Reactivity of a Linear 2-Germapropadiene with Acids, Ketones, and Amines.

The reactivity of an isolable 2-germapropadiene with acids, ketones, and amines was investigated. The reactions of 2-germapropagiene 1 with hydrogen chloride and acetic acid afforded the corresponding dichlorogermane (2) and diacetoxygermane (3), respectively, indicating that the central germanium atom of 1 is electrophilic. The reaction of 1 with benzaldehyde proceeds via a formal [2+2] cycloaddition to afford the corresponding spiro compound (4). Moreover, 1 reacts smoothly with acetone to furnish germane 5, which contains a six-membered ring involving two acetone molecules. Furthermore, 1 undergoes N-H bond insertion with methylamine or aniline to afford diamino germanes 7 and 8, respectively. The reaction of 1 with urea selectively afforded the corresponding N-H-insertion product (8).

Phosphoramide-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Effective Gas Adsorption.

Cost-effective and facile synthetic routes to organic ligands, along with porous materials that exhibit exceptional gas-storage properties, promise significant industrial applications. Here, a two-step synthesis of novel organophosphorus ligands without metal catalysts is reported. These ligands serve as versatile linkers for the construction of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporating various metal ions, including zinc and copper. One of the zinc-based MOFs demonstrates remarkable gas-storage properties, with a hydrogen (H2) capacity exceeding 2.5 wt% at 77 K and 100 kPa as well as a carbon dioxide (CO2) capacity exceeding 20 wt% at 298 K and 100 kPa. Furthermore, this zinc-based MOF can be synthesized through a solvothermal process on the gram scale that yields high-quality single crystals.

Alkoxy-Functionalized Hydroxamate/Zinc Metal-Organic Frameworks and the Effects of Substituents and Acid Addition on Their Structures.

Single crystals of alkoxy-functionalized hydroxamate/zinc metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were obtained by fixating the hydroxamate moiety via intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The resulting MOF structures depend on the steric demand of the alkoxy groups, whereby the incorporation of bulky isopropyl groups affords porous hydroxamate/zinc MOFs. The topological structures of the isopropyl-substituted MOFs could be controlled by adding acid.

Zn-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks Using Triptycene Hexacarboxylate Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Gas-Sorption Properties.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Koh Sugamata, Mao Minoura, and co-workers at Rikkyo University. The image depicts triptycene-based metal-organic frameworks with honeycomb structures that collect carbon dioxide and hydrogen, in an analogy to bees collecting honey in their honeycombs. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202302080.

Zn-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks Using Triptycene Hexacarboxylate Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Gas-Sorption Properties.

A series of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on zinc ions and two triptycene ligands of different size have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Structural analyses revealed that they are isostructural 3D-network MOFs. The high porosity and thermal stability of these MOFs can be attributed to the highly rigid triptycene-based ligands. Their BET specific surface areas depend on the size of the triptycene ligands. In contrast to these surface-area data, the H2 and CO2 adsorption of these MOFs is larger for MOFs with small pores. Consequently, we introduced functional groups to the bridge-head position of the triptycene ligands and investigated their effect on the gas-sorption properties. The results unveiled the role of the functional groups in the specific CO2 binding via an induced interaction between adsorbates and the functional groups. Excellent H2 and CO2 properties in these MOFs were achieved in the absence of open metal sites.

2-Heteraallenes.

While analogues of allenes with heavier main-group elements (group 14-16) have been extensively studied, 2-heteraallenes are rare chemical species whose properties are mostly unknown. It is also notable that the synthesis and isolation of allene-type molecules are not widespread, despite the extensive study of two-coordinated low-valent chemical species.

A Linear C=Ge=C Heteroallene with a Di-coordinated Germanium Atom.

