Group 11 complexes of a bulky triazene ligand.

A new triazene ligand was prepared by the reaction of the bulky aryl azide, TerMesN3, (2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl azide), with the bulky N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), SIPr (N,N'-2,6-bis(diisopropylphenyl)-3,4-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). The steric bulk of these two groups leads to perpendicular bonding of the NHC-N3 plane and the aryl group which provides immense steric crowding around the triazene core. The corresponding π-conjugated triazene ligand was utilized as a neutral, monodentate ligand which results in monomeric Cu(I)Cl, Ag(I)OTf, and Au(I)Cl complexes. Instability of the π-conjugated triazene Au(I)Cl complex was observed, even under inert conditions. When dissolved and photolyzed in THF with workup in isopropanol, the compound decomposes forming [(SIPrNH)2Au(I)][Au(I)Cl2] a relatively stable compound to light, moisture, and water - alongside the formation of gold nanoparticles which were characterized using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Contrasting a series of bidentate amido phosphine oxide, sulfide, or selenide ligands and complexes of dimethyl aluminum and indium.

A series of EP(V)-imine phosphine-imine ligands (Dipp-NC(CH3)-(CH2)-PE(Ph2)) (Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, E = O, S, Se) and corresponding dimethyl aluminum and indium complexes were prepared and characterized using multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy and SC-XRD. Solution-state 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy indicate a mixture of isomers in solution (C6D6, CDCl3, and CD3CN). Solid state structures of both the imine and (E)-enamine isomers of the oxygen-based ligand have been observed. These three ligands (L) were then deprotonated with M(CH3)3 (M = Al or In), with methane loss forming a 6-membered ring via bidentate chelation ((κ2-L)M(CH3)2). The indium/oxide complex also crystallized as a 12-membered ring.

Rigid PN cages as 3-dimensional building blocks for crystalline or amorphous networked materials.

Three-dimensional covalent connectors are valuable synthons for accessing crystalline or amorphous networks. Currently, fused polycyclic alkanes are employed as connectors in this context. We debut phosphorus-nitrogen (PN) cages as new 3-dimensional (3-D) inorganic connectors that yield crystalline and amorphous networks, including examples with gas porosity. We show that the high tunability of PN cages accelerates network diversification and the presence of a responsive 31P NMR spectroscopic handle provides structural insight. Collectively, this work unlocks a new and convenient 3-D synthon for reticular chemistry.

Correction: Electrochemical and X-ray structural evidence of multiple molybdenum precursor candidates from a reported non-aqueous electrodeposition of molybdenum disulfide.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA04605B.].

Electrochemical and X-ray structural evidence of multiple molybdenum precursor candidates from a reported non-aqueous electrodeposition of molybdenum disulfide.

A published report of electrodeposited molybdenum(iv) disulfide microflowers at 100 °C in the ionic liquid N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (PP13-TFSI) from 1,4-butanedithiol and the concentrated filtrate from a reaction mixture of molybdenum(vi) trioxide and ethylene glycol could not be reproduced reliably, affording numerous uniquely coloured reaction mixtures that precipitated a variety of crystalline molybdenum coordination complexes. Further attempts to use the same two of these filtrates to electrodeposit molybdenum(iv) disulfide from 0.1 M PP13-TFSI in tetrahydrofuran with 1,4-butanedithiol at room temperature were unsuccessful. Various crude reaction mixtures grew crystals of different identity from eight attempts to synthesize the reported molybdenum-precursor. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) offered insight into a wide range of structural features from four candidate paramagnetic precursor compounds, including a novel organomolybdenum cluster. Electrochemical studies of the various molybdenum-precursor filtrates, ethylene glycol, and 1,4-butanedithiol were conducted in 0.1 M PP13-TFSI in tetrahydrofuran, offering insight into differences between preparations of the molybdenum-precursor and interference between ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanedithiol on platinum working electrodes. Molybdenum(iv) disulfide electrodeposition attempts included cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry on platinum and glassy carbon working electrodes, which led to either no deposited material, or molybdenum, carbon, oxygen, and sulfur containing amorphous and non-homogenous deposits, as indicated by SEM-EDS analysis.

An Improved Synthesis of PN-adamantanoid Cages P4 (NR)6 and a Mechanistic Study of their Fourfold Oxidation.

Phosphorus-nitrogen (PN) adamantanoid cages are valuable precursors for materials chemistry, but their syntheses are based on harsh methods that sometimes require access to restricted reagents. We report a new and scalable synthesis of PN adamantanoid compounds by chlorosilane elimination between bis-silylated amines and phosphorus trichloride. We further study the mechanism of the recently-reported four-fold oxidation of such cages with Me3 SiN3 to yield tetravalent tetrahedral connectors for materials chemistry. Reaction monitoring and kinetic modelling revealed the key rate-limiting step, but attempts to accelerate this using Lewis acid additives were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, a new four-fold oxidized PN-adamantanoid cage has been prepared and structurally characterized.

