Chemical Bonding in Silicon Carbonyl Complexes

Although silylene-carbonyl complexes are known for decades, only recently isolable examples have been accomplished. In this work, the bonding situation is re-evaluated to explain the origins of their remarkable stability within the Kohn-Sham molecular orbital theory framework. It is shown that the chemical bond can be understood as CO interaction with the silylene via a donor-acceptor interaction: a σ-donation from the σ_CO into the empty p-orbital of silicon, and a π-back donation from the sp² lone pair of silicon into the π*_CO antibonding orbitals. Notably, it was established that the driving force behind the surprisingly stable Si−CO compounds, however, is another π-back donation from a perpendicular bonding R−Si σ-orbital into the π*_CO antibonding orbitals. Consequently, the pyramidalization of the central silicon atom cannot be associated with the strength of the π-back donation, in sharp contrast to the established chemical bonding model. Considering this additional bonding interaction not only shed light on the bonding situation, but is also an indispensable key for broadening the scope of silylene-carbonyl chemistry.     

Beryllium Atom Mediated Dinitrogen Activation via Coupling with Carbon Monoxide

The reactions of laser‐ablated beryllium atoms with dinitrogen and carbon monoxide mixtures form the end‐on bonded NNBeCO and side‐on bonded (η²‐N₂)BeCO isomers in solid argon, which are predicted by quantum chemical calculations to be almost isoenergetic. The end‐on bonded complex has a triplet ground state while the side‐on bonded isomer has a singlet electronic ground state. The complexes rearrange to the energetically lowest lying NBeNCO isomer upon visible light excitation, which is characterized to be an isocyanate complex of a nitrene derivative with a triplet electronic ground state. A bonding analysis using a charge‐ and energy decomposition procedure reveals that the electronic reference state of Be in the NNBeCO isomers has an 2s⁰2p² excited configuration and that the metal‐ligand bonds can be described in terms of N₂→Be←CO σ donation and concomitant N₂←Be→CO π backdonation. The results demonstrate that the activation of N₂ with the N?N bond being completely cleaved can be achieved via coupling with carbon monoxide mediated by a main group atom.     

Metal Olefin Complexes: Revisiting the Dewar−Chatt−Duncanson Model and Deriving Reactivity Patterns from Carbon‐13 NMR Chemical Shift

Metal olefin complexes that are ubiquitous intermediates in catalysis are investigated by a detailed analysis of their ¹³C‐NMR chemical shift tensors. This analysis allows evidencing specific electronic features, namely the olefin‐to‐metal σ‐donation and the metal‐to‐olefin π‐backdonation as proposed in the Dewar?Chatt?Duncanson model. Apart from these interactions, the chemical shift tensor analysis reveals an additional ligand‐to‐metal π‐donation of the olefin σ(C=C) orbital in systems with suitably oriented vacant d‐orbitals. This interaction which is not accounted for in the Dewar?Chatt?Duncanson model explains the reactivity of this type of metal olefin complexes towards oxidative cyclization (olefin insertion) and protonolysis.     

Estimating π binding energy of N‐Heterocyclic carbenes: The role of polarization

In this work, the tuneability of the π acceptor or donor properties of a set of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with a wide spectrum of electronic characteristics is established by means of density functional theory and energy decomposition analysis (EDA) tools. Even though the main orbital interaction contribution to the NHC coordination is the σ donation, a significant contribution of the π interactions to the bond is observed. By means of carefully selected coordination sites, different contributions to the π interactions could be identified and isolated. It includes not only the well known back donation and donation interactions, but also the intrafragment polarization, which has not been considered in previous studies. This can be obtained through the use of the extended transition state method for EDA combined with the natural orbitals for chemical valence and the constrained space orbital variation analysis. The contributions vary with the position of the heteroatoms and the presence of exocyclic substituents; the donation/backdonation π interactions between NHC and the coordination site can range between 2 and 61% of the total π orbital interactions, while the rest is owed to intrafragment polarization. Our results do not only contribute to the understanding of the electronic structure of NHC‐based complexes, giving ways to improve their catalytic properties, but also provide comprehension on the modelization methods used to study their donor–acceptor interactions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Barium as Honorary Transition Metal in Action: Experimental and Theoretical Study of Ba(CO)+ and Ba(CO)−

