X-ray Crystal Structures of [XF6][Sb2F11] (X = Cl, Br, I); 35,37Cl, 79,81Br, and 127I NMR Studies and Electronic Structure Calculations of the XF6+ Cations

Synthesis and Structure of Protonated Propiolic Acid

Propiolic acid was investigated in the superacidic system XF/SbF5 (X = H, D). The salts of the monoprotonated species of propiolic acid were characterized by vibrational and NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal analyses. The rotational conformers of the protonated species can be distinguished by NMR spectroscopy via the temperature-dependent rotational barrier. In the solid state, they can be detected by H/D exchange and packing effects due to different anions. The experimental results are discussed together with an IRC calculation of the rotational barrier. After acetic acid and formic acid, this is the third protonated carboxylic acid for which the energy differences between the conformers have been determined.

Synthesis and Structure of Protonated Sulfur Dioxide

Salts of protonated sulfur dioxide were synthesized by recrystallization of [FS(OX)2][SbF6] (X=H, D) in aprotic solvents at low temperatures. Hemiprotonated sulfur dioxide [(SO2)2H][Sb2F11] was obtained from the solvent SO2 and the monoprotonated sulfur dioxide [OSOD][Sb2F11], using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane as solvent. For both compounds, single crystals were obtained and an X-ray structure analysis was conducted. Furthermore, the salts were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and the results were discussed together with quantum chemical calculations on the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory.

Terminal methylene phosphonium ions: precursors for transient monosubstituted phosphinocarbenes

Isolable singlet carbenes are among the most important tools in chemistry, but generally require the interaction of two substituents with the electron deficient carbon atom. We herein report a synthetic approach to monosubstituted phosphinocarbenes via deprotonation of hitherto unknown diprotic terminal methylene phosphonium ions. Two methylene phosphonium salts bearing bulky N-heterocyclic imine substituents at the phosphorus atom were isolated and fully characterized. Deprotonation studies indicate the formation of transient monosubstituted carbenes that undergo intermolecular cycloadditions or intramolecular Buchner ring expansion to afford a cycloheptatriene derivative. The reaction mechanism of the latter transformation was elucidated using DFT calculations, which reveal the ambiphilic nature of the phosphinocarbene enabling the insertion into the aromatic C-C bond. Additional computational studies on the role of substituent effects are presented.

Regioselective Derivatization of Silylated [20]Silafulleranes

Silafulleranes with endohedral Cl^- ions are a unique, scarcely explored class of structurally well-defined silicon clusters and host-guest complexes. Herein, we report regioselective derivatization reactions on the siladodecahedrane [nBu₄N][Cl@Si₂₀(SiCl₃)₁₂Cl₈] ([nBu₄N][1]), which has its cluster surface decorated with 12 SiCl₃ and 8 Cl substituents in perfect T_h symmetry. The room-temperature reaction of [nBu₄N][1] with excess iBu₂AlH in ortho-difluorobenzene (oDFB) furnishes perhydrogenated [nBu₄N][Cl@Si₂₀(SiH₃)₁₂H₈] ([nBu₄N][2]) in 50% yield; the non-pyrophoric [2]^- is the largest structurally authenticated (by X-ray diffraction) hydridosilane known to date. A simple switch from pure oDFB to an oDFB/Et₂O solvent mixture suppresses core hydrogenation and results in the formation of [nBu₄N][Cl@Si₂₀(SiH₃)₁₂Cl₈] ([nBu₄N][3]). In addition to the exhaustive Cl/H exchange at all 44 Si-Cl bonds of [1]^- and the regioselective 36-fold silyl group hydrogenation, we achieved the simultaneous introduction of Me substituents at all 8 SiCl vertices along with the conversion of all 12 SiCl₃ to SiH₃ groups by treating [nBu₄N][1] with Me₂AlH/Me₃Al in oDFB ([nBu₄N][Cl@Si₂₀(SiH₃)₁₂Me₈], [nBu₄N][4]; 73%). Quantum-chemical free-energy calculations find an S_N2-Si-type hydrogenation of the exohedral SiCl₃ moieties in [1]^- (trigonal-bipyramidal intermediate) slightly preferred over metathesis-like S_Ni-Si substitutions (four-membered transition state). Cage hydrogenation likely occurs via S_Ni-Si processes. The experimentally demonstrated influence of an Et₂O co-solvent, which drastically increases the respective reaction barriers, is attributed to the increased stability of the resulting iBu₂AlH-OEt₂ adduct and its higher steric bulk compared to free iBu₂AlH.