Allenes (>C=C=C<) are classified as cumulated dienes with a linear structure and an sp-hybridized central carbon atom. We have synthesized and isolated a stable 2-germapropadiene with bulky silyl substituents. The 2-germapropadiene allene moiety adopts a linear structure both in the solid state and in solution. An X-ray diffraction electron-density-distribution (EDD) analysis of this 2-germapropadiene confirmed the linear C=Ge=C geometry with a formally sp-hybridized germanium atom that bears two orthogonal C=Ge π-bonds. Based on detailed structural and computational studies, we concluded that the linear geometry of the isolated 2-germapropadiene most likely arises from the negative hyperconjugation of the silyl substituents at the terminal carbon atoms. The 2-germapropadiene reacts rapidly with nucleophiles, indicating that the linearly oriented germanium atom is highly electrophilic.

Controlling the Flexibility of Carbazole-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks by Substituent Effects.

We have developed highly porous Cu-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using carbazole-type linkers. The novel topological structure of these MOFs was revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Molecular adsorption/desorption experiments indicated that these MOFs are flexible and change their structure upon adsorption/desorption of organic solvents and gas molecules. These MOFs exhibit unprecedented properties that allow controlling their flexibility by adding a functional group onto the central benzene ring of the organic ligand. For example, the introduction of electron-donating substituents increases the robustness of the resulting MOFs. These MOFs also exhibit flexibility-dependent differences in gas-adsorption and -separation performance. Thus, this study represents the first example of controlling the flexibility of MOFs with the same topological structure via the substituent effect of functional groups introduced into the organic ligand.

Tellurium-Centered Bent Allenes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity.

Compounds with multiple bonds between elements of the second and fifth periods are extremely unstable, and systematic investigations into their properties remain elusive. Herein, we report a tellurium-centered heteroallene that contains multiple bonds between carbon and tellurium. This compound is the first example of bis(methylene)-λ4-tellane, which was synthesized and fully characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, this λ4-tellane exhibits a bent allene structure for the C═Te═C moiety and unsaturated Te-C bonds. Interestingly, the allene-type structure is retained in the solution, which is reflected in an absorption band due to the π-π* transition at 610 nm. This λ4-tellane also exhibits unique reactivity toward dihalogermylenes, which yielded rare cyclic telluragermetanes.

Structural analysis of interpenetrated methyl-modified MOF-5 and its gas-adsorption properties.

The first example of an interpenetrated methyl-modified MOF-5 with the formula Zn4O(DMBDC)3(DMF)2, where DMBDC2- is 2,5-dimethylbenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate and DMF is N,N-dimethylformamide (henceforth denoted as Me2MOF-5-int), namely, poly[tris(µ4-2,5-dimethylbenzene-1,4-dicarboxylato)bis(N,N-dimethylformamide)-µ4-oxido-tetrazinc(II)], [Zn4(C10H8O4)3O(C3H7NO)2]n, has been obtained from a solvothermal synthesis of 2,5-dimethylbenzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and Zn(NO3)2·6H2O in DMF. A systematic study revealed that the choice of solvent is of critical importance for the synthesis of phase-pure Me2MOF-5-int, which was thoroughly characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), as well as by gas-adsorption analyses. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of Me2MOF-5-int (660 m2 g-1), determined by N2 adsorption, is much lower than that of nonpenetrated Me2MOF-5 (2420 m2 g-1). However, Me2MOF-5-int displays an H2 uptake capacity of 1.26 wt% at 77 K and 1.0 bar, which is comparable to that of non-interpenetrated Me2MOF-5 (1.51 wt%).

Structural analysis of and selective CO2 adsorption in mixed-ligand hydroxamate-based metal-organic frameworks.

Two mixed-ligand metal-organic frameworks, [Zn2(BDHA)0.5(INA)3] (MOF-1: H2BDHA = benzene-1,4-dihydroxamic acid; HINA = isonicotinic acid) and [Co2(BDHA)0.5(INA)3(DMF)] (MOF-2), were solvothermally synthesized and fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography as well as N2, H2, and CO2 gas-sorption measurements. The results constitute the first detailed analysis of the bonding environment around the hydroxamates in such MOFs, which are simultaneously decorated with Lewis-basic sites from the hydroxamate moieties and metal sites predisposed for coordinative unsaturation. MOF-2 shows a desirably selective adsorption of CO2 relative to N2.

