Cyclo-Dipnictadialanes.

Using the AlI precursor Cp3t Al in conjunction with triphosphiranes (PAr)3 (Ar=Mes, Dip, Tip) we have succeeded in preparing Lewis base-free cyclic diphosphadialanes with both the Al and P atoms bearing three substituents. Using the sterically more demanding Dip and Tip substituents the first 1,2-diphospha-3,4-dialuminacyclobutanes were obtained, whereas with Mes substituents [Cp3t Al(µ-PMes)]2 is formed. This divergent reactivity was corroborated by DFT studies, which indicated the thermodynamic preference for the 1,2-diphospha-3,4-dialuminacyclobutane form for sterically more demanding groups on phosphorus. Using Cp*Al we could extend this concept to the corresponding cyclic diarsadialanes [Cp*Al(µ-AsAr)]2 (Ar=Dip, Tip) and additionally add the phosphorus variants [Cp*Al(µ-PAr)]2 (P=Mes, Dip, Tip). The reactivity of one variant [Cp3t Al(µ-PPh)]2 towards NHCs was tested and resulted in double NHC-stabilised [Cp3t (IiPr2 )Al(µ-PPh)]2 .

Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectroscopy of NCl3 and NCl2.

We investigate NCl3 and the NCl2 radical by photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. The mass selected threshold photoelectron spectrum (ms-TPES) of NCl3 is broad and unstructured due to the large geometry change. An ionization energy of 9.7±0.1 eV is estimated from the spectrum and supported by computations. NCl2 is generated by photolysis at 213 nm from NCl3 and its ms-TPES shows an extended vibrational progression with a 90 meV spacing that is assigned to the symmetric N-Cl stretching mode in the cation. An adiabatic ionization energy of 9.94 ± 0.02 eV is determined.

Isolable Phospha- and Arsaalumenes.

The combination of (AlCp*)4, a source of monomeric :AlCp* at elevated temperatures, with DipTerPnPMe3 (Pn = P, As), so-called pnicta-Wittig reagents, at 80 °C cleanly gives the pnictaalumenes DipTerPnAlCp* with polarized Pn-Al double bonds and intramolecular stabilization through interactions of Al with a flanking aryl group of the terphenyl substituent on Pn. In contrast, using MesTerPPMe3, the reaction with 2 equiv of :AlCp3t or :AlCp* afforded the three-membered 2π-aromatic ring systems MesTerP(AlCpx)2 (x = 3t, *).

Synthesis and Characterization of SF4 Adducts with Polycyclic Amines.

Chalcogen-bonding interactions of SF4 with the polycyclic amines DABCO (C6H12N2) and HMTA (C6H12N4) were studied by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, revealing the 2:1 adducts C6H12N2·2SF4 and C6H12N4·2SF4 obtained from SF4 solvent. In C6H12N2·2SF4, the sulfur in each SF4 molecule is pentacoordinate with each SF4 coordinated by a single amine group, whereas C6H12N4·2SF4 forms a one-dimensional coordination polymer with three of the four nitrogen atoms in HMTA exhibiting N---S chalcogen bonds: one terminal N---SF4 and one experimentally unprecedented bridging N---(SF4)---N moiety. Solvolysis of C6H12N2·2SF4 by HF yielded crystals of [C6H12N2H]+2F-[SF5]-·6SF4, in which SF4 acts as a chalcogen-bond donor toward N as well as F. Solvolysis of C6H12N4·2SF4 resulted in the formation of the monoprotonated HMTA salt [C6H12N4H]+[HF2]-·SF4. Excess HF also led to isolation of monoprotonated HTMA, as seen in the crystal structure of the [C6H12N4H]+[H2F3]-·HF salt. The reaction of bicyclic, monobasic quinuclidine with SF4 and HF gave [C7H13NH]+F-·3.5SF4, which contains N-H---F----SF4 interactions, as well as an interstitial, disordered SF4 molecule.

Me CAAC=N- : A Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene Imino Ligand.

A cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) has been shown to react with a covalent azide similar to the Staudinger reaction. The reaction of Me CAAC with trimethylsilyl azide afforded the N-silylated 2-iminopyrrolidine (Me CAAC=NSiMe3 ), which was fully characterized. This compound undergoes hydrolysis to afford the 2-iminopyrrolidine and trimethylsiloxane which co-crystallize as a hydrogen-bonded adduct. The N-silylated 2-iminopyrrolidine was used to transfer the novel pyrrolidine-2-iminato ligand onto both main-group and transition-metal centers. The reaction of the tetrabromodiborane bis(dimethyl sulfide) adduct with two equivalents of Me CAAC=NSiMe3 afforded the disubstituted diborane. The reaction of Me CAAC=NSiMe3 with TiCl4 and CpTiCl3 afforded Me CAAC=NTiCl3 and Me CAAC=NTiCl2 Cp, respectively.

