One-electron bonds in copper–aluminum and copper–gallium complexes

Odd-electron bonds have unique electronic structures and are often encountered as transiently stable, homonuclear species. In this study, a pair of copper complexes supported by Group 13 metalloligands, M[N((o-C₆H₄)NCH₂PⁱPr₂)₃] (M = Al or Ga), featuring two-center/one-electron (2c/1e) σ-bonds were synthesized by one-electron reduction of the corresponding Cu(i) ⇢ M(III) counterparts. The copper bimetallic complexes were investigated by X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, electron paramagnetic spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. The combined experimental and theoretical data corroborate that the unpaired spin is delocalized across Cu, M, and ancillary atoms, and the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) corresponds to a σ-(Cu–M) bond involving the Cu 4p_z and M ns/np_z atomic orbitals. Collectively, the data suggest the covalent nature of these interactions, which represent the first examples of odd-electron σ-bonds for the heavier Group 13 elements Al and Ga.

Hanging on by a thread. Formally zerovalent copper complexes with an Al(iii) or Ga(iii) support were investigated. The combined experimental and theoretical data corroborate the presence of an odd-electron σ-bond between Cu and the Group 13 center.

Odd-electron σ-bonds, where the electrons are delocalized between two atoms, can occur as two-center/one-electron (2c/1e) or two-center/three-electron (2c/3e) interactions. Proposed by Pauling in 1931,¹ odd-electron σ-bonds have garnered attention because of their fundamental importance to chemical bonding and their relationship to radical species generated during oxidative stress in biological systems.^2–14 Examples of compounds exhibiting odd-electron bonding are typically homonuclear (like H₂⁺, He₂⁺, and alkali metal dimers) and transiently stable, limiting them to spectroscopic characterization.^1,11,15–18The first solid-state structure of a formally one-electron σ-bond was a tetraphosphabenzene species (Fig. 1a) which was formed by the coupling of two diphosphirenyl radicals.¹⁹ Following this discovery, the formation of discrete 2c/1e σ-bonds, where the odd-electron is delocalized between two homonuclear main group centers, was reported for B·B and then extended to P·P.^8,17,20 Of note, the first solid-state structure of a B·B compound was reported in only 2014 (Fig. 1b).²¹ Examples of 2c/1e σ-bonds between the heavier Group 13 congeners are even more lacking because of the greater propensity for their unpaired spins to couple, forming larger more stable clusters.⁸ To our knowledge, there are only three structurally characterized examples of odd-electron bonds for the heavy Group 13 atoms,²² and these examples are all homonuclear π-radicals (Fig. 1c).^23–26Open in a separate windowFig. 1Select examples of structurally characterized molecules (a–d) featuring odd-electron bonds.Heteronuclear odd-electron σ-bonds are also rare. The Cu(TPB) complex, where TPB is a trisphosphinoborane, is the single structural example of a 2c/1e bond between heteroatoms (Fig. 1d).²⁷ The authors described the bonding as Cu·B, where the unpaired electron is heavily polarized toward B. A theoretical study predicted that such a bond would also exist between Cu and Al, but no heavier analogues of Cu(TPB) have been synthesized to date.²⁸ Furthermore, the heavier Group 13 elements by virtue of their lower electronegativity compared to B should facilitate greater covalent interactions with the Cu center.Hence, we sought to target formally zerovalent Cu complexes supported by Al(III) or Ga(III) as an extension of the previously reported isoelectronic nickelate species and Cu(TPB).²⁹ Herein, we describe the synthesis, structure, spectroscopic characterization, and DFT calculations of cationic [CuML]⁺ complexes (L = [N((o-C₆H₄)NCH₂PⁱPr₂)₃]³⁻; M = Al and Ga) as well as their one-electron reduced metalloradical counterparts that feature discrete 2c/1e bonds.     

Hydrogen bonds between hydrogen halides and unsaturated hydrocarbons

Ab initio molecular orbital theory is used to study geometrics and energies of hydrogen-bonded complexes between hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride (as proton donors) and acetylene, ethylene (as proton acceptors). Symmetrical T-shaped structures are found to be equilibrium structures for all four complexes. The strengths of the hydrogen bonds are found to be less than for conventional hydrogen bonds involving lone pairs of electrons.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bonds in complexones and their role in the formation of complexes with metals

Data on the shift of the¹H,¹³C, and¹⁵N signals during the protonation of complexones are analyzed with due regard to all the principal contributions to the chemical shift. Data are obtained on the structure of the mono- and diprotonated forms of the complexones in aqueous solutions, and the structure of the complexones in the crystals and solutions is compared. It is shown that the proton assembles all the donating groups of the complexone into a single coordination unit and creates a matrix, in which the metal complex is formed.Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 323–329, May–June, 1991. Original article submitted February 15, 1991.     