Planar bismuth triamides: a tunable platform for main group Lewis acidity and polymerization catalysis.

Geometric deformation in main group compounds can be used to elicit unique properties including strong Lewis acidity. Here we report on a family of planar bismuth(iii) complexes (cf. typically pyramidal structure for such compounds), which show a geometric Lewis acidity that can be further tuned by varying the steric and electronic features of the triamide ligand employed. The structural dynamism of the planar bismuth complexes was probed in both the solid and solution phase, revealing at least three distinct modes of intermolecular association. A modified Gutmann-Beckett method was used to assess their electrophilicity by employing trimethylphosphine sulfide in addition to triethylphosphine oxide as probes, providing insights into the preference for binding hard or soft substrates. Experimental binding studies were complemented by a computational assessment of the affinities and dissection of the latter into their intrinsic bond strength and deformation energy components. The results show comparable Lewis acidity to triarylboranes, with the added ability to bind two bases simultaneously, and reduced discrimination against soft substrates. We also study the catalytic efficacy of these complexes in the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters ε-caprolactone and rac-lactide. The polymers obtained show excellent dispersity values and high molecular weights with low catalyst loadings used. The complexes retain their performance under industrially relevant conditions, suggesting they may be useful as less toxic alternatives to tin catalysts in the production of medical grade materials. Collectively, these results establish planar bismuth complexes as not only a novel neutral platform for main group Lewis acidity, but also a potentially valuable one for catalysis.

Synthesis and crystal structures of halogenated oxathiazolones and an unexpected propanamide.

The known 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones with crystal structures reported in the Cambridge Structural Database are limited (13 to date) and this article expands the library to 15. In addition, convenient starting materials for the future exploration of 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones are detailed. An unexpected halogenated propanamide has also been identified as a by-product of one reaction, presumably reacting with HCl generated in situ. The space group of 5-[(E)-2-chloroethenyl]-1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, C4H2ClNO2S, (1), is P21, with a high Z' value of 6; the space group of rac-2,3-dibromo-3-chloropropanamide, C3H4Br2ClNO, (2), is P21, with Z' = 4; and the structure of rac-5-(1,2-dibromo-2-phenylethyl)-1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, C10H7Br2NO2S, (3), crystallizes in the space group Pca21, with Z' = 1. Both of the structures of compounds 2 and 3 are modeled with two-component disorder and each molecular site hosts both of the enantiomers of the racemic pairs (S,S)/(R,R) and (R,S)/(S,R), respectively.

Synthesis and crystal structure of 3-phenyl-1,4,2-di-thia-zole-5-thione.

In the title compound, C8H5NS3, the dihedral angle between the heterocyclic ring and the phenyl ring is 2.62 (5)°. In the extended structure, aromatic π-π stacking between the 1,4,2-di-thia-zole-5-thione moiety and the phenyl ring is observed [centroid-centroid distances = 3.717 (6) and 3.712 (6) Å]. The almost planar mol-ecules arrange themselves in parallel chains of head-to-tail mol-ecules oriented by a network of weak C-H⋯S contacts close to the sum of their van der Waals radii within the chains. All the hydrogen atoms participate in hydrogen-bonding inter-actions with the sulfur and nitro-gen atoms of adjacent mol-ecules. C=S⋯S contacts between the chains that are significantly shorter than the sum of their van der Waals radii also impact the overall packing.

Improved Green Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Symmetrical Cationic Gemini Surfactants.

Gemini surfactants are composed of two hydrocarbon tails with corresponding polar headgroups, linked via a covalent spacer. The synthesis of these surfactants is a very active area of research due to their application as catalysts and other applied areas of study. The modification of green microwave techniques developed in our research on ionic liquids has resulted in the significant improvement of the synthesis of N,N'-bis(dimethylalkyl)-α,ω-alkanediammonium dibromide (m-s-m type) symmetrical gemini surfactants. This approach utilizes a remarkably more economical, green, and sustainable methodology for the production of symmetrical gemini surfactants that can be utilized in numerous commercial applications. The improved synthetic approach of these gemini surfactants has led to the characterization of their crystalline packing for the first time ever using X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Mesomeric Tuning at Planar Bi centres: Unexpected Dimerization and Benzyl C-H Activation in [CN2 ]Bi Complexes.

Planar bismuth(III) compounds featuring a N3 -pincer ligand environment are an unusual class of main group compounds that exhibit Lewis acidity via a 6p orbital. The ability to tune their acidity via Hammett and Coulomb effects has been demonstrated previously. Here we test the ability to tune them via mesomeric effects by replacing the central nitrogen of the [N3 ] pincer ligand with a less π-donating carbon atom to achieve a [CN2 ] ligand environment. This strategy boosts the Lewis acidity at the metal to such an extent that only strongly-bound dimers can be accessed in the condensed phase, or, if dimerization is sterically prohibited, an unusual reductive elimination occurs to give Bi(I) compounds. These results highlight the fine line separating donor/acceptor and redox chemistry at planar bismuth centres.

