Pseudohalide Tectons within the Coordination Sphere of the Uranyl Ion: Experimental and Theoretical Study of C-H···O, C-H···S, and Chalcogenide Noncovalent Interactions

A series of uranyl thiocyanate and selenocyanate of the type [R₄N]₃[UO₂(NCS)₅] (R₄ = ⁿBu₄, Me₃Bz, Et₃Bz), [Ph₄P][UO₂(NCS)₃(NO₃)] and [R₄N]₃[UO₂(NCSe)₅] (R₄ = Me₄, ⁿPr₄, Et₃Bz) have been prepared and structurally characterized. The resulting noncovalent interactions have been examined and compared to other examples in the literature. The nature of these interactions is determined by the cation so that when the alkyl groups are small, chalcogenide···chalcogenide interactions are present, but this "switches off" when R = ⁿPr and charge assisted U═O···H-C and S(e)···H-C hydrogen bonding remain the dominant interaction. Increasing the size of the chain to ⁿBu results in only S···H-C interactions. The spectroscopic implications of these chalcogenide interactions have been explored in the vibrational and photophysical properties of the series [R₄N]₃[UO₂(NCS)₅] (R₄ = Me₄, Et₄, ⁿPr₄, ⁿBu₄, Me₃Bz, Et₃Bz), [R₄N]₃[UO₂(NCSe)₅] (R₄ = Me₄, ⁿPr₄, Et₃Bz) and [Et₄N]₄[UO₂(NCSe)₅][NCSe]. The data suggest that U═O···H-C interactions are weak and do not perturb the uranyl moiety. While the chalcogenide interactions do not influence the photophysical properties, a coupling of the U═O and δ(NCS) or δ(NCSe) vibrational modes is observed in the 77 K solid state emission spectra. A theoretical examination of representative examples of Se···Se, C-H···Se, and C-H···O═U by molecular electrostatic potentials and NBO and AIM methodologies gives a deeper understanding of these weak interactions. C-H···Se are individually weak but C-H···O═U interactions are even weaker, supporting the idea that the -yl oxo's are weak Lewis bases. An Atoms in Molecules study suggests that the chalcogenide interaction is similar to lone pair···π or fluorine···fluorine interactions. An oxidation of the NCS ligands to form [(UO₂)(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·3H₂O was also noted.

Synthesis, reactivity and structural studies of selenide bridged carboranyl compounds

Reaction of the lithium salt Li[1-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10)] with selenium under mild conditions, followed by hydrolysis gave the diselenide compound (1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) in contrast to the well-reported mercapto compounds 1-SH-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) obtained using a similar synthetic procedure. Details for the preparation and X-ray structural characterisation of the new compounds (2-Me-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)Se, (1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (R = Me, Ph, ) are specified. To further explore the mechanism of the dimerization reaction, the complex [Au(1-Se-2-Me-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(PPh(3))] was synthesized, confirming the existence of the intermediate Li[1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10)] at the early stages of the reaction before selenium oxidation. Theoretical calculations and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies were carried out to compare the bonding nature of the sulfur and the selenium analog compounds. It was determined that diselenides have a higher tendency to reduce with respect to the disulfides and all chalcogen atoms were found to be positively charged.

Determining the Solution State Orientation of a Ti Enolate via Stable Isotope Labeling, NMR Spectroscopy, and Modeling Studies

Our group has used Ti-promoted aldol additions with an oxazolidineselone as the chiral auxiliary with much success. In these reactions, the Se atom in the auxiliary both promotes stereospecific addition as well as reports on, through the use of 77Se NMR spectroscopy, the ratio of diastereomers produced and the geometry of intermediates as the reaction proceeds. Through stable isotope labeling and NMR spectroscopy, we are able to experimentally observe a Ti enolate in solution and gain insight into its structure and reactivity. Results from molecular modeling calculations are also presented for comparison with NMR data.