Structure/Reactivity Studies on an α-Lithiated Benzylsilane: Chemical Interpretation of Experimental Charge Density

A Silicon-Stereogenic Silanol - 18 O-Isotope Labeling and Stereogenic Probe Reveals Hidden Stereospecific Water Exchange Reaction

A silicon-stereogenic aminosilanol was isolated in excellent diastereomeric ratio and the absolute configuration was determined. The silanol is configurative and condensation stable in solution and shows stereoselective transformations with a clean stereospecific pathway in follow-up reactions, which leads to the isolation of a silicon-stereogenic zinc complex and siloxane compounds. Investigations with 18 O-labelled water and mass spectrometry analysis revealed an otherwise hidden exchange of oxygen atoms of silanol and water in solution that proceeds with retention of the configuration at the silicon center. This novel combination of a stereochemical probe and isotopic labeling in a silicon-stereogenic compound opens new analytic possibilities to study stereochemical courses of reactions with the aid of chiral silanols mechanistically.

Tuning the Kinetic Inertness of Bi3+ Complexes: The Impact of Donor Atoms on Diaza-18-Crown-6 Ligands as Chelators for 213Bi Targeted Alpha Therapy

The radionuclide ²¹³Bi can be applied for targeted α therapy (TAT): a type of nuclear medicine that harnesses α particles to eradicate cancer cells. To use this radionuclide for this application, a bifunctional chelator (BFC) is needed to attach it to a biological targeting vector that can deliver it selectively to cancer cells. Here, we investigated six macrocyclic ligands as potential BFCs, fully characterizing the Bi³⁺ complexes by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Solid-state structures of three complexes revealed distorted coordination geometries about the Bi³⁺ center arising from the stereochemically active 6s² lone pair. The kinetic properties of the Bi³⁺ complexes were assessed by challenging them with a 1000-fold excess of the chelating agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). The most kinetically inert complexes contained the most basic pendent donors. Density functional theory (DFT) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) calculations were employed to investigate this trend, suggesting that the kinetic inertness is not correlated with the extent of the 6s² lone pair stereochemical activity, but with the extent of covalency between pendent donors. Lastly, radiolabeling studies of ²¹³Bi (30-210 kBq) with three of the most promising ligands showed rapid formation of the radiolabeled complexes at room temperature within 8 min for ligand concentrations as low as 10^-7 M, corresponding to radiochemical yields of >80%, thereby demonstrating the promise of this ligand class for use in ²¹³Bi TAT.

Structural Motifs of Alkali Metal Superbases in Non-coordinating Solvents

Lochmann-Schlosser superbases (LSB) are a standard reagent in synthetic chemistry to achieve an exchange of a proton on an organic framework with an alkali metal cation, which in turn can be replaced by a wide range of electrophilic groups. In standard examples, the deprotonating reagent consists of an equimolar mixture of n-butyllithium and potassium t-butoxide. However, the nature of the reactive species could not be pinned down either for this composition or for similar mixtures with comparable high reactivity. Despite the poor solubility and the fierce reactivity, some insights into this mixture were achieved by some indirect results, comparison with chemically related systems, or skillful deductions. Recent results, mainly based on new soluble compounds, delivered structural evidence. These new insights lead to advanced and more detailed conclusions about the interplay of the involved components.

Insight into the Bonding and Aggregation of Alkyllithiums by Experimental Charge Density Studies and Energy Decomposition Analyses

In this Article, the organolithiums [((-)-sparteine)Li^tBu] (1), [(ABCO)Li^tBu]₂ (2), and [(ABCO)₂(LiⁱPr)₄] (3) are investigated by means of experimental and theoretical charge density determination to elucidate the nature of the Li-C and Li-N bonds. Furthermore, the valence shell charge concentrations (VSCCs) in the nonbonding region of the deprotonated C_α-atom will provide some insight on the localization of the carbanionic lone pair. Analysis of the electron density (ρ(r_BCP)), Laplacian (∇²ρ(r_BCP)), and the energy decomposition (EDA) confirmed that the Li-C/N bond exhibits astonishingly similar characteristics, to reveal an increasingly polar contact with decreasing aggregate size. This explains former observations on the incorporation of halide salts in organolithium reagents. Furthermore, it could be shown that the bonding properties of the ⁱPr group are similar to those of the ^tBu substituent. The accuracy of fit to all previously determined properties in organolithiums is remarkable.

