Generation and EPR Spectroscopy of the First Silenyl Radicals,R2C=Si.−R: Experiment and Theory

The first two persistent silenyl radicals (R₂C=Si^.?R), with a half‐life (t_1/2) of about 30 min, were generated and characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The large hyperfine coupling constants (hfccs) (a(²⁹Si_α)=137.5–148.0 G) indicate that the unpaired electron has substantial s character. DFT calculations, which are in good agreement with the experimentally observed hfccs, predict a strongly bent structure (?C=Si?R=134.7–140.7°). In contrast, the analogous vinyl radical, R₂C=C^.?R (t_1/2≈3 h), exhibits a small hfcc (a(¹³C_α)=26.6 G) and has a nearly linear geometry (?C=C?R=168.7°).     

Synthesis and crystal structure of ionic multicomponent complex: ([Cr(I)(PhH)(2)].+))(2)[Co(II)TPP(C(60)(CN)(2))]-[C(60)(CN)(2)](.-).3(o-C(6)H(4)Cl(2)) containing C(60)(CN)(2).- radical anion and sigma-bonded diamagnetic Co(II)TPP(C(60)(CN)(2)) -anion

The ionic multicomponent complex complex: ([Cr(I)(PhH)(2)].+))(2)[Co(II)TPP(C(60)(CN)(2))]-[C(60)(CN)(2)](.-).3(o-C(6)H(4)Cl(2)) (Co(II)TPP: cobalt (II) tetraphenylporphyrin; Cr(PhH)(2): bis(benzene)chromium; o-C(6)H(4)Cl(2): o-dichlorobenzene) containing CoTPP(C(60)(CN)(2)- anion and C(60)(CN)(2).- radical anion was obtained. The complex has the cage structure with channels, which accommodate Cr(I)(PhH)(2)(.+) and o-C(6)H(4)Cl(2) molecules. For the first time the sigma-bonding of Co(II)TPP to the fullerene radical anion with the essentially shortened Co.C(C(60)(CN)(2)) contact of 2.282 A is observed. The sigma-bonding results in the diamagnetism of Co(II)TPP(C(60)(CN)(2))(-) anion. The nonbonded C(60)(CN)(2)(.-) radical anion retains both the C(2)(v)symmetry and the shape of the molecule. The length of the C(triple bond)N bonds is 1.141 and 1.152 A.     

Molybdenum triamidoamine complexes that contain hexa-tert-butylterphenyl, hexamethylterphenyl, or p-bromohexaisopropylterphenyl substituents. An examination of some catalyst variations for the catalytic reduction of dinitrogen

Three new tetramines, (ArNHCH(2)CH(2))(3)N, have been synthesized in which Ar = 3,5-(2,4,6-t-Bu(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3) (H(3)[HTBTN(3)N]), 3,5-(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3) (H(3)[HMTN(3)N]), or 4-Br-3,5-(2,4,6-i-Pr(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(2) (H(3)[pBrHIPTN(3)N]). The diarylated tetramine, [3,5-(2,4,6-t-Bu(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3)NHCH(2)CH(2)](2)NCH(2)CH(2)NH(2), has also been isolated, and the "hybrid" tetramine [3,5-(2,4,6-t-Bu(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3)NHCH(2)CH(2)](2)NCH(2)CH(2)NH(4-t-BuC(6)H(4)) has been prepared from it. Monochloride complexes, [(TerNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N]MoCl, have been prepared, as well as a selection of intermediates that would be expected in a catalytic dinitrogen reduction such as [(TerNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N]Mo[triple bond]N and [[(TerNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N]Mo(NH(3))][BAr'(4)] (Ter = HTBT, HMT, or pBrHIPT and Ar' = 3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3))). Intermediates that contain the new terphenyl-substituted ligands are then evaluated for their efficiency for the catalytic reduction of dinitrogen under conditions where analogous [HIPTN(3)N]Mo species give four turnovers to ammonia under "standard" conditions with an efficiency of approximately 65%. Only [pBrHIPTN(3)N]Mo compounds are efficient catalysts for dinitrogen reduction. The reasons are explored and discussed.     

