Structural Elucidation of the Triethylammonium Betaine of Squaric Acid

Betaines of squaric acid have gained research interest because of their structural and spectral properties. We elucidated the crystal and molecular structure of the triethylammonium betaine of squaric acid (<b>1</b>) by X-ray crystallography, IR, and NMR spectroscopy augmented by Hirshfe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paul R. Palme, Richard Goddard, Markus Leutzsch, Adrian Richter, Peter Imming, Rüdiger W. Seidel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Molbank
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-8599/2023/4/M1737
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Summary:Betaines of squaric acid have gained research interest because of their structural and spectral properties. We elucidated the crystal and molecular structure of the triethylammonium betaine of squaric acid (<b>1</b>) by X-ray crystallography, IR, and NMR spectroscopy augmented by Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT calculations. The crystal structure determination using Hirshfeld atom refinement reveals that the resonance hybrid structure with partial enolate character of the two lateral squaric acid C=O groups describes <b>1</b> best. The solid-state supramolecular structure features weak intermolecular C−H···O hydrogen bonds. The number of C=O bands in the IR spectrum in the solid-state is consistent with local <i>C</i><sub>2v</sub> symmetry of the squaric acid residue in <b>1</b>. The <sup>13</sup>C NMR signals of this group in solution were assigned based on 2D NMR experiments and computational prediction using the Gauge-Independent Atom Orbital (GIAO) method. The present study provides the first structural characterization of a betaine of squaric acid containing a four-coordinate nitrogen atom directly attached to the four-membered ring.
ISSN:1422-8599