Bulat Gabidullin

Oxidative Cleavage of C=S and P=S Bonds at an AlI Center: Preparation of Terminally Bound Aluminum Sulfides

The treatment of cyclic thioureas with the aluminum(I) compound NacNacAl (1; NacNac=[ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr]- , Ar=2,6-Pri2 C6 H3 ) resulted in oxidative cleavage of the C=S bond and the formation of 3 and 5, the first monomeric aluminum complexes with an Al=S double bond stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbenes. Compound 1 also reacted with triphenylphosphine sulfide in a similar manner, which resulted in cleavage of the P=S bond and production of the adduct [NacNacAl=S(S=PPh3 )] (8). The Al=S double bond in 3 can react with phenyl isothiocyanate to furnish the cycloaddition product 9 and zwitterion 10 as a result of coupling between the liberated carbene and PhN=C=S. All novel complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of 5, 9, and 10 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The nature of the Al=S bond in 5 was also probed by DFT calculations.

13C and 19F solid‐state NMR and X‐ray crystallographic study of halogen‐bonded frameworks featuring nitrogen‐containing heterocycles

Halogen bonding is a noncovalent interaction between the electrophilic region of a halogen (σ-hole) and an electron donor. We report a crystallographic and structural analysis of halogen-bonded compounds by applying a combined X-ray diffraction (XRD) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) approach. Single-crystal XRD was first used to characterize the halogen-bonded cocrystals formed between two fluorinated halogen-bond donors (1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene and 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene) and several nitrogen-containing heterocycles (acridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, and hexamethylenetetramine). New structures are reported for the following three cocrystals, all in the P21/c space group: acridine-1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1/1), C6F3I3·C13H9N, 1,10-phenanthroline-1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1/1), C6F3I3·C12H8N2, and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine-1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1/1), C6F3I3·C8H12N2. 13C and 19F solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR is shown to be a convenient method to characterize the structural features of the halogen-bond donor and acceptor, with chemical shifts attributable to cocrystal formation observed in the spectra of both nuclides. Cross polarization (CP) from 19F to 13C results in improved spectral sensitivity in characterizing the perfluorinated halogen-bond donor when compared to conventional 1H CP. Gauge-including projector-augmented wave density functional theory (GIPAW DFT) calculations of magnetic shielding constants, along with optimization of the XRD structures, provide a final set of structures in best agreement with the experimental 13C and 19F chemical shifts. Data for carbons bonded to iodine remain outliers due to well-known relativistic effects.

1,3,5-Tri(iodoethynyl)-2,4,6-trifluorobenzene: halogen-bonded frameworks and NMR spectroscopic analysis

Halogen bonding is the non-covalent interaction between the region of positive electrostatic potential associated with a covalently bonded halogen atom, named the σ-hole, and a Lewis base. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures are reported for a series of seven halogen-bonded cocrystals featuring 1,3,5-tris(iodoethynyl)-2,4,6-trifluorobenzene (1) as the halogen-bond donor, and bromide ions (as ammonium or phosphonium salts) as the halogen-bond acceptors: (1)·MePh3PBr, (1)·EtPh3PBr, (1)·acetonyl-Ph3PBr, (1)·Ph4PBr, (1)·[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide, and two new polymorphs of (1)·Et3BuNBr. The cocrystals all feature moderately strong iodine-bromide halogen bonds. The crystal structure of pure [bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide is also reported. The results of a crystal engineering strategy of varying the size of the counter-cation are explored, and the features of the resulting framework materials are discussed. Given the potential utility of (1) in future crystal engineering applications, detailed NMR analyses (in solution and in the solid state) of this halogen-bond donor are also presented. In solution, complex 13C and 19F multiplets are explained by considering the delicate interplay between various J couplings and subtle isotope shifts. In the solid state, the formation of (1)·Et3BuNBr is shown through significant 13C chemical shift changes relative to pure solid 1,3,5-tris(iodoethynyl)-2,4,6-trifluorobenzene.

Transition-Metal-Free Formation of C–E Bonds (E = C, N, O, S) and Formation of C–M Bonds (M = Mn, Mo) from N-Heterocyclic Carbene Mediated Fluoroalkene C–F Bond Activation

Herein, a recently reported polyfluoroalkenyl imidazolium salt is shown to react with nitrogen-, oxygen- and sulfur-based nucleophiles at the C β position in a stereoselective and regioselective fashion, without the use of a transition metal. In contrast, reactivity with 1-methylimidazole demonstrates net substitution at C α . This product reacts quantitatively with water, affording clean transformation of a difluoromethylene group to give an α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketone. Further reactivity studies demonstrate that the difluoromethyl fragment of an N-heterocyclic fluoroalkene is capable of direct C-C bond formation with NaCp through loss of sodium fluoride and double C-F bond activation (Cp = cyclopentadienide). TD-DFT calculations of this product indicate that both the HOMO and LUMO are of mixed π/π* character and are delocalized over the N-heterocyclic and Cp fragments, giving rise to a very intense absorption feature in the UV-vis spectrum. Additionally, two carbonylmetalate-substituted fluorovinyl imidazolium complexes featuring Mn and Mo were isolated and fully characterized.

A propeller-shaped μ4-carbonate hexanuclear dysprosium complex with a high energetic barrier to magnetisation relaxation

A Dy6 complex composed of two Dy3 triangular units, [Dy6(μ3-OH)(CO3)3(bsc)3(MeOH)14(H2O)](Cl)5·(H2O)·(MeOH)2 (1), was isolated and found to exhibit slow relaxation of the magnetisation under zero applied dc field, resulting in a high energetic barrier to relaxation.

Mechanochemistry and cocrystallization of 3-iodoethynylbenzoic acid with nitrogen-containing heterocycles: concurrent halogen and hydrogen bonding

Halogen bonding has been shown to be a versatile interaction for crystal engineering purposes, with characteristics that parallel those of hydrogen bonding. Here, we explore the potential of a new halogen bond donor, 3-iodoethynylbenzoic acid (1), which is functionalized with both halogen bond donor and hydrogen bond donor groups. We explore its crystal engineering potential by cocrystallizing it with a series of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, namely 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, piperazine, and hexamethylenetetramine. In total, we report six new single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures, including those of 1 and five of its halogen-bonded cocrystals. The halogen-bonded cocrystals are further investigated using 13C magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy and the observed changes in chemical shifts are attributed to particular structural or crystallographic features. The 13C chemical shift of the ethynyl carbon bonded to the aromatic ring consistently decreased by several ppm upon halogen bond formation while that of the ethynyl carbon bonded to iodine increased. Furthermore, we show that these cocrystals are also readily prepared by mechanochemical ball milling, allowing for the rapid screening of cocrystal formation based on this halogen bond donor.

Applying thieno[3,2-b]thiophene as a building block in the design of rigid extended thienoacenes

The synthesis of rigid extended star-shaped thienoacenes that incorporate thieno[3,2-b]thiophene as a structural unit, either as the “core” or “arm” moiety, is described herein. Four-fold Negishi coupling of a tetrabrominated core with thienyl- or thienothienyl zincates, followed by oxidative cyclodehydrogenation, affords tetra(5-hexyl)thieno([3,2-b]thieno)anthracene, tetra(5-hexylthieno[3,2-b]thieno)acridine, tetra(5-hexylthieno)benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene and tetra(5-hexylthieno[3,2-b]thieno)benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene. Comparative electrochemical, optical, computational and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies were carried out on this family of star-shaped thieno[3,2-b]thiophene based molecules to demonstrate, and confirm, the conservation of rigidity upon extending the conjugation, as well as to investigate the influence of the substitution pattern and heteroatom incorporation on the optoelectronic and solid state properties.

Probing Magnetic-Exchange Coupling in Supramolecular Squares Based on Reducible Tetrazine-Derived Ligands

Reducible 3,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazolyl)1,2,4,5-tetrazine was employed to isolate supramolecular air-stable [Co4 ] and [Zn4 ] squares, which were achieved via careful selection of counterions rather than the use of reducing agents. Magnetic susceptibility studies revealed a strong radical-CoII exchange coupling (Jrad-Co /hc=-118 cm-1 , -2J formalism) with a spin ground state of ST =4, whereas the unreduced analogue revealed negligible coupling between the Co centers (JCo-Co /hc=-0.64 cm-1 ). Radical-radical coupling was also probed in the [Zn4 ] congener, which led to Jrad-rad /hc=-15.9(5) cm-1 . These results highlight the versatile air-stable coordination chemistry of tetrazine and the importance of exploiting easily reducible delocalized radical to promote strong exchange coupling between spin carriers.

Alkyl-functionalization of 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,6-thiatriazine

A versatile synthetic route to prepare alkyl functionalized 3,5-bis-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,6-thiatriazines is described that can proceed either via cationic or anionic pathways; confirmed through characterization of the isolable intermediates. Computational studies are presented, which support the regioselectivity of the alkylation reactions and photophysical properties of the S-alkylated derivatives.

Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction with Manganese Complexes Bearing a κ2-PN Ligand: Breaking the α-Diimine Hold on Group 7 Catalysts and Switching Selectivity

The fundamental challenge of reducing CO2 into more valuable energy-containing compounds depends on revealing new catalysts for this process. By removal of the long-standing limitation of α-diimine ligation, which is dominant in photocatalytic complexes in this area, new visible-light, CO2-reducing photocatalysts based on Mn and Re supported by κ2-PN phosphinoaminopyridine ligands were identified. These catalysts, [M{κ2-(Ph2P)NH(NC5H4)}(CO)3Br], displayed excellent product selectivity and, by a change of only the metal center, gave a dramatic product switch from CO with M = Mn to HCO2H with M = Re. The catalyst systems were explored with variation of the ligand, electron donor, solvent, and photosensitizer. The products were definitively traced using 13CO2 as a substrate. Both complexes quenched the excited-state photosensitizer Ru(bpy)32+*, suggesting oxidative quenching as a potential entry into the catalytic cycle.