Benz[cd]indol-2(1H)-one at 298 and 100 K.

Weakly diffracting crystals of benz[cd]indol-2(1H)-one (naphtholactam), C(11)H(7)NO, were unsuitable for data collection by early photographic methods. However, a diffractometer data set collected at room temperature in 1989 was solved and refined. The peak scans were broad, and the results indicated disorder or a satellite crystal. Recent data collection (on another crystal from the same sample) with an area detector at 100 K revealed the same disorder, and made it possible to refine two different, more complete, disorder models. Both models assume an occasional 180° rotation of the nearly planar centrosymmetric cis-lactam dimer. The refinements differ, especially in the anisotropic displacement parameters for the -C(=O)-NH- portion of the molecule. Both models at 100 K give a C-N (`amide') bond distance of 1.38 Å, about 0.04 Å longer than the average distance in saturated γ-lactams in the Cambridge Structural Database. Cohesive packing interactions between molecules include opposing-dipole dimers; the packing may explain the 10:1 ratio favoring the major-occupancy molecule.

Metal-organic frameworks of vanadium as catalysts for conversion of methane to acetic acid.

A catalytic system combining the high activity of homogeneous catalysts and the ease of use of heterogeneous catalysts for methane activation is reported. The vanadium-containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MIL-47 and MOF-48 are found to have high catalytic activity and chemical stability. They convert methane selectively to acetic acid with 70% yield (490 TON) based on K(2)S(2)O(8) as an oxidant. Isotopic labeling experiments showed that two methane molecules are converted to the produced acetic acid. The MOF catalysts are reusable and remain catalytically active for several recycling steps without losing their crystalline structures.

Thermal motion of tert-butyl groups III. tert-Butyl substituents in aromatic hydrocarbons, the view from the bottom of the well.

The rigidity of the tert-butyl group (TBG) as a substituent in aromatic hydrocarbons is investigated, with a modified Hirshfeld test of anisotropic displacement parameters (ADPs) as a primary criterion. Four new structures are analyzed, along with low-temperature studies of a previously published crowded supermesityl dimer; three of the five structures meet the primary test. Most of the TBGs meet the Hirshfeld test at 100 K, and the ADPs are improved by omitting low-order data in the final refinement. The three most precise structures yield a wide variation in libration amplitudes (and in estimated rotation barriers) for 13 unique TBGs. A similar range of values is found in analyses of structures in the Cambridge Crystallographic Database. The libration amplitudes are calculated with the program THMA14C, with each TBG as an attached rigid group (ARG). Packing analysis suggests that large ADPs, especially for some individual TBG methyl groups, correspond to voids in the crystal. Published barriers to TBG reorientation, determined by solid-state NMR spin-lattice relaxation methods, for six related crystalline compounds are compared with barriers calculated from their crystal structure data.

Multiple functional groups of varying ratios in metal-organic frameworks.

We show that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can incorporate a large number of different functionalities on linking groups in a way that mixes the linker, rather than forming separate domains. We made complex MOFs from 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (denoted by "A" in this work) and its derivatives -NH2, -Br, -(Cl)2, -NO2, -(CH3)2, -C4H4, -(OC3H5)2, and -(OC7H7)2 (denoted by "B" to "I," respectively) to synthesize 18 multivariate (MTV) MOF-5 type structures that contain up to eight distinct functionalities in one phase. The backbone (zinc oxide and phenylene units) of these structures is ordered, but the distribution of functional groups is disordered. The complex arrangements of several functional groups within the pores can lead to properties that are not simply linear sums of those of the pure components. For example, a member of this series, MTV-MOF-5-EHI, exhibits up to 400% better selectivity for carbon dioxide over carbon monoxide compared with its best same-link counterparts.

A metal-organic framework replete with ordered donor-acceptor catenanes.

A metal-organic framework was constructed from struts in which donor-acceptor [2]catenane units become integrated, leading to a high density of these molecular machinery modules positioned precisely in well-defined layered (2D) structures.

Synthesis, structure, and carbon dioxide capture properties of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks.

