Dynamic covalent approach to [2]- and [3]roxtanes by utilizing a reversible thiol-disulfide interchange reaction

A dynamic covalent approach to disulfide-containing [2]- and [3]rotaxanes is described. Symmetrical dumbbell-shaped compounds with two secondary ammonium centers and a central located disulfide bond were synthesized as components of rotaxanes. The rotaxanes were synthesized from the dumbbell-shaped compounds and dibenzo-[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) with catalysis by benzenethiol. The yields of isolated rotaxanes reached about 90 % under optimized conditions. A kinetic study on the reaction forming [2]rotaxane 2 a and [3]rotaxane 3 a suggested a plausible reaction mechanism comprising several steps, including 1) initiation, 2) [2]rotaxane formation, and 3) [3]rotaxane formation. The whole reaction was found to be reversible in the presence of thiols, and thermodynamic control over product distribution was thus possible by varying the temperature, solvent, initial ratio of substrates, and concentration. The steric bulk of the end-capping groups had almost no influence on rotaxane yields, but the structure of the thiol was crucial for reaction rates. Amines and phosphines were also effective as catalysts. The structural characterization of the rotaxanes included an X-ray crystallographic study on [3]rotaxane 3 a.     

Thermotropic Liquid Crystals Formed by Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

The role of hydrogen bonding in the formation or stabilization of liquid crystalline phases has only recently been appreciated. Following the first, wellestablished examples of liquid crystal formation from the dimerization of aromatic carboxylic acids, through hydrogen bonding, several classes of compounds have recently been synthesized, the liquid crystalline behavior of which is also dependent on intermolecular hydrogen bonds between similar or dissimilar molecules. In this review the main classes of compounds exhibiting liquid crystallinity due to hydrogen bonding are presented to show the diversity of organic compounds that can be used as building elements in liquid crystals. The molecules are either of the rigid-rod anisotropic or amphiphilic types such as molecules appropriately functionalized with pyridyl and carboxyl groups, whose interaction leads to the formation of liquid crystals; amphiphilic carbohydrates and amphiphilic and bolaamphiphilic compounds with multiple hydroxyl groups whose dimerization or association is indispensable for the formation of liquid crystals; and certain amphiphilic carboxylic acids with monomeric or polymeric mesogens and amphiphilic-type compounds bearing different moieties, whose interaction may lead to the formation of mesomorphic compounds. Associated with the macroscopic display of liquid crystalline phases is the supramolecular structure, and therefore rather extended discussion of these structures are included in this review.     

Synthesis of the anionic fluororeceptors based on thiourea and amide groups and recognition property for α,ω-dicarboxylate

Three new neutral receptors (1, 2 and 3) containing thiourea and amide groups were synthesized by simple steps in good yields. The binding properties for anions of 1, 2 and 3 were examined by UV-vis, fluorescence, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Receptors 1, 2 and 3 all had a better adipate anion selectivity by comparison with other dicarboxylate anions. The association constants of 1, 2 and 3 with adipate were higher as compared to other anions (malonate, succinate, glutarate). In particular, a distinct color change was observed from light yellow to orange-red upon addition of adipate to the solution of 1 in DMSO. The UV-vis and fluorescence data indicate that a 1:1 stoichiometry complex is formed between compound 1, 2 or 3 and dicarboxylate anions through hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and IR Spectroscopic Characterization of 1,6-Hexanediammonium Dihydrogendecavanadate

Summary.  Anhydrous 1,6-hexanediammonium dihydrogendecavanadate ((HdaH₂)₂H₂V₁₀O₂₈, 1) was prepared by reaction of V₂O₅ with 1,6-hexanediamine in aqueous solution. The crystal structure of 1 was determined, and the proton positions in the H₂V₁₀O₂₈ ⁴⁻ anion were calculated by the bond length/bond number method. The protons are bound to the centrosymmetrically oriented μ–OV₃ groups of the decavanadate anion. Based on the analysis of IR spectra of 1 prepared from H₂O and D₂O, the absorption band at 871 cm⁻¹ can be attributed to δ(V–O_b–H) vibrations. Received August 3, 2001. Accepted (revised) October 8, 2001     

New organogermanium cations [RGe(OCH2CH2NME2)2]+ with intramolecular N→Ge coordination bonds

New organohalogermanes RGe(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂X (R = Ph, X = I (5); R = Me, X = Cl (6) or I (7)) with an intramolecular N→Ge coordination bond were synthesized. According to the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data, iodides 5 and 7 exist in solution as ionic compounds with the pentacoordinated germanium atom. In solution of compound 4 (R = Ph, X = Cl), there is an equilibrium between the ionic and covalent forms. The equilibrium shifts toward the ionic form with increasing solvent polarity or temperature. In solution, chloride 6 is a covalent compound. The structures and relative stabilities of different isomers of compounds 4–7 were studied by quantum chemical calculations at the density functional level of theory. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 892–900, May, 2007.     

Study of formation of nano-quasicrystals and crystallization kinetics of Zr-Al-Ni-Cu metallic glass

The formation of nano-quasicrystals on isothermal annealing of melt-spun ribbons of Zr_69.5Al_7.5Ni₁₁Cu₁₂ metallic glass has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystallization study of this metallic glass has been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in non-isothermal (linear heating) mode. It exhibits two-stage crystallization where the first stage corresponds to the precipitation of icosohedral nano-quasicrystalline phase. This has been confirmed with the help of TEM investigations. The crystallization parameters like the activation energy (E _c) and frequency factor (k ₀) have been derived using the Kissinger peak shift analysis. The activation energies for the first and second crystallization peak are found to be 278 and 295 kJ mol^–1, respectively. The frequency factors obtained for the two peaks are respectively 7.16·10¹⁹ and 1.42·10²⁰ s^–1. E _c, k ₀ and the Avrami exponent (n) have also been derived by fitting the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation for the transformed volume fraction (x) to the crystallization data. JMAK results of E _c for the first and second crystallization peak turn out to be 270 and 290 kJ mol^–1 respectively. However, k ₀ and n are found to be heating rate dependent as reported in similar studies. The values of n for the first crystallization stage ranges between 1.66 and 2.57 indicating diffusion-controlled transformation in agreement with earlier reports.     

