Chalcogenido-Dimethylgallates and -Indates DMPyr2 [Me2 M(µ2 -E)]2 (M=Ga, In; E=S, Se): Building Blocks for Higher and Lower Order Chalcogenidoindates.

Metalation of the anions in the ionic liquids DMPyr[SH] and DMPyr[SeH] (DMPyr=1,1-dimethylpyrrolidinium) by trimethylgallium and trimethylindium is investigated. The reaction proceeds via pre-coordination of [EH]- , methane elimination and formation of an unprecedented series of chalcogenido metalates DMPyr2 [Me2 M(µ2 -E)]2 (M=Ga, In; E=S, Se). These show the presences of dinuclear dianions with four-membered ring structures displaying highly nucleophilic bridging chalcogenide ligands in their crystallographically determined molecular structures. Some representative reactions of these building blocks with amphoteric electrophiles were studied: Addition of two equivalents of E(SiMe3 )2 (E=S, Se) to the indates DMPyr2 [Me2 In(µ2 -S)]2 and DMPyr2 [Me2 In(µ2 -Se)]2 leads to a cleavage of the ring, E silylation and formation of mononuclear, monoanionic indates DMPyr[Me2 In(SSiMe3 )2 ], DMPyr[Me2 In(SeSiMe3 )2 ], and even a mixed sulfido-selenido dimethylindate DMPyr[Me2 In(SSiMe3 )(SeSiMe3 )]. Reaction of DMPyr2 [Me2 In(µ2 -S)]2 with two equivalents of Lewis acid Me3 In leads to charge delocalization, ring expansion and formation of six-membered ring DMPyr3 [Me2 In(µ2 -S-InMe3 )]3 . The latter is a key intermediate in the formation of dianionic sulfidoindate DMPyr2 [(Me2 In)6 (µ3 -S)4 ] displaying an unusual inverse heteroadamantane cage structure with four capping sulfido ligands.

Allenes for Versatile Iron-Catalyzed C-H Activation by Weak O-Coordination: Mechanistic Insights by Kinetics, Intermediate Isolation, and Computation.

The iron-catalyzed hydroarylation of allenes was accomplished by weak phenone assistance. The C-H activation proceeded with excellent efficacy and high ortho-regioselectivity in proximity to the weakly coordinating carbonyl group for a range of substituted phenones and allenes. Detailed mechanistic studies, including the isolation of key intermediates, the structural characterization of an iron-metallacycle, and kinetic analysis, allowed the sound elucidation of a plausible catalytic working mode. This mechanistic rationale is supported by detailed computational density functional theory studies, which fully address multi-spin-state reactivity. Furthermore, in operando nuclear magnetic resonance monitoring of the catalytic reaction provided detailed insights into the mode of action of the iron-catalyzed C-H alkylation with allenes.

3d metallaelectrocatalysis for resource economical syntheses.

Resource economy constitutes one of the key challenges for researchers and practitioners in academia and industries, in terms of rising demand for sustainable and green synthetic methodology. To achieve ideal levels of resource economy in molecular syntheses, novel avenues are required, which include, but are not limited to the use of naturally abundant, renewable feedstocks, solvents, metal catalysts, energy, and redox reagents. In this context, electrosyntheses create the unique possibility to replace stoichiometric amounts of oxidizing or reducing reagents as well as electron transfer events by electric current. Particularly, the merger of Earth-abundant 3d metal catalysis and electrooxidation has recently been recognized as an increasingly viable strategy to forge challenging C-C and C-heteroatom bonds for complex organic molecules in a sustainable fashion under mild reaction conditions. In this review, we highlight the key developments in 3d metallaelectrocatalysis in the context of resource economy in molecular syntheses until February 2020.

Cobaltaelectro-catalyzed C-H activation for resource-economical molecular syntheses.

The direct cleavage of otherwise inert C-H bonds has emerged as a sustainable approach for organic synthesis; in contrast to other approaches, these reactions result in the formation of fewer undesired by-products and do not require pre-functionalization steps. In recent years, oxidative C-H/N-H alkyne annulations and C-H oxygenations were realized by 3d metals. Unfortunately, most of these reactions require stoichiometric amounts of often toxic chemical oxidants. This protocol provides a general method for cobaltaelectro-catalyzed C-H activations of benzamides. Here, anodic oxidation obviates the need for a chemical oxidant and uses 10-20% of a more environmentally benign, inexpensive catalyst. We outline a detailed and precise description of the designed electrolytic cell for metallaelectrocatalysis, including readily available electrode materials and electrode holders. The custom-made device is further compared with the commercially available and standardized ElectraSyn 2.0 electrochemistry kit. As example applications of this approach, we describe cobaltaelectro-catalyzed C-H activation protocols for the direct C-H oxygenation of benzamides and resource-economical synthesis of isoquinolones. The cobaltaelectrocatalysis setup and reaction take about 17 h, while an additional 5 h have to be anticipated for workup and chromatographic purification. The methods described herein feature broad functional group tolerance, operational simplicity, low waste-product formation and an overall exceptional level of resource economy.

