Experimental and theoretical studies of Diels-Alder dimerization of 1,2,3,4,5-pentachlorocyclopentadiene and of Diels-Alder cycloaddition of polychlorinated cyclopentadienes to norbornadiene

Diels-Alder cyclodimerization of 1,2,3,4,5-pentachlorocyclopentadiene (1) affords 2a as the exclusive reaction product. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 1 to norbornadiene also proceeds stereoselectively to produce a single [4+2] cycloadduct, 4c. The structures of 2a and 4c were established unequivocally via application of single crystal X-ray crystallographic techniques. The origins of the observed diastereofacial selectivity in each of these cycloaddition processes have been investigated by application of semiempirical (AM1 Hamiltonian) and ab initio (Hartree-Fock 3-21G*) calculations. The computational results thereby obtained, which are based upon consideration of the kinetically favored transition state for each of the two cycloaddition reactions studied, are consistent with experiment. These semiempirical and ab initio methods also have been used to investigate the mechanisms of the Diels-Alder reactions that have been used to prepare aldrin and isodrin (7 and 8, respectively). The results thereby obtained suggest that isodrin formation via Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene to 1,2,3,4,7,7-hexachloronorbornadiene proceeds with kinetic control of product stereochemistry.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and properties of novel zinc(II) complexes obtained by reactions of zinc(II) malonate with flexible multidentate ligands

Complex [Zn₂(bimb)₂(mal)₂(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O (1) (mal=⁻OCOCH₂COO⁻) was obtained by reaction of bidentate ligand 4,4′-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl (bimb) with zinc(II) salt of malonate, while the reaction of the same metal salt with 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (titmb) gives another novel complex [Zn₂(titmb)₂(mal)][mal]·12H₂O (2). The structures of these complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography. The results revealed that 1 is a cyclic dinuclear complex in which the malonate groups act as terminators and prevent further aggregation, while 2 is a 2D honeycomb network in which each independent 2D sheet contains two sub-layers bridged by the malonate groups and complex 2 also contains free malonate as a counteranion connected to the 2D layer by C-H?O hydrogen bonds. The entirely different structure and topology of complexes 1 and 2, on the one hand, indicates that the nature of organic ligands affected the structures of assemblies greatly, and on the other, reveals the versatility of the malonate which can act as a bridging and/or blocking ligand.     

Predicting the shape and structure of face-centered cubic gold nanocrystals smaller than 3 nm.

Although a number of computational studies have examined the relative stability of icosahedral and decahedral gold clusters from 1 to 3 nm in size, few studies have focussed on the variety of face-centered cubic (fcc) nanoparticles in this size regime. In most cases small fcc gold particles are assumed to adopt the truncated octahedral shape, but in light of the fact that the shape and structure of gold nanoparticles is known to vary, the relative stability of fcc polyhedra may change with size. Presented here are results of first-principles calculations investigating the preferred shape of gold particles less than 3 nm in size. Our results indicate that the equilibrium shape of fcc gold nanoparticles less than 1 nm is the cuboctahedron, but this shape rapidly becomes energetically unstable with respect to the truncated octahedron, octahedron and truncated cube shapes as the size increases.     

Synthesis, molecular and crystal structure of bis(triethanolamine)manganese(II) saccharinate: a seven-coordinate manganese complex with tri- and tetradentate triethanolamine ligands

The synthesis, molecular and crystal structure of bis(triethanolamine)Mn(II) saccharinate, [Mn(tea)₂](sac)₂ are reported. The configuration of the tea ligands results in an unusual example of coordination number seven for the Mn(II) ion. The two triethanolamine (tea) ligands coordinate to the Mn(II) ion forming a monocapped trigonal prism geometry, in which one of the tea ligands behaves as a tridentate ligand, while the other one acts as a tetradentate donor. The free and coordinated hydroxyl hydrogens of the tea ligands are involved in hydrogen bonding with the amine nitrogen, carbonyl and sulfonyl oxygens of the neighbouring sac ions to form a three-dimensional infinite network. A weak π–π interaction between the phenyl rings of the sac ions also occurs.     

