Quantum chemical study of butane isomerization on clusters of aluminum and cobalt chlorides. Mixed complexes

Activated complexes and routes of the model catalytic process, viz., butane isomerization by the aluminum and cobalt chloride complexes, were calculated by the DFT/PBE/TZ2p quantum chemical method. Alkanes are activated via the alkyl mechanism to form binuclear bimetallic alkyl clusters, where the Co atoms are linked by the metal-metal bonds. The revealed binuclear complexes can transform into bimetallic alkyl clusters with similar energy in which the transition metal atoms are linked by bridges of the Cl atoms. The full model of the catalytic cycle was developed for the maximum multiplicity (7), and particular key regions related to the cleavage and formation of the C-C bonds were calculated with a lowered multiplicity (5 and 3). The sequence of mutual rearrangements of the polynuclear complexes provides the possibility of C-C bond cleavage in alkanes and formation of the metal-carbon bonds. The calculated energy barriers of particular stages of the cyclic catalytic process of butane isomerization are not higher than 29 kcal mol^?1 for multiplicity 7 and by ～10 kcal mol^?1 lower for a lower multiplicity.