On the paucity of molecular actinide complexes with unsupported metal-metal bonds: a comparative investigation of the electronic structure and metal-metal bonding in U2X6 (X = Cl, F, OH, NH2, CH3) complexes and d-block analogues

Density functional calculations have been performed on M2X6 complexes (where M = U, W, and Mo and X = Cl, F, OH, NH2, and CH3) to investigate general aspects of their electronic structures and explore the similarities and differences in metal-metal bonding between f-block and d-block elements. A detailed analysis of the metal-metal interactions has been conducted using molecular orbital theory and energy decomposition methods. Multiple (sigma and pi) bonding is predicted for all species investigated, with predominant f-f and d-d metal orbital character, respectively, for U and W or Mo complexes. The energy decomposition analysis involves contributions from orbital interactions (mixing of occupied and unoccupied orbitals), electrostatic effects (Coulombic attraction and repulsion), and Pauli repulsion (associated with four-electron two-orbital interactions). The general results suggest that the overall metal-metal interaction is stronger in the Mo and W species, relative to the U analogues, as a consequence of a significantly less destabilizing contribution from the combined Pauli and electrostatic ("pre-relaxation") effects. Although the orbital-mixing ("post-relaxation") contribution to the total bonding energy is predicted to have a larger magnitude in the U complexes, this is not sufficiently strong to compensate for the comparatively greater destabilization that originates from the Pauli-plus-electrostatic effects. Of the pre-relaxation terms, the Pauli repulsion is comparable in analogous U and d-block compounds, contrary to the electrostatic term, which is (much) less favorable in the U systems than in the W and Mo systems. This generally weak electrostatic stabilization accounts for the large pre-relaxation destabilization in the U complexes and, ultimately, for the relative weakness of the U-U bonds. The origin of the small electrostatic term in the U compounds is traced primarily to MX(3) fragment overlap effects.     

Metal-metal bonding in molecular actinide compounds: electronic structure of [M2X8](2-) (M = U, Np, Pu; X = Cl, Br, I) complexes and comparison with d-block analogues

Density functional and multiconfigurational (ab initio) calculations have been performed on [M(2)X(8)](2-) (X = Cl, Br, I) complexes of 4d (Mo, Tc, Ru), 5d (W, Re, Os), and 5f (U, Np, Pu) metals in order to investigate general trends, similarities and differences in the electronic structure and metal-metal bonding between f-block and d-block elements. Multiple metal-metal bonds consisting of a combination of sigma and pi interactions have been found in all species investigated, with delta-like interactions also occurring in the complexes of Tc, Re, Np, Ru, Os, and Pu. The molecular orbital analysis indicates that these metal-metal interactions possess predominantly d(z2) (sigma), d(xz) and d(yz) (pi), or d(xy) and d(x2-y2) (delta) character in the d-block species, and f(z3) (sigma), f(z2x) and f(z2y) (pi), or f(xyz) and f(z) (delta) character in the actinide systems. In the latter, all three (sigma, pi, delta) types of interaction exhibit bonding character, irrespective of whether the molecular symmetry is D(4h) or D(4d). By contrast, although the nature and properties of the sigma and pi bonds are largely similar for the D(4h) and D(4d) forms of the d-block complexes, the two most relevant metal-metal delta-like orbitals occur as a bonding and antibonding combination in D(4h) symmetry but as a nonbonding level in D(4d) symmetry. Multiconfigurational calculations have been performed on a subset of the actinide complexes, and show that a single electronic configuration plays a dominant role and corresponds to the lowest-energy configuration obtained using density functional theory.     

