Solid-State and Theoretical Model Structures of Monolithiated (Organosulfonyl)acetonitriles and the Characterization and Reactivity of Their Geminated Dilithio Derivatives

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.

Geminal Dianions Stabilized by Main Group Elements

This review is dedicated to the chemistry of stable and isolable species that bear two lone pairs at the same C center, i.e., geminal dianions, stabilized by main group elements. Three cases can thus be considered: the geminal-dilithio derivative, for which the two substituents at C are neutral, the yldiide derivatives, for which one substituent is neutral while the other is charged, and finally the geminal bisylides, for which the two substituents are positively charged. In this review, the syntheses and electronic structures of the geminal dianions are presented, followed by the studies dedicated to their reactivity toward organic substrates and finally to their coordination chemistry and applications.

Synthesis, Structure, and Computational Studies of the Tetrameric Magnesium Imides [2,4,6-Cl3C6H2NMg·S]4 (S = 1,4-Dioxane and Tetrahydrofuran)

The magnesium imide complexes [(ArNMg.diox)4.3(diox)] (4) and [(ArNMg.THF)4.tol] (5) (where Ar=2,4,6-Cl3C6H2, diox=1,4-dioxane, and THF=tetrahydrofuran) were prepared by the equimolar reaction of Bu2Mg with the primary amine in suitable solvent mixtures. The successful synthesis of the halide-substituted imides is notable because similar reactions with the less acidic organo-substituted anilines cease upon monodeprotonation. Both 4 and 5 form unusual Mg4N4 cubane aggregates in the solid state. Computational studies (HF/6-31G*) indicate that a combination of sterics and metal solvation determines the aggregation state adopted.

Organometallic Polymers Assembled from Cation–π Interactions: Use of Ferrocene as a Ditopic Linker Within the Homologous Series [{(Me3Si)2NM}2⋅(Cp2Fe)]∞ (M=Na, K, Rb, Cs; Cp=cyclopentadienyl)

Addition of ferrocene to solutions of alkali metal hexamethyldisilazides M(HMDS) in arenes (in which M=Na, K, Rb, Cs) allows the subsequent crystallization of the homologous series of compounds [{(Me(3)Si)(2)NM}(2) (Cp(2)Fe)](infinity) (1-4). Similar reactions using LiHMDS led to the recrystallization of the starting materials. The crystal structures of 1-4 reveal the formation of one-dimensional chains composed of dimeric [{M(HMDS)}(2)] aggregates, which are bridged through neutral ferrocene molecules by eta(5)-cation-pi interactions. In addition, compounds 3 and 4 also contain interchain agostic M--C interactions, producing two-dimensional 4(4)-nets. Whereas 1 and 2 were prepared from toluene, the syntheses of 3 and 4 required the use of tert-butylbenzene as the reaction media. The attempted crystallization of 3 and 4 from toluene resulted in formation of the mixed toluene/ferrocene solvated complexes [{(Me(3)Si)(2)NM)(2)}(2) (Cp(2)Fe)(x)(Tol)(y)](infinity) (in which M=Rb, x=0.6, y=0.8, 5; M=Cs, x=0.5, y=1, 6). The extended solid-state structures of 5 and 6 are closely related to the 4(4)-sheets 3 and 4, but are now assembled from a combination of cation-pi, agostic, and pi-pi interactions. The charge-separated complex [K{(C(6)H(6))(2)Cr}(1.5)(Mes)][Mg(HMDS)(3)] (15) was also structurally characterized and found to adopt an anionic two-dimensional 6(3)-network through doubly eta(3)-coordinated bis(benzene)chromium molecules. DFT calculations at the B3 LYP/6-31G* level of theory indicate that the binding energies of both ferrocene and toluene to the M(HMDS) dimers increases in the sequence Li<Na<K. This pattern is a consequence of the larger metals allowing more open coordination spheres to support cation-pi contacts. By comparison, binding of the isolated metal cations to the aromatic groups follow the reverse order K<Na<Li. A combined analysis of theoretical and experimental data suggest that ferrocene is a stronger cation-pi donor than toluene for the lighter metals, but that this difference is eliminated on descending the group.

4-Methoxy- and 4-cyano-substituted lithium aryloxides: electronic effects of substituents on aggregation

The para-substituted lithium aryloxides [{4-NC-C6H4OLi.(Pyr)2}2.Pyr] 1a, [{4-NC-C6H4OLi.(THF)2}2] 1b, [{4-MeO-C6H4OLi.Pyr}4] 2a, [4-MeO-C6H4OLi.(THF)n] 2b, [{4-NC-2,6-(t-Bu)2-C6H2OLi.(Pyr)2}infinity] 3a, [{4-NC-2,6-(t-Bu)2-C6H2OLi.(THF)2}infinity] 3b, [{4-MeO-2,6-(t-Bu)2-C6H2OLi.Pyr}2.(Pyr)2] 4a, and [4-MeO-2,6-(t-Bu)2-C6H2OLi.(THF)n] 4b were prepared by the direct deprotonation of the corresponding phenol with an alkyllithium base (BuLi or MeLi) in the appropriate solvent, either pyridine or THF. All compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and the crystal structures of 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b and 4a were elucidated. The cyano derivatives 1a and 1b adopt discrete tetrasolvated Li2O2 ring dimers whereas the methoxy analogue 2a crystallizes as a tetrasolvated molecular tetramer with a pseudo cubic Li4O4 core. The sterically encumbered cyano derivatives 3a and 3b form isostructural 1D polymeric chains of monomers via bridging of the phenolate ligands through Li...NC and Li-O contacts. In comparison, the crystal structure of the methoxy counterpart 4a is a disolvated molecular Li2O2 ring dimer. Solution NMR spectroscopic studies of 1-4 in d5-pyridine and d8-THF indicate that the methoxy complexes are more highly aggregated than the cyano derivatives, consistent with the solid-state studies. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the HF/6-31G* level of theory indicate that the origin of the aggregation state variations between the cyano and methoxy complexes is due to electronic effects.

