Energy landscape study of water splitting and H2 evolution at a ruthenium(II) pincer complex

A bird's-eye view of the water splitting and H₂ generation at a ruthenium(II) pincer complex is presented. Using a combination of density functional theory and efficient algorithms for exploration of potential energy hypersurface (PES), a total of 197 local minima and 186 transition states are identified, and a new mechanism for water splitting and H₂ evolution via hydroxycarbonyl intermediates is presented. Furthermore, a global feature of the reaction PES, so-called potential energy landscape, is discussed on analyzing the obtained structures. As a result, the landscape is characterized by hierarchical structure, namely, PES consists of many “superbasins (SBs)” that are separated by relatively high energy barriers corresponding to bond breaking around Ru(II) center. Each SB involves a set of conformational isomers that can be interchanged with each other through relatively small barriers. To the best of our best knowledge, this is the first report on the quantum chemical computation of the hierarchical structure of PES for a realistic, catalytic reaction system.     

Theoretical study of the model reaction of oxidation of methane to methyl alcohol by Fe(P)O(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>) and related oxoferryl porphyrin complexes (P = C<Subscript>20</Subscript>H<Subscript>12</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript>)

The potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the model reactions Fe(P)O(NX₂) + CH₄ → Fe(P)(NX₂) + CH₃OH (X = H, F, Li) in the isolated state with different multiplicity have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with the 6-31G and 6-31G* basis sets. The optimized geometric, energetic, and spectroscopic characteristics of the key structures corresponding to local minima and transition states on the PES are determined; the energies and potential barriers of the reactions have been estimated, and their behavior as a function of the gas-phase states multiplicity and the electronegativity of the substituent X in the axial amino group has been studied. For all reactions, the lowest barriers are observed for the closely spaced quartet and doublet terms. The barriers considerably increase when the H atoms in the amino group are replaced by more electronegative atoms (F) and slightly decrease when H is replaced by more electropositive atoms (Li). On the basis of calculations for some structures corresponding to the stationary points on the PES of an analogous reaction of methane oxidation with the binuclear μ-N complex Fe(P)Fe(P)O, it was assumed that the effect of the second porphyrin ring on the upper active site in the binuclear μ-N complex is not too different from the effect of the amino group in the mononuclear complex Fe(P)O(NH₂) and that the role of the second ring in the μ-N complex is mainly reduced to the steric protection of the nitrogen atom from the interaction with the oxidant.     

catena‐Poly[[(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)copper(II)]‐μ‐(dihydrogen benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylato)‐κ2O1:O4]

In the title compound, [Cu(C₁₀H₄O₈)(C₁₂H₈N₂)]_n, the Cu^II cation has a four‐coordination environment completed by two N atoms from one 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) ligand and two O atoms belonging to two di­hydrogen benzene‐1,2,4,5‐­tetra­carboxyl­ate anions (H₂TCB²⁻). There is a twofold axis passing through the Cu^II cation and the centre of the phen ligand. The [Cu(phen)]²⁺ moieties are bridged by H₂TCB²⁻ anions to form an infinite one‐dimensional coordination polymer with a zigzag chain structure along the c axis. A double‐chain structure is formed by hydrogen bonds between adjacent zigzag chains. Furthermore, there are π–π stacking inter­actions between the phen ligands, with an average distance of 3.64 Å, resulting in a two‐dimensional network structure.     

Quantum-chemical study of the photoisomerization and photocyclization reactions of styrylquinolines: Potential energy surfaces

The cross sections of potential energy surfaces (PES) for the S₀ and S₁ states were calculated by the semiempirical PM3 and PM3-CI (8 × 8) methods, respectively, along the reaction coordinate of the isomerization and cyclization of 2- and 4-styrylquinolines (SQ). The PES of the S₀ state exhibits three minima separated by the transition-state barriers of isomerization and cyclization corresponding to three isomeric SQ forms, the E- and Z-isomers and the dihydrogenated cyclic product. On the PES of the S₁ state, the “perpendicular minimum” at dihedral angle values of ～ 90° corresponds to the transition state of the isomerization reaction and the pericyclic minimum with a distance of 1.7–2.0 Å between the atoms involved in cyclization corresponds to the transition state of the cyclization reaction. With simultaneous scanning of the PES of the S₁ state along the isomerization and cyclization reaction coordinates, the minimal-energy path was found for 4SQ, which makes it possible to explain the formation of the photocyclization product in the single-photon process upon irradiation of the E-isomer. It was found that the PM3 method overestimates the stability of the structures in which the aromatic ring is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the molecule, resulting in virtual minima on the PES of the S₁ states.     

