Diastereoselective formation of glycoluril dimers: isomerization mechanism and implications for cucurbit[n]uril synthesis.

Cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) is a macrocyclic compound, prepared in one pot from glycoluril and formaldehyde, whose molecular recognition properties have made it the object of intense study. Studies of the mechanism of CB[n] formation, which might provide insights that allow the tailor-made synthesis of CB[n] homologues and derivatives, have been hampered by the complex structure of CB[n]. By reducing the complexity of the reaction to the formation of S-shaped (12S-18S) and C-shaped (12C-18C) methylene bridged glycoluril dimers, we have been able to probe the fundamental steps of the mechanism of CB[n] synthesis to a level that has not been possible previously.

Regarding the stability of d(0) monocyclopentadienyl zirconium acetamidinate complexes bearing alkyl substituents with beta-hydrogens.

The monocyclopentadienyl zirconium acetamidinate complexes, (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Zr[N(R(1))C(Me)N(R(2))]R(3)R(4) (1-8), have been shown to be remarkably resistant to beta-hydrogen eliminations/abstractions, including the tert-butyl derivative, 3 (R(1) = R(2) = Cy, R(3) = t-Bu, R(4) = Cl), which resists both decomposition and isomerization in solution to temperatures of at least 100 degrees C. Further, two striking examples of an apparent preference for alternative hydrogen-atom abstractions in which complexes 1 and 7/8 that bear isomeric dibutyl substituents are transformed at elevated temperatures to complexes 9 and 10/11 that contain the isomeric butadiene and trimethylenemethane (TMM) C(4) fragments, respectively, are presented. These results serve to not only introduce a new ligand environment for zirconium in which beta-hydrogen elimination/abstraction processes are substantially retarded, but they further document the availability of alternative low-energy hydrogen abstraction pathways for group 4 alkyl complexes.

Cyclometalated products of [(COE)(2)RhCl](2) and 1,3-(RSCH(2))(2)C(6)H(4) (R = (t)Bu, (i)Pr) Are Dimeric. Synthesis, molecular structures, and solution dynamics of [mu-ClRh(H)(RSCH(2))(2)C(6)H(3)-2,6](2).

Two tridentate thioether pincer ligands, 1,3-(RSCH(2))(2)C(6)H(4) (R = (t)()Bu, 1a; R = (i)()Pr, 1b) underwent cyclometalation using [(COE)(2)RhCl](2) in air/moisture-free benzene at room temperature. The resultant complexes, [mu-ClRh(H)(RSCH(2))(2)C(6)H(3)-2,6](2) (R = (t)Bu, 2a; R = (i)Pr, 2b) are dimeric both in the solid state and in solution. A battery of variable-temperature one- and two-dimensional (1)H NMR experiments showed conclusively that both complexes undergo dynamic exchange in solution.

The sodium ions inside a lipophilic G-quadruplex channel as probed by solid-state (23)Na NMR.

We report solid-state 23Na NMR and X-ray crystallographic results for a self-assembled G-quadruplex channel formed by a guanine nucleoside, 5'-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-2',3'-O-isopropylidene guanosine (G 1). The study provides an unambiguous 23Na NMR identification for the Na+ ions inside a lipophilic G-quadruplex channel. The crystalline nature of the sample yields a remarkably high resolution in the 23Na multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning (MQMAS) spectrum, making it possible to extract very accurate 23Na NMR parameters for each of the three crystallographically distinct Na sites.

Ion-Pair Recognition by Nucleoside Self-Assembly: Guanosine Hexadecamers Bind Cations and Anions.

G-Quartets can bind anions as well as cations: Solid-state and solution data indicate that self-assembled ion-pair receptors are formed from 16 guanosine monomers, 2 divalent cations, and 4 picrate anions. Hydrogen-bonding, ion-dipole, and base-stacking interactions combine to give a tubular complex with a cation-loaded interior. An array of hydrogen-bond donors on the receptor's surface then enables anion coordination (see schematic representation, shaded rectangles=G-quartets, shaded circles=cations).

