Gladstone-Dale compatibility, electronic polarizability and vibrational spectroscopy of minerals and inorganic compounds with V4+O and V4+O2 vanadyl groups.

VO and VO2 vanadyl groups with short (typically 1.57-1.68 Å), essentially covalent, V-O bonds are common for V4+-bearing oxysalts with [5]- and [6]-coordinated vanadium. There is a clear negative correlation between vanadyl bond lengths and wavenumbers of the bands of V-O stretching vibrations in infrared spectra (in the range 1000-880 cm-1). Optical, structural and chemical data for vanadyl minerals are used to calculate Gladstone-Dale compatibility coefficients. Gladstone-Dale compatibility indices of minerals containing vanadyl bonds are compared with total electronic polarizabilities of V4+. Unlike compounds of [5]-coordinated Ti4+, for most minerals with V4+=O (vanadyl) bonds there is good agreement between measured refractive indices and those calculated based on the polarizability concept.

Refinement of the crystal structure of fresnoite, Ba2TiSi2O8, from Löhley (Eifel district, Germany); Gladstone-Dale compatibility, electronic polarizability and vibrational spectroscopy of minerals and inorganic compounds with pentacoordinated TiIV and a titanyl bond.

Most known compounds with five-coordinated Ti4+ are natural and synthetic titanosilicates. The crystal structure of natural fresnoite, Ba2TiSi2O8 [tetragonal, space group P4bm, a = 8.510 (1) Å, c = 5.197 (1) Å, V = 376.4 (1) Å3, Z = 2], has been refined to R = 0.011 on the basis of 807 unique single-crystal reflections with I > 2σ(I). Titanium has fivefold coordination with one short (`titanyl') bond of 1.692 (5) Å. Bonds in the TiO5 polyhedron are discussed in comparison to analogous coordination polyhedra in other minerals and compounds. A review of all known compounds with Ti4+O5 polyhedra shows that most of them are titanosilicates in which titanium forms a short Ti-O bond (∼1.61 to ∼1.77 Å). Poor Gladstone-Dale compatibility between chemical composition, optical characteristics and density of these compounds is explained by the anomalous contribution of [5]Ti4+ to the optical properties as shown by calculations based on the relationship between electronic polarizabilities and refractive indices. An improved Gladstone-Dale coefficient of 0.29 is suggested for TiO2 with [5]Ti4+. A negative correlation between `titanyl' bond lengths and wavenumbers of the bands of Ti-O stretching vibrations (in the range of 890-830 cm-1) in infrared and Raman spectra is observed.

Synthesis and study of C-substituted methylthio derivatives of cobalt bis(dicarbollide).

The C-methylthio derivatives of cobalt bis(dicarbollide) were synthesized by reaction of anhydrous CoCl2 with nido-carborane [7-MeS-7,8-C2B9H11]- and isolated as a mixture of rac-[1,1'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- and meso-[1,2'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- isomers. The structures of both isomers were studied using DFT quantum chemical calculations. The most preferable geometry of rotamers and the stabilization energy of C-methylthio derivatives of cobalt bis(dicarbolide) were calculated. The (BEDT-TTF)[1,1'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2] salt was prepared and its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The cisoid conformation of the rac-[1,1'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- anion is stabilized by short intramolecular CH⋯S hydrogen and BH⋯S chalcogen bonds between the dicarbollide ligands, that is in good agreement with the data of quantum chemical calculations.

Naphthalene proton sponges as hydride donors: diverse appearances of the tert-amino-effect.

It has been shown that the 1-NMe(2) group in the 2-substituted 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes (proton sponges) can intramolecularly donate a hydride ion to an appropriate electron-accepting ortho-substituent such as diarylcarbenium ion, ß,ß'-dicyanovinyl or methyleneiminium group. This produces the 1-N(+)(Me)=CH(2) functionality and triggers a number of further transformations (tert-amino effect) including peri-cyclization, ortho-cyclization or hydrolytic demethylation. In each particular case, the course of the reaction is determined by the nature of the ortho-substituent and the most potent nucleophile presenting in the reaction mixture. For 2,7-disubstituted 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes, two types of tandem tert-amino effect with the involvement of both peri-NMe(2) groups have been registered. The conclusion was made that proton sponges are generally more active in the tert-amino reactions than the corresponding monodimethylaminoarenes. This is ascribed both to higher electron donor ability of proton sponges and markedly shortened distance between electrophilic C(α)-atom in the ortho-substituent and hydrogen atoms of the nearest NMe(2) group. Most conversions observed proceed in good to high yields and are useful for the preparation of derivatives of benzo[h]quinoline, quino[7,8:7',8']quinoline, 2,3-dihydroperimidine, N,N,N'-trimethyl-1,8-diaminonaphthalene and proton sponge itself.

Molecular conductors with a 8-hydroxy cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anion.

Molecular conductors based on the 8-hydroxy cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anion, (TMTTF)[8-HO-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] (1), (BMDT-TTF)[8-HO-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10) (1',2'-C2B9H11)] (2), and (BEDT-TTF)[8-HO-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] (3), were synthesized, and their crystal structures and electrical conductivities were determined. Compounds 2 and 3 are isostructural to the corresponding radical-cation salts of the parent cobalt bis(dicarbollide). All of the radical-cation salts prepared were found to be semiconductors. The relative stability of the rotation conformers of the [8-HO-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)](-) anion was estimated using DFT/BP86 quantum chemical calculations.

