Hypermetallation is ubiquitous: MX6 molecules (MCPb, XLiK)

Iodine Anions beyond -1: Formation of LinI (n = 2-5) and Its Interaction with Quasiatoms

Novel phases of LinI (n = 2, 3, 4, 5) compounds are predicted to form under high pressure using first-principles density functional theory and an unbiased crystal structure search algorithm. All of the phases identified are thermodynamically stable with respect to decomposition into elemental Li and the binary LiI at a relatively low pressure (≈20 GPa). Increasing the pressure to 100 GPa yields the formation of a high pressure electride where electrons occupy interstitial quasiatom (ISQ) orbitals. Under these extreme pressures, the calculated charge on iodine suggests the oxidation state goes beyond the conventional and expected -1 charge for the halogens. This strange oxidative behavior stems from an electron transfer going from the ISQ to I(-) and Li(+) ions as high pressure collapses the void space. The resulting interplay between chemical bonding and the quantum chemical nature of enclosed interstitial space allows this first report of a halogen anion beyond a -1 oxidation state.

Hexa- and Octacoordinate Carbon in Hydrocarbon Cages: Theoretical Design and Characterization

A new series of hydrocarbon cages containing hexa- and octacoordinate carbon centers were designed theoretically by performing DFT calculations at the B3 LYP/6-311+G** level. Among these non-classical structures that were found to still obey the 8e rule, the two tetracations with octacoordinate carbons may be the first examples found in pure hydrocarbons. Structural characteristics, as well as thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities, were also investigated theoretically for these two octacoordinate tetracations. These hydrocarbon compounds containing hypercoordinate carbon centers provide a challenge for synthetic organic chemists.

Mechanistic studies on the B(C(6)F(5))(3) catalyzed allylstannation of aromatic aldehydes with ortho donor substituents

Mechanistic studies on the B(C(6)F(5))(3) catalyzed allylstannation of isomeric substituted benzaldehydes are reported. Confirming a report by Maruoka et al., good (5:1) to excellent (>20:1) selectivities for ortho over para isomers are observed when 1:1 mixtures (X = OMe, Cl, F, OTBS) are allylstannated with C(3)H(5)SnBu(3) in the presence of B(C(6)F(5))(3) (2.5% per CHO). The best selectivities are observed for the anisaldehydes. Multinuclear NMR studies on solutions of B(C(6)F(5))(3) and C(3)H(5)SnBu(3) (1:1 to 1:5) show that the borane abstracts the allyl group from the organotin reagent, forming an adduct (C(6)F(5))(3)B...CH(2)CHCH(2)SnBu(3), 1, or ion pair [(C(6)F(5))(3)BCH(2)CH=CH(2)](-)[Bu(3)SnCH(2)CHCH(2)SnBu(3)](+), 2, depending on the reagent ratio. These compounds are important in the mechanism of Lewis acid catalyzed 1,3-isomerization of substituted allyl stannanes. When allyltin reagent is added to solutions of B(C(6)F(5))(3) and ortho-anisaldehyde (1:5) at -60 degrees C, conversion to the stannylium ion pair [Bu(3)Sn(ortho-anisaldehyde)(2)](+)[o-ArCH(allyl)OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-), o,o-4, is observed. The structure of this species was confirmed by (1)H, (11)B, (19)F, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy and by forming related ion pairs (o-5 and o,o-5) utilizing the [B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) counteranion via reaction of [Bu(3)Sn](+)[B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) with aldehyde. The anion in o,o-4 is formed via direct allylation of the ortho-anisaldehyde/B(C(6)F(5))(3) adduct o-3, while the cation arises upon aldehyde ligation of the resulting tributylstannylium ion. The crystal structure of the related derivative ortho-C(6)H(4)(OMe)CHO x SnMe(3)BF(4), 6, showed that the aldehyde binds the tin nucleus only through the carbonyl oxygen. Similar reactions using para-anisaldehyde show that formation of p,p-4 occurs at a much slower rate, again demonstrating the preference for the ortho substituted substrates. For similar experiments using benzophenone, however, formation of the ion pair [Bu(3)Sn(Ph(2)CO)(2)](+)[(C(3)H(5))B(C(6)F(5))(3)](-), 8, was observed, illustrating the differences subtle changes in substrate can bring. Ion pair 8 is formed via the trapping of 1 by the benzophenone substrate. In the presence of excess aldehyde and allyltin reagent, ion pair o,o-4 catalyzes the allylstannation of aldehyde to give the product stannyl ether. Several lines of experimental evidence suggest this is the true catalyst in the system. The chemoselectivity observed thus does not rely on classical chelation control in any way. Rather, we propose that the ortho donor group stabilizes the developing positive charge at the beta carbon of the allyl group and the tin atom during the allylation event. This stabilization renders the ortho substituted substrates kinetically favored toward allylation irrespective of the Lewis acid employed.

Planar hexacoordinate carbon: a viable possibility

The viability of molecules with planar hexacoordinate carbon atoms is demonstrated by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations for CB6(2-), a CB6H2 isomer, and three C3B4 minima. All of these species have six pi electrons and are aromatic. Although other C3B4 isomers are lower in energy, the activation barriers for the rearrangements of the three planar carbon C3B4 minima into more stable isomers are appreciable, and experimental observation should be possible. High-level ab initio calculations confirm the DFT results. The planar hexacoordination in these species does not violate the octet rule because six partial bonds to the central carbons are involved.

Addition of ammonia to AlH3 and BH3. Why does only aluminum form 2:1 adducts?

The electronic structures of the mono- and bisammonia adducts EH3NH3 and EH3(NH3)2, E = B and Al, have been investigated using ab initio electronic structure methods. Geometries were optimized at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. Higher-level correlated methods (MP4(SDTQ), QCISD(T), CCSD(T)), as well as the G2 and CBS-Q methods, were used to obtain accurate bond dissociation energies. The E-N bond dissociation energy (De) is computed near 33 kcal/mol (E = B) and 31 kca/mol (E = Al), respectively. Whereas the Al-N bond energy pertaining to the second ammonia molecule in AlH3(NH3)2 is 11-12 kcal/mol, only a transition-state structure may be located for the species BH3(NH3)2. We analyze factors which may distinguish Al from B with respect to the formation of stable bisamine adducts. The most significant difference relates to electronegativity and hence the propensity of boron to engage in predominantly covalent bonding, as compared with the bonding of aluminum with ammonia, which shows substantial electrostatic character. Neither steric factors nor the participation of d-orbitals is found to play an important role in differentiating aluminum from boron. The lesser electronegativity of third-row elements appears to be the critical common feature allowing the formation of hypercoordinate complexes of these elements in contrast to their second-row analogues. Consideration of some group 14 analogues and hard/soft acid/base effects supports this view.