Halide salt molecules with Lewis acids

Matrix Isolation Studies of Alkali Halide Salt Molecules with Lewis Acids and Bases... 

The matrix isolation technique has been applied, in conjunction with the salt/molecule reaction technique, to model the high temperature gas phase reactions of alkali halide salt molecules. The reactions with Lewis acids such as SiFi, HF and CO2 yielded ion pair products which were quenched into inert matrices for spectroscopic study. Difficulties arising from lattice energy considerations in alkali halide salt reactions are minimized by the initial vaporization of the salt reactant. The reaction of such salt molecules with Lewis bases, including H2O and NH3, yielded complexes similar in nature to transition metal coordination complexes, with binding through the alkali metal cation to the base lone pair. 

Only occasionally have salt molecules been vaporized for use as a reactant toward another species in matrix isolation studies. Devlin (24,25,26) conducted extensive experiments in which salt molecules were vaporized and condensed into argon matrices containing from 1% to 90% H2O or NH3, to study the effects of stepwise solvation of the salt molecule, as a model for solution studies. Margrave (27 ) and Snelson (28) each have used salt molecules as reactants, but most commonly toward another salt molecule to form a mixed salt dimer. The work described below, which was initiated at the University of Virginia and has been continued at the University of Cincinnati, employs alkali halide salt molecules as reactants toward a variety of species, including both Lewis acids and Lewis bases. The initial intent was to react a salt molecule such as NaCl with HCl in an excess of argon to bring... 

Niobium and tantalum compounds form adducts with virtually all types of neutral ant anionic donors. The coordination chemistry of the higher halides is widely developed, and thei activity as Friedel-Crafts catalysts is another manifestation of their Lewis acidity. The stron acceptor capacity of the high valent metal compounds tends to favor the formation of dimers and sometimes of higher condensation products, which competes with coordination with othe donor molecules. Numerous simple anionic or heteropolyanionic species, but little cationi chemistry, and no simple metal salts, are known. 

These systems exhibit considerable affinity for halide anions. X-ray analysis ascertained the formation of an anionic 2 1 chloride adduct of (1) where the chloride is simultaneously bound by four mercury atoms. In the crystal structures of (2) Cl and (2) l2, the anions are located within the macrocycle and complexed cooperatively by the four mercury(II) centers. Several anionic complexes of (3), including bromide, iodide, and thiocyanide salts, have been isolated. The compounds adopt multidecker stmctures with the hexacoordinated anions effectively sandwiched between two successive molecules of (3). The Lewis acidity of perfluoro-ortAo-phenylenemercury (3) has also been substantiated by its ability to form stable adducts with neutral substrates (HMPA, DMSO, ethyl acetate, and acetonitrile) and arenes. The (3) -CeHe adduct exists as extended stacks of nearly parallel, staggered molecules of (3), which sandwich benzene molecules. Similar structures have been reported for the corresponding adducts with biphenyl, naphthalene, pyrene, and triphenylene. 

In this respect, both free nitrile molecules and their complex salts with acidic catalysts can take part in the formation of the triazinc.146 Hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, Lewis acids and complexes of Lewis acids and hydrogen halides are generally used as catalysts the complexes usually have the best catalytic potential.147-150... 

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