The role of hydrogen bonds in Baeyer-Villiger reactions

Various Baeyer-Villiger (B-V) oxidation reactions were examined by density functional theory calculations. Proton movements in transition states (TSs) of the two key steps, the nucleophilic addition of a peroxyacid molecule to a ketone (TS1) and the migration-cleavage of O-O (TS3), were discussed. A new TS of a hydrogen-bond rearrangement in the Criegee intermediate (TS2) was found. The hydrogen-bond directionality requires a trimer of the peroxyacid molecules at the nucleophilic addition of a peroxyacid molecule to a ketone TS (TS1). At the migration-cleavage of O-O TS (TS3), also three peroxyacid molecules are needed. Elementary processes of the B-V reaction were determined by the use of the (acetone and (H-CO-OOH)n, n=3) system. The geometries of the nucleophilic addition of a peroxyacid molecule to a ketone TS (TS1) and the migration-cleavage of O-O TS (TS3) in the trimer (n=3) participating are nearly insensitive to the substituent on the peroxyacid. The directionality is satisfied in those geometries. The migration-cleavage of O-O TS (TS3) was found to be rate-determining in reactions, [Me2C=O+(H-CO-OOH)3], [Me2C=O+(F3C-CO-OOH)3], and [Me2C=O+(MCPBA)3]. In contrast, the nucleophilic addition of a peroxyacid molecule to a ketone (TS1) is rate-determining in the reaction, [Ph(Me)C=O+(H-CO-OOH)3].     

Ionizing properties of complexes with strong symmetrical hydrogen bonds in acid solutions in aprotic solvents

The acidity functions H₀ of solutions of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in DMF and methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in 2-pyrrolidone over an acid (HA) concentration range of 0–100% and of H₂SO₄ solutions in 2-pyrrolidone (66.7–100 mol % HA) at 25°C were determined using the indicator method. Data were obtained on the relative ionizing powers of the quasi-ion pairs S· · · H· · ·A (S is a solvent molecule) formed by DMF with acids (HCl, MSA, and TFA) and by MSA with DMF and 2-pyrrolidone. The effects of the acid anion (with MSA and H₂SO₄ solutions in 2-pyrrolidone acting as examples) and the counterion SH⁺ (with MSA solutions in DMF and 2-pyrrolidone acting as examples) on the ionizing power of (Ä · · ·H· · ·A)^– ions with strong symmetrical H-bonds were studied. It was found that, under comparable conditions, the replacement of a 2-pyrrolidone molecule by a DMF molecule in the SH⁺ cation insignificantly decreased the acidity of solution, whereas the (Ä· · ·H· · ·A)^– ions in H₂SO₄ solutions exhibited a much higher ionizing power than that of structurally similar anions in MSA solutions.Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2005, pp. 44–49.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kislina, Sysoeva, Librovich.     

Competition of hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds in complexes of hypohalous acids with nitrogenated bases

A theoretical study of the complexes formed by hypohalous acids (HOX, X = F, Cl, Br, I, and At) with three nitrogenated bases (NH 3, N 2, and NCH) has been carried out by means of ab initio methods, up to MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ computational method. In general, two minima complexes are found, one with an OH...N hydrogen bond and the other one with a X...N halogen bond. While the first one is more stable for the smallest halogen derivatives, the two complexes present similar stabilities for the iodine case and the halogen-bonded structure is the most stable one for the hypoastatous acid complexes.     

Some optical properties of aluminum and gallium niobate

The vibrational and electronic (diffuse reflection and luminescence) spectra of AlNbO₄ and GaNbO₄ are reported. They show features which deviate markedly from those observed for other niobates. In the vibrational spectra a very high frequency (?950 cm^?1) band is observed. The reflection spectra show an extended long-wavelength tail. The emission and excitation spectra of the luminescence contain more than one band. The thermal quenching temperature of the luminescence is relatively low. These phenomena have been related to peculiarities of the crystal structure, viz., a relatively short NbO distance and the presence of extended defects as shown recently be electron microscopy. A centrosymmetrical space group is proposed on the basis of the vibrational spectra.     

