Molecular ions of 3,3′-bi(2-R-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxopyrrolinylidene) 1,1′-dioxides

The electrochemical reduction of 3,3′-bi(2-R-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxopyrrolinylidene) 1,1′-dioxides (R = CF₃, Me, Ph, Bu^t), which are cyclic dinitrons with conjugated C=C bond, in acetonitrile is an EE process producing stable radical anions and dianions, whereas the electrochemical oxidation is an EEC (R = Me, Ph) or EE process (R = Bu^t) with formation of radical cations (except for the case of R = CF₃) and dications (R = Bu^t) stable under standard conditions. Radical cations of the dioxides with R = Me, Ph, and Bu^t and radical anions of the whole series of the compounds studied, including R = CF₃, were characterized by ESR spectroscopy combined with electrochemical measurements and quantum-chemical calculations. The electrochemical behavior of the Bu^t-substituted dinitron is unique: the EE processes in the region of negative and positive potentials with formation of the dianion, radical anion, radical cation, and dication stable at T = 298 K were observed for the first time within one cycle of potential sweep in the CV curve measured in MeCN. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1148–1154, May, 2005.     

Synthesis and reactivity of some diselenasila cycles containing an annelated dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12) unit

The use of 1,2‐diselenolato‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12) dianions [1,2‐(1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)Se₂]^2? prepared in situ as the dilithium salt may lead to irreproducible results. This is shown by the straightforward synthesis of silanes using the purified and isolated dianions, in contrast with previous less successful attempts. Thus, the reactions of the dianions with dichlorosilanes afford the five‐membered diselenasila cycles containing the SiMe₂ or the SiPh₂ units, and with 1,2‐dichloro‐tetramethyldisilane the six‐membered cycle containing the Si₂Me₄ unit. The latter was studied by X‐ray diffraction, and all products were characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance (¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si, ⁷⁷Se NMR) in solution. Novel isotope effects were detected in ¹³C and ⁷⁷Se NMR spectra. Exchange reactions of the five‐ and six‐membered diselanasila cycles with chlorosilanes were studied. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reductive activation of arenecarbonitriles for the reactions with some carbon-centered electrophiles: the reaction mechanisms and synthetic applications

Synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the developed approach to the activation of aromatic nitriles are considered. The approach is based on the transformation of aromatic nitriles into stable anionic reduced forms. The latter, as shown for the reactions with alkyl halides and cyanoarenes, are promising reactants for the reactions with carbon-centered electrophiles. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 754–765, April, 2008.     

Electrochemical reduction and oxidation of fullerenopyrrolidines and the ESR spectra of paramagnetic intermediates

Electroreduction and electrooxidation of monosubstituted N-methyl[60]fullerenopyrrolidines were studied by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic microelectrolysis in the cavity of an ESR spectrometer. Stepwise reversible transfer of three electrons to the fullerenopyrrolidine molecule results in the formation of stable radical anions (according to ESR, g = 2.0000, H = 0.8 G), dianions, and radical trianions (according to ESR, g = 2.0015, H = 1.5 G). The reduction potentials vary over narrow limits depending on the nature of the substituents in the pyrrolidine fragment of the compounds. Electrooxidation is irreversible and occurs in either one or two steps. For compounds containing the aniline, indole, or phenol fragment, the first step is associated with oxidation of these fragments and only after that, is the fullerenopyrrolidine core oxidized. Oxidation of the pyrrolidine fragment is substantially more difficult than that of tertiary amines.     