Lewis-Base Stabilization of the Parent Al(I) Hydride under Ambient Conditions.

Aluminum(III) is inherently electron deficient and therefore acts as a prototypical Lewis acid. Conversely, Al(I) is a rare, nucleophilic variant of aluminum that is thermodynamically unstable under ambient conditions. While attempts to stabilize and isolate Al(I) species have become increasingly successful, the parent Al(I) (i.e, Al-H) remains accessible only under extreme temperatures/pressures or matrix conditions. Here, we report the isolation of the parent Al(I) hydride under ambient conditions via the reduction of a Lewis-base-stabilized alkyldihaloalane. Computational and spectroscopic analyses indicate that the ground-state electronic configuration of this monomeric aluminum species is best described as an Al(I) hydride with non-negligible open-shell Al(III) singlet diradical character. These findings are also supported by reactivity studies, which reveal both the p-centered lone pair donating ability and the hydridic nature of the parent aluminene.

Chromium Oxide Tetrafluoride and Its Reactions with Xenon Hexafluoride; the [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ Salts of the [CrVI OF5 ]- , [CrV OF5 ]2- , [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- , and [CrIV F6 ]2- Anions.

Molten mixtures of XeF6 and CrVI OF4 react by means of F2 elimination to form [XeF5 ][Xe2 F11 ][CrV OF5 ]⋅2 CrVI OF4 , [XeF5 ]2 [CrIV F6 ]⋅2 CrVI OF4 , [Xe2 F11 ]2 [CrIV F6 ], and [XeF5 ]2 [CrV 2 O2 F8 ], whereas their reactions in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) and CFCl3 /aHF yield [XeF5 ]2 [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]⋅2 HF and [XeF5 ]2 [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]⋅2 XeOF4 . Other than [Xe2 F11 ][MVI OF5 ] and [XeF5 ][MVI 2 O2 F9 ] (M=Mo or W), these salts are the only Group 6 oxyfluoro-anions known to stabilize noble-gas cations. Their reaction pathways involve redox transformations that give [XeF5 ]+ and/or [Xe2 F11 ]+ salts of the known [CrV OF5 ]2- and [CrIV F6 ]2- anions, and the novel [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- anion. A low-temperature Raman spectroscopic study of an equimolar mixture of solid XeF6 and CrOF4 revealed that [Xe2 F11 ][CrVI OF5 ] is formed as a reaction intermediate. The salts were structurally characterized by LT single-crystal X-ray diffraction and LT Raman spectroscopy, and provide the first structural characterizations of the [CrV OF5 ]2- and [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- anions, where [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- represents a new structural motif among the known oxyfluoro-anions of Group 6. The X-ray structures show that [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ form ion pairs with their respective anions by means of Xe- - -F-Cr bridges. Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out to obtain the energy-minimized, gas-phase geometries and the vibrational frequencies of the anions and their ion pairs and to aid in the assignments of their Raman spectra.

Xenon Trioxide Adducts of O-Donor Ligands; [(CH3 )2 CO]3 XeO3 , [(CH3 )2 SO]3 (XeO3 )2 , (C5 H5 NO)3 (XeO3 )2 , and [(C6 H5 )3 PO]2 XeO3.

Xenon trioxide (XeO3 ) forms adducts with triphenylphosphine oxide, dimethylsulfoxide, pyridine-N-oxide, and acetone by coordination of the ligand oxygen atoms to the XeVI atom of XeO3 . The crystalline adducts were characterized by low-temperature, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Unlike solid XeO3 , which detonates when mechanically or thermally shocked, solid (C5 H5 NO)3 (XeO3 )2 , [(C6 H5 )3 PO]2 XeO3 , and [(CH3 )2 SO]3 (XeO3 )2 are insensitive to mechanical shock. The [(CH3 )2 SO]3 (XeO3 )2 adduct slowly decomposes over several days to (CH3 )2 SO2 , Xe, and O2 . All three complexes undergo rapid deflagration when ignited by a flame. Both [(C6 H5 )3 PO]2 XeO3 and (C5 H5 NO)3 (XeO3 )2 are room-temperature stable and the [(CH3 )2 CO]3 XeO3 complex dissociates at room temperature to form a stable solution of XeO3 in acetone. The xenon coordination sphere of [(C6 H5 )3 PO]2 XeO3 , a distorted square-pyramid, provides the first example of a five-coordinate XeO3 complex with only two Xe- - -O adduct bonds. The xenon coordination spheres of the remaining adducts are distorted octahedra, comprised of three Xe- - -O secondary bonds that are approximately trans to the primary Xe-O bonds of XeO3 . Quantum-chemical calculations were used to assess the nature of the Xe- - -O adduct bonds, which are described as predominantly electrostatic bonds between the nucleophilic oxygen atoms of the bases and the σ-holes of the electrophilic xenon atoms.