Protonated Ethylene Carbonate: A Highly Resonance-Stabilized Cation

Salts containing the monoprotonated ethylene carbonate species of were obtained by reacting it with the superacidic systems XF/MF5 (X=H, D; M=Sb, As). The salts in terms of [C3 H5 O3 ]+ [SbF6 ]- , [C3 H5 O3 ]+ [AsF6 ]- and [C3 H4 DO3 ]+ [AsF6 ]- were characterized by low-temperature infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In order to generate the diprotonated species of ethylene carbonate, an excess of Lewis acid was used. However, this only led to the formation of [C3 H5 O3 ]+ [Sb2 F11 ]- , which was characterized by a single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. Quantum chemical calculations on the B3LYP/aug-cc-PVTZ level of theory were carried out for the [C3 H5 O3 ]+ cation and the results were compared with the experimental data. A Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis revealed sp2 hybridization of each atom belonging to the CO3 moiety, thus containing a remarkably delocalized 6π-electron system. The delocalization is confirmed by a 13 C NMR-spectroscopic study of [C3 H5 O3 ]+ [SbF6 ]- .

Reactive p-block cations stabilized by weakly coordinating anions

The chemistry of the p-block elements is a huge playground for fundamental and applied work. With their bonding from electron deficient to hypercoordinate and formally hypervalent, the p-block elements represent an area to find terra incognita. Often, the formation of cations that contain p-block elements as central ingredient is desired, for example to make a compound more Lewis acidic for an application or simply to prove an idea. This review has collected the reactive p-block cations (rPBC) with a comprehensive focus on those that have been published since the year 2000, but including the milestones and key citations of earlier work. We include an overview on the weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) used to stabilize the rPBC and give an overview to WCA selection, ionization strategies for rPBC-formation and finally list the rPBC ordered in their respective group from 13 to 18. However, typical, often more organic ion classes that constitute for example ionic liquids (imidazolium, ammonium, etc.) were omitted, as were those that do not fulfill the - naturally subjective -"reactive"-criterion of the rPBC. As a rule, we only included rPBC with crystal structure and only rarely refer to important cations published without crystal structure. This collection is intended for those who are simply interested what has been done or what is possible, as well as those who seek advice on preparative issues, up to people having a certain application in mind, where the knowledge on the existence of a rPBC that might play a role as an intermediate or active center may be useful.

The saturation of the gas phase acidity of nHF/AlF3 and nHF/GeF4 (n = 1–6) superacids caused by increasing the number of surrounding HF molecules

The acidic strength of selected Brønsted/Lewis superacids is evaluated on the basis of theoretical calculations carried out at the QCISD/6-311++G(d,p) level.

Br2F7− and Br3F10−: peculiar anions showing μ2- and μ3-bridging F-atoms

RbCl and CsCl react with BrF₃ yielding the corresponding decafluoridotribromates(iii), MBr₃F₁₀ (M = Rb, Cs), which were structurally characterized for the first time.

