DFT/TD‐DFT investigation on Ir(III) complexes with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands: Geometries,electronic structures,absorption, and phosphorescence properties

Iridium(III) complexes with N‐heterocyclic (NHC) ligands including fac‐Ir(pmb)₃ (1), mer‐Ir(pmb)₃ (2), (pmb)₂Ir(acac) (3), mer‐Ir(pypi)₃ (4), and fac‐Ir(pypi)₃ (5) [pmb = 1‐phenyl‐3H‐benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene, acac = acetoylacetonate, pypi = 1‐phenyl‐5H‐benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene; fac = facial, mer = meridional] were investigated theoretically. The geometry structures of 1–5 in the ground and excited state were optimized with restricted and unrestricted DFT (density functional theory) methods, respectively (LANL2DZ for Ir atom and 6‐31G for other atoms). The HOMOs (highest occupied molecular orbitals) of 1–3 are composed of d(Ir) and π(phenyl), while those of 4 and 5 are contributed by d(Ir) and π(carbene). The LUMOs (lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals) of 1, 2, 4, and 5 are localized on carbene, but that of 3 is localized on acac. The calculated lowest‐lying absorptions with TD‐DFT method based on Perdew‐Burke‐Erzenrhof (PBE) functional of 1 (310 nm), 2 (332 nm), and 3 (347 nm) have ML_carbeneCT/IL_{phenyl→carbene}CT (MLCT = metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer; ILCT = intraligand charge transfer) transition characters, whereas those of 4 (385 nm) and 5 (389 nm) are assigned to ML_carbeneCT/IL_{carbene→carbene}CT transitions. The phosphorescences calculated by TD‐DFT method with PBE0 functional of 1 (386 nm) and 2 (388 nm) originate from ³ML_carbeneCT/³IL_{phenyl→carbene}CT excited states, but those of 4 (575 nm) and 5 (578 nm) come from ³ML_carbeneCT/³IL_{carbene→carbene}CT excited states. The calculated results showed that the carbene and phenyl groups act as two independent chromophores in transition processes. Compared with 1 and 2, the absorptions of 4 and 5 are red‐shifted by increasing the effective π‐conjugation groups near the C_carbene atom. We predicated that (pmb)₂Ir(acac) is nonemissive, because the LUMO of 3 is contributed by the nonemissive acac ligand. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Theoretical studies of the spectroscopic properties of blue emitting iridium complexes

Electronic structures, absorptions and emissions of a series of (ppy)₂Ir(acac) derivatives (ppy = 2- phenylpyridine; acac = acetoylacetonate) with fluoro substituent on ppy ligands were investigated theoretically. The ground and excited states geometries were fully optimized at B3LYP/LANL2DZ and CIS/LANL2DZ level, respectively. The HOMO is composed of d(Ir) and π(C^∧N), while the LUMO is localized on C^∧N ligand. The absorptions and emissions in CH₂Cl₂ media were calculated under the TD–DFT level with PCM model. The lowest-lying absorption of these complexes is dominantly attributed to metal-to-ligand and intraligand charge transfer (MLCT/ILCT) transitions and the emission of them originates from ³MLCT/³ILCT excited states. The absorption and emission of these complexes are blue-shifted by increasing the number of fluoro on phenyl, but the spectra are red-shifted by adding fluoro on pyridyl. While a single fluoro of different substituted site on phenyl results in different extent blue-shift to the spectra.     

DFT and TD‐DFT study of iridium complexes with low‐color‐temperature and low‐efficiency roll‐off properties

A series of heteroleptic cyclometalated Ir (III) complexes with low‐color‐temperature and low‐efficiency roll‐off properties, which cause a fast reduction in efficiency when the drive current increases, for organic light‐emitting devices are investigated theoretically to explore their electronic structures and spectroscopic properties. The geometries, electronic structures, lowest‐lying singlet absorptions and triplet emissions of (ptpy)₂Ir(acac), and the theoretically designed models (ptpy)₂Ir(tpip), (F‐ptpy)₂Ir(acac), (F‐ptpy)₂Ir(tpip), (F₂‐ptpy)₂Ir(acac) and (F₂‐ptpy)₂Ir(tpip), are investigated with density functional theory approaches, where ptpy denotes 4‐phenylthieno [3,2‐c] pyridine, acac denotes acetylacetonate, tpip denotes tetraphenylimido‐diphosphinate, F‐ptpy denotes 4‐(3‐fluorophenyl) thieno [3,2‐c] pyridine, and F₂‐ptpy denotes 4‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl) thieno [3,2‐c] pyridine.     