Atomic layer deposition of PbCl2, PbBr2 and mixed lead halide (Cl, Br, I) PbXnY2-n thin films.

Atomic layer deposition offers outstanding film uniformity and conformality on substrates with high aspect ratio features. These qualities are essential for mixed-halide perovskite films applied in tandem solar cells, transistors and light-emitting diodes. The optical and electronic properties of mixed-halide perovskites can be adjusted by adjusting the ratios of different halides. So far ALD is only capable of depositing iodine-based halide perovskites whereas other halide processes are lacking. We describe six new low temperature (≤100 °C) ALD processes for PbCl2 and PbBr2 that are crucial steps for the deposition of mixed-halide perovskites with ALD. Lead bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide]-GaCl3 and -TiBr4 processes yield the purest, crystalline, uniform and conformal films of PbCl2 and PbBr2 respectively. We show that these two processes in combination with a PbI2 process from the literature deposit mixed lead halide films. The four less optimal processes revealed that reaction by-products in lead halide deposition processes may cause film etching or incorporate themselves into the film.

A Rare Low-Spin CoIV Bis(ß-silyldiamide) with High Thermal Stability: Steric Enforcement of a Doublet Configuration.

Attempted preparation of a chelated CoII ß-silylamide resulted in the unprecedented disproportionation to Co0 and a spirocyclic cobalt(IV) bis(ß-silyldiamide): [Co[(Nt Bu)2 SiMe2 ]2 ] (1). Compound 1 exhibited a room-temperature magnetic moment of 1.8 B.M. and a solid-state axial EPR spectrum diagnostic of a rare S= 1 / 2 configuration for tetrahedral CoIV . Ab initio semicanonical coupled-cluster calculations (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) revealed the doublet state was clearly preferred (-27 kcal mol-1 ) over higher spin configurations only for the bulky tert-butyl-substituted analogue. Unlike other CoIV complexes, 1 had remarkable thermal stability, and was demonstrated to form a stable self-limiting monolayer in preliminary atomic layer deposition (ALD) surface saturation experiments. The ease of synthesis and high stability make 1 an attractive starting point to investigate otherwise inaccessible CoIV intermediates and for synthesizing new materials.

Volatile and Thermally Stable Polymeric Tin Trifluoroacetates.

Tin trifluoroacetates are effective vapor phase single-source precursors for F-doped SnO2, but their structures have been poorly understood for decades. Here we undertook a comprehensive structural analysis of these compounds in both the solid and gas phases through a combined single-crystal X-ray crystallography, gas phase electron diffraction, and density functional theory investigation. Tin(II) bis(trifluoroacetate) (1) thermally decomposes into a 1:1 mixture of 1 and ditin(II) µ-oxybis(µ-trifluoroacetate) (2) during sublimation, which then polymerize into hexatin(II)-di-µ3-oxyoctakis(µ-trifluoroacetate) (3) upon solidification. Reversible depolymerization occurred readily upon heating, making 3 a useful vapor phase precursor itself. Tin(IV) tetrakis(trifluoroacetate) (5) was also found to be polymeric in the solid state, but it evaporated as a monomer over 130 °C lower than 3. This counterintuitive improvement in volatility by polymerization was possibly due to the large entropy change during sublimation, which offers a strategic new design feature for vapor phase deposition precursors.

Mono- and Bis(imidazolidinium ethynyl) Cations and Reduction of the Latter To Give an Extended Bis-1,4-([3]Cumulene)-p-carboquinoid System.

An extended π-system containing two [3]cumulene fragments separated by a p-carboquinoid and stabilized by two capping N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been prepared. Mono- and bis(imidazolidinium ethynyl) cations have also been synthesized from the reaction of an NHC with phenylethynyl bromide or 1,4-bis(bromoethynyl)benzene. Cyclic voltammetry coupled with synthetic and structural studies showed that the dication is readily reduced to a neutral, singlet bis-1,4-([3]cumulene)-p-carboquinoid as a result of the π-accepting properties of the capping NHCs.

The crystal structures of two isomers of 5-(phenyl-iso-thia-zol-yl)-1,3,4-oxa-thia-zol-2-one.