Efficient trapping of HNO by deoxymyoglobin

Nitrosyl hydride, HNO, also commonly termed nitroxyl, is a transient species that has been implicated in the biological activity of nitric oxide, NO. Herein, we report the first generation of a stable HNO-metal complex by direct trapping of free HNO. Deoxymyoglobin (Mb-Fe(II)) rapidly reacts with HNO produced from the decomposition of methylsulfonylhydroxylamine (MSHA) or Angeli's salt (AS) in aqueous solutions from pH 7 to pH 10, forming an adduct, Mb-HNO. The unique 1H NMR signal of the Fe-bound HNO at 14.8 ppm allows definitive proof of its formation. The generation of Mb-HNO and quantification of various myoglobin byproducts were accomplished by correlation of 1H NMR, UV-vis, and EPR spectroscopies. Typically, the maximum Mb-HNO yield obtained is 60-80%; competitive side reactions with byproducts as well as the further reactivity of the Mb-HNO decrease the overall yield. At pH 10, the observed rate of Mb-HNO generation by trapping HNO from MSHA is close to that for MSHA decomposition; kinetic simulations give a lower limit to the bimolecular rate of trapping as 1.4 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1). The binding of HNO to deoxymyoglobin is rapid and essentially irreversible, which suggests that the biological activity of nitroxyl may be mediated by its reactivity with ferrous heme proteins such as myoglobin and hemoglobin.     

Emerging supramolecular chemistry of gases

Molecular recognition of gases is an emerging area of chemistry. Supramolecular chemistry helps us to understand how gases interact with biological molecules and offers delicate insights into the mechanisms of their physiological activity. Principles of molecular recognition have been used for gas sensing, and have provided fundamental knowledge about the structure and dynamics of receptor-analyte complexes, and novel materials for gas sensing and storage have been developed. Supramolecular chemistry is also enabling us to learn how to transform gases into synthetically useful reagents. The rational design of novel catalysts for gas conversion and, more recently, encapsulation complexes with gases open novel directions in preparative synthetic chemistry.     

Spontaneous Assembly of Miktoarm Stars into Vesicular Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes

Mixing a bis‐hydrophilic, cationic miktoarm star polymer with a linear polyanion leads to the formation of unilamellar polymersomes, which consist of an interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) wall sandwiched between poly(ethylene oxide) brushes. The experimental finding of this rare IPEC morphology is rationalized theoretically: the star architecture forces the assembly into a vesicular shape due to the high entropic penalty for stretching of the insoluble arms in non‐planar morphologies. The transmission electron microscopy of vitrified samples (cryogenic TEM) is compared with the samples at ambient conditions (in situ TEM), giving one of the first TEM reports on soft matter in its pristine environment.

     

N-Pyrrolidine-2-ylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-3-aminopinanes as novel organocatalysts for asymmetric conjugate additions of ketones to α-nitroalkenes

Novel stereoisomeric natural pinane-derived bifunctional catalysts 3a–d bearing a pyrrolidine unit have been synthesized and examined in the asymmetric conjugate additions of carbonyl compounds to α-nitroalkenes. Six-membered cyclic ketones react with β-nitrostyrene derivatives in the presence of (1R,2R,3R,5R)-2-hydroxy-3-((S)-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethylamino) pinane 3b (10 mol %) with high conversion to afford with diastereoselectivity (dr (syn/anti) up to 97/3), the corresponding Michael adducts with enantiomeric purities of up to 88% ee.     

Reactions of 1-alkyl-1,2-diphospholes with 1,3-dipoles: diphenyldiazomethane and nitrones

The reaction of 1-alkyl-1,2-diphosphacyclopenta-2,4-dienes (1-alkyl-1,2-diphospholes) (1) with diphenyldiazomethane proceeds at room temperature via unstable [3+2] cycloadducts to form bicyclic phosphiranes (2). However, 1-alkyl-1,2-diphospholes (1) react with N,alpha-diphenylnitrone or N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone depending on the temperature to give either dimers of 1-alkyl-1-oxo-1,2-diphospholes (5) or 1-alkyl-1,7-dioxo-6-azo-1,7-diphospha-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes (7) - phosphorus analogues of β-lactams.