IChO 2011 · Theory problem 5

Polynitrogen compounds

Polynitrogen compounds have great potential for being used as high energy density materials. They are thermodynamically unstable. Huge amount of energy is released from their decomposition or reactions leading to more stable products. The only known polynitrogen species are \(\ce{N2}\), \(\ce{N3-}\) and \(\ce{N5+}\), isolated in 1772, 1890 and 1999, respectively, and recently reported cyclic anion, \(\ce{N5-}\).

5.1 Write the Lewis structure for \(\ce{N5+}\) with three energetically favourable resonance forms. Indicate the lone pairs and formal charges. Draw the molecular geometry of \(\ce{N5+}\).

5.2 Write the Lewis structures for cyclic \(\ce{N5-}\) with five energetically favourable resonance forms. Indicate the lone pairs and formal charges. Draw the molecular geometry of cyclic \(\ce{N5-}\).

5.3 The synthesis of \(\ce{[N5+][AsF6-]}\), a white ionic solid, was achieved by reacting \(\ce{[N2F+][AsF6-]}\) with hydrazoic acid, \(\ce{HN3}\), in liquid \(\ce{HF}\) at \(-78\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\). Write the balanced chemical equation for this reaction.

The preparation of \(\ce{[N2F+][AsF6-]}\) requires the reaction of \(\ce{N2F2}\) with strong Lewis acid \(\ce{AsF5}\) as follows:

Figure 1

In the synthesis of \(\ce{N2F2}\), the trans isomer is formed which is thermodynamically less stable than cis-\(\ce{N2F2}\). However, conversion of trans-\(\ce{N2F2}\) to cis-\(\ce{N2F2}\) requires surmounting a high energy barrier of \(251\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\), so that equilibration between the cis and the trans isomers does not significantly take place without a suitable catalyst.

When trans-\(\ce{N2F2}\) is maintained in a closed container for six days at room temperature in the presence of a small amount of \(\ce{SbF5}\) as a catalyst, cis-trans thermal equilibrium is established.

Figure 2

The standard enthalpies of formation of trans- and cis-\(\ce{N2F2}\) are 67.31 and \(62.03\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\), respectively, and their standard entropies at \(25\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\) are 262.10 and \(266.50\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}\,mol^{-1}}\), respectively.

5.4 Find the ratio of the number of cis-\(\ce{N2F2}\) molecules over that of the trans-\(\ce{N2F2}\) molecules in an equilibrium mixture at \(25\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\).

5.5 Write the Lewis structures showing the geometry of \(\ce{N2F+}\) ion and those of trans- and cis-isomers of \(\ce{N2F2}\). Include all lone pairs and formal charges. Suggest an appropriate hybridization for each nitrogen atom in \(\ce{N2F2}\) and \(\ce{N2F+}\).

Solid \(\ce{[N5+][AsF6-]}\) is marginally stable at room temperature but reacts explosively with water to produce arsenic pentafluoride, hydrogen fluoride, molecular nitrogen and oxygen.

5.6 Write a balanced equation for the reaction between \(\ce{[N5+][AsF6-]}\) and water.

Conversion of \(\ce{[N5+][SbF6-]}\) into other \(\ce{N5+}\) salts can be achieved by a metathesis reaction:

Figure 3

where \(\ce{M+} = \ce{Na+}, \ce{K+}, \ce{Cs+}\), and \(\ce{X-}\) = large anion such as \(\ce{SnF6^2-}\) and \(\ce{B(CF3)4-}\).

Since \(\ce{[Cs+][SbF6-]}\) has a low solubility in anhydrous \(\ce{HF}\), and \(\ce{[K+][SbF6-]}\) has a low solubility in \(\ce{SO2}\), these two solvents were used extensively to carry out metathesis reactions at \(-78\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\) and \(-64\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\), respectively.

5.7 Write the balanced equation for the preparation of \(\ce{[N5+]2[SnF6^2-]}\) and \(\ce{[N5+][B(CF3)4-]}\) in solution starting with \(\ce{[Cs+]2[SnF6^2-]}\) and \(\ce{[K+][B(CF3)4-]}\), respectively. Indicate the appropriate solvent.

