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1. Structural diversity in copper(I) iodide complexes with 6-thioxopiperidin-2-one, piperidine-2,6-dithione and isoindoline-1,3-dithione ligands

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989020009676  

   Wheaton, Amelia M. ; Guzei, Ilia A. ; Berry, John F. ( August 2020 , Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   null (Ed.)

   Copper(I) iodide complexes are well known for displaying a diverse array of structural features even when only small changes in ligand design are made. This structural diversity is well displayed by five copper(I) iodide compounds reported here with closely related piperidine-2,6-dithione (SNS), isoindoline-1,3-dithione (SNS6), and 6-thioxopiperidin-2-one (SNO) ligands: di-μ-iodido-bis[(acetonitrile-κ N )(6-sulfanylidenepiperidin-2-one-κ S )copper(I)], [Cu 2 I 2 (CH 3 CN) 2 (C 5 H 7 NOS) 2 ] ( I ), bis(acetonitrile-κ N )tetra-μ 3 -iodido-bis(6-sulfanylidenepiperidin-2-one-κ S )- tetrahedro -tetracopper(I), [Cu 4 I 4 (CH 3 CN) 4 (C 5 H 7 NOS) 4 ] ( II ), catena -poly[[(μ-6-sulfanylidenepiperidin-2-one-κ 2 O : S )copper(I)]-μ 3 -iodido], [CuI(C 5 H 7 NOS)] n ( III ), poly[[(piperidine-2,6-dithione-κ S )copper(I)]-μ 3 -iodido], [CuI(C 5 H 7 NS 2 )] n ( IV ), and poly[[(μ-isoindoline-1,3-dithione-κ 2 S : S )copper(I)]-μ 3 -iodido], [CuI(C 8 H 5 NS 2 )] n ( V ). Compounds I and II crystallize as discrete dimeric and tetrameric complexes, whereas III , IV , and V crystallize as polymeric two-dimensional sheets. To the best of our knowledge, compound III is the first instance of an extended hexagonal [Cu 3 I 3 ] structure that is not supported by bridging ligands. Structures I , II , and IV display weak to moderately strong Cu...Cu cuprophilic interactions [Cu...Cu internuclear distances range between 2.5803 (10) and 2.8485 (14) Å]. All structures except III display weak hydrogen-bonding interactions between the N—H of the ligand and the μ 2 and μ 3 -I − atoms. Structure III contains classical N–H...O interactions between the SNO ligands that connect the molecules in a three-dimensional framework. Complex V features π–π stacking interactions between the aryl rings of the SNS6 ligands within the same polymeric sheet. In structure IV , there were three partially occupied solvent molecules of dichloromethane and one partially occupied molecule of acetonitrile present in the asymmetric unit. The SQUEEZE routine [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst . C 71 , 9–18] was used to correct the diffraction data for diffuse scattering effects and to identify the solvent molecules. The given chemical formula and other crystal data do not take into account the solvent molecules. 

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2. Actinide arene-metalates: ion pairing effects on the electronic structure of unsupported uranium–arenide sandwich complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC03275E  

   Murillo, Jesse ; Bhowmick, Rina ; Harriman, Katie L. ; Gomez-Torres, Alejandra ; Wright, Joshua ; Meulenberg, Robert W. ; Miró, Pere ; Metta-Magaña, Alejandro ; Murugesu, Muralee ; Vlaisavljevich, Bess ; et al ( October 2021 , Chemical Science)

