Aprotic synthesis and structural determination of the nanosized nonprotonated nu3-octahedral [Pt6Ni38(CO)48]6- hexaanion stabilized as a cubic solvated [NMe4]+ salt

The nonprotonated member, 1 (n = 6), of the previously established nanosized nu3-octahedral [H(6-n)Pt6Ni38(CO)48]n- series (n = 3-6) has been isolated from an aprotic synthetic route and stabilized as the crystal-ordered cyclohexane/acetonitrile-solvated [NMe4]+ salt. A highly precise X-ray determination (cubic; Pa3; Z = 4 with 1 possessing -3 site symmetry) has allowed a comparative analysis of the nonprotonated pseudo-D3d structure of 1 with the monoprotonated structure of 2 (n = 5), which constitutes the only previously reported complete geometry of any member of this extraordinary Pt6-encapsulated nu3-octahedral Pt6Ni38 cluster series.     

Chemoenzymatic asymmetric total synthesis of phosphodiesterase inhibitors: preparation of a polycyclic pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine from an acylnitroso Diels-Alder cycloadduct-derived aminocyclopentenol

[reaction: see text] Enzymatic resolution of Boc-protected 4-aminocyclopenten-1-ol 4c gave both enantiomers 5c and 6c in high ee. Boc removal and separate condensation with chloropyrazolopyrimidine 18 provided elaborated 1,4-aminocyclopentenol derivatives 20 and 26, respectively. Separate treatment of 20 and 26 with Pd(0) under basic conditions induced cyclization to unsaturated polycycles 22 and 27, which, upon catalytic hydrogenation, were transformed to new cyclopentane-containing pyrazolopyrimidines 24 and 28, analogues of recently described novel phosphodiesterase inhibitors.     

"Inverse-electron-demand" ligand substitution in palladium(0)-olefin complexes

Ligand substitution reactions are ubiquitous in transition-metal chemistry and catalysis. Investigation of ligand substitution reactions for a series of electron-rich palladium(0)-olefin complexes, (bathocuproine)Pd(nitrostyrene) reveals an unprecedented mechanism in which the metal serves as the nucleophilic partner in an "associative" substitution pathway.     

Synthesis and Structural/Theoretical (DFT) Analysis of the Geometrically Unprecedented Au–Pt Cluster, Pt7(μ 2-CO)8(PPh3)4(μ 4-AuPPh3)2: Structure-to-Synthesis Appraisal Concerning Its Formation

In ongoing attempts to synthesize nanosized gold-platinum carbonyl phosphine clusters either directly or indirectly by initially obtaining intermediate-sized ones as potential precursors, the neutral Au–Pt CO/PR₃-ligated cluster, Pt₇( ₂-CO)₈ (PPh₃)₄( ₄-AuPPh₃)₂ (1), was isolated and characterized by low-temperature CCD X-ray diffraction, IR, and mass spectrometric measurements. The heretofore unknown 9-atom metal architecture of the Au₂Pt₇ core may be envisioned as a Pt₇ adduct of a Pt₄ butterfly and an edge-opened Pt₃ triangle that is additionally linked by two tetracapping AuPPh₃ units. Each of the two butterfly-hinged (basal) Pt atoms is connected to two of the three edge-opened triangular Pt atoms thereby giving rise to an essentially coplanar Pt₅ fragment consisting of three edge-fused bonding triangles; addition of two AuPPh₃ units to the Pt₇ adduct completes the Au₂Pt₇ framework via formation of the two symmetry-equivalent square-pyramidal ( ₄-Au)Pt₄ moieties, each resulting from the tetracapping of a AuPPh₃ unit to the central Pt₃ triangle of the coplanar Pt₅ fragment and to one of the two out-of-plane wingtip Pt atoms. Six PPh₃ ligands are coordinated to the two Au atoms, the two wingtip Pt atoms of the Pt₄butterfly-shaped fragment, and the two outer Pt atoms of the edge-opened Pt₃ triangle. Four of the eight doubly bridging ₂-COs link the four edges connecting the two out-of-plane wingtip Pt atoms with the two hinged (basal) Pt atoms, while the other four ₂-COs span four of the five Pt–Pt bonding edges of the coplanar Pt₅ fragment (i.e., the fifth Pt–Pt bonding edge is spanned by the two out-of-plane wingtip Pt atoms). The resulting molecular configuration (without P-attached phenyl substituents) possesses crystallographic C₂ (2) and pseudo-C_2v symmetry. An optimized geometry of the PH₃- and PMe₃-models of 1, obtained from gradient-corrected (scalar-relativistic) DFT calculations is in reasonably good agreement with the crystallographically determined geometry of 1.A structure-to-synthesis approach is presented as part of extensive but unsuccessful efforts to design a high-yield reproducible preparative route to 1 in order to enable physical/chemical studies as well as to utilize it as a preformed cluster for further PPh₃/CO deligation reactions.     

