Structural measure of metal-ligand covalency from the bonding in carboxylate ligands

The data set of over 40 000 crystal structures containing the carboxylate group that has been reported to the CSD has been used to extract structural changes to the carboxylate group upon binding to different elemental centers. We find quantifiable structural changes to the carboxylate group depending on the elemental center it is interacting with. The trends follow those traditionally associated with covalency; elements exhibiting electronegativity closest to that of oxygen exhibit the largest structural change. In addition, we find the measure is extendable to transition metal systems where we observe the trends of Pauling neutrality not only are maintained but also are quantifiable; i.e., the structural change increases with oxidation state, i.e., II < III < IV, and decreases with an increase in coordination number, 4c > 5c > 6c. Further, the measure gives us a quantifiable measure of the difference between the covalencies of the long and short bonds of Cu(II) complexes. From the bond lengths of the bound carboxylate arm, we are able to derive bond orders and hence calculate the covalent character in the adjoining metal-carboxylate bonds. As such, we have a structurally derived quantification of metal-ligand covalency.     

New polynuclear manganese clusters from the use of the hydrophobic carboxylate ligand 2,2-dimethylbutyrate

The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties are reported of [Mn12O12(O2CPe(t))16(MeOH)4] (4), [Mn6O2(O2CH2)(O2CPe(t))11(HO2CPe(t))2(O2CMe)] (5), [Mn9O6(OH)(CO3)(O2CPe(t))12(H2O)2] (6), and [Mn4O2(O2CPe(t))6(bpy)2] (7, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), where Pe(t) = tert-pentyl (Pe(t)CO2H = 2,2-dimethylbutyric acid). These complexes were all prepared from reactions of [Mn12O12(O2CPe(t))16(H2O)4] (3) in CH2Cl2. Complex 4 x 2MeCN crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 and contains a central [Mn(IV)4O4] cubane core that is surrounded by a nonplanar ring of eight alternating Mn(III) and eight mu3-O(2-) ions. This is only the third Mn12 complex in which the four bound water molecules have been replaced by other ligands, in this case MeOH. Complex 5 x (1/2)CH2Cl2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c and contains two [Mn3(mu3-O)]7+ units linked at two of their apexes by two Pe(t)CO2(-) ligands and one mu4-CH2O2(2-) bridge. The complex is a new structural type in Mn chemistry, and also contains only the third example of a gem-diolate unit bridging four metal ions. Complex 6 x H2O x Pe(t)CO2H crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmc2(1) and possesses a [Mn(III)9(mu3-O)6(mu-OH)(mu3-CO3)]12+ core. The molecule contains a mu3-CO3(2-) ion, the first example in a discrete Mn complex. Complex 7 x 2H2O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c and contains a known [Mn(III)2Mn(II)2(mu3-O)2]6+ core that can be considered as two edge-sharing, triangular [Mn3O] units. Additionally, the synthesis and magnetic properties of a new enneanuclear cluster of formula [Mn9O7(O2CCH2Bu(t))13(THF)2] (8, THF = tetrahydrofuran) are reported. The molecule was obtained by the reaction of [Mn12O12(O2CCH2Bu(t))16(H2O)4] (2) with THF. Complexes 2 and 4 display quasireversible redox couples when examined by cyclic voltammetry in CH2Cl2; oxidations are observed at -0.07 V (2) and -0.21 V (4) vs ferrocene. The magnetic properties of complexes 4-8 have been studied by direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibility techniques. The ground-state spin of 4 was established by magnetization measurements in the 1.80-4.00 K and 0.5-7 T ranges. Fitting of the reduced magnetization data by full matrix diagonalization, incorporating a full powder average and including only axial anisotropy, gave S = 10, g = 2.0(1), and D = -0.39(10) cm(-1). The complex exhibits two frequency-dependent out-of-phase AC susceptibility signals (chi(M)') indicative of slow magnetization relaxation. An Arrhenius plot obtained from chi(M)' vs T data gave an effective energy barrier to relaxation (U(eff)) of 62 and 35 K for the slower and faster relaxing species, respectively. These studies suggest that complex 4 is a single-molecule magnet (SMM). DC susceptibility studies on complexes 5-8 display overall antiferromagnetic behavior and indicate ground-state spin values of S < or = 2. AC susceptibility studies at < 10 K confirm these small values and indicate the population of low-lying excited states even at these low temperatures. This supports the small ground-state spin values to be due to spin frustration effects.     