   Addition of [UI 2 (THF) 3 (μ-OMe)] 2 ·THF (2·THF) to THF solutions containing 6 equiv. of K[C 14 H 10 ] generates the heteroleptic dimeric complexes [K(18-crown-6)(THF) 2 ] 2 [U(η 6 -C 14 H 10 )(η 4 -C 14 H 10 )(μ-OMe)] 2 ·4THF (118C6·4THF) and {[K(THF) 3 ][U(η 6 -C 14 H 10 )(η 4 -C 14 H 10 )(μ-OMe)]} 2 (1THF) upon crystallization of the products in THF in the presence or absence of 18-crown-6, respectively. Both 118C6·4THF and 1THF are thermally stable in the solid-state at room temperature; however, after crystallization, they become insoluble in THF or DME solutions and instead gradually decompose upon standing. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals 118C6·4THF and 1THF to be structurally similar, possessing uranium centres sandwiched between bent anthracenide ligands of mixed tetrahapto and hexahapto ligation modes. Yet, the two complexes are distinguished by the close contact potassium-arenide ion pairing that is seen in 1THF but absent in 118C6·4THF, which is observed to have a significant effect on the electronic characteristics of the two complexes. Structural analysis, SQUID magnetometry data, XANES spectral characterization, and computational analyses are generally consistent with U( iv ) formal assignments for the metal centres in both 118C6·4THF and 1THF, though noticeable differences are detected between the two species. For instance, the effective magnetic moment of 1THF (3.74 μ B ) is significantly lower than that of 118C6·4THF (4.40 μ B ) at 300 K. Furthermore, the XANES data shows the U L III -edge absorption energy for 1THF to be 0.9 eV higher than that of 118C6·4THF, suggestive of more oxidized metal centres in the former. Of note, CASSCF calculations on the model complex {[U(η 6 -C 14 H 10 )(η 4 -C 14 H 10 )(μ-OMe)] 2 } 2− (1*) shows highly polarized uranium–arenide interactions defined by π-type bonds where the metal contributions are primarily comprised by the 6d-orbitals (7.3 ± 0.6%) with minor participation from the 5f-orbitals (1.5 ± 0.5%). These unique complexes provide new insights into actinide–arenide bonding interactions and show the sensitivity of the electronic structures of the uranium atoms to coordination sphere effects. 

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3. Evaluating electrochemical accessibility of 4f n 5d 1 and 4f n+1 Ln( ii ) ions in (C 5 H 4 SiMe 3 ) 3 Ln and (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 Ln complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1DT02427B  

   Trinh, Michael T. ; Wedal, Justin C. ; Evans, William J. ( October 2021 , Dalton Transactions)

   The reduction potentials (reported vs. Fc + /Fc) for a series of Cp′ 3 Ln complexes (Cp′ = C 5 H 4 SiMe 3 , Ln = lanthanide) were determined via electrochemistry in THF with [ n Bu 4 N][BPh 4 ] as the supporting electrolyte. The Ln( iii )/Ln( ii ) reduction potentials for Ln = Eu, Yb, Sm, and Tm (−1.07 to −2.83 V) follow the expected trend for stability of 4f 7 , 4f 14 , 4f 6 , and 4f 13 Ln( ii ) ions, respectively. The reduction potentials for Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Lu, that form 4f n 5d 1 Ln( ii ) ions ( n = 2–14), fall in a narrow range of −2.95 V to −3.14 V. Only cathodic events were observed for La and Ce at −3.36 V and −3.43 V, respectively. The reduction potentials of the Ln( ii ) compounds [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp′ 3 Ln] (Ln = Pr, Sm, Eu) match those of the Cp′ 3 Ln complexes. The reduction potentials of nine (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 Ln complexes were also studied and found to be 0.05–0.24 V more negative than those of the Cp′ 3 Ln compounds. 

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4. Crystallographic characterization of rare-earth cyanotriphenylborate complexes and the cyanoborates [NCBPh 3 ] 1− , [NCBPh 2 Me] 1− , and [NCBPh 2 (μ-O)BPh 2 ] 1−

