Search Results (11)

Chiral ansa-η⁵-complexes of transition metals have shown remarkable efficacy in organometallic synthesis and catalysis. Additionally, enantiomerically pure ansa-complexes hold promise for the development of novel chiral materials and pharmaceuticals. The discovery and synthesis of a diverse range of group IVB and IIIB metal complexes represents a significant milestone in the advancement of stereoselective catalytic methods for constructing metal-C, C-C, C-H, and C-heteroatom bonds. The synthesis of enantiomerically pure metallocenes can be accomplished through several strategies: utilizing optically active precursors of η⁵-ligands, separation of diastereomers of complexes with enantiomerically pure agents, and synthesis via the stereocontrolled reactions of enantiomerically pure σ-complexes with prochiral anions of η⁵-ligands. This review focuses on the analysis of various nuances of the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ansa-η⁵-complexes of titanium and lanthanum families. Their applicability as effective catalysts in asymmetric carbomagnesiation, carbo- and cycloalumination, oligo- and polymerization, Diels–Alder cycloaddition, reactions of zirconaaziridines, cyclization, hydrosilylation, hydrogenation, hydroamination, and other processes are highlighted as well. Full article

The structural stability of the extensively studied organic–inorganic hybrid methylammonium tetrel halide perovskite semiconductors, MATtX₃ (MA = CH₃NH₃⁺; Tt = Ge, Sn, Pb; X = Cl, Br, I), arises as a result of non-covalent interactions between an organic cation (CH₃NH₃⁺) and an inorganic anion (TtX₃⁻). However, the basic understanding of the underlying chemical bonding interactions in these systems that link the ionic moieties together in complex configurations is still limited. In this study, ion pair models constituting the organic and inorganic ions were regarded as the repeating units of periodic crystal systems and density functional theory simulations were performed to elucidate the nature of the non-covalent interactions between them. It is demonstrated that not only the charge-assisted N–H···X and C–H···X hydrogen bonds but also the C–N···X pnictogen bonds interact to stabilize the ion pairs and to define their geometries in the gas phase. Similar interactions are also responsible for the formation of crystalline MATtX₃ in the low-temperature phase, some of which have been delineated in previous studies. In contrast, the Tt···X tetrel bonding interactions, which are hidden as coordinate bonds in the crystals, play a vital role in holding the inorganic anionic moieties (TtX₃⁻) together. We have demonstrated that each Tt in each [CH₃NH₃⁺•TtX₃⁻] ion pair has the capacity to donate three tetrel (σ-hole) bonds to the halides of three nearest neighbor TtX₃⁻ units, thus causing the emergence of an infinite array of 3D TtX₆⁴⁻ octahedra in the crystalline phase. The TtX₄⁴⁻ octahedra are corner-shared to form cage-like inorganic frameworks that host the organic cation, leading to the formation of functional tetrel halide perovskite materials that have outstanding optoelectronic properties in the solid state. We harnessed the results using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, natural bond orbital, molecular electrostatic surface potential and independent gradient models to validate these conclusions. Full article

The nature of the blue color in the iodine-starch reaction is still a matter of debate. Some textbooks still invoke charge-transfer bands within a chain of neutral I₂ molecules inside the hydrophobic channel defined by the interior of the amylose helical structure. However, the consensus is that the interior of the helix is not altogether hydrophobic—and that a mixture of I₂ molecules and iodide anions reside there and are responsible for the intense charge-transfer bands that yield the blue color of the “iodine-starch complex”. Indeed, iodide is a prerequisite of the reaction. However, some debate still exists regarding the nature of the iodine-iodine units inside the amylose helix. Species such as I₃^-, I₅^-, I₇^- etc. have been invoked. Here, we report UV-vis titration data and computational simulations using density functional theory (DFT) for the iodine/iodide chains as well as semiempirical (AM1, PM3) calculations of the amylose-iodine/iodide complexes, that (1) confirm that iodide is a pre-requisite for blue color formation in the iodine-starch system, (2) propose the nature of the complex to involve alternating sets of I₂ and I_x^- units, and (3) identify the nature of the charge-transfer bands as involving transfer from the I_x^- σ* orbitals (HOMO) to I₂ σ* LUMO orbitals. The best candidate for the “blue complex”, based on DFT geometry optimizations and TD-DFT spectral simulations, is an I₂-I₅-I₂ unit, which is expected to occur in a repetitive manner inside the amylose helix. Full article