Azaruthena(II)-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadiene: Key Intermediate for Ruthenaelectro(II/III/I)-catalyzed Alkyne Annulations.

A ruthenium-catalyzed electrochemical dehydrogenative annulation reaction of imidazoles with alkynes has been established, enabling the preparation of various bridgehead N-fused [5,6]-bicyclic heteroarenes through regioselective electrochemical C-H/N-H annulation without chemical metal oxidants. Novel azaruthenabicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienes were fully characterized and identified as key intermediates. Mechanistic studies are suggestive of an oxidatively induced reductive elimination pathway within a ruthenium(II/III) regime.

Electrophotocatalytic Undirected C-H Trifluoromethylations of (Het)Arenes.

Electrophotochemistry has enabled arene C-H trifluoromethylation with the Langlois reagent CF3 SO2 Na under mild reaction conditions. The merger of electrosynthesis and photoredox catalysis provided a chemical oxidant-free approach for the generation of the CF3 radical. The electrophotochemistry was carried out in an operationally simple manner, setting the stage for challenging C-H trifluoromethylations of unactivated arenes and heteroarenes. The robust nature of the electrophotochemical manifold was reflected by a wide scope, including electron-rich and electron-deficient benzenes, as well as naturally occurring heteroarenes. Electrophotochemical C-H trifluoromethylation was further achieved in flow with a modular electro-flow-cell equipped with an in-operando monitoring unit for on-line flow-NMR spectroscopy, providing support for the single electron transfer processes.

Electrochemical Access to Aza-Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Rhoda-Electrocatalyzed Domino Alkyne Annulations.

Nitrogen-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aza-PAHs) have found broad applications in material sciences. Herein, a modular electrochemical synthesis of aza-PAHs was developed via a rhodium-catalyzed cascade C-H activation and alkyne annulation. A multifunctional O-methylamidoxime enabled the high chemo- and regioselectivity. The isolation of two key rhodacyclic intermediates made it possible to delineate the exact order of three C-H activation steps. In addition, the metalla-electrocatalyzed multiple C-H transformation is characterized by unique functional group tolerance, including highly reactive iodo and azido groups.

Flow Rhodaelectro-Catalyzed Alkyne Annulations by Versatile C-H Activation: Mechanistic Support for Rhodium(III/IV).

A flow-metallaelectro-catalyzed C-H activation was realized in terms of robust rhodaelectro-catalyzed alkyne annulations. To this end, a modular electro-flow cell with a porous graphite felt anode was designed to ensure efficient turnover. Thereby, a variety of C-H/N-H functionalizations proved amenable for alkyne annulations with high levels of regioselectivity and functional group tolerance, viable in both an inter- or intramolecular manner. The electro-flow C-H activation allowed easy scale up, while in-operando kinetic analysis was accomplished by online flow-NMR spectroscopy. Mechanistic studies suggest an oxidatively induced reductive elimination pathway on rhodium(III) in an electrocatalytic regime.

Rhodaelectrocatalysis for Annulative C-H Activation: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons through Versatile Double Electrocatalysis.

Rapid access to structurally diversified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a controlled manner is of key significance in materials sciences. Herein, we describe a strategy featuring two distinct electrocatalytic C-H transformations for the synthesis of novel nonplanar PAHs. The combination of rhodaelectrooxidative C-H activation/[2+2+2] alkyne annulation of easily accessible boronic acids with electrocatalytic cyclodehydrogenation provided modular access to diversely substituted PAHs with electricity as a sustainable oxidant. The unique molecular topology as well as the photophysical and electronic properties of the thus obtained PAHs were fully analyzed. The unique power of this metallaelectrocatalysis method was demonstrated by the chemoselective assembly of synthetically useful iodo-substituted PAHs.

A Phosphorus Bisylide: Exploring a New Class of Superbases with Two Interacting Carbon Atoms as Basicity Centers.