Metal complexes of a phenol-tailed porphyrin with different hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen bonds are very common and important interactions in biological systems, they are used to control the microenvironment around metal centers. It is a challenge to develop appropriate models for studying hydrogen bonds. We have synthesized two metal complexes of the phenol-tailed porphyrin, [Zn(HL)] and [Fe(HL)(C₆H₄(OH)(O))]. X-ray crystallography reveals that the porphyrin functions as a dianion HL^2? and the phenol OH is involved in hydrogen bonds in both structures. In [Zn(HL)], an intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed between the carbonyl oxygen and OH. In [Fe(HL)(C₆H₄(OH)(O))], the unligated O(5) of the ligand is involved in two hydrogen bonds, as a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor. The overall electronic effect on the ligand could be very small, with negligible impact on the structure and the spin state of iron(III). The structural differences caused by the hydrogen bonds are also discussed.     

Investigation of the hydrogen bonds between formaldehyde and hydrogen halides by pseudopotential Ab Initio method

The weak hydrogen bonded systems H₂CO ?HX (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) have been studied by means of ab initio MO method with pseudopotential approximation. The stabilization energies of these hydrogen bonds are 8.96, 4.12, 3.00, and 2.21 kcal/mol, respectively. The interaction eneraction energies are farther decomposed according to Morokuma's energy decomposing scheme. It is found that the title complexes are mainly electrostatic, although the contribution of charge transfer is also significant.     

The role of weak hydrogen bonds in chiral recognition

Chiral recognition has been studied in neutral or ionic weakly bound complexes isolated in the gas phase by combining laser spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Neutral complexes of the two enantiomers of lactic ester derivatives with chiral chromophores have been formed in a supersonic expansion. Their structure has been elucidated by means of IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy in the 3 μm region. In both systems described here, the main interaction ensuring the cohesion of the complex is a strong hydrogen bond between the chromophore and methyl-lactate. However, an additional hydrogen bond of much weaker strength plays a discriminative role between the two enantiomers. For example, the 1:1 heterochiral complex between R-(+)-2-naphthyl-ethanol and S-(+) methyl-lactate is observed, in contrast with the 1:1 homochiral complex which lacks this additional hydrogen bond. On the other hand, the same kind of insertion structures is formed for the complex between S-(±)-cis-1-amino-indan-2-ol and the two enantiomers of methyl-lactate, but an additional addition complex is formed for R-methyl-lactate only. This selectivity rests on the formation of a weak CHπ interaction which is not possible for the other enantiomer. The protonated dimers of Cinchona alkaloids, namely quinine, quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine, have been isolated in an ion trap and studied by IRMPD spectroscopy in the region of the ν(OH) and ν(NH) stretch modes. The protonation site is located on the alkaloid nitrogen which acts as a strong hydrogen bond donor in all the dimers studied. While the nature of the intermolecular hydrogen bond is similar in the homochiral and heterochiral complexes, the heterochiral complex displays an additional weak CHO hydrogen bond located on its neutral part, which results in slightly different spectroscopic fingerprints in the ν(OH) stretch region. This first spectroscopic evidence of chiral recognition in protonated dimers opens the way to the study of the complexes of Cinchona alkaloids involved in enantioselective catalysis. These examples show how secondary hydrogen bonds controlled by stereochemical factors govern molecular recognition processes.     

Reactivity of Pt0 complexes toward gallium(III) halides: synthesis of a platinum gallane complex and oxidative addition of gallium halides to Pt0

The reaction of [Pt(PCy 3) 2] and GaCl 3 resulted in quantitative formation of the adduct [(Cy 3P) 2Pt-GaCl 3], the first known platinum gallane complex. Although similar reactivity with GaBr 3 and GaI 3 was expected, NMR spectroscopic data revealed a different reaction course. Crystal structure determination proved that, in the latter case, the product of the oxidative addition was formed. The resulting platinum gallyl complexes represent the first example of an oxidative addition of gallium(III) halides to low-valent transition metals.     