Ligand dependence of metal-metal bonding in the d(3)d(3) dimers M(2)X(9)(n-) (M(III) = Cr, Mo, W; M(IV) = Mn, Tc, Re; X = F, Cl, Br, I)

The ligand dependence of metal-metal bonding in the d(3)d(3) face-shared M(2)X(9)(n-) (M(III) = Cr, Mo, W; M(IV) = Mn, Tc, Re; X = F, Cl, Br, I) dimers has been investigated using density functional theory. In general, significant differences in metal-metal bonding are observed between the fluoride and chloride complexes involving the same metal ion, whereas less dramatic changes occur between the bromide and iodide complexes and minimal differences between the chloride and bromide complexes. For M = Mo, Tc, and Re, change in the halide from F to I results in weaker metal-metal bonding corresponding to a shift from either the triple metal-metal bonded to single bonded case or from the latter to a nonbonded structure. A fragment analysis performed on M(2)X(9)(3-) (M = Mo, W) allowed determination of the metal-metal and metal-bridge contributions to the total bonding energy in the dimer. As the halide changes from F to I, there is a systematic reduction in the total interaction energy of the fragments which can be traced to a progressive destabilization of the metal-bridge interaction because of weaker M-X(bridge) bonding as fluoride is replaced by its heavier congeners. In contrast, the metal-metal interaction remains essentially constant with change in the halide.     

Electronic structure and metal-metal interactions in trinuclear face-shared [M3X12]3- (M = Mo, W; X = F, Cl, Br, I) systems

The molecular and electronic structures of trinuclear face-shared [M3X12]3-species of Mo (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and W (X = Cl), containing linear chains of metal atoms, have been investigated using density functional theory. The possibility of variations in structure and bonding has been explored by considering both symmetric (D3d) and unsymmetric (C3v) forms, the latter having one long and one short metal-metal distance. Analysis of the bonding in the structurally characterized [Mo3I12]3- trimer reveals that the metal-metal interaction qualitatively corresponds to a two-electron three-center sigma bond between the Mo atoms and, consequently, a formal Mo-Mo bond order of 0.5. However, the calculated spin densities suggest that the electrons in the metal-metal sigma bond are not fully decoupled and therefore participate in the antiferromagnetic interactions of the metal cluster. Although the same observation applies to [Mo3X12]3- (X = Br, Cl, F) and [W3Cl12]3-, both the spin densities and shorter distances between the metal atoms indicate that the metal-metal interaction is stronger in these systems. The broken-symmetry approach combined with spin projection has been used to determine the energy of the low-lying spin multiplets arising from the magnetic coupling between the metal centers. Either the symmetric and unsymmetric S = 3/2 state is predicted to be the ground state for all five systems. For [Mo3X12]3- (X = Cl, Br, I), the symmetric form is more stable but the unsymmetric structure, where two metal centers are involved in a metal-metal triple bond while the third center is decoupled, lies close in energy and is thermally accessible. Consequently, at room temperature, interconversion between the two energetically equivalent configurations of the unsymmetric form should result in an averaged structure that is symmetric. This prediction is consistent with the reported structure of [Mo3I12]3-, which, although symmetric, indicates significant movement of the central Mo atom toward the terminal Mo atoms on either side. In contrast, unsymmetric structures with a triple bond between two metal centers are predicted for [Mo3F2]3- and [W3C12]3-, as the symmetric structure lies too high in energy to be thermally accessible.     

Bonding analysis of metal-metal multiple bonds in R3M-M'R3 (M, M' = Cr, Mo, W; R = Cl, NMe2)

The bonding situation of homonuclear and heteronuclear metal-metal multiple bonds in R(3)M-M'R(3) (M, M' = Cr, Mo, W; R = Cl, NMe(2)) is investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, with the help of energy decomposition analysis (EDA). The M-M' bond strength increases as M and M' become heavier. The strongest bond is predicted for the 5d-5d tungsten complexes (NMe(2))(3)W-W(NMe(2))(3) (D(e) = 103.6 kcal/mol) and Cl(3)W-WCl(3) (D(e) = 99.8 kcal/mol). Although the heteronuclear molecules with polar M-M' bonds are not known experimentally, the predicted bond dissociation energies of up to 94.1 kcal/mol for (NMe(2))(3)Mo-W(NMe(2))(3) indicate that they are stable enough to be isolated in the condensed phase. The results of the EDA show that the stronger R(3)M-M'R(3) bonds for heavier metal atoms can be ascribed to the larger electrostatic interaction caused by effective attraction between the expanding valence orbitals in one metal atom and the more positively charged nucleus in the other metal atom. The orbital interaction reveal that the covalency of the homonuclear and heteronuclear R(3)M-M'R(3) bonds is due to genuine triple bonds with one σ- and one degenerate π-symmetric component. The metal-metal bonds may be classified as triple bonds where π-bonding is much stronger than σ-bonding; however, the largest attraction comes from the quasiclassical contribution to the metal-metal bonding. The heterodimetallic species show only moderate polarity and their properties and stabilities are intermediate between the corresponding homodimetallic species, a fact which should allow for the experimental isolation of heterodinuclear species. CASPT2 calculations of Cl(3)M-MCl(3) (M = Cr, Mo, W) support the assignment of the molecules as triply bonded systems.     