Nickel and copper doped palladium clusters from a first-principles perspective

A complete study on the evolution of structures and the variation of the energy properties of MPd_n−1 (M = Ni and Cu; n = 2-13) clusters is presented. The study was performed employing auxiliary density functional theory. The obtained results were compared with the results of Pd_n clusters studied with the same methodology. For each cluster size, several structures were studied to determine the lowest energy structures. The initial structures for the geometry optimization were taken along ab initio Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics trajectories. Different potentials energy surfaces were studied. All cluster structures were fully optimized without any symmetry restriction. Stable structures, frequencies, spin multiplicities, averaged bond lengths, spin density plots, different energy properties, dipole and magnetic moments as well as charge transfers are reported. This investigation indicates that the palladium clusters doped with a Ni atom are the most stable and potentially the most chemical active ones.     

Investigation of the Potential Surface of Tetraalanine-Peptide by Sequentially Locking the Molecular Dynamic Trajectory of the System in Attraction Basins

A new approach to investigation of finite polyatomic systems such as clusters and biomolecules is suggested. The molecular dynamic trajectory of the system is sequentially locked in attraction basins on the potential energy surface (PES) subject to a certain strategy of system dislocation over the surface. The approach is illustrated by investigating the PES of the tetraalanine-peptide N-acetyl-(Ala)₃-methylamide in aqueous solution. It is indicated that the PES of the system consists of a great number of local minima united in clusters, which correspond to different trans/cis conformations of the molecule and are separated by barriers with a height of 14 kcal/mole or more.     

Quantitative Assessment of Ligand Substituent Effects on σ- and π-Contributions to Fe−N Bonds in Spin Crossover FeII Complexes

The effect of para-substituent X on the electronic structure of sixteen tridentate 4- X -(2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl))-pyridine ( bpp^X ) ligands and the corresponding solution spin crossover [Fe^II( bpp^X )₂]²⁺ complexes is analysed further, to supply quantitative insights into the effect of X on the σ-donor and π-acceptor character of the Fe- N_A (pyridine) bonds. EDA-NOCV on the sixteen LS complexes revealed that neither ΔE_orb,σ+π (R²=0.48) nor ΔE_orb,π (R²=0.31) correlated with the experimental solution T_1/2 values (which are expected to reflect the ligand field imposed on the iron centre), but that ΔE_orb,σ correlates well (R²=0.82) and implies that as X changes from EDG → EWG (Electron Donating to Withdrawing Group), the ligand becomes a better σ-donor. This counter-intuitive result was further probed by Mulliken analysis of the N_A atomic orbitals: N_A (p_x) involved in the Fe−N σ-bond vs. the perpendicular N_A (p_z) employed in the ligand aromatic π-system. As X changes EDG → EWG , the electron population on N_A (p_z) decreases, making it a better π-acceptor, whilst that in N_A (p_x) increases, making it a better σ-bond donor; both increase ligand field, and T_1/2 as observed. In 2016, Halcrow, Deeth and co-workers proposed an intuitively reasonable explanation of the effect of the para- X substituents on the T_1/2 values in this family of complexes, consistent with the calculated MO energy levels, that M→L π-backdonation dominates in these M−L bonds. Here the quantitative EDA-NOCV analysis of the M−L bond contributions provides a more complete, coherent and detailed picture of the relative impact of M−L σ-versus π-bonding in determining the observed T_1/2, refining the earlier interpretation and revealing the importance of the σ-bonding. Furthermore, our results are in perfect agreement with the ΔE(HS-LS) vs. σ_p⁺(X) correlation reported in their work.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Properties of [Cu(phen)3][Cu(pheida)2]·10H2O and [(phen)2Cu(μ‐BAAP)Cu(μ‐BAAP)Cu(phen)2][Cu(BAAP)2]·8.5H2O (H2pheida = N‐phenetyl‐iminodiacetic acid,H2BAAP = N‐benzylaminoacetic‐2‐propionic acid)

