DFT study of electronic structure and geometry of anionic silver clusters (n = 11, 12, 17)

Based on both total energy calculations and comparison of experimental and calculated characteristics of photoelectron spectra (PHES), the structural assignment of clusters and has been made using DFT model with recently developed S2LYP functional. The calculated characteristics of PHES for the assigned structures are in excellent agreement with the experimental ones. The electronic structure, geometry and energetic characteristics of low-lying isomers have also been studied. The calculated geometrical parameters of and clusters as well as the geometries of earlier established clusters have been compared with the geometrical characteristics of anionic sodium clusters. The structures of anionic silver and sodium clusters have been found to be very similar. The difference has been observed only for . Based on similarity of the geometries of silver and sodium clusters as well as on the comparison of calculated and experimental characteristics of PHES, the geometry of cluster has been assigned.     

Excess thermodynamic properties, and for the binary systems {1,2-dichloropropane + 2-alkoxyethanols} at T = 298.15 K

This article presents the experimental data of and , obtained at T = 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, for four binary systems composed of 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) and four 2-alkoxyethanols. The 2-alkoxyethanols are 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME), 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE), 2-propoxyethanol (2-PE) and 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE). The of the mixture has been shown positive for 2-ME, ‘s-shaped’ for all remaining systems, being negative at low and positive at high mole fraction of 1,2-DCP. The values for all binary mixtures are also shown both positive at low and negative at high mole fraction of 1,2-DCP. The experimental results of and were fitted to Redlich–Kister equation to correlate the composition dependence of both excess properties. In this work, data were also used to test the suitability of thermodynamic models (Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC equations) based on local-composition theory. The results have been qualitatively discussed in terms of the polarity, self-association, and hydrogen bond among molecules.     

Investigations on adiabatic potential energy curve of Li2()

The SAC-CI method is used to investigate the spectroscopic properties of ⁷Li₂(). The adiabatic potential energy curves are calculated and fitted to the analytic Murrell–Sorbie function. The spectroscopic parameters reproduced by the potential attained at cc-PVTZ are found to be very close to the experiments. With the potential obtained at the SAC-CI/cc-PVTZ level of theory, a total of 62 vibrational states is found when J = 0. For each vibrational state, the vibrational level, classical turning points, inertial rotation and centrifugal distortion constants are calculated. Good agreement is obtained when they are compared with the available RKR data.     

Theoretical study on the structures and properties of LiCn, , and (n = 1–10) clusters

The lithium-doped carbon clusters LiC_n, , and (n = 1–10) have been investigated systemically with density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-311+G* level. According to the total energies of different kinds of isomers, the LiC_n, , and (n = 1–10) clusters have Li-terminated linear ground states structures, except for LiC₂, LiC₃, , and (n = 4–6). The incremental binding energies are evaluated to elucidate the stabilities of the clusters with different numbers of carbon atoms for neutral molecules, cations, and anions, respectively. Clear even–odd alternation effects are observed for the stability of the cationic clusters and anionic clusters, while for neutral LiC_n clusters the alternation effect is less pronounced. Similarly, the ionization potentials and electron affinities of LiC_n also express an obvious parity alternation. In addition, the most favorable dissociation channels are acquired according to the fragmentation energies accompanying various pathways.     

High stable sandwich-type polyoxometallates based on . Synthesis, chemical properties and characterization of [(A-β-SiW9O34)2(MOH2)3CO3] (M = Y and Yb)

Highly hydrolytic and thermally stable sandwich-type polyoxometallates of [(A-β-SiW₉O₃₄)₂(MOH₂)₃CO₃]¹³⁻ (M = Y³⁺ and Yb³⁺) have been synthesized at room temperature by stoichiometric reactions of the trilacunary ligand with M³⁺ in 0.1 M carbonate solution. The new complexes were isolated as sodium and mixed sodium/potassium salts and were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, TGA, DSC and single crystal structure analysis. The crystal structure of the complexes consist of two lacunary Keggin moieties which are linked by a (H₂OMO)₃C belt into an assembly of virtual C₂ symmetry. Each M³⁺ ion adopts a mono-capped trigonal-prismatic coordination. The C₂ axis of the complexes and the local 3-fold axis of the MO₆ group lies in the (H₂OMO)₃C belt plane. The trigonal prismatic geometry is achieved by the two terminal oxygen atoms of an edge shared pair of WO₆ octahedra from each moiety and two oxygen from the belt, and the cap by one external water ligand. The hydrolytic and thermal stabilities of the complexes and the reasons that prove the retention of the isomeric form of the trilacunary ligand upon complexation are discussed.     

