A new type of C+⋯Hδ-(C=) bond in adducts of vinyl carbocations with alkenes.

By X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy, it was established here that vinyl carbocations C3H5+/C4H7+ with carborane counterion CHB11Cl11- form stable monosolvates C3H5+⋅C3H6/C4H7+⋅C4H8 with molecules of alkenes C3H6/C4H8. They contain molecular group =C+⋯Hδ--Cδ+= with a new type of bond formed by the H atom of the H-C= group of the alkene with the C atom of the C+=C group of the carbocation. The short C+----Cδ+ distance, equal to 2.44 Å, is typical of that of X----X in proton disolvates (L2H+) with an quasi-symmetrical X-H+⋯X moiety (where X = O or N) of basic molecule L. The nature of the discovered bond differs from that of the classic H-bond by an distribution of electron density: the electron-excessive Hδ- atom from the (=)C-H group of the alkene is attached to the C+ atom of the carbocation, on which the positive charge is predominantly concentrated. Therefore, it can be called an inverse hydrogen bond.

Substitution of H Atoms in Unsaturated (Vinyl-Type) Carbocations by Cl or O Atoms.

Introduction of Cl and O atoms into C4-vinyl carbocations was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy. Chlorine atoms are weak electron acceptors in ordinary molecules but, within vinyl carbocations, manifest themselves as strong electron donors that accept a positive charge. The attachment of a Cl atom directly to a C=C bond leads to an increase in the e-density on it, exceeding that of the common double bond. The positive charge should be concentrated on the Cl atom, and weak δ- may appear on the C=C bond. More distant attachment of the Cl atom, e.g., to a C atom adjacent to the C=C bond, has a weaker effect on it. If two Cl atoms are attached to the Cγ atom of the vinyl cation, as in Cl2CγCδHCαHCH3, then the cation switches to the allyl type with two practically equivalent and almost uncharged CγCδCα bonds. When such a strong nucleophile as the O atom is introduced into the carbocation, a protonated ester molecule with a C-O(H+)-C group and a C=C bond forms. Nonetheless, in the future, there is still a possibility of obtaining carbocations with a non-protonated C-O-C group.

Interaction of Vinyl-Type Carbocations, C3H5+ and C4H7+ with Molecules of Water, Alcohols, and Acetone.

X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy were used to study the products of the interaction of vinyl cations C3H5+ and C4H7+ (Cat+) (as salts of carborane anion CHB11Cl11-) with basic molecules of water, alcohols, and acetone that can crystallize from solutions in dichloromethane and C6HF5. Interaction with water, as content increased, proceeded via three-stages. (1) adduct Cat+·OH2 forms in which H2O binds (through the O atom) to the C=C+ bond of the cation with the same strength as seen in the binding to Na in Na(H2O)6+. (2) H+ is transferred from cation Cat+·OH2 to a water molecule forming H3O+ and alcohol molecules (L) having the CH=CHOH entity. The O- atom of alcohols is attached to the H atom of the C=C+-H moiety of Cat+ thereby forming a very strong asymmetric H-bond, (C=)C+-H⋅⋅⋅O. (3) Finally all vinyl cations are converted into alcohol molecule L and H3O+ cations, yielding proton disolvates L-H+-L with a symmetric very strong H-bond. When an acetone molecule (Ac) interacts with Cat+, H+ is transferred to Ac giving rise to a reactive carbene and proton disolvate Ac-H+-Ac. Thus, the alleged high reactivity of vinyl cations seems to be an exaggeration.

Spontaneous Transition of Alkyl Carbocations to Unsaturated Vinyl-Type Carbocations in Organic Solutions.

It was found that alkyl carbocations, when their salts are dissolved in common organochlorine solvents, decompose to unsaturated vinyl-type carbocations that are stabler in solutions. This is a convenient method for obtaining salts of vinyl cations and their solutions for further research.

IR-Spectroscopic and X-ray-Structural Study of Vinyl-Type Carbocations in Their Carborane Salts.

The butylene carbocation in its salts with anions CHB11F11 - and CHB11Cl11 - forms isomers CH2=C+-CH2-CH3 (I) and CH3-C+=CH-CH3 (II), which were characterized here by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The strongest influence on the structure of the cations is exerted by geometric ordering of their anionic environment. In the crystalline phase, the cations uniformly interact with neighboring anions, and the C=C bond is located in the middle part of the cations forming a -CH=C+- moiety with the highest positive charge on it and the lowest νC=C frequency, at 1490 cm-1. In the amorphous phase with a disordered anionic environment of the cations, contact ion pairs Anion-···CH2=C+-CH2-CH3 form predominantly, with terminal localization of the C=C bond through which the contact occurs. The positive charge is slightly extinguished by the anion, and the C=C stretch frequency is higher by ∼100 cm-1. The replacement of the hydrogen atom in cations I/II by a Cl atom giving rise to cations CH2=C+-CHCl-CH3 and CH3-C+=CCl-CH3 means that the donation of electron density from the Cl atom quenches the positive charge on the C+=C bond more strongly, and the C=C stretch frequency increases so much that it even exceeds that of neutral alkene analogues by 35-65 cm-1. An explanation is given for the finding that upon stabilization of the vinyl cations by polyatomic substituents such as silylium (SiMe3) and t-Bu groups, the stretching C=C frequency approaches the triple-bond frequency. Namely, the scattering of a positive charge on these substituents enhances their donor properties so much that the electron density on the C=C bond with a weakened charge becomes much higher than that of neutral alkenes.