The salts [Cu(phen)₃][Cu(pheida)₂]·10H₂O ( 1 ) and [(phen)₂Cu(μ‐BAAP)Cu(μ‐BAAP)Cu(phen)₂][Cu(BAAP)₂]·8.5H₂O ( 2 ) (H₂pheida = N‐phenetyl‐iminodiacetic acid, H₂BAAP = N‐benzylaminoacetic‐2‐propionic acid, phen = 1, 10‐phenanthroline) have been prepared and studied by thermal, spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction methods. 1 has the rather unusual [Cu(phen)₃]²⁺ cation and two non‐equivalent [Cu(pheida)₂]^2— anions with a coordination type 4+2 but quite different tetragonality (T = 0.848 and 0.703 for anions 1 and 2, respectively). The crystal consists of multi‐π, π‐stacked chains (…anion 2 — cation — cation — anion 2…) connected by hydrophobic interactions; these chains build channels which are partially filled by anions 1 and water molecules. In contrast, compound 2 has a mixed‐ligand trinuclear cation with a bridging central moiety close similar to the counter anion. The formation of such a trinuclear cation is discussed as a consequence of the most advantageous molecular recognition process between [Cu(phen)₂(H₂O)_{1 or 2}]²⁺ and [Cu(BAAP)₂]^2— in solution. In the crystal of 2, multi‐π, π‐stacked arrays of C₆‐rings from phen and (BAAP)^2— ligands of trinuclear cations generate channels where counter anions and water molecules are located.     

Are They Linear,Bent, or Cyclic? Quantum Chemical Investigation of the Heavier Group 14 and Group 15 Homologues of HCN and HNC

The singlet potential‐energy surface (PES) of the system involving the atoms H, X, and E (the (H, X, E) system) in which X=N–Bi and E=C–Pb has been explored at the CCSD(T)/TZVPP and BP86/TZ2P+ levels of theory. The nature of the X? E bonding has been analyzed with charge‐ and energy‐partitioning methods. The calculations show that the linear isomers of the nitrogen systems lin ‐HEN and lin ‐HNE are minima on the singlet PES. The carbon compound lin ‐HCN (HCN=hydrogen cyanide) is 14.9 kcal mol^?1 lower in energy than lin ‐HNC but the heavier group 14 homologues lin ‐HEN (E=Si–Pb) are between 64.8 and 71.5 kcal mol^?1 less stable than the lin ‐HNE isomers. The phosphorous system (H, P, E) exhibits significant differences concerning the geometry and stability of the equilibrium structures compared with the nitrogen system. The linear form lin ‐HEP of the former system is much more stable than lin ‐HPE . The molecule lin ‐HCP is the only minimum on the singlet PES. It is 78.5 kcal mol^?1 lower in energy than lin ‐HPC , which is a second‐order saddle point. The heavier homologues lin ‐HPE , in which E=Si–Pb, are also second‐order saddle points, whereas the bent ‐HPE structures are the global minima on the PES. They are between 10.3 (E=Si) and 36.5 kcal mol^?1 (E=Pb) lower in energy than lin ‐HEP . The bent ‐HPE structures possess rather acute bending angles H‐P‐E between 60.1 (E=Si) and 79.7° (E=Pb). The energy differences between the heavier group 15 isomers lin ‐HEX (X=P–Bi) and the bent structures bent ‐HXE become continuously smaller. The silicon species lin ‐HSiBi is even 3.1 kcal mol^?1 lower in energy than bent ‐HBiSi . The bending angle H‐X‐E becomes more acute when X becomes heavier. The drastic energy differences between the isomers of the system (H, X, E) are explained with three factors that determine the relative stabilities of the energy minima: 1) The different bond strength between the hydrogen bonds H? X and H? E. 2) The electronic excitation energy of the fragment HE from the X ²Π ground state to the ⁴Σ^? excited state, which is required to establish a E≡X triple bond in the molecules lin ‐HEX . 3) The strength of the intrinsic X? E interactions in the molecules. The trends of the geometries and relative energies of the linear, bent, and cyclic isomers are explained with an energy‐decomposition analysis that provides deep insight into the nature of the bonding situation.     

