Indenyl effect in dissociative reactions. Nucleophilic substitution in iron carbonyl complexes: a case study

The mechanism of carbonyl substitution in [Fe(Ind)(CO)(2)I] (Ind = C(9)H(7)(-), indenyl) by P(OMe)(3) was investigated by means of DFT calculations. The most favourable path involves a spin crossover of the complex from the ground state singlet to the triplet potential energy surface (S = 1), followed by dissociative loss of CO, and phosphite addition to the coordinatively unsaturated intermediate, [Fe(Ind)(CO)I], with S = 1. In the final step, the system returns to the spin singlet surface, affording the product. This dissociative mechanism is in agreement with the experimental findings. Several pathways occurring exclusively along the singlet surface (S = 0) were explored, namely the expected associative mechanism, which is the most favourable among them, and the "pseudo" associative including the participation of solvent (n-octane). In all cases the corresponding energy barriers were significantly higher than the ones involved in the "spin forbidden" mechanism. The rate enhancement observed comparing the Ind complex with the cyclopentadienyl (Cp = C(5)H(5)(-)) analogue reflects the stability difference between the corresponding S = 0 and S = 1 species in the initial step. The larger number of π orbitals and the lower symmetry of the indenyl ligand, compared with Cp, results in a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap, in a more accessible triplet species, and in a smaller barrier for the spin crossover.     

Photoinduced omega-bond dissociation in the higher excited singlet (S2) and lowest triplet (T1) states of a benzophenone derivative in solution

Photochemical properties of photoinduced omega-bond dissociation in p-benzoylbenzyl phenyl sulfide (BBPS) in solution were investigated by time-resolved EPR and laser flash photolysis techniques. BBPS was shown to undergo photoinduced omega-bond cleavage to yield the p-benzoylbenzyl radical (BBR) and phenyl thiyl radical (PTR) at room temperature. The quantum yield (phi(rad)) for the radical formation was found to depend on the excitation wavelength, i.e., on the excitation to the excited singlet states, S2 and S1 of BBPS; phi(rad)(S2) = 0.65 and phi(rad)(S1) = 1.0. Based on the CIDEP data, these radicals were found to be produced via the triplet state independent of excitation wavelength. By using triplet sensitization of xanthone, the efficiency (alpha(rad)) of the C-S bond fission in the lowest triplet state (T1) of BBPS was determined to be unity. The agreement between phi(rad)(S1) and alpha(rad) values indicates that the C-S bond dissociation occurs in the T1 state via the S1 state due to a fast intersystem crossing from the S1 to the T1 state. In contrast, the wavelength dependence of the radical yields was interpreted in terms of the C-S bond cleavage in the S2 state competing with internal conversion from the S2 to the S1 state. The smaller value of phi(rad)(S2) than that of phi(rad)(S1) was proposed to originate from the geminate recombination of singlet radical pairs produced by the bond dissociation via the S2 state. Considering the electronic character of the excited and dissociative states in BBPS showed a schematic energy diagram for the omega-bond dissociation of BBPS.     

基于非血红素铁模型配合物[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的新型N杂环卡宾配合物的理论设计

基于四价非血红素铁模型配合物[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+, 通过理论计算设计出一种新型N杂环卡宾配合物[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+. 采用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法, 计算了[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的几何结构和电子结构, 并研究了[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+使环己烷C-H键羟基化的反应机理. 结果表明, [FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的五重态能量比基态三重态能量高约5.7 kJ/mol, 故五重态几乎不能参与反应. 赤道方向的配位基N杂环卡宾(NHC)对FeO单元的σ-贡献要大于N4Py的贡献, 而它的空间位阻效应也大于N4Py, 因此2+的稳定性强于[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+. [FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的三重态的反应能垒比[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的三重态反应能垒高2.0 kJ/mol, 且为单态反应, 所以[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的反应活性要高于[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+.     