Effects of substituents and n-donors on the energies of Si←N,Si←O,and Si=C bonds in hypervalent silenes

The effect of the nature of substituents at sp²-hybridized silicon atom in the R₂Si=CH₂ (R = SiH₃, H, Me, OH, Cl, F) molecules on the structure and energy characteristics of complexes of these molecules with ammonia, trimethylamine, and tetrahydrofuran was studied by the ab initio (MP4/6-311G(d)//MP2/6-31G(d)+ZPE) method. As the electronegativity, χ, of the substituent R increases, the coordination bond energies, D(Si← N(O)), increase from 4.7 to 25.9 kcal mol⁻¹ for the complexes of R₂Si=CH₂ with NH₃, from 10.6 to 37.1 kcal mol⁻¹ for the complexes with Me₃N, and from 5.0 to 22.2 kcal mol⁻¹ for the complexes with THF. The n-donor ability changes as follows: THF ≤ NH₃ < Me₃N. The calculated barrier to hindered internal rotation about the silicon—carbon double bond was used as a measure of the Si=C π-bond energy. As χ increases, the rotational barriers decrease from 18.9 to 5.2 kcal mol⁻¹ for the complexes with NH₃ and from 16.9 to 5.7 kcal mol⁻¹ for the complexes with Me₃N. The lowering of rotational barriers occurs in parallel to the decrease in D _π(Si=C) we have established earlier for free silenes. On the average, the D _π(Si=C) energy decreases by ∼25 kcal mol⁻¹ for NH₃· R₂Si=CH₂ and Me₃N·R₂Si=CH₂. The D(Si←N) values for the R₂Si=CH₂· 2Me₃N complexes are 11.4 (R = H) and 24.3 kcal mol⁻¹ (R = F). sp²-Hybridized silicon atom can form transannular coordination bonds in 1,1-bis[N-(dimethylamino)acetimidato]silene (6). The open form (I) of molecule 6 is 35.1 and 43.5 kcal mol⁻¹ less stable than the cyclic (II, one transannular Si←N bond) and bicyclic (III, two transannular Si←N bonds) forms of this molecule, respectively. The D(Si←N) energy for structure III was estimated at 21.8 kcal mol⁻¹. Dedicated to Academician N. S. Zefirov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1952–1961, September, 2005.     

Preparation of fluorine compounds of groups 13 and 14: a study case for the diagonal relationship of aluminum and germanium

The synthesis of carbaalanes of composition [(AlF)₆(AlNMe₃)₂(CR)₆] containing terminal fluorine atoms is described. The clusters have in common that the central core consists of eight aluminum and six carbon atoms. Six of the eight aluminum atoms are bearing six terminal fluorine atoms. The fluorination of (t-BuNCH₂AlH)₄ results in the formation of the aggregate (t-BuNCH₂AlF)₄. In group 14, the fluorine containing unsaturated compounds LGeF, LGeS(F), LGeSe(F), and LGeNSiMe₃(F) were prepared (LHC(CMeNAr)₂), Ar = 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃ and Ar = 2,6-Me₂(C₆H₃)).     

Fluorine-Stabilized Sulfur–Carbon Multiple Bonds

Alkylidene and alkylidyne sulfur fluorides contain sulfur–carbon multiple bonds. In contrast to the sulfur ylides, alkylidene sulfur fluorides fulfill all the criteria for double bonds, i.e. they have short bond lengths, strong anisotropic distribution of electron density, and rotation about the C? S bond is restricted. Alkylidyne sulfur fluorides have especially short bond distances and, due to a high amplitude bending motion, appear to be more or less linear, depending on the physical state. The advantage of the C? S multiple bond systems in contrast with numerous others, e.g. those of phosphorus and silicon, is that they exist without steric stabilization. Moreover, the limits of the triple-bond principle are outlined: the prognosis for triple bonds between two elements of higher periods is poor, because carbene-like or fully bridged structures win in terms of stability.     

The Role of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds vs. Other Weak Interactions on the Conformation of Hyponitrous Acid and Its Mono- and Dithio-Derivatives

High level ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the relative stability of the different conformers of hyponitrous acid and its mono- and dithio-derivatives. Geometries and vibrational frequencies were obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level and final energies through B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2pd) single point calculations. The reliability of this theoretical scheme has been assessed by comparing these DFT results with those obtained at the G3 level of theory, for some suitable cases. The cis conformers of hyponitrous acid and its mono- and dithio-derivatives are systematically more stable than the trans ones because in the cis conformation a dative interaction between the nitrogen-lone pairs and the σ_NX^* antibonding orbital is significantly favored. Quite interestingly, in general, the conformers presenting an intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) are not the global minima of the corresponding potential energy surfaces and only for hyponitrous acid the conformer with a OH ⋅s O IHB is slightly more stable than the cis conformer without IHB. The low stability of the tautomers with IHB is closely related with another weak intramolecular interaction which involves the lone-pairs of the chalcogen atoms and the π_NN^* antibondig orbital, and which is significantly perturbed when the IHB is formed.