Intermolecular bonding attraction at π-bonded centers is often described as “electrostatically driven” and given quasi-classical rationalization in terms of a “pi hole” depletion region in the electrostatic potential. However, we demonstrate here that such bonding attraction also occurs between closed-shell ions of like charge, thereby yielding locally stable complexes that sharply violate classical electrostatic expectations. Standard DFT and MP2 computational methods are employed to investigate complexation of simple pi-bonded diatomic anions (BO⁻, CN⁻) with simple atomic anions (H⁻, F⁻) or with one another. Such “anti-electrostatic” anion–anion attractions are shown to lead to robust metastable binding wells (ranging up to 20–30 kcal/mol at DFT level, or still deeper at dynamically correlated MP2 level) that are shielded by broad predissociation barriers (ranging up to 1.5 Å width) from long-range ionic dissociation. Like-charge attraction at pi-centers thereby provides additional evidence for the dominance of 3-center/4-electron (3c/4e) n_D-π*_AX interactions that are fully analogous to the n_D-σ*_AH interactions of H-bonding. Using standard keyword options of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, we demonstrate that both n-σ* (sigma hole) and n-π* (pi hole) interactions represent simple variants of the essential resonance-type donor-acceptor (Bürgi–Dunitz-type) attraction that apparently underlies all intermolecular association phenomena of chemical interest. We further demonstrate that “deletion” of such π*-based donor-acceptor interaction obliterates the characteristic Bürgi–Dunitz signatures of pi-hole interactions, thereby establishing the unique cause/effect relationship to short-range covalency (“charge transfer”) rather than envisioned Coulombic properties of unperturbed monomers. Full article

²³⁰Th/U dating can provide high-precision age constraints on Quaternary hydrothermal sulfides. However, low content of U and Th often involves extraction chemistry for the separation and enrichment of U and Th, but these chemical processes are very complex. We developed a simplified procedure consisting of total sample dissolution and single-column extraction chemistry, which can reduce the time and improve the accuracy of the dating. Concentrated HCl-HF followed by HNO₃ was added to ensure complete dissolution. A single column filled with 0.4 mL of AG 1-X8 anion resin was used, then 8 M HNO₃, 8 M HCl and 0.1 M HNO₃ were used to elute most of the matrix metals, Th and U. This process provided more than 95% recoveries for U and Th, and negligible blanks. Meanwhile, Pb and Bi interferences were tested and showed no effect on the U and Th isotope ratio. The ²³⁰Th/²³⁸U activity of the Geological Survey of Japan geochemical reference material JZn-1 in secular equilibrium was determined and showed a radioactive equilibrium (1.00 ± 0.01, n = 5, all errors 2σ) and an in-house standard QS-1 was consistent to 0.0078 ± 0.0001 (n = 8, ±2σ) with an average age of 705 ± 10 yrs BP (n = 8, ±2σ). The technique greatly shortens the sample preparation time and allows more concise and effective analysis of U-Th isotopes. It is ideally suited for the high-precision ²³⁰Th/U dating of Quaternary submarine hydrothermal sulfides and sulfides from other settings. Full article

Reactions of dinitrobenzoannulated heterocycles (furazan, thiadiazole, selenadiazole, pyridine) with anionic C-nucleophiles (mono- and diketones, nitroalkanes and related compounds) provided stable anionic adducts in high yields. Consecutive oxidation with ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate resulted in re-aromatization with the formation of the corresponding substitution products, formally representing C-H-functionalized benzoheterocycles. Full article

The influence of the cobalt cation geometric environment on catalytic activity, namely, oxygen adsorption and its activation, was investigated by exploring two groups of systems. The first group was formed by cobalt cation complexes, in which the Co²⁺ was surrounded by water-H₂O or acetonitrile-CH₃CN solvent molecules. This represents heteropolyacids salts (Co_nH_3-nPW(Mo)₁₂O₄₀), where the Co²⁺ acts as a cation that compensates for the negative charge of the Keggin anion and is typically surrounded by solvent molecules in that system. The second group consisted of tungsten or molybdenum Keggin anions (H₅PW₁₁CoO₃₉ and H₅PMo₁₁CoO₃₉), having the Co²⁺ cation incorporated into the anion framework, in the position of one addenda atom. Detailed NOCV (Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence) analysis showed that, for all studied systems, the σ-donation and σ-backdonation active channels of the electron transfer were responsible for the creation of a single Co-OO bond. Depending on the chemical/geometrical environment of the Co²⁺ cation, the different quantities of electrons were flown from the Co²⁺ 3d orbital to the π* antibonding molecular orbitals of the oxygen ligand, as well as in the opposite direction. In molybdenum and tungsten heteropolyacids, modified by Co²⁺ in the position of the addenda atom, activation of O₂ was supported by a π-polarization process. Calculated data show that the oxygen molecule activation changed in the following order: H₅PMo₁₁CoO₃₉ = H₅PW₁₁CoO₃₉ > Co(CH₃CN)₅²⁺ > Co(H₂O)₅²⁺. Full article

