Fluoro-nitrogen Cations.

The crystal structures of [NH3 F]+ [CF3 SO3 ]- , [NH2 F2 ]+ [SbF6 ]- , and [N2 F3 ]+ [Sb3 F16 ]- have been determined, representing the first structural characterizations of these simple fluoro-nitrogen cations. The influences of the hybridization of the central nitrogen atom and of the number of fluorine substituents on the N-F bond lengths are evaluated for the series N2 F+ , N2 F3 + , NF2 O+ , NH3 F+ , NH2 F2 + , and NF4 + . It is shown that the N-F bond length decreases from 1.40 Što 1.26 Šwith increasing fluorine substitution and increasing s-character of the nitrogen atom, and that unusual N-F bond lengths reported in the previous literature are caused by disorder problems.

Applications of the second virial coefficient: protein crystallization and solubility. Corrigendum.

A number of citations in the article by Wilson & DeLucas [(2014). Acta Cryst. F70, 543-554] are corrected.

Syntheses of Diphenylaminodiazidophosphane and Diphenylaminofluoroazidophosphane.

Diphenylaminodiazidophosphane (C6H5)2NP(N3)2 was synthesized from the corresponding dihalides (C6H5)2NPX2 (X = F, Cl) and (CH3)3SiN3, and was characterized by vibrational and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The intermediate compound (C6H5)2NPF(N3) was also observed by NMR spectroscopy in solution. Some physical properties and reactions of all these compounds are discussed.

Synthesis and characterization of fluorodinitroamine, FN(NO2)2.

NF3 and N(NO2)3 are known compounds, whereas the mixed fluoronitroamines, FN(NO2)2 and F2NNO2, have been unknown thus far. One of these, FN(NO2)2, has now been prepared and characterized by multinuclear NMR and Raman spectroscopy. FN(NO2)2 is the first known example of an inorganic fluoronitroamine. It is a thermally unstable, highly energetic material formed by the fluorination of the dinitramide anion using NF4(+) salts as the preferred fluorinating agent.

Applications of the second virial coefficient: protein crystallization and solubility.

This article begins by highlighting some of the ground-based studies emanating from NASA's Microgravity Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) program. This is followed by a more detailed discussion of the history of and the progress made in one of the NASA-funded PCG investigations involving the use of measured second virial coefficients (B values) as a diagnostic indicator of solution conditions conducive to protein crystallization. A second application of measured B values involves the determination of solution conditions that improve or maximize the solubility of aqueous and membrane proteins. These two important applications have led to several technological improvements that simplify the experimental expertise required, enable the measurement of membrane proteins and improve the diagnostic capability and measurement throughput.

Dinitrogen difluoride chemistry. improved syntheses of cis- and trans-N2F2, synthesis and characterization of N2F(+)Sn2F9(-), ordered crystal structure of N2F(+)Sb2F11(-), high-level electronic structure calculations of cis-N2F2, trans-N2F2, F2N=N, and N2F(+), and Mechanism of the trans-cis isomerization of N2F2.

N(2)F(+) salts are important precursors in the synthesis of N(5)(+) compounds, and better methods are reported for their larger scale production. A new, marginally stable N(2)F(+) salt, N(2)F(+)Sn(2)F(9)(-), was prepared and characterized. An ordered crystal structure was obtained for N(2)F(+)Sb(2)F(11)(-), resulting in the first observation of individual N[triple bond]N and N-F bond distances for N(2)F(+) in the solid phase. The observed N[triple bond]N and N-F bond distances of 1.089(9) and 1.257(8) A, respectively, are among the shortest experimentally observed N-N and N-F bonds. High-level electronic structure calculations at the CCSD(T) level with correlation-consistent basis sets extrapolated to the complete basis limit show that cis-N(2)F(2) is more stable than trans-N(2)F(2) by 1.4 kcal/mol at 298 K. The calculations also demonstrate that the lowest uncatalyzed pathway for the trans-cis isomerization of N(2)F(2) has a barrier of 60 kcal/mol and involves rotation about the N=N double bond. This barrier is substantially higher than the energy required for the dissociation of N(2)F(2) to N(2) and 2 F. Therefore, some of the N(2)F(2) dissociates before undergoing an uncatalyzed isomerization, with some of the dissociation products probably catalyzing the isomerization. Furthermore, it is shown that the trans-cis isomerization of N(2)F(2) is catalyzed by strong Lewis acids, involves a planar transition state of symmetry C(s), and yields a 9:1 equilibrium mixture of cis-N(2)F(2) and trans-N(2)F(2). Explanations are given for the increased reactivity of cis-N(2)F(2) with Lewis acids and the exclusive formation of cis-N(2)F(2) in the reaction of N(2)F(+) with F(-). The geometry and vibrational frequencies of the F(2)N=N isomer have also been calculated and imply strong contributions from ionic N(2)F(+) F(-) resonance structures, similar to those in F(3)NO and FNO.