Dissociative addition of water to a main group 13 metal cluster: computational study of the reaction of gallium dimer with H2O

We have investigated the lowest triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the reaction of Ga(2) dimer with water. Under thermal conditions, we predict formation of the triplet ground state addition complex Ga(2)···OH(2)((3)B(1)) involving Ga···O···Ga bridge interaction. At the coupled cluster CCSD(T)/AE (CCSD(T)/ECP) computational levels, Ga(2)···OH(2)((3)B(1)) is bound by 5.5 (5.7) kcal/mol with respect to the ground state reactants Ga(2)((3)Π(u)) + H(2)O. Identification of the addition complex is in agreement with the experimental evidence from matrix isolation infrared (IR) spectroscopy reported recently by Macrae and Downs. The located minimum energy crossing points (MECPs) between the triplet and singlet energy surfaces on the entrance channel of Ga(2) + H(2)O are not expected to be energetically accessible under the matrix conditions, consistent with the lack of occurrence of Ga(2) insertion into the O-H bond under such conditions. The computed energies and harmonic and anharmonic vibrational frequencies for the triplet and singlet Ga(2)(H)(OH) insertion isomers indicate the singlet double-bridged Ga(μ-H)(μ-OH)Ga isomer to be the most stable and support the experimental IR identification of this species. The energy barrier for elimination of H(2) from the second most stable singlet HGa(μ-OH)Ga insertion isomer found to be 13.9 (12.9) kcal/mol is also consistent with the available experimental data.     

Ab initio energies and product branching ratios for the O+C3H6 reaction

Intermediate and transition-state energies have been calculated for the O+C3H6 (propene) reaction using the compound ab initio CBS-QB3 and G3 methods in combination with density functional theory. The lowest-lying triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces of the O-C3H6 system were investigated. RRKM statistical theory was used to predict product branching fractions over the 300-3000 K temperature and 0.001-760 Torr pressure ranges. The oxygen atom adds to the C3H6 terminal olefinic carbon in the primary step to generate a nascent triplet biradical, CH3CHCH2O. On the triplet surface, unimolecular dissociation of CH3CHCH2O to yield H+CH3CHCHO is favored over the entire temperature range, although the competing H2CO+CH3CH product channel becomes significant at high temperature. Rearrangement of triplet CH3CHCH2O to CH3CH2CHO (propanal) via a 1,2 H-atom shift has a barrier of 122.3 kJ mol(-1), largely blocking this reaction channel and any subsequent dissociation products. Intersystem crossing of triplet CH3CHCH2O to the singlet surface, however, leads to facile rearrangement to singlet CH3CH2CHO, which dissociates via numerous product channels. Pressure was found to have little influence over the branching ratios under most conditions, suggesting that the vibrational self-relaxation rates for p相似文献   

Effects of localized triplet exciton on reactivity of photoinduced omega-bond dissociation in naphthyl phenyl ketones having pi,pi* lowest triplet (T1) states studied by laser flash photolysis

Photochemical properties of photoinduced omega-bond dissociation in naphthyl phenyl ketones having a phenylthiyl moiety as a leaving group, p-(alpha-naphthoyl)benzyl phenyl sulfide (NBPS) and 4-benzoyl-1-naphthylmethyl phenyl sulfide (BNMPS), in solution were investigated by laser flash photolysis techniques. Both ketones were shown to undergo photoinduced omega-bond cleavage of the C-S bond to release the phenyl thiyl radical (PTR) at room temperature. Irrespective of excitation wavelengths of NBPS, a quantum yield (Phi(rad)) of the PTR formation was obtained to be 0.1, whereas that for BNMPS was found to depend on the excitation wavelength, i.e., absorption bands from the ground state (S0) to the excited singlet states, S3, S2, and S1 of BNMPS; Phi(rad)(S3) = 0.77 and Phi(rad)(S2) = Phi(rad)(S1) = 1.0. By using triplet sensitization of p-phenylbenzophenone (PBP), efficiencies (alpha(rad)) of the radical formation in the lowest triplet state (T1(pi,pi*)) of NBPS and BNMPS were determined to be 0 and 1.0, respectively. The agreement between Phi(rad)(S1) and alpha(rad) values for BNMPS indicates that the C-S bond dissociation occurs in the T1 state via the S1 state via a fast intersystem crossing from the S1 to the T1 state. The wavelength dependence of the radical yields upon direct excitation of BNMPS was interpreted in terms of the C-S bond cleavage in the S3 state competing with internal conversion from the S3 to the S2 state. The smaller value of Phi(rad)(S3) than those of Phi(rad)(S1) and Phi(rad)(S2) was proposed to originate from the geminate recombination of singlet radical pairs produced by the bond dissociation via the S3 state. Photoinduced omega-cleavage of NBPS was concluded to take place only in the S1(n,pi*) state. Difference in reactivity of omega-cleavage between the triplet states of NBPS and BNMPS was interpreted in terms of localized triplet exciton in the naphthoyl moieties.     