Iron–sulfur bond covalency from electronic structure calculations for classical iron–sulfur clusters

The covalent character of iron–sulfur bonds is a fundamental electronic structural feature for understanding the electronic and magnetic properties and the reactivity of biological and biomimetic iron–sulfur clusters. Conceptually, bond covalency obtained from X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) can be directly related to orbital compositions from electronic structure calculations, providing a standard for evaluation of density functional theoretical methods. Typically, a combination of functional and basis set that optimally reproduces experimental bond covalency is chosen, but its dependence on the population analysis method is often neglected, despite its important role in deriving theoretical bond covalency. In this study of iron tetrathiolates, and classical [2Fe? 2S] and [4Fe? 4S] clusters with only thiolate ligands, we find that orbital compositions can vary significantly depending on whether they are derived from frontier orbitals, spin densities, or electron sharing indexes from “Átoms in Molecules” (ÁIM) theory. The benefits and limitations of Mulliken, Minimum Basis Set Mulliken, Natural, Coefficients‐Squared, Hirshfeld, and AIM population analyses are described using ab initio wave function‐based (QCISD) and experimental (S K‐edge XAS) bond covalency. We find that the AIM theory coupled with a triple‐ζ basis set and the hybrid functional B(5%HF)P86 gives the most reasonable electronic structure for the studied Fe? S clusters. 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy as a probe of ligand-metal bond covalency: metal vs ligand oxidation in copper and nickel dithiolene complexes

A combination of Cu L-edge and S K-edge X-ray absorption data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations has been correlated with 33S electron paramagnetic resonance superhyperfine results to obtain the dipole integral (Is) for the S 1s-->3p transition for the dithiolene ligand maleonitriledithiolate (MNT) in (TBA)2[Cu(MNT)2] (TBA= tetra-n-butylammonium). The results have been combined with the Is of sulfide derived from XPS studies to experimentally obtain a relation between the S 1s-->4p transition energy (which reflects the charge on the S atom, QSmol) and the dipole integral over a large range of QSmol. The results show that, for high charges on S, Is can vary from the previously reported Is values, calculated using data over a limited range of QSmol. A combination of S K-edge and Cu K- and L-edge X-ray absorption data and DFT calculations has been used to investigate the one-electron oxidation of [Cu(MNT)2]2- and [Ni(MNT)2]2-. The conversion of [Cu(MNT)2]2- to [Cu(MNT)2]- results in a large change in the charge on the Cu atom in the molecule (QCumol) and is consistent with a metal-based oxidation. This is accompanied by extensive charge donation from the ligands to compensate the high charge on the Cu in [Cu(MNT)2]- based on the increased S K-edge and decreased Cu L-edge intensity, respectively. In contrast, the oxidation of [Ni(MNT)2]2- to [Ni(MNT)2]- results in a small change in QNimol, indicating a ligand-based oxidation consistent with oxidation of a molecular orbital, psiSOMO (singly occupied molecular orbital), with predominant ligand character.     

On the additivity of bond dipole moment changes arising from bond distortions

The concept of bond moments and derivatives in the context of vibrational transition moments has been examined by calculations on methylene fluoride and ethene at the 3–21 G* level and N,N-dimethylformamide at the 3–21 G level. It is shown that transition moments on stretching and bending lie up to 15° off the bond axis and perpendiculars. Nearest atom non-bonded interactions appear to be responsible for these deviations in that as bonds stretch the moments swing in the direction expected for a reduced spatial interaction. It is proposed that as more data is accumulated it may be possible to establish the magnitude of these interaction moments in any defined system and hence to improve considerably predictive capabilities for large systems without the expensive procedure of ab initio calculations.     