Stabilization of coordinatively unsaturated Ir4 clusters with bulky ligands: a comparative study of chemical and mechanical effects

The synthesis and characterization of new cluster compounds represented by the series Ir(4)(CO)(12-x)L(x) (L = tert-butyl-calix[4]-arene(OPr)(3)(OCH(2)PPh(2)); x = 2 and 3) is reported using ESI mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Thermally driven decarbonylation of the cluster compound series represented by x = 1-3 according to the formula above is followed via FTIR and NMR spectroscopies, and dynamic light scattering in toluene solution. The propensity of these clusters to decarbonylate in solution is shown to be directly correlated with number density of adsorbed calixarene phosphine ligands and controlled via Pauli repulsion between metal d and CO 5σ orbitals. The tendency for cluster aggregation unintuitively follows a trend that is exactly opposite to the cluster's propensity to decarbonylate. No cluster aggregation is observed for clusters consisting of x = 3, even after extensive decarbonylation via loss of all bridging CO ligands and coordinative unsaturation. Some of the CO lost during thermal treatment via decarbonylation can be rebound to the coordinatively unsaturated cluster consisting of x = 3. In contrast, the clusters consisting of x = 1 and x = 2 both aggregate into large nanoparticles when treated under identical conditions. Clusters in which the calixarene phosphine ligand is replaced with a sterically less demanding PPh(2)Me ligand 6 lead to significantly less coordinative unsaturation upon thermal treatment. Altogether, these data support a mechanical model of accessibility in coordinatively unsaturated metal clusters in solution, which hinges on having at least three sterically bulky organic ligands per Ir(4) core.     

Structural/bonding insights from new geometrical varieties of two Pt-Au carbonyl/phosphine clusters, [Pt3(AuPPh3)5(mu2-CO)2L3]+ (L3 = (CO)2PPh3) and [(mu6-Au){Pt3(mu2-CO)3L4}2]+ (L = PMe3)

Structural/bonding considerations of two new Pt-Au clusters, [Pt3(AuPPh3)5(mu2-CO)2(CO)2PPh3]+ (1) and [(mu6-Au){Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PMe3)4}2]+ (2) isolated (as chloride salts), revealed: (i) that the heretofore unknown 20-electron Pt-centered Pt2Au5 icosahedral cage fragment (five missing vertices) of is best viewed as a 44-electron triangular Pt3 adduct of a nearly planar 39-electron [Pt3(mu2-CO)2L3]+ (L3 = (CO)2PPh3) and five one-electron donating AuPPh3 ligands; and (ii) that the geometrically distorted trimethylphosphine "full" Pt3AuPt3 sandwich of is the first example of two nucleophilic 44-electron triangular Pt3(mu2-CO)3L4 (3 : 3 : 4) units (L = PMe3) which asymmetrically encapsulate a central electrophilic Au(I).     