Synthesis of mono- and geminal dimetalated carbanions of bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane using alkali metal bases and structural comparisons with lithiated bis(phenylsulfonyl)imides

The alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanion complexes [(PhSO2)2CHLi.THF]1, [(PhSO2)2CHNa.THF]2 and [(PhSO2)2CHK]3 were prepared by the direct deprotonation of bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane I in THF with one molar equivalent of MeLi, BuNa and BnK respectively. The geminal dianionic complexes [(PhSO2)2CLi2.THF]4, [(PhSO2)2CNa2.0.55THF]5 and [(PhSO2)2CK2]6 were similarly prepared by the reaction of I with two molar equivalents of MeLi, BuNa and BnK respectively in THF. NMR and MS solution studies of 1-3 are consistent with the formation of charge-separated species in DMSO media. Solutions studies of 4-6, in conjunction with trapping experiments, indicate that the dianions deprotonate DMSO and regenerate the monoanions 1-3. Crystallographic analysis of 1 revealed a 1D chain polymer in which the metal centers are chelated by the bis(sulfonyl) ligands and connect to neighboring units through Li-O(S) interactions. An unexpected feature of 1 is that the polymeric chains are homochiral, since the chelating ligands of the backbone adopt the same relative configuration. Also, the phenyl substituents of each chelate in 1 are oriented in a cisoid manner. The sodium derivative 2 adopts a related solid-state structure, where enantiomeric pairs of chains combine to give a 1D ribbon motif. The lithium bis(phenylsulfonyl)imides [(PhSO2)2NLi.THF]9 and [(PhSO2)2NLi.Pyr2]10 were also prepared and structurally characterized. In the solid state 9 has a similar connectivity to that found for 1 but with heterochiral chains. In comparison, the more highly solvated complex 10 forms a 1D polymeric arrangement without chelation of the ligands and with the phenyl substituents oriented in a transoid fashion.

Cyclic Nitriles: Diastereoselective Alkylations

[reaction: see text] Diastereoselective alkylations of metalated conformationally locked 4-tert-butylcyclohexanecarbonitrile are highly diastereoselective with magnesium and copper counterions but only modestly diastereoselective with lithium as the counterion. Selective generation of diverse metalated nitriles is readily achieved through bromine-magnesium, -copper, and -lithium exchange reactions of the corresponding bromonitrile or, for lithium, by deprotonating the parent nitrile with lithium diethylamide. Collectively, high alkylation stereoselectivities correlate with the retentive alkylations of C-metalated nitriles, whereas N-lithiated nitriles alkylate with modest selectivity, reflecting minimal steric differences in the corresponding axial and equatorial electrophile trajectories.

Rational design of molecular sheets composed of interconnecting eight- and twenty-four-membered rings: use of lithiated aggregates to control network assembly

The lithiated (organo)sulfonylacetonitrile complex [MeSO(2)CHCNLi.THF] (3) has been prepared and structurally characterized in order to demonstrate that well-known molecular aggregates of s-block metals may be used as building blocks in the controlled assembly of complex supramolecular architectures. The solid state structure of 3 can be described as a novel basket-weaved, 2-D network, composed of (SO(2)Li)(2) "dimeric" rings joined via "interdimer" donation of nitrile units.

Aggregation patterns in alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanions: assembly of a sodium cage polymer by slip-stacking of dimers

The alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanion complexes [PhSO(2)CHCNNa.THF], 3, [t-BuSO(2)CHCNNa], 4, [PhSO(2)CHCNK], 5, [t-BuSO(2)CHCNK], 6, and [MeSO(2)CHCNLi.TMEDA], 7, have been synthesized via the metalation of the parent (organo)sulfonylacetonitriles by BuLi, BuNa, or BnK in THF solution (or THF/TMEDA in the case of 7). In addition, complexes 3 and 7 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses and have been found to adopt related structures in the solid state. Complex 7 is a molecular dimer containing a central 12-membered (OSCCNLi)(2) ring core, with each metal rendered tetracoordinate by binding to a chelating TMEDA molecule. As found in related complexes, no direct carbanion to lithium contacts are present in the structure of 7. Complex 3 forms a polymeric cage structure composed of associated "dimeric" (OSCCNNa)(2) rings, similar to those found in 7. The larger sodium cations, and the presence of only one THF molecule/metal, allow additional contacts with the anions, leading to hexacoordination at the metal centers. These contacts include long-range transannular Na-N interactions (2.8042(14) A) across the central dimeric ring and "interdimer" Na-C connections (2.8718(15) A). Dissolution of complexes 3-6 and their lithiated derivatives [PhSO(2)CHCNLi.TMEDA], 1, and [t-BuSO(2)CHCNLi.THF], 2, in DMSO-d(6) results in almost identical chemical shifts for each type of ligand. This suggests that charge-separated complexes of the form [RSO(2)CHCN](-)[M(DMSO-d(6))(n)()](+) are formed in highly polar solution.