Density functional investigation of metal-metal interactions in mixed-valence d2d3 (Cr, Mo, W) and d3d4 (Mn, Tc, Re) face-shared [M2Cl9]2- systems

The molecular and electronic structures of mixed-valence face-shared (Cr, Mo, W) d(2)d(3) and (Mn, Tc, Re) d(3)d(4) [M(2)Cl(9)](2-) dimers have been calculated by density functional methods in order to investigate metal-metal bonding in this series. The electronic structures of these systems have been analyzed using potential energy curves for the broken-symmetry and other spin states arising from the d(2)d(3) and d(3)d(4) coupling modes. In (d(2)d(3)) [Mo(2)Cl(9)](2-) and [W(2)Cl(9)](2-), the global minimum has been found to be a spin-doublet state characterized by delocalization of the metal-based electrons in a multiple metal-metal bond (with a formal bond order of 2.5). In contrast, weak coupling between the metal centers and electron localization are favored in (d(2)d(3)) [Cr(2)Cl(9)](2-), the global minimum for this species being a ferromagnetic S = 5/2 state with a relatively long Cr-Cr separation. The (d(3)d(4)) [Re(2)Cl(9)](2-) system also exhibits a global minimum corresponding to a metal-metal bonded spin-doublet state with a formal bond order of 2.5, reflecting the electron-hole equivalence between d(2)d(3) and d(3)d(4) configurations. Double minima behavior is predicted for (d(3)d(4)) [Tc(2)Cl(9)](2-) and [Mn(2)Cl(9)](2-) due to two energetically close low-lying states (these being S = 3/2 and S = 5/2 states for the former, and S = 5/2 and S = 7/2 states for the latter). A comparison of computational results for the d(2)d(2), d(2)d(3), and d(3)d(3) [W(2)Cl(9)](z-) series and the d(3)d(3), d(3)d(4), and d(4)d(4) [Re(2)Cl(9)](z-) series indicates that the observed trends in metal-metal distances can only be rationalized if changes in both the strength of sigma bonding and metal-metal bond order are taken into consideration. These two factors act conjointly in the W series but in opposition to one another in the Re series. In the case of the [Cr(2)Cl(9)](z-) and [Mn(2)Cl(9)](z-) dimers, the metal-metal bond lengths are significantly shorter for mixed-valence (d(2)d(3) or d(3)d(4)) than d(3)d(3) systems. This result is consistent with the fact that some degree of metal-metal bonding exists in the former (due to partial delocalization of a single sigma electron) but not in the latter (where all metal-based electrons are completely localized).     

苯-卤素(X2, X=F, Cl, Br, I)相互作用本质的对称性匹配微扰理论研究

在MP2水平下对被定义为"电荷转移复合物(CTC)"的苯(C6H6)-卤素分子X2(X＝F, Cl, Br, I)相互作用体系进行了量子化学研究. 在优化所得C6H6-X2(X＝F, Cl, Br, I)复合物的平衡几何结构中, 卤素分子X2接近垂直指向苯环上碳-碳双键的中心. 自然键轨道(NBO)分析结果表明, 苯-卤素体系中电荷转移的数量很少. 对称性匹配微扰理论(Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory, SAPT) 能量分解结果显示, 在4个复合物体系中, 静电作用的贡献相对较小(只占总吸引作用的20%左右), 对于C6H6-F2体系, 色散作用是其主要吸引作用, 对于C6H6-Cl2, C6H6-Br2和C6H6-I2 体系, 诱导作用则是其主要的吸引作用, 从F到I, 色散作用逐渐减弱, 诱导作用逐渐增强, 表明在电子相关水平上将苯-卤素体系称为"电荷转移复合物"的说法并不确切.     