A DFT study on Cu(I) coordination in Cu‐ZSM‐5: Effects of the functional choice and tuning of the ONIOM approach

The coordination of Cu⁺ at the T1 and T7 positions of the M7 ring of Cu‐ZSM‐5, and the interaction of NO with coordinated Cu⁺ were investigated by means of DFT/ONIOM calculations. The B3LYP, BLYP, PBE1PBE, PBE, M06, and M062X functionals with the def2‐TZVP (def2‐QZVP for Cu) basis set were used in the high‐level part of ONIOM calculations, with the HF/3‐21G, B3LYP/LANL2DZ, M06/LANL2DZ, and M062X/LANL2DZ methods in the low‐level part. The ability of suitable combinations of the above methods to reproduce (i) the crystallographic structure of purely siliceous ZSM‐5, (ii) the tendency of Cu⁺ to be twofold or fourfold coordinated by framework oxygen atoms of Cu‐ZSM‐5, and (iii) the interaction energy and the N? O stretching frequency of adsorbed nitrogen oxide are discussed, showing that different results are obtained depending on the adopted computational approach. With reference to above properties, some considerations about the employment of the ONIOM approximations are also included. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Efficient blue-emitting Ir(III) complexes with phosphine carbanion-based ancillary ligand: a DFT study

We report a theoretical study on a series of heteroleptic cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes for OLED application. The geometries, electronic structures, and the lowest-lying singlet absorptions and triplet emissions of [(fppy)(2)Ir(III)(PPh(2)Np)] (1), and theoretically designed models [(fppy)(2)Ir(III)(PH(2)Np)] (2) and [(fppy)(2)Ir(III)Np](-)(3) were investigated with density functional theory (DFT)-based approaches, where, fppyH = 4-fluorophenyl-pyridine and NpH = naphthalene. The ground and excited states were, respectively, optimized at the M062X/LanL2DZ;6-31G* and CIS/LanL2DZ:6-31G* level of theory within CH(2)Cl(2) solution provided by PCM. The lowest absorptions and emissions were evaluated at M062X/Stuttgart;cc-pVTZ;cc-pVDZ level of theory. Though the lowest absorptions and emissions were all attributed as the ligand-based charge-transfer transition with slight metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transition character, the subtle differences in geometries and electronic structures result in the different quantum yields and versatile emission color. The newly designed molecular 3 is expected to be highly emissive in deep blue region.     

A DFT investigation on molecular structures of semicarbazone complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) and reaction energies of their complexation

The structure optimizations of 2-formylpyridine (H2FoPyS), 3-formylpyridine (H3FoPyS), and 4-formylpyridine (H4FoPyS) semicarbazone complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were carried out using DFT calculations at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. The B3LYP/LANL2DZ-optimized geometry parameters for the H2FoPyS and H3FoPyS complexes show good agreement with their corresponding X-ray crystallographic data. Due to the X-ray crystallographic structures of the [Zn(H3FoPyS)₂]²⁺ complex and the H4FoPyS complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) and have not yet been observed, their B3LYP/LANL2DZ-optimized structures are therefore theoretically proposed. The reaction energies and thermodynamic properties of complexation for these complexes computed at the same level of theory are reported.     

Comparison of DFT methods for molecular structure and vibration spectra of ofloxacin calculations

Comparison of the performance of different density functional theory (DFT) methods at various basis sets in predicting molecular and vibration spectra of ofloxacin was reported. The methods employed in this study comprise six functionals, namely, mPW1PW91, HCTH, LSDA, PBEPBE, B3PW91 and B3LYP. Different basis sets including LANL2DZ, SDD, LANL2MB, 6-31g, 6-311g and 3-21g were also examined. Comparison between the calculated and experimental data indicates that the mPW1PW91/6-311g level afford the best quality to predict the structure of ofloxacin. The results also indicate that B3LYP/LANL2DZ level show better performance in the vibration spectra prediction of ofloxacin than other DFT methods.     