Stable Chloro- and Bromoxenate Cage Anions; [X3(XeO3)3]3- and [X4(XeO3)4]4- (X = Cl or Br).

The number of isolable compounds which contain different noble-gas-element bonds is limited for xenon and even more so for krypton. Examples of Xe-Cl bonds are rare, and prior to this work, no Xe-Br bonded compound had been isolated in macroscopic quantities. The syntheses, isolation, and characterization of the first compounds to contain Xe-Br bonds and their chlorine analogues are described in the present work. The reactions of XeO3 with [N(CH3)4]Br and [N(C2H5)4]Br have provided two bromoxenate salts, [N(C2H5)4]3[Br3(XeO3)3] and [N(CH3)4]4[Br4(XeO3)4], in which the cage anions have Xe-Br bond lengths that range from 3.0838(3) to 3.3181(8) Å. The isostructural chloroxenate anions (Xe-Cl bond lengths, 2.9316(2) to 3.101(4) Å) were synthesized by analogy with their bromine analogues. The bromo- and chloroxenate salts are stable in the atmosphere at room temperature and were characterized in the solid state by Raman spectroscopy and low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and in the gas phase by quantum-chemical calculations. They are the only known examples of cage anions that contain a noble-gas element. The Xe-Br and Xe-Cl bonds are very weakly covalent and can be viewed as σ-hole interactions, similar to those encountered in halogen bonding. However, the halogen atoms in these cases are valence electron lone pair donors, and the σ*Xe-O orbitals are lone pair acceptors.

Solid-State Structures of XeO3.

The solid-state structure of xenon trioxide, XeO3, was reinvestigated by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shown to exhibit polymorphism that is dependent on the crystallization conditions. The previously reported α-phase (orthorhombic, P212121) only forms upon evaporation of aqueous HF solutions of XeO3. In contrast, two new phases, ß-XeO3 (rhombohedral, R3) and γ-XeO3 (rhombohedral, R3c), have been obtained by slow evaporation of aqueous solutions of XeO3. The extended structures of all three phases result from Xe═O---Xe bridge interactions among XeO3 molecules that arise from the amphoteric donor-acceptor nature of XeO3. The Xe atom of the trigonal-pyramidal XeO3 unit has three Xe---O secondary bonding interactions. The orthorhombic α-XeO3 displays the greatest degree of variation among the contact distances and has a significantly higher density than the rhombohedral phases. The ambient-temperature Raman spectra of solid α- and γ-XeO3 have also been obtained and assigned for the first time.

Synthesis and Characterization of Adducts between SF4 and Oxygen Bases: Examples of O···S(IV) Chalcogen Bonding.

Lewis acid-base adducts between SF4 and the oxygen bases tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentanone, and 1,2-dimethoxyethane were synthesized and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures of (SF4·OC4H8)2, SF4·(OC4H8)2, SF4·CH3OC2H4OCH3, and SF4·(O═C5H8)2 show weak S···O chalcogen bonding interactions ranging from 2.662(2) to 2.8692(9) Å. Caffeine, which has three Lewis basic sites, was reacted with SF4 and one aliquot of HF forming C8H10N4O2·2SF4·HF, which was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculations aided in the assignment of the vibrational spectra of (SF4·OC4H8)2, SF4·(OC4H8)2, SF4·CH3OC2H4OCH3, and SF4·(O═C5H8)2. Bonding was studied by natural bond order and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses.

Syntheses and Structures of Xenon Trioxide Alkylnitrile Adducts.

The potent oxidizer and highly shock-sensitive binary noble-gas oxide XeO3 interacts with CH3 CN and CH3 CH2 CN to form O3 XeNCCH3 , O3 Xe(NCCH3 )2 , O3 XeNCCH2 CH3 , and O3 Xe(NCCH2 CH3 )2 . Their low-temperature single-crystal X-ray structures show that the xenon atoms are consistently coordinated to three donor atoms, which results in pseudo-octahedral environments around the xenon atoms. The adduct series provides the first examples of a neutral xenon oxide bound to nitrogen bases. Raman frequency shifts and Xe-N bond lengths are consistent with complex formation. Energy-minimized gas-phase geometries and vibrational frequencies were obtained for the model compounds O3 Xe(NCCH3 )n (n=1-3) and O3 Xe(NCCH3 )n ⋅[O3 Xe(NCCH3 )2 ]2 (n=1, 2). Natural bond orbital (NBO), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), electron localization function (ELF), and molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEPS) analyses were carried out to further probe the nature of the bonding in these adducts.