Synthesis and properties of N7O+.

The reaction of NOF(2)(+)SbF(6)(-) with an equimolar amount of HN(3) in an anhydrous HF solution at -45 degrees C produces N(3)NOF(+)SbF(6)(-). When an excess of HN(3) is used in this reaction, N(7)O(+)SbF(6)(-) is formed. However, this compound could not be isolated as a solid and rapidly decomposed in a quantitative manner with N(2)O evolution to N(5)(+)SbF(6)(-). This reaction represents a novel and more convenient synthesis for N(5)(+)SbF(6)(-) because NOF(2)(+)SbF(6)(-) is more readily accessible than N(2)F(+)SbF(6)(-) and the N(5)(+) can be labeled in all five positions with (15)N by the simple use of terminally singly labeled N(3)(-). The formation of the N(7)O(+) cation was established by isotopic labeling experiments and theoretical calculations. It is shown that the addition of a second azido ligand to the same central atom allows the attack of the negatively charged Nalpha atom of one ligand by the positively charged Ngamma atom of the second ligand, thereby greatly lowering the activation energy barrier toward decomposition and explaining why geminal diazides are much less stable than either monoazides or vicinal diazides.

Methyl Tin(IV) derivatives of HOTeF(5) and HN(SO(2)CF(3))(2): a solution multinuclear NMR study and the X-ray crystal structures of (CH(3))(2)SnCl(OTeF(5)) and [(CH(3))(3)Sn(H(2)O)(2)][N(SO(2)CF(3))(2)].

The new tin(IV) species (CH(3))(2)SnCl(OTeF(5)) was prepared via either the solvolysis of (CH(3))(3)SnCl in HOTeF(5) or the reaction of (CH(3))(3)SnCl with ClOTeF(5). It was characterized by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. (CH(3))(2)SnCl(OTeF(5)) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (a = 5.8204(8) A, b =10.782(1) A, c =15.493(2) A, beta = 91.958(2) degrees, V = 971.7(2) A(3), Z = 4). NMR spectroscopy of (CH(3))(3)SnX, prepared from excess Sn(CH(3))(4) and HX (X = OTeF(5) or N(SO(2)CF(3))(2)), revealed a tetracoordinate tin environment using (CH(3))(3)SnX as a neat liquid or in dichloromethane-d(2) (CD(2)Cl(2)) solutions. In acetone-d(6) and acetonitrile-d(3) (CD(3)CN) solutions, the tin atom in (CH(3))(3)SnOTeF(5) was found to extend its coordination number to five by adding one solvent molecule. In the strong donor solvent DMSO, the Sn-OTeF(5) bond is broken and the (CH(3))(3)Sn(O=S(CH(3))(2))(2)(+) cation and the OTeF(5)(-) anion are formed. (CH(3))(3)SnOTeF(5) and (CH(3))(3)SnN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) react differently with water. While the Te-F bonds in the OTeF(5) group of (CH(3))(3)SnOTeF(5) undergo complete hydrolysis that results in the formation of [(CH(3))(3)Sn(H(2)O)(2)](2)SiF(6), (CH(3))(3)SnN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) forms the stable hydrate salt [(CH(3))(3)Sn(H(2)O)(2)][N(SO(2)CF(3))(2)]. This salt crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (a = 7.3072(1) A, b =13.4649(2) A, c =16.821(2) A, beta = 98.705(1) degrees, V = 1636.00(3) A(3), Z = 4) and was also characterized by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy.