When \(\ce{[N5+]2[SnF6^2-]}\) decomposes under carefully controlled conditions at \(25\text{–}30\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\), \(\ce{[N5+][SnF5-]}\) and \(\ce{N5F}\) are formed. The \(\ce{[N5+][SnF5-]}\) salt is a white solid and has a thermal stability comparable to that of \(\ce{[N5+][SbF6-]}\) (\(50\text{–}60\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\)). The solution \(\ce{^119Sn}\) NMR spectrum has shown that the \(\ce{SnF5-}\) anion in this compound is, in fact, a mixture of dimeric and tetrameric polyanions. In both of these polyanions the coordination number of Sn atom is 6 and there are bridging fluorine atoms.

5.8 Draw the structures of dimeric and tetrameric polyanions.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

The complete lone-pair assignments and SMILES are given in the corresponding solution parts.

  1. 5.1: Pentazenium, \(\ce{N5+}\), has the three favourable resonance forms \[ \ce{N#N^{+}-N^{-}-N^{+}\bond{#}N} \;\leftrightarrow\; \ce{N^{-}=N^{+}=N-N^{+}\bond{#}N} \;\leftrightarrow\; \ce{N#N^{+}-N=N^{+}=N^{-}}. \] Its geometry is an open, planar, V-shaped chain.

  2. 5.2: Cyclopentazolate, \(\ce{N5-}\), has five equivalent resonance forms, each containing two double bonds and one negatively charged nitrogen. It is a planar pentagonal ring.

  3. 5.3: \[ \boxed{\ce{[N2F+][AsF6-] + HN3 -> [N5+][AsF6-] + HF}} \] in liquid \(\ce{HF}\) at \(-78\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\).

  4. 5.4: \[ \boxed{\frac{N_{\mathrm{cis}}}{N_{\mathrm{trans}}}=14.3} \]

  5. 5.5: Fluorodiazonium is linear, \(\ce{F-N+\bond{#}N}\), with both nitrogen atoms \(sp\)-hybridized. Both difluorodiazene isomers have planar \(\ce{F-N=N-F}\) skeletons and \(sp^2\)-hybridized nitrogen atoms; their fluorines lie on opposite sides for trans and the same side for cis.

  6. 5.6: \[ \boxed{\ce{4 [N5+][AsF6-] + 2 H2O -> 4 AsF5 + 4 HF + 10 N2 + O2}} \]

  7. 5.7: \[ \boxed{\ce{2 [N5+][SbF6-] + [Cs+]2[SnF6^2-] -> [N5+]2[SnF6^2-] + 2 [Cs+][SbF6-](s)}} \] Solvent: anhydrous \(\ce{HF}\), at \(-78\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\). \[ \boxed{\ce{[N5+][SbF6-] + [K+][B(CF3)4-] -> [N5+][B(CF3)4-] + [K+][SbF6-](s)}} \] Solvent: liquid \(\ce{SO2}\), at \(-64\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\).

  8. 5.8: The dimer is \(\ce{Sn2F10^2-}\), comprising two edge-sharing coordination octahedra with two fluoride bridges. The tetramer is cyclic \(\ce{Sn4F20^4-}\), comprising four corner-sharing coordination octahedra with four fluoride bridges. Every tin has four terminal and two bridging fluorines.

Solution

SMILES specify connectivity and, where indicated, double-bond stereochemistry. Lone pairs and spatial geometry are described separately. For ionic salts, the constituent-ion SMILES are supplied; joining these with . in the required stoichiometric ratio gives a formula-unit SMILES.

5.1 — Pentazenium: resonance forms and geometry

The pentazenium cation, \(\ce{N5+}\), contains \[ 5(5)-1=24 \] valence electrons.

