From Square-Planar [ICl4 ]− to Novel Chloroiodates(III)? A Systematic Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Their Ionic Liquids

Insights into structure-property relationships in ionic liquids using cyclic perfluoroalkylsulfonylimides

Room temperature ionic liquids of cyclic sulfonimide anions ncPFSI (ring size: n = 4-6) with the cations [EMIm]⁺ (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium), [BMIm]⁺ (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) and [BMPL]⁺ (BMPL = 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium) have been synthesized. Their solid-state structures have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and their physicochemical properties (thermal behaviour and stability, dynamic viscosity and specific conductivity) have been assessed. In addition, the ion diffusion was studied by pulsed field gradient stimulated echo (PFGSTE) NMR spectroscopy. The decisive influence of the ring size of the cyclic sulfonimide anions on the physicochemical properties of the ILs has been revealed. All ILs show different properties compared to those of the non-cyclic TFSI anion. While these differences are especially distinct for ILs with the very rigid 6cPFSI anion, the 5-membered ring anion 5cPFSI was found to result in ILs with relatively similar properties. The difference between the properties of the TFSI anion and the cyclic sulfonimide anions has been rationalized by the rigidity (conformational lock) of the cyclic sulfonimide anions. The comparison of selected IL properties was augmented by MD simulations. These highlight the importance of π⁺-π⁺ interactions between pairs of [EMIm]⁺ cations in the liquid phase. The π⁺-π⁺ interactions are evident for the solid state from the molecular structures of the [EMIm]⁺-ILs with the three cyclic imide anions determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Weak yet Decisive: Molecular Halogen Bond and Competing Weak Interactions of Iodobenzene and Quinuclidine

The halogen bonded adduct between the commonly used constituents quinuclidine and iodobenzene is based on a single weak nitrogen-iodine contact, and the isolation of this adduct was initially unexpected. Iodobenzene does not contain any electron-withdrawing group and therefore represents an unconventional halogen bond donor. Based on excellent diffraction data of high resolution, an electron density study was successfully accomplished and confirmed one of the longest N···I molecular halogen bonds with a distance of 2.9301(4) Å. The topological analysis identified the XB as a directional but weak σ hole interaction and revealed secondary contacts between peripheral regions of opposite charge. These additional contacts and their competition with a nitrogen-based interaction were confirmed by NOESY experiments in solution. Integration enabled us to determine the relative NOE ratios and provided insight regarding the existing interactions.

The Binary Iodine-Chlorine Octahalide Series [In Cl8-n ]2- (n=3, 3.6, 4)

The octanuclear iodine-chlorine interhalides [I₄ Cl₄ ]^2- and [I₃ Cl₅ ]^2- were prepared in two steps. Firstly, addition of ICl to the triaminocyclopropenium chloride salt [C₃ (NEt₂ )₃ ]Cl forms the trihalide ICl₂ ^- salt, secondly, addition of half an equivalent of I₂ or ICl, respectively, gave the desired products upon crystallization at low temperature. The non-stoichiometric octahalide [I_3.6 Cl_4.4 ]^2- was obtained after heating a CH₂ Cl₂ solution of the ICl₂ ^- salt to reflux for 2 hours followed crystallization. [I₄ Cl₄ ]^2- is best described as two ICl₂ ^- anions bridged by I₂ , whereas [I₃ Cl₅ ]^2- is best described as an [I₂ Cl₃ ]^- pentahalide with a weak halogen bond to an ICl₂ ^- trihalide. The octahalides were characterized by X-ray crystallography, computational studies, Raman and Far-IR spectroscopies, as well as by TGA and melting point.

Synthesis and Characterization of [Br3 ][MF6 ] (M=Sb, Ir), as well as Quantum Chemical Study of [Br3 ]+ Structure, Chemical Bonding, and Relativistic Effects Compared with [XBr2 ]+ (X=Br, I, At, Ts) and [TsZ2 ]+ (Z=F, Cl, Br, I, At, Ts)

[Br₃ ][SbF₆ ] and [Br₃ ][IrF₆ ] were synthesized by interaction of BrF₃ with Sb₂ O₃ or iridium metal, respectively. The former compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn (No. 60) with a=11.9269(7), b=11.5370(7), c=12.0640(6) Å, V=1660.01(16) ų , Z=8 at 100 K. The latter compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 ‾ (No. 2) with a=5.4686(5), b=7.6861(8), c=9.9830(9) Å, α=85.320(8), β=82.060(7), γ=78.466(7)°, V=406.56(7) ų , Z=2 at 100 K. Both compounds contain the cation [Br₃ ]⁺ , which has a bent structure and is coordinated by octahedron-like anions [MF₆ ]^- (M=Sb, Ir). Experimentally obtained cell parameters, bond lengths, and angles are confirmed by solid-state DFT calculations, which differ from the experimental values by less than 2 %. Relativistic effects on the structure of the tribromonium(1+) cation are studied computationally and found to be small. For the heaviest analogues containing At and Ts, however, pronounced relativistic effects are found, which lead to a linear structure of the polyhalogen cation.