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A series of expanded helicenes of different sizes and shapes incorporating phenyl‐ and biphenyl‐substituents at the deepest part of their fjord have been synthesized via sequential Au‐catalyzed hydroarylation of appropriately designed diynes, and their racemization barriers have been calculated employing electronic structure methods. These show that the overall profile of the inversions (energies, number of transition states and intermediates, and their relative position) is intensively affected by the interplay of steric and attractive London dispersion interactions. Hence, in‐fjord substitution constitutes an additional tool to handle the mechanical properties in helicenes of uncommonly large diameter. The photochemical characterization of the newly prepared helical structures is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of group 1 hydrocarbon‐soluble donor free aluminates [AM(tBuDHP)(TMP)Al(iBu)2] (AM=Li, Na, K, Rb) have been synthesised by combining an alkali metal dihydropyridyl unit [(2‐tBuC5H5N)AM)] containing a surrogate hydride (sp3 C−H) with [(iBu)2Al(TMP)]. These aluminates have been characterised by X‐ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. While the lithium aluminate forms a monomer, the heavier alkali metal aluminates exist as polymeric chains propagated by non‐covalent interactions between the alkali metal cations and the alkyldihydropyridyl units. Solvates [(THF)Li(tBuDHP)(TMP)Al(iBu)2] and [(TMEDA)Na(tBuDHP)(TMP)Al(iBu)2] have also been crystallographically characterised. Theoretical calculations show how the dispersion forces tend to increase on moving from Li to Rb, as opposed to the electrostatic forces of stabilization, which are orders of magnitude more significant. Having unique structural features, these bimetallic compounds can be considered as starting points for exploring unique reactivity trends as alkali‐metal‐aluminium hydride surrog[ATES]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive models based on incremental systems exist for many chemical phenomena, thus allowing easy estimates. Despite their low magnitude in isolated systems London dispersion interactions are ubiquitous in manifold situations ranging from solvation to catalysis or in biological systems. Based on our azobenzene system, we systematically determined the London dispersion donor strength of the alkyl substituents Me, Et, iPr up to tBu. Based on this data, we were able to implement an incremental system for London dispersion for the azobenzene scheme. We propose an equation that allows the prediction of the effect of change of substituents on London dispersion interactions in azobenzenes, which has to be validated in similar molecular arrangements in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithium complexes [(WCA‐NHC)Li(toluene)] of anionic N‐heterocyclic carbenes with a weakly coordinating anionic borate moiety (WCA‐NHC) reacted with iodine, bromine, or CCl4 to afford the zwitterionic 2‐halogenoimidazolium borates (WCA‐NHC)X (X=I, Br, Cl; WCA=B(C6F5)3, B{3,5‐C6H3(CF3)2}3; NHC=IDipp=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene, or NHC=IMes=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene). The iodine derivative (WCA‐IDipp)I (WCA=B(C6F5)3) formed several complexes of the type (WCA‐IDipp)I⋅L (L=C6H5Cl, C6H5Me, CH3CN, THF, ONMe3), revealing its ability to act as an efficient halogen bond donor, which was also exploited for the preparation of hypervalent bis(carbene)iodine(I) complexes of the type [(WCA‐IDipp)I(NHC)] and [PPh4][(WCA‐IDipp)I(WCA‐NHC)] (NHC=IDipp, IMes). The corresponding bromine complex [PPh4][(WCA‐IDipp)2Br] was isolated as a rare example of a hypervalent (10‐Br‐2) system. DFT calculations reveal that London dispersion contributes significantly to the stability of the bis(carbene)halogen(I) complexes, and the bonding was further analyzed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diadamantyl ether (DAE, C20H30O) represents a good model to study the interplay between London dispersion and hydrogen‐bond interactions. By using broadband rotational spectroscopy, an accurate experimental structure of the diadamantyl ether monomer is obtained and its aggregates with water and a variety of aliphatic alcohols of increasing size are analyzed. In the monomer, C−H⋅⋅⋅H−C London dispersion attractions between the two adamantyl subunits further stabilize its structure. Water and the alcohol partners bind to diadamantyl ether through hydrogen bonding and non‐covalent Owater/alcohol⋅⋅⋅H−CDAE and C−Halcohol⋅⋅⋅H−CDAE interactions. Electrostatic contributions drive the stabilization of all the complexes, whereas London dispersion interactions become more pronounced with increasing size of the alcohol. Complexes with dominant dispersion contributions are significantly higher in energy and were not observed in the experiment. The results presented herein shed light on the first steps of microsolvation and aggregation of molecular complexes with London dispersion energy donor (DED) groups and the kind of interactions that control them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three 1,2‐diaryltetramethyldisilanes X5C6‐(SiMe2)2‐C6X5 with two C6H5, C6F5, or C6Cl5 groups were studied concerning the importance of London dispersion driven interactions between their aryl groups. They were prepared from 1,2‐dichlorotetramethyldisilane by salt elimination. Their structures were determined in the solid state by X‐ray diffraction and for free molecules by gas electron‐diffraction. The solid‐state structures of the fluorinated and chlorinated derivatives are dominated by aryl–aryl interactions. Unexpectedly, Cl5C6‐(SiMe2)2‐C6Cl5 exists exclusively as an eclipsed syn‐conformer in the gas phase with strongly distorted Si‐C6Cl5 units due to strong intramolecular interactions. In contrast, F5C6‐(SiMe2)2‐C6F5 reveals weaker interactions. The contributions to the total interaction energy were analyzed by SAPT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissociation of hierarchically formed dimeric triple lithium bridged triscatecholate titanium(IV) helicates with hydrocarbyl esters as side groups is systematically investigated in DMSO. Primary alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl as well as benzyl esters are studied in order to minimize steric effects close to the helicate core. The 1H NMR dimerization constants for the monomer–dimer equilibrium show some solvent dependent influence of the side chains on the dimer stability. In the dimer, the ability of the hydrocarbyl ester groups to aggregate minimizes their contacts with the solvent molecules. Due to this, most solvophobic alkyl groups show the highest dimerization tendency followed by alkenyls, alkynyls and finally benzyls. Furthermore, trends within the different groups of compounds can be observed. For example, the dimer is destabilized by internal double or triple bonds due to π–π repulsion. A strong indication for solvent supported London dispersion interaction between the ester side groups is found by observation of an even/odd alternation of dimerization constants within the series of n‐alkyls, n‐Ω‐alkenyls or n‐Ω‐alkynyls. This corresponds to the interaction of the parent hydrocarbons, as documented by an even/odd melting point alternation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]