Enthalpies of formation of gas-phase N3, N3-, N5+, and N5- from Ab initio molecular orbital theory, stability predictions for N5(+)N3(-) and N5(+)N5(-), and experimental evidence for the instability of N5(+)N3(-).

Ab initio molecular orbital theory has been used to calculate accurate enthalpies of formation and adiabatic electron affinities or ionization potentials for N3, N3-, N5+, and N5- from total atomization energies. The calculated heats of formation of the gas-phase molecules/ions at 0 K are DeltaHf(N3(2Pi)) = 109.2, DeltaHf(N3-(1sigma+)) = 47.4, DeltaHf(N5-(1A1')) = 62.3, and DeltaHf(N5+(1A1)) = 353.3 kcal/mol with an estimated error bar of +/-1 kcal/mol. For comparison purposes, the error in the calculated bond energy for N2 is 0.72 kcal/mol. Born-Haber cycle calculations, using estimated lattice energies and the adiabatic ionization potentials of the anions and electron affinities of the cations, enable reliable stability predictions for the hypothetical N5(+)N3(-) and N5(+)N5(-) salts. The calculations show that neither salt can be stabilized and that both should decompose spontaneously into N3 radicals and N2. This conclusion was experimentally confirmed for the N5(+)N3(-) salt by low-temperature metathetical reactions between N5SbF6 and alkali metal azides in different solvents, resulting in violent reactions with spontaneous nitrogen evolution. It is emphasized that one needs to use adiabatic ionization potentials and electron affinities instead of vertical potentials and affinities for salt stability predictions when the formed radicals are not vibrationally stable. This is the case for the N5 radicals where the energy difference between vertical and adiabatic potentials amounts to about 100 kcal/mol per N5.

Polynitrogen chemistry: preparation and characterization of (N5)2SnF6, N5SnF5, and N5B(CF3)4.

Metathetical processes were used to convert N5SbF6 into N5[B(CF3)4] and (N5)2SnF6. The latter salt is especially noteworthy because it contains two N5+ ions per anion, thus demonstrating that salts with touching polynitrogen cations can be prepared. This constitutes an important milestone towards our ultimate goal of synthesizing a stable, ionic nitrogen allotrope. The stepwise decomposition of (N5)2SnF6 yielded N5SnF5. Multinuclear NMR spectra show that in HF the SnF5- ion exists as a mixture of Sn2F(10)(2-) and Sn4F(20)(4-) ions. Attempts to isolate FN5 from the thermolysis of (N5)2SnF6 were unsuccessful, yielding only the expected decomposition products, FN3, N2, trans-N2F2, NF3, and N2.

Structures of the BrF(4)(+) and IF(4)(+) cations.

The large discrepancies between the calculated and observed structures for BrF(4)(+) and IF(4)(+) (Christe, K. O.; Zhang, X.; Sheehy, J. A.; Bau, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 6338) prompted a redetermination of the crystal structures of BrF(4)(+)Sb(2)F(11)(-) (monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 5.2289(6) A, b = 14.510(2) A, c = 14.194(2) A, beta = 90.280(1) degrees, Z = 4) and IF(4)(+)SbF(6)(-) (orthorhombic, Ibca, a = 8.2702(9) A, b = 8.3115(9) A, c = 20.607(2) A, Z = 8). It is shown that for BrF(4)(+), the large differences were mainly due to large errors in the original experimental data. For IF(4)(+)SbF(6)(-), the geometry previously reported for IF(4)(+) was reasonably close to that found in this study despite a very large R-factor of 0.15 and a refinement in an incorrect space group. The general agreement between the calculated and the redetermined geometries of BrF(4)(+) and IF(4)(+) is excellent, except for the preferential compression of one bond angle in each ion due to the influence of interionic fluorine bridges. In BrF(4)(+), the fluorine bridges are equatorial and compress this angle. In IF(4)(+), the nature of the fluorine bridges depends on the counterion, and either the axial (in IF(4)(+)SbF(6)(-)) or the equatorial (in IF(4)(+)Sb(2)F(11)(-)) bond angle is preferentially compressed. Therefore, the geometries of the free ions are best described by the theoretical calculations.