For an open chain with an octet on every nitrogen, let \(B\) be the sum of its four bond orders. Counting the electrons needed for five octets gives \[ 40-2B=24,\qquad B=8. \]

For an octet-satisfying nitrogen whose total bond order is \(s\), \[ \text{number of lone pairs}=4-s, \qquad \text{formal charge}=s-3. \]

Number the nitrogen atoms 1–5 along the chain. The three favourable forms are:

Form Bond orders: 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–5 Formal charges: atoms 1–5 Lone-pair counts: atoms 1–5 SMILES
A \(3,1,1,3\) \(0,+1,-1,+1,0\) \(1,0,2,0,1\) N#[N+][N-][N+]#N
B \(2,2,1,3\) \(-1,+1,0,+1,0\) \(2,0,1,0,1\) [N-]=[N+]=N[N+]#N
C \(3,1,2,2\) \(0,+1,0,+1,-1\) \(1,0,1,0,2\) N#[N+]N=[N+]=[N-]

Each form has eight bonding pairs, four lone pairs, and total charge \(+1\). These forms avoid the greater charge separation or doubly negative nitrogen found in other octet-satisfying chain structures.

To describe the molecular drawing, place atom 3 at the vertex of a V, with the sequences 3–2–1 and 3–4–5 forming its two approximately straight arms. All five nitrogen atoms lie in a plane.

In the symmetric Lewis form A, the central nitrogen has two bonds and two lone pairs, giving a bent arrangement. Atoms 2 and 4 each have two bonding domains and no lone pairs, giving approximately linear arrangements.

5.2 — Cyclopentazolate: five resonance forms and geometry

The cyclopentazolate anion, \(\ce{N5-}\), has \[ 5(5)+1=26 \] valence electrons.

Its five-membered ring contains two double bonds and three single bonds in each favourable Lewis form. The nitrogen joined to both neighbours by single bonds carries charge \(-1\) and two lone pairs. Each of the other four nitrogens has one lone pair and zero formal charge.

Number the ring atoms consecutively 1–5, with a closing bond between 5 and 1:

Negatively charged atom Double-bond edges SMILES of the resonance form
1 2=3 and 4=5 [N-]1N=NN=N1
2 3=4 and 5=1 N1[N-]N=NN=1
3 4=5 and 1=2 N1=N[N-]N=N1
4 5=1 and 2=3 N1N=N[N-]N=1
5 1=2 and 3=4 N1=NN=N[N-]1

These are resonance contributors of the same ion. The negative charge is delocalized around the ring.

The two double bonds supply four \(\pi\) electrons; one lone pair on the formally negative nitrogen supplies another two. Thus the ring has \[ 6\ \pi\text{ electrons}, \] satisfying the \(4n+2\) aromaticity criterion with \(n=1\).

Draw a planar regular pentagon, with nitrogen at every vertex and equivalent bonds of intermediate single/double character. The ideal internal angles are \(108^\circ\). Each nitrogen has an in-plane lone pair; the additional electron pair participates in the delocalized \(\pi\) system.

5.3 — Formation of pentazenium hexafluoroarsenate

The two nitrogen atoms of fluorodiazonium and the three nitrogen atoms of hydrazoic acid supply the five-nitrogen cation. The hydrogen from the acid combines with the fluorine from fluorodiazonium to produce hydrogen fluoride. Hexafluoroarsenate is the counterion on both sides.

Therefore, \[ \boxed{\ce{[N2F+][AsF6-] + HN3 -> [N5+][AsF6-] + HF}}. \]

All coefficients are 1. The reaction is conducted in liquid \(\ce{HF}\) at \(-78\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\).

The additional species are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{N2F+}\) Fluorodiazonium ion N#[N+]F
\(\ce{HN3}\) Hydrazoic acid, or hydrogen azide [H]N=[N+]=[N-]
\(\ce{HF}\) Hydrogen fluoride [H]F
\(\ce{AsF6-}\) Hexafluoroarsenate(V) ion F[As-](F)(F)(F)(F)F

The reactant salt is fluorodiazonium hexafluoroarsenate(V), and the product is pentazenium hexafluoroarsenate(V). The hexafluoroarsenate ion has octahedral coordination around arsenic.

5.4 — Equilibrium cis/trans ratio

Take the forward reaction as conversion of the trans isomer to the cis isomer.