Conformational analysis of the antimalarial agent quinine

Quinine, an active antimalarial compound, is one of the most abundant constituents extracted from the bark ofCinchona trees. The activity differences among structurally related molecules appear to depend on the absolute stereochemistry of some functional groups, a result that has stimulated a detailed conformational analysis of these molecules of biological interest. In the present study the potential energy surface (PES) for the antimalarial agent quinine (C₂₀H₂₄O₂N₂) has been comprehensively investigated using the molecular mechanics (MM) and quantum mechanical semiem-pirical AM1 and PM3 methods. Six distinct minimum-energy structures are located on the multidimensional PES and also characterized as true minima through harmonic frequency analysis. The relative stabilities and thermodynamic properties are reported. The coexistence of different conformers is discussed for the first time in the literature based on the calculated transition-state (TS) structures connecting the six minima located on the PES for the quinine molecule. The theoretical results reported in the present study are in agreement with the experimental proposal, based on NMR data, that there are two possible forms for the quinine molecule in solution.     

A metal-oxo cluster-supported transition metal complex: synthesis,structure and properties of [Cu(phen)2]2[{Cu(phen)}2Mo8O26]·H2O

[Cu(phen)₂]₂[{Cu(phen)}₂Mo₈O₂₆]·H₂O has been synthesized from MoO₃, H₂MoO₄, Cu(Ac)₂·H₂O and 1,10-phenanthroline in aqueous solution using the hydrothermal method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The title compound consists of a centrometric β-octamolybdate-supported complex anion [{Cu(phen)}₂Mo₈O₂₆]²⁻, two bis-phenanthroline Cu(I) cations, and one water molecule of crystallization.     

Low‐dimensional compounds containing cyano groups. XVI. (Dicyanamido‐κN1)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)copper(II) tetrafluoridoborate

The title compound, [Cu{N(CN)₂}(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]BF₄, was prepared as part of our study of the shape of coordination polyhedra in five‐coordinated copper(II) complexes. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis reveals that the structure consists of [Cu{N(CN)₂}(phen)₂]⁺ cations (phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline) and BF₄⁻ anions. The Cu centre is five‐coordinated in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal manner by four N atoms of two phen ligands and one N atom of a dicyanamide anion, which is coordinated in the equatorial plane at a distance of 1.996 (2) Å. The two axial Cu—N_phen distances have similar values [average 1.994 (6) Å] and are shorter than the two equatorial Cu—N_phen bonds [average 2.09 (6) Å]. This work demonstrates the effect of ligand rigidity on the shape of coordination polyhedra in five‐coordinated copper(II) complexes.     

Structural Diversity of Metallosupramolecular Assemblies from Cu(phen)2+ (phen = 1,10‐Phenanthroline) Building Blocks and 4,4′‐Bipyridine

Attempts to crystal engineer metallosupramolecularcomplexes from Cu(phen)²⁺ building blocks and the prototypical,rod‐like, exo‐bidentate ligand 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) by layering techniques are described. Reactions of Cu(phen)²⁺ (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline) with 4,4′‐bipy in the presence of NO₃^– counterions yielded two distinct, discrete, dinuclear, C_i symmetric, dumbbell‐typecomplexes, [{Cu(NO₃)₂(phen)}₂(4,4′‐bipy)] ( 1 ) and [{Cu(NO₃)(phen)(H₂O)}₂(4,4′‐bipy)](NO₃)₂ ( 2 ), depending upon the mixture of solvents used for crystallization. In compound 1 , a mono‐ and a bidentate nitrato group coordinate to Cu²⁺, whereas in 2 the monodentate nitrato groups are replaced by aqua ligands, which introduce additional hydrogen‐bond donor functionality to the molecule. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis at 296 and 110 K. Upon cooling, a disorder‐order transition occurs, with retention of the space group symmetry. The crystal structure of 2 at room temperature was reported previously [Z.‐X. Du, J.‐X. Li, Acta Cryst. 2007 , E63, m2282]. We have redetermined the crystal structure of 2 at 100 K. A phase transition is not observed for 2 , but the low temperature single‐crystal structure determination is of significantly higher precision than the room temperature study. Both 1 and 2 are obtained phase‐pure, as proven by powder X‐ray diffraction of the bulk materials. Crystals of [Cu(phen)(CF₃SO₃)₂(4,4′‐bipy) · 0.5H₂O]_n ( 3 ), a one‐dimensional coordination polymer, were obtained from [Cu(CF₃SO₃)₂(phen)(H₂O)₂] and 4,4′‐bipy. In 3 , Cu(phen)²⁺ corner units are joined by 4,4′‐bipy via the two vacant cis sites to form polymeric zig‐zag chains, which are tightly packed in the crystal. Compounds 1 – 3 were further studied by infrared spectroscopy.     