Synthesis and characterization of the SO(2)N(3)(-), (SO(2))(2)N(3)(-), and SO(3)N(3)(-) anions.

SO(2) solutions of azide anions are bright yellow, and their Raman spectra indicate the presence of covalently bound azide. Removal of the solvent at -64 degrees C from CsN(3) or N(CH(3))(4)N(3) solutions produces yellow (SO(2))(2)N(3)(-) salts. Above -64 degrees C, these salts lose 1 mol of SO(2), resulting in white SO(2)N(3)(-) salts that are marginally stable at room temperature and thermally decompose to the corresponding azides and SO(2). These anions were characterized by vibrational and (14)N NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Slow loss of the solvent by diffusion through the walls of a sealed Teflon tube containing a sample of CsSO(2)N(3) in SO(2) resulted in white and yellowish single crystals that were identified by X-ray diffraction as CsSO(2)N(3).CsSO(3)N(3) with a = 9.542(2) A, b = 6.2189(14) A, c = 10.342(2) A, and beta = 114.958(4) degrees in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/m, Z = 2, and Cs(2)S(2)O(5).Cs(2)S(2)O(7).SO(2), respectively. Pure CsSO(3)N(3) was also prepared and characterized by vibrational spectroscopy. The S-N bond in SO(2)N(3)(-) is much weaker than that in SO(3)N(3)(-), resulting in decreased thermal stability, an increase in the S-N bond distance by 0.23 A, and an increased tendency to undergo rotational disorder. This marked difference is due to SO(3) being a much stronger Lewis acid (pF(-) value of 7.83) than SO(2) (pF(-) value of 3.99), thus forming a stronger S-N bond with the Lewis base N(3)(-). The geometry of the free gaseous SO(2)N(3)(-) anion was calculated at the RHF, MP2, B3LYP, and CCSD(T) levels. The results show that only the correlated methods correctly reproduce the experimentally observed orientation of the SO(2) group.

N5+: A Novel Homoleptic Polynitrogen Ion as a High Energy Density Material.

No Abstract

N5 +: A Novel Homoleptic Polynitrogen Ion as a High Energy Density Material.

Only the third known example of a homoleptic polynitrogen species besides N2 and N3 -, the N5 + ion possesses surprising stability and can be isolated on a macroscopic scale as its AsF6 - salt. The assigment of the C2v-symmetric structure (shown schematically) predicted by calculations was supported by IR and Raman as well as 14N and 15N NMR spectroscopic studies of the isotopically labeled product.

The Dinitramide Anion, N(NO(2))(2)(-).

The infrared and Raman spectra of the NH(4)(+), K(+), and Cs(+) salts of N(NO(2))(2)(-) in the solid state and in solution have been measured and are assigned with the help of ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G and MP2/6-31+G levels of theory. In agreement with the variations observed in the crystal structures, the vibrational spectra of the N(NO(2))(2)(-) anion are also strongly influenced by the counterions and the physical state. Whereas the ab initio calculations for the free N(NO(2))(2)(-) ion indicate a minimum energy structure of C(2) symmetry, Raman polarization measurements on solutions of the N(NO(2))(2)(-) anion suggest point group C(1) (i.e., no symmetry). This is attributed to the very small (<3 kcal/mol) N-NO(2) rotational barrier in N(NO(2))(2)(-) which allows for easy deformation.