Gas and Liquid Phase Diffusivities of Isomeric Metal Complexes Derived from Multifold Ring-Closing Metatheses: Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Trumps DOSY NMR

Introducing Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry to Identify Site-Selective C-H Bond Activation in N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes

The activation of C-H bonds in a selective manner still constitutes a major challenge from a synthetic point of view; thus, it remains an active area of fundamental and applied research. Herein, we introduce ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry-based (IM-MS) approaches to uncover site-selective C-H bond activation in a series of metal complexes of general formula [(NHC)LMCl]⁺ (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene; L = pentamethylcyclopentadiene (Cp*) or p-cymene; M = Pd, Ru, and Ir). The C-H bond activation at the N-bound groups of the NHC ligand is promoted upon collision induced dissociation (CID). The identification of the resulting [(NHC-H)LM]⁺ isomers relies on the distinctive topology that such cyclometalated isomers adopt upon site-selective C-H bond activation. Such topological differences can be reliably evidenced as different mobility peaks in their respective CID-IM mass spectra. Alternative isomers are also identified via dehydrogenation at the Cp*/p-cymene (L) ligands to afford [(NHC)(L-H)M]⁺. The fragmentation of the ion mobility-resolved peaks is also investigated by CID-IM-CID. It enables the assignment of mobility peaks to the specific isomers formed from C(sp²)-H or C(sp³)-H bond activation and distinguishes them from the Cp*/p-cymene (L) dehydrogenation isomers. The conformational change of the NHC ligands upon C-H bond activation, concomitant with cyclometalation, is also discussed on the basis of the estimated collision cross section (CCS). A unique conformation change of the pyrene-tagged NHC members is identified that involves the reorientation of the NHC ring accompanied by a folding of the pyrene moiety.

Modular Ion Mobility Calibrants for Organometallic Anions Based on Tetraorganylborate Salts

Organometallics are widely used in catalysis and synthesis. Their analysis relies heavily on mass spectrometric methods, among which traveling-wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) has gained increasing importance. Collision cross sections (CCS) obtainable by TWIMS significantly aid the structural characterization of ions in the gas phase, but for organometallics, their accuracy has been limited by the lack of appropriate calibrants. Here, we propose tetraorganylborates and their alkali-metal bound oligomers [M_n-1(BR₄)_n]^- (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; R = aryl, Et; n = 1-6) as calibrants for electrospray ionization (ESI) TWIMS. These species chemically resemble typical organometallics and readily form upon negative-ion mode ESI of solutions of alkali-metal tetraorganylborates. By combining different tetraorganylborate salts, we have generated a large number of anions in a modular manner and determined their CCS values by drift-tube ion mobility spectrometry (DTIMS) (^DTCCS_He = 81-585, ^DTCCS_N2 = 130-704 Ų). In proof-of-concept experiments, we then applied these ^DTCCS values to the calibration of a TWIMS instrument and analyzed phenylcuprate and argentate anions, [Li_n-1M_nPh_2n]^- and [M_nPh_n+1]^- (M = Cu, Ag), as prototypical reactive organometallics. The ^TWCCS_N2 values derived from TWIMS measurements are in excellent agreement with those determined by DTIMS (<2% relative difference), demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed calibration scheme. Moreover, we used theoretical methods to predict the structures and CCS values of the anions considered. These predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results and give further insight into the trends governing the assembly of tetraorganylborate, cuprate, and argentate oligomers.

Self-Assembled Nickel-4 Supramolecular Squares and Assays for HER Electrocatalysts Derived Therefrom