Ba(CO)⁺ and Ba(CO)^? have been produced and isolated in a low‐temperature neon matrix. The observed C?O stretching wavenumber for Ba(CO)⁺ of 1911.2 cm^?1 is the most red‐shifted value measured for any metal carbonyl cations, indicating strong π backdonation of electron density from Ba⁺ to CO. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that Ba(CO)⁺ has a ²Π reference state, which correlates with the ²D(5d¹) excited state of Ba⁺ that comprises significant Ba⁺(5d_π¹)→CO(π* LUMO) backbonding, letting the Ba(CO)⁺ complex behave like a conventional transition‐metal carbonyl. A bonding analysis shows that the π backdonation in Ba(CO)⁺ is much stronger than the Ba⁺(5d_σ/6s)←CO(HOMO) σ donation. The Ba⁺ cation in the ²D(5d¹) excited state is a donor rather than an acceptor. Covalent bonding in the radical anion Ba(CO)^? takes place mainly through Ba(5d_π)←CO^?(π* SOMO) π donation and Ba(5d_σ/6s)←CO^?(HOMO) σ donation. The most important valence functions at barium in Ba(CO)⁺ cation and Ba(CO)^? anion are the 5d orbitals.     

Analysis of the metal–ligand bonds in [Mo(X)(NH2)3] (X = P, N, PO, and NO), [Mo(CO)5(NO)]+, and [Mo(CO)5(PO)]+

Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level have been carried out for model complexes [Mo(P)(NH₂)₃] (1), [Mo(N)(NH₂)₃] (2), [Mo(PO)(NH₂)₃] (3), [Mo(NO)(NH₂)₃] (4), [Mo(CO)₅(PO)]⁺ (5), and [Mo(CO)₅(NO)]⁺ (6). The equilibrium geometries and the vibration frequencies are in good agreement with experimental and previous theoretical results. The nature of the Mo–PO, Mo–NO, Mo–PO⁺, Mo–NO⁺, Mo–P, and Mo–N bond has been investigated by means of the AIM, NBO and EDA methods. The NBO and EDA data complement each other in the interpretation of the interatomic interactions while the numerical AIM results must be interpreted with caution. The terminal Mo–P and Mo–N bonds in 1 and 2 are clearly electron-sharing triple bonds. The terminal Mo–PO and Mo–NO bonds in 3 and 4 have also three bonding contributions from a σ and a degenerate π orbital where the σ components are more polarized toward the ligand end and the π orbitals are more polarized toward the metal end than in 1 and 2. The EDA calculations show that the π bonding contributions to the Mo–PO and Mo–NO bonds in 3 and 4 are much more important than the σ contributions while σ and π bonding have nearly equal strength in the terminal Mo–P and Mo–N bonds in 1 and 2. The total (NH₂)₃Mo–PO binding interactions are stronger than for (NH₂)₃Mo–P which is in agreement with the shorter Mo–PO bond. The calculated bond orders suggest that there are only (NH₂)₃Mo–PO and (NH₂)₃Mo–NO double bonds which comes from the larger polarization of the σ and π contributions but a closer inspection of the bonding shows that these bonds should also be considered as electron-sharing triple bonds. The bonding situation in the positively charged complexes [(CO)₅Mo–(PO)]⁺ and [(CO)₅Mo–(NO)]⁺ is best described in terms of (CO)₅Mo → XO⁺ donation and (CO)₅Mo ← XO⁺ backdonation (X = P, N) using the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model. The latter bonds are stronger and have a larger π character than the Mo-CO bonds.     