Self-assembly of two novel bisupporting Keggin-polyoxometalate derivatives: Hydrothermal synthesis and structure characterization of (X = P, m = 1; X = Si, m = 2)

Two novel organic–inorganic hybrid polyoxometalates, (X = P, m = 1 1; X = Si, m = 2 2; 2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bpyridine), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They are isostructural, possessing orthorhombic, and the parameters of unit cells for compound 1 are space group Pbca, a = 17.317(4) Å, b = 17.092(3) Å, c = 20.587(4) Å, V = 6445(2) Å³, Z = 4; for compound 2 are space group Pcab, a = 17.181(3) Å, b = 18.198(4) Å, c = 20.672(4) Å, V = 6463(2) Å³, Z = 4. The two compounds show a layer framework constructed from Keggin-polyoxoanion clusters and [Cu (2, 2′-bpy)₂]²⁺ coordination polymer fragments via weak covalent interactions, resulting in a 3D network via supramolecular interactions. Their electrochemical properties are studied in detail.     

Electroreduction of anions on chemically etched and electrochemically polished Bi(1 1 1) electrode

Electroreduction kinetics of to anions at chemically etched (CHE) and electrochemically polished (EP) Bi(1 1 1) electrodes has been studied using rotating disc electrode method. The surface nanostructure of CHE Bi(1 1 1) and EP Bi(1 1 1) electrodes has been studied by in situ STM and the very different values of root mean squared roughness (Rms) have been obtained (1000 times higher for CHE Bi(1 1 1) (Rms  143 nm) than for EP Bi(1 1 1) (Rms  0.145 nm)). The influence of the nanoroughness of CHE Bi(1 1 1) on the current density, heterogeneous reaction rate constant and corrected Tafel plots (cTp) has been demonstrated. For CHE Bi(1 1 1) the more pronounced inhibition of electroreduction reaction at moderate negative surface charge density has been observed in comparison with EP Bi(1 1 1), caused by the differences in surface charge density and also in diffuse layer ψ₀ potential drop values at crystallographically different homogeneous regions (planes) exposed at the surface of the macroheterogeneous polycrystalline CHE Bi(1 1 1) surface. The very low apparent transfer coefficient α_app obtained indicates the nearly activationless charge transfer mechanism for electroreduction at the CHE Bi(1 1 1) electrode similarly to EP Bi(1 1 1). However, α_app only very weakly depends on Rms for the Bi electrodes at high negative surface charge densities where the values of ψ₀ potential are nearly equal for different planes at fixed electrode potential. At very high negative surface charge densities the cationic catalysis through the adsorbed ion pairs is possible.     

A DFT study of the hydration of monophosphate complexes of iron (III),

A systematic theoretical DFT study of the bonding between the cation Fe³⁺ and the anion was carried out. The role of water ligands is presented. Several isomers with tetrahedral, bipyramidal and octahedral environments around the iron ion were investigated. 5-fold coordination of the Fe³⁺ cation is found when 5 and 6 water molecules are included. Calculated infrared spectra are also presented.     

A novel three-dimensional mixed bridging–ligand complex with an unexpected 1,3-diaminopropane bridge

Reaction of K₃[Fe(CN)₆] with [Cu(tn)₂](ClO₄)₂ (tn=1,3-diaminopropane) leads to a novel mixed cyano and tn bridged three-dimensional (3D) bimetallic assembly (1), in which each [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anion connects six copper(II) cations via six CN⁻ groups, whereas each copper(II) cation is linked to three [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ ions and two other copper(II) ions through Cu–NC–Fe and Cu–tn–Cu linkages, respectively. Magnetic studies reveal weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the nearest Cu^II (S=1/2) ions through the diamagnetic [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anion.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of trinuclear oxo-centered homo- and mixed-valence manganese pivalate complexes with imidazole (Im) and 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm): and

Two new μ₃-oxo-centered trinuclear manganese complexes, one of them a homo-valence (1) pivalate complex and the other a mixed-valence (2) pivalate complex (where Im = imidazole, 1-MeIm = 1-methylimidazole), have been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray crystallography and magnetochemistry. Complexes 1 and 2 are μ₃-oxo-trinuclear compounds with the three manganese atoms bridged by six pivalate groups. At each axial position there is an Im (1) or 1-MeIm (2) molecule. In both compounds, the manganese coordination geometry is slightly distorted octahedral, consisting of the oxygen of the central triangle, four oxygen atoms from bridging pivalate ligands, and a terminal Im or 1-MeIm nitrogen atom. The crystal packing of 1 involves hydrogen bonding between complex cations [Mn₃O(Piv)₆(Im)₃]⁺ and outersphere pivalate ions, whereas in compound 2 interactions of the C–Hπ type, formed by both the aromatic and methyl C–H groups of 1-MeIm molecules, are present. Magnetic studies reveal that both compounds represent antiferromagnetically coupled, spin-frustrated triangular systems exhibiting weak to moderate exchange coupling constants.     

