Molecular designs for expanding the limits of ultralong C-C bonds and ultrashort HH non-bonded contacts

Unusually Short H⋅⋅⋅H Contacts in Intramolecularly Cyclized Helically Fused Anthracenes

The intramolecular coupling of dichloro-substituted helically fused anthracenes using the Yamamoto coupling yielded cyclized products with sterically congested molecular structures. The X-ray analysis and DFT calculations showed that the aromatic framework adopted a nonplanar structure with a twisted conformation about the newly formed single bond, which acts as a chiral axis. Interestingly, the X-ray structure obtained through the Hirshfeld atom refinement revealed short interatomic distances between the inner hydrogen atoms (1.648-1.692 Å), much shorter than the sum of their van der Waals radii. Owing to these unusually short contacts, the 1H NMR spectrum exhibited a significant deshielding (12.5 ppm) and a large nuclear Overhauser effect (44 %). Additionally, the IR spectrum displayed a high-frequency shift of the C-H stretching vibration. These observations, along with the noncovalent interaction plot indicative of a characteristic steric environment, strongly support the presence of steric hindrance. Moreover, dynamic NMR measurement of the mesityl-substituted derivative yielded a barrier to helical inversion of 84 kJ mol-1. The optical properties and crystal packing of the cyclized products are also reported.

Synthesis and cluster structure distortions of biscarborane dithiol, thioether, and disulfide

The synthesis and structural characterization of the first sulfur-containing derivatives of the C,C-biscarborane {ortho-C2B10}2 cluster - thiol, thioether, and disulfide - are reported. The biscarboranyl dithiol (1-HS-C2B10H10)2 exhibits an exceedingly long intracluster carbon-carbon bond length of 1.858(3) Å, which is attributed to the extensive interaction between the lone pairs of the thiol groups and the unoccupied molecular orbital of the carborane cluster. The structures of the doubly deprotonated biscarboranyl dithiolate anion (1-S-C2B10H10)22- with various counter cations feature an even longer carbon-carbon bond length of 2.062(10) Å within the cluster along with a short carbon-sulfur bond of 1.660(7) Å, both indicative of significant delocalization of electron density from the sulfur atoms into the cluster.

Long but Strong C-C Single Bonds: Challenges for Theory

Theoretical challenges in describing molecules with anomalously long single C-C bonds are analyzed in terms of the relative contributions of stabilizing and destabilizing intramolecular interactions. Diamondoid dimers that are stable despite the presence of C-C bonds up to 1.7 Å long, as well as other bulky molecules stabilized due to intramolecular noncovalent interactions (London dispersions) are discussed. The unexpected stability of highly crowded molecules, such as diamondoid dimers and tert-butyl-substituted hexaphenylethanes, calls for reconsideration of the "steric effect" traditionally thought to destabilize the molecule. Alternatively, "steric attraction" helps to understand bonding in sterically overloaded molecules, whose structural and energetic analysis requires a proper theoretical description of noncovalent interactions.

Redox-active carborane clusters in bond activation chemistry and ligand design

Icosahedral closo-dodecaboranes have the ability to accept two electrons, opening into a dianionic nido-cluster. This transformation can be utilized to store electrons, drive bond activation, or alter coordination to metal cations. In this feature article, we present cases for each of these applications, wherein the redox activity of carborane facilitates the generation of unique products. We highlight the effects of exohedral substituents on reactivity and the stability of the products through conjugation between the cluster and exohedral substituents. Futher, the utilization of the redox properties and geometry of carborane clusters in the ligand design is detailed, both in the stabilization of low-valent complexes and in the tuning of ligand geometry.

London Dispersion Interactions Imitate Pressure for Molecular Crystals

The packing of molecular crystals, in which the constituent molecular units have no directional forces, is primarily controlled by weak London dispersion (LD) forces. These forces assist in stabilizing the system by bringing the molecular units into the proximity of each other. In this paper, the same effect is shown to be externally induced by pressure. The minimal pressure required to correctly describe the crystal structure without LD interactions (P_LD) provides a quantifiable measure for the weak intermolecular interactions. LD forces are shown to be essential for an accurate description of the pressure-induced phase transitions across examples of linear, trigonal-planar, square-planar, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and octahedral molecules.

Extremely Long C-C Bonds Predicted beyond 2.0 Å

A number of conjugated molecules are designed with extremely long single C-C bonds beyond 2.0 Å. Some of the investigated molecules are based on analogues to the recently discovered molecule by Kubo et al. These bonds are analyzed by a variety of indices in addition to their equilibrium bond length including the Wiberg bond index, bond dissociation energy (BDE), and measures of diradicaloid character. All unrestricted DFT calculations indicate no diradical character supported by high-level multireference calculations. Finally, NFOD was computed through fractional orbital density (FOD) calculations and used to compare relative differences of diradicaloid character across twisted molecules without central C-C bonding and those with extremely elongated C-C bonds using a comparison with the C-C bond breaking in ethane. No example of direct C-C bonds beyond 2.4 Å are seen in the computational modeling; however, extremely stretched C-C bonds in the vicinity of 2.2 Å are predicted to be achievable with a BDE of 15-25 kcal mol-1.

Ultrashort Hδ+Hδ- intermolecular distance in a supramolecular system in the solid state

Herein we report experimental evidence for the shortest intermolecular distance reported for two electronically-different hydrogen atoms in the solid state. The Hδ+Hδ- non-covalent interaction was studied using theoretical calculations indicating that electrostatic and dispersion forces are of paramount importance.

Exceptionally Long Covalent CC Bonds-A Local Vibrational Mode Study

For decades one has strived to synthesize a compound with the longest covalent C−C bond applying predominantly steric hindrance and/or strain to achieve this goal. On the other hand electronic effects have been added to the repertoire, such as realized in the electron deficient ethane radical cation in its D3d form. Recently, negative hyperconjugation effects occurring in diamino-o-carborane analogs such as di-N,N-dimethylamino-o-carborane have been held responsible for their long C−C bonds. In this work we systematically analyzed CC bonding in a diverse set of 53 molecules including clamped bonds, highly sterically strained complexes such as diamondoid dimers, electron deficient species, and di-N,N-dimethylamino-o-carborane to cover the whole spectrum of possibilities for elongating a covalent C−C bond to the limit. As a quantitative intrinsic bond strength measure, we utilized local vibrational CC stretching force constants ka(CC) and related bond strength orders BSO n(CC), computed at the ωB97X-D/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. Our systematic study quantifies for the first time that whereas steric hindrance and/or strain definitely elongate a C−C bond, electronic effects can lead to even longer and weaker C−C bonds. Within our set of molecules the electron deficient ethane radical cation, in D3d symmetry, acquires the longest C−C bond with a length of 1.935 Å followed by di-N,N-dimethylamino-o-carborane with a bond length of 1.930 Å. However, the C−C bond in di-N,N-dimethylamino-o-carborane is the weakest with a BSO n value of 0.209 compared to 0.286 for the ethane radical cation; another example that the longer bond is not always the weaker bond. Based on our findings we provide new guidelines for the general characterization of CC bonds based on local vibrational CC stretching force constants and for future design of compounds with long C−C bonds.