Theoretical study of the reaction of Cu with OCS

The reactivity of Cu⁺ with OCS on both singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES) has been investigated at the UB3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. The object of this investigation was the elucidation of the reaction mechanism. The calculated results indicated that both the C–S and C–O bond activations proceed via an insertion–elimination mechanism. Intersystem crossing between the singlet and triplet surfaces may occur along both the C–S and C–O bond activation branches. The ground states of CuS⁺ and CuO⁺ were found to be triplets, whereas CuCO⁺ and CuCS⁺ have singlet ground states. The C–S bond activation is energetically much more favorable than the C–O bond activation. All theoretical results are in line with early experiments.     

C-Br Bond Dissociation Mechanisms of 2-Bromothiophene and 3-Bromothiophene at 267 nm

C-Br bond dissociation mechanisms of 2-bromothiophene and 3-bromothiophene at 267 nm were investigated using ion velocity imaging technique. Translational energy distributions and angular distributions of the photoproducts, Br(²P_3/2) and Br^*(²P_½), were obtained and the possible dissociation channels were analyzed. For these two bromothiophenes, the Br fragments were produced via three channels: (i) the fast predissociation following the intersystem crossing from the excited singlet state to repulsive triplet state; (ii) the hot dissociation on highly vibrational ground state following the internal conversion of the excited singlet state; and (iii) the dissociation following the multiphoton ionization of the parent molecules. Similar channels are involved for photoproduct Br^* of the 2-bromothiophene dissociation at 267 nm; whereas for the photoproduct Br^* of 3-bromothiophene, the dissociation channel via internal conversion from the excited singlet state to highly vibrational ground state became dominating and the fast predissociation channel via the excited triplet state almost disappeared. Informations about the relative contribution, energy disposal, and the anisotropy of each channel were quantitatively given. It was found that with the position of Br atom in thienyl being far from S atom, the relative ratios of products from channels (i) and (ii) decreased obviously and the anisotropies corresponding to each channel became weaker.     

A new N,N,O chelate for transition metal chemistry: Fe5 and Fe6 clusters from the use of 6-hydroxymethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (hmbpH)

The initial use of the anion of 6-hydroxymethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (hmbpH) as a chelate in coordination chemistry is described. The syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization are reported of four new iron(III) clusters [Fe5O2(OH)(O2CMe)5(hmbp)3](ClO4)2 (1) and [Fe6O2(OH)2(O2CR)6(hmbp)4](NO3)2 (R=Ph (2), Me (3), But (4); hmbpH=6-hydroxymethyl-2,2'-bipyridine). The reaction of Fe(ClO4)3, hmbpH, and sodium acetate in a 1:1: approximately 4 ratio in EtOH gave 1, and the reaction between [Fe3O(O2CR)6(H2O)3](NO3) (R=Ph, Me, But) and hmbpH in a 1:1 ratio in MeCN gave 2-4, respectively. The core of 1 consists of a [Fe4(mu3-O)2]8+ butterfly unit to which is attached a fifth Fe atom by bridging O atoms. The core of 2-4 also consists of a [Fe4(mu3-O)2]8+ butterfly unit to which are attached an Fe atom on either side by bridging O atoms. Variable-temperature (T) and -field (H) solid-state DC and AC magnetization (M) studies were carried out on complexes 1-4 in the 5.0-300 K range. Fitting of the data revealed that 1 has an S=5/2 ground state spin whereas 2-4 possess an S=5 ground state. Fitting of the M/NmicroB vs H/T data by matrix diagonalization and including only axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) gave values of the axial ZFS parameter |D| of 0.75, 0.36, 0.46, and 0.36 cm(-1) for 1-4, respectively.     