A reinvestigation of the gas phase reaction of boron atoms, B(Pj)/B(Pj) with acetylene,

The reaction dynamics of ground state boron atoms, B(²P_j), with acetylene, was reinvestigated and combined with novel electronic structure calculations. Our study suggests that the boron atom adds to the carbon–carbon triple bond of the acetylene molecule to yield initially a cyclic intermediate undergoing two successive hydrogen atom migrations to form ultimately an intermediate i3. The latter was found to decompose predominantly to the c-BC₂H(X²A′) isomer plus atomic hydrogen via a tight exit transition state. To a minor amount, an isomerization of i3–i4 prior to a hydrogen atom ejection forming the linear structure, HBCC(X¹Σ⁺), has to be taken into account. Since the c-BC₂H(X²A′) and HBCC(X¹Σ⁺) isomers are separated by an isomerization barrier to ring closure of only 3 kJ mol⁻¹, internally excited HBCC(X¹Σ⁺) products can isomerize to the c-BC₂H(X²A′) structure and vice versa.     

Capture of aromatic carboxylate anion through second sphere coordination: Topological complementarity of [cis-Co(en)2(N3)2] and ions

[cis-Co(en)₂(N₃)₂]C₇H₃ClNO₄·1.25H₂O (Cocnb) was synthesised and detailed packing analyses were undertaken to delineate the topological complementarity of [cis-Co(en)₂(N₃)₂]⁺ and a 2-chloro-4-nitro benzoate anion (cnb) for second sphere coordination in the crystal lattice. The complex was completely characterised by elemental analyses, spectroscopic studies (IR, UV/visible, ¹H and ¹³C NMR). The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic (space group C2/c) with a = 21.9843(18), b = 8.7959(7), c = 23.0121(18) Å, β = 116.426(1)°, V = 3984.9(6) Å³, and Z = 8. In the crystal lattice, discrete ions of [cis-Co(en)₂(N₃)₂]⁺ and cnb are arranged in A–B–A–B pattern (in both a and c directions of the lattice) forming columns of anions and cations. The anionic columns are π stacked and are involved in extensive hydrogen bonding interaction. It appears that the topological feature of [cis-Co(en)₂(N₃)₂]⁺ is conducive for generating second sphere interactions with aromatic carboxylates. This strategy may be used as a viable method for the capture of aromatic carboxylate anions.     

Energy decomposition analysis of the metal-oxime bond in [M{RC(NOH)C(NO)R}2] (M = Ni(II), Pd(II), Pt(II), R = CH3, H, F, Cl, Br, Ph, CF3)

Quantum chemical calculations using gradient-corrected DFT at the BP86/TZ2P+ level were carried out for the metal-dioxime complexes [M{RC(NOH)C(NO)R}₂]with M = Ni, Pd, Pt, R = CH₃, H, F, Cl, Br, Ph, CF₃. The nature of the metal-ligand bond was investigated with an energy decomposition analysis (EDA). The complexes with electron donating substituents R = H, CH₃ have the strongest metal-ligand interaction energies ΔE_int, as well as the largest bond dissociation energies. The analysis of the bonding situation revealed that the metal ← ligand σ donation is much stronger than the metal → ligand π backdonation. The breakdown of the orbital interactions into the contributions of orbitals with different symmetry indicates that the donation from the in-plane lone-pair donor-orbitals of nitrogen into the d_xy AO of the metal provides about one half of the stabilization which comes from ΔE_orb. Inspection of the EDA data indicates that the electrostatic term ΔE_elstat is more important for the trend of the metal-oxime interactions in [M{RC(NOH)C(NO)R}₂] than the orbital term ΔE_orb.     

