Crystal structures and molecular modeling of 1,8 chalcogenide-substituted naphthalenes

Synthesis, Catalytic GPx-like Activity, and SET Reactions of Conformationally Constrained 2,7-Dialkoxy-Substituted Naphthalene-1,8-peri-diselenides

Several 2,7-dialkoxy-substituted naphthalene-1,8-peri-diselenides were prepared and tested for catalytic antioxidant activity in an NMR-based assay employing the reduction of hydrogen peroxide with stoichiometric amounts of benzyl thiol. Acidic conditions enhanced their catalytic activity, whereas basic conditions suppressed it. The highest activity was observed with a 2,7-bis(triethyleneglycol) derivative. These compounds serve as mimetics of the antioxidant selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase. Studies based on NMR peak-broadening effects and EPR spectroscopy indicated that a thiol-dependent SET reaction occurs under the conditions of the assay, which can be reversed by the addition of triethylamine. In contrast, peak broadening induced by proton-catalyzed electron transfer during the treatment of naphthalene-1,8-peri-diselenides with trifluoroacetic acid can be suppressed by the addition of excess thiol. These observations provide new insights into the redox mechanisms of these processes.

Glutathione peroxidase mimics based on conformationally-restricted, peri-like, 4,5-disubstituted fluorene dichalcogenides

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) regulates cellular peroxide levels through glutathione oxidation. GPx-mimics based on 4,5-disubstituted fluorene diselenides, their oxides, and ditellurides show catalytic activities consistent with conformational restriction about the dichalcogen bond.

Synthetic exploration of sulfinyl radicals using sulfinyl sulfones

Sulfinyl radicals – one of the fundamental classes of S-centered radicals – have eluded synthetic application in organic chemistry for over 60 years, despite their potential to assemble valuable sulfoxide compounds. Here we report the successful generation and use of sulfinyl radicals in a dual radical addition/radical coupling with unsaturated hydrocarbons, where readily-accessed sulfinyl sulfones serve as the sulfinyl radical precursor. The strategy provides an entry to a variety of previously inaccessible linear and cyclic disulfurized adducts in a single step, and demonstrates tolerance to an extensive range of hydrocarbons and functional groups. Experimental and theoretical mechanistic investigations suggest that these reactions proceed through sequential sulfonyl and sulfinyl radical addition.

Sulfinyl radicals are an underexplored synthon in organic chemistry due to the fact that they reversibly add to pi systems and undergo homodimerization. Here the authors synthesize sulfonyl sulfones, previously thought to be unstable, and demonstrate their broad use as sulfinyl radical precursors in disulfurizations of alkenes and alkynes.

Chalcogen vs Halogen Bonding Catalysis in a Water-Bridge-Cocatalyzed Nitro-Michael Reaction

Recently, a tellurium-based chalcogen-bond-catalyzed nitro-Michael reaction was reported ( Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 16923), taking advantage of the strong Lewis acidity of the catalyst. This species was found to be more effective than an analogous iodine-based halogen bond organocatalyst. Herein, we present a detailed mechanistic and kinetic analysis of these catalytic cycles including the influence of the solvent (and the performance of different intrinsic solvation models). While the chalcogen bonding interaction is fundamental to activate the C-C bond formation, we found that the presence of a two-water molecular bridge is critical to allow the following, otherwise high-energy proton transfer step. Even though the iodine-based halogen bonding interaction is stronger than the tellurium-based chalcogen bonding one, which makes the former a stronger Lewis acid and hence in principle a more efficient catalyst, solvation effects explain the smaller energy span of the latter.

Anisotropic charge carrier transport of optoelectronic functional selenium-containing organic semiconductor materials

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) materials are currently under intense investigation because of their potential applications such as organic field-effect transistors, organic photovoltaic devices, and organic light-emitting diodes. Inspired by the selenization strategy can promote anisotropic charge carrier migration, and selenium-containing compounds have been proved to be promising materials as OSCs both for hole and electron transfer. Herein, we now explore the anisotropic transport properties of the series of selenium-containing compounds. For the compound containing SeSe bond, the SeSe bond will break when attaching an electron, thus those compounds cannot act as n-type OSCs. About the different isomer compounds with conjugated structure, the charge transfer will be affected by the stacking of the conjugated structures. The analysis of chemical structure and charge transfer property indicates that Se-containing materials are promising high-performance OSCs and might be used as p-type, n-type, or ambipolar OSCs. Furthermore, the symmetry of the selenium-containing OSCs will affect the type of OSCs. In addition, there is no direct relationship between the R groups with their performance, whether it or not as p-type OSCs or n-types. This work demonstrates the relationship between the optoelectronic function and structure of selenium-containing OSCs materials and hence paves the way to design and improve optoelectronic function of OSCs materials.