Herein we present the first superbase MHPN with two interacting P-ylide entities. Unlike classical proton sponges, this novel compound class has carbon atoms as basicity centers which are forced into close proximity by a naphthalene scaffold. The bisylide exhibits an experimental pKBH+  value of 33.3±0.2 on the MeCN scale and a calculated gas-phase proton affinity of 277.9 kcal mol-1 (M062X/6-311+G**//M062X/6-31G*+ZPVE method) exceeding that of the corresponding monoylide by nearly 15 kcal mol-1 . The origin of the unexpectedly high basicity of the new bisylide was investigated by NMR spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction as well as theoretical calculations and can be partly attributed to the rapid exchange of the "acidic" proton between the two basic carbon atoms after protonation.

New lithium borates with bistetrazolato2- and pyrazinediolato2- ligands - potentially interesting lithium electrolyte additives.

We present a convenient synthesis of the first silylated bistetrazole via a catalyzed twin [2 + 3] cycloaddition of TMS-azide at cyanogen and its application to access bistetrazolatoborates, structurally characterized by a unique unsaturated ten-membered B2N4C4 heterocyclic system. Furthermore, new borate anions with two pyrazine-2,3-diolato ligands were synthesized from tetrafluoroborate salts and structurally characterized. Their organic cation can be exchanged for Li+via cation exchange. The conceptual relation of these new salts to lithium ion battery bisoxalalatoborate additive LiBOB, a prominent solid electrolyte interface (SEI) generator, is discussed.

N-Heterocyclic Olefin-Carbon Dioxide and -Sulfur Dioxide Adducts: Structures and Interesting Reactivity Patterns.

Depending on the amount of methanol present in solution, CO2 adducts of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) have been found to be in fully reversible equilibrium with the corresponding methyl carbonate salts [EMIm][OCO2 Me] and [EMMIm][OCO2 Me]. The reactivity pattern of representative 1-ethyl-3-methyl-NHO-CO2 adduct 4 has been investigated and compared with the corresponding NHC-CO2 zwitterion: The protonation of 4 with HX led to the imidazolium salts [NHO-CO2 H][X], which underwent decarboxylation to [EMMIm][X] in the presence of nucleophilic catalysts. NHO-CO2 zwitterion 4 can act as an efficient carboxylating agent towards CH acids such as acetonitrile. The [EMMIm] cyanoacetate and [EMMIm]2 cyanomalonate salts formed exemplify the first C-C bond-forming carboxylation reactions with NHO-activated CO2 . The reaction of the free NHO with dimethyl carbonate selectively led to methoxycarbonylated NHO, which is a perfect precursor for the synthesis of functionalized ILs [NHO-CO2 Me][X]. The first NHO-SO2 adduct was synthesized and structurally characterized; it showed a similar reactivity pattern, which allowed the synthesis of imidazolium methyl sulfites upon reaction with methanol.

Simple access to ionic liquids and organic salts containing the phosphaethynolate (PCO(-)) and Zintl (Sb11(3-)) anions.

Herein we report the synthesis of the first ionic liquids with the highly reactive and synthetically valuable phosphaethynolate (PCO(-)) anion. They are simply synthesised by the reaction of organic methylcarbonate salts with P(SiMe3)3. The products are obtained in near to quantitative yields and they are highly viscous liquids at room temperature or have low melting points for symmetric cations. Moreover, extending this synthetic strategy towards Sb(SiMe3)3 we discovered a simple synthesis for [P(nBu)3Me](+)3[Sb11](3-), the first organic cation salt comprising the Zintl-anion [Sb11](3-).

Mercurates from a Revised Ionothermal Synthesis Route: The Pseudo-Flux Approach.

K2Hg6Se7, Na2Hg3S2.51Se1.49, K2Hg3S1.03Se2.97, and K2Hg3S2.69Se1.31 were prepared by ionothermal treatment of K2Hg2Se3, Na2HgSe2, and K2Hg3Se4, respectively, in a nonclassical hydrosulfide ionic liquid (EMIm)(SH). In contrast to their lighter congeners, the title compounds could so far not be synthesized by inorganic polychalcogenide salt flux techniques. The applied method hence mimics polychalcogenide flux conditions, while operating at much lower temperatures below the decomposition temperature of the ionic liquid. It might thus be viewed as a pseudo-flux approach.

Halide-Free Synthesis of Hydrochalcogenide Ionic Liquids of the Type [Cation][HE] (E=S, Se, Te).

