Treatment of [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Na(THF) with CF3SO3Cu followed by 1-azidoadamantane affords [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]CuNNN(1-Ad) in 65% yield. The solid state structure shows that the copper atom is coordinated to the terminal nitrogen atom (NT) of the azidoadamantane ligand. The related silver(I) adduct can be prepared in 80% yield by the treatment of [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(THF) with 1-azidoadamantane. However, [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]AgN(1-Ad)NN shows a different bonding mode where the silver atom coordinates to the alkylated nitrogen atom (NA) of the azidoadamantane ligand. Asymmetric stretching bands of the azido group for copper and silver adducts appear at 2143 and 2120 cm-1, respectively. Theoretical investigation shows that steric effects do not play a dominant role in determining the bonding mode of the azide ligand in these two metal complexes. Although the copper(I) ion affinity for the two coordinating sites NT and NA is nearly identical, copper-azide back-bonding interactions favor the copper-NT mode of bonding over the copper-NA mode. Silver (a very poor back-bonding metal) prefers the NA site for coordination. The NA site has a significantly higher proton affinity and slightly higher sodium ion affinity. Important structural parameters for [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]CuNNN(1-Ad) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]AgN(1-Ad)NN are as follows: Cu-NT 1.861(3) A, NT-N 1.136(4) A, N-NA 1.219(4) A, NT-N-NA 173.1(3) degrees; Ag-NA 2.220(5) A, NT-N 1.143(12) A, N-NA 1.227(10) A, NT-N-NA 176.8(12) degrees. Overall, the azidoadamantane ligand does not undergo any significant changes upon coordination to Cu(I) or Ag(I) ions.

With a focus on psychometric assessment, the current study investigated the extent to which spatial orientation ability (SOA), as conceptualized in the spatial cognition and navigation literature, predicted air traffic conflict detection performance in a simulated free route airspace (FRA). Within a FRA, airspace users have the flexibility to plan flights by selecting preferred routes between predefined waypoints. Despite such benefits, FRA implementation can introduce conflicts that are geometrically complex, and of which would require a high level of SOA engagement. Based on a sample of 20 young adults who have the prospect to become air traffic controllers (ATCOs), we found that response time-based performance on a newly developed computerized spatial orientation test (SOT) predicted time to loss of minimum separation (tLMS)-based performance on a conflict detection task to a moderately large extent under scenarios with high air traffic density. We explained these findings in light of similar or overlapping mental processes that were most likely activated optimally under task conditions featuring approximately equal numbers of outcome-relevant stimuli. We also discussed the potential use of the new SOT in relation to the selection of prospective ATCOs who can demonstrate high levels of conflict detection performance in FRA during training simulations.