Isolation and structure determination of a tetrameric sulfonyl dilithio methandiide in solution based on crystal structure analysis and 6Li/13C NMR spectroscopic data

Dilithio sulfonyl methandiides are a synthetically and structurally highly interesting group of functionalized geminal dianions. Although very desirable, knowledge of the structure of dilithio methandiides in solution was lacking up to now. Herein, we describe the isolation and determination of the structure of tetrameric dilithio (trimethylsilyl)(phenylsulfonyl) methandiide in solution and in the crystal. The elucidation of the structure of the tetramer is based on crystal structure analysis and ¹³C/⁶Li NMR spectroscopic data. A characteristic feature of the structure of the tetramer is the C₂ symmetric C–Li chain, composed of four doubly Li-coordinated dianionic carbon and five Li atoms. Three Li atoms are devoid of a contact to a dianionic C atom. The tetramer, the dianionic C atoms of which undergo fast exchange, is in THF solution in fast equilibrium with a further aggregate, which is stable only at low temperatures.

Crystal structures of di-aquadi-μ-hydroxido-tris-[tri-methyl-tin(IV)] diformatotri-methyl-stannate(IV) and di-μ-hydroxido-tris-[tri-methyl-tin(IV)] chloride monohydrate

The title compounds, [Sn3(CH3)9(OH)2(H2O)2][Sn(CH3)3(CHO2)2] (1) and [Sn3(CH3)9(OH)2]Cl·H2O (2), are partially condensed products of hydrolysed tri-methyl-tin chloride. In the structures of 1 and 2, short cationic tris-tannatoxanes (C9H29O2Sn3) are bridged by a diformatotri-methyl-tin anion or a chloride anion, respectively. Hydrogen bridges are present and supposedly stabilize these structures against further polymerization to the known polymeric tri-methyl-tin hydroxide. Especially noteworthy is that the formate present in this structure was formed from atmospheric CO2.

Crystal structure of di-benzyl-dimethyl-silane

In the title compound, C16H20Si, a geometry different from an ideal tetra-hedron can be observed at the Si atom. The bonds from Si to the benzylic C atoms [Si-C = 1.884 (1) and 1.883 (1) Å] are slightly elongated compared to the Si-Cmeth-yl bonds [Si-C = 1.856 (1) and 1.853 (1) Å]. The Cbenz-yl-Si-Cbenz-yl bond angle [C-Si-C = 107.60 (6)°] is decreased from the ideal tetra-hedral angle by 1.9°. These distortions can be explained easily by Bent's rule. In the crystal, mol-ecules inter-act only by van der Waals forces.

Invariom based electron density studies on the C/Si analogues haloperidol/sila-haloperidol and venlafaxine/sila-venlafaxine

Hirshfeld surfaces of haloperidol hydropicrate (left) and sila-haloperidol hydrochloride (right) show comparable sites of ED concentrations due to comparable intermolecular environments.

Developing catalytic applications of cooperative bimetallics: competitive hydroamination/trimerization reactions of isocyanates catalysed by sodium magnesiates

Mixed-metal reagents [NaMg(CH2SiMe3)3] (1) and [(THF)NaMg(NPh2)3(THF)] [3-(THF)(2)] can act as precatalysts to selectively promote the hydroamination/trimerization of isocyanates (RNCO) depending on the steric bulk of the R substituent.