A domino reaction of alpha,beta-acetylenic gamma-hydroxy nitriles with arenecarboxylic acids: an unexpected facile shortcut to 4-cyano-3(2H)-furanones.

An unexpected facile domino reaction of alpha,beta-acetylenic gamma-hydroxy nitriles with arenecarboxylic acids (Et(3)N, MeCN, 20-25 degrees C, 48 h) affords 4-cyano-3(2H)-furanones in 67-86% yield. The reaction is triggered by the addition of an arenecarboxylic acid to a triple bond, followed by the domino reaction sequence: intramolecular transesterification-enol formation and Claisen condensation of the ketoacetonitrile tautomer with ester functional group.

Conformational study of 2-arylazo-1-vinylpyrroles.

Conformational study of 2-phenylazo-1-vinylpyrrole and 2-(4-bromophenyl)azo-5-methyl-1-vinylpyrrole was performed on the basis of the experimental measurements and high-level ab initio calculations of their 13C--13C and 13C--1H spin-spin coupling constants, showing marked stereochemical behaviour upon the internal rotation of the vinyl group and the pyrrolyl moiety. In liquid phase, both compounds were found to adopt predominant s-trans-s-trans conformation with the noticeable population (ca. 30%) of the higher-energy s-cis-s-trans conformation in the latter compound. As follows from the X-ray data, 2-phenylazo-1-vinylpyrrole crystallizes in s-trans-s-trans conformation while the crystalline molecular structure of 2-(4-bromophenyl)azo-5-methyl-1-vinylpyrrole is s-cis-s-trans.

Reaction of polyhaloalkyl-substituted chromones, pyrones, and furanones with salicylaldehydes as a direct route to fused 2H-chromenes.

Polyhaloalkyl-substituted chromones, gamma-pyrones, and beta-furanones react with salicylaldehydes in the presence of piperidine to give a wide variety of fused 2H-chromenes in good yields. This novel annulation reaction presumably proceeds by a tandem intermolecular oxa-Michael addition and subsequent intramolecular Mannich condensation.

Organometallic synthesis, molecular structure, and coloration of 2,7-disubstituted 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes. How significant is the influence of "buttressing effect" on their basicity?

On treatment of 2,7-dilithio- (6a) and 2,7-bis(bromomagnesio)- (6b) naphthalenes with a number of electrophiles, new "proton sponge" derivatives 7a-e,g, containing iodo, methylthio, trimethylsilyl, methyl, n-butyl, and ethoxycarbonyl groups in ortho-positions to dimethylamino groups, have been synthesized. The investigation of their molecular structure, spectral characteristics, and basicity reveals that the latter is mainly determined by two groups of factors: (1) the polar effect of ortho-substituents and (2) the so-called "buttressing effect" representing the complex combination of various sterical interactions of ortho-substituents with dimethylamino groups in corresponding bases and cations. A contradictory directionality of these interactions strongly reduces the importance of the buttressing effect in the case of compounds with bulky ortho-substituents, which is most clearly displayed in the absence of any relationship between the size of ortho-substituents and the basicity. On the contrary, for proton sponges having in ortho-positions the electron-donating groups with lesser steric demands, both the buttressing and the polar effects act in the same direction. This is the reason for the exceptionally high basicity of 2,7-dimethoxy- (2) and tetrakis(dimethylamino)- (3a) naphthalenes. It has been found that bis(trimethylsilyl)-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene 7d has an in-out configuration of the NMe2 groups in the solid that is the first example of its kind in the series of naphthalene proton sponges. The origin of a yellow coloring of 2,7-disubstituted proton sponges is also discussed.

Crystal and electronic structure of a new metallic modification of (ET)2[KHg(SCN)4].

A new room-temperature metallic modification of the well known radical cation salt (ET)(2)[KHg(SCN)(4)] has been prepared by electrochemical oxidation of ET. Its crystal and electronic structure have been examined at 110 K. The salt has a layered structure in which the conducting layers are characterized by the delta-type packing.

Quasi-three-dimensional network of molecular interactions and electronic structure of a new organic semiconductor, ET(NCS)0.77.

The radical cation salt ET(NCS)0.77 [bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene thiocyanate (1/0.77)] has been prepared for the first time by electrocrystallization and its crystal and electronic structure at 110 K was investigated. The unit-cell dimensions are orthorhombic, a = 6.638 (1), b = 8.309 (2), c = 28.776 (6) A, V = 1587.1 (6) A3, space group Pbcm, Z = 4. The compound has a layered structure. The ET radical cations of the conducting cationic layer build stacks. In the anionic layer the thiocyanate groups form polymeric chains where they are oriented in a 'head-to-tail' mode. The structure has short intermolecular contacts of the cation-cation, anion-anion and cation-anion types, which leads to the formation of a three-dimensional structure of intermolecular interactions. This phenomenon is very rare in molecular conductors. Tight binding band structure calculations suggest, however, that the interlayer interactions through the anions are weak and that the incomplete occupation of the anion sites is the reason for the activated conductivity of the salt.