Factors affecting metal-metal bonding in the face-shared d(3)d(3) bioctahedral dimer systems,MM'Cl(9)(5-) (M,M' = V,Nb, Ta)

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate the d(3)d(3) bioctahedral complexes, MM'Cl(9)(5-), of the vanadium triad. Broken-symmetry calculations upon these species indicate that the V-containing complexes have optimized metal-metal separations of 3.4-3.5 A, corresponding to essentially localized magnetic electrons. The metal-metal separations in these weakly coupled dimers are elongated as a consequence of Coulombic repulsion, which profoundly influences (and destabilizes) the gas-phase structures for such dimers; nevertheless, the intermetallic interactions in the V-containing dimers involve significantly greater metal-metal bonding character than in the analogous Cr-containing dimers. These observations all show good agreement with existing experimental (solid state) results for the chloride-bridged, face-shared dimers V(2)Cl(9)(5-) and V(2)Cl(3)(thf)(6)(+). In contrast to the V-containing dimers, complexes featuring only Nb and Ta have much shorter intermetallic distances (approximately 2.4 A) consistent with d-electron delocalization and formal metal-metal triple bond formation; again, good agreement is found with available experimental data. Calculations on the complexes V(2)(mu-Cl)(3)(dme)(6)(+), Nb(2)(mu-dms)(3)Cl(6)(2-), and Ta(2)(mu-dms)(3)Cl(6)(2-), which are closely related to compounds for which crystallographic structural data exist, have been pursued and provide an insight into the intermetallic interactions in the experimentally characterized complexes. Analysis of the contributions from d-orbital overlap (E(ovlp)) stabilization, as well as spin polarization (exchange) stabilization of localized d electrons (E(spe)), has also been attempted for the MM'Cl(9)(5-) dimers. While E(ovlp) clearly dominates over E(spe) as a stabilizing factor in those dimers containing only Nb and Ta metal atoms, detailed assessment of the competition between E(ovlp) and E(spe) for V-containing dimers is obstructed by the instability of triply bonded V-containing dimers against Coulombic explosion. On the basis of the periodic trends in E(ovlp) versus E(spe), the V-triad dimers have a greater propensity for metal-metal bonding than do their Cr-triad or Mn-triad counterparts.     

Bonding analyses, formation energies, and vibrational properties of M-R2dtc complexes (M=Ag(I), Ni(II), Cu(II), or Zn(II))

Detailed theoretical studies based on density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP calculations of dimethyl- and diethyldithiocarbamate complexes of Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ag(I) are performed to characterize the metal-ligand bonding type as well as the metal-ligand bonding strength depending on the metal and the dialkyl substituent. The metal-ligand interactions in the studied complexes are investigated by means of charge decomposition analysis, energy partitioning analysis (EPA), and natural bond orbital analysis. According to the EPA calculations, the electrostatic attraction is the dominant contribution to the M-S2(R2dtc) (dtc=dithiocarbamate) bonding. The electrostatic and the orbital energies follow the order of the total binding energy, and hence both contributions are responsible for the binding energy order of M(R2dtc)2 complexes. The stability of the M(R2dtc)2 complexes is estimated by means of calculated formation reaction energies in the gas phase and solution, and it decreases in the order Ni(R2dtc)2>Cu(R2dtc)2>Zn(R2dtc)2. Larger formation reaction energies are found for M(Et2dtc)2 than for M(Me2dtc)2 complexes. The calculations predict stabilization of M(II)(R2dtc)2 complexes going from the gas phase to a polar solvent and destabilization of the bidentate AgR2dtc complex in a polar solvent. Gas-phase frequency calculations of all possible bonding types, symmetrical, asymmetrical, and uni- and bidentate, predict one band due to the nu(CS) IR absorption, and therefore the number of the bands in the 1060-920 cm(-1) region could not be used to discern the metal-ligand bonding type. Periodic DFT frequency calculations for Cu(Et2dtc)2 reveal that the splitting observed in the solid-state spectra of the complexes arises from the nonplanar MS4 fragment and intermolecular contacts but not from asymmetrical bonding. The calculations suggest that the important vibrational characteristic that can be used to discern uni- and bidentate bonding is the Raman activity of the nu(CS) band: It is very high for the unidentate dtc bonding (nu(C=S)) and low for the bidentate bonding (nuas(CS)).     

