp(Ph)SbOH (9). The molecular structures of 1-3, 5, 8 and 9 were determined by X-ray diffraction on single crystals.     

B12H11-containing guanidinium derivatives by reaction of carbodiimides with H3N-B12H11(1−). A new method for connecting boron clusters to organic compounds

The reaction of B₁₂H₁₁NH₃(1−) with carbodiimides can form guanidinium salts containing the boron cluster. Depending on the side chains of the carbodiimide, these derivatives of the B₁₂H₁₂(2−) cluster can be uncharged or can carry an overall positive or negative charge. This reaction allows the preparation of derivatives with aliphatic side chains, in contrast to the acylation reaction of and the formation of Schiff bases, both of which are successful only with aromatic acid chlorides or aromatic, respectively, α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The acylation of with benzoyl chloride gives an N-protonated form of an imidoacid, carrying a single overall charge.     

Synchronization of bursting neurons: what matters in the network topology

We study the influence of coupling strength and network topology on synchronization behavior in pulse-coupled networks of bursting Hindmarsh-Rose neurons. Surprisingly, we find that the stability of the completely synchronous state in such networks only depends on the number of signals each neuron receives, independent of all other details of the network topology. This is in contrast with linearly coupled bursting neurons where complete synchrony strongly depends on the network structure and number of cells. Through analysis and numerics, we show that the onset of synchrony in a network with any coupling topology admitting complete synchronization is ensured by one single condition.