Zeolites are one of humanity's most important synthetic products. These aluminosilicate-based materials represent a large segment of the global economy. Indeed, the value of zeolites used in petroleum refining as catalysts and in detergents as water softeners is estimated at $350 billion per year. A major current goal in zeolite chemistry is to create a structure in which metal ions and functionalizable organic units make up an integral part of the framework. Such a structure, by virtue of the flexibility with which metal ions and organic moieties can be varied, is viewed as a key to further improving zeolite properties and accessing new applications. Recently, it was recognized that the Si-O-Si preferred angle in zeolites (145 degrees ) is coincident with that of the bridging angle in the M-Im-M fragment (where M is Zn or Co and Im is imidazolate), and therefore it should be possible to make new zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with topologies based on those of tetrahedral zeolites. This idea was successful and proved to be quite fruitful; within the last 5 years over 90 new ZIF structures have been reported. The recent application of high-throughput synthesis and characterization of ZIFs has expanded this structure space significantly: it is now possible to make ZIFs with topologies previously unknown in zeolites, in addition to mimicking known structures. In this Account, we describe the general preparation of crystalline ZIFs, discussing the methods that have been developed to create and analyze the variety of materials afforded. We include a comprehensive list of all known ZIFs, including structure, topology, and pore metrics. We also examine how complexity might be introduced into new structures, highlighting how link-link interactions might be exploited to effect particular cage sizes, create polarity variations between pores, or adjust framework robustness, for example. The chemical and thermal stability of ZIFs permit many applications, such as the capture of CO(2) and its selective separation from industrially relevant gas mixtures. Currently, ZIFs are the best porous materials for the selective capture of CO(2); furthermore, they show exceptionally high capacity for CO(2) among adsorbents operating by physisorption. The stability of ZIFs has also enabled organic transformations to be carried out on the crystals, yielding covalently functionalized isoreticular structures wherein the topology, crystallinity, and porosity of the ZIF structure are maintained throughout the reaction process. These reactions, being carried out on macroscopic crystals that behave as single molecules, have enabled the realization of the chemist's dream of using "crystals as molecules", opening the way for the application of the extensive library of organic reactions to the functionalization of useful extended porous structures.

Toward unidirectional rotary motion in nickelacarboranes: characterization of diastereomeric nickel bis(dicarbollide) complexes derived from the [nido-7-CH3-7,8-C2B9H11]- anion.

Two diastereomeric pairs of nickel bis(C-monomethyldicarbollide) complexes, derived from the racemic [nido-7-CH(3)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)](-) anion, have been synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Neutral (dd/ll) [1(2),1'(2')-Me(2)-closo-3,1,2-Ni(IV)C(2)B(9)H(10)-{3:3'}-closo-3',1',2'-Ni(IV)C(2)B(9)H(10)] 1 and (meso) [1,2'-Me(2)-closo-3,1,2-Ni(IV)C(2)B(9)H(10)-{3:3'}-closo-3',1',2'-Ni(IV)C(2)B(9)H(10)] 2 adopt typical cisoid conformations in the solid state. The temperature-dependent (11)B and (1)H NMR spectra of 2 indicate that the energy barrier to the interconversion of racemic rotational isomers is 66.5 +/- 2 kJ/mol. In the solid state, the [NMe(4)](+) salts of the (dd/ll) [1(2),1'(2')-Me(2)-closo-3,1,2-Ni(III)C(2)B(9)H(10)-{3:3'}-closo-3',1',2'-Ni(III)C(2)B(9)H(10)](-) anion NMe(4) x 3 and the (meso) [1,2'-Me(2)-closo-3,1,2-Ni(III)C(2)B(9)H(10)-{3:3'}-closo-3',1',2'-Ni(III)C(2)B(9)H(10)](-) anion NMe(4) x 4 adopt gauche and transoid configurations, respectively, with transoid methyl substituents in both cases.

Docking in metal-organic frameworks.