Interactions between SF4 and Fluoride: A Crystallographic Study of Solvolysis Products of SF4·Nitrogen-Base Adducts by HF.

Adducts between SF4 and a nitrogen base are easily solvolyzed by HF, yielding the protonated nitrogen base and fluoride. Salts resulting from the solvolysis of SF4·NC5H5, SF4·NC5H4(CH3), SF4·NC5H3(CH3)2, and SF4·NC5H4N(CH3)2 have been studied by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures were obtained for pyridinium salts [HNC5H5(+)]F(-)·SF4 and [HNC5H5(+)]F(-)[HF]·2SF4, the 4-methylpyridinium salt [HNC5H4(CH3)(+)]F(-)·SF4, the 2,6-methylpyridinium salt [HNC5H3(CH3)2(+)]2[SF5(-)]F(-)·SF4, and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridinium salts [HNC5H4N(CH3)2(+)]2[SF5(-)]F(-)·CH2Cl2 and [NC5H4N(CH3)2(+)][HF2(-)]·2SF4. In addition, the structure of [HNC5H4(CH3)(+)][HF2(-)] was obtained. 4,4'-Bipyridyl reacts with SF4 and 1 and 2 equiv of HF to give the 4,4'-bipyridinium salts [NH4C5-C5H4NH(+)]F(-)·2SF4 and [HNH4C5-C5H4NH(2+)]2F(-)·4SF4, respectively. These structures exhibit a surprising range of bonding modalities and provide an extensive view of SF4 and its contacts with Lewis basic groups in the solid state. The interactions range from the strong F4S-F(-) bond in the previously observed SF5(-) anion to weak F4S---F(-), F4S(---F(-))2, and F4S(---FHF(-))2 dative bonds.

Ultraviolet photolysis studies on XeO4 in noble-gas and F2 matrices and the formation and characterization of a new Xe(VIII) oxide, (η(2) -O2 )XeO3.

The photolytic behavior of the thermochemically unstable xenon(VIII) oxide XeO4 was investigated by UV irradiation in noble-gas and F2 matrices. Photolysis of Xe(16) O4 or Xe(18) O4 in noble-gas matrices at 365 nm yielded XeO3 and a new xenon(VIII) oxide, namely, (η(2) -O2 )XeO3 , which, along with XeO4 , was characterized by matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. Calculations of the UV spectrum showed that the photodecomposition is induced by an n→σ* transition, but the nature of the excitation differs when different light sources are used. There is strong evidence for the formation of mobile (1) D excited O atoms in the case of excitation at 365 nm, which led to the formation of (η(2) -O2 )XeO3 by reaction with XeO4 . Matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy in Ne and Ar matrices afforded the natural-abundance xenon isotopic pattern for the ν3 (T2 ) stretching mode of Xe(16) O4 , and (18) O enrichment provided the (16) O/(18) O isotopic shifts of XeO4 and (η(2) -O2 )XeO3 .

Lewis acid behavior of SF4 : synthesis, characterization, and computational study of adducts of SF4 with pyridine and pyridine derivatives.

Sulfur tetrafluoride was shown to act as a Lewis acid towards organic nitrogen bases, such as pyridine, 2,6-dimethylpyridine, 4-methylpyridine, and 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The SF4 ⋅NC5 H5 , SF4 ⋅2,6-NC5 H3 (CH3 )2 , SF4 ⋅4-NC5 H4 (CH3 ), and SF4 ⋅4-NC5 H4 N(CH3 )2 adducts can be isolated as solids that are stable below -45 °C. The Lewis acid-base adducts were characterized by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and the vibrational bands were fully assigned with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The electronic structures obtained from the DFT calculations were analyzed by the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). The crystal structures of SF4 ⋅NC5 H5 , SF4 ⋅4-NC5 H4 (CH3 ), and SF4 ⋅4-NC5 H4 N(CH3 )2 revealed weak SN dative bonds with nitrogen coordinating in the equatorial position of SF4 . Based on the QTAIM analysis, the non-bonded valence shell charge concentration on sulfur, which represents the lone pair, is only slightly distorted by the weak dative SN bond. No evidence for adducts between quinoline or isoquinoline with SF4 was found by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy.