Reaktionen von Pentafulven‐Komplexen des Titans mit Nitrilen und iso‐Nitrilen — Synthese und Isomerisierungen von σ, π‐Chelatkomplexen mit Cp∼N‐Liganden

Reactions of Pentafulvene Complexes of Titanium with Nitriles and iso‐Nitriles — Synthesis and Isomerizations of σ, π‐Chelat Complexes with Cp∼N‐Ligands The reactions of fulvene complexes Cp*Ti{η⁶—C₅H₄=C(R)(R')}Cl (R = H, R' = tBu ( 1 ); R = Me, R' = iPr ( 4 )) with nitriles and iso‐nitriles, leading to σ, π‐chelat complexes with Cp∼N‐ligands, have been examined and the formed products characterized. Whereas in the reactions of 1 and 4 , respectively, with nitriles a 1, 2‐mono‐insertion of the CN‐group in the Ti—C(R)(R') (Fv) bond is observed, the reaction with iso‐nitrils leads to the insertion of two molecules iso‐nitrile. The nitrile insertion product of 1 is characterized by an imine‐enamine tautomerization. Whereas the primary built meta stable imine species ( 3 ) was only identified by NMR measurements in solution, the enamine tautomer ( 2 ) crystallized from n‐hexane, so that the crystal structure could be determined. The primary formed iminoacyl complex ( 7 ) rearranges due to the electrophilicity of the titanium centre and builds a Ti—N bond with significant N(pπ) → Ti(dπ) bonding character.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of Hydridoiridium Complexes Bearing a Pincer‐Type PSiP Ligand

A series of iridium tetrahydride complexes [Ir(H)₄(PSiP‐R)] bearing a tridentate pincer‐type bis(phosphino)silyl ligand ([{2‐(R₂P)C₆H₄}₂MeSi]⁻, PSiP‐R, R=Cy, iPr, or tBu) were synthesized by the reduction of [IrCl(H)(PSiP‐R)] with Me₄N ⋅ BH₄ under argon. The same reaction under a nitrogen atmosphere afforded a rare example of thermally stable iridium(III)–dinitrogen complexes, [Ir(H)₂(N₂)(PSiP‐R)]. Two isomeric dinitrogen complexes were produced, in which the PSiP ligand coordinated to the iridium center in meridional and facial orientations, respectively. Attempted substitution of the dinitrogen ligand in [Ir(H)₂(N₂)(PSiP‐Cy)] with PMe₃ required heating at 150 °C to give the expected [Ir(H)₂(PMe₃)(PSiP‐Cy)] and a trigonal bipyramidal iridium(I)–dinitrogen complex, [Ir(N₂)(PMe₃)(PSiP‐Cy)]. The reaction of [Ir(H)₄(PSiP‐Cy)] with three equivalents of 2‐norbornene (nbe) in benzene afforded [Ir^I(nbe)(PSiP‐Cy)] in a high yield, while a similar reaction of [Ir(H)₄(PSiP‐R)] with an excess of 3,3‐dimethylbutene (tbe) in benzene gave the C H bond activation product, [Ir^III(H)(Ph)(PSiP‐R)], in high yield. The oxidative addition of benzene is reversible; heating [Ir^III(H)(Ph)(PSiP‐Cy)] in the presence of PPh₃ in benzene resulted in reductive elimination of benzene, coordination of PPh₃, and activation of the C H bond of one aromatic ring in PPh₃. [Ir^III(H)(Ph)(PSiP‐R)] catalyzed a direct borylation reaction of the benzene C H bond with bis(pinacolato)diboron. Molecular structures of most of the new complexes in this study were determined by a single‐crystal X‐ray analysis.     

