Substituent effects and the mechanism of alkene metathesis catalyzed by ruthenium dichloride catalysts

Density functional theory calculations are reported concerning the dissociative mechanism for alkene metathesis by ruthenium dichloride catalysts, including both bisphosphine and diaminocarbene/phosphine complexes. The calculations use a hierarchy of models, ranging from [(L)(PH(3))Ru(Cl)(2)(CH(2))](L=PH(3) or diaminocarbene) through the larger [(L)(PMe(3))Ru(Cl)(2)(CHPh)] to the "real"[(L)(PCy(3))Ru(Cl)(2)(CHPh)]. Calculations show that the rate-limiting step for metathesis is either ring closing from an alkene complex to form a ruthena-cyclobutane, or ring-opening of the latter intermediate to form an isomeric alkene complex. The higher efficiency of the diaminocarbene based catalysts is due to the stabilization of the formal +iv oxidation state of the ruthenium centre in the metallacycle. This effect is partly masked in the smaller model systems due to a previously unnoticed stereoelectronic effect. The calculations do not reproduce the experimental observation whereby the initiation step, phosphine dissociation, is more energetically demanding and hence slower for the diaminocarbene-containing catalyst system than for the bisphosphine. Further calculations on the corresponding bond energies using a variety of DFT and hybrid DFT/molecular mechanics methods all find instead a larger phosphine dissociation energy for the bisphosphine catalyst. This reversed order of binding energies would in fact be the one expected based on the stronger trans influence of the diaminocarbene ligand. The discrepancy with experiment is small and could have a number of causes which are discussed here.     

Grain-boundary states in solid oxide electrolyte ceramics processed using iron oxide sintering aids: a Mössbauer spectroscopy study

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In order to appraise microstructure-determined defect formation processes and minor intergranular states in the solid electrolyte materials sintered...     

Ionic conductivity and thermal expansion of anion-deficient Sr11Mo4O23 perovskite

Transport properties of perovskite-type Sr₁₁Mo₄O₂₃ and composite Sr₁₁Mo₄O₂₃ - 1 wt% Al₂O₃ were studied at 400–1300 K in the oxygen partial pressure range from 0.21 down to 10⁻¹⁹ atm. The electromotive force and faradaic efficiency measurements, in combination with the energy-dispersive spectroscopy of the fractured electrochemical cells, unambiguously showed prevailing role of the oxygen ionic conductivity under oxidizing conditions. At temperatures above 600 K, protonic and cationic transport can be neglected. The oxygen ion transference numbers vary in the range of 0.95–1.00 at 973–1223 K. At temperatures lower than 550 K, the total conductivity of Sr₁₁Mo₄O₂₃ - 1 wt% Al₂O₃ composite measured by impedance spectroscopy tends to increase in wet atmospheres, thus indicating that hydration and protonic transport become significant. Reducing oxygen partial pressure below 10⁻¹⁰–10⁻⁹ atm leads to a significant increase in the n-type electronic conduction. The average thermal expansion coefficients in oxidizing atmospheres are (14.3–15.0) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 340–740 K and (18.3–19.2) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 870–1370 K.

     

Mechanistic aspects of the dehydration and dehydrohalogenation of halo-hydroxyformaldoxime conformers. A quantum chemical model study

A detailed exploration of the configurational and conformational space of chloro- and bromo-hydroxyformaldoximes, Xhfaox (X = Cl, Br) has been carried out with the aid of the B3LYP level of density functional theory, using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The most stable configuration in each series of the Clhfaox and Brhfaox conformers corresponds to the Z-s-cis, s-trans configuration, while the highest energy Z-(s-trans, s-cis) conformers were found at 7.0(7.6) and 6.0(6.6) kcal mol(-1), respectively, at the B3LYP(QCISD(T)) levels of theory. Saddle points were also located on the PES of the Clhfaox and Brhfaox compounds corresponding to Z-(s-cis, s-cis) conformers at 13.8(14.9) and 13.6(14.6) kcal mol(-1), respectively, at the B3LYP(QCISD(T)) levels. Upon dehydration Xhfaox could afford a number of isomeric CXNO species. The dehydration processes of Xhfaox are predicted to be endothermic, the computed heats of reactions found in the range of 20.5 to 86.2 kcal mol(-1) and 15.9 to 100.4 kcal mol(-1) at the B3LYP and QCISD(T) levels, respectively. The reaction pathways for the addition of water to halo-fulminates yielding the most stable Xhfaox conformers was predicted to be concerted with a single transition structure, but are asynchronous with activation barriers of 32.8 and 43.0 kcal mol(-1) for the chloro- and bromo-derivatives, respectively. The PES governing the isomerization reactions of the CXNO isomers have also been calculated, and possible isomerization pathways have been delineated. Upon dehydrohalogenation the Xhfaox conformers yield hydroxy-isocyanate or hydroxy-fulminate, the former being more stable by 31.8(18.8) kcal mol(-1) at the B3LYP(QCISD(T)) levels of theory. The reaction pathways for the addition of HX to hydroxy-isocyanate were predicted to be slightly exothermic, the heats of reactions being -3.2 and -5.5 kcal mol(-1), respectively, and have to surmount high activation barriers of 39.7 and 35.0 kcal mol(-1), respectively. Similarly, the addition of HX to hydroxy-fulminate was predicted to be much more exothermic, the heats of reactions being -34.7 and -37.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively, and have to surmount much lower activation barriers of only 10.5 and 7.5 kcal mol(-1) respectively, at the B3LYP level. Finally, calculated structures, relative stability, and bonding properties of all stationary points located on the PES of the systems and reactions studied are thoroughly discussed with respect to computed electronic properties.