Ancillary nitrile substituents as convenient IR spectroscopic reporters for self-assembly of mercapto- and isocyanoazulenes on Au(111).

Synthesis and self-assembly of structurally related mercapto- and isocyanoazulenes, including novel 2-mercapto-1,3-dicyanoazulene (4) and 2-isocyano-1,3-dicyanoazulene (5), are reported. Exposing 5 adsorbed on Au(111) to a solution of 4 displaces the isocyanoazulene monolayer with that of the mercaptoazulene as judged by ν(C≡N) signatures of these films.

Molecular, electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of MM quadruply bonded units supported by trans-6-carboethoxy-2-carboxylatoazulene ligands.

The reaction between M(2)(TiPB)(4) (M = Mo, W) where TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate and 6-carboethoxy-2-azulenecarboxylic acid (2 equiv.) in toluene leads to the formation of complexes M(2)(TiPB)(2)(6-carboethoxy-2-azulenecarboxylate)(2). Compound (M = Mo) is blue and compound (M = W) is green.

Concerning the molecular and electronic structure of a tungsten-tungsten quadruply bonded complex supported by two 6-carboethoxy-2-carboxylatoazulene ligands.

The preparation and molecular structure of a W2(4+)-quadruply bonded complex is reported wherein two mutually trans azulene-2-carboxylato ligands are shown to be strongly coupled by ligand pi-M2delta-ligand pi conjugation.

Interaction of mono- and diisocyanoazulenes with gold surfaces: first examples of self-assembled monolayer films involving azulenic scaffolds.

The formation and properties of a new class of self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of aryl isocyanides and diisocyanides based on the nonbenzenoid azulenic framework have been investigated using FTIR spectroscopy and ellipsometry. Syntheses of several new members of the isocyanoazulene family, a recently established type of aryl isocyanides, are reported as well. The FTIR spectra for the isocyanoazulene derivatives absorbed on the gold surface indicate the terminal upright coordination of every isocyanoazulene molecule studied.

The 2,6-diisocyanoazulene motif: synthesis and efficient mono- and heterobimetallic complexation with controlled orientation of the azulenic dipole.

Synthesis of the remarkably air- and thermally stable 2,6-diisocyano-1,3-diethoxycarbonylazulene linker from 2-amino-1,3-diethoxycarbonylazulene in 57% cumulative yield was developed. Incorporation of the ester "arms" in the design of this first diisocyanoazulene bridge permitted fully controlled stepwise installation and complexation of its isocyano junction groups. The -CO(2)Et arms in 2,6-diformamido-1,3-diethoxycarbonylazulene effectively suppress the rate of dehydration of its 2-NHCHO end relative to that of the 6-NHCHO end leading to practically exclusive formation of 6-isocyano-2-formamido-1,3-diethoxycarbonylazulene upon treatment of the above diformamide with an equimolar amount of POCl(3).

Long-range electronic coupling of MM quadruple bonds (M = Mo or W) via a 2,6-azulenedicarboxylate bridge.

The preparation of 2,6-azulenedicarboxylic acid (I) from its diester, 2-CO(2)(t)Bu-6-CO(2)-C(10)H(6) (II), is reported together with the crystal and molecular structure of the ester, II. From the reactions between the dicarboxylic acid I and the MM quadruply bonded complexes M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(4), where M = Mo or W, the azulenedicarboxylate bridged complexes [M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(3)](2)(mu-2,6-(CO(2))(2)-C(10)H(6)) have been isolated, III (M = Mo) and IV (M = W). The latter compounds provide examples of electronically coupled M(2) centers via a polar bridge.

First isocyanoazulene and its homoleptic complexes.

An efficient synthesis of remarkably stable 6-isocyanoazulene (CN6Az), the first nonbenzenoid organic isocyanide, is described. Its superb pi-accepting potential as a ligand was demonstrated through cyclic voltammetry studies on the binary complexes [Cr(CN6Az)6]0/+. The paramagnetic shift patterns for [Cr(CN6Az)6]+, the only azulenic pi-system studied by paramagnetic NMR, suggest that Cr(dpi) --> CN6Az(ppi*) electron delocalization involves both rings of the azulenyl substituents in [Cr(CN6Az)6]+.