We present the synthesis and thorough characterization of ionic liquids and organic salts based on hydrochalcogenide HE(-) (E=S, Se, Te) anions. Our approach is based on halide-, metal-, and water-free decarboxylation of methylcarbonate precursors under acidic conditions, resulting from the easily dissociating reagents H2 E. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, thermal and single-crystal XRD analyses. The hydrosulfide salts were investigated with respect to their ability to dissolve elemental sulfur in varying stoichiometry. Thus-prepared polysulfide ILs were also analyzed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.

A new class of deep-blue emitting Cu(I) compounds--effects of counter ions on the emission behavior.

Three deep blue emitting Cu(I) compounds, [Cu(PPh3)tpym]PF6, [Cu(PPh3)tpym]BF4, and [Cu(PPh3)tpym]BPh4 (tpym = tris(2-pyridyl)methane, PPh3 = triphenylphosphine) featuring the tripodally coordinating tpym and the monodentate PPh3 ligands were studied with regard to their structural and photophysical properties. The compounds only differ in their respective counter ions which have a strong impact on the emission properties of the powder samples. For example, the emission quantum yield can be significantly increased for the neat material from less than 10% to more than 40% by exchanging BPh4(-) with PF6(-). These effects can be linked to different molecular packings which depend on the counter ion. In agreement with these results, it was found that the emission properties also strongly depend on the surrounding matrix environment which was elucidated by investigating photophysical properties of the compounds as powders, doped into a polymer matrix, and dissolved in a fluid solution, respectively. The observed differences in the emission behavior can be explained by different and pronounced distortions that occur in the excited state. These distortions are also displayed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Synthesis of organic (trimethylsilyl)chalcogenolate salts Cat[TMS-E] (E = S, Se, Te): the methylcarbonate anion as a desilylating agent.

A high-yield synthesis of the class of (trimethylsilyl)chalcogenolate organic salts [Cat][TMS-E] (E = S, Se, Te; Cat = BMPyr, DMPyr, NMe4, nBu3MeP) is presented. The title compounds have been prepared by the strictly aprotic reaction between the respective bis(trimethylsilyl)chalcogenide (TMS2E) and methylcarbonate ionic liquids (ILs). This constitutes a novel reaction behavior of methylcarbonate ILs, acting as a nucleophilic desilylating agent and a Lewis base instead of as a Brønsted base. Thus prepared silylchalcogenolate salts represent an activated form of the multifunctional TMS2E reactant series. Pyrrolidinium TMS-S salts have proven to be excellent precursors for the synthesis of pyrrolidinium hexasulfides. The scope of the desilylation reaction can be extended to other silyl-bearing synthons such as (trimethylsilyl)azide and (trimethylsilyl)cyanide.

A new class of luminescent Cu(I) complexes with tripodal ligands ­ TADF emitters for the yellow to red color range.

A new class of emissive and neutral Cu(I) compounds with tripodal ligands is presented. The complexes were characterized chemically, computationally, and photophysically. Under ambient conditions, the powders of the compounds exhibit yellow to red emission with quantum yields ranging from about 5% to 35%. The emission represents a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) combined with a short-lived phosphorescence which represents a rare situation and is a consequence of high spin-orbit coupling (SOC). In the series of the investigated compounds the non-radiative rates increase with decreasing emission energy according to the energy gap law while the radiative rate is almost constant. Furthermore, a well-fit linear dependence between the experimental emission energies and the transition energies calculated by DFT and TD-DFT methods could be established, thus supporting the applicability of these computational methods also to Cu(I) complexes.

The new NH-acid HN(C6F5)(C(CF3)3) and its crystalline and volatile alkaline and earth alkaline metal salts.

Herein we report on the new NH-acid N-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)-N-nonafluoro-tert-butylamine, HN(C6F5)(C(CF3)3), bearing two different sterically demanding and strongly electron-withdrawing perfluorinated amine substituents. The title compound and seven of its alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts were synthesized and investigated concerning their thermal, spectroscopic, and structural properties. The Li, Na, K, Cs, and Mg salts were investigated by single-crystal XRD analysis. The molecular structures reveal interesting motifs such as manifold fluorine metal secondary interactions. The lithium and magnesium compounds exhibit a remarkable thermal stability and an unexpectedly high volatility. We believe that this report will provoke investigations to apply the corresponding anion in ionic liquids, in lithium electrolytes, and as a weakly electron-donating ligand in the preparation of highly Lewis-acidic main group, rare earth, or transition metal complexes.