Rücktitelbild: The Mo?Mo Quintuple Bond as a Ligand to Stabilize Transition‐Metal Complexes (Angew. Chem. 31/2015)

Herein, we report the employment of the Mo Mo quintuple bonded amidinate complex to stabilize Group 10 metal fragments {(Et₃P)₂M} (M=Pd, Pt) and give rise to the isolation of the unprecedented δ complexes. X‐ray analysis unambiguously revealed short contacts between Pd or Pt and two Mo atoms and a slight elongation of the Mo Mo quintuple bond in these two compounds. Computational studies show donation of the Mo Mo quintuple‐bond δ electrons to an empty σ orbital on Pd or Pt, and back‐donation from a filled Pd or Pt d_π orbital into the Mo Mo δ* level (LUMO), consistent with the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model.     

Halogen bonding between substituted chlorobenzene and trimethylamine: Decisive role of σ–hole and C?Cl bond breaking energy

Theoretical studies have been carried out on the halogen bonding interaction between para substituted chlorobenzene (Y C₆H₄Cl, Y = H, NH₂, CH₃, F, CN, NO₂) and N(CH₃)₃ using ab initio MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ and DFT based wB97XD/6‐311++G(d,p) methods. The positive electrostatic potential (V_S,max) on the Cl atom and the heterolytic bond breaking enthalpy of the C Cl bond have been calculated and their role on halogen bonding is discussed. The heterolytic bond breaking enthalpy of the C Cl bond is proposed as a measure of the strength of the σ‐hole on Cl atom. The binding strength of the complexes ranging between −6.13 kJ mol⁻¹ and −9.29 kJ mol⁻¹ are linearly related to the V_S,max of the Cl atom and the bond breaking enthalpy of the C Cl bond. In addition, energy decomposition analysis was performed on the halogen bonded complexes via symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) to predict the dominant energy component and the nature of the N···Cl interaction.     

The Importance of Ligand-Induced Backdonation in the Stabilization of Square Planar d10 Nickel π-Complexes

The electronic nature of Ni π-complexes is underexplored even though these complexes have been widely postulated as intermediates in organometallic chemistry. Herein, the geometric and electronic structure of a series of nickel π-complexes, Ni(dtbpe)(X) (dtbpe=1,2-bis(di-tert-butyl)phosphinoethane; X=alkene or carbonyl containing π-ligands), is probed using a combination of ³¹P NMR, Ni K-edge XAS, Ni K_β XES, and DFT calculations. These complexes are best described as square planar d¹⁰ complexes with π-backbonding acting as the dominant contributor to M−L bonding to the π-ligand. The degree of backbonding correlates with ²J_PP from NMR and the energy of the Ni 1s→4p_z pre-edge in the Ni K-edge XAS data, and is determined by the energy of the π*_ip ligand acceptor orbital. Thus, unactivated olefinic ligands tend to be poor π-acids whereas ketones, aldehydes, and esters allow for greater backbonding. However, backbonding is still significant even in cases in which metal contributions are minor. In such cases, backbonding is dominated by charge donation from the diphosphine, which allows for strong backdonation, although the metal centre retains a formal d¹⁰ electronic configuration. This ligand-induced backbonding can be formally described as a 3-centre-4-electron (3c-4e) interaction, in which the nickel centre mediates charge transfer from the phosphine σ-donors to the π*_ip ligand acceptor orbital. The implications of this bonding motif are described with respect to both structure and reactivity.     

On the nature of spin- and orbital-resolved Cu+–NO charge transfer in the gas phase and at Cu(I) sites in zeolites

Electronic factors essential for NO activation by Cu(I) sites in zeolites are investigated within spin-resolved analysis of electron transfer channels (natural orbitals for chemical valence). NOCV analysis is performed for three DFT-optimized models of Cu(I)?CNO site in ZSM-5: [CuNO]⁺, (T1)CuNO, and (M7)CuNO. NO as a non-innocent, open-shell ligand reveals significant differences between independent deformation density components for ?? and ?? spins. Four distinct components are identified: (i) unpaired electron donation from NO ??_??* antibonding orbital to Cu_s,d; (ii) backdonation from copper d _yz to ??_??* antibonding orbital; (iii) donation from occupied ??_?? and Cu d _xz to bonding region, and (iv) donation from nitrogen lone-pair to Cu_s,d. Channel (i), corresponding to one-electron bond, shows-up solely for spin majority and is effective only in the interaction of NO with naked Cu⁺. Channel (ii) dominates for models b and c: it strongly activates NO bond by populating antibonding ??* orbital and weakens the N?CO bond in contrast to channel (i), depopulating the antibonding orbital and strengthening N?CO bond. This picture perfectly agrees with IR experiment: interaction with naked Cu⁺ imposes small blue-shift of NO stretching frequency while it becomes strongly red-shifted for Cu(I) site in ZSM-5 due to enhanced backdonation.     