Relativistic hybrid density functional calculations of indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling tensors — Comparison with experiment for diatomic alkali metal halides,

The accurate calculation of the isotropic (Jiso) and anisotropic (ΔJ) parts of indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling tensors is a stringent test for quantum chemistry, particularly for couplings involving heavy isotopes where relativistic effects and relativity – electron correlation cross terms are expected to play an important role. Experimental measurements on diatomic molecules in the gas phase offer ideal data for testing the success of computational approaches, since the data are essentially free from intermolecular effects, and precise coupling anisotropies may be reliably extracted in favourable cases. On the basis of available experimental molecular-beam coupling-tensor parameters for diatomic alkali metal halides, we tabulate known values of Jiso and, taking rotational–vibrational corrections to the direct dipolar coupling constant into account, precise values of ΔJ are determined for the ground rovibrational state. First-principles calculations of the coupling tensors were performed using a recently developed program based on hybrid density functional theory using the two-component relativistic zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA). Experimental trends in Jiso and ΔJ are reproduced with correlation coefficients of 0.993 and 0.977, respectively. Periodic trends in the coupling constants and their dependence on the product of the atomic numbers of the coupled nuclei are discussed. Finally, the hybrid functional method is also successfully tested against experimental data for a series of polyatomic xenon fluorides and group-17 fluorides.

Synthesis, NMR and vibrational spectroscopic characterization, and computational study of the cis-IO2F3 2- anion

The N(CH3)4(+) salt of the cis-IO2F3(2-) anion was synthesized from [N(CH 3)4][IO2F2] and excess [N(CH3)4][F] in CH3CN solvent. The [N(CH3)4] 2[IO2F3] salt was characterized by Raman, infrared, and (19)F solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy. Geometry optimization and calculation of the vibrational frequencies at the DFT level of theory corroborated the experimental finding that the IO2F3(2-) anion exists as a single isomer with a cis-dioxo and mer-trifluoro arrangement. The fluorine atom in IO2F3(2-) that is trans to one of the oxygen atoms is weakly bound with a calculated bond length of 228.1 pm. The IO2F3(2-) anion is only the second example of an AEO 2F 3 species after XeO2F3(-).

An NMR and relativistic DFT investigation of one-bond nuclear spin–spin coupling in solid triphenyl group-14 chlorides

A solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and zeroth-order regular approximation density functional theory, ZORA-DFT, study of one-bond nuclear spin-spin coupling between group-14 nuclei and quadrupolar 35/37Cl nuclei in triphenyl group-14 chlorides, Ph3XCl (X = C, Si, Ge, Sn and Pb), is presented. This represents the first combined experimental and theoretical systematic study of spin-spin coupling involving spin-pairs containing quadrupolar nuclei. Solid-state NMR spectra have been acquired for all compounds in which X has a spin-1/2 isotope--13C, 29Si, [117/119]Sn and 207Pb-at applied magnetic fields of 4.70, 7.05 and 11.75 T. From simulations of these spectra, values describing the indirect spin-spin coupling tensor-the isotropic indirect spin-spin coupling constant, 1J(X, 35/37Cl)iso and the anisotropy of the J tensor, Delta1J(X, 35/37Cl)--have been determined for all but the lead-chlorine spin-pair. To better compare the indirect spin-spin coupling parameters between spin-pairs, 1J(iso) and Delta1J values were converted to their reduced coupling constants, 1K(iso) and Delta1K. From experiment, the sign of 1K(iso) was found to be negative while the sign of Delta1K is positive for all spin-pairs investigated. The magnitude of both 1K(iso) and Delta1K was found to increase as one moves down group-14. Theoretical values of the magnitude and sign of 1K(iso) and Delta1K were obtained from ZORA-DFT calculations and are in agreement with the available experimental data. From the calculations, the Fermi-contact mechanism was determined to provide the largest contribution to 1K(iso) for all spin-pairs while spin-dipolar and paramagnetic spin-orbit mechanisms make significant contributions to the anisotropy of K. The inclusion of relativistic effects was found to influence K(Sn,Cl) and K(Pb,Cl).