The Chloronium Cation [(C2H3)2Cl+] and Unsaturated C4-Carbocations with C=C and C≡C Bonds in Their Solid Salts and in Solutions: An H1/C13 NMR and Infrared Spectroscopic Study.

Solid salts of the divinyl chloronium (C2H3)2Cl+ cation (I) and unsaturated C4H6Cl+ and C4H7+ carbocations with the highly stable CHB11Hal11- anion (Hal=F, Cl) were obtained for the first time. At 120 °C, the salt of the chloronium cation decomposes, yielding a salt of the C4H5+ cation. This thermally stable (up to 200 °C) carbocation is methyl propargyl, CH≡C-C+-H-CH3 (VI), which, according to quantum chemical calculations, should be energetically much less favorable than other isomers of the C4H7+ cations. Cation VI readily attaches HCl to the formal triple C≡C bond to form the CHCl=CH-C+H-CH3 cation (VII). In infrared spectra of cations I, VI, and VII, frequencies of C=C and C≡C stretches are significantly lower than those predicted by calculations (by 400-500 cm-1). Infrared and 1H/13C magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of solid salts of cations I and VI and high-resolution 1H/13C NMR spectra of VII in solution in SO2ClF were interpreted. On the basis of the spectroscopic data, the charge and electron density distribution in the cations are discussed.

Isomers of the Allyl Carbocation C3H5 + in Solid Salts: Infrared Spectra and Structures.

Three isomers of the allyl cation C3H5 + were obtained in salts with the carborane anion CHB11Cl11 -. Two of them, angular CH3-CH=CH+ (I) and linear CH3-C+=CH2 (II), were characterized by X-ray crystallography, and the third one, (CH2CHCH2)+ (III), is formed in an amorphous salt. The stretch vibration of the charged double bond C=C+ of I and II is decreased by 162 cm-1 (I) or 76 cm-1 (II) as compared to that of neutral propene. This result contradicts the prediction of DFT and MP2 calculations with the 6-311G++(d,p) basis set that the appearance of the positive charge on the C=C bond should increase its stretch vibration by 200 cm-1 (I) or 210 cm-1 (II). According to infrared spectra, the CC bonds in isomer III have one-and-a-half bond status. Isomers I and II in the crystal lattice are stabilized due to uniform ionic interactions with neighboring anions with partial transfer of a positive charge to them. Additional stabilization of II is provided by a weak hyperconjugation effect. Isomer III is stabilized in the amorphous phase due to ion paring with a counterion and a strong intramolecular hyperconjugation effect.

Unsaturated Vinyl-Type Carbocation [(CH3)2C=CH]+ in Its Carborane Salts.

The isobutylene carbocation (CH3)2C=CH+ was obtained in amorphous and crystalline salts with the carborane anion CHB11Cl11 -. The cation was characterized by X-ray crystallography and IR spectroscopy. Its crystal structure shows a relatively uniform ionic interaction of the cation with the surrounding anions, with a slightly shortened distance between the C atom of the =CH group and the Cl atom of the anion, pointing to a higher positive charge on this group. In the amorphous phase, the asymmetric interaction of the cation with the anion increases, approaching ion pairing. This gives rise to a strong hyperconjugation between the two CH3 groups and the 2pz orbital of the central carbon sp2 atom (the red shift of the CH stretch is 150 cm-1); this effect stabilizes the cation. Over time, as the structure of the amorphous phase becomes more ordered, the hyperconjugation weakens and disappears in the crystalline phase with the disappearance of ion pairing. The carbocation stabilization in the crystalline phase is achieved due to the transfer of a portion of the charge to the neighboring anions, whereas the charge on the C=C bond becomes the strongest: the C=C stretch frequency drops to ∼160 cm-1 relative to neutral isobutylene. The collected IR spectra for the optimized cation under vacuum (in the 6-311G ++ (d, p) basis for all HF, MP2, and DFT calculations) predict that a positive charge on the C=C bond increases its stretching frequency; this computational result contradicts the experimental data, perhaps because it does not take into account the significant impact of the environment.

