Bis(cyclo-hexyl-ammonium) tetra-chlorido-diphenyl-stannate(IV).

The title compound, (C6H14N)2[Sn(C6H5)2Cl4], contains cyclo-hexyl-ammonium cations in general positions and a stannate(IV) anion that is located on a twofold rotation axis. The Sn(IV) atom in the complex anion is surrounded by four Cl(-) ligands and two trans-phenyl groups in a distorted octa-hedral configuration. The anions are connected with the cations through N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. Every cation is involved in three N-H⋯Cl bonds to the chloride ligands of three different anions, and each chloride ligand is linked to two cations. This arrangement leads to a layered structure parallel to (010).

Bifunctional ruthenium(II) hydride complexes with pendant strong Lewis acid moieties: structure, dynamics, and cooperativity.

The synthesis of a novel class of bifunctional ruthenium hydride complexes incorporating Lewis acidic BR(2) moieties is reported. Determination of the molecular structures in the solid state and in solution provided evidence for tunable interaction between the two functionalities. Cooperative effects on the reactivity of the complexes were demonstrated including the activation of small Lewis basic molecules by reversible anchoring at the boron center.

Asymmetric synthesis of pyrroloindolones by N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [2+3] annulation of α-chloroaldehydes with nitrovinylindoles.

NHC-enolate plus 3: N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) serve as organocatalysts for the [2+3] annulation of nitrovinylindoles with α-chloroaldehydes via an intermediate azolium enolate. The method provides trans-disubstituted pyrroloindolones with good yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Further transformations lead to tetracyclic pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles with potential psychotropic and other bioactivities.

3-(Pyridin-4-yl)acetylacetone: CdII and HgII compete for nitrogen coordination.

3-(Pyridin-4-yl)acetylacetone (HacacPy) acts as a pyridine-type ligand towards CdII and HgII halides. With CdBr2, the one-dimensional polymer [Cd(µ-Br)2(HacacPy)Cd(µ-Br)2(HacacPy)2]∞ is obtained in which five- and six-coordinated CdII cations alternate in the chain direction. Reaction of HacacPy with HgBr2 results in [Hg(µ-Br)Br(HacacPy)]∞, a polymer in which each HgII centre is tetracoordinated. In both compounds, each metal(II) cation is N-coordinated by at least one HacacPy ligand. Equimolar reaction between these CdII and HgII derivatives, either conducted in ethanol as solvent or via grinding in the solid state, leads to ligand redistribution and the formation of the well-ordered bimetallic polymer catena-poly[[bromidomercury(II)]-µ-bromido-[aquabis[4-hydroxy-3-(pyridin-4-yl)pent-3-en-2-one]cadmium(II)]-di-µ-bromido], [CdHgBr4(C10H11NO2)2(H2O)]n or [{HgBr}(µ-Br){(HacacPy)2Cd(H2O)}(µ-Br)2]∞. HgII and CdII cations alternate in the [100] direction. The HacacPy ligands do not bind to the HgII cations, which are tetracoordinated by three bridging and one terminal bromide ligand. The CdII centres adopt an only slightly distorted octahedral coordination. Three bromide ligands link them in a (2 + 1) pattern to neighbouring HgII atoms; two HacacPy ligands in a cis configuration, acting as N-atom donors, and a terminal aqua ligand complete the coordination sphere. Classical O-H...Br hydrogen bonds stabilize the polymeric chain. O-H...O hydrogen bonds between aqua H atoms and the uncoordinated carbonyl group of an HacacPy ligand in a neighbouring strand in the c direction link the chains into layers in the (010) plane.

3-(Pyridin-4-yl)acetylacetone: a donor ligand towards mercury(II) halides and a versatile linker for complex materials.

The ditopic organic molecule 3-(pyridin-4-yl)acetylacetone (HacacPy) acts as a pyridine-type ligand towards HgX2 (X = Cl, Br, I). The nature of the anion and the ligand-to-cation ratio dominate the outcome of the reaction. Two different coordination compounds form with HgCl2, namely a ligand-rich mononuclear complex, HgCl2(HacacPy)2, and a ligand-deficient one-dimensional chain polymer, [Hg(µ-Cl)2(HacacPy)]1∞, with five-coordinated HgII cations. Two compounds are also observed for HgBr2, a molecular complex isomorphous to the chloride derivative and a chain polymer with the composition [Hg(µ-Br)Br(HacacPy)]1∞, in which the cations are four-coordinated. The ligand-rich mononuclear and ligand-deficient polymeric chloride and bromide complexes may be interconverted via thermal degradation and mechanochemical synthesis. In contrast to the chloride and bromide compounds, the reaction product with HgI2 does not depend on the ligand-to-cation ratio but corresponds to [Hg(µ-I)I(HacacPy)]1∞, isomorphous to the bromide derivative. The N-coordinated HacacPy complexes could not be deprotonated and further crosslinked with a second cation. Synthesis of mixed-metal products could be achieved, however, by deprotonation of the acetylacetone moiety in HacacPy and formation of tris-chelated Fe(acacPy)3 and Al(acacPy)3 complexes in the first step. These mononuclear building blocks act as bridging poly(pyridine) ligands towards HgII halides and form two structure types. The first represents a one-dimensional ladder, with the tris(ligand) complexes acting as triconnected nodes and the HgII halides acting as linkers. In the alternative unprecedented product, both the tris(ligand) complexes and the [HgX2(µ-X)HgX] groups act as equivalent triconnected nodes. They form a uninodal two-dimensional coordination network with vertex symbol 4.82 and fes topology.

