Polytopal rearrangement of [Ni(acac)2(py)]: a new square pyramid<==>trigonal bipyramid twist mechanism

The interconversion mechanisms between three idealized polytopal forms (a square pyramid and two trigonal bipyramids) of [M(bidentate)(2)(unidentate)] were investigated by an original combination of molecular mechanics (MM) and density functional theory (DFT) approaches. MM was used to model the mechanistic rearrangement path, and DFT to study selected points along this path. The test case was a five-coordinate [Ni(acac)(2)(py)] species. In the case of [Ni(acac)(2)(py)] it was confirmed (both by MM and by DFT) that the three polytopal forms do indeed represent shallow local minima, of which the square pyramid (SQP) is more stable than the other two. Small energy barriers that separate the three minima prevent spontaneous rearrangement among the polytopal forms in geometry-optimization simulations. The driving force for MM simulation of the polytopal rearrangements was supplied through the L-M-L angle bending terms. MM results for relative energies and geometries are fully supported by DFT. Finally, the implication of the present results to explain some racemization mechanisms of octahedral complexes (namely, the intramolecular bond rupture of tris(chelate) species, and intermolecular dissociation of bis(bidentate) species) is briefly discussed.     

2,5-Dioxido-1,4-benzoquinonediimine (H2L2-), a hydrogen-bonding noninnocent bridging ligand related to aminated topaquinone: different oxidation state distributions in complexes [{(bpy)2Ru}2(mu-H2L)]n (n=0,+,2+,3+,4+) and [{(acac)2Ru}2(mu-H2L)]m (m=2-,-,0,+,2+)

The symmetrically dinuclear title compounds were isolated as diamagnetic [(bpy)2Ru(mu-H2L)Ru(bpy)2](ClO4)2 (1-(ClO4)2) and as paramagnetic [(acac)2Ru(mu-H2L)Ru(acac)2] (2) complexes (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; acac- = acetylacetonate = 2,4-pentanedionato; H2L = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinonediimine). The crystal structure of 22 H2O reveals an intricate hydrogen-bonding network: Two symmetry-related molecules 2 are closely connected through two NH(H2L2-)O(acac-) interactions, while the oxygen atoms of H2L2- of two such pairs are bridged by an (H2O)8 cluster at half-occupancy. The cluster consists of cyclic (H2O)6 arrangements with the remaining two exo-H2O molecules connecting two opposite sides of the cyclo-(H2O)6 cluster, and oxido oxygen atoms forming hydrogen bonds with the molecules of 2. Weak antiferromagnetic coupling of the two ruthenium(III) centers in 2 was established by using SQUID magnetometry and EPR spectroscopy. Geometry optimization by means of DFT calculations was carried out for 1(2+) and 2 in their singlet and triplet ground states, respectively. The nature of low-energy electronic transitions was explored by using time-dependent DFT methods. Five redox states were reversibly accessible for each of the complexes; all odd-electron intermediates exhibit comproportionation constants K(c)>10(8). UV-visible-NIR spectroelectrochemistry and EPR spectroscopy of the electrogenerated paramagnetic intermediates were used to ascertain the oxidation-state distribution. In general, the complexes 1n+ prefer the ruthenium(II) configuration with electron transfer occurring largely at the bridging ligand (mu-H2Ln-), as evident from radical-type EPR spectra for 13+ and (+. Higher metal oxidation states (iii, iv) appear to be favored by the complexes 2m; intense long-wavelength absorption bands and RuIII-type EPR signals suggest mixed-valent dimetal configurations of the paramagnetic intermediates 2+ and 2-.     

Evidence for a Rapid Degenerate Hetero‐Cope‐Type Rearrangement in [Cp*W(S)2S‐CH2‐CHCH2]

Treatment of the salt [PPh₄]⁺[Cp*W(S)₃]^? ( 6 ) with allyl bromide gave the neutral complex [Cp*W(S)₂S‐CH₂‐CH?CH₂] ( 7 ). The product 7 was characterized by an X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Complex 7 features dynamic NMR spectra that indicate a rapid allyl automerization process. From the analysis of the temperature‐dependent NMR spectra a Gibbs activation energy of ΔG^≠ (278 K)≈13.7±0.1 kcal mol^?1 was obtained [ΔH^≠≈10.4±0.1 kcal mol^?1; ΔS^≠≈?11.4 cal mol^?1 K^?1]. The DFT calculation identified an energetically unfavorable four‐membered transition state of the “forbidden” reaction and a favorable six‐membered transition state of the “Cope‐type” allyl rearrangement process at this transition‐metal complex core.     

Structures and electronic properties of C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) fullerene compounds.