Alkynyl Ti-M complexes based on M(CO)4 and MO2 building blocks (M = Mo, W)

The synthesis and properties of heterobimetallic Ti-M complexes of type {[[Ti](μ-η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)][M(μ-η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)(CO)₄]} (M = Mo: 5, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti; 6, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti; M = W: 7, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti; 8, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti) and {[Ti](μ-η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)₂}MO₂ (M = Mo: 13, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti; 14, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti). M = W: 15, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti; 16, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti) are reported. Compounds 5-8 were accessible by treatment of [Ti](CCSiMe₃)₂ (1, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti; 2, [Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti) with [M(CO)₅(thf)] (3, M = Mo; 4, M = W) or [M(CO)₄(nbd)] (9, M = Mo; 10, M = W; nbd = bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene), while 13-16 could be obtained either by the subsequent reaction of 1 and 2 with [M(CO)₃(MeCN)₃] (11, M = Mo; 12, M = W) and oxygen, or directly by oxidation of 5-8 with air. A mechanism for the formation of 5-8 is postulated based on the in-situ generation of [Ti](CCSiMe₃)((η²-CCSiMe₃)M(CO)₅), {[Ti](μ-η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)₂}-M(CO)₄, and [Ti](μ-η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)((μ-CCSiMe₃)M(CO)₄) as a result of the chelating effect exerted by the bis(alkynyl) titanocene fragment and the steric constraints imposed by the M(CO)₄ entity.The molecular structure of 5 in the solid state were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In doubly alkynyl-bridged 5 the alkynides are bridging the metals Ti and Mo as a σ-donor to one metal and as a π-donor to the other with the [Ti](CCSiMe₃)₂Mo core being planar.     

Isomerism in tetrahedral rhenium cluster complexes [Re4Q4(PMe2Ph)4X8]·nCH2Cl2 (Q = Se, X = Br; Q = Te, X = Cl, Br)

Three new tetrahedral rhenium cluster compounds [Re₄Se₄(PMe₂Ph)₄Br₈]·1.5CH₂Cl₂ (1), [Re₄Te₄(PMe₂Ph)₄Br₈]·CH₂Cl₂ (2), and [Re₄Te₄(PMe₂Ph)₄Cl₈]·CH₂Cl₂ (3) have been synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding precursor chalcohalide complexes [Re₄Q₄(TeX₂)₄X₈] (X = Br, Q = Se (for 1), Te (for 2); X = Cl, Q = Te (for 3)) with dimethylphenylphosphine in CH₂Cl₂. All compounds have been characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elemental analyses, IR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy indicates the formation of isomers in solution, confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis.     

Computational modeling of environmental plutonyl mono-, di- and tricarbonate complexes with Ca counterions: Structures and spectra: , PuO2(CO3)2Ca, and PuO2(CO3)3Ca3

We have computed the structures, and select vibrational spectra, electron density and molecular orbital contour plots of plutonium(VI) complexes of environmental importance such as [PuO₂(CO₃)₂]²⁻ and [PuO₂(CO₃)₃]⁴⁻. We show that Ca²⁺ is efficacious in gas-phase modeling of electronic and spectroscopic properties of multiply charged plutonyl di and tricarbonate anions through complexes such as PuO₂(CO₃)₂Ca and [PuO₂(CO₃)₃Ca₃]²⁺.     

Understanding Trends in 27Al Chemical Shifts and Quadrupolar Coupling Constants in Chloroalkyl Aluminum [AlClx(Me)3 − x]n = 1 or 2 Compounds

The usage of alkyl aluminum compounds and related structures as co‐catalyst finds a broad range of application in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. While understanding the nature of the aluminum species in solution or in solids can be a challenge, ²⁷Al solid state NMR is a powerful tool to understand the structures of Al species, but their assignment remains mostly empirical, typically by comparing chemical shifts with known compounds. In this work, the observed trends in ²⁷Al‐NMR parameters – chemical shift and quadrupolar coupling constant – of chloroalkyl aluminum compounds, a prototypical class of important Lewis activators, are traced back to their frontier orbitals and electron polarization through a natural localized molecular orbital analysis. This study thus provides guidelines to understand the nature of chemical shift and thereby assignment of possible structure.     

A crystallographic and DFT study on Vaska-type trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(PR3)2] complexes containing flexible ligands: The molecular structure of trans-[Rh(CO)Cl{P(OC6H5)3}2]

An investigation into the effect of the flexibility of substituents on the disorder of the Cl-Rh-CO moiety in Vaska-type trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(PR₃)₂] complexes is presented. The influence of the packing of the complexes with PR₃ = P(CH₂C₆H₅)₃, P(OC₆H₅)₃, P(O-2-MeC₆H₄)₃ and P(O-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃)₃ was evaluated by comparing the X-ray structures with the results of DFT calculations on these complexes. Reasonable agreement between the calculated and molecular structures was found. A good agreement, however, was found between the calculated and crystallographic structures when comparing the coordination polyhedron around the Rh atom. The main difference between the calculated and solid state structures appeared to be in the orientation of the phenyl groups of the P-donor ligands.