Oxozinc carboxylate complexes: a new synthetic approach and the carboxylate ligand effect on the noncovalent-interactions-driven self-assembly

An atom-efficient and mild synthesis of a series of oxozinc carboxylates [Zn(4)(μ(4)-O)(O(2)CR)(6)] [where R = Ph (2a), p-PhC(6)H(4) (2b), p-MeC(6)H(4) (2c), and p-MeSC(6)H(4) (2d)] from well-defined alkylzinc precursors and H(2)O is described. The molecular and crystal structures of the resulting complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A closer examination of their crystal structure provides a direct picture of the effect of the nature of substituents on the molecular self-assembly of the octahedral oxozinc through noncovalent interactions. It was revealed that these discrete oxozinc clusters can form diverse types of noncovalent assemblies ranging from structures representing zeolitic topologies in the case of 2a to soft porous materials with gated voids or open channels for the remaining molecular clusters.     

Correlation between the double-double effect and the contribution from covalency to bonding

The magnitude of the double-double /tetrad/ effect in unit cell volumes has been determined for a number of simple lanthanide compounds of the Ln_mX_n type. The effect increases with decreasing electronegativity of the X atom, which indicates that the effect originates in the partially covalent character of the Ln-X bond.     

Ruthenium carbene complexes bearing an anionic carboxylate chelated to a hemilabile ligand

A series of bidentate ruthenium-based NHC complexes with the general formula [(H(2)IMes)(kappa(2)-L-COO)ClRu=CHPh)], where L is either PAr(3), HNR(2), or ROR, were prepared from commercially available [(H(2)IMes)(PCy(3))Cl(2)Ru(CHPh)] (2) and the appropriate ligand. The catalytic activities of the complexes were evaluated in ring-closing metathesis reactions. The type of donor ligand has a major impact on both the initiation behavior and also the stability of the complexes. Upon addition of CuCl to the reaction mixture the initiation is improved for the phosphine or amine containing chelates. For the P,O-chelate, the fast initiation was followed by decomposition. In the case of the N,O-containing chelate, a stable catalytic system was achieved. Trapping experiments support that the nitrogen lone-pair reversibly coordinates CuCl during the reaction.     

A C2-symmetric, basic Fe(III) carboxylate complex derived from a novel triptycene-based chelating carboxylate ligand

A triptycene-based bis(benzoxazole) diacid ligand H(2)L2(Ph4) bearing sterically encumbering groups was synthesized. Treatment of H(2)L2(Ph4) with Fe(OTf)(3) afforded a C(2)-symmetric trinuclear iron(III) complex, [NaFe(3)(L2(Ph4))(2)(μ(3)-O)(μ-O(2)CCPh(3))(2)(H(2)O)(3)](OTf)(2) (8). The triiron core of this complex adopts the well known "basic iron acetate" structure where the heteroleptic carboxylates, comprising two Ph(3)CCO(2)(-) and two (L2(Ph4))(2-) ligands, donate the six carboxylate bridges. The (L2(Ph4))(2-) ligand undergoes only minor conformational changes upon formation of the complex.     

Natural bond orbital population analysis of para-substituted O-nitrosyl carboxylate compounds