Chromium Bis(anthracene‐η6) Complexes – A DFT Study

Chromium bisanthracene‐η⁶ complexes are considered within the framework of density functional theory using LANL2DZ and 6‐31+G(d) basis sets and B3LYP functional. The complexation with both the same types of rings of anthracene decks (AA‐ and BB‐type complexes) and with different rings (AB‐type complex) are considered. The optimized geometries and the associated quantum chemical properties are comparatively discussed for the both types of basis sets used. LANL2DZ basis set yielded some unreasonable results. B3LYP/6‐31+G(d) level of calculations yielded the stability order as AA > BB > AB. IR spectra of AA and BB‐type complexes resemble each other. The C–H frequencies are almost the same for both of the anthracene decks, whereas they differ in the case of AB‐type complex. UV/Vis spectra of the complexes all absorb above 500 nm. AA and AB‐type complexes in contrast to BB‐type display rather complex pattern. The NICS(0) values of various rings in the complexes considered are obtained and discussed.     

Excited state properties,fluorescence energies,and lifetimes of a poly(fluorene‐phenylene), based on TD‐DFT investigation

The structural and electronic properties of fluorene‐phenylene copolymer (FP)_n, n = 1–4 were studied by means of quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) using B3LYP functional. Geometry optimizations of these oligomers were performed for the ground state and the lowest singlet excited state. It was found that (FP)_n is nonplanar in its ground state while the electronic excitations lead to planarity in its S₁ state. Absorption and fluorescence energies were calculated using TD‐B3LYP/SVP and TD‐B3LYP/SVP+ methods. Vertical excitation energies and fluorescence energies were obtained by extrapolating these values to infinite chain length, resulting in extrapolated values for vertical excitation energy of 2.89 and 2.87 eV, respectively. The S₁ ← S₀ electronic excitation is characterized as a highest occupied molecular orbital to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital transition and is distinguishing in terms of oscillator strength. Fluorescence energies of (FP)_n calculated from TD‐B3LYP/SVP and TD‐B3LYP/SVP+ methods are 2.27 and 2.26 eV, respectively. Radiative lifetimes are predicted to be 0.55 and 0.51 ns for TD‐B3LYP/SVP and TD‐B3LYP/SVP+ calculations, respectively. These fundamental information are valuable data in designing and making of promising materials for LED materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Ab initio and DFT study of the electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of pyrene ligands and their cyclometalated complexes

Two ligands 1‐diphenylphosphinopyrene (1‐PyP) ( L ₁ ), 1,6‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐pyrene (1,6‐PyP) ( L ₂ ) and their cyclometalated complexes [Pt(dppm)(1‐PyP‐H)]⁺ ( 1 ), [Pt₂(dppm)₂(1,6‐PyP‐H₂)]²⁺ (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane ( 2 ), and [Pd(dppe)(1‐PyP‐H)⁺ (dppe = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) ( 3 ) are investigated theoretically to explore their electronic structures and spectroscopic properties. The ground‐ and excited‐state structures are optimized by the density functional theory (DFT) and single‐excitation configuration interaction method, respectively. At the time‐dependent DFT (TDDFT) and B3LYP level, the absorption and emission spectra in solution are obtained. As revealed from the calculations, the lowest‐energy absorptions of 1 and 3 are attributed to the mixing ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (CT)/intraligand (IL)/ligand‐to‐ligand CT transitions, while that of 2 is attributed to the IL transition. The lowest‐energy phosphorescent emissions of the cyclometalated complexes are attributed to coming from the ³ILCT transitions. With the increase of the spin‐orbit coupling effect, the phosphorescence intensities and the emissions wavelength are correspondingly increased. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A DFT study of molecular structures and tautomerizations of 2-benzoylpyridine semicarbazone and picolinaldehyde N-oxide thiosemicarbazone and their complexations with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II)

The structure optimizations of picolinaldehyde N-oxide thiosemicarbazone (Hpiotsc), 2-benzoylpyridine semicarbazone (H2BzPS), their imino tautomers and their complexes with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) were carried out using DFT calculations. The structures of Hpiotsc and H2BzPS ligands, transition states of their tautomerizations were obtained at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level and their thermodynamic properties were derived from the frequency calculations at the same level of theory. The B3LYP/LANL2DZ-optimized structures of Hpiotsc and H2BzPS complexes with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II), and the thermodynamic properties of their complexations derived from the B3LYP/LANL2DZ-frequency calculations were obtained. The B3LYP/LANL2DZ-optimized geometrical parameters for the [Ni(Hpiotsc)₂]²⁺, [Cu(Hpiotsc).Cl₂], and [Zn(Hpiotsc).Cl₂] complexes show good agreement with their corresponding X-ray crystallographic data.     