Solid-state structures find a self-assembled tetrameric nickel cage with carboxylate linkages, [Ni(N₂S'O)I(CH₃CN)]₄ ([Ni-I]₄⁰), resulting from sulfur acetylation by sodium iodoacetate of an [NiN₂S]₂²⁺ dimer in acetonitrile. Various synthetic routes to the tetramer, best described from XRD as a molecular square, were discovered to generate the hexacoordinate nickel units ligated by N₂S_thioether, iodide, and two carboxylate oxygens, one of which is the bridge from the adjacent nickel unit in [Ni-I]₄⁰. Removal of the four iodides by silver ion precipitation yields an analogous species but with an additional vacant coordination site, [Ni-Solv]⁺, a cation but with coordinated solvent molecules. This also recrystallizes as the tetramer [Ni-Solv]₄⁴⁺. In solution, dissociation into the (presumed) monomer occurs, with coordinating solvents occupying the vacant site [Ni(N₂S'O)I(solv)]⁰, ([Ni-I]⁰). Hydrodynamic radii determined from ¹H DOSY NMR data suggest that monomeric units are present as well in CD₂Cl₂. Evans method magnetism values are consistent with triplet spin states in polar solvents; however, in CD₂Cl₂ solutions no paramagnetism is evident. The abilities of [Ni-I]₄⁰ and [Ni-Solv]₄⁴⁺ to serve as sources of electrocatalysts, or precatalysts, for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were explored. Cyclic voltammetry responses and bulk coulometry with gas chromatographic analysis demonstrated that a stronger acid, trifluoroacetic acid, as a proton source resulted in H₂ production from both electroprecatalysts; however, electrocatalysis developed primarily from uncharacterized deposits on the electrode. With acetic acid as a proton source, the major contribution to the HER is from homogeneous electrocatalysis. Overpotentials of 490 mV were obtained for both the solution-phase [Ni-I]⁰ and [Ni-Solv]⁺. While the electrocatalyst derived from [Ni-Solv]⁺ has a substantially higher TOF (102 s^-1) than [Ni-I]⁰ (19 s^-1), it has a shorter catalytically active lifespan (4 h) in comparison to [Ni-I]⁰ (>18 h).

Dielectric Relaxation of Powdered Molecular Gyrotops Having a Thiophene Dioxide-diyl as a Dipolar Rotor

The dielectric properties of powdered molecular gyrotops with a thiophenedioxide-diyl are reported. Crystals without a solvent molecule show usual dielectric relaxation spectra due to orientation polarization of the dipolar rotor, while a crystal having ethanol as the crystalline solvent molecule showed novel temperature-dependent dielectric relaxation switching by crystal-to-crystal phase transition, which is induced by hydrogen-bonding interactions between thiophene dioxide and ethanol.

A Nontemplated Route to Macrocyclic Dibridgehead Diphosphorus Compounds: Crystallographic Characterization of a "Crossed-Chain" Variant of in/out Stereoisomers

Reactions of (O=)PH(OCH2 CH3 )2 and BrMg(CH2 )m CH=CH2 (4.9-3.2 equiv; m=4 (a), 5 (b), 6 (c)) give the dialkylphosphine oxides (O=)PH[(CH2 )m CH=CH2 ]2 (2 a-c; 77-81 % after workup), which are treated with NaH and then α,ω-dibromides Br(CH2 )n Br (0.49-0.32 equiv; n=8 (a'), 10 (b'), 12 (c'), 14 (d')) to yield the bis(trialkylphosphine oxides) [H2 C=CH(CH2 )m ]2 P(=O)(CH2 )n (O=)P[(CH2 )m CH=CH2 ]2 (3 ab', 3 bc', 3 cd', 3 ca'; 79-84 %). Reactions of 3 bc' and 3 ca' with Grubbs' first-generation catalyst and then H2 /PtO2 afford the dibridgehead diphosphine dioxides (4 bc', 4 ca'; 14-19 %, n'=2m+2); 31 P NMR spectra show two stereoisomeric species (ca. 70:30). Crystal structures of two isomers of the latter are obtained, out,out-4 ca' and a conformer of in,out-4 ca' that features crossed chains, such that the (O=)P vectors appear out,out. Whereas 4 bc' resists crystallization, a byproduct derived from an alternative metathesis mode, (CH2 )12 P(=O)(CH2 )12 (O=)P(CH2 )12 , as well as 3 ab' and 3 bc', are structurally characterized. The efficiencies of other routes to dibridgehead diphosphorus compounds are compared.

A crystalline molecular gyrotop with a biphenylene dirotor and its temperature-dependent birefringence

A crystalline molecular gyrotop with a biphenylene dirotor showed a reduction in the birefringence with increasing temperature.

Synthesis, reactivity, structures, and dynamic properties of gyroscope like iron complexes with dibridgehead diphosphine cages: pre- vs. post-metathesis substitutions as routes to adducts with neutral dipolar Fe(CO)(NO)(X) rotors

Substitution reactions of 4c⁺ BF₄⁻ afford the title complexes 9c-X, the Fe(CO)(NO)(X) moieties of which rapidly rotate within the diphosphine cage. Trends are interpreted in terms of horizontal/vertical van der Waals clearance.