Rapid Inversion at Phosphorus in the [eta(4)-(C(6)H(11))(3)SnP(7)W(CO)(3)](2)(-) and [(en)(CO)(3)W(eta(1),eta(4)-P(7))M(CO)(3)](3)(-) Ions Where M = Cr, W.

Ethylenediamine (en) solutions of [eta(4)-P(7)M(CO)(3)](3)(-) ions [M = Cr (1a), W (1b)] react with (mesitylene)W(CO)(3) to form the bimetallic complexes [(en)(CO)(3)W(eta(1),eta(4)-P(7))M(CO)(3)](3)(-) where M = Cr (3a), W (3b) in good yield. Compound 3b can be prepared directly from P(7)(3)(-) and 2 equiv of (mesitylene)W(CO)(3). Compound 3a reacts with 1 equiv of P(7)(3)(-) to form 1a and 1b.

H(+)/AuPPh(3)(+) Exchange for the Hydride Complexes CpMoH(CO)(2)(L) (L = PMe(3), PPh(3), CO). Formation and Structure of [Cp(CO)(2)(PMe(3))Mo(AuPPh(3))(2)](+)[BF(4)](-).

The reaction of CpMoH(CO)(2)L with AuPPh(3)(+)BF(4)(-) in THF at -40 degrees C proceeds directly to the MoAu(2) cluster compounds [CpMo(CO)(2)L(AuPPh(3))(2)](+)BF(4)(-) (L = PMe(3) (1), PPh(3) (2)) with release of protons. A 1:1 reaction leaves 50% of the starting hydride unreacted. At lower temperature, however, the formation of a [CpMo(CO)(2)(PMe(3))(&mgr;-H)(AuPPh(3))](+) intermediate is observed.

Anionic Halomolybdate(III) Chemistry. Tetrahydrofuran Loss from [MoX(3)Y(THF)(2)](-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I), Preparation and Properties of [Mo(3)X(12)](3)(-) (X = Br, I), and Crystal Structure of the Edge-Sharing Trioctahedral [PPh(4)](3)[Mo(3)I(12)].

By interaction of MoX(3)(THF)(3) with [Cat]X in THF, the salts [Cat][MoX(4)(THF)(2)] have been synthesized [X = I, Cat = PPh(4), NBu(4), NPr(4), (Ph(3)P)(2)N; X = Br, Cat = NBu(4), PPh(4) (Ph(3)P)(2)N]. Mixed-halide species [MoX(3)Y(THF)(2)](-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) have also been generated in solution and investigated by (1)H-NMR. When the tetraiodo, tetrabromo, and mixed bromoiodo salts are dissolved in CH(2)Cl(2), clean loss of all coordinated THF is observed by (1)H-NMR.

Synthesis and Characterization of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes Containing Water-Soluble Hybrid Phosphine-Phosphonate Ligands.

Water-soluble phosphonate-functionalized triaryl phosphine ligands Na(2)[Ph(2)P(4-C(6)H(4)PO(3))].1.5H(2)O (4a), Na(2)[Ph(2)P(3-C(6)H(4)PO(3))].

Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivities of [eta(2)-P(7)M(CO)(4)](3)(-), [eta(2)-HP(7)M(CO)(4)](2)(-), and [eta(2)-RP(7)M(CO)(4)](2)(-) Zintl Ion Complexes Where M = Mo, W.

Ethylenediamine (en) solutions of [eta(4)-P(7)M(CO)(3)](3)(-) ions [M = W (1a), Mo (1b)] react under one atmosphere of CO to form microcrystalline yellow powders of [eta(2)-P(7)M(CO)(4)](3)(-) complexes [M = W (4a), Mo (4b)]. Compounds 4 are unstable, losing CO to re-form 1, but are highly nucleophilic and basic. They are protonated with methanol in en solvent giving [eta(2)-HP(7)M(CO)(4)](2)(-) ions (5) and are alkylated with R(4)N(+) salts in en solutions to give [eta(2)-RP(7)M(CO)(4)](2)(-) complexes (6) in good yields (R = alkyl).