Spectroscopic study of hydrogen exchange processes and structure of intermediate complexes with intermolecular hydrogen bonds

The kinetics of hydrogen exchange in molecular systems with H-bonds has been studied by means of kinetic IR spectroscopy and low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The experimental values of the rate constants and activation energies for molecules capable of forming H-bonds as both proton donors and proton acceptor are collected and analyzed from the point of view of the influence of H-bond formation ability of the molecules-partners. The evidence available testifies to a molecular mechanism of the H-exchange reactions in inert solvents and in the gas phase via the formation of cyclic bimolecular intermediates. The different mechanisms and the structure of intermediate complex of molecular H-exchange process in inert media are discussed and the possible paths of experimental elucidation of reaction mechanism are offered.     

Arene-mercury complexes stabilized aluminum and gallium chloride: synthesis and structural characterization.

Reaction of HgCl(2) with 2 equiv of MCl(3) in an aromatic solvent yields Hg(arene)(2)(MCl(4))(2) where, arene = C(6)H(5)Me, M = Al (1), Ga (2); arene = C(6)H(5)Et, M = Al (3) and Ga (4); o-C(6)H(4)Me(2), M = Al (5), Ga (6); C(6)H(3)-1,2,3-Me(3), M = Al (7) and Ga (8). The solid-state structures of compounds 1-5 and 7 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, compounds 1-4 and 7 exist as neutral complexes in which two arenes are bound to the mercury, and the MCl(3) groups are bound through bridging chlorides to the mercury; compound 5 exists as a cation-anion pair [Hg(o-C(6)H(4)Me(2))(2)(AlCl(4))][AlCl(4)]. However, in solution compounds 1-8 all exist as neutral complexes. The structures of Hg(arene)(2)(AlCl(4))(2) and [Hg(arene)(2)(AlCl(4))](+) have been determined by DFT calculations [B3LYP level] to facilitate the assignment of the (13)C CPMAS NMR spectra and are in good agreement with the X-ray diffraction structures of compounds 1 and 5. Reaction of HgCl(2) with MCl(3) in benzene, m-xylene, and p-xylene results in the formation of liquid clathrates whose spectroscopic characterization is consistent with ionic structures, [Hg(arene)(2)(MCl(4))][MCl(4)]. The calculated energy difference between Hg(C(6)H(5)Me)(2)(AlCl(4))(2) and [Hg(C(6)H(5)Me)(2)(AlCl(4))][AlCl(4)] is discussed with respect to the structure of compound 5 in the solid state versus solution state and the proposed speciation in the liquid clathrates.     

The electron acceptor and catalytic properties of zirconium dioxide modified with aluminum and gallium oxides

The electron acceptor properties of the mixed oxide systems 20 mol % M₂O₃-ZrO₂ (M = Al, Ga) and 10 mol % M₂O₃-10 mol % Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ (M = Ga, Y) were studied by recording the EPR spectra of paramagnetic complexes of adsorbed anthraquinone. The EPR data were compared with the catalytic activity of the mixed oxides in the decomposition of propanols and butanols in a pulsed microcatalytic reactor. The Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ and Ga₂O₃-ZrO₂ solid solutions were found to be metastable and decompose as the temperature of calcining increased or a third component was introduced. Correspondence between the EPR data and catalytic experiment results was established. This correspondence substantiates the occurrence of the segregation of the Al₂O₃ and Ga₂O₃ amorphous phases on the surface of zirconia, which accompanies the decay of the M₂O₃-ZrO₂ (M = Al, Ga) metastable solid solutions. The Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ solid solution decomposes more readily than Ga₂O₃-ZrO₂.     

Spectroscopic studies of aluminum and gallium complexes with oxalate and malonate in aqueous solution

The local structures of Ga(III) in aqueous oxalate and malonate complexes were studied by means of Ga K-edge EXAFS spectroscopy. Irrespective of the number and type of coordinated ligands, the EXAFS results showed very regular first coordination shells consisting of six oxygen atoms. Scattering paths from more distant atoms revealed that both oxalate and malonate form mononuclear chelate structures where one oxygen from each carboxylate group binds to Ga(III). Again, very little variation in bond distances and no changes in coordination modes were detected as the number of ligands coordinated to Ga(III) was varied. Based on the very close resemblance of IR spectra of oxalate and malonate complexes of Al(III), and the corresponding complexes of Ga(III), it is believed that the local structures of the Al(III) complexes are similar to those of the Ga(III) complexes in terms of ligand coordination modes and distortions. This conclusion was corroborated by results from theoretical frequency calculations.     

The reaction of hexaalkyldisilazanes with aluminum and boron halides

Summary When hexamethyldisilazane reacts with aluminum and boron halides under mild conditions, aluminum and boron trimethylsilylamine dihalides are obtained.