Metal-metal interactions in mixed-valence [M2Cl9]2- species: electronic structure of d1d2 (V, Nb, Ta) and d4d5 (Fe, Ru, Os) face-shared systems

The molecular and electronic structures of mixed-valence d1d2 (V, Nb, Ta) and d4d5 (Fe, Ru, Os) face-shared [M2Cl(9)]2- dimers have been calculated by density functional methods in order to investigate metal-metal bonding in this series. General similarities are observed between d1d2 and d4d5 systems and can be considered to reflect the electron-hole equivalence of the individual d1-d5 and d2-d4 configurations. The electronic structures of the dimers have been analyzed using potential energy curves for the broken-symmetry and other spin states resulting from the d1d2 and d4d5 coupling modes. In general, a spin-doublet (S = 1/2) state, characterized by delocalization of the metal-based electrons in a metal-metal bond with a formal order of 1.5, is favored in the systems containing 4d and 5d metals, namely, the Nb, Ta, Ru, and Os dimers. In contrast, the calculated ground structures for [V2Cl9]2- and [Fe2Cl9]2- correspond to a spin-quartet (S = 3/2) state involving weaker coupling between the metal centers and electron localization. In the case of [Ru2Cl9]2-, both the spin-doublet and spin-quartet states are predicted to be energetically favored suggesting that this species may exhibit double-minima behavior. A comparison of computational results across the (d1d1, d1d2, d2d2) [Nb2Cl9]z- and [Ta2Cl9]z- and (d4d4, d4d5, d5d5) [Ru2Cl9]z- and [Os2Cl9]z- series has revealed that, in all four cases, the shortening of the metal-metal distances correlates with an increase in formal metal-metal bond order.     

Theory of late-transition-metal alkyl and heteroatom bonding: analysis of Pt, Ru, Ir, and Rh complexes

Density functional and correlated ab initio methods were used to calculate, compare, and analyze bonding interactions in late-transition-metal alkyl and heteroatom complexes (M-X). The complexes studied include: (DMPE)Pt(CH(3))(X) (DMPE = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane), Cp*Ru(PMe(3))(2)(X) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), (DMPE)(2)Ru(H)(X), (Tp)(CO)Ru(Py)(X) (Tp = trispyrazolylborate), (PMe(3))(2)Rh(C(2)H(4))(X), and cis-(acac)(2)Ir(Py)(X) (acac = acetylacetonate). Seventeen X ligands were analyzed that include alkyl (CR(3)), amido (NR(2)), alkoxo (OR), and fluoride. Energy decomposition analysis of these M-X bonds revealed that orbital charge transfer stabilization provides a straightforward model for trends in bonding along the alkyl to heteroatom ligand series (X = CH(3), NH(2), OH, F). Pauli repulsion (exchange repulsion), which includes contributions from closed-shell d(π)-p(π) repulsion, generally decreases along the alkyl to heteroatom ligand series but depends on the exact M-X complexes. It was also revealed that stabilizing electrostatic interactions generally decrease along this ligand series. Correlation between M-X and H-X bond dissociation energies is good with R(2) values between 0.7 and 0.9. This correlation exists because for both M-X and H-X bonds the orbital stabilization energies are a function of the orbital electronegativity of the X group. The greater than 1 slope when correlating M-X and H-X bond dissociation energies was traced back to differences in Pauli repulsion and electrostatic stabilization.     

