Cyclic Hydrocarbon Frameworks Containing Two Bismuth Atoms: Towards 9,10-Dibismaanthracene

When bismuth atoms are incorporated into cyclic organic systems, this commonly goes along with strained or distorted molecular geometries, which can be exploited to modulate the physical and chemical properties of these compounds. In six-membered heterocycles, bismuth atoms are often accompanied by oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen as a second hetero-element. In this work, we present the first examples of six-membered rings, in which two CH units are replaced by BiX moieties (X=Cl, Br, I), resulting in dihydro-anthracene analogs. Their behavior in chemically reversible reduction reactions is explored, aiming at the generation of dibisma-anthracene (bismanthrene). Heterometallic compounds (Bi/Fe, Bi/Mn) are introduced as potential bismanthrene surrogates, as supported by bismanthrene-transfer to selenium. Analytical techniques used to investigate the reported compounds include NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, and DFT calculations.

Recent advances in the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–selenium and –tellurium compounds from 14–16 reagents

The use of reagents containing bonds between group 14 elements and Se or Te for the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–chalcogen compounds is covered. Background material is briefly reviewed and examples from the literature are highlighted from the period 2007–2017. Emphasis is placed on the different classes of 14–16 precursors and their application in the targeted synthesis of metal–chalcogen compounds. The unique properties arising from the combination of specific 14–16 precursors, metal atoms, and ancillary ligands are also described. Selected examples are chosen to underline the progress in (i) controlled synthesis of heterometallic (ternary) chalcogen clusters, (ii) chalcogen clusters with organic functionalized surfaces, and (iii) crystalline open-framework metal chalcogenides.

Dispersion interactions between neighboring Bi atoms in (BiH3 )2 and Te(BiR2 )2

Triggered by the observation of a short Bi⋯Bi distance and a BiTeBi bond angle of only 86.6° in the crystal structure of bis(diethylbismuthanyl)tellurane quantum chemical computations on interactions between neighboring Bi atoms in Te(BiR₂ )₂ molecules (R = H, Me, Et) and in (BiH₃ )₂ were undertaken. Bi⋯Bi distances atoms were found to significantly shorten upon inclusion of the d shells of the heavy metal atoms into the electron correlation treatment, and it was confirmed that interaction energies from spin component-scaled second-order Møller-Plesset theory (SCS-MP2) agree well with coupled-cluster singles and doubles theory including perturbative triples (CCSD(T)). Density functional theory-based symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (DFT-SAPT) was used to study the anisotropy of the interplay of dispersion attraction and steric repulsion between the Bi atoms. Finally, geometries and relative stabilities of syn-syn and syn-anti conformers of Te(BiR₂ )₂ (R = H, Me, Et) and interconversion barriers between them were computed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Synthesis, structure and dispersion interactions in bis(1,8-naphthalendiyl)distibine

Naph₂Sb₂1 was synthesized by a reaction of 1,8-dilithionaphthalene NaphLi₂ with SbCl₃ and its solid state structure is reported on. 1 shows intermolecular interactions in the solid state, which were studied by quantum chemical calculations with dispersion corrected density functional theory, supermolecular ab initio approaches and symmetry adapted perturbation theory. The same methods were employed to compare the solid state interactions in the crystal of 1 to those in real (for E = P) and hypothetical (for E = As and Bi) crystal structures of Naph₂E₂. Dispersion interactions were found to provide the most important stabilising contribution in all cases, seconded by electrostatic attraction between pnictogen atoms and π-systems of neighbouring naphthyl groups.

Wet-chemical synthesis of different bismuth telluride nanoparticles using metal organic precursors – single source vs. dual source approach

Thermolysis of metal organicsingle sourceanddual source precursorsyielded phase-pure Bi_xTe_ynanoparticles at low temperatures.

Te–Te and Te–C bond cleavage reactions using a monovalent gallanediyl

Te–Te and Te–C bond cleavage occurs in reactions of monovalent LGa (L = [(2,6-i-Pr₂-C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂CH) with Te, Ph₂Te₂ and i-Pr₂Te. (LGa-μ-Te)₂1, LGa(TePh)₂2 and LGa(i-Pr)Tei-Pr 3 were characterized by heteronuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹²⁵Te) and IR spectroscopy and by single crystal X-ray analyses.