Non-coordinating anion

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Anions that interact weakly with cations are termed non-coordinating anions, although a more accurate term is weakly coordinating anion. [1] Non-coordinating anions are useful in studying the reactivity of electrophilic cations. They are commonly found as counterions for cationic metal complexes with an unsaturated coordination sphere. These special anions are essential components of homogeneous alkene polymerisation catalysts, where the active catalyst is a coordinatively unsaturated, cationic transition metal complex. For example, they are employed as counterions for the 14 valence electron cations [(C5H5)2ZrR]+ (R = methyl or a growing polyethylene chain). Complexes derived from non-coordinating anions have been used to catalyze hydrogenation, hydrosilylation, oligomerization, and the living polymerization of alkenes. The popularization of non-coordinating anions has contributed to increased understanding of agostic complexes wherein hydrocarbons and hydrogen serve as ligands. Non-coordinating anions are important components of many superacids, which result from the combination of Brønsted acids and Lewis acids.

Contents

Pre-"BARF" era

Before the 1990s, tetrafluoroborate (BF
4
), hexafluorophosphate (PF
6
), and perchlorate (ClO
4
) were considered weakly coordinating anions. These species are now known to bind to strongly electrophilic metal centers. [2] [3] Tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate anions are coordinating toward highly electrophilic metal ions, such as cations containing Zr(IV) centers, which can abstract fluoride from these anions. Other anions, such as triflates are considered to be low-coordinating with some cations.

Era of BARF

Structure of the weakly coordinating anion [Al(OC(CF3)3)4] , illustrating its high symmetry. Color code: green = F, red = O. Al(ORf)4.png
Structure of the weakly coordinating anion [Al(OC(CF3)3)4] , illustrating its high symmetry. Color code: green = F, red = O.

A revolution in this area occurred in the 1990s with the introduction of the tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate ion, B[3,5-(CF
3
)
2
C
6
H
3
]
4
, commonly abbreviated as BArF
4
and colloquially called "BARF". [5] This anion is far less coordinating than tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, and perchlorate, and consequently has enabled the study of still more electrophilic cations. [6] Related tetrahedral anions include tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate B(C
6
F
5
)
4
, and Al[OC(CF
3
)
3
]
4
.

NonCoordAnion2011.png

In the bulky borates and aluminates, the negative charge is symmetrically distributed over many electronegative atoms. Related anions are derived from tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron B(C6F5)3. Another advantage of these anions is that their salts are more soluble in non-polar organic solvents such as dichloromethane, toluene, and, in some cases, even alkanes.[ citation needed ] Polar solvents, such as acetonitrile, THF, and water, tend to bind to electrophilic centers, in which cases, the use of a non-coordinating anion is pointless.

Salts of the anion B[3,5-(CF
3
)
2
C
6
H
3
]
4
were first reported by Kobayashi and co-workers. For that reason, it is sometimes referred to as Kobayashi's anion. [7] Kobayashi's method of preparation has been superseded by a safer route. [5]

The crystal structure of the compound [H(Et2O)2][B(C6F5)4], which is closely related to Brookhart's Acid BArF acid crystal structure.png
The crystal structure of the compound [H(Et2O)2][B(C6F5)4], which is closely related to Brookhart's Acid

The neutral molecules that represent the parents to the non-coordinating anions are strong Lewis acids, e.g. boron trifluoride, BF3 and phosphorus pentafluoride, PF5. A notable Lewis acid of this genre is tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, B(C6F5)3, which abstracts alkyl ligands: [9]

(C5H5)2Zr(CH3)2 + B(C6F5)3 → [(C5H5)2Zr(CH3)]+[(CH3)B(C6F5)3]

Other types of non-coordinating anions

Another large class of non-coordinating anions are derived from carborane anion CB
11
H
12
. Using this anion, the first example of a three-coordinate silicon compound, the salt [(mesityl)3Si][HCB11Me5Br6] contains a non-coordinating anion derived from a carborane. [10]

Related Research Articles

Barf may refer to:

Organoboron chemistry

Organoborane or organoboron compounds are chemical compounds of boron and carbon that are organic derivatives of BH3, for example trialkyl boranes. Organoboron chemistry or organoborane chemistry is the chemistry of these compounds.