Theoretical study of several para-substituted O-nitrosyl carboxylate compounds has been performed using density functional B3LYP method with 6-31G(d,p) basis set. Geometries obtained from DFT calculation were used to perform natural bond orbital analysis. It is noted that weakness in the O₃–N₂ sigma bond is due to $ n_{{{\text{O}}_{1} }} \to \sigma_{{{\text{O}}_{3} - {\text{N}}_{2} }}^{*} Theoretical study of several para-substituted O-nitrosyl carboxylate compounds has been performed using density functional B3LYP method with 6-31G(d,p) basis set. Geometries obtained from DFT calculation were used to perform natural bond orbital analysis. It is noted that weakness in the O₃–N₂ sigma bond is due to n_\textO1 ? s_{\textO3 - \textN2} ^* n_{{{\text{O}}_{1} }} \to \sigma_{{{\text{O}}_{3} - {\text{N}}_{2} }}^{*} delocalization and is responsible for the longer O₃–N₂ bond lengths in para-substituted O-nitrosyl carboxylate compounds. It is also noted that decreased occupancy of the localized s_{\textO3 -\textN2} \sigma_{{{\text{O}}_{3} --{\text{N}}_{2} }} orbital in the idealized Lewis structure, or increased occupancy of s_{\textO3 - \textN2} ^* \sigma_{{{\text{O}}_{3} - {\text{N}}_{2} }}^{*} of the non-Lewis orbital, and their subsequent impact on molecular stability and geometry (bond lengths) are related with the resulting p character of the corresponding sulfur natural hybrid orbital of s_{\textO3 -\textN2} \sigma_{{{\text{O}}_{3} --{\text{N}}_{2} }} bond orbital. In addition, the charge transfer energy decreases with the increase of the Hammett constants of substituent groups and the partial charges distribution on the skeletal atoms may approve anticipating that the electrostatic repulsion or attraction between atoms can give a significant contribution to the intra- and intermolecular interaction.     

Structural changes, P-P bond energies, and homolytic dissociation enthalpies of substituted diphosphines from quantum mechanical calculations

The molecular structures of the diphosphines P(2)[CH(SiH(3))(2)](4), P(2)[C(SiH(3))(3)](4), P(2)[SiH(CH(3))(2)](4), and P(2)[Si(CH(3))(3)](4) and the corresponding radicals P[CH(SiH(3))(2)](2), P[C(SiH(3))(3)](2), P[SiH(CH(3))(2)](2), and P[Si(CH(3))(3)](2) were predicted by theoretical quantum chemical calculations at the HF/3-21G*, B3LYP/3-21G*, and MP2/6-31+G* levels. The conformational analyses of all structures found the gauche conformers of the diphosphines with C(2) symmetry to be the most stable. The most stable conformers of the phosphido radicals were also found to possess C(2) symmetry. The structural changes upon dissociation allow the release of some of the energy stored in the substituents and therefore contribute to the decrease of the P-P bond dissociation energy. The P-P bond dissociation enthalpies at 298 K in the compounds studied were calculated to vary from -11.4 kJ mol(-1) (P(2)[C(SiH(3))(3)](4)) to 179.0 kJ mol(-1) (P(2)[SiH(CH(3))(2)](4)) at the B3LYP/3-21G* level. The MP2/6-31+G* calculations predict them to be in the range of 52.8-207.9 kJ mol(-1). All the values are corrected for basis set superposition error. The P-P bond energy defined by applying a mechanical analogy of the flexible substituents connected by a spring shows less variation, between 191.3 and 222.6 kJ mol(-1) at the B3LYP/3-21G level and between 225.6 and 290.4 kJ mol(-1) at the MP2/6-31+G* level. Its average value can be used to estimate bond dissociation energies from the energetics of structural relaxation.     

La2—xSrxCuO4和La2—xNdxCuO4＋y的键共价性计算

使用复杂晶体化学键理论计算了Ｌａ２－ｘＳｒｘＣｕＯ４和Ｌａ２－ｘＮｄｘＣｕＯ４＋ｙ中各键的健共价性,讨论了键性随着掺杂的变化规律,研究表明,对于２１４结构,没有发现明显的化学键性与超导温度的关系,因此２１４结构中有关超导现象产生的机理还有待于进一步研究。     

Correlation of bond metallicity measures to electronegativity for binary oxides

We have investigated alkali, alkaline‐earth, and rutile binary oxides within density functional theory (DFT) and Bader's atoms‐in‐molecules theory, focusing on properties of bond and ring critical points, and their relations to band gap and Pauling electronegativity. We find linear relations of kinetic energy density, electron density, and the gap divided by kinetic energy density at the bond critical points to the difference of Pauling electronegativities of the cation and oxygen anion. At the ring critical points of rutile compounds, we also find that some bond metallicity measures are linearly related to the difference of electronegativities. This study extends our knowledge about the relations between bond critical points, band gap, and electronegativity, but also shows for the first time a quantitative relation between quantities at the ring critical points and global properties of the compounds.     