Stimulated by the recent observation of the first C(56)Cl(10) chlorofullerene (Science, 2004, 304, 699), we performed a systematic density functional study of the structures and properties of C(56)Cl(10) and related compounds. The fullerene derivatives C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) based on the parent fullerene C(56)(C(2v):011), rather than those from the most stable C(56) isomer with D(2) symmetry, are predicted to possess the lowest energies, and they are highly aromatic. Further investigations show that the heats of formation of the C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) fullerene derivatives are highly exothermic, that is, -48.59 and -48.89 kcal mol(-1) per Cl(2) (approaching that of C(50)Cl(10)), suggesting that adding eight (or ten) Cl atoms releases much of the strain of pure C(56)(C(2v):011) fullerene and leads to highly stable derivatives. In addition, C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) possess large vertical electron affinities, especially for C(56)Cl(8) with value of 3.20 eV, which is even larger than that (3.04 eV) of C(50)Cl(10), indicating that they are potential good electron acceptors with possible photonic/photovoltaic applications. Finally, the (13)C NMR chemical shifts and infrared spectra of C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) are simulated to facilitate future experimental identification.     

Unusual bond formation in aspartic protease inhibitors: a theoretical study

The origin of the formation of the weak bond N|C...O involved in an original class of aspartic protease inhibitors was investigated by means of the electron localization function (ELF) and explicitly correlated wave-function (MRCI) analysis. The distance between the electrophilic C and the nucleophilic N centers appears to be controlled directly by the polarity and proticity of the medium. In light of these investigations, an unusual dative N-C bonding picture was characterized. Formation of this bond is driven by the enhancement of the ionic contribution C(+)-O(-) induced mainly by the polarization effect of the near N lone pair, and to a lesser extent by a weak charge delocalization N-->CO. Although the main role of the solvating environment is to stabilize the ionic configuration, the protic solvent can enhance the C(+)-O(-) configuration through a slight but cumulative charge transfer towards water molecules in the short N-C distance regime. Our revisited bond scheme suggests the possible tuning of the N-CO interaction in the design of specific inhibitors.     

Computational study of structures and properties of metallaboranes: cobalt bis(dicarbollide)

A density functional study at the BP86/AE1 level is presented for the cobalt bis(dicarbollide) ion [3-Co-(1,2-C2B9H11)2]- (1) and selected isomers and rotamers thereof. Rotation of the two dicarbollide moieties with respect to each other is facile, as judged by the small energetic separation of the three rotamers located (within 11 kJ mol(-1)) and by the low barriers for their interconversion (at most 41 kJ mol(-1)). Among the isomers differing in carbon atom positions that contain two equivalent dicarbollide ligands, the 1,7 ("carbon apart") form [2-Co-(1,7-C2B9H11)2]- is the most stable, 121 kJ mol(-1) below 1. The electronic structure of 1 is characterized in terms of molecular orbitals, population analysis, and excitation energies from time-dependent density functional theory, relevant to UV/Vis spectroscopy. Experimental 11B NMR chemical shifts of 1 are reproduced to better than 5 ppm at the GIAO-B3LYP/II' level, and the computed delta(11B) values are only little affected by rotational averaging or the presence of a polarizable continuum. Larger such effects are found for the as-yet unknown 59Co chemical shift, for which a value in the range between -1800 and -2400 ppm is predicted. Even though the accuracy achieved for the theoretical delta(11B) values is somewhat lower than that for heteroboranes at conventional ab initio levels, the level of density functional employed can afford qualitatively reliable chemical shifts, which can be useful in assignments and structural refinements of heteroboranes containing transition metal.     

Framework fluxionality of organometallic oxides: synthesis, crystal structure, EXAFS, and DFT studies on [[Ru(eta6-arene)]4Mo4O16] complexes

Reactions of the molybdates Na(2)MoO4.2 H2O and (nBu(4)N)2[Mo2O7] with [[Ru(arene)Cl(2)](2)] (arene=C(6)H5CH3, 1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)(3), 1,2,4,5-C6H2(CH3)4) in water or organic solvents led to formation of the triple-cubane organometallic oxides [[Ru(eta(6)-arene)](4)Mo4O16], whose crystal and molecular structures were determined. Refluxing triple cubane [[Ru(eta(6)-C6H5CH3)](4)Mo4O16] in methanol caused partial isomerization to the windmill form. The two isomers of [[Ru(eta(6)-C6H5CH3)](4)Mo4O16] were characterized by Raman and Mo K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), both in the solid-state and in solution. This triple-cubane isomer was also used as a spectroscopic model to account for isomerization of the p-cymene windmill [[Ru(eta(6)-1,4-CH3C6H4CH(CH3)2)](4)Mo4O16] in solution. Using both Raman and XAS techniques, we were then able to determine the ratio between the windmill and triple-cubane isomers in dichloromethane and in chloroform. Density functional calculations on [[Ru(eta(6)-arene)](4)Mo4O16] (arene=C6H6, C6H5CH3, 1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3, 1,4-CH3C6H4CH(CH3)2, C6(CH3)6) suggest that the windmill form is intrinsically more stable, provided the complexes are assumed to be isolated. Intramolecular electrostatic interactions and steric bulk induced by substituted arenes were found to modulate but not to reverse the energy difference between the isomers. The stability of the triple-cubane isomers should therefore be accounted for by effects of the surroundings that induce a shift in the energy balance between both forms.     