The syntheses and crystal structures of two isomers of phenyl iso-thia-zolyl oxa-thia-zolone, C11H6N2O2S2, are described [systematic names: 5-(3-phenyl-iso-thia-zol-5-yl)-1,3,4-oxa-thia-zol-2-one, (I), and 5-(3-phenyl-iso-thia-zol-4-yl)-1,3,4-oxa-thia-zol-2-one, (II)]. There are two almost planar (r.m.s. deviations = 0.032 and 0.063 Å) mol-ecules of isomer (I) in the asymmetric unit, which form centrosymmetric tetra-mers linked by strong S⋯N [3.072 (2) Å] and S⋯O contacts [3.089 (1) Å]. The tetra-mers are π-stacked parallel to the a-axis direction. The single mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit of isomer (II) is twisted into a non-planar conformation by steric repulsion [dihedral angles between the central iso-thia-zolyl ring and the pendant oxa-thia-zolone and phenyl rings are 13.27 (6) and 61.18 (7)°, respectively], which disrupts the π-conjugation between the heteroaromatic iso-thia-zoloyl ring and the non-aromatic oxa-thia-zolone heterocycle. In the crystal of isomer (II), the strong S⋯O [3.020 (1) Å] and S⋯C contacts [3.299 (2) Å] and the non-planar structure of the mol-ecule lead to a form of π-stacking not observed in isomer (I) or other oxa-thia-zolone derivatives.

Crystal structure determination as part of an ongoing undergraduate organic laboratory project: 5-[(E)-styr-yl]-1,3,4-oxa-thia-zol-2-one.

The title compound, C10H7NO2S, provides the first structure of an α-alkenyl oxa-thia-zolone ring. The phenyl ring and the oxa-thia-zolone groups make dihedral angles of 0.3 (3) and -2.8 (3)°, respectively, with the plane of the central alkene group; the dihedral angle between the rings is 2.68 (8)°. A careful consideration of bond lengths provides insight into the electronic structure and reactivity of the title compound. In the crystal, extended π-stacking is observed parallel to the a-axis direction, consisting of cofacial head-to-tail dimeric units [centroid-centroid distance of 3.6191 (11) Å]. These dimeric units are separated by a slightly longer centroid-centroid distance of 3.8383 (12) Å, generating infinite stacks of mol-ecules.

A Bulky m-Terphenyl Cyclopentadienyl Ligand and Its Alkali-Metal Complexes.

The synthesis of the new m-terphenyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand precursor 1-cyclopentadiene-2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)benzene (TerMes CpH) is described. The synthesis proceeds through the reaction of TerMes Li with cobaltocenium iodide, followed by oxidation of the intermediate cobalt(I) species to give the corresponding cyclopentadiene as a mixture of isomers. The preparation and spectroscopic properties of the alkali-metal salts (Li-Cs) is described, as well as structural information obtained by X-ray diffraction studies for the lithium, potassium, and cesium analogues. Crystallographic data demonstrate the ability of these new ligands to act as monoanionic chelates by forming metal complexes with Cp-M-Ar bonding environments.

Crystal structure of 2-azido-1,3-bis-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1,3,2-di-aza-phospho-lidine.

The title compound, C26H38N5P, was synthesized by reacting 2-chloro-1,3-bis-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1,3,2-di-aza-phospho-lidine with sodium azide and a catalytic amount of lithium chloride in tetra-hydro-furan. The title compound is the first structurally characterized 2-azido-1,3,2-di-aza-phospho-lidine and exhibits a P atom in a trigonal pyramidal geometry. The azide P-N bond length of 1.8547 (16) Šis significantly longer than the P-N separations for the chelating di-amine [P-N = 1.6680 (15) and 1.6684 (14) Å]. The sterically hindered 2,6-diiso-propyl-phenyl groups twist away from the central heterocycle, with dihedral angles between the central heteocyclic ring and benzene rings of 76.17 (10) and 79.74 (9)°. In the crystal, a weak C-H⋯N link to the terminal N atom of the azide group leads to [100] chains.

Crystal structure of 2-chloro-1,3-bis-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1,3,2-di-aza-phospho-lidine 2-oxide.

The title compound, C26H38ClN2OP, was synthesized by reacting phosphoryl chloride with N,N'-bis-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)ethane-1,2-di-amine in the presence of N-methyl-morpholine which acted as an auxilliary base to quench the HCl released as a by-product. The resultant N-heterocyclic phosphine five-membered ring adopts a half-chair conformation and features a tetra-coordinate P atom ligated by the chelating di-amine [P-N = 1.6348 (14) and 1.6192 (14) Å], one double-bonded O atom [P1-O1 = 1.4652 (12) Å] and one Cl atom [P1-Cl1 = 2.0592 (7) Å]. The sterically hindered 2,6-diiso-propyl-phenyl (Dipp) groups twist away from the central heterocycle, with torsion angles of -75.66 (19) and 83.39 (19)° for the P-N-Car-Car links. A number of intra-molecular C-H⋯N, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Cl close contacts occur. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate [010] chains. C-H⋯π inter-actions are also observed.