叠氮化氰的光解离机理

采用多参考态方法,在MRCI+Q//CAS(10,9)/6-311+G(2df)水平上对叠氮化氰(N3CN)的光解离机理进行理论研究.优化得到基态(S0)和低激发态(S1、S2、T1)势能面上的极小点、过渡态、内转换交叉点(IC-S1/S0)和隙间窜跃交叉点(ISC-S1/T1)的结构和能量,构建反应势能面.在MRCI+Q//CAS(10,9)水平上计算N3CN的垂直激发能,并和实验值进行对比.结果表明,在S0、S1、S2和T1态势能面上,N—N键断裂生成N2+NCN是主要解离途径,而C—N键断裂通道是次要通道.实验观测到220 nm处的吸收峰对应分子由S0态到S1态的激发,对应主要光解离产物为NCN[a1△g];而在275 nm处的吸收峰则对应分子被激发到T1态,然后直接生成基态产物NCN[X3Σg-].我们的理论结果与实验测量符合得很好.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of the C2F4 + O reaction: nonadiabatic reaction mechanism

In this work, the C(2)F(4)(X(1)A(g)) + O((3)P) reaction was investigated experimentally using molecular beam-threshold ionization mass spectrometry (MB-TIMS). The major primary products were observed to be CF(2)O (+ CF(2)) and CF(3) (+ CFO), with measured approximate yields of % versus %, respectively, neglecting minor products. Furthermore, the lowest-lying triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces for this reaction were constructed theoretically using B3LYP, G2M(UCC, MP2), CBS-QB3, and G3 methods in combination with various basis sets such as 6-31G(d), 6-311+G(3df), and cc-pVDZ. The primary product distribution for the multiwell multichannel reaction was then determined by RRKM statistical rate theory and weak-collision master equation analysis. It was found that the observed production of CF(3) (+ CFO) can only occur on the singlet surface, in parallel with formation of ca. 5 times more CF(2)O(X) + CF(2)(X(1)A(1)). This requires fast intersystem crossing (ISC) from the triplet to the singlet surface at a rate of ca. 4 x 10(12) s(-1). The theoretical calculations combined with the experimental results thus indicate that the yield of triplet CF(2)(?(3)B(1)) + CF(2)O formed on the triplet surface prior to ISC is < or =35%, whereas singlet CF(2)(X(1)A(1)) + CF(2)O is produced with yield > or =60%, after ISC. In addition, the thermal rate coefficients k(O + C(2)F(4)) in the T = 150-1500 K range were computed using multistate transition state theory and can be expressed as k(T) = 1.67 x 10(-16) x T(1.48) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1); they are in agreement with the available experimental results in the T = 298-500 K range.     

Theoretical study of Pt-Ng and Ng-Pt-Ng (Ng=Ar,Kr,Xe)

We have investigated the binding of noble-gas (Ng) atoms (Ng=Ar,Kr,Xe) with Pt atom by the ab initio coupled-cluster CCSD(T) method, taking into account the relativistic effects. It is shown that two Ng atoms can bind with Pt atom in linear geometry in the singlet lowest state where the second Ng atom attaches to Pt with the larger binding energy than the first Ng atom. The binding energy is evaluated as 8.2, 17.9, and 33.4 kcal/mol for Ar-Pt-Ar, Kr-Pt-Kr, and Xe-Pt-Xe, respectively, relative to the triplet ground state of the dissociation limit Pt ((3)D)+2Ng. The present results indicate that these Ng-Pt-Ng compounds are possible new gas-phase or matrix species.     

Organometallic Pt(II) compounds. A complementary study of a triplet emitter based on optical high-resolution and optically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The emitting triplet state of cyclometalated Pt(thpy)(CO)(Cl) monomers ((thpy)(-) = 2-(2'-thienylpyridinate), frequently also abbreviated as (2-thpy)(-)) is investigated at T = 1.2 K (typically) by use of the complementary methods of high-resolution optical spectroscopy and of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy. Such a complimentary investigation is carried out for the first time for a Pt(II) compound. In solution, oligomer or short linear chain formation is also observed. However, the monomers can be investigated selectively, when they are dissolved in a relatively inert n-octane matrix (Shpol'skii matrix). This allows us to determine the energies of the T(1) triplet substates I, II, and III relative to the electronic ground state S(0)(0), the zero-field splittings (ZFSs) of T(1), and emission decay time constants (I/II <--> 0, 18012.5 cm(-1); III <--> 0, 18016.3 cm(-1); DeltaE(I,II) = 0.05437 cm(-1) (1.631 GHz), DeltaE(I,III) = 3.8 cm(-1) (114 GHz); tau(I) = 120 micros, tau(II) = 45 micros, tau(III) = 35 micros; spin-lattice relaxation time for the processes III --->I/II, tau(SLR) = 3.0 micros). The vibrational satellite structure observed in the emission of the T(1) state to the singlet ground state S(0) is also discussed. Moreover, it is possible to estimate the intersystem crossing time from the excited singlet state S(1) at 22952 cm(-1) to the triplet state T(1) to approximately 5 ps. The T(1) state is assigned as a thpy-ligand-centered (3)pipi* state with small metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) admixtures. A comparison of Pt(thpy)(CO)(Cl) to a series of other organometallic Pt(II) compounds, such as heteroleptic Pt(ppy)(CO)(Cl) ((ppy)(-) = phenylpyridinate), Pt(dppy)(CO) ((dppy)(2-) = diphenylpyridinate), and Pt(i-biq)(CN)(2) (i-biq = 2,2'-bisisoquinoline) and homoleptic Pt(thpy)(2) and Pt(ppy)(2), is carried out. (The structures are shown in Figure 7.) Trends of photophysical properties are discussed. In particular, by chelation of two equal ligands the pattern of ZFS is strongly altered, resulting in a significant increase of the MLCT participation in the lowest triplet state of these organometallic compounds. This new observation represents an interesting further step concerning chemical tunability of photophysical properties.     