Syntheses and structural analyses of variable-stoichiometric Au-Pt-Ni carbonyl/phosphine clusters, Pt3(Pt(1-x)Ni(x))(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)(PPh3)3 and Pt2(Pt(2-y)Ni(y))(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)2(PPh3)2, with ligation-induced site-specific Pt/Ni substitutional disorder within butterfly-based Pt3(Pt(1-x)Ni(x))Au2 and Pt2(Pt(2-y)Ni(y))Au2 core-geometries

In ongoing attempts of directed synthesis of high-nuclearity Au-Pt carbonyl/phosphine clusters with [Ni6(CO)12]2- used as reducing agent and CO source, we have isolated and characterized two new closely related variable-stoichiometric trimetallic clusters, Pt3(Pt(1-x)Ni(x))(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)(PPh3)3 (1) and Pt2(Pt(2-y)Ni(y))(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)2(PPh3)2 (2). Their M4Au2 cores may be envisioned as substitutional disordered butterfly-based M4Au2 frameworks (M = Pt/Ni) formed by connections of the two basal M(B) atoms with both (Au-Au)-linked Au(PPh3) moieties. Based upon low-temperature CCD X-ray diffraction studies of eight crystals obtained from different samples, ligation-induced site-specific Pt/Ni substitutional disorder (involving formal insertion of Ni in place of Pt) in a given crystal was found to occur only at the one OC-attached basal M(B) site in 1 or at both OC-attached basal M(B) sites in 2 corresponding to a crystal composite of the Pt3(Pt(1-x)Ni(x))Au2 core in 1 or of the Pt2(Pt(2-y)Ni(y))Au2 core in 2; the Ph3P-attached M(B) site (M(B) = Pt) in 1 and two wingtip M(w) sites (M(w) = Pt) in 1 and 2 were not substitutionally disordered. The resulting variable stoichiometry of the M4Au2 core in 1 may be viewed as a crystal composite of two superimposed individual stereoisomers, Pt4(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)(PPh3)3 (1a) and Pt3Ni(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)(PPh3)3 (1b), in the averaged unit cell of a given crystal. Likewise, 2 represents the crystal-averaged composite of three individual stereoisomers, Pt4(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)2(PPh3)2 (2a), Pt3Ni(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)2(PPh3)2 (2b), and Pt2Ni2(AuPPh3)2(mu2-CO)4(CO)2(PPh3)2 (2c). Formal Ni substitution for Pt at only the basal M(B) site(s) in the four crystal composites each of 1 and 2 was found to vary widely from 17% to 79% Ni in 1 and from 21% to 95% Ni in 2. Nevertheless, reasonably close Pt/Ni occupancy factors were found within each of the four pairs of composite crystals selected from samples obtained from duplicate syntheses. Both 1 and 2 may be formally derived from the electronically equivalent classic butterfly Pt4(mu2-CO)5(PPh3)4 cluster by replacement of its bridging mu2-CO ligand spanning the basal M(B)-M(B) edge with two one-electron donating (Au-Au)-linked AuPPh3 moieties along with the substitution of a terminal CO in place of one or both M(B)-attached PPh3 ligands in 1 and 2, respectively; site-specific Pt/Ni substitutional disorder occurs only at the CO-attached M(B) sites. The variable-stoichiometric 1 and 2 re also electronically equivalent and geometrically related to the crystal-ordered butterfly-based Pt4(mu2-CO)4(PR3)4(mu3-HgX)2 clusters (R3 = Ph3, MePh2; X = CF3, Br, I).     

