A Mechanistic Dichotomy Leading to a Ruthenium-Catalyzed cis-Addition for Stereoselective Formation of (Z)-Vinyl Bromides

Either trans- or cis-haloalkylation is possible through a three-component coupling [Eq. (1)]. The cis-bromoruthenation of an alkyne by lithium bromide and [CpRu(CH(3)CN)(3)]PF(6), catalyzed by SnBr(4), gives (Z)-vinyl bromides with high chemoselectivity. The degree of control over the sterochemistry raises intriguing mechanistic questions as well as offering practical synthetic utility.     

2-Phenylglycerol: crystal structure and conformational considerations pertaining to formation of its related oxetane

2-Phenylglycerol has been crystallized, structurally characterized, and its related conformations considered by ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G* level. C₉H₁₂O₃. H₂O, P2₁,a = 5.8786(1), b = 28.6605(7), c = 10.5553(3) Å, = 90.187 (1)° at 100(1) K, Z = 8, R = 0.0424 for 5913 unique observed reflections. The asymmetric unit contains four molecules of the title compound and two molecules of water. The structures are characterized by extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The packing is dominated by a hydrophilic hydrogen bonded layer with the hydrophobic phenyl rings forming a herringbone packed intermediate layer. Computational studies suggest that an increase in energy of about 13 kcal/mol can provide for significant conformational flexibility, including the traversal of an orientation that is appropriately aligned with the reaction trajectory needed for closure to the oxetane. Progression along this reaction coordinate, however, will probably require at least another 15 kcal/mol in the gas phase in order to bring the two S_N2 species into a proximity which approaches that of the oxetane's C-O bond distance.     

Chemical bonding in cesium uranyl chloride based on the experimental electron density distribution

Details of the electron density distribution in Cs(2)UO(2)Cl(4) have been obtained from an accurate X-ray diffraction experiment at 20 K. The electron density was described with the Hansen-Coppens multipole model. Topological analysis of the electron density confirms that the U-O bond is probably a triple bond, the U-Cl bonds are incipient covalent interactions, and the Cs-Cl and Cs-O interactions are of the closed-shell type. The results obtained serve as a proof of principle that electron density features related to chemical bonding may be obtained from X-ray data for even the heaviest elements.     

Atoms-in-molecules study of intra- and intermolecular bonding in the pentaerythritol tetranitrate crystal

Chemical bonding in the pentaerythritol tetranitrate crystal based on the experimental electron density obtained from X-ray diffraction data at 100 K and theoretical calculations at the experimental molecular geometry have been analyzed in terms of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. Features of the intra- and intermolecular bond critical points and the oxygen atom lone-pair locations are discussed. Numerous intermolecular bonding interactions, including O...H and O...O, have been found and characterized. Atomic charges and atomic energies were integrated and compared with those for similar compounds. The N-O topological bond orders have been calculated for the first time, and the PETN atomic valences have been estimated.     

Multifunctional Ligands. Phosphinimine-Substituted Cyanofluoroaromatics Including X-ray Molecular Structures of Three Representative Ligands 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1,3-(N=PPh(3))(2), 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1,3-(N=PPh(2)Me)(2) and 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1-(N=PPh(3))-3-(N=PPh(2)Me). Formation of Rhodium(I) Complexes

Reaction of 1,3-dicyanotetrafluorobenzene with 2 equiv of (trimethylsilyl)iminophosphoranes gave the disubstituted derivatives 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1,3-AB: 1, A = B = (N=PPh(3)); 2, A = B = (N=PPh(2)Me); and 3, A = (N=PPh(3)), B = (N=PPh(2)Me). Monosubstituted compounds of the type 2,4-(CN)(2)C(6)F(3)-1-A; notably 4, A = (N=PPh(3)), and 5, A = (N=PPh(2)Me), were readily obtained by reaction of 1 molar equiv of the silylated iminophosphorane with the cyanofluoro aromatic. Substitution of the fluorine para to the CN group(s) occurs in all cases. Reactions of 1,2- and 1,4-dicyanotetrafluorobenzene with (trimethylsilyl)iminophosphoranes gave only monosubstituted derivatives 3,4-(CN)(2)C(6)F(3)-1-A (6, A = (N=PPh(3)), and 7, A = (N=PPh(2)Me)) and 2,5-(CN)(2)C(6)F(3)-1-A (8, A = (N=PPh(3)), and 9, A = (N=PPh(2)Me)), respectively, as the result of electronic deactivation of the second substitutional point. 1, 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1,3-(N=PPh(3)), 2, 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1,3-(N=PPh(2)Me)(2), and 3, 4,6-(CN)(2)C(6)F(2)-1-(N=PPh(3))-3-(N=PPh(2)Me) have been structurally characterized. For 1 (at 21 degrees C), monoclinic, C2/(c) (No. 15), a = 15.289(2) ?, b = 10.196(1) ?, c = 23.491(6) ?, beta = 91.63(2) degrees, V = 3660(2) ?(3), and Z = 4. The P=N bond length is 1.579(2) ? and the P(V)-N-C(phenyl) angle is 134.0(2) degrees. For 2, (at 21 degrees C) monoclinic, C2/(c) (No. 15), a = 18.694(2) ?, b = 8.576(1) ?, c = 40.084(4) ?, beta = 94.00(1) degrees, V = 6411(2) ?(3), and Z = 8. The P(1)=N(1) bond length is 1.570(4) ?, the P(2)=N(2) bond length is 1.589(3) ?, the P(1)-N(1)-C(14) angle is 131.6(3) degrees, and the P(2)-N(2)-C(16) angle is 131.3(3) degrees. For 3, (at -80 degrees C) monoclinic, P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 9.210(1) ?, b = 18.113(2) ?, c = 20.015(2) ?, beta = 100.07(1) degrees, V = 3287(2) ?(3), and Z = 4. The P(1)=N(1) bond length (PPh(3) group) is 1.567(4) ?, the P(2)=N(2) bond length (PPh(2)Me group) is 1.581(5) ?, the P(1)-N(1)-C(1) angle is 140.4(4) degrees, and the P(2)-N(2)-C(3) angle is 129.4(4) degrees. These new multifunctional chelating ligands readily react with [Rh(cod)Cl](2) and AgClO(4) to give cationic Rh(I) complexes in which the imine and/or the nitrile groups are coordinated to the Rh center.     

Sodium magnesium amidoborane: the first mixed-metal amidoborane

The first example of a mixed-metal amidoborane Na(2)Mg(NH(2)BH(3))(4) has been successfully synthesized. It forms an ordered arrangement in cation coordinations, i.e., Mg(2+) bonds solely to N(-) and Na(+) coordinates only with BH(3). Compared to ammonia borane and monometallic amidoboranes, Na(2)Mg(NH(2)BH(3))(4) can release 8.4 wt% pure hydrogen with significantly less toxic gases.