On the O2 binding of Fe-porphyrin, Fe-porphycene, and Fe-corrphycene complexes

Based on our previous study for the O2 binding of the Fe-Por complex, this study investigates the O2 binding mechanism in the Fe-porphyrin isomers, Fe-porphycene (FePc), and Fe-corrphycene (FeCor) complexes. By calculating the potential energy surface of the O2 binding, the present study explains the reason for the dramatic increase of O2 affinities observed in the FePc complex. In the case of FeCor-O2, the O2 binding process includes the intersystem crossing from a triplet to singlet state, as in the FePor-O2 complex. However, FePc-O2 uses only a singlet surface. This is because the ground state of the FePc complex in the deoxy state is a triplet state, while those of FePor and FeCor are a quintet state. Such difference originates from character of the SOMO. We estimated an equilibrium constant for the O2 binding that reasonably reproduced the trend observed in the experiments.     

The role of diisopropanolamine (dipaH3) in cluster dimerisation and polymerisation: from spin frustrated S= 5 FeIII 6 clusters to the novel 1-D covalent polymer of mixed valence [CoII3CoIII] tetramers

The synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of two hexanuclear Fe(6) clusters of general formula [Fe(6)(O)(2)(OH)(2)(O(2)CR)(10)(dipaH(2))(2)].xMeCN.yH(2)O (R = Ph, x= 5.5, y= 1 (1), R = C(Me)(3), x= 2, y= 3 (2)) are reported. The presence of the flexible amino-alcohol ligand diisopropanolamine (dipaH(3)) induces the dimerisation of two trinuclear Fe(III) complexes, [Fe(3)O(O(2)CPh)(6)(H(2)O)(3)](NO(3)) and [Fe(3)O(O(2)CC(Me)(3))(6)(H(2)O)(3)](O(2)CC(Me)(3)), to form the hexanuclear clusters 1 and 2. DC magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1 and 2 assign ground spin states of S= 5, with zero-field splitting parameters (D) of ca. 0.25 cm(-1) obtained from magnetisation isotherms. AC susceptibilities showed no maxima as a function of frequency, at low temperatures, and this confirmed the lack of single-molecule magnetic behaviour. Clusters 1 and 2 are isostructural, consisting of two fused {Fe(3)O} trinuclear units, bridged in two positions by one mu(2)-OH(-) unit and two mu(2)-O(2)CR(-) bridging carboxylates (R = Ph (), C(Me)(3)()). The two singly deprotonated dipaH(2)(-) bridging ligands span the Fe1-Fe2 edges in and via one micro(2)-bridging alcohol arm and one terminal nitrogen atom while the second alcohol arm remains free. The ground spin state of S= 5 in 1 and 2 can be attributed to the presence of spin frustration within the system. 1 and 2 join a small family of spin frustrated S= 5 Fe(6) systems the magnetism of which give weight to a recent report that it is the trans position of the two shortest Fe(2) pair frustrated exchange pathways in these Fe(6) clusters that gives rise to a ground spin state of S= 5 (trans) and not a ground spin state of S= 0 (cis). The M?ssbauer spectra of 1 and 2 show two quadrupole doublets, as expected, at 295 K, but a broad asymmetric lineshape at 77 K. The synthesis and magnetic properties of {[Co(II)(3)Co(III)(OH)(O(2)CC(Me)(3))(4)(HO(2)CC(Me)(3))(2)(dipaH)(2)].2MeCN}(n)(3) are reported. 3 is a covalently bonded 1D polymer of tetrameric cobalt clusters. The presence of the dipaH(3) ligand here not only dimerises the [Co(II)(2)(micro-H(2)O)(O(2)CC(Me)(3))(4)(HO(2)CC(Me)(3))(4)] starting complex into the tetranuclear species but also polymerises the [Co(II)(3)Co(III)] clusters in 3 by acting as the propagating ligand in the 1D chain. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on show each [Co(4)] moiety exhibits weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the three Co(II)S= 3/2 metal centres and fitted J values are given. The ambiguity in assignment of the spin ground state of S= 1/2 or 3/2 is discussed.     