The standard reaction enthalpy is \[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_\mathrm r H^\circ &=\Delta_\mathrm f H^\circ_{\mathrm{cis}} -\Delta_\mathrm f H^\circ_{\mathrm{trans}}\\ &=62.03-67.31\\ &=-5.28\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

The standard reaction entropy is \[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_\mathrm r S^\circ &=266.50-262.10\\ &=+4.40\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}\,mol^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

At \(T=298.15\ \mathrm K\), \[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_\mathrm r G^\circ &=\Delta_\mathrm r H^\circ-T\Delta_\mathrm r S^\circ\\ &=-5280-(298.15)(4.40)\\ &=-6591.86\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}}\\ &\approx-6.59\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

Using \(R=8.314\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}\), \[ \ln K=-\frac{\Delta_\mathrm r G^\circ}{RT} =\frac{6591.86}{(8.314)(298.15)} \approx2.659. \]

Hence, \[ K=e^{2.659}\approx14.3. \]

For the gaseous isomers under the ideal-gas approximation, \[ K=\frac{p_{\mathrm{cis}}}{p_{\mathrm{trans}}} =\frac{n_{\mathrm{cis}}}{n_{\mathrm{trans}}} =\frac{N_{\mathrm{cis}}}{N_{\mathrm{trans}}}, \] so \[ \boxed{\frac{N_{\mathrm{cis}}}{N_{\mathrm{trans}}}=14.3}. \]

Both the lower enthalpy and the higher entropy favour the cis isomer. The activation barrier affects the rate of equilibration, not this equilibrium ratio; the catalyst allows equilibrium to be reached more rapidly.

5.5 — Fluorodiazonium and the difluorodiazene isomers

For fluorodiazonium, \(\ce{N2F+}\), the valence-electron count is \[ 2(5)+7-1=16. \]

Its Lewis structure is \[ \ce{F-N^{+}\bond{#}N}, \] with SMILES F[N+]#N.

The complete lone-pair and charge inventory is:

Atom Bonds Lone pairs Formal charge
Fluorine One single bond 3 0
Nitrogen bonded to fluorine One single and one triple bond 0 \(+1\)
Terminal nitrogen One triple bond 1 0

Both nitrogens have two electron domains and are appropriately described as \(sp\)-hybridized. The three atoms lie on a straight line, with an ideal bond angle of \(180^\circ\).

For difluorodiazene, \(\ce{N2F2}\), the electron count is \[ 2(5)+2(7)=24. \]

Both stereoisomers have the Lewis connectivity \[ \ce{F-N=N-F}. \]

Each nitrogen has one lone pair, and each fluorine has three lone pairs. Every formal charge is zero.

Isomer Name and stereochemical SMILES Geometrical description
trans \((E)\)-Difluorodiazene, F/N=N/F The fluorines lie on opposite sides of the double bond.
cis \((Z)\)-Difluorodiazene, F/N=N\F The fluorines lie on the same side of the double bond.

At each nitrogen there are three electron domains: the nitrogen–nitrogen double bond, the nitrogen–fluorine single bond, and one lone pair. Thus both nitrogens are \(sp^2\)-hybridized in both isomers. Their unhybridized \(p\) orbitals form the \(\pi\) bond. Draw all four atoms in one plane, with bent arrangements at the nitrogen atoms.

5.6 — Reaction with water

Start with four formula units of pentazenium hexafluoroarsenate(V).

  • Four arsenic atoms require four molecules of arsenic pentafluoride.
  • Of the 24 fluorine atoms, 20 enter arsenic pentafluoride, leaving four for hydrogen fluoride.
  • Four hydrogen atoms require two water molecules.
  • Twenty nitrogen atoms produce ten nitrogen molecules.
  • The two oxygen atoms produce one oxygen molecule.

Therefore, \[ \boxed{\ce{4 [N5+][AsF6-] + 2 H2O -> 4 AsF5 + 4 HF + 10 N2 + O2}}. \]

The additional molecular species are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{AsF5}\) Arsenic pentafluoride F[As](F)(F)(F)F
\(\ce{N2}\) Dinitrogen N#N
\(\ce{O2}\) Dioxygen O=O

Arsenic pentafluoride has trigonal-bipyramidal molecular geometry. The dioxygen SMILES records its connectivity; it does not specify its triplet ground state.