Structural variability and dynamics in carboxylato- and carbamatomagnesium bromides. Relationship to the carboxylate shift

Two new carbamatomagnesium bromide complexes 1 (=[Mg(O2CN(Me)Ph)(THF)2Br]2) and 2 (=[Mg3(O2CNPh2)4(THF)5Br][(THF)MgBr3]) were prepared and crystallographically characterized. Complex 1 consists of a dinuclear core with two syn-syn-mu(1,3) bridging carbamato ligands. In solution, the 1H and 13C NMR spectra revealed a two-site fluxional behavior for the carbamato ligands between 0 degrees C and 25 degrees C that is consistent with a bridge-mode isomerization relating the syn-syn-mu(1,3) form and an alternative syn-anti-mu(1,1) form. At temperatures below 0 degrees C, a more complex NMR signal is observed that is ascribed to further resolution of C-N rotational isomers, which has the effect of increasing the number of molecular isomers that can be resolved on the NMR time scale. New temperature-dependent NMR spectra of the previously known diethylcarbamato- and benzoato-bridged complexes [Mg(O2CNEt2)(THF)2Br]2, 3, and [Mg(O2CPh)(THF)2Br]2, 5, revealed fluxional behavior that was also interpreted in terms of bridge-mode isomerization. Kinetic activation parameters for 1, 3, and 5 are consistent with an intramolecular motion relating the syn-syn-mu(1,3) and syn-anti-mu(1,1) isomers. These results provide new insight into bridge-mode isomerism that is closely related to the carboxylate shift concept. Complex 2 is compositionally related to 1 but exists as a salt consisting of a trinuclear cationic unit [Mg3(O2CNPh2)4(THF)5Br]+ and a solvated tribromomagnesiate anion [(THF)MgBr3]-. This shows that changing the hydrocarbon substituents on the carbamato ligand changes the structure and dynamics of multinuclear carbamatomagnesium complexes in ways that limit our ability to predict structural topologies in this system.     

Structural transitions in ion coordination driven by changes in competition for ligand binding

Transferring Na(+) and K(+) ions from their preferred coordination states in water to states having different coordination numbers incurs a free energy cost. In several examples in nature, however, these ions readily partition from aqueous-phase coordination states into spatial regions having much higher coordination numbers. Here we utilize statistical theory of solutions, quantum chemical simulations, classical mechanics simulations, and structural informatics to understand this aspect of ion partitioning. Our studies lead to the identification of a specific role of the solvation environment in driving transitions in ion coordination structures. Although ion solvation in liquid media is an exergonic reaction overall, we find it is also associated with considerable free energy penalties for extracting ligands from their solvation environments to form coordinated ion complexes. Reducing these penalties increases the stabilities of higher-order coordinations and brings down the energetic cost to partition ions from water into overcoordinated binding sites in biomolecules. These penalties can be lowered via a reduction in direct favorable interactions of the coordinating ligands with all atoms other than the ions themselves. A significant reduction in these penalties can, in fact, also drive up ion coordination preferences. Similarly, an increase in these penalties can lower ion coordination preferences, akin to a Hofmeister effect. Since such structural transitions are effected by the properties of the solvation phase, we anticipate that they will also occur for other ions. The influence of other factors, including ligand density, ligand chemistry, and temperature, on the stabilities of ion coordination structures are also explored.     

Syntheses and luminescence of three lanthanide complexes constructed by flexible carboxylate ligand

Three new complexes, namely {[Ln(L)₃(2,2′-Bipy)] _n · H₂O} (Ln = Pr (I), Sm (II), and Nd (III)) (HL = 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The structural determinations indicated (CIF files CCDC nos. 1472729 (I), 1472730 (II), 1472734 (III)) that I–III have similar dinuclear structures, which can be further linked into 2D sheet via the hydrogen bond interactions. Furthermore, the luminescent properties of I–III show the strong emissive power and feature.