Mechanism of the photochemical process of singlet oxygen production by phenalenone

Phenalenone (PN) is a very efficient singlet oxygen sensitiser in a wide range of solvents. This work uses ab initio quantum chemical calculations (CASSCF/CASPT2 protocol) to study the mechanism for populating the triplet state of PN responsible for this reaction, the (3)(π-π*) state. To describe in detail this reaction path, the singlet and triplet low-lying excited states of PN have been studied, the critical points of the potential energy surfaces corresponding to these states located and the vertical and adiabatic energies calculated. Our results show that, after the initial population of the S(2) excited state of (π-π*) character, the system undergoes an internal conversion to the (1)(n-π*) state. After populating the dark S(1) state, the system relaxes to the (1)(n-π*) minimum, but rapidly populates the triplet manifold through a very efficient intersystem crossing to the (3)(π-π*) state. Although the population of the minimum of this triplet state is strongly favoured, a conical intersection with the (3)(n-π*) surface opens an internal conversion channel to this state, a path accessible only at high temperatures. Radiationless deactivation processes are ruled out on the basis of the high-energy barriers found for the crossings between the excited states and the ground state. Our computational results satisfactorily explain the experimental findings and are in very good agreement with the experimental data available. In the case of the frequency of fluorescence, this is the first time that these data have been theoretically predicted in good agreement with the experimental results.     

The Ni + O2 reaction: a combined IR matrix isolation and theoretical study of the formation and structure of NiO2

The reaction of Ni atoms with molecular oxygen has been reinvestigated experimentally in neon matrices and theoretically at the DFT PW91PW91/6311G(3df) level. Experimental results show that i) the nature of the ground electronic state of the superoxide metastable product is the same in neon and argon matrices, ii) two different photochemical pathways exist for the conversion of the superoxide to the dioxide ground state (involving 1.6 or 4 eV photons) and iii) an important matrix effect exists in the Ni + O(2)--> Ni(O(2)) or ONiO branching ratios. Theoretical results confirm that the electronic ground state of the metastable superoxide corresponds to the singlet state, in agreement with former CCSD(T) calculations, but in contradiction with other recent works. Our results show that the ground electronic state of the dioxide is (1)Sigma(+)(g) with the lowest triplet and quintet states at slightly higher energy, consistent with the observation of weak vibronic transitions in the near infrared. The potential energy profiles are modelled for the ground state and nine electronic excited states and a pathway for the Ni(triplet) + O(2)(triplet) --> Ni(O(2)) or ONiO (singlet) reaction is proposed, as well as for the Ni(O(2)) --> ONiO photochemical reaction, accounting for the experimental observations.     

Magnetostructural studies on ferromagnetically coupled copper(II) cubanes of Schiff-base ligands