(Thio)(silyl)carbene and (seleno)(silyl)carbene gold(i) complexes from the reaction of bis(methylene)-λ4-sulfane and bis(methylene)-λ4-selane with chloro(dimethylsulfide)gold(i).

The dinuclear (thio)(silyl)carbene and (seleno)(silyl)carbene gold(i) complexes 1 and 2 were obtained from the reaction of two equivalents of AuCl(SMe2) with the stable bis(methylene)-λ4-chalcogenanes 3 and 4, respectively. The reaction proceeds under elimination of the chlorosilane moiety of 3 and 4. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The 13C NMR signals for the carbene centers of 1 (309 ppm) and 2 (345 ppm) are by more than 150 ppm downfield shifted relative to those for other known (NHC)AuCl complexes. These results indicate that (chalcogeno)(silyl)carbenes, like (amino)(silyl)carbenes, belong to the push-spectator family of carbenes.

Group 2 metal bis(arenecarbochalcogenoate)(crown ether) complexes: isolation and structural analysis.

A series of Group 2 metal bis(arenecarbochalcogenoato)(crown ether) complexes M(EE'CAr)2(L)(L')x (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; Ar = aryl; E = S, Se; E' = O, S; L = H2O or THF; L' = 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6) were synthesized and their structures were revealed by X-ray analyses. The two carbothioato ligands in Mg, Ca and Sr 15-crown-5 complexes are located on the same side of the crown ether plane, while those in Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba 18-crown-6 compounds are on both sides of the 18-crown-6 plane (trans relative to the plane). For the Ca 15-crown-5 complex, both carbothioato ligands are connected to the central Ca ion through an oxygen atom in a monodentate manner, and the two hydrogen atoms of the coordinated water molecule are intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded with thiocarbonyl sulfur atoms. One of the two carbothioate groups in the Ca 18-crown-6 complex is connected in a bidentate manner to the central metal, while the other is connected in a monodentate manner through an oxygen atom. The two thiocarboxylato ligands in the Sr 15-crown-5 congener are connected in a bidentate fashion to the same side of the crown ether plane. The Ca and Sr compounds are the first examples of alkali earth metal carbochalcogenoate complexes in which carbochalcogenolato ligands are connected in a monodentate manner through an oxygen atom. Both chalcogenoato ligands in Ba(SOCC6H4Me-4)2(18-crown-6) and Sr(SeOCC6H4Me-4)2(18-crown-6) are coordinated in a bidentate manner to the central metal ion.

Synthesis and Structure of a Stable Bis(methylene)-λ4 -sulfane.

Bis(methylene)-λ4 -sulfane 1, a >C=S=C< heterocumulene, was obtained as a red crystalline solid from the reaction between elemental sulfur and a carbenoid that contains sterically demanding silylalkyl groups. Under atmospheric conditions, and even at elevated temperatures, 1 exhibits extraordinary stability. The molecular structure and electron-density distribution of 1 were analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, which revealed a bent C=S=C geometry with C=S=C π-bonds. These results, combined with those of variable-temperature NMR measurements and theoretical calculations suggest a slow rotation of the S=C moieties in 1, the stability and structure of which were further examined by theoretical calculations.

Reaction of a diaryldigermyne with ethylene.

Reaction of the stable digermyne BbtGe[triple bond, length as m-dash]GeBbt (Bbt = 2,6-[CH(SiMe3)2]2-4-[C(SiMe3)3]-C6H2) with ethylene initially afforded the corresponding 1,2-digermacyclobutene. Depending on the reaction conditions applied, further reaction of this 1,2-digermacyclobutene with ethylene furnished two different reaction products: a 1,4-digermabicyclo[2.2.0]hexane or a bis(germiranyl)ethane. Combined experimental and theoretical results suggested that the 1,4-digermabicyclo[2.2.0]hexane and the bis(germiranyl)ethane are the thermodynamic and kinetic reaction products, respectively. A reaction mechanism in agreement with these results was proposed.