Salts of the cobalt(I) complexes [Co(CO)5]+ and [Co(CO)2(NO)(2)]+ and the Lewis acid-base adduct [Co2(CO)7CO--B(CF3)3

The reaction of [Co(2)(CO)(8)] with (CF(3))(3)BCO in hexane leads to the Lewis acid-base adduct [Co(2)(CO)(7)CO--B(CF(3))(3)] in high yield. When the reaction is performed in anhydrous HF solution [Co(CO)(5)][(CF(3))(3)BF] is isolated. The product contains the first example of a homoleptic metal pentacarbonyl cation with 18 valence electrons and a trigonal-bipyramidal structure. Treatment of [Co(2)(CO)(8)] or [Co(CO)(3)NO] with NO(+) salts of weakly coordinating anions results in mixed crystals containing the [Co(CO)(5)](+)/[Co(CO)(2)(NO)(2)](+) ions or pure novel [Co(CO)(2)(NO)(2)](+) salts, respectively. This is a promising route to other new metal carbonyl nitrosyl cations or even homoleptic metal nitrosyl cations. All compounds were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Nickel(II) meso‐Hydroxyporphyrin Complexes Revisited: Palladium‐Catalysed Synthesis,Electronic Structures of Derived Oxy Radicals,and Oxidative Coupling to a Dioxoporphodimethene Dyad

We report the synthesis and characterisation of new examples of meso‐hydroxynickel(II) porphyrins with 5,15‐diphenyl and 10‐phenyl‐5,15‐diphenyl/diaryl substitution. The OH group was introduced by using carbonate or hydroxide as nucleophile by using palladium/phosphine catalysis. The NiPor?OHs exist in solution in equilibrium with the corresponding oxy radicals NiPor?O^.. The 15‐phenyl group stabilises the radicals, so that the ¹H NMR spectra of {NiPor?OH} are extremely broad due to chemical exchange with the paramagnetic species. The radical concentration for the diphenylporphyrin analogue is only 1 %, and its NMR line‐broadening was able to be studied by variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy. The EPR signals of NiPor?O^. are consistent with somewhat delocalised porphyrinyloxy radicals, and the spin distributions calculated by using density functional theory match the EPR and NMR spectroscopic observations. Nickel(II) meso‐hydroxy‐10,20‐diphenylporphyrin was oxidatively coupled to a dioxo‐terminated porphodimethene dyad, the strongly red‐shifted electronic spectrum of which was successfully modelled by using time‐dependent DFT calculations.     

Stabilization of a Two‐Coordinate Mononuclear Cobalt(0) Compound

Compound (Me₂‐cAAC:)₂Co⁰ ( 2 ; Me₂‐cAAC:=cyclic (alkyl) amino carbene; :C(CH₂)(CMe₂)₂N‐2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) was synthesized by the reduction of the precursor (Me₂‐cAAC:)₂Co^ICl ( 1 ) with KC₈ in THF. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 exhibited one‐electron reduction, which suggests that synthesis of a bent 2‐metallaallene ( 2 ) from 1 should be possible. Compound 2 contains one cobalt atom in the formal oxidation state zero, which is stabilized by two Me₂‐cAAC: ligands. Bond lengths from X‐ray diffraction are 1.871(2) and 1.877(2) Å with a C‐Co‐C bond angle of 170.12(8)°. The EPR spectrum of 2 exhibited a broad resonance attributed to the unique quasi‐linear structure, which favors near degeneracy and gives rise to very rapid relaxation conditions. The cAAC?Co bond in 2 can be considered as a typical Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson type of bonding, which in turn retains 2.5 electron pairs on the Co atom as nonbonding electrons.     