Identification of an iridium-containing compound with a formal oxidation state of IX.

One of the most important classifications in chemistry and within the periodic table is the concept of formal oxidation states. The preparation and characterization of compounds containing elements with unusual oxidation states is of great interest to chemists. The highest experimentally known formal oxidation state of any chemical element is at present VIII, although higher oxidation states have been postulated. Compounds with oxidation state VIII include several xenon compounds (for example XeO4 and XeO3F2) and the well-characterized species RuO4 and OsO4 (refs 2-4). Iridium, which has nine valence electrons, is predicted to have the greatest chance of being oxidized beyond the VIII oxidation state. In recent matrix-isolation experiments, the IrO4 molecule was characterized as an isolated molecule in rare-gas matrices. The valence electron configuration of iridium in IrO4 is 5d(1), with a formal oxidation state of VIII. Removal of the remaining d electron from IrO4 would lead to the iridium tetroxide cation ([IrO4](+)), which was recently predicted to be stable and in which iridium is in a formal oxidation state of IX. There has been some speculation about the formation of [IrO4](+) species, but these experimental observations have not been structurally confirmed. Here we report the formation of [IrO4](+) and its identification by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy. Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out at the highest level of theory that is available today, and predict that the iridium tetroxide cation, with a Td-symmetrical structure and a d(0) electron configuration, is the most stable of all possible [IrO4](+) isomers.

SF4·N(C2H5)3: the first conclusively characterized SF4 adduct with an organic base.

Sulfur tetrafluoride and triethylamine react at low temperatures to form a 1:1 adduct. The unambiguous characterization of the SF(4)·N(C(2)H(5))(3), which is only stable at low temperature, proves the Lewis acid property of SF(4) towards organic Lewis bases. The S-N bond has a length of 2.384(2) Å and is an archetypical example of a dative S(IV) ← N bonding modality.

Expanding the steric coverage offered by bis(amidosilyl) chelates: isolation of low-coordinate N-heterocyclic germylene complexes.

The synthesis and coordination chemistry of a series of dianionic bis(amido)silyl and bis(amido)disilyl, [NSiN] and [NSiSiN], chelates with N-bound aryl or sterically modified triarylsilyl (SiAr(3)) groups is reported. In order to provide a consistent comparison of the steric coverage afforded by each ligand construct, various two-coordinate N-heterocyclic germylene complexes featuring each ligand set were prepared and oxidative S-atom transfer chemistry was explored. In the cases where clean oxidation transpired, sulfido-bridged centrosymmetric germanium(IV) dimers of the general form [LGe(µ-S)](2) (L = bis(amidosilyl) ligands) were obtained in lieu of the target monomeric germanethiones with discrete Ge═S double bonds. These results indicate that the reported chelates possess sufficient conformational flexibility to allow for the dimerization of LGe═S units to occur. Notably, the new triarylsilyl groups (4-RC(6)H(4))(3)Si- (R = (t)Bu and (i)Pr) still offer considerably expanded degrees of steric coverage relative to the parent congener, -SiPh(3,) and thus the use of substituted triarylsilyl groups within ligand design strategies should be a generally useful concept in advancing low-coordination main group and transition-metal chemistry.

Hydrogen-bonding interactions in T-2 toxin studied using solution and solid-state NMR.

The structure of T-2 toxin in the solid-state is limited to X-ray crystallographic studies, which lack sufficient resolution to provide direct evidence for hydrogen-bonding interactions. Furthermore, its solution-structure, despite extensive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies, has provided little insight into its hydrogen-bonding behavior, thus far. Hydrogen-bonding interactions are often an important part of biological activity. In order to study these interactions, the structure of T-2 toxin was compared in both the solution- and solid-state using NMR Spectroscopy. It was determined that the solution- and solid-state structure differ dramatically, as indicated by differences in their carbon chemical shifts, these observations are further supported by solution proton spectral parameters and exchange behavior. The slow chemical exchange process and cross-relaxation dynamics with water observed between the hydroxyl hydrogen on C-3 and water supports the existence of a preferential hydrogen bonding interaction on the opposite side of the molecule from the epoxide ring, which is known to be essential for trichothecene toxicity. This result implies that these hydrogen-bonding interactions could play an important role in the biological function of T-2 toxin and posits towards a possible interaction for the trichothecene class of toxins and the ribosome. These findings clearly illustrate the importance of utilizing solid-state NMR for the study of biological compounds, and suggest that a more detailed study of this whole class of toxins, namely trichothecenes, should be pursued using this methodology.