Exploring the Reaction Paths on the Potential Energy Surfaces of the S1 and T1 States in Methylenecyclopropane

The reaction paths of methylenecyclopropane 1 on the potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the lowest triplet (T₁) state and the lowest excited singlet (S₁) state, as well as that of the ground state (S₀), were explored by using the nudged elastic band method at the MRMP2//MCSCF/6‐31++G(d,p) and DFT(B3LYP)/6‐31++G(d,p) levels of theory. After vertical excitation of 1, three transition states on the PES of the lowest triplet state and one transition state on the S₁ PES were found along the reaction path to produce a carbene, cyclobutylidene 2. All of these transition states are lower in energy than the S₁ state produced by vertical excitation at the S₀ energy minimum in 1. Fast transition is predicted to occur from the T₁ state or from the S₁ state to the S₀ state due to strong spin‐orbit coupling or nonadiabatic coupling in the geometrical vicinity of 2. On the MRMP2 S₀ PES, the energy barriers of 5.0, 10.3 and 13.5 kcal mol^?1 were obtained for C migration reaction (backward reaction), 1,2‐H migration reaction to cyclobutene 3, and 1,3‐H migration reaction to bicyclopropane 4, respectively, started at 2. The introduction of phenyl groups makes the energy barriers smaller due to the π conjugation between the carbene center and phenyl groups.     

Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylating Reagent [Cu(O2CCF3)(phen)] and Difluorocarbene Precursor [Cu(phen)2][O2CCF2Cl]

This article describes the new economic decarboxylative trifluoromethylating reagent [Cu(phen)(O₂CCF₃)] ( 1 ; phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) and the efficient difluorocarbene precursor [Cu(phen)₂][O₂CCF₂Cl] ( 2 ). Treatment of copper tert‐butoxide with phen and subsequent addition of trifluoroacetic acid or chlorodifluoroacetic acid afforded air‐stable complexes 1 and 2 , respectively, which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The copper(I) ion in 1 is coordinated by a bidentate phen ligand, a monodentate trifluoroacetate group, and a molecule of CH₃CN in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. The molecular structure of 2 adopts an ionic form that consists of a [Cu(phen)₂]⁺ cation and a chlorodifluoroacetate anion. Complex 1 reacted with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl halides to form trifluoromethyl (hetero)arenes in good yields. The corresponding Hammett plot exhibited a linear relationship and a reaction parameter (ρ)=+0.56±0.02, which indicated that the trifluoromethylation reaction proceeded via a nucleophilic reactive species. Complex 2 reacts with phenols to produce aryl difluoromethyl ethers in modest‐to‐excellent yields. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the difluoromethylation reaction proceeds by initial copper‐mediated formation of difluorocarbene and subsequent concerted addition of difluorocarbene to the phenol to form a three‐center transition state.     

Remarkable solvent effects in the hydro‐ and solvothermal synthesis of copper‐1,10‐phenanthroline complexes

Compound {[Cu(II)/Cu(I)]₂(ophen)₄(Htpt)}^?2H₂O ( 1 ) was obtained by hydrothermal reaction. Compound 1 is a mixed‐valence copper coordination complex with a different coordination environment. The X‐ray structural analysis of 1 revealed two crystallographically independent dimeric [Cu₂(ophen)₂]⁺ units bridged by two µ₁‐carboxylate groups of the tpt ligand into a butterfly‐shaped molecule in the crystal structure. Compound [Cu(I)₃(CN)₃(phen)₃] ( 2 ) was synthesized using ethanol instead of water, and consisted of an infinite helix chain formed from [Cu(I)(phen)]⁺ units bridged by cyano groups. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A significant role of the totally symmetric valley-ridge inflection point in the bifurcating reaction pathway

