Halogen bonds between the trifluoromethyl halides CF(3)Cl, CF(3)Br and CF(3)I, and dimethyl ether, dimethyl sulfide, trimethylamine and trimethyl phosphine were investigated using Pearson's hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) concept with conceptual DFT reactivity indices, the Ziegler-Rauk-type energy-decomposition analysis, the natural orbital for chemical valence (NOCV) framework and the non-covalent interaction (NCI) index. It is found that the relative importance of electrostatic and orbital (charge transfer) interactions varies as a function of both the donor and acceptor molecules. Hard and soft interactions were distinguished and characterised by atomic charges, electrophilicity and local softness indices. Dual-descriptor plots indicate an orbital σ hole on the halogen similar to the electrostatic σ hole manifested in the molecular electrostatic potential. The predicted high halogen-bond-acceptor affinity of N-heterocyclic carbenes was evidenced in the highest complexation energy for the hitherto unknown CF(3) I·NHC complex. The dominant NOCV orbital represents an electron-density deformation according to a n→σ*-type interaction. The characteristic signal found in the reduced density gradient versus electron-density diagram corresponds to the non-covalent interaction between contact atoms in the NCI plots, which is the manifestation of halogen bonding within the NCI theory. The unexpected C-X bond strengthening observed in several cases was rationalised within the molecular orbital framework.

We report that 1-(2-picolyl)-1,2,3-triazole (click triazole) forms stable complexes with transition-metal ions in which the coordination involves the triazole N2 nitrogen atom and the pendant 2-picolyl group. This is exemplified by model compound 1-(2-picolyl)-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole (L(x)) and its complexes with transition-metal ions of Pt(II), Pd(II), Cu(II), Ru(II), and Ag(I). The coordination was investigated experimentally and theoretically. Ligand L(x) easily reacted at room temperature with cis-[PtCl(2)(DMSO)(2)], [Pd(CH(3)CN)(4)](BF(4))(2), CuCl(2), [RuCl(mu-Cl)(eta(6)-p-cymene)](2), and AgNO(3) to give stable chelates [PtCl(2)L(x)] (1), [Pd(L(x))(2)](BF(4))(2) (2), [CuCl(2)(L(x))(2)] (3), [RuCl(eta(6)-p-cymene)L(x)]OTf (4), and [Ag(2)(L(x))(2)(NO(3))(2)] (5), respectively, in 60-98% yield. The structures of 1-5 were unambiguously confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Density functional theory calculations were carried out in order to theoretically investigate the stabilization factors in 1-5. A comparison of the chelating properties of ligand L(x) was made with structurally similar and isomeric 1-(2-aminoethyl)-substituted 1,2,3-triazole (L(y)) and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-substituted 1,2,3-triazole (L(z)). The complexation affinity of L(x) was attributed to pi-back-donation from the metal to the pendant pyridine side arm, whereas the stability of the complexes involving L(y) and L(z) mainly originates from efficient pi-back-donation to the triazole ring.

We report the first mononuclear three-coordinate vanadium(II) complex [(nacnac)V(ODiiP)] and its activation of N2 to form an end-on bridging dinitrogen complex with a topologically linear V(III)N2V(III) core and where each vanadium center antiferromagnetically couples to give a ground state singlet with an accessible triplet state as inferred by HFEPR spectroscopy. In addition to investigating the conversion of N2 to the terminal nitride (as well as the microscopic reverse process), we discuss its similarities and contrasts to the isovalent d(3) system, [Mo(N[(t)Bu]Ar)3], and the S = 1 system [(Ar[(t)Bu]N)3Mo]2(μ2-η(1):η(1)-N2).

The seminal contributions by Sonogashira, Cassar and Heck in mid 1970s on Pd/Cu- and Pd-catalysed (copper-free) coupling of acetylenes with aryl or vinyl halides have evolved in myriad applications. Despite the enormous success both in academia and in industry, however, critical mechanistic questions of this cross-coupling process remain unresolved. In this study, experimental evidence and computational support is provided for the mechanism of copper-free Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. In contrast to the consensus monometallic mechanism, the revealed pathway proceeds through a tandem Pd/Pd cycle linked via a multistep transmetallation process. This cycle is virtually identical to the Pd/Cu tandem mechanism of copper co-catalysed Sonogashira cross-couplings, but the role of CuI is played by a set of PdII species. Phosphine dissociation from the square-planar reactants to form transient three-coordinate Pd species initiates transmetallation and represents the rate-determining step of the process.