The use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) so far has largely relied on nonspecific binding interactions to host small molecular guests. We used long organic struts (approximately 2 nanometers) incorporating 34- and 36-membered macrocyclic polyethers as recognition modules in the construction of several crystalline primitive cubic frameworks that engage in specific binding in a way not observed in passive, open reticulated geometries. MOF-1001 is capable of docking paraquat dication (PQT2+) guests within the macrocycles in a stereoelectronically controlled fashion. This act of specific complexation yields quantitatively the corresponding MOF-1001 pseudorotaxanes, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction and by solid- and solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies performed on MOF-1001, its pseudorotaxanes, and their molecular strut precursors. A control experiment involving the attempted inclusion of PQT2+ inside a framework (MOF-177) devoid of polyether struts showed negligible uptake of PQT2+, indicating the importance of the macrocyclic polyether in PQT2+ docking.

Synthesis and structure of chemically stable metal-organic polyhedra.

Two imidazolate-metal based rhombic dodecahedra (termed MOP-100 and MOP-101) were designed and prepared from [(NH(3))(4)Pd(NO(3))(2)] and hydrogen tetrakis(1-imidazolyl)borate or hydrogen tetrakis(4-methyl-1-imidazolyl)borate in a concentrated ammonium hydroxide solution at 85 degrees C. Both rhombic dodecahedra show unusual chemical stability in acidic and basic solutions as well as common organic solvents. Permanent porosity was examined by gas adsorption studies. From the N(2) isotherm for MOP-101, the Langmuir and BET surface areas of MOP-101 were calculated to be 350 and 280 m(2) g(-1), respectively. Anion exchange experiments confirmed the internal cavities of such polyhedra are accessible.

Synthesis and structure of a new heptaborate oxoanion isomer: B7O9(OH)5(2-).

The nonmetal borate [H3N(CH2)7NH3][B7O9(OH)5].H2O (1) was prepared via a neat reaction of 1,7-diaminoheptane with excess boric acid under mild nonhydrothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray characterization of 1 revealed a new isomer of the heptaborate anion, B7O9(OH)5(2-). The heptaborate anion in 1 is comprised of four fused (BO)3 rings sharing three four-coordinate boron atoms and a single three-coordinate oxygen atom. This anion is a structural isomer of another recently described heptaborate anion, consisting of a chain of three (BO)3 rings. Compound 1 crystallized in the triclinic space group P1 with a=9.3266(17) A, b=10.1222(19) A, c=10.847(2) A, alpha=89.422(2) degrees, beta=82.349(2) degrees, gamma=75.158(2) degrees, V=980.7(3) A3, and Z=2.

Crystalline alcoholamine borates and the triborate monoanion.

The triborate and pentaborate compounds 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropylammonium triborate(1+), [HOCH2C(CH3)2NH3][B3O3(OH)4] (1), and 2-hydroxyethylammonium pentaborate(1-), [HOCH2CH2NH3][B5O6(OH)4].H2O (2), were prepared by crystallization from concentrated aqueous boric acid solutions containing the respective alcoholamines at a boric acid-alcoholamine mole ratio of 3.33:1.00. Compound 1 crystallized in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 5.9595(9) A, b = 6.3024(9) A, c = 15.594(2) A, alpha = 91.218(2) degrees , beta = 91.138(2) degrees , gamma = 118.034(2) degrees , V = 516.56(13) A (3), and Z = 2; 2 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2 1/ n with a = 11.2469(8) A, b = 9.5091(6) A, c = 11.5422(8) A, beta = 90.175(1) degrees , V = 1234.41(15) A (3), and Z = 4. Compound 1 contains a rare example of a structurally characterized hydroxyl-hydrated triborate monoanion. Comparisons are made with other known examples of this anion.

Synthesis and structural characterization of symmetrical closo-4,7-I2-1,2-C2B10H10 and [(CH3)3NH][nido-2,4-I2-7,8-C2B9H10].

