Coordination of niobium and tantalum oxides by Ar, Xe and O2: Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study of NbO2(Ng)2 (Ng = Ar, Xe) and MO4(X) (M = Nb, Ta; X = Ar, Xe, O2) in solid argon

The combination of matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and quantum chemical calculation results indicate that the NbO₂ molecule is coordinated by two noble gas atoms in forming the NbO₂(Ng)₂ (Ng = Ar, Xe) complexes in solid noble gas matrixes. In contrast, the TaO₂ molecule is not able to form similar noble gas complex. The niobium and tantalum dioxides further react with dioxygen to form the side-on bonded superoxo-dioxide complexes MO₄ (M = Nb, Ta), which are coordinated by one argon atom in solid argon matrix. The coordinated Ar atom in MO₄(Ar) can be replaced by O₂ or Xe in forming the MO₆ and MO₄(Xe) complexes. The results indicate that the NbO₂, NbO₄ and TaO₄ molecules trapped in solid noble gas matrixes should be regarded as the NbO₂(Ng)₂ and MO₄(Ng) (Ng = Ar, Xe; M = Nb, Ta) complexes instead of “isolated” metal oxide species.     

Stability of Noble‐Gas‐Bound SiH3+ Clusters

The stability of noble gas (Ng)‐bound SiH₃⁺ clusters is explored by ab initio computations. Owing to a high positive charge (+1.53 e^?), the Si center of SiH₃⁺ can bind two Ng atoms. However, the Si?Ng dissociation energy for the first Ng atom is considerably larger than that for the second one. As we go down group 18, the dissociation energy gradually increases, and the largest value is observed for the case of Rn. For NgSiH₃⁺ clusters, the Ar–Rn dissociation processes are endergonic at room temperature. For He and Ne, a much lower temperature is required for it to be viable. The formation of Ng₂SiH₃⁺ clusters is also feasible, particularly for the heavier members and at low temperature. To shed light on the nature of Si?Ng bonding, natural population analysis, Wiberg bond indices computations, electron‐density analysis, and energy‐decomposition analysis were performed. Electron transfer from the Ng centers to the electropositive Si center occurs only to a