Bonding in the ground state and excited states of copper-alkene complexes

The ground state and ¹B₂ excited state of Cu(C₂H₄)⁺ and of CuX(C₂H₄) (X  F, Cl) have been investigated by the Hartree-Fock-Slater (HFS) method. The main metal-ligand interactions in the ground state are ethene π → Cu 4s donation and Cu 3d_π → ethene π^* backdonation, which have comparable contributions to the metal-ligand bond strength. The excitation of CuX(C₂H₄) does not involve an alkene π → metal charge transfer (LMCT), but instead is metal 3d → alkene π^* charge transfer (MLCT) in character. The implications for the photochemistry of olefin-copper(I) complexes are discussed.     

Swimming against the Stream? A Discussion of the Bonding in d6 and d8 Fluoro Complexes and Its Consequences for Catalytic Applications

Fluoride has recently found increasing application as coligand both in complexes of late transition metals and as a reagent in asymmetric catalysis. In recent papers, this topic was reviewed, with emphasis on the role played by so‐called ‘push‐pull interactions' between the fluoro ligand and a π acid in the stabilization of fluoro complexes with a d⁶ or d⁸ electron configuration. This picture has led to the concept that fluoride is the strongest π‐donor in the halide series. Herein, the latter concept is discussed and criticized. In particular, the effect of the ionicity of the metal‐fluoride bond is proposed as an alternative explanation to most of the observations that show a ‘reversed' halide order. The ionic character of the M F bond also accounts for its intrinsic reactivity and suggests some strategies for the stabilizatioin of fluoro complexes, including the use of coordinative unsaturation. The scope and limitations of the application of d⁶ and d⁸ fluoro complexes in catalysis are also discussed. The most promising application is the use of 16‐electron fluoro complexes in the metal‐promoted formation of the C F bond.     

Infrared Photodisssociation Spectroscopy of Boron Carbonyl Cation Complexes

The boron carbonyl cation complexes B(CO)₃⁺, B(CO)₄⁺ and B₂(CO)₄⁺ are studied by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The B(CO)₄⁺ ions are characterized to be very weakly bound complexes involving a B(CO)₃⁺ core ion, which is predicted to have a planar DD_3h structure with the central boron retaining the most favorable 8-electron configuration. The B₂(CO)₄⁺ cation is determined to have a planar D_2h structure involving a B-B one and half bond. The analysis of the B-CO interactions with the EDA-NOCV method indicates that the OC→B σ donation is stronger than the B→CO π back donation in both ions.     

Quantum chemical topology: The electronic structure of the alkaline nitrites MONO (M = Li,Na, K) studied by means of topological analysis of the electron localization function