Halogen bonds on demand: I···S contacts in cocrystals of trans-bis(thiocyanato-κN)tetrakis(4-vinylpyridine-κN)nickel(II) and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-diiodobenzene.

Hydrogen bonds are considered a powerful organizing force in designing supramolecular architectures because they are directional, selective and reversible at room temperature. trans-Dithiocyanatotetrakis(4-vinylpyridine)nickel(II) is a popular host for the inclusion of small molecules and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-diiodobenzene (TFDIB) represents a strong halogen-bond donor. These constituents cocrystallize in a 1:1 stoichiometry, [Ni(NCS)2(C7H7N)4]·C6F4I2, in the tetragonal space group I41/a. Both residues occupy special positions, i.e. the pseudo-octahedral Ni(II) complex is located on a twofold axis and the TFDIB molecule sits about a crystallographic centre of inversion. The components interact via a short S···I contact of 3.2891 (12) Šbetween the thiocyanate S atom of the host and the iodine substituent at the perhalogenated aromatic ring of the smaller guest molecule. This interaction meets the commonly accepted criteria for a halogen bond. Such halogen bonds to sulfur are significantly less common than to smaller electronegative atoms.

3-(4-pyridyl)-acetylacetone--a fully featured substituted pyridine and a flexible linker for complex materials.

3-(4-Pyridyl)-acetylacetone (HacacPy) acts as a pyridine-type ligand towards CdX2 (X = Cl, Br, I). Chain polymers with six-coordinated metal cations are obtained from CdCl2 and with alternating five- and six-coordinated Cd centers from CdBr2. In either case, the formation of these compounds does not depend on the precise stoichiometry. In contrast, two different reaction products form with the heavier congener CdI2, namely a ligand-rich molecular complex CdI2(HacacPy)2 and a ligand-deficient one-dimensional polymer [CdI2(HacacPy)](1)(∞). Interconversion between these two iodo derivatives is possible via thermal degradation and mechanochemical synthesis. The acetylacetone moiety in HacacPy may be deprotonated and chelated to Fe(III), and the resulting complex Fe(acacPy)3 reacts analogously to a bridging polypyridine ligand towards the same Cd halides as the molecule HacacPy itself. With CdCl2 and CdBr2, isomorphous chain polymers are obtained in which the Cd cations adopt distorted octahedral coordination and one of the peripheric pyridyl groups remains uncoordinated. With CdI2, the iron complex acts as a mu3Fe(acacPy)3 bridge between tetrahedral Cd centers and gives rise to a ladder structure.

Catalytic enantioselective trifluoromethylthiolation of oxindoles using shelf-stable N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide and a cinchona alkaloid catalyst.

The organocatalytic enantioselective trifluoromethylthiolation of oxindoles employing N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide as a stable, easy to handle CF3S-source has been developed. Optically active products with a quaternary stereogenic center bearing a CF3S-group are obtained in good yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities.

Ordered bimetallic coordination networks featuring rare earth and silver cations.

Three lanthanide complexes of the ditopic ligand 3-cyanopentane-2,4-dionate (acacCN) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Longer intermolecular contacts result in ninefold coordination of the cation in Ce(acacCN)(3)(H(2)O)(2), whereas mononuclear complexes of the same stoichiometry with coordination number eight are obtained for the smaller Eu(III) and Yb(III) cations. Reaction of these labile compounds with AgPF(6) leads to re-organization of the coordination sphere of the rare earth cations: neutral extended structures are formed in which the peripheric -CN moieties of Ln(acacCN)(4) anions coordinate to silver cations. The initially formed heterometallic networks show additional coordination of water or inclusion of solvent molecules; three different structure types, two of them as isomorphous pairs, have been characterized. In the case of Eu(III) and Yb(III), these solids are instable when stored in their mother liquor and undergo a slow aging process, finally resulting in phase pure stable and solvent-free 3D networks Ln(acacCN)(4)Ag.

Bimetallic coordination networks based on Al(acacCN)3: a building block between inertness and lability.

The Al(III) complex of 3-cyanopentane-2,4-dionate (acacCN) features peripheric nitrile groups which may coordinate to silver cations. As the Al(acacCN)(3) building block ranges between inertness and lability, its reactivity towards Ag(I) salts depends on the solvent and the weakly or non-coordinating counter anions; an impressive range of different extended structures has been encountered. With AgPF(6), the original building block is retained and hexafluorophosphate remains uncoordinated. A highly symmetric 3D crystalline solid forms in the presence of trichloromethane, and with benzene a tetrasolvate with large solvent-filled voids is obtained. Two different classes of reaction products with silver triflate have been observed. In addition to networks incorporating Al(acacCN)(3), partial solvolysis may lead to a dinuclear methoxide-bridged derivative. The resulting Al(2)(µ-OMe)(2) core may be perceived as a four-connected node in a self-interpenetrating 3D network. Earlier studies reported transmetalation for the reaction of Al(acacCN)(3) with AgNO(3) and we find the same reactivity for silver tetrafluoroborate. Full degradation of the Al(III) building block with formation of [Ag(acacCN)] is observed.

Organocatalytic one-pot asymmetric synthesis of 4H,5H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles.

An efficient one pot asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles has been developed. This class of biologically active heterocycles can be obtained via a secondary amine catalyzed asymmetric Michael/Wittig/oxa-Michael reaction sequence. Remarkably, the title compounds were accessible in good to very good yields and very good to excellent enantioselectivities after a single purification step.