Phosphine-ligated induced formation of thallium(I) full Pt3TlPt3 sandwich versus "open-face" TlPt3 sandwich with triangular Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PR3)3 units: synthesis and structural/spectroscopic analysis of triphenylphosphine [(mu3-Tl)Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PPh3)3]+ and its (mu3-AuPPh3)Pt3 analogue

This research constitutes an operational test to assess the influence of platinum-attached phosphine ligands in the formation process of "open-face" TlPt3 or "full" Pt3TlPt3 sandwich clusters. Accordingly, the reaction of TlPF6 with triphenylphosphine Pt4(mu2-CO)5(PPh3)4, under essentially identical boundary conditions originally used to prepare (90% yield) the triethylphosphine "full" Pt3TlPt3 sandwich, [(mu6-Tl)Pt6(mu2-CO)6(PEt3)6]+ (3) ([PF6]- salt), from Pt4(mu2-CO)5(PEt3)4 was carried out to see whether it would likewise afford the unknown triphenylphosphine Pt3TlPt3 sandwich analogue of or whether the change of phosphine ligands from sterically smaller, more basic PEt3 to PPh3 would cause the product to be the corresponding unknown triphenylphosphine "open-face" TlPt3 sandwich that would geometrically resemble the known bulky tricyclohexylphosphine [(mu3-Tl)Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PCy3)3]+ sandwich (2a). Both the structure and composition of the resulting "open-face" sandwich product, [(mu3-Tl)Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PPh3)3]+ (1a) ([PF6]- salt), were unequivocally established from a low-temperature CCD X-ray crystallographic determination. The calculated Pt/Tl atom ratio (3/1) of 75%/25% is in excellent agreement with that of 72(3)%/28(5)% obtained from energy-resolved measurements on a single crystal with a scanning electron microscope. Crystals (80% yield) of the orange-red were characterized by solid-state/solution IR and variable temperature 205Tl and 31P{1H} NMR spectra; the 31P{1H} spectra provide convincing evidence that is exhibiting dynamic behavior at room temperature in CDCl3 solution. The corresponding new "open-face" (mu3-AuPPh3)Pt3 sandwich, [(mu3-AuPPh3)Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PPh3)3]+ (1b) ([PF6]- salt), was quantitatively obtained from by reaction with AuPPh3Cl and spectroscopically characterized by IR and 31P{1H} NMR spectra. A comparative geometrical evaluation of the observed steric dispositions of the platinum-attached PR3 ligands in the "open-face" (mu3-Tl)Pt3 sandwiches of (with PPh3) and the known (with PCy3) and in the known "full" Pt3TlPt3 sandwich of (with PEt3) along with the considerably different observed steric dispositions of the PR(3) ligands in the known "open-face" (mu3-AuPCy3)Pt3 sandwich of (with PCy3) and in the known "full" Pt3AuPt3 sandwich of (with PPh(3)) has been performed. The results clearly indicate that, in contradistinction to the known triphenylphosphine Pt3AuPt3 sandwich of , PPh3 and bulkier PCy3 ligands of Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PR3)3 units are sterically too large to form "full" Pt3TlPt3 sandwiches. In other words, the nature of the thallium(I) sandwich-product in these reactions is sterically controlled by size effects of the phosphine ligands. Comparative examination of bridging carbonyl IR frequencies of and with those of closely related "open-face" and "full" sandwiches provides better insight concerning the relative electrophilic capacities of Tl+, Au+, and [AuPR3]+ components in forming sandwich adducts with Pt3(mu2-CO)3(PR3)3 nucleophiles.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of fluorene and benzimidazole containing novel conjugated polymers: Effect of alkyl chain length on electrochemical properties

The synthesis and characterization of two donor acceptor type conjugated polymers were investigated. Electrochemical properties were examined by cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry and kinetic studies. The increase in the alkyl chain length attached to the fluorene unit was investigated in terms of electrochemical properties. The synthesis was carried out via Stille coupling of 4,7-dibromo-4′-(tert-butyl)spiro[benzo[d]imidazole-2,1′ cyclohexane] and 2,5-bis(tributylstannyl)thiophene with 9,9-dihexyl-9H fluorine (P1) and 9,9-didodecyl-9H fluorene (P2) respectively. Both polymers were neutral state green polymers. They had optical band gaps of 1.55 and 1.47 eV respectively. Increasing the chain length resulted in an increase in solubility and processibility of the polymer. Polymers are multichromic, revealing colors from neutral state green to doped state blue.