Appearance of the valley-ridge inflection (VRI) point on the intrinsic reaction path (IRP) introduces geometrical instability of the reaction coordinate and sometimes leads to two different product minima on the potential energy surface (PES). A significant role of the totally symmetric VRI point on the IRP is discussed from the viewpoint of branching of the reaction pathway. As illustrative examples, ab initio calculations were performed to determine the IRP for XCHO^??+?CH₃Cl (X?=?H, CH₃) at the M?ller?CPlesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) level with 6-31+G(d) basis sets and geometric features of the PES around the IRP have been analyzed.     

(1,3‐Dimethylimidazolidine‐2‐selone‐κSe)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)copper(II) bis(perchlorate) and bis(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐κ2N,N′)(imidazolidine‐2‐thione‐κS)copper(II) bis(perchlorate)

In the first title salt, [Cu(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂(C₅H₁₀N₂Se)](ClO₄)₂, the Cu^II centre occupies a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environment defined by four N donors from two 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) ligands and by the Se donor of a 1,3‐dimethylimidazolidine‐2‐selone ligand, with the equatorial plane defined by the Se and by two N donors from different phen ligands and the axial sites occupied by the two remaining N donors, one from each phen ligand. The Cu—N distances span the range 1.980 (10)–2.114 (11) Å and the Cu—Se distance is 2.491 (3) Å. Intermolecular π–π contacts between imidazolidine rings and the central rings of phen ligands generate chains of cations. In the second salt, [Cu(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂(C₃H₆N₂S)](ClO₄)₂, the Cu^II centre occupies a similar distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environment comprising four N donors from two 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bipy) ligands and an S donor from an imidazolidine‐2‐thione ligand. The equatorial plane is defined by the S donor and two N donors from different bipy ligands. The Cu—N distances span the range 1.984 (6)–2.069 (7) Å and the Cu—S distance is 2.366 (3) Å. Intermolecular π–π contacts between imidazolidine and pyridyl rings form chains of cations. A major difference between the two structures is due to the presence in the second complex of two N—H...O hydrogen bonds linking the imidazolidine N—H hydrogen‐bond donors to perchlorate O‐atom acceptors.     

Well‐Defined CuC2F5 Complexes and Pentafluoroethylation of Acid Chlorides

Four new well‐defined Cu^I complexes bearing a C₂F₅ ligand have been prepared and fully characterized: [(Ph₃P)₂CuC₂F₅] ( 2 ), [(bpy)CuC₂F₅] ( 3 ), [(Ph₃P)Cu(phen)C₂F₅] ( 4 ), and [(IPr*)CuC₂F₅] ( 5 ). X‐ray structures of all four have been determined, showing that the C₂F₅‐ligated Cu atom can be di‐ ( 5 ), tri‐ ( 2 and 3 ), and tetracoordinate ( 4 ). The mixed phen‐PPh₃ complex 4 is a highly efficient fluoroalkylating agent for a broad variety of acid chlorides. This high‐yielding transformation represents the first general method for the synthesis of RCOC₂F₅ from the corresponding RCOCl.     

Mechanism of methane activation by electrophiles generated in the AlBr5 system: An MNDO/PM3 study of the potential energy surface of the [AlBr5+CH4] system

Fragments of the potential energy surfaces (PES) of the AlBr₅ (I) and [AlBr₅+CH₄] (II) systems were studied by the MNDO/PM3 method. Five local minima corresponding to Br₂·AlBr₃ donor-acceptor complexes were found on the PES of system I. Two of these complexes have a pronounced ionic character. In system II, among the products of barrierless addition of Br₂·AlBr₃ complexes to CH₄, the methane molecule is activated only in two complexes. These are products of the attack of the most electrophilic AlBr₅ complexes on a H atom of the methane molecule. The potential barriers to conversion of these products into complexes with structures formally corresponding to the products of the attack of electrophiles on a C−H bond (the Olah scheme) or the C atom of methane molecule (the Schreiner scheme) were calculated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 802–808, May, 2000.