Search for: All records

We report the synthesis of quaternary (di)cationic triamantane derivatives G1 and G3 by the permethylation of the corresponding primary ammonium ions G2 and G4. The complexation behaviors of G1–G4 toward CB[7] and CB[8] were examined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy, which reveals that CB[8] is capable of fully encapsulating G1–G4 whereas CB[7] forms inclusion complexes with G1, G2, and G4 but cannot fully encapsulate the central hydrophobic core of the bis-quaternary ammonium ion G3. The geometries of the CB[ n ]-guest complexes were determined by analyzing the complexation induced changes in chemical shifts and were further confirmed by molecular modelling using the Conformer–Rotamer Ensemble Sampling Tool (CREST) based on the GFN methods. Finally, the complexation thermodynamics were determined by a combination of 1 H NMR competitive experiments, direct isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements, and competitive ITC titrations using a tight binding ternary complex as a competitor. 

Polyhedral nitrogen containing molecules such as prismatic P₃N₃- a hitherto elusive isovalent species of prismane (C₆H₆) - have attracted particular attention from the theoretical, physical, and synthetic chemistry communities. Here we report on the preparation of prismatic P₃N₃[1,2,3-triaza-4,5,6-triphosphatetracyclo[2.2.0.0^2,6.0^3,5]hexane] by exposing phosphine (PH₃) and nitrogen (N₂) ice mixtures to energetic electrons. Prismatic P₃N₃was detected in the gas phase and discriminated from its isomers utilizing isomer selective, tunable soft photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry during sublimation of the ices along with an isomer-selective photochemical processing converting prismatic P₃N₃to 1,2,4-triaza-3,5,6-triphosphabicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (P₃N₃). In prismatic P₃N₃, the P–P, P–N, and N–N bonds are lengthened compared to those in, e.g., diphosphine (P₂H₄), di-anthracene stabilized phosphorus mononitride (PN), and hydrazine (N₂H₄), by typically 0.03–0.10 Å.  These findings advance our fundamental understanding of the chemical bonding of poly-nitrogen and poly-phosphorus systems and reveal a versatile pathway to produce exotic, ring-strained cage molecules.