Features of Protonation of the Simplest Weakly Basic Molecules, SO2 , CO, N2 O, CO2 , and Others by Solid Carborane Superacids.

An experimental study on protonation of simple weakly basic molecules (L) by the strongest solid superacid, H(CHB11 F11 ), showed that basicity of SO2 is high enough (during attachment to the acidic H atoms at partial pressure of 1 atm) to break the bridged H-bonds of the polymeric acid and to form a mixture of solid mono- LH+ ⋅⋅⋅An- , and disolvates, L-H+ -L. With a decrease in the basicity of L=CO (via C), N2 O, and CO (via O), only proton monosolvates are formed, which approach L-H+ -An- species with convergence of the strengths of bridged H-bonds. The molecules with the weakest basicity, such as CO2 and weaker, when attached to the proton, cannot break the bridged H-bond of the polymeric superacid, and the interaction stops at stage of physical adsorption. It is shown here that under the conditions of acid monomerization, it is possible to protonate such weak bases as CO2 , N2 , and Xe.

Protonation of N2O and NO2 in a solid phase.

Adsorption of gaseous N2O on the acidic surface Brønsted centers of the strongest known solid acid, H(CHB11F11), results in formation of the N≡N-OH+ cation. Its positive charge is localized mainly to the H-atom, which is H-bonded to the CHB11F11- anion forming an asymmetric proton disolvate of the L1-H+L2 type, where L1 = N2O and L2 = CHB11F11-. NO2 protonation under the same conditions leads to the formation of the highly reactive cation radical NO2H˙+, which reacts rapidly with an NO2 molecule according to the equation N2OH+ + NO2 → [N2O4H+] → N2OH+ + O2 resulting in the formation of two types of N2OH+ cations: (i) a typical Brønsted superacid, N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N-OH+, with a strongly acidic OH group involved in a rather strong H-bond with the anion, and (ii) a typical strong Lewis acid, N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N+-OH, with a positive charge localized to the central N atom and ionic interactions with the surrounding anions via the charged central N atom.

The strongest Brønsted acid: protonation of alkanes by H(CHB(11)F(11)) at room temperature.

What is the strongest acid? Can a simple Brønsted acid be prepared that can protonate an alkane at room temperature? Can that acid be free of the complicating effects of added Lewis acids that are typical of common, difficult-to-handle superacid mixtures? The carborane superacid H(CHB11 F11 ) is that acid. It is an extremely moisture-sensitive solid, prepared by treatment of anhydrous HCl with [Et3 SiHSiEt3 ][CHB11 F11 ]. It adds H2 O to form [H3 O][CHB11 F11 ] and benzene to form the benzenium ion salt [C6 H7 ][CHB11 F11 ]. It reacts with butane to form a crystalline tBu(+) salt and with n-hexane to form an isolable hexyl carbocation salt. Carbocations, which are thus no longer transient intermediates, react with NaH either by hydride addition to re-form an alkane or by deprotonation to form an alkene and H2 . By protonating alkanes at room temperature, the reactivity of H(CHB11 F11 ) opens up new opportunities for the easier study of acid-catalyzed hydrocarbon reforming.

Evidence for C-H hydrogen bonding in salts of tert-butyl cation.

Environmentally sensitive: A combination of C-H anion hydrogen bonding and hyperconjugative charge delocalization explains the sensitivity of the IR spectrum of the tert-butyl cation to its anion (see high-resolution X-ray structure with a CHB(11)Cl(11)(-) counterion). The νCH vibration of the cation scales linearly with the basicity of carborane anions on the νNH scale. The same also holds for the C(6)H(7)(+) benzenium ion.

Oligomeric carbocation-like species from protonation of chloroalkanes.

The protonation of chloroethane by the strongest known solid superacid, the carborane acid H(CHB(11)Cl(11)), has been studied by quantitative IR spectroscopic methods to track mass balance and uncover previously unobserved chemistry. In the first step, an intermediate EtCl·H(CHB(11)Cl(11)) species without full proton transfer to EtCl can be observed when d(5)-deuterated chloroethane is used. It rapidly eliminates HCl (but not DCl) to form ethyl carborane, Et(CHB(11)Cl(11)), which binds a second molecule of chloroethane to form the Et(2)Cl(+) chloronium ion. This undergoes a slower, previously unrecognized HCl elimination reaction to form a butyl carborane, Bu(CHB(11)Cl(11)), beginning an oligomerization process whereby unsymmetrical dialkylchloronium ions decompose to alkyl carboranes of formula Bu(C(2)H(4))(n)(CHB(11)Cl(11)) up to n = 4. Over time, a parallel competing process of de-oligomerization take place in the presence of free carborane acid that finishes with the formation of hexyl or butyl carboranes. Upon heating to 150 C, the final products are all converted to the remarkably stable tert-butyl cation carborane salt.