In the search of the protocovalent bonding, previously recognized in the nitrous acid (HONO), a nature of the chemical bonds in the alkaline nitrites MONO (M = Li, Na, K) has been studied by means of the topological analysis of the Electron Localization Function (ELF) and Electron Localizability Indicator (ELI‐D). Calculations carried out with the B3LYP and MP2(full) methods, in conjunction with the aug‐cc‐pVTZ and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets, revealed the cis (C_2v, more stable) and trans (C_s) isomers as minima on PES. Alkaline nitrites consist of the alkali metal cation M^δ+ interacting, mainly via electrostatic forces, with the nitrite anion [ONO]^δ− (δ ≈ 1e). The covalent N O bonds are characterized by disynaptic basins V(N,O) with the basin populations: 1.58÷1.62e for cis‐M^δ+[ONO]^δ− but 1.39÷1.49e for single N O bond and 1.81÷1.87e for formally double NO bond in trans M^δ+[O NO]^δ−. The protocovalent nitrogen–oxygen bond has not been observed. The N O bonds are slightly polarized towards the nitrogen atom with the polarity index p_NO ≤ 0.12. Two different sets of the hybrid (Lewis) structures are compared leading to different pictures of the bonding. According to NBO data there is a delocalization between the single N O and double NO type bonds, meanwhile results of the ELF analysis emphasize an electron delocalization between the single N O and ionic O⁻N⁺ hybrids. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Selectively Measuring π Back‐Donation in Gold(I) Complexes by NMR Spectroscopy

Even though the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model has been successfully used by chemists since the 1950s, no experimental methodology is yet known to unambiguously estimate the constituents (donation and back‐donation) of a metal–ligand interaction. It is demonstrated here that one of these components, the metal‐to‐ligand π back‐donation, can be effectively probed by NMR measurements aimed at determining the rotational barrier of a C?N bond (ΔH_r^≠) of a nitrogen acyclic carbene ligand. A large series of gold(I) complexes have been synthesized and analyzed, and it was found that the above experimental observables show an accurate correlation with back‐donation, as defined theoretically by the appropriate charge displacement originated upon bond formation. The proposed method is potentially of wide applicability for analyzing the ligand effect in metal catalysts and guiding their design.     

Computational study of structures and proton transfer in hydrogen‐bonded ammonia complexes using semiempirical valence‐bond approach

In this study, the seGVB method was implemented for the N H bonding system, specifically for hydrogen‐bonded ammonia complexes, and the model well reproduces the MP2 geometries and energetics. A comparison between the ammonia dimer and water dimer is given from the viewpoint of valance‐bond structures in terms of the calculated bond energies and pair–pair interactions. The linear hydrogen bond is found to be stronger than the bent bonds in both cases, with the difference in energy between the linear and cyclic structures being comparable in both cases although the NH bonds are generally weaker. The energy decomposition clearly demonstrates that the changes in electronic energy are quite different in the two cases due to the presence of an additional lone pair on the water molecule, and it is this effect which leads to the net stabilization of the cyclic structure for the ammonia dimer. Proton‐transfer profiles for hydrogen‐bonded ammonia complexes [NH₂ H NH₂]⁻ and [NH₃ H NH₃]⁺ were calculated. The barrier for proton transfer in [NH₃ H NH₃]⁺ is larger than that in [NH₂ H NH₂]⁻, but smaller than that in the protonated water dimer. The different bonding structures substantially affect the barrier to proton transfer, even though they are isoelectronic systems. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 73: 357–367, 1999     

Formation and infrared spectroscopic characterization of carbon suboxide complexes TM-η1-C3O2 and the inserted ketenylidene complexes OCTMCCO (TM=Cu,Ag, Au) in solid neon

The reactions of coinage metal atoms Cu, Ag and Au with carbon suboxide (C₃O₂) are studied by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. The weakly bound complexes TM-η¹-C₃O₂ (TM=Cu, Ag, Au), in which the carbon suboxide ligand binds to the metal center in the monohapto fashion are formed as initial reaction products. The complexes subsequently isomerize to the inserted products OCTMCCO upon visible light (λ = 400–500 nm) excitation. The analysis of the electronic structure using modern quantum chemistry methods suggests that the linear OCTMCCO complexes are best described by the bonding interactions between the TM⁺ cation in the electronic singlet ground state and the [OC…CCO]⁻ ligands in the doublet state forming two TM⁺ ← ligands σ donation and two TM⁺ → ligands π backdonation bonding components. In addition, the CuCCO, AgCCO and AuCCO complexes are also formed, which are predicted to be bent.