Theoretical investigation on the spectroscopic properties of cyclometallated iridium (III) complexes and the deprotonation influence on them in solution

Electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of mixed‐ligand cyclometallated iridium complexes with general formula [Ir(N?C)₂(N?N)]⁺ (N?C = 2‐phenylpyridine, N?N = Hcmbpy = 4‐carboxyl‐4^′‐methyl‐2,2^′‐bipyridine, 1 ; H₂dcbpy = 4,4^′‐dicarboxyl‐2,2^′‐bipyridine, 2 ) were studied theoretically. The geometries of the complexes in ground and excited state were optimized at B3LYP and CIS levels, respectively. The absorption and emission of the complexes in CH₃CN solutions were calculated by time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) with the PCM solvent model. The calculated absorptions and emissions of the complexes are in good agreement with the measured results. The deprotonation influence on the electronic structure and the optical properties of 2 was also investigated. The results indicate that the deprotonation which occurs on the COOH groups influences the geometries of the complexes in ground and excited state slightly but leads to significant blue‐shifts in low energy absorption and emission maximum. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Computational Study of the Substitution Effect on the Mechanism for the Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Ring Expansions of Unactivated Alkynylcyclopropanes

The ring expansion reactions of unactivated alkynylcyclopropanes X‐C≡C‐C₃H₅ → X‐C=C₄H₅ (X = H, F, Cl, Me, OMe, NMe₂, CMe₃) were examined using the density functional theory calculations. All of the structures were completely optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. For clarify the effect of the cationic gold(I), we also added AuPH₃⁺ as the catalyst into the system and the structures for Au were calculated at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. The main finding of this work is that the singlet‐triplet splitting of X‐C≡C‐C₃H₅ play an important role in determining the kinetic and thermodynamic stability of the unactivated ring expansion reactions. When X‐C≡C‐C₃H₅ with a smaller singlet‐triplet splitting is utilized, the reaction has a smaller activation energy and a larger exothermicity.     

Photo‐physical Properties of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine and Its Derivatives: A DFT and TD‐DFT Investigation

A series of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine (NMFP) derivatives were designed by selecting different π‐conjugated linkers and electron‐donating groups as D‐π‐A and D‐A systems. The optimised structures and photo‐physical properties of NMFP and its derivatives have been determined using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6‐31G basis set. According to the computation analysis, both the π‐conjugated linkers and the electron‐donating groups can influence the electronic and photo‐physical properties of the NMFP derivatives. Our calculated results demonstrated that the electron‐donating groups, with significant electron‐donating ability, had the tendency to increase the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy. The π‐conjugated linkers with lower resonance energy decreased the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and caused a significant decrease in the energy gap (E_g) between the E_HOMO and E_LUMO. A Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis examines the effect of the electron‐donating group, π conjugated linker, and electron‐withdrawing group for these NMFP derivatives. For the NMFP derivatives, a projected density of state (PDOS) analysis demonstrated that the electron density of HOMO and LUMO are concentrated on the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker, respectively. A TD‐DFT/B3LYP calculation was performed to calculate the electronic absorption spectra of these NMFP derivatives. Both the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker contribute to the major absorption peaks, which are assigned as HOMO to LUMO transitions and are red‐shifted relative to those of non‐substituted NMFP.     

Electronic Structures and Spectroscopy of Luminescent para‐Phenylenevinylene Oligomers

The computational models for a series of PPV (para‐phenylenevinylene) oligomers were formed based on the biphenyl and stilbene structures. These oligomers were optimized using DFT at B3LYP/6‐31G (d) level. On the basis of the optimized geometries, the electronic spectra and ¹³C NMR spectra were calculated by the INDO/CIS and B3LYP/6‐31G(d) methods, respectively. It indicates that the main absorptions in the electronic spectra are red‐shifted when the oligomer length is increased. The main absorptions in the electronic spectra and the ¹³C chemical shifts are altered obviously when the substituents on the matrix are changed.     