5.7 — Metathesis reactions and solvents

The hexafluorostannate(IV) ion carries charge \(2-\), so it requires two pentazenium cations. Consequently, \[ \boxed{\ce{2 [N5+][SbF6-] + [Cs+]2[SnF6^2-] -> [N5+]2[SnF6^2-] + 2 [Cs+][SbF6-](s)}}. \]

Use anhydrous hydrogen fluoride at \(-78\,^\circ\mathrm C\). Precipitation of poorly soluble cesium hexafluoroantimonate(V) favours formation of bis(pentazenium) hexafluorostannate(IV).

The tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)borate ion is singly charged, so the second reaction has a 1:1 stoichiometry: \[ \boxed{\ce{[N5+][SbF6-] + [K+][B(CF3)4-] -> [N5+][B(CF3)4-] + [K+][SbF6-](s)}}. \]

Use liquid sulfur dioxide at \(-64\,^\circ\mathrm C\). Precipitation of poorly soluble potassium hexafluoroantimonate(V) favours formation of pentazenium tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)borate.

The additional ions and solvent are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{SbF6-}\) Hexafluoroantimonate(V) ion F[Sb-](F)(F)(F)(F)F
\(\ce{SnF6^2-}\) Hexafluorostannate(IV) ion F[Sn-2](F)(F)(F)(F)F
\(\ce{B(CF3)4-}\) Tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)borate ion [B-](C(F)(F)F)(C(F)(F)F)(C(F)(F)F)C(F)(F)F
\(\ce{Cs+}\) Caesium ion [Cs+]
\(\ce{K+}\) Potassium ion [K+]
\(\ce{SO2}\) Sulfur dioxide O=S=O

The two hexafluorometallate ions are octahedral. The boron atom has tetrahedral coordination by four carbon atoms. Sulfur dioxide is bent.

5.8 — Dimeric and tetrameric fluorostannate anions

For an oligomer with \(n\) tin atoms, the composition is \(\ce{Sn_nF_{5n}^{n-}}\). Let \(t\) be the number of terminal fluorines and \(b\) the number of fluorines bridging two tin centres.

Counting fluorine atoms gives \[ t+b=5n. \]

Since every tin has coordination number 6, counting tin–fluorine contacts gives \[ t+2b=6n. \]

Subtracting, \[ \boxed{b=n,\qquad t=4n}. \]

Thus the dimer requires two bridges and eight terminal fluorines; the tetramer requires four bridges and sixteen terminal fluorines.

Dimer: \(\ce{Sn2F10^2-}\).

The dimeric pentafluorostannate(IV) anion has connectivity \[ \ce{[Sn2F8(\mu-F)2]^2-}. \]

SMILES: F[Sn-2]1(F)(F)(F)[F+][Sn-2](F)(F)(F)(F)[F+]1

Draw two tin centres linked through two shared fluorine atoms, producing an alternating four-membered ring. Attach four additional, terminal fluorines to each tin. Each tin therefore has six fluorine neighbours in a distorted octahedral arrangement.

The two shared fluorines form a common edge of the coordination octahedra; this does not imply a fluorine–fluorine bond. The two bridging positions at each tin are cis.

Tetramer: \(\ce{Sn4F20^4-}\).

The tetrameric pentafluorostannate(IV) anion has connectivity \[ \ce{[Sn4F16(\mu-F)4]^4-}. \]

SMILES: F[Sn-2]1(F)(F)(F)[F+][Sn-2](F)(F)(F)(F)[F+][Sn-2](F)(F)(F)(F)[F+][Sn-2](F)(F)(F)(F)[F+]1

Draw four tin centres arranged cyclically, with one bridging fluorine between each neighbouring pair. This gives an alternating eight-membered ring containing four tin and four fluorine atoms. Attach four terminal fluorines to every tin.

The structure therefore contains four corner-sharing coordination octahedra in a closed ring. Each tin has two cis bridging fluorines and four terminal fluorines. A square arrangement is a convenient connectivity sketch; the SMILES does not prescribe ring puckering or exact bond angles.

In these two SMILES, every tin–fluorine contact is represented as an ordinary single bond. This assigns formal charges of \(-2\) to each six-bonded tin and \(+1\) to each two-bonded bridging fluorine, giving the correct overall charges: \[ 2(-2)+2(+1)=-2,\qquad 4(-2)+4(+1)=-4. \] These formal charges are distinct from oxidation states: tin is \(+IV\), and fluorine is \(-I\).

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.