Ionothermal Synthesis of AmBOCl: A Chiral Cubic Americium Borate Cluster.

Ionic liquids were used as low temperature solvents for the synthesis of new lanthanide and transuranic-element (TRU) borate cluster structures. Ionothermal synthesis with the ionic liquid [BMIm]Cl (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) yielded the La, Nd, and Am containing phases LaBOCl, NdBOCl, and AmBOCl. The structures of the La, Nd, and Am borate clusters were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and found to be cubic, in the chiral space group 23.

Redox-Active Carboranyl Diphosphine as an Electron and Proton Transfer Agent.

In this work, we report the first example of the PCET reactivity for a boron cluster compound, the zwitterionic -carboranyl diphosphonium derivative 7-P(H)Bu-10-P(H)Pr--CBH. This main-group reagent efficiently transfers two electrons and two protons to quinones to yield hydroquinones and regenerate a neutral -carboranyl diphosphine, 1-PBu-2-PPr--CBH. As we have previously reported the conversion of this -carboranyl diphosphine into the zwitterionic derivative upon reaction with main group hydrides, the transformation reported herein represents a complete synthetic cycle for the metal-free reduction of quinones, with the redox-active carboranyl diphosphine scaffold acting as a mediator.

Transition State Stabilizing Effects of Oxygen and Sulfur Chalcogen Bond Interactions.

Non-covalent chalcogen bond (ChB) interactions have found utility in many fields, including catalysis, organic semiconductors, and crystal engineering. In this study, the transition stabilizing effects of ChB interactions of oxygen and sulfur were experimentally measured using a series of molecular rotors. The rotors were designed to form ChB interactions in their bond rotation transition states.

Empirical Model of Solvophobic Interactions in Organic Solvents.

An empirical model was developed to predict organic solvophobic effects using N-phenylimide molecular balances functionalized with non-polar alkyl groups. Solution studies and X-ray crystallography confirmed intramolecular alkyl-alkyl interactions in their folded conformers. The structural modularity of the balances allowed systematic variation of alkyl group lengths.