Three cubane copper(II) clusters, namely [Cu(4)(HL')4] (1), [Cu4L2(OH)2] (2), and [Cu4L2(OMe)2] (3), of two pentadentate Schiff-base ligands N,N'-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(acetylacetoneimine) (H3L') and N,N'-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(salicylaldimine) (H3L), are prepared, structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, and their variable-temperature magnetic properties studied. Complex 1 has a metal-to-ligand stoichiometry of 1:1 and it crystallizes in the cubic space group P43n with a structure that consists of a tetranuclear core with metal centers linked by a mu(3)-alkoxo oxygen atom to form a cubic arrangement of the metal and oxygen atoms. Each ligand displays a tridentate binding mode which means that a total of eight pendant binding sites remain per cubane molecule. Complexes [Cu4L2(OH)2] (2) and [Cu4L2(OMe)2] (3) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pccn and have a cubane structure that is formed by the self-assembly of two {Cu2L}+ units. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data in the range 300-18 K show ferromagnetic exchange interactions in the complexes. Along with the ferromagnetic exchange pathway, there is also a weak antiferromagnetic exchange between the copper centers. The theoretical fitting of the magnetic data gives the following parameters: J1 = 38.5 and J2 = -18 cm(-1) for 1 with a triplet (S = 1) ground state and quintet (S = 2) lowest excited state; J1 = 14.7 and J2 = -18.4 cm(-1) for 2 with a triplet ground state and singlet (S = 0) lowest excited state; and J1 = 33.3 and J2 = -15.6 cm(-1) for 3 with a triplet ground state and quintet lowest excited state, where J1 and J2 are two different exchange pathways in the cubane {Cu4O4} core. The crystal structures of 2 * 6 H2O and 3 * 2 H2O * THF show the presence of channels containing the lattice solvent molecules.     

Theoretical study on the photolysis mechanism of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene

A CASPT2/CASSCF study has been carried out to investigate the mechanism of the photolysis of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) under direct and triplet-sensitized irradiation. By exploring the detailed potential energy surfaces including intermediates, transition states, conical intersections, and singlet/triplet crossing points, for the first excited singlet (S(1)) and the low-lying triplet states (T(1), T(2), and T(3)), we provide satisfactory explanations of many experimental findings associated with the photophysical and photochemical processes of DBO. A key finding of this work is the existence of a significantly twisted S(1) minimum, which can satisfactorily explain the envelope of the broad emission band of DBO. It is demonstrated that the S(1) (n-pi*) intermediate can decay to the T(1) (n-pi*) state by undergoing intersystem crossing (rather inefficient) to the T(2) (pi-pi*) state followed by internal conversion to the T(1) state. The high fluorescence yield and the extraordinarily long lifetime of the singlet excited DBO are due to the presence of relatively high barriers, both for intersystem crossing and for C-N cleavage. The short lifetime of the triplet DBO is caused by fast radiationless decay to the ground state.     

Electronic structure of bis(imino)pyridine iron dichloride, monochloride, and neutral ligand complexes: a combined structural, spectroscopic, and computational study

The electronic structure of a family of bis(imino)pyridine iron dihalide, monohalide, and neutral ligand compounds has been investigated by spectroscopic and computational methods. The metrical parameters combined with M?ssbauer spectroscopic and magnetic data for ((i)PrPDI)FeCl(2) ((i)PrPDI = 2,6-(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)N=CMe)(2)C(5)H(3)N) established a high-spin ferrous center ligated by a neutral bis(imino)pyridine ligand. Comparing these data to those for the single electron reduction product, ((i)PrPDI)FeCl, again demonstrated a high-spin ferrous ion, but in this case the S(Fe) = 2 metal center is antiferromagnetically coupled to a ligand-centered radical (S(L) = (1)/(2)), accounting for the experimentally observed S = (3)/(2) ground state. Continued reduction to ((i)PrPDI)FeL(n) (L = N(2), n = 1,2; CO, n = 2; 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine, n = 1) resulted in a doubly reduced bis(imino)pyridine diradical, preserving the ferrous ion. Both the computational and the experimental data for the N,N-(dimethylamino)pyridine compound demonstrate nearly isoenergetic singlet (S(L) = 0) and triplet (S(L) = 1) forms of the bis(imino)pyridine dianion. In both spin states, the iron is intermediate spin (S(Fe) = 1) ferrous. Experimentally, the compound has a spin singlet ground state (S = 0) due to antiferromagnetic coupling of iron and the ligand triplet state. Mixing of the singlet diradical excited state with the triplet ground state of the ligand via spin-orbit coupling results in temperature-independent paramagnetism and accounts for the large dispersion in (1)H NMR chemical shifts observed for the in-plane protons on the chelate. Overall, these studies establish that reduction of ((i)PrPDI)FeCl(2) with alkali metal or borohydride reagents results in sequential electron transfers to the conjugated pi-system of the ligand rather than to the metal center.