4-Halo-1,2,3-triazolylidenes: stable carbenes featuring halogen bonding

Cyclometalated N-Difluoromethylbenzimidazolylidene Platinum(II) Complexes with Built-in Secondary Coordination Spheres: Photophysical Properties and Bioimaging

Bidentate Pt(II) complexes with cyclometalated N-heteroarene or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been extensively studied as phosphorescent emitters over the past two decades. Herein, we introduce a difluoromethyl group (CF2H) into the wingtip of NHCs, where CF2H acts as a lipophilic hydrogen bond (HB) donor. Their cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes show excellent PLQYs (up to 93%) and phosphorescence lifetimes mainly due to the rigid structure with hydrogen bonding between the CF2H group and the adjacent O atom at the β-diketonate ligand. Bioimaging studies demonstrate high cellular uptake efficiency and deep tumor penetration capability of complex 7 in HeLa cells and multicellular tumor spheroids, highlighting their potential as bioimaging probes.

Synthesis, Characterization and Photophysical Properties of Mesoionic N-Heterocyclic Imines

N -heterocyclic imines are widely used in transition-metal chemistry, main-group chemistry as well as catalysis, due to their enhanced basicity and nucleophilicity which benefit from their ylidic form. As their analogs, mesoionic N -heterocyclic imines, which feature more highly ylidic form, is still in its infancy though excellent works also achieved. Here we reported the synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of mesoionic N -heterocyclic imines. TD-DFT are employed to get deeper insight into the mechanism of the photophysical behaviors. The unsubstituted mesoionic N-heterocyclic imines ( 1-3 ) displayed considerable quantum yields (QY: up to 43.8%) and could be potentially applied as luminescent materials.

Chemistry of Compounds Based on 1,2,3-Triazolylidene-Type Mesoionic Carbenes

Mesoionic carbenes (MICs) of the 1,2,3-triazolylidene type have established themselves as a popular class of compounds over the past decade. Primary reasons for this popularity are their modular synthesis and their strong donor properties. While such MICs have mostly been used in combination with transition metals, the past few years have also seen their utility together with main group elements. In this paper, we present an overview of the recent developments on this class of compounds that include, among others, (i) cationic and anionic MIC ligands, (ii) the donor/acceptor properties of these ligands with a focus on the several methods that are known for estimating such donor/acceptor properties, (iii) a detailed overview of 3d metal complexes and main group compounds with these MIC ligands, (iv) results on the redox and photophysical properties of compounds based on MIC ligands, and (v) an overview on electrocatalysis, redox-switchable catalysis, and small-molecule activation to highlight the applications of compounds based on MIC ligands in contemporary chemistry. By discussing several aspects from the synthetic, spectroscopic, and application point of view of these classes of compounds, we highlight the state of the art of compounds containing MICs and present a perspective for future research in this field.

Gauging the donor strength of iron(0) complexes via their N-heterocyclic carbene gold(i) adducts

We isolate and characterize the gold(i)–iron(0) adducts [(iPr2-bimy)Au–Fe(CO)3(PMe3)2][BArF4] and [Au–{Fe(CO)3(PMe3)2}2][BArF4] (iPr2-bimy = 1,3-diisopropylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene, BArF4 = tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate).

Experimental and Computational Study on Photophysical Properties of Mesoionic Chalcogenones

N-Heterocyclic carbene adducts with main group elements (NHC=E) have aroused great interest and have been widely investigated in coordination chemistry. Among them, N-heterocyclic carbene adducts with chalcogens (NHC=Ch) have been known for a long time. Their investigations mostly focused on synthesis, coordination chemistry and electrochemistry. Their photophysical properties still remain unexplored. In this work, the photophysical properties of mesoionic carbene adducts with sulfur and selenium have been investigated both in solution and solid state. These compounds showed blue fluorescence in dichloromethane. While in solid state, orange to red room-temperature phosphorescence can be observed, and dual emission was found in mesoionic thiones. Furthermore, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were used to obtain insights into the luminescent mechanism.

Computational study of 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidenes with p-block element substituents

1,2,3-Triazol-5-ylidenes with p-block element substituents have been investigated by DFT calculations, which show tunable electronic properties.

Stereoelectronic Profiling of Acyclic Diamino Carbenes (ADCs)

A library of 14 heterobis(carbene) complexes of the general formula [Au(ⁱPr₂-bimy)(ADC)]BF₄ (7-20) containing the N-heterocyclic carbene reporter ⁱPr₂-bimy and various protic acyclic diaminocarbenes (ADCs) have been prepared to estimate their stereoelectronic properties by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and percentage buried volume (%V_bur) determinations. Their preparation was achieved by nucleophilic attack of five secondary amines on six mixed NHC/isocyanide complexes of the type [Au(ⁱPr₂-bimy)(CN-R)]BF₄ (1-6). Analyses of the ⁱPr₂-bimy carbene signals reveal that protic ADCs are stronger donors than classical and expanded-ring NHCs. On the other hand, they are weaker donating compared to NHCs with reduced-heteroatom stabilization. Moreover, stereoelectronic fine-tuning of these ligands is possible by a diverse range of substituents originating from the employed isocyanides and amines.

The halogen bond with isocyano carbon reduces isocyanide odor

Predominantly, carbon atoms of various species function as acceptors of noncovalent interactions when they are part of a π-system. Here, we report on the discovery of a halogen bond involving the isocyano carbon lone pair. The co-crystallization or mechanochemical liquid-assisted grinding of model mesityl isocyanide with four iodoperfluorobenezenes leads to a series of halogen-bonded adducts with isocyanides. The obtained adducts were characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and also by thermogravimetric analysis. The formation of the halogen bond with the isocyano group leads to a strong reduction of the isocyanide odor (3- to 46-fold gas phase concentration decrease). This manipulation makes isocyanides more suitable for laboratory storage and usage while preserving their reactivity, which is found to be similar between the adducts and the parent isocyanide in some common transformations, such as ligation to metal centers and the multi-component Ugi reaction.

Carbon atoms of various species typically function as acceptors of noncovalent interactions when they are part of a π-system. Here, the authors report their discovery of a noncovalent halogen bond involving the isocyano carbon lone pair, which results in adducts with strongly reduced isocyanide odor.

Halogen-bonding-induced diverse aggregation of 4,5-diiodo-1,2,3-triazolium salts with different anions

The synthesis of 4,5-diiodo-1,3-dimesityl-1,2,3-triazolium salts with different anions have been developed. These triazolium salts show diverse aggregation via halogen bonding between C-I bonds and anions. Triazolium with halide anions exists as a tetramer with saddle conformation. Triazolium tetrafluoroborate exists as a trimer with Chinese lantern shape conformation. Triazolium trifluoroacetate and acetate exist as dimers, respectively, while the former shows boat conformation and the latter forms rectangle conformation. Triazolium salts form a linear polymer with polyiodide.

Donor Strengths Determination of Pnictogen and Chalcogen Ligands by the Huynh Electronic Parameter and Its Correlation to Sigma Hammett Constants

The suitability and accuracy of the Huynh electronic parameter (HEP) was further tested to reveal remote substituent effects in pyridines, which are located five or six bonds away from the reporter probe. These values show an excellent correlation to Hammett σ‐constants of the respective substituents with coefficients of R²=0.9856 (σ_m) and R²=0.9857 (σ_p). Based on this observation, a methodology for the re‐evaluation of certain Hammett constants with larger uncertainties has been proposed and demonstrated. Moreover, the scope of HEP was extended to various neutral pnictogen and chalcogen donors during which “transphobia effects” were revealed for mixed NHC complexes containing phosphites, arsine and stibine for the first time.