[Co(3,3-tri)(men)Cl][ZnCl_4]和[Co(3,3-tri)(cmen)Cl][ZnCl_4]两体系配合物的合成及两经式异构体的晶体结构

分别合成了 [Co(3, 3-tri)(men)Cl][ZnCl4]、[Co(3, 3-tri)(cmen)Cl][ZnCl4] (3, 3-tri = N-(3-胺基丙基)-1, 3-丙二胺,men = N-甲基乙二胺,cmen = 1, 2-二胺基-丙烷) 2体系的部分配合物异构体,用单晶 X-射线衍射分析方法解析了2异构体的晶体结构。其中 [Co(3, 3-tri)(men)Cl][ZnCl4] 体系的一异构体Ⅰ的化学简式为 CoCl(C9H27N5)ZnCl4,晶体属正交晶系,空间群 Pca21,a = 16.788(2),b = 7.964(1),c = 14.416(2) 牛琕 =1927.3(4) ?,Dc = 1.747 g/cm3,Z = 4,F(000) = 1032,Mr = 506.91,R = 0.0352,wR =0.0935;[Co(3, 3-tri)(cmen)Cl]2+ 体系的一异构体Ⅱ的化学简式为 CoCl(C9H27N5)ZnCl4稨2O, 晶体属三斜晶系,空间群 P ,a = 9.511(3), b = 9.972(3),c = 11.694(3) 牛琣 = 68.367(5),b = 85.196(6),?= 86.580(5),V = 1026.9(5)?3,Dc = 1.698 g/cm3,Z = 2,F(000) = 536,Mr = 524.92,R = 0.0494,wR = 0.1180。两异构体中 Co3+ 为六配位,晶胞中对映体比例均为1:1。在配合物异构体Ⅰ和Ⅱ中,三元胺以经式排布,三元胺配体(3, 3-tri)仲胺上的氢相对于Cl分别处于顺位(syn-)和反位(anti-);二元胺配体氮(或邻位碳)取代的胺基氮原子(N*)与三元胺配体中的仲氮原子分别处于对位(trans(N*))和邻位(cis(N*))。     

Polyamine-based anion receptors: Extraction and structural studies

In the discussion that follows some of the more recent progress in the area of anion binding by synthetic polyamine receptors is presented, with emphasis given to work undertaken by the authors’ groups. A continuing theme in these studies has been the relationship between receptor structure and its anion extraction properties.Systematic solvent extraction and structural studies for halide and perrhenate complexes with polyamines of tripodal, macrocyclic and macrobicyclic architecture that contain both aromatic moieties and four to eight amine functions have been performed in order to derive relevant structure-binding/extractability relationships. The results demonstrate that the binding and extraction behaviour of the polyamines towards halides and perrhenate is a complex function of their structural features, degree of protonation and lipophilic properties. The extraction is characterized by the preferred formation of mono- and diprotonated amine species in the organic phase. X-ray structure studies of iodide and perrhenate complexes with open-chain tetraamino derivatives and octaamino cryptands in different protonation states lead to the conclusion that in the first case only limited chelation of the anion occurs and in the second only highly protonated species are able to encapsulate the anion. The structural patterns observed are strongly influenced by the presence of water molecules in the crystals.     

Two-dimensional commensurate soliton structures

A phase diagram of pinned soliton structures in two dimensions has been found for a repulsive interactionU(x) between solitons withU(x)>0. The critical fugacity of the commensurate soliton structure is shown to be proportional toU(l), wherel is the period of this structure.     

Double domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder strategy towards bis-pyrano-1,4-benzoquinones

Several bis-pyrano-l,4-benzoquinones have been synthesized by a double domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder reaction. The synthetic approach is highly efficient allowing the construction of complex polycyclic scaffolds with six new σ-bonds. These reactions performed more efficiently and more rapidly using microwave irradiation. The resulting bis-pyrano-1,4-benzoquinones are the first examples of a double domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder reaction. Our approach represents a novel contribution to the chemistry of 2,5-dihydroxy-l,4-benzoquinones and the first general method for the synthesis of bis-pyranobenzoquinones.     

Covalent Interactions in Mercury Oxohalides and Their Role in Crystal Structure Fragmentation

An [Hg₆O₂]-cationic (r) octahedron atomic group has been isolated in a number of mercury oxohalide structures. The octahedron is constructed from two edge-sharing oxo-centered [Hg₄O] tetrahedra. For -Hg₃O₂Cl₂, -Hg₃O₂Cl₂, Hg₂OI, [Hg₂]₃O₂Cl₂, [Hg₂]₃HgO₃Cl₂, Hg₅O₄Cl₂, and some other compounds, the geometrical parameters of their crystal structures depend on the dimensions and mutual packing of the cationic r-octahedra and the individual [Hg₄O] tetrahedra, if any.