Dialkyl chloronium ions.

The carborane acid H(CHB(11)Cl(11)) reacts with chloroalkanes RCl to give isolable dialkylchloronium ion salts, [R(2)Cl][CHB(11)Cl(11)], that are stable at room temperature. X-ray crystal structures have been obtained for R = CH(3) and CH(2)CH(3), revealing bent cation structures with C-Cl-C angles of 101.5 and 105.8 degrees , respectively. The dimethylchloronium ion salt loses CH(3)Cl upon heating and forms sublimable CH(3)(CHB(11)Cl(11)), providing a clean synthetic route to an extremely potent electrophilic methylating agent. IR spectra of all species have been interpreted, including the C-Cl stretch in CH(3)-ClCHB(11)Cl(10).

The structure of the hydrogen ion (H(aq)+) in water.

The hydrogen ion in water, H(aq)(+), is a unique H(13)O(6)(+) entity that defines the boundary of positive-charge delocalization. Its central unit is neither a C(3v) H(3)O(+) Eigen-type ion nor a typical H(5)O(2)(+) Zundel-type ion. IR spectroscopy indicates that the H(13)O(6)(+) ion has an unexpectedly long central O...O separation (>>2.43 A), showing that in comparison with the gas and solid phases, the environment of liquid water is uniquely proficient in delocalizing positive charge. These results will change the description of H(aq)(+) in textbooks of chemistry, and a more extensive delocalization of positive charge may need to be incorporated into descriptions of mechanisms of aqueous proton transport.

H(aq)+ structures in proton wires inside nanotubes.

The hydrated carborane acid H(CHB(11)I(11)).8H(2)O crystallizes in nanometer-diameter tubes of H(aq)(+) enclosed by walls of carborane anions. Three different types of H(aq)(+) clusters are found in these tubes: a symmetrical H(13)O(6)(+) ion with an unusually elongated Zundel-type H(5)O(2)(+) core, two hydrated H(7)O(3)(+) ions, and an unprecedented H(17)O(8)(+) ion having a nearly square core. All of the H(aq)(+) cations show unexpectedly longer O...O separations than in discrete H(aq)(+) ions, indicating greater delocalization of positive charge. The centrosymmetric H(aq)(+) ions are linked via short H bonds, forming a true one-dimensional proton wire.

The nature of the hydrated proton H(aq)+ in organic solvents.

The nature of H(H2O)n(+) cations for n = 3-8 with weakly basic carborane counterions has been studied by IR spectroscopy in benzene and dichloroethane solution. Contrary to general expectation, neither Eigen-type H3O x 3 H2O(+) nor Zundel-type H5O2(+) x 4 H2O ions are present. Rather, the core species is the H7O3(+) ion.

The basicity of unsaturated hydrocarbons as probed by hydrogen-bond-acceptor ability: bifurcated N-H+ ...pi hydrogen bonding.

The competitive substitution of the anion (A(-)) in contact ion pairs of the type [Oct3NH+]B(C6F5)4 (-) by unsaturated hydrocarbons (L) in accordance with the equilibrium Oct3NH+...A(-) + nL right arrow over left arrow [Oct3NH+...Ln]A(-) has been studied in CCl4. On the basis of equilibrium constants, K, and shifts of nuNH to low frequency, it has been established that complexed Oct3NH...+Ln cations with n=1 and 2 are formed and have unidentate and bifurcated N--H+...pi hydrogen bonds, respectively. Bifurcated hydrogen bonds to unsaturated hydrocarbons have not been observed previously. The unsaturated hydrocarbons studied include benzene and methylbenzenes, fused-ring aromatics, alkenes, conjugated dienes, and alkynes. From the magnitude of the redshifts in the N--H stretching frequencies, Delta nuNH, a new scale for ranking the pi basicity of unsaturated hydrocarbons is proposed: fused-ring aromatics

IR spectroscopic properties of H(MeOH)n + clusters in the liquid phase: evidence for a proton wire.

The long-standing problem of understanding the nature of the "excess proton" in acidified water is simplified by studying the proton in methanol. The 3D network of hydrogen bonds in H(aq) + is reduced to a 1D problem. Infrared spectroscopic characterization of linear chain methanol proton solvates in H(CH3OH)n + for n=2-8 provides insight into some of the puzzling IR spectral features associated with O-H-O vibrations. These include the virtual disappearance of otherwise strong bands from H-bonded methanol molecules adjacent to symmetrical O-H+-O groups. The data indicate that a chain of up to four O--HO bonds either side of this group can act as an electrical wire to separate positive charge. This suggests a refinement of the Grotthuss proton-hopping mechanism for explaining the anomalously high mobility of H+ in H-bonded media.