Preparation and characterization of (CNSSS)2(A)2 (A = AsF6(-), SbF6(-), Sb2F11(-)) containing the O2-like 5,5'-bis(1,2,3,4-trithiazolium) dication: the second example of a simple nonsterically hindered main-group diradical that retains its paramagnetism in the solid state.

The reaction of NC-CN with a 1:1 mixture of S(4)(MF(6))(2) and S(8)(MF(6))(2) (M = As, Sb) (stoichiometrically equivalent to four "S(3)MF(6)" units) results in the quantitative formation of S(3)NCCNS(3)(MF(6))(2) [7(MF(6))(2)], which is the thermodynamic sink in this reaction. The Sb(2)F(11)(-) salt 7(Sb(2)F(11))(2) is prepared by the addition of an excess of SbF(5) to 7(AsF(6))(2). Crystal structure determinations for all three salts show that 7(2+) can be viewed as two R-CNS(3)(+) radical cations joined together by a C-C single bond. The two rings are coplanar and in a trans orientation due to electrostatic N(delta-)...S(delta+) interactions. The classically bonded alternative (quinoidal structure), in which the octet rule is obeyed, is not observed and is much higher in energy based on calculated estimates and a simple comparison of pi bond energies. Calculated molecular orbitals (MOs) support this, showing that the MO corresponding to the quinoidal structure lies higher in energy than the nearly degenerate singly occupied MOs of 7(2+). The vibrational spectra of 7(2+) in all salts were assigned based on a normal-coordinate analysis and theoretical vibrational frequencies calculated at the PBE0/6-31G* level. In the solid state, 7(2+) is a planar disjoint diradical with essentially degenerate open-shell singlet and triplet states. The disjoint nature of the diradical cation 7(2+) is established by magnetic susceptibility studies of the Sb(2)F(11)(-) salt doped in an isomorphous diamagnetic host material (CNSNS)(2)(Sb(2)F(11))(2) [10(Sb(2)F(11))(2)]. Intramolecular spin coupling is extremely weak corresponding to a singlet-triplet gap (DeltaE(ST) = 2J) of <+/-2 cm(-1). CASPT2[12,12]/6-311G* calculations support a triplet ground state with a small singlet-triplet gap. The single-crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of 7(Sb(2)F(11))(2) doped in 10(Sb(2)F(11))(2) is in agreement with the triplet state arising from the weak coupling between the unpaired electrons residing in p(pi) orbitals in each of the rings. Variable-temperature susceptibility data for bulk samples of 7(A)(2) (A = SbF(6)(-), AsF(6)(-), Sb(2)F(11)(-)) are analyzed by employing both 1D chain and 2D sheet magnetic models. These studies reveal significant intermolecular exchange approximating that of a 1D chain for the SbF(6)(-) salt with |J| = 32 cm(-1). The exchange coupling is on the same order of magnitude as that for the AsF(6)(-) salt, although in this case it is likely that there are complex exchange pathways where no particular one is dominant. Intermolecular exchange in the Sb(2)F(11)(-) salt is an order of magnitude weaker. In solution, the EPR spectrum of 7(2+) shows a broad triplet resonance as well as a sharp resonance that is tentatively attributed to a rotomer of the 7(2+)/anion pair, which is likely the origin of the green species given on dissolution of the red 7(2+) salts in SO(2)/AsF(3)/MF(5). We account for the many similarities between O(2) and 7(2+), which are the only simple nonsterically hindered nonmetal diradicals to retain their paramagnetism in the solid state. 7(2+) is also the first isolable, essentially sulfur-based diradical as evidenced by calculated spin densities.