DFT Calculations of the Electric Field Gradient at the Tin Nucleus as a Support of Structural Interpretation by119Sn Mössbauer Spectroscopy

DFT calculations, using an all-electron basis set and with full geometry optimization, were performed on 34 Sn(II) and Sn(IV) compounds of known structure and (119)Sn Mössbauer parameters, to obtain the theoretical values of the electric field gradient components, V(xx), V(yy), and V(zz), at the tin nucleus. These were used to determine the quantity V = V(zz)[1+ 1/3((V(xx) - V(yy))/((V(zz))(2)](1/2), for each investigated compound, which is related to the quadrupole splitting (DeltaE) parameter according to DeltaE = 1/2eQV, where e is the electronic charge and Q is the quadrupole moment of the tin nucleus. The linear fitting of the correlation plot of the experimental DeltaE, versus the corresponding calculated V values, produced a slope that is equal to 0.93 +/- 0.03 and a correlation coefficient R = 0.982. The value of Q obtained, 15.2 +/- 4.4 fm(2), is in agreement with that previously experimentally determined or calculated by analogous procedures. The calculation method is able to establish the sign of the electric field gradient component V(zz), in agreement with the sign of DeltaE determined experimentally by Mössbauer-Zeeman spectroscopy. The calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data, determined by X-ray crystallography in the solid state, with average structural deviations of about 3 % for bond lengths and angles in the tin environment. Calculated values of DeltaE were obtained from the calibration fitting constant and from the values of V. By comparing experimental and calculated DeltaE parameters, the structure assignment of configurational isomers was successful in two test cases, in agreement with the experimental X-ray crystallographic structures. These results indicate that the method can be used as a tool to support the routine structure interpretation of tin compounds by (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Synthesis and characterization of salts containing the BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion; a rare example of a bromine(VII) species

The BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion has been prepared by reaction of BrO(3)F with the fluoride ion donors KF, RbF, CsF, [N(CH(3))(4)][F], and NOF. The BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion is only the fourth Br(VII) species to have been isolated in macroscopic quantities, and it is one of only three oxide fluorides that possess D(3)(h)() symmetry, the others being XeO(3)F(2) and OsO(3)F(2). The fluoride ion acceptor properties of BrO(3)F contrast with those of ClO(3)F, which does not react with the strong fluoride ion donor [N(CH(3))(4)][F] to form the analogous ClO(3)F(2)(-) salt. The single-crystal X-ray structures of [NO](2)[BrO(3)F(2)][F] and [N(CH(3))(4)][BrO(3)F(2)] confirm the D(3)(h)() symmetry of the BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion and provide accurate Br-O (1.593(3)-1.610(6) A) and Br-F (1.849(5)-1.827(4) A) bond lengths. The salt, [NO](2)[BrO(3)F(2)][F], is fully ordered, crystallizing in the monoclinic space group, C2/c, with a = 9.892(3) A, b = 12.862(4) A, c = 10.141(4) A, beta = 90.75(2) degrees , V = 12460(7) A(3), Z = 4, and R(1) = 0.0671 at -173 degrees C, whereas [N(CH(3))(4))][BrO(3)F(2)] exhibits a 2-fold disorder of the anion, crystallizing in the tetragonal space group, P4/nmm, with a = 8.5718(7) A, c = 5.8117(6) A, V = 427.02(7) A(3), Z = 2, and R(1) = 0.0314 at -173 degrees C. The (19)F chemical shift of [N(CH(3))(4))][BrO(3)F(2)] in CH(3)CN is 237.0 ppm and is more deshielded than those of the previously investigated Br(VII) species, BrO(3)F and BrF(6)(+). The vibrational frequencies of the BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion were determined by use of Raman and infrared spectroscopy and were assigned with the aid of electronic structure calculations and by analogy with the vibrational assignments reported for XeO(3)F(2) and OsO(3)F(2). The internal and symmetry force constants of BrO(3)F(2)(-) were determined by use of general valence force field and B-matrix methods, respectively, and are compared with those of XeO(3)F(2), OsO(3)F(2), and the unknown ClO(3)F(2)(-) anion. The instability of ClO(3)F(2)(-) relative to BrO(3)F(2)(-) has been investigated by electronic structure calculations and rationalized in terms of atomic charges, Mayer bond orders, and Mayer valencies, and the enthalpies of fluoride ion attachment to BrO(3)F and ClO(3)F.