Conformational effects, molecular orbitals, and reaction activities of bis(phthalocyaninato) lanthanum double-deckers: density functional theory calculations

The conformational effects on the frontier molecular orbital energy and stability for reduced, neutral, and oxidized bis(phthalocyaninato) lanthanum double-deckers have been revealed on the basis of density functional theory calculations. Calculation results indicate that the frontier orbital coupling degree changes along with the molecular conformation of the double-decker compound, first decreasing along with the increase of rotation angle β from 0 to 20° and then increasing along with the increase of rotation angle β from 20 to 45°. In addition, the stability for the three forms of double-decker changes in the same order, but first increasing and then decreasing along with the change of the rotation angle β in the range of 0 to 45° with a rotation energy barrier of (31.3 ± 3.1) kJ mol(-1) at 20°. This reveals that the rotation of the two phthalocyanine rings for the reduced, neutral, and oxidized bis(phthalocyaninato) lanthanum double-deckers are able to occur at room temperature. Nevertheless, the superior coordination reaction activity of the neutral bis(phthalocyaninato) lanthanum double-decker complex over their reduced form in forming sandwich-type tris(phthalocyaninato) lanthanum triple-decker compounds has also been clearly clarified on the basis of comparative calculations on the Fukui function of [La(Pc)(2)] and [La(Pc)(2)](-) using the DFT method. Fukui function analysis reveals the reaction center of the 18-electron-π-conjugated core in the bis(phthalocyaninato) lanthanum double-decker molecule against both electrophilic and radical attack. Nevertheless, the larger global chemical softness (S) for the neutral [La(Pc)(2)] than the reduced form [La(Pc)(2)](-) indicates the higher reaction activity of the former form over the latter one. This explains well the experimental findings that only the neutral instead of the reduced form of bis(tetrapyrrole) rare earth double-decker complexes, containing at least one phthalocyanine ligand, could be employed as starting materials towards the preparation of tris(tetrapyrrole) rare earth triple-decker complexes by a solution process.     

Structures and spectroscopic properties of meso-tetrasubstituted porphyrin complexes: Meso-substitutional and central metallic effect study based on density functional theory calculations

Effects of the meso-substituents and central metals on the molecular structures, atomic charges, molecular orbital energy gaps, electronic absorption spectra, and infrared (IR) spectra of 12 meso-tetrasubstituted porphyrin complexes including metal-free porphyrins H₂P or (Por = TPP, TFPP, TClPP, TPyP) (1–4) and their metal complexes MPor (M = Mg, Zn; Por = TPP, TFPP, TClPP, TPyP) (5–12) [TPP = meso-tetrakis(phenyl)porphyrinate; TFPP = meso-tetrakis(4-fluorophenyl)porphyrinate; TClPP = meso-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrinate; TPyP = meso-tetrakis(4-pyridyl) porphyrinate] are systematically studied by density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Good consistency was found between the calculated molecular structures and the experimental X-ray crystallography ones for 1, 3, and 4, and between the simulated electronic absorption and IR spectra and the experimental ones for 1 and 4. The calculation results reveal that introducing substituents at the meso positions of porphyrin induces increasing change in the molecular structures, atomic charges distribution, HOMO and LUMO energy, electronic absorption spectra, and IR spectra along with the increase in the electron-withdrawing ability of substituents in the order of phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, and pyridyl group. Furthermore, the central metal in porphyrins displays much significant influence on the structure and spectroscopic properties of meso-substituted porphyrin complexes. The electronic absorption and IR spectra of 1–12 are compared and assigned in detail. The present work should be not only helpful towards understanding the meso-substitutional and central metallic effects on the structure and spectroscopic properties of meso-substituted porphyrin complexes, but also useful in correctly assigning electronic absorption and IR spectra for porphyrin complexes.     

Structures and spectral properties of heteroleptic copper (I) complexes: A theoretical study based on density functional theory

The structures and electronic absorption spectra of newly synthesized heteroleptic copper (I) complexes [CuL₁L₂]⁺ (L₁ = phen-imidazole and/or L₂ = dipyrido [3,2-a:2’,3’-c] phenazine derivatives) are analyzed under the light of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The ground states geometries, characterized by π-stacking interactions, have been optimized using PBE-D functional taking into account dispersion correction. The UV-visible theoretical absorption spectra have been calculated using B3LYP functional in vacuum and taking into account solvent corrections by means of the polarized continuum model (PCM). Whereas the PBE-D functional is well adapted to the determination of the structures, it does underestimate drastically the transition energies. The spectra are characterized by high density of states, mainly metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT) and intra-ligand (IL), between 600 nm and 250 nm. Most of the complexes show an intense band in the near-UV energy domain (～320 nm) corresponding to an IL transition. The lowest part of the absorption spectra, starting at 600 nm, corresponds to MLCT transitions leading to a shoulder observed experimentally between 400 and 500 nm. The upper part of the spectra, beyond 300 nm, puts in evidence strong mixing between ligand-to-ligand-charge-transfer (LLCT), IL and MLCT states.     