The boron-atom insertion reaction of nido-9,11-I(2)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(9)(2-), with the HBCl(2):SMe(2) complex yields closo-4,7-I(2)-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10), 1, in excellent yield. Although the two boron atoms (B3 and B6) nearest to the carbon atoms in 1 are equally available for attack by nucleophiles, the boron-degradation reaction of 1 with alkoxide ion occurs only at the B6 vertex, yielding regioselectively [(CH(3))(3)NH][nido-2,4-I(2)-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)], 2. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Crystallographic data are as follows. For 1, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 6.9199(19) Angstroms, b = 23.9560(7) Angstroms, c = 7.2870(2) Angstroms, beta = 94.081(4) degrees, V = 1204.9(6) Angstroms(3), Z = 4, rho(calcd) = 2.18 g cm(-3), R = 0.020, R(w) = 0.0610; for 2, orthorhombic, space group Pca2(1), a = 14.1141(7) Angstroms, b = 7.0276(4) Angstroms, c = 16.4602(9) Angstroms, V = 1632.7(15) Angstroms(3), Z = 4, rho(calcd) = 1.81 gcm(-3), R = 0.022, R(w) = 0.0623.

Synthesis of stable dodecaalkoxy derivatives of hypercloso-B12H12.

The scope and limitations of the alkylation of [closo-B12(OH)12]2- using a series of fourteen alkyl and aralkyl halides and two p-toluenesulfonic acid esters in the presence of N,N-diisopropylethylamine have been investigated. The dodecaalkoxy-closo-dodecaborate products, [closo-B12(OR)12]2-, and their hypercloso two-electron oxidation products have been explored. The species [closo-B12(OR)12]2- containing 26 cage-bonding electrons may undergo two reversible, sequential, one-electron oxidation processes, producing a 25-electron radical anion and a 24-electron neutral species. Several oxidizing reagents were investigated for the chemical oxidation of [closo-B12(OR)12]2- and [hypercloso-B12(OR)12]- to [hypercloso-B12(OR)12]. Both FeCl3.6H2O and K3Fe(CN)6 in 90/5/5 ethanol/acetonitrile/H2O were found to be the reagents of choice. The reverse reaction leading from the neutral species to the radical anion and subsequently to the dianion was achieved using sodium borohydride in ethanol. A variety of alkoxyl derivatives have been synthesized by heating the reactants for extended periods of time in acetonitrile at the reflux temperature. The use of elevated reaction temperatures attained by employing moderate argon pressure (autoclave) over the reaction mixture led to drastic reductions in reaction times and increased efficiency. X-ray diffraction studies of substituted dodecabenzyl ether derivatives proved that 2(2-) has approximate Ih symmetry while hypercloso-2, -3, -9, -11, -12, and -13 have approximate D3d point group symmetry due to Jahn-Teller distortion from Ih.

Camouflaged carborarods derived from B-permethyl-1,12-diethynyl-para- and B-octamethyl-1,7-diethylnyl-meta-carborane modules.

Rigid camouflaged carborarods constructed from the corresponding C,C'-diethynyl derivatives of B-decamethyl-1,12-dicarbadodecaborane(12) (6) and B-octamethyl-1,7-dicarbadodecaborane(12) (48) have been synthesized by largely conventional organic transformations. These carborarods are the longest discrete rod species available by this method in which B-methylated p-carborane and m-carborane cages are linked through their carbon vertices by using butadiynylene moieties. They exhibit enhanced solubility in common organic solvents relative to all other presently known carborane-based rigid-rod molecules. The oxidative coupling of bis(ethynyl) derivatives of 6 generates oligomers containing, on average, 16 carborane modules. The structural characterization of the corresponding dimeric species revealed that the carborarods possess a sinusoidal chain distortion in the solid state. The stereoelectronic properties of these and related model carborarods were evaluated by using molecular dimensions as a monitor for the comparison of computational and experimental methods. In addition, the effect of exhaustive B-methylation of 12- and 10-vertex para-carborane cages in a series of model C,C'-diethynyl derivatives was similarly investigated by computational and structural studies. As expected, a correlation of intercage C--C bond lengths with cage size was observed and was attributed to hybridization effects. B-Permethylation had no significant structural effect with either 10- or 12-vertex cage derivatives. Relative to unsubstituted compounds, thermal and chemical stabilities of B-permethylated derivatives were increased through the operation of a steric "bumper-car" process, and solubilities in organic solvents were enhanced. The formation of linear, sterically encumbered platina-carborarods using ethynyl derivatives of 6 as precursors is described.