Host‐Guest Complexes of [TriPip222], the Piperazine Analogue of [2.2.2]: Prediction of Ion Selectivity by Quantum Chemical Calculations VIII[#]

The selectivity of the cryptand [TriPip222], a per‐aza analogue of cryptand [2.2.2], in which each of the linking arms contains a piperazine ring for the endohedral complexation of metal cations of the I, II, and III main groups and group 12 of the periodic table of elements, was predicted on the basis of DFT [B3LYP/LANL2DZp (LANL2DZp = LANL2DZ augmented with polarization functions on non‐hydrogen atoms)] calculated structures and complex‐formation energies. The cavity size of the studied cryptand is similar to that of [bpy.bpy.bpy], [2.bpy.bpy] and [2.phen.phen], such that the complexation of K⁺ > Na⁺ and of Sr²⁺ ≈ Ca²⁺ > Ba²⁺ are most favorable. The essential flexibility for achieving the selectivity of the cryptand is mainly associated with a twist of the CH₂–N_bridgehead ··· N_bridgehead–CH₂ angle and not with the piperazine moiety.     

Theoretical study on the spectroscopic properties and electronic structures of heteroleptic phosphorescent Ir(III) complexes

The geometries, spectroscopic and electronic structures properties of a series of heteroleptic phosphorescent Ir(III) complexes including N981, N982, N983, N984 have been characterized by density functional theory calculations. The excited‐state properties of the Ir(III) complexes have been characterized by CIS method. The ground‐ and excited‐state geometries were optimized at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ and CIS/LANL2DZ levels, respectively. By using the time‐dependent density functional theory method, the absorption and phosphorescence spectra were calculated based on the optimized ground‐ and excited‐state geometries, respectively. The results show that the absorption and emission data agree well with the corresponding experimental results. The calculated results also revealed that the nature of the substituent at the 4‐position of the pyridyl moiety can influence the distributions of HOMO and LUMO and their energies. In addition, the charge transport quality has been estimated approximately by the calculated reorganization energy (λ). Our result also indicates that the positions of the substitute groups not only change the transition characters but also affect the charge transfer rate and balance, and complex N982 is a very good charge transfer material for green OLEDs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

A DFT study on the structure‐property relationship of aminonitropyrazole‐2‐oxides

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level have been carried out to study the geometry and electronic structures, stability, sensitivity and band gap of the possible isomers of aminonitropyrazole‐2‐oxides. Kamlet‐Jacob equations were used to determine the performance properties of model compounds. The performance properties of model compounds P5, P18, P20, P21, P22, and P23 are higher compared with 2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexanitro‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL‐20) and octanitrocubane (ONC). The heat of explosion, density, detonation velocity and detonation pressure are related to the number and positions of NO₂ and NH₂ groups in pyrazole‐2‐oxide. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Bonding characters of M‐Cd4Te4 and M‐Cd3Te3 (M = Cr,Cu, Ag,Al, Cd,and Zn) clusters

At DFT/B3LYP/LANL2DZ theoretical level, conformations, bonding characters and Molecular Orbital (MO) of M‐Cd₄Te₄ and M‐Cd₃Te₃ (M = Cr, Cu, Ag, Al, Cd, and Zn) molecules are investigated. First, through analysis of conformations and bonding characters, we conclude that different doping atoms have different influence on doping structures. Al atom can form bonding with Cd atoms in doping molecules. Besides, as for M‐Cd₄Te₄ and M‐Cd₃Te₃ structures, there are different characters and conformations as to the same doping atoms. Second, MO is used to discuss characters of bonding. We believe that doping atoms influence the orbital characters and make the transition change. Moreover, different conformations for the same doping atoms induce different transitions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Mechanism of rhodium‐catalyzed hydroacylation of propylene using formaldehyde: A computational study

Density functional theory was used to study Rh(I)‐catalyzed hydroacylation of propylene and formaldehyde. All the intermediates and the transition states were optimized completely at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level (LANL2DZ(d) for Rh, P). Calculation results confirm that Rh(I)‐catalyzed hydroacylation of propylene and formaldehyde is exothermic, and the total released Gibbs free energy is about ?33 kJ mol^?1. This hydroacylation have eight possible pathways, and pathways (1), (2), (3), and (4) are the dominant reaction channels. The dominant product predicted theoretically is butyl aldehyde, and it is a linear product, which agrees well with these experiments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010