On the control of secondary carbanion structure utilising ligand effects during directed metallation

N,N-Diisopropyl-2-propylbenzamide 6-H undergoes lateral deprotonation by t-BuLi in the presence of the Lewis base PMDTA (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) to give a benzyllithium 6-Li_l·PMDTA that incorporates a trigonal planar secondary carbanion. In the solid state, the amide directing group and the PMDTA additive work together to abstract the metal ion from the deprotonated α-C of the propyl group (4.107(4) Å). A short distance of 1.376(3) Å is observed between the deprotonated carbon centre and a planar aromatic system that shows a pattern of bond lengths which contrasts with that reported for related tertiary carbanion systems. Analogous benzylic deprotonation is seen if 6-H is treated with t-BuLi in the presence of diglyme to give 6-Li_l·DGME. X-ray crystallography now shows that the metal ion more closely approaches the tertiary carbanion (2.418(6) Å) but that the planarity of the deprotonated carbon centre and the bonding pattern in the organic anion seen in the PMDTA complex are retained. DFT analysis corroborates both the short distance between aromatic ring and carbanion centre and the unperturbed nature of aromaticity in 6-Li_l·L (L = Lewis base). The observation of two structure-types for the carbanion in solution is explained theoretically and by NMR spectroscopy in terms of cis and trans isomerism imparted by partial double bond character in the arene–(α-C) bond.

A diastereomerically enriched, dimeric organolithium compound and the stereochemical course of its transformations

A dimeric α-silylated ethyllithium compound is presented featuring stereogenic metalated carbon centres with defined configurations. It can be generated by diastereoselective deprotonation of the corresponding ethylsilane. Reaction with Me(3)SnCl proceeds under inversion and the transfer of the stereoinformation is possible with dr's of up to 97:3.

Meaningful structural descriptors from charge density

This paper provides a short introduction to the basics of electron density investigations. The two predominant approaches for the modelling and various interpretations of electron density distributions are presented. Their potential translations into chemical concepts are explained. The focus of the article lies on the deduction of chemical properties from charge density studies in some selected main group compounds. The relationship between the obtained numerical data and commonly accepted simple chemical concepts unfortunately is not always straightforward, and often the chemist relies on heuristic connections rather than rigorously defined ones. This article tries to demonstrate how charge density analyses can shed light on aspects of chemical bonding and reactivity resulting from the determined bonding situation. Sometimes this helps to identify misconceptions and sets the scene for new unconventional synthetic approaches.

Mechanistic insight into stereoselective carbolithiation

This article addresses the mechanistic features of asymmetric carbolithiation of β-methylstyrenes. While often the presence of functional groups is required to obtain high enantioselectivities in carbolithiation reactions, simple β-methylstyrene also gives high selectivities in (-)-sparteine-mediated addition of alkyl lithium compounds. Computational studies on the carbolithiation of β-methylstyrene with (-)-sparteine show that the observed selectivities are the result of repulsion effects in the diastereomeric transition states between the (-)-sparteine⋅alkyl lithium adduct and the β-methylstyrene, upon approximation of the two reactants. In contrast, for the ortho-amino β-methylstyrene (E)-benzyl(2-propenylphenyl)amine (4) X-ray structure analyses of intermediate lithium amides indicate a carbolithiation mechanism in which one side of the double bond is shielded by the amide moiety, leaving only one side free for approach of the chiral alkyl lithium adduct.

Anatomy of long-lasting love affairs with lithium carbenoids: past and present status and future prospects

After a long adolescence, the chemistry of lithium carbenoids has currently been entering its maturity bringing a dowry of a more in-depth and less empirical knowledge of the structure and configurational stability of such double-faced intermediates; this, thanks in particular to the synergistic and harmonic cooperation between calculations and the most modern NMR techniques now at our disposal. Such knowledge has stimulated the development of fruitful stereoselective applications in the field of organic synthesis, providing in addition a rationale to observed selectivities. Such aspects together with the role played by aggregation and solvation on the structure-reactivity relationship are highlighted throughout this Minireview with selected examples extracted from recent literature.