A set of 2-acylated 2,3,1-benzodiazaborines and some related boron heterocycles were synthesized, characterized, and tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. By high-field solution NMR, the heretofore unknown class of 2-acyl-1-hydroxy-2,3,1-diazaborines has been found to be able to exist in several interconvertable structural forms along a continuum comprised of an open hydrazone a, a monomeric B-hydroxy diazaborine b, and an anhydro dimer c. X-Ray crystallography of one of the anhydro dimers, 17c, revealed it to have an unprecedented structure featuring a double intramolecular O→B chelation. The crystal structure of another compound, 37, showed it to be based on a new pentacyclic B heterocycle framework. Nine compounds were found to possess activities against E. coli, and two others were active against M. smegmatis. The finding that these two contain isoniazid covalently embedded in their structures suggests that they might possibly be acting as prodrugs of this well-known antituberculosis agent in vivo.

The characterization of the unstable NiII bis(silylamide) Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2 (1), its THF complex Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF) (2), and the stable bis(pyridine) derivative trans‐Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2(py)2 (3), is described. Both 1 and 2 decompose at ca. 25 °C to a tetrameric NiI species, [Ni{N(SiMe3)2}]4 (4), also obtainable from LiN(SiMe3)2 and NiCl2(DME). Experimental and computational data indicate that the instability of 1 is likely due to ease of reduction of NiII to NiI and the stabilization of 4 through dispersion forces.

The first-row transition-metal(II) dithiolates M(SAr) [Ar = CH-2,6-(CH-2,6-iPr); M = Cr (1), Mn (3), Fe (4), Co (5), Ni (6), and Zn (7)] and Cr(SAr) [2; Ar = CH-2,6-(CH-2,4,6-Me)] and the ligand-transfer reagent (NaSAr) (8) are described. In contrast to their M(SAr) (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn; Ar = CH-2,6-(CH-2,4,6-iPr)) congeners, which differ from 1 and 3-6 in having p-isopropyl groups on the flanking aryl rings of the terphenyl substituents, compounds 1 and 4-6 display highly bent coordination geometries with S-M-S angles of 109.802(2)° (1), 120.2828(3)° (4), 91.730(3)° (5), and 92.68(2)° (6) as well as relatively close metal-flanking aryl ring η interactions with metal-centroid distances of 2.11477(6) Å (1), 1.97188(3) Å (2), 2.15269(6) Å (4), 1.62058(9) Å (5), and 1.724(8) Å (6). However, the d (Mn) and d (Zn) complexes 3 and 7 display linear or near-linear coordination with no close metal-ligand distances. The nonlinear geometries of 1 and 4-6 also contrast with those of their Ar-substituted alkoxo and amido congeners, which have strictly linear coordination. Complexes 1-7 were synthesized by the reaction of the lithium or sodium thiolate salt with the metal dihalide or, in the case of 3, by the reaction of the thiol with the amido complex Mn[N(SiMe)]. All compounds were characterized by electronic spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and magnetic measurements using Evans' method and SQUID magnetometry. It was concluded that, despite the large bulk of the Ar substituents, the absence of p-isopropyl groups on the flanking rings of the ligand permits close secondary metal-flanking ring distances. The compounds are characterized by more intense colors and display magnetic moments that are generally lower than the spin-only values, in agreement with the covalent character of the close metal-flanking ring η interactions.

The characterization of the unstable NiII bis(silylamide) Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2 (1), its THF complex Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF) (2), and the stable bis(pyridine) derivative trans‐Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2(py)2 (3), is described. Both 1 and 2 decompose at ca. 25 °C to a tetrameric NiI species, [Ni{N(SiMe3)2}]4 (4), also obtainable from LiN(SiMe3)2 and NiCl2(DME). Experimental and computational data indicate that the instability of 1 is likely due to ease of reduction of NiII to NiI and the stabilization of 4 through dispersion forces.