Boron and arsenic triiodides (BI₃ and AsI₃, respectively) are similar molecules that differ mainly in their geometries. BI₃ is a planar trigonal molecule with D_3h symmetry, while AsI₃ exhibits a trigonal pyramidal shape with C_3v symmetry. Consequently, the As atom of the AsI₃ molecule has three σ-holes, whereas the B atom of the BI₃ molecule has two symmetrical π-holes. Additionally, there are σ-holes on the iodine atoms in the molecules studied. In the first step, we have studied σ-hole and π-hole interactions in the known monocrystals of BI₃ and AsI₃. Quantum mechanical calculations have revealed that the crystal packing of BI₃ is dominated by π-hole interactions. In the case of AsI₃, the overall contribution of dihalogen bonding is comparable to that of pnictogen bonding. Additionally, we have prepared the [Na(THF)₆]⁺[I(AsI₃)₆]⁻(AsI₃)₂ complex, which can be described as the inverse coordination compound where the iodine anion is the center of the aggregate surrounded by six AsI₃ molecules in the close octahedral environment and adjacent two molecules in remote distances. This complex is, besides expected dihalogen and pnictogen bonds, also stabilized by systematically attractive dispersion interactions. Full article

Solvothermal and microwave-assisted methods have been used to prepare several amidate and carboxylate complexes of the type [Ru₂X(µ-NHOCC₆H₃-3,5-(OMe)₂)₄]_n [X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)] and [Ru₂X(µ-O₂CC₆H₃-3,5-(OMe)₂)₄]_n [X = Cl (4), Br (5), I (6)]. Complexes 4–6 have also been obtained by conventional synthesis which is ineffective to prepare the amidate compounds. However, single crystals of complexes 1–5 were obtained using the solvothermal method. The single crystal X-ray structure determination of compounds 1–5 have been carried out. All complexes display a paddlewheel-type structure with the metal atoms connected by four bridging amidate or carboxylate ligands. Chloride, bromide, or iodide anions connect the dimetallic units, producing one-dimensional zigzag chains. The magnetic properties of all compounds were studied. The magnetic moment at room temperature are in accordance with an electronic configuration with three unpaired electrons σ²π⁴δ²(π*δ*)³ per dimer unit. The fit of the magnetic data suggests the existence, in these complexes, of a weak antiferromagnetic intermolecular interaction between the diruthenium units mediated by the halide ligand and an appreciable zero-field splitting in the diruthenium moieties. Full article

Pyrylium salts are a very important class of organic molecules containing a trivalent oxygen atom in a six-membered aromatic ring. In this manuscript, we report a theoretical study of pyrylium salts and their thio-, seleno- and telluro- analogues by means of DFT calculations. For this purpose, unsubstituted 2,4,6-trimethyl and 2,4,6-triphenyl cations and anions with different morphologies were chosen (Cl^–, NO₃^– and BF₄^–). The complexes were characterized by means of natural bond orbital and “atoms-in-molecules” theories, and the physical nature of the interactions has been analyzed by means of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations. Our results indicate the presence of anion-π interactions and chalcogen bonds based on both σ- and π-hole interactions and the existence of very favorable σ-complexes, especially for unsubstituted cations. The electrostatic component is dominant in the interactions, although the induction contributions are important, particularly for chloride complexes. The geometrical features of the complexes have been compared with experimental data retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database. Full article

Covalently-bonded atoms of Groups IV–VII tend to have anisotropic charge distributions, the electronic densities being less on the extensions of the bonds (σ-holes) than in the intervening regions. These σ-holes often give rise to positive electrostatic potentials through which the atom can interact attractively and highly directionally with negative sites (e.g., lone pairs, π electrons and anions), forming noncovalent complexes. For Group VII this is called “halogen bonding” and has been widely studied both computationally and experimentally. For Groups IV–VI, it is only since 2007 that positive σ-holes have been recognized as explaining many noncovalent interactions that have in some instances long been known experimentally. There is considerable experimental evidence for such interactions involving groups IV and VI, particularly in the form of surveys of crystal structures. However we have found less extensive evidence for Group V. Accordingly we have now conducted a survey of the Cambridge Structural Database for crystalline close contacts of trivalent nitrogen, phosphorus and arsenic with six different types of electronegative atoms in neighboring molecules. We have found numerous close contacts that fit the criteria for σ-hole interactions. Some of these are discussed in detail; in two instances, computed molecular electrostatic potentials are presented. Full article