Counterion

A counterion is the ion that accompanies an ionic species in order to maintain electric neutrality. In table salt the sodium ion is the counterion for the chloride ion and vice versa.

Silver perchlorate Chemical compound

Silver perchlorate is the chemical compound with the formula AgClO4. This white solid forms a monohydrate and is mildly deliquescent. It is a useful source of the Ag+ ion, although the presence of perchlorate presents risks. It is used as a catalyst in organic chemistry.

Tetrafluoroborate Anion

Tetrafluoroborate is the anion BF
4
. This tetrahedral species is isoelectronic with tetrafluoroberyllate (BeF2−
4
), tetrafluoromethane (CF4), and tetrafluoroammonium (NF+
4
) and is valence isoelectronic with many stable and important species including the perchlorate anion, ClO
4
, which is used in similar ways in the laboratory. It arises by the reaction of fluoride salts with the Lewis acid BF3, treatment of tetrafluoroboric acid with base, or by treatment of boric acid with hydrofluoric acid.

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane Chemical compound

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, sometimes referred to as "BCF", is the chemical compound (C6F5)3B. It is a white, volatile solid. The molecule consists of three pentafluorophenyl groups attached in a "paddle-wheel" manner to a central boron atom; the BC3 core is planar. It has been described as the “ideal Lewis acid” because of its high thermal stability and the relative inertness of the B-C bonds. Related fluoro-substituted boron compounds, such as those containing B−CF3 groups, decompose with formation of B-F bonds. Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane is thermally stable at temperatures wide over 200 °C, resistant to oxygen and water-tolerant.

Organofluorine chemistry describes the chemistry of the organofluorines, organic compounds that contain the carbon–fluorine bond. Organofluorine compounds find diverse applications ranging from oil and water repellents to pharmaceuticals, refrigerants, and reagents in catalysis. In addition to these applications, some organofluorine compounds are pollutants because of their contributions to ozone depletion, global warming, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The area of organofluorine chemistry often requires special techniques associated with the handling of fluorinating agents.

Hexafluorophosphate Anion with the chemical formula PF6–

Hexafluorophosphate is an anion with chemical formula of PF
6
. It is an octahedral species that imparts no color to its salts. PF
6
is isoelectronic with sulfur hexafluoride, SF6, and the hexafluorosilicate dianion, SiF2−
6
, and fluoroantimonate SbF
6
. Being poorly nucleophilic, hexafluorophosphate is classified as a non-coordinating anion.

Silver hexafluorophosphate Chemical compound

Silver hexafluorophosphate, sometimes referred to "silver PF-6," is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula AgPF6.

Sodium tetraphenylborate Chemical compound

Sodium tetraphenylborate is the organic compound with the formula NaB(C6H5)4. It is a salt, wherein the anion consists of four phenyl rings bonded to boron. This white crystalline solid is used to prepare other tetraphenylborate salts, which are often highly soluble in organic solvents. The compound is used in inorganic and organometallic chemistry as a precipitating agent for potassium, ammonium, rubidium, and cesium ions, and some organic nitrogen compounds.

Tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate Chemical compound

Tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate is a salt with the formula [Cu(CH3CN)4]PF6. It is a colourless solid that is used in the synthesis of other copper complexes. The cation [Cu(CH3CN)4]+ is a well-known example of a transition metal nitrile complex.

Ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate Chemical compound

Ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate is an organometallic compound with the formula [Fe(C5H5)2]BF4. This salt is composed of the cation [Fe(C5H5)2]+ and the tetrafluoroborate anion (BF
4
). The related hexafluorophosphate is also a popular reagent with similar properties. The cation is often abbreviated Fc+ or Cp2Fe+. The salt is deep blue in color and paramagnetic. Ferrocenium salts are sometimes used as one-electron oxidizing agents, and the reduced product, ferrocene, is inert and readily separated from ionic products. The ferrocene–ferrocenium couple is often used as a reference in electrochemistry. The standard potential of ferrocene-ferrocenium is 0.400 V vs. the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE) and is often assumed to be invariant between different solvents.

Lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate Chemical compound

Lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate is the lithium salt of the weakly coordinating anion (B(C6F5)4). Because of its weakly coordinating abilities, lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate makes it commercially valuable in the salt form in the catalyst composition for olefin polymerization reactions and in electrochemistry. It is a water-soluble compound. Its anion is closely related to the non-coordinating anion known as BARF. The tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borates have the advantage of operating on a one-to-one stoichiometric basis with Group IV transition metal polyolefin catalysts, unlike methylaluminoxane (MAO) which may be used in large excess.

Ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate Chemical compound

Ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate is an organometallic compound with the formula [Fe(C5H5)2]PF6. This salt is composed of the cation [Fe(C5H5)2]+ and the hexafluorophosphate anion (PF
6
). The related tetrafluoroborate is also a popular reagent with similar properties. The cation is often abbreviated Fc+ or Cp2Fe+. The salt is deep blue in color and paramagnetic.

Tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate Chemical compound

Tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate is an anion with chemical formula [{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4B], which is commonly abbreviated as [BArF4], indicating the presence of fluorinated aryl (ArF) groups. It is sometimes referred to as Kobayashi's anion in honour of Hiroshi Kobayashi who led the team that first synthesised it. More commonly it is affectionately nicknamed "BARF." The BARF ion is also abbreviated BArF24, to distinguish it from the closely related BArF
20
, [(C6F5)4B].

Boranylium ions

In chemistry, a boranylium ion is an inorganic cation with the chemical formula BR+
2
, where R represents a non-specific substituent. Being electron-deficient, boranylium ions form adducts with Lewis bases. Boranylium ions have historical names that depend on the number of coordinated ligands:

Trifluoromethylation in organic chemistry describes any organic reaction that introduces a trifluoromethyl group in an organic compound. Trifluoromethylated compounds are of some importance in pharmaceutical industry and agrochemicals. Several notable pharmaceutical compounds have a trifluoromethyl group incorporated: fluoxetine, mefloquine, Leflunomide, nulitamide, dutasteride, bicalutamide, aprepitant, celecoxib, fipronil, fluazinam, penthiopyrad, picoxystrobin, fluridone, norflurazon, sorafenib and triflurazin. A relevant agrochemical is trifluralin. The development of synthetic methods for adding trifluoromethyl groups to chemical compounds is actively pursued in academic research.

Brookharts acid Chemical compound

Brookhart's acid is the salt of the diethyl ether oxonium ion and tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BAr′4). It is a colorless solid, used as a strong acid. The compound was first reported by Volpe, Grant, and Brookhart in 1992.

The Gutmann–Beckett method is an experimental procedure used by chemists to assess the Lewis acidity of molecular species. Triethylphosphine oxide (Et3PO, TEPO) is used as a probe molecule and systems are evaluated by 31P-NMR spectroscopy. In 1975, Viktor Gutmann used 31P-NMR spectroscopy to parameterize Lewis acidity of solvents by acceptor numbers (AN). In 1996, Michael A. Beckett recognised its more generally utility and adapted the procedure so that it could be easily applied to molecular species, when dissolved in weakly Lewis acidic solvents. The term Gutmann–Beckett method was first used in chemical literature in 2007.

Transition metal nitrile complexes Class of coordination compounds containing nitrile ligands (coordinating via N)

Transition metal nitrile complexes are coordination compounds containing nitrile ligands. Because nitriles are weakly basic, the nitrile ligands in these complexes are often labile.

References

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