Aromaticity of benzene in the facial coordination mode: a structural and theoretical study

The effects of facial coordination of benzene to a trinuclear transition-metal cluster have been studied by structure correlation and DFT calculational methods. Data taken from the X-ray crystal structures of twelve complexes [(eta-C(5)H(4)R")Co(3)(micro(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C(6)H(4)RR')] 1 b-1 m were analyzed by using standard statistical methods. The prototypal facial arene ligand is considerably expanded with respect to free benzene and shows a small but highly significant Kekulè distortion (d(CC)=1.42, 1.45 A). DFT MO calculations were carried out on the model complexes [(eta-C(5)H(5))M(3)(micro-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C(6)H(6))] 1 a (M=Co), 2 (M=Rh), and 3 (M=Ir). Ring currents in the facial benzene and apical cyclopentadienyl ligands have been assessed by nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations. Compared to the free ligand (with the optimized D(6h) structure as well as with D(3h) and a C(3v) geometries similar to that in the prototypal facial arene), facial benzene exhibits somewhat reduced but still substantial cyclic electron delocalization (CED). The calculated order of CED is benzene approximately [(CO)(3)Cr(eta-C(6)H(6))] 4 > 1 > 2 > 3.     

Ion-pair formation in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(triflyl)imide as a function of temperature and concentration.

The structures and ion-pair formation in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide are studied by a combination of FTIR measurements and DFT calculations. We could clearly distinguish imidazolium cations that are completely H-bonded to anions from those that are single H-bonded in ion pairs. Ion-pair formation already occurs in the neat IL and rises with temperature. Ion-pair formation is strongly promoted by dilution of the IL in chloroform. In these weakly polar environments ion pairs H-bonded via C(2)H are strongly favored over those H-bonded via C(4,5)H. This finding is in agreement with DFT (gas phase) calculations, which show a preference for ion pairs H-bonded via C(2)H as a result of the acidic C(2)H bond.     

Phototriggering electron flow through Re(I)-modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurins

The [Re(I)(CO)(3)(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(histidine-124)(tryptophan-122)] complex, denoted [Re(I)(dmp)(W122)], of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin behaves as a single photoactive unit that triggers very fast electron transfer (ET) from a distant (2 nm) Cu(I) center in the protein. Analysis of time-resolved (ps-μs) IR spectroscopic and kinetics data collected on [Re(I)(dmp)(W122)AzM] (in which M=Zn(II), Cu(II), Cu(I); Az=azurin) and position-122 tyrosine (Y), phenylalanine (F), and lysine (K) mutants, together with excited-state DFT/time-dependent (TD)DFT calculations and X-ray structural characterization, reveal the character, energetics, and dynamics of the relevant electronic states of the [Re(I)(dmp)(W122)] unit and a cascade of photoinduced ET and relaxation steps in the corresponding Re-azurins. Optical population of [Re(I)(imidazole-H124)(CO)(3)]→dmp (1)CT states (CT=charge transfer) is followed by around 110 fs intersystem crossing and about 600 ps structural relaxation to a (3)CT state. The IR spectrum indicates a mixed Re(I)(CO)(3),A→dmp/π→π(*)(dmp) character for aromatic amino acids A122 (A=W, Y, F) and Re(I)(CO)(3)→dmp metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) for [Re(I)(dmp)(K122)AzCu(II)]. In a few ns, the (3)CT state of [Re(I)(dmp)(W122)AzM] establishes an equilibrium with the [Re(I)(dmp(.-))(W122(.+))AzM] charge-separated state, (3)CS, whereas the (3)CT state of the other Y, F, and K122 proteins decays to the ground state. In addition to this main pathway, (3)CS is populated by fs- and ps-W(indole)→Re(II) ET from (1)CT and the initially "hot" (3)CT states, respectively. The (3)CS state undergoes a tens-of-ns dmp(.-)→W122(.+) ET recombination leading to the ground state or, in the case of the Cu(I) azurin, a competitively fast (≈30 ns over 1.12?nm) Cu(I)→W(.+) ET, to give [Re(I)(dmp(.-))(W122)AzCu(II)]. The overall photoinduced Cu(I)→Re(dmp) ET through [Re(I)(dmp)(W122)AzCu(I)] occurs over a 2 nm distance in <50 ns after excitation, with the intervening fast (3)CT-(3)CS equilibrium being the principal accelerating factor. No reaction was observed for the three Y, F, and K122 analogues. Although the presence of [Re(dmp)(W122)AzCu(II)] oligomers in solution was documented by mass spectrometry and phosphorescence anisotropy, the kinetics data do not indicate any significant interference from the intermolecular ET steps. The ground-state dmp-indole π-π interaction together with well-matched W/W(.+) and excited-state [Re(II)(CO)(3)(dmp(.-))]/[Re(I)(CO)(3)(dmp(.-))] potentials that result in very rapid electron interchange and (3)CT-(3)CS energetic proximity, are the main factors responsible for the unique ET behavior of [Re(I)(dmp)(W122)]-containing azurins.