The synthesis of carboacycles derived from B,B'-bis(aryl) derivatives of icosahedral ortho-carborane.

Reactions of both closo-9,12-I2-1,2-C2B10H10 and closo-9,10-I2-1,7-C2B10H10 with an excess of aryl magnesium bromide in the presence of [PdCl2(PPh3)2] afford the corresponding closo-9,12-(4-R-C6H4)2-1,2-C2B10H10 [R=H (1), Me (2), OMe (3), SMe (4), N(CH3)2 (5), Cl (6)] and closo-9,10-(4-R-C6H4)2-1,7-C2B10H10 [R'=Me (7), OMe (8), N(CH3)2 (9), Cl (10), and -C[(OCH2)2]CH3 (11)] compounds in high yields. The anisole derivatives 3 and 8 were deprotected to yield the corresponding bis-phenols 12 and 13, respectively. Structural analyses of compounds 1, 3, 6, and 12 are reported. Re-etherification of compound 12 by using gamma-bromotriethyleneglycol methyl ether provided 14 (R=(CH2CH2O)3CH3). Oxidation of 4 with ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) generated the bis-sulfoxide 15 (R=S(O)Me). Deprotection of compound 11 led to the corresponding acetyl derivative 18 (R'=C(O)Me). Bis-anisole 3 was tethered with 1,3-dibromopropane, 1,6-dibromohexane, 1,8-dibromooctane, 4,4'-bis(iodomethyl)-1,1'-biphenyl, and alpha,alpha'-dibromo-2,6-lutidine to afford the dimers 20b, 21b, 22b, 23b, and 24b, respectively. The tetrameric carboracycles 27a and 30a, as well as the dimeric 29c were obtained through repetitive coupling of the dimeric compounds 20b, 24b, and 22b with 1,3-dibromopropane, alpha,alpha'-dibromo-2,6-lutidine, and 1,8-dibromooctane, respectively. The tetrameric carboracycle 28a was obtained upon consecutive reactions of 1 with 1,4-dibromobutane. Hexameric carboracycle 28b was identified as a byproduct. Exhaustive ether cleavage of 27a generated octaphenol 31a. Re-etherification of 31a with trimethylenesultone provided the octasulfonate 32a, the first example of a water-soluble carboracycle. Linkage of dimer 23b with alpha,alpha'-dibromolutidine yielded the cyclic tetrameric tetrapyridyl derivative 30a in low yield. The structures of the carboracycles 27a, 28a, 28b, and 30a have been confirmed by Xray crystallography. In addition, the compounds 28a,b are the first reported carboracycles that interact with solvent molecules in a host-guest fashion.

Through-shell alkyllithium additions and borane reductions.

The through-shell borane reduction and methyllithium addition to benzaldehyde (1), benzocyclobutenone (2), and benzocyclobutenedione (3) incarcerated inside a hemicarcerand (4) with four tetramethylenedioxy bridges are reported. All guests could be reduced and methylated. Selective monoreduction and monomethylation were observed for 3. In the methyllithium addition to 4[symbol: see text]3, the initially formed lithium alcoholate underwent a Moore rearrangement. The reactivity of the incarcerated guests toward methyllithium increased in the order 1 < 2 << 3 and toward borane in the order 1 << 2 approximately equal 3. Guest reactivity was correlated with the inner-phase location of the reacting carbonyl group in the preferred guest inner-phase orientation. The latter was determined from the X-ray structures of 4[symbol: see text]1, 4[symbol: see text]2, and 4[symbol: see text]3, from molecular mechanical calculations, and from the hemicarcerand-induced upfield shift of the guest proton resonances. In the methyllithium and n-butyllithium addition to 4[symbol: see text]1 and 4[symbol: see text]3 at elevated temperatures, selective cleavage of a host's spanner or tetramethylenedioxy bridge, respectively, was observed. The cleavage of one spanner also took place in the methyllithium addition to the 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone hemicarceplex. These scission reactions are initiated by the initially formed lithium alcoholates, which show enhanced basicity and nucleophilicity in the inner phase as compared to the bulk phase. Mechanisms for the host scission reactions are discussed.