The Gauche Effect in XCH2CH2X Revisited

We have quantum chemically investigated the rotational isomerism of 1,2-dihaloethanes XCH₂CH₂X (X = F, Cl, Br, I) at ZORA-BP86-D3(BJ)/QZ4P. Our Kohn-Sham molecular orbital (KS-MO) analyses reveal that hyperconjugative orbital interactions favor the gauche conformation in all cases (X = F−I), not only for X = F as in the current model of this so-called gauche effect. We show that, instead, it is the interplay of hyperconjugation with Pauli repulsion between lone-pair-type orbitals on the halogen substituents that constitutes the causal mechanism for the gauche effect. Thus, only in the case of the relatively small fluorine atoms, steric Pauli repulsion is too weak to overrule the gauche preference of the hyperconjugative orbital interactions. For the larger halogens, X⋅⋅⋅X steric Pauli repulsion becomes sufficiently destabilizing to shift the energetic preference from gauche to anti, despite the opposite preference of hyperconjugation.     

Shifting Paradigms: Electrostatic Interactions and Covalent Bonding

The role of electrostatic interactions in covalent bonding of heavier main group elements has been evaluated for the exemplary set of molecules X₂H₂ (X=C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb). Density functional calculations at PBE/QZ4P combined with energy decomposition procedures and kinetic energy density analyses have been carried out for a variety of different structures, and two factors are responsible for the fact that the heavier homologues of acetylene exhibit doubly hydrogen‐bridged local minimum geometries. For one, the extended electronic core with at least one set of p orbitals of the Group 14 elements beyond the first long period is responsible for favorable electrostatic E–H interactions. This electrostatic interaction is the strongest for the isomer with two bridging hydrogen atoms. Secondly, the H substituent does not posses an electronic core or any bonding‐inactive electrons, which would give rise to a significant amount of Pauli repulsion, disfavoring the doubly bridged isomer. When one of two criteria is not met the unusual doubly bridged structure no longer constitutes the energetically preferred geometry. The bonding model is validated in calculations of different structures of Si₂(CH₃)₂.     

Density functional investigation of metal-metal interactions in d4d4 face-shared [M2Cl9]3 - (M = Mn, Tc, Re) systems

The molecular and electronic structures of the d(4)d(4) face-shared [M(2)Cl(9)](3)(-) (M = Mn, Tc, Re) dimers have been calculated by density functional methods in order to investigate metal-metal bonding in this series. The electronic structures of these systems have been analyzed using potential energy curves for the broken-symmetry and other spin states arising from the various d(4)d(4) coupling modes, and closed energy cycles have been utilized to identify and quantify the parameters which are most important in determining the preference for electron localization or delocalization and for high-spin or low-spin configurations. In [Tc(2)Cl(9)](3)(-) and [Re(2)Cl(9)](3)(-), the global minimum has been found to be a spin-triplet state arising from the coupling of metal centers with low-spin configurations, and characterized by delocalization of the metal-based electrons in a double (sigma and delta(pi)) bond with a metal-metal separation of 2.57 A. In contrast, high-spin configurations and electron localization are favored in [Mn(2)Cl(9)](3)(-), the global minimum for this species being the ferromagnetic S = 4 state with a rather long metal-metal separation of 3.43 A. These results are consistent with metal-metal overlap and ligand-field effects prevailing over spin polarization effects in the Tc and Re systems, but with the opposite trend being observed in the Mn complex. The ground states and metal-metal bonding observed for the d(4)d(4) systems in this study parallel those previously found for the analogous d(2)d(2) complexes of V, Nb, and Ta, and can be rationalized on the basis that the d(4)d(4) dimer configuration is the hole equivalent of the d(2)d(2) configuration.     

Anionic Halomolybdate(III) Chemistry. Tetrahydrofuran Loss from [MoX(3)Y(THF)(2)](-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I), Preparation and Properties of [Mo(3)X(12)](3)(-) (X = Br, I), and Crystal Structure of the Edge-Sharing Trioctahedral [PPh(4)](3)[Mo(3)I(12)

By interaction of MoX(3)(THF)(3) with [Cat]X in THF, the salts [Cat][MoX(4)(THF)(2)] have been synthesized [X = I, Cat = PPh(4), NBu(4), NPr(4), (Ph(3)P)(2)N; X = Br, Cat = NBu(4), PPh(4) (Ph(3)P)(2)N]. Mixed-halide species [MoX(3)Y(THF)(2)](-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) have also been generated in solution and investigated by (1)H-NMR. When the tetraiodo, tetrabromo, and mixed bromoiodo salts are dissolved in CH(2)Cl(2), clean loss of all coordinated THF is observed by (1)H-NMR. On the other hand, [MoCl(4)(THF)(2)](-) loses only 1.5 THF/Mo. The salts [Cat](3)[Mo(3)X(12)] (X = Br, I) have been isolated from [Cat][MoX(4)(THF)(2)] or by running the reaction between MoX(3)(THF)(3) and [Cat]X directly in CH(2)Cl(2). The crystal structure of [PPh(4)](3)[Mo(3)I(12)] exhibits a linear face-sharing trioctahedron for the trianion: triclinic, space group P&onemacr;; a = 11.385(2), b = 12.697(3), c = 16.849(2) ?; alpha = 76.65(2), beta = 71.967(12), gamma = 84.56(2) degrees; Z = 1; 431 parameters and 3957 data with I > 2sigma(I). The metal-metal distance is 3.258(2) ?. Structural and magnetic data are consistent with the presence of a metal-metal sigma bond order of (1)/(2) and with the remaining 7 electrons being located in 7 substantially nonbonding orbitals. The ground state of the molecule is predicted to be subject to a Jahn-Teller distortion, which is experimentally apparent from the nature of the thermal ellipsoid of the central Mo atom. The [Mo(3)X(12)](3)(-) ions reacts with phosphines (PMe(3), dppe) to form products of lower nuclearity by rupture of the bridging Mo-X bonds.     

Chemical structures from the analysis of domain-averaged Fermi holes: multiple metal-metal bonding in transition metal compounds

The recently proposed approach based on the analysis of domain-averaged Fermi holes was applied to the study of the nature of metal-metal bonding in transition metal complexes and clusters. The main emphasis was put on the scrutiny of the systems assumed to contain direct multiple metal-metal bonds. The studied systems involve: (1) systems of the type M(2)X(6) (M = Mo, W, X = CH(3)) anticipated to contain metal-metal triple bonds; (2) the molecule of W(2)Cl(8) ((4-)) as the representative of the systems with quadruple metal-metal bonding; (3) diatomic molecules Mo(2) and V(2) considered as the potential candidates for higher than quadruple metal-metal bonding. Although the resulting picture of bonding has been usually shown to agree with the original expectations based on early simple MO models, some examples were also found in which the conclusions of the reported analysis display dramatic sensitivity to the quality of the wave function used for the generation of the Fermi holes. In addition to this we also report some examples where the original theoretical predictions of multiplicity of metal-metal bonds have to be corrected.     

Oxidation of Ni3(dpa)4Cl2 and Cu3(dpa)4Cl2: nickel-nickel bonding interaction,but no copper-copper bonds

Of the known trinuclear dipyridylamido complexes of the first-row transition metals, M(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (dpa is the anion of di(2-pyridyl)amine, M = Cr, Co, Ni, Cu), the one-electron-oxidation products of only Cr(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) and Co(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) have been isolated previously. Here we report one-electron-oxidation products of Ni(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (1) and Cu(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (3): Ni(3)(dpa)(4)(PF(6))(3) (2) and [Cu(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2)]SbCl(6) (4). While there are no Ni-Ni bonds in 1, the Ni-Ni distances in 2 are 0.15 A shorter than those in 1, very suggestive of metal-metal bonding interactions. In contrast, the oxidation of 3 to 4 is accompanied by a lengthening of the Cu-Cu distances, as expected for an increase in electrostatic charge between positively charged nonbonded metal ions, which is further evidence against Cu-Cu bonding in either 3 or 4. A qualitative model of the electronic structures of all [M(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2)](n+) (n = 0, 1) compounds is presented and discussed.     

M2(hpp)4Cl2 and M2(hpp)4, where M = Mo and W: preparations, structure and bonding, and comparisons with C2, C2H2, and C2Cl2 and the hypothetical molecules M2(hpp)4(H)2

The reaction between M(2)Cl(2)(NMe(2))(4), where M = Mo or W, and Hhpp (8 equiv) in a solid-state melt reaction at 150 degrees C yields the compounds M(2)(hpp)(4)Cl(2) 1a (M = Mo) and 1b (M = W), respectively, by the elimination of HNMe(2) [hpp is the anion derived from deprotonation of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, Hhpp]. Purification of 1a and 1b is achieved by sublimation of the excess Hhpp and subsequent recrystallization from either CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3) (or CDCl(3)). By single-crystal X-ray crystallography, the structures of 1a and 1b are shown to contain a central paddlewheel-like M(2)(hpp)(4) core with Mo-Mo = 2.1708(8) A (from CH(2)Cl(2)), 2.1574(5) A (from CDCl(3)), W-W = 2.2328(2) A (from CDCl(3)), and M-N = 2.09(1) (av) A. The Cl ligands are axially ligated (linear Cl-M-M-Cl) with abnormally long M-Cl bond distances that, in turn, depend on the presence or absence of hydrogen bonding to chloroform. The quadruply bonded compounds M(2)(hpp)(4), 2a (M = Mo), and 2b (M = W), can be prepared from the reactions between 1,2-M(2)R(2)(NMe(2))(4) compounds, where R = (i)()Bu or p-tolyl, and Hhpp (4 equiv) in benzene by ligand replacement and reductive elimination. The compounds 2a and 2b are readily oxidized, and in chloroform they react to form 1a and 1b, respectively. The electronic structure and bonding in the compounds 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b have been investigated using gradient corrected density functional theory employing Gaussian 98. The bonding in the M-M quadruply bonded compounds, 2a and 2b, reveals M-M delta(2) HOMOs and extensive mixing of M-M pi and nitrogen ligand lone-pair orbitals in a manner qualitatively similar to that of the M(2)(formamidinates)(4). The calculations indicate that in the chloride compounds, 1a and 1b, the HOMO is strongly M-Cl sigma antibonding and weakly M-M sigma bonding in character. Formally there is a M-M triple bond of configuration pi(4)sigma(2), and the LUMO is the M-M delta orbital. An interesting mixing of M-M and M-Cl pi interactions occurs, and an enlightening analogy emerges between these d(4)-d(4) and d(3)-d(3) dinuclear compounds and the bonding in C(2), C(2)H(2), and C(2)Cl(2), which is interrogated herein by simple theoretical calculations together with the potential bonding in axially ligated compounds where strongly covalent M-X bonds are present. The latter were represented by the model compounds M(2)(hpp)(4)(H)(2). On the basis of calculations, we estimate the reactions M(2)(hpp)(4) + X(2) to give M(2)(hpp)(4)X(2) to be enthalpically favorable for X = Cl but not for X = H. These results are discussed in terms of the recent work of Cotton and Murillo and our attempts to prepare parallel-linked oligomers of the type [[bridge]-[M(2)]-](n)().     

Analysis of competing bonding parameters. Part 2. The structure of halosilanes and halogermanes (MH4−nXn,n=1–4; M=Si,Ge; X=F,Cl, Br)

A qualitative rationalization of bonding patterns in halosilanes and halogermanes (MH_4−nX_n, n=1–4; M=Si, Ge; X=F, Cl, Br) is presented. Geometrical and bonding properties in these molecules are discussed on the basis of ab initio molecular orbital calculations employing the natural bond orbital population analysis. The results have been compared with data derived previously for halomethanes. Differences in the n-dependence of the M–Cl and M–Br bond lengths for M=C, Si, Ge are explained by a significant reduction in the closed-shell repulsion between the halide atoms. As M gets larger, a continuous decrease in the X–M–X bond angle is observed. Small bond angles (for n=2, 3) are favoured by the p-rich M orbitals in the M–X bonds. They are opposed, however, by the X⋯X repulsion. As M gets larger, the X⋯X separation for a given bond angle increases. A reduction in the X–M–X bond angle is therefore accomplished without overcompensation due to the X⋯X repulsion energy. The variation in the charge density at M as a function of n has been rationalized by differences in the electronegativity of the terminal atoms H and X. Dipole moments have been computed for the molecules in the series. As in the fluoromethanes, a maximum in the dipole moments at n=2 is explained by a combination of geometric and electronic properties unique to the fluoro-compounds. These are, an n-independent charge density at the F sites and a significant decrease in the M–F bond distance as n increases.