Double‐Decker Paramagnetic {(K)(H3Hhp)2}⋅2− Radical Dianions Comprising Two [30]Trithia‐2,3,5,10,12,13,15,20,22,23,25,30‐Dodecaazahexaphyrins and a Potassium Ion

Reduction of free‐base [30]trithia‐2,3,5,10,12,13,15,20,22,23,25,30‐dodecaazahexaphyrin (H₃Hhp) yields {cryptand[2.2.2](K)}₂{(K)(H₃Hhp)₂}?4C₆H₄Cl₂ ( 1 ) containing double‐decker {(K)(H₃Hhp)₂} ^{? 2?} radical dianions, whose structure was elucidated using X‐ray diffraction. Potassium ion forms 12 short (K⁺)???N(H₃Hhp) contacts with two H₃Hhp macrocycles in the 3.048–3.157 Å range. Dianions have S=1/2 spin state manifesting an effective magnetic moment of 1.64 μ_B at 300 K and a narrow Lorentzian electron paramagnetic resonance signal. Quantum chemical calculations support the ionic nature of the (K⁺)‐N(H₃Hhp) interactions and the nearly equal distribution of the ?1.5 charge over each macrocycle. H₃Hhp takes the role of an aza‐crown ether in free‐base reduced state and forms a new type of double‐decker complex.     

Homo- and heterodimetallic geminal dianions derived from the bis(phosphinimine) {Ph2P(NSiMe3)}2CH2 and the alkali metals Li, Na, and K

The geminal organodimetallic complexes [({Ph2P(NSiMe3)}2C)2M4], where M4=Na4, 3; Li2Na2, 4; LiNa3, 5; Li2K2, 6; Na2K2, 7, and Na3K, 8, have been prepared through a variety of methods including direct or sequential deprotonation of the neutral ligand with strong bases (tBuLi, nBuNa, (Me3Si)2NNa, PhCH2K or (Me3Si)2NK), transmetalation of the homometallic derivatives (M4=Li4, 2 or Na4, 3) with tBuONa or tBuOK, and by cation exchange upon mixing the homometallic complexes in an arene solution. Complexes 3-8 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and are found to form a homologous series of dimeric structures in the solid-state, in accord with the previously reported structure of 2. Each complex is composed of a plane of four metals, M4, in which the ligands adopt capping positions to form distorted M4C2 octahedral cores. The metals in homometallic complexes 2 and 3 define an approximate square, whereas the heterometallic derivatives 4-8 have distinctly rhombic arrangements. The lighter metals in 4-8 interact strongly with the carbanions and the heavier metals are pushed towards the periphery of the structures. 1H, 13C, 7Li, 31P, and 29Si multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies, cryoscopic measurements, and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopic studies are consistent with the dimers being retained in solution. Dynamic solution behavior was discovered for Li2Na2 complex 4, in which all five possible tetrametallic derivatives Li4, Li3Na, Li2Na2, LiNa3 and Na4 coexist. Density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond order (NBO) calculations in association with natural population analyses (NPA) reveal significant differences in the electronic structures of the variously metalated dianions. The smaller cations are more effective in localizing the double negative charge on the carbanion (in the form of two lone pairs), leading to differences in the distribution of the electron density within the ligand backbones. In turn, a complex interplay of hyperconjugation, electrostatics and metal-ligand interactions is found to control the resulting electronic structures of the geminal organodimetallic complexes.     

Quantum - Chemical Study of the Relation Between Electronic Structure and IR Spectra of Neutral Molecules,Anion - Radicals,and Dianions of Aromatic Nitriles

The relation between the IR data and the quantum-chemical indices. calculated by the CNDO/2 method has been studied. The linear relationship between the experimentally measured °C≡N and the corresponding Wiberg bond index (W_C≡N) has been found for the series of conjugated nitriles including neutral molecules. anion - radicals and dianions.

The changes in the intensity of the stretching C≡N vibration on transition from a neutral molecule into anion - radical and dianion have been investigated by the CNDO/2 method. The calculated values for δμ/δQ_CN show that in the order: neutral molecule, anion - radical and dianion the IR intensity of the stretching C≡N vibration significantly increases.     

A new strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalised fluorinated compounds by reaction of lithium dianions of carboxylic acids with perfluoroketene dithioacetals

The reaction of perfluoroketene dithioacetal with lithium dienediolates of carboxylic acids proceeds at the ω position probably through an addition to the π system followed by elimination of the vinylic fluoride. The preparative value of this reaction depends strongly on the reaction and work-up conditions. The overall process lead to highly functionalised synthons containing a trifluoromethyl group.