Vibrational spectra of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium(III) double-decker complexes: Density functional theory calculations

The vibrational (IR and Raman) spectra of neutral and reduced mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium(III) double-decker complexes Y(Pc)(Por) and [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ [the simplified models of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) rare earth(III) complexes] are studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The simulated IR and Raman spectra of Y(Pc)(Por) are compared with the experimental IR spectrum of Tb(Pc)(TClPP) and Raman spectrum of Y(Pc)(TClPP), respectively, and many bands can acceptably fit in spite of the different species. On the basis of comparison with the simulated spectra of PbPc and PbPor together with the assistance of normal coordinate analysis, the calculated frequencies in their IR and Raman spectra are identified in terms of the vibrational mode of different ligand for the first time. The calculated frequency at 1048 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectrum of [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ with contribution from both Pc and Por vibrational modes is the characteristic IR vibrational mode of the reduced double-decker, while the characteristic IR vibrational mode of Y(Pc)(Por) attributed from the vibration of phthalocyanine monoanion radical Pc⁻ appears at 1257 cm⁻¹. In line with our previous experimental findings that the Raman spectra of M(Pc)(TPP) and M(Pc)(TClPP) are dominated by the Pc vibrational modes, theoretical calculations indicate that most of the Raman vibrational modes contributed from Por ring are covered up by those of Pc ring and thus are hard to be recognized in the Raman spectra of [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ and Y(Pc)(Por) due to their much weaker intensity in comparison with that of Pc ligand. Comparison in the IR and Raman spectra between [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ and Y(Pc)(Por) also suggests the localization of hole on the Pc ring in the neutral double-decker Y(Pc)(Por). The present work, representing the first detailed DFT study on the vibrational spectra of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) rare earth(III) double-decker complexes, is useful in helping to understand the vibrational spectroscopic properties of this series of mixed tetrapyrrole ring complexes.     

Structures and properties of 1,8,15,22-tetrasubstituted phthalocyaninato-lead complexes: the substitutional effect study based on density functional theory calculations

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations were carried out to comparatively describe the molecular structures, molecular orbital energy gaps, atomic charges, infrared (IR) and Raman spectra, and UV-vis spectra of PbPc (1), PbPc(alpha-OC2H5)4 (2), and PbPc(alpha-OC5H11)4 (3) {Pc2- = dianion of phthalocyanine; [Pc(alpha-OC2H5)4]2- = dianion of 1,8,15,22-tetra-ethoxyphthalocyanine; [Pc(alpha-OC5H11)4]2- = dianion of 1,8,15,22-tetrakis(3-pentyloxy)phthalocyanine}. The calculated structural data of compounds 1 and 3 and the simulated IR and UV-vis spectra of 3 are compared with X-ray crystallography molecular structures and the experimental absorption spectra respectively to verify the performance of the B3LYP method and the LANL2DZ basis set. Substitution of bulky alkoxy groups at the nonperipheral positions of the phthalocyanine ring adds obvious effect to the molecular structure of phthalocyaninato lead compounds by deflecting the isoindole units in the direction that the isoindole units extends and distorting them in the C4 axis direction due to the steric hindrance. Both the calculated IR and UV-vis absorption spectra of 3 correspond well with the experimental results.     