Carbonyl Activation by Selenium- and Tellurium-Based Chalcogen Bonding in a Michael Addition Reaction

In the last years the use of chalcogen bonding—the noncovalent interaction involving electrophilic chalcogen centers—in noncovalent organocatalysis has received increased interest, particularly regarding the use of intermolecular Lewis acids. Herein, we present the first use of tellurium‐based catalysts for the activation of a carbonyl compound (and only the second such activation by chalcogen bonding in general). As benchmark reaction, the Michael‐type addition between trans‐crotonophenone and 1‐methylindole (and its derivatives) was investigated in the presence of various catalyst candidates. Whereas non‐chalcogen‐bonding reference compounds were inactive, strong rate accelerations of up to 1000 could be achieved by bidentate triazolium‐based chalcogen bond donors, with product yields of >90 % within 2 h of reaction time. Organotellurium derivatives were markedly more active than their selenium and sulphur analogues and non‐coordinating counterions like BAr^F₄ provide the strongest dicationic catalysts.

Chalcogen Bonding: An Overview

In the last few decades, "unusual" noncovalent interactions like anion-π and halogen bonding have emerged as interesting alternatives to the ubiquitous hydrogen bonding in many research areas. This is also true, to a somewhat lesser extent, for chalcogen bonding, the noncovalent interaction involving Lewis acidic chalcogen centers. Herein, we aim to provide an overview on the use of chalcogen bonding in crystal engineering and in solution, with a focus on the recent developments concerning intermolecular chalcogen bonding in solution-phase applications. In the solid phase, chalcogen bonding has been used for the construction of nano-sized structures and the self-assembly of sophisticated self-complementary arrays. In solution, until very recently applications mostly focused on intramolecular interactions which stabilized the conformation of intermediates or reagents. In the last few years, intermolecular chalcogen bonding has increasingly also been exploited in solution, most notably in anion recognition and transport as well as in organic synthesis and organocatalysis.

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.

Diphosphane 2,2'-binaphtho[1,8-de][1,3,2]dithiaphosphinine and the easy formation of a stable phosphorus radical cation

A convenient synthesis route to 2,2'-binaphtho[1,8-de][1,3,2]di-thiaphosphinine () was found. Its stable radical cation 3˙(+) was accessed easily through one-electron oxidation with NOBF4.

Investigating silver coordination to mixed chalcogen ligands

Six silver(I) coordination complexes have been prepared and structurally characterised. Mixed chalcogen-donor acenaphthene ligands L1-L3 [Acenap(EPh)(E'Ph)] (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; E/E' = S, Se, Te) were independently treated with silver(I) salts (AgBF₄/AgOTf). In order to keep the number of variables to a minimum, all reactions were carried out using a 1:1 ratio of Ag/L and run in dichloromethane. The nature of the donor atoms, the coordinating ability of the respective counter-anion and the type of solvent used in recrystallisation, all affect the structural architecture of the final silver(I) complex, generating monomeric, silver(I) complexes {[AgBF₄(L)₂] (1 L = L1; 2 L = L2; 3 L = L3), [AgOTf(L)₃] (4 L = L1; 5 L = L3), [AgBF₄(L)₃] (2a L = L1; 3a L = L3)} and a 1D polymeric chain {[AgOTf(L3)](n) 6}. The organic acenaphthene ligands L1-L3 adopt a number of ligation modes (bis-monodentate μ₂-η²-bridging, quasi-chelating combining monodentate and η⁶-E(phenyl)-Ag(I) and classical monodentate coordination) with the central silver atom at the centre of a tetrahedral or trigonal planar coordination geometry in each case. The importance of weak interactions in the formation of metal-organic structures is also highlighted by the number of short non-covalent contacts present within each complex.