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989021006861  

   Dumas, Megan T. ; White, Jessica R. ; Ziller, Joseph W. ; Evans, William J. ( August 2021 , Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   The investigation of the coordination chemistry of rare-earth metal complexes with cyanide ligands led to the isolation and crystallographic characterization of the Ln III cyanotriphenylborate complexes dichlorido(cyanotriphenylborato-κ N )tetrakis(tetrahydrofuran-κ O )lanthanide(III), [ Ln Cl 2 (C 19 H 15 BN)(C 4 H 8 O) 4 ] [lanthanide ( Ln ) = dysprosium (Dy) and yttrium Y)] from reactions of LnCl 3 , KCN, and NaBPh 4 . Attempts to independently synthesize the tetraethylammonium salt of (NCBPh 3 ) − from BPh 3 and [NEt 4 ][CN] in THF yielded crystals of the phenyl-substituted cyclic borate, tetraethylazanium 2,2,4,6-tetraphenyl-1,3,5,2λ 4 ,4,6-trioxatriborinan-2-ide, C 8 H 20 N + ·C 24 H 20 B 3 O 3 − or [NEt 4 ][B 3 (μ-O) 3 (C 6 H 5 ) 4 ]. The mechanochemical reaction of BPh 3 and [NEt 4 ][CN] without solvent produced crystals of tetraethylazanium cyanodiphenyl-λ 4 -boranyl diphenylborinate, C 8 H 20 N + ·C 25 H 20 B 2 NO − or [NEt 4 ][NCBPh 2 (μ-O)BPh 2 ]. Reaction of BPh 3 and KCN in THF in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand (crypt) led to a crystal of bis[(2.2.2-cryptand)potassium] 2,2,4,6-tetraphenyl-1,3,5,2λ 4 ,4,6-trioxatriborinan-2-ide cyanomethyldiphenylborate tetrahydrofuran disolvate, 2C 18 H 36 KN 2 O 6 + ·C 24 H 20 B 3 O 3 − ·C 14 H 13 BN − ·2C 4 H 8 O or [K(crypt)] 2 [B 3 (μ-O) 3 (C 6 H 5 ) 4 ][NCBPh 2 Me]·2THF. The [NCBPh 2 (μ-O)BPh 2 ] 1− and (NCBPh 2 Me) 1− anions have not been structurally characterized previously. The structure of 1-Y was refined as a two-component twin with occupancy factors 0.513 (1) and 0.487 (1). In 4 , one solvent molecule was disordered and included using multiple components with partial site-occupancy factors. 

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5. Nitrene C−H Bond Insertion Approach to Carbazolones and Indolones, and a Reactivity Departure for 7‐Membered Analogues**

   https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202302995  

   Lakshman, Mahesh K. ; Sebastian, Dellamol ; Pradhan, Padmanava ; Neary, Michelle C. ; Piette, Alexis M. ; Trzebiatowski, Samuel P. ; Henriques, Alexander E. K. ; Willoughby, Patrick H. ( November 2023 , Chemistry – A European Journal)

   A modular platform for facile access to 1,2,3,9‐tetrahydro‐4H‐carbazol‐4‐ones (H₄‐carbazolones) and 3,4‐dihydrocyclopenta[b]indol‐1(2H)‐ones (H₂‐indolones) is described. The requisite 6‐ and 5‐membered 2‐arylcycloalkane‐1,3‐dione precursors were readily obtained through a Cu‐catalyzed arylation of 1,3‐cyclohexanediones or by a ring expansion of aryl succinoin derivatives. Enolization of one carbonyl group in the diones, conversion to a leaving group, and subsequent azidation gave 2‐aryl‐3‐azidocycloalk‐2‐en‐1‐ones. This two‐step, one‐pot azidation is highly regioselective with unsymmetrically substituted 2‐arylcyclohexane‐1,3‐diones. The regioselectivity, which is important for access to single isomers of 3,3‐disubstituted carbazolones, was analyzed mechanistically and computationally. Finally, a Rh‐catalyzed nitrene/nitrenoid insertion into theorthoC−H bond of the aryl moiety gave the H₄‐carbazolones and H₂‐indolones. One carbazolone was elaborated to an intermediate reported in the total synthesis ofN‐decarbomethoxychanofruticosinate, (−)‐aspidospermidine, (+)‐kopsihainanine A. With 2‐phenylcycloheptane‐1,3‐dione, prepared from cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde, the azidation reaction was readily accomplished. However, the Rh‐catalyzed reaction unexpectedly led to a labile but characterizable azirine rather than the indole derivative. Computations were performed to understand the differences in reactivities of the 5‐ and 6‐membered 2‐aryl‐3‐azidocycloalk‐2‐en‐1‐ones in comparison to the 7‐membered analogue, and to support the structural assignment of the azirine.

    

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