Location of the hole and acid proton in neutral nonprotonated and protonated mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium double-decker complexes: density functional theory calculations

The location of the hole and acid proton in neutral nonprotonated and protonated mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium double-decker complexes, respectively, is studied on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the molecular structures, molecular orbitals, atomic charges, and electronic absorption and infrared spectra of the neutral, reduced, and two possible protonated species of a mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium compound: [(Pc)Y(Por)], [(Pc)Y(Por)]-, [(HPc)Y(Por)], and [(Pc)Y(HPor)], respectively. When the neutral [(Pc)Y(Por)] is reduced to [(Pc)Y(Por)]-, the calculated results on the molecular structure, atomic charge, and electronic absorption and infrared spectra show that the added electron has more influence on the Pc ring than on its Por counterpart, suggesting that the location of the hole is on the Pc ring in neutral [(Pc)Y(Por)]. Nevertheless, comparison of the calculation results on the structure, orbital composition, charge distribution, and electronic absorption and infrared spectra between [(HPc)Y(Por)] and [(Pc)Y(HPor)] leads to the conclusion that the acid proton in the protonated mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium compound should be localized on the Por ring rather than the Pc ring, despite the localization of the hole on the Pc ring in [(Pc)Y(Por)]. This result is in line with the trend revealed by comparative studies of the X-ray single-crystal molecular structures between [MIII{Pc(alpha-OC5H11)4}(TClPP)] and [M(III)H{Pc(alpha-OC5H11)4}(TClPP)] (H2TClPP=5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin; M=Sm, Eu). The present work not only represents the first systemic DFT study on the structures and properties of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium double-decker complexes, but more importantly sheds further light on the nature of protonated bis(tetrapyrrole) rare-earth complexes.     

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and density functional theory studies on the reactions of yttrium and lanthanum hydrides with dinitrogen

Laser-ablated yttrium and lanthanum hydrides have been codeposited at 4 K with dinitrogen in excess argon. Products, HY(N2), HYNN, H2YNN, HLaNN, and H2LaNN, have been formed in the present experiments and characterized by using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, and comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of these molecules.     

Structures and vibrational spectroscopic parameters of selenoxopropanedinitrile and selenoxosilanedicarbonitrile: Theoretical study based on density functional theory method

The molecular structures and vibrational spectra in harmonic and anharmonic approximations have been studied for selenoxopropanedinitrile and selenoxosilanedicarbonitrile in the gas phase. Density functional theory method with B3LYP functional and cc‐pVTZ basis set has been employed. Optimized structural parameters and spectroscopic constants, namely, anharmonic, rotational and centrifugal distortion, rotation–vibration coupling, and Coriolis coupling parameters, are reported. Infrared vibrational and Raman frequencies are provided with complete assignments to the fundamental bands, overtones, and combination tones of the molecules. This study shows that silicon for carbon substitution affects mainly those properties that are dependent on the CSe bond. The literature for these molecules is not available and therefore the data from this work would be suitable for their characterizations as and when they are synthesized. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:208–217, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20535     

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and density functional theory studies on the reactions of yttrium and lanthanum hydrides with carbon monoxide

Laser-ablated yttrium and lanthanum hydrides have been co-deposited at 4 K with carbon monoxide in excess argon. Products, such as HYCO, (HY)2CO, HLaCO, HLa(CO)2, and H2LaCO, have been formed in the present experiments and characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and the comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed to account for the formation of these molecules.     

Infrared spectroscopic and density functional theory studies on the reactions of yttrium and lanthanum atoms with nitrous oxide in excess argon

Reactions of laser-ablated Y and La atoms with N2O molecules in excess argon have been investigated using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy. Metal monoxide-dinitrogen complexes, OM(N2) (M = Y, La) and OYNN, have been formed during sample deposition and identified on the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, and CCl4-doping experiments. The OYNN(+) and OLaNN(+) cation complexes appear during sample deposition and increase visibly upon broad-band irradiation (lambda > 250 nm) at the expense of the neutral metal monoxide-dinitrogen complexes. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on the products. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these species from the matrix infrared spectra. Furthermore, a plausible reaction mechanism for the formation of these products has been proposed.     

Influence of the central metal on the structural,electronic, and spectroscopic properties of naphthalocyanine complexes: density functional theory calculations

A series of metal naphthalocyanine complexes (M = TiO²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ru²⁺) have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT methods in vacuo and in the solvent dimethylsulfoxide in order to evaluate the influence of the different metal atoms on the geometries and optical properties of their complexes. The optimized geometries for the complexes without an axial ligand exhibit planar conformations. Most of the absorption bands of the metal complexes are blue-shifted compared to those of the metal-free naphthalocyanine, both in vacuo and in the solvent. The various transition metals could gradually tune the electronic and spectroscopic properties of their naphthalocyanine complexes, which may provide valuable information for tuning the properties of naphthalocyanine complexes for various applications.     

Infra-red and Raman spectroscopic study of tetra-substituted bis(phthalocyaninato) rare earth complexes peripherally substituted with tert-butyl derivatives

The infra-red spectroscopic data for a series of 13 homoleptic substituted bis(phthalocyaninato) rare earth complexes with tervalent rare earths M(III)(TBPc)(2) [M=Y, Pr, ..., Lu except La, Ce and Pm; TBPc=dianion of 3(4),12(13),21(22),30(31)-tetra(tert-butyl)-phthalocyanine] have been collected with resolution of 2 cm(-1). Raman spectroscopic properties in the range of 500-1,800 cm(-1) for these double-deckers M(III)(TBPc)(2) have been collected using laser excitation sources emitting at 632.8 nm. Both the IR and Raman spectra for M(III)(TBPc)(2) are more complicated than those of homoleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) rare earth analogues due to the decreased molecular symmetry of these double-decker compounds. For this series, the IR typical marker band of (TBPc)(-) appears as an intense absorption at 1,314-1,319 cm(-1), attributed to the pyrrole stretching. Under excitation at 632.8 nm that is in close resonance with the main Q absorption band of phthalocyanine ligand, typical Raman marker band of the monoanion radical (TBPc)(-) was observed at 1,515-1,530 cm(-1) resulting from aza CN stretching. Both techniques reveal that the frequencies of pyrrole stretching, isoindole breathing and aza stretchings depend on the rare earth ionic size, shifting to higher energy along with the lanthanide contraction due to the increased ring-ring interaction across the series.     

Uranium(VI) bis(imido) disulfonamide and dihalide complexes: Synthesis density functional theory analysis

Novel cis- and trans-bis(imido) uranium disulfonamide derivatives have been prepared from iodide metathesis reactions between two equivalents of K[N(Me)(SO₂Ar’)] (Ar’ = 4-Me-C₆H₄) and U(N^tBu)₂(I)₂(L)_x (L = OPPh₃, x = 2; Me₂bpy, x = 1; Me₂bpy = 4,4’-dimethyl-2,2’-bipyridyl). These bis(amide) derivatives serve as useful precursors for the synthesis of the trans-diphenolate complex U(N^tBu)₂(O-2-^tBuC₆H₄)₂(OPPh₃)₂ (5), cis- and trans-dithiolate complexes U(N^tBu)₂(SPh)₂(L)_x (L = OPPh₃ (6); Me₂bpy (7)), and cis- and trans-dihalide complexes with the general formulas U(N^tBu)₂(X)₂(L)_x (X = Cl, L = OPPh₃ (8), L = Me₂bpy (10); X = Br, L = OPPh₃ (9), L = Me₂bpy (11)). DFT calculations performed on the trans-dihalide series U(N^tBu)₂(X)₂(L)₂ and the UO₂²⁺ analogues UO₂X₂(OPPh₃)₂ suggest that the uranium centers in the [U(N^tBu)₂]²⁺ ions possess more covalent character than analogous UO₂²⁺ derivatives but that the U-X bonds in the U(N^tBu)₂X₂L₂ complexes possess a more ionic nature.     

Porphyrin-appended europium(III) bis(phthalocyaninato) complexes: synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties

Mixed cyclization of 3-mono-, 4-mono-, or 4,5-di(porphyrinated) phthalonitrile compounds 2, 3, or 6 and unsubstituted phthalonitrile with the half-sandwich complex [EuIII(acac)(Pc)] (Pc=phthalocyaninate, acac=acetylacetonate) as the template in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in n-pentanol afforded novel porphyrin-appended europium(III) bis(phthalocyaninato) complexes 7-9 in 30-40% yield. These mixed tetrapyrrole triads and tetrad were spectroscopically and electrochemically characterized and their photophysical properties were also investigated with steady-state and transient spectroscopic methods. It has been found that the fluorescence of the porphyrin moiety is quenched effectively by the double-decker unit through an intramolecular photoinduced electron-transfer process, which takes place in several hundred femtoseconds, while the recombination of the charge-separated state occurs in several picoseconds. By using different phthalocyanines containing different numbers of porphyrin substituents at the peripheral or nonperipheral position(s) of the ligand, while the other unsubstituted phthalocyanine remains unchanged in these double-deckers, the effects of the number and the position of the porphyrin substituents on these photophysical processes were also examined.     

Thin-film transistors based on Langmuir-Blodgett films of heteroleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) rare earth complexes

An ordered molecular assembly of heteroleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) rare earth complexes M(Pc)[Pc(OC8H17)8] [M = Tb, Lu; H2Pc = phthalocyanine; H2Pc(OC8H17)8 = 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(octyloxy)phthalocyanine] has been fabricated by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique and characterized by surface pressure-area isotherms, electronic absorption and polarized electronic absorption spectroscopy, low-angle X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The molecular ordering in the LB multilayer film on SiO2 substrate was made into a p-channel field effect transistor (FET), which was generally operated in the enhanced mode. The energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital as well as the energy band diagram can be deduced from the electrochemical measurement results. The charge mobilities of Tb(Pc)[Pc(OC8H17)8] and Lu(Pc)[Pc(OC8H17)8] were calculated to be about 6.4 x 10(-4) and 1.7 x 10(-3) cm2 V(-1) s(-1), respectively.     

Ab initio benchmark calculations on Ca(II) complexes and assessment of density functional theory methodologies

A set of benchmark results for the geometries, binding energies, and protonation affinities of 24 complexes of small organic ligands with Ca(II) is provided. The chosen level of theory is CCSD(T)/CBS obtained by means of a composite procedure. The performance of four density functionals, namely, PW91, PBE, B3LYP, and TPSS and several Pople-type basis sets, namely, 6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d), 6-31+G(2d,p) and 6-311+G(d) have been assessed. Additionally, the nature of the metal ligand bonding has been analyzed by means of the Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT). We have found that the B3LYP hybrid functional, in conjunction with either the polarized double-ζ 6-31+G(2d,p) or the triple-ζ 6-311+G(d) basis sets, yields the closest results compared to the benchmark data. The SAPT analysis stresses the importance of induction effects in the binding of these complexes and suggests that consideration of classical electrostatic contributions alone may not be reliable enough for the prediction of relative binding energies for Ca(II) complexes.     

Exploring odd-even effects of simple oligomer-like DRCNnT series: a study based on density functional theory/time-dependent density functional theory calculations

Odd-even effects of short-circuit current density and power conversion efficiency (PCE) are an interesting phenomenon in some organic solar cells. Although some explanations have been given, why they behave in such a way is still an open question. In the present work, we investigate a set of acceptor-donor-acceptor simple oligomer-like small molecules, named the DRCNnT (n = 5-9) series, to give an insight into this phenomenon because the solar cells based on them have high PCE (up to 10.08%) and show strong odd-even effects in experiments. By modeling the DRCNnT series and using density functional theory, we have studied the ground-state electronic structures of the DRCNnT (n = 5-9) series in condensed phase. The calculated results reproduce the experimental trends well. Furthermore, we find that the exciton-binding energies of the DRCNnT series may be one of the key parameters to explain this phenomenon because they also show odd-even effects. In addition, by studying the effects of alkyl branch and terminal group on odd-even effects of dipole moment, we find that eliminating one or two alkyl branches does not break the odd-even effects of dipole moments, but eliminating one or two terminal groups does. Finally, we conclude that removing one alkyl branch close to the terminal group of DRCN5T can decrease highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy (thus increasing open circuit voltage) and increase dipole moment (thus enhancing charge separation and short-circuit current). This could be a new and simple method to increase the PCE of DRCN5T-based solar cells.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterisation and structure of the first chiral heteroleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) rare earth complexes

Treatment of MIII(Pc)(acac) (M = Sm, Eu, Gd; Pc = phthalocyaninate; acac = acetylacetonate), generated in situ, with 3-(3-pentyloxy)phthalonitrile in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in n-pentanol affords racemic mixtures of the chiral double-deckers MIII(Pc)[Pc(OC5H11)4] [Pc(OC5H11)4 = 1,8,15,22-tetrakis(3-pentyloxy)phthalocyaninate], which have been spectroscopically and structurally characterised.     

Raman spectral study of metal-cytosine complexes: a density functional theoretical (DFT) approach

The fluctuation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra has been an obstacle to the analysis of the adsorbate on the metal surface. In this paper, we aim at using the density functional theory (DFT) to study the fluctuant Raman spectra of the cytosine molecule which interacts with a coinage metal atom or cation via N1 and N3 sites. The results show that the adsorption site strongly influences the Raman spectral property of cytosine molecule, especially the relative intensity of some bands. In addition, the SERS spectra of cytosine which is adsorbed on the gold, silver, and copper electrodes are measured, and the possible orientation and adsorption site of the cytosine molecule adsorbed on metal electrodes surface are proposed with the help of DFT simulations.