Onset of three-centre, four-electron bonding in peri-substituted acenaphthenes: a structural and computational investigation

Two series of sterically crowded peri-substituted acenaphthenes have been prepared, containing mixed halogen-chalcogen functionalities at the 5,6-positions in A1-A6 (Acenap[X][EPh] (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; X = Br, I; E = S, Se, Te) and chalcogen-chalcogen moieties in A7-A12 (Acenap[EPh][E'Ph] (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; E/E' = S, Se, Te). The related dihalide compounds A13-A16 Acenap[XX'] (XX' = BrBr, II, IBr, ClCl) have also been prepared. Distortion of the acenaphthene framework away from the ideal was studied as a function of the steric bulk of the interacting halogen and chalcogen atoms occupying the peri-positions. The acenaphthene series experiences a general increase in peri-separation for molecules accommodating heavier congeners and maps the trends observed previously for the analogous naphthalene compounds N1-N12 (Nap[X][EPh], Nap[EPh][E'Ph] (X = Br, I; E/E' = S, Se, Te). The conformation of the aromatic ring systems and subsequent location of p-type lone-pairs dominates the geometry of the peri-region. The differences in peri-separations observed for compounds adopting differing conformations of the peri-substituted phenyl group can be correlated to the ability of the frontier orbitals of the halogen or chalcogen atoms to take part in attractive or repulsive interactions. Density-functional studies have confirmed these interactions and suggested the onset of formation of three-centre, four-electron bonding under appropriate geometric conditions.

Bis(furan-2-ylcarbon-yl) diselenide

The title mol­ecule, C₁₀H₆O₄Se₂, lies on a twofold rotation axis. The Se—Se bond length of 2.305 (3) Å is similar to that in diphenyl diselenide [2.3066 (7) and 2.3073 (10) Å for the P and M isomers, respectively] and longer than that in 1,8-diseleno­naph­thalene [2.0879 (8) Å]. The mol­ecule adopts a gauche conformation with respect to the C=O groups.

1,2-Bis(2-bromo-benz-yl)diselane

In the title compound, C₁₄H₁₂Br₂Se₂, the Se—Se bond length [2.3034 (9) Å] is similar to those in diphenyl diselenide [2.3066 (7) and 2.3073 (10) Å] and shorter than that in 1,8-diselenona­phthalene [2.0879 (8)Å]. The mol­ecule adopts a classical gauche conformation.

Synthetic and structural studies of 1,8-chalcogen naphthalene derivatives

Four novel 1,8-disubstituted naphthalene derivatives 4-7 that contain chalcogen atoms occupying the peri positions have been prepared and fully characterised by using X-ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Molecular distortion due to noncovalent substituent interactions was studied as a function of the bulk of the interacting chalcogen atoms and the size and nature of the alkyl group attached to them. X-ray data for 4-7 was compared to the series of known 1,8-bis(phenylchalcogeno)naphthalenes 1-3, which were themselves prepared from novel synthetic routes. A general increase in the E...E' distance was observed for molecules containing bulkier atoms at the peri positions. The decreased S...S distance from phenyl-1 and ethyl-4 analogues is ascribed to a weaker chalcogen lone pair-lone pair repulsion acting in the ethyl analogue due to the presence of two equatorial S(naphthyl) ring conformations. Two novel peri-substituted naphthalene sulfoxides of 1, Nap(O=SPh)(SPh) 8 and Nap(O=SPh)(2) 9, which contain different valence states of sulfur, were prepared and fully characterised by using X-ray crystallography and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Molecular structures were analysed by using naphthalene ring torsions, peri-atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, S...S interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi-linear O=S...S arrangements. The axial S(naphthyl) rings in 8 and 9 are unfavourable for S...S contacts due to stronger chalcogen lone pair-lone pair repulsion. Although quasi-linear O=S...S alignments suggest attractive interaction is conceivable, analysis of the B3LYP wavefunctions affords no evidence for direct bonding interactions between the S atoms.

8-Bromo-naphthalen-1-amine

The title compound, C₁₀H₈BrN, was obtained by slow addition of sodium azide to 8-bromo-1-naphthoic acid, followed by addition of aqueous ammonia. The crude product was crystallized from petroleum ether to give pink crystals. Compared to other 1,8-disubstituted naphthalene compounds, this compound exhibits less strain between the 1 and 8 substituents. Additionally, the NH protons form both intra- and inter­molecular hydrogen bonds. The naphthalene units are arranged in a herring-bone stacking motif.

Molecular and Electronic Structure of 1,8-Peribridged Naphthalenes

The crystal and molecular structure of 1,8-thianaphthalene has been determined and compared with other single-atom peribridged naphthalenes (SAPN). The measured CSC angle is 73.06 degrees, which is the smallest bridging angle yet recorded for a SAPN derivative. The ab initio calculations using G3(MP2)//B3LYP method were performed for peribridged naphthalenes in order to determine how the strain of the four-membered ring is influenced by the type of bridge linking 1,8 positions. The electronic structure of 1,8-thia- and 1,8-sulfonenaphthalenes has been studied by UV photoelectron spectroscopy. We have tried to identify and distinguish the strain effect on the electronic structure of the naphthalene moiety.

The Preparation and Characterisation of Hetero- and Homobimetallic Complexes Containing Bridging Naphthalene-1,8-dithiolato Ligands

Homo- and heterobimetallic complexes of the form [(PPh(3))(2)(mu(2)-1,8-S(2)-nap){ML(n)}] (in which (1,8-S(2)-nap)=naphtho-1,8-dithiolate and {ML(n)}={PtCl(2)} (1), {PtClMe} (2), {PtClPh} (3), {PtMe(2)} (4), {PtIMe(3)} (5) and {Mo(CO)(4)} (6)) were obtained by the addition of [PtCl(2)(NCPh)(2)], [PtClMe(cod)] (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene), [PtClPh(cod)], [PtMe(2)(cod)], [{PtIMe(3)}(4)] and [Mo(CO)(4)(nbd)] (nbd=norbornadiene), respectively, to [Pt(PPh(3))(2)(1,8-S(2)-nap)]. Synthesis of cationic complexes was achieved by the addition of one or two equivalents of a halide abstractor, Ag[BF(4)] or Ag[ClO(4)], to [{Pt(mu-Cl)(mu-eta(2):eta(1)-C(3)H(5))}(4)], [{Pd(mu-Cl)(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))}(2)], [{IrCl(mu-Cl)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}(2)] (in which C(5)Me(5)=Cp*=1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), [{RhCl(mu-Cl)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}(2)], [PtCl(2)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] and [{Rh(mu-Cl)(cod)}(2)] to give the appropriate coordinatively unsaturated species that, upon treatment with [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(1,8-S(2)-nap)], gave complexes of the form [(PPh(3))(2)(mu(2)-1,8-S(2)-nap){ML(n)}][X] (in which {ML(n)}[X]={Pt(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))}[ClO(4)] (7), {Pd(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))}[ClO(4)] (8), {IrCl(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}[ClO(4)] (9), {RhCl(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}[BF(4)] (10), {Pt(PMe(2)Ph)(2)}[ClO(4)](2) (11), {Rh(cod)}[ClO(4)] (12); the carbonyl complex {Rh(CO)(2)}[ClO(4)] (13) was formed by bubbling gaseous CO through a solution of 12. In all cases the naphtho-1,8-dithiolate ligand acts as a bridge between two metal centres to give a four-membered PtMS(2) ring (M=transition metal). All compounds were characterised spectroscopically. The X-ray structures of 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 reveal a binuclear PtMS(2) core with PtM distances ranging from 2.9630(8)-3.438(1) A for 8 and 5, respectively. The napS(2) mean plane is tilted with respect to the PtP(2)S(2) coordination plane, with dihedral angles in the range 49.7-76.1 degrees and the degree of tilting being related to the PtM distance and the coordination number of M. The sum of the Pt(1)coordination plane/napS(2) angle, a, and the Pt(1)coordination plane/M(2)coordination plane angle, b, a+b, is close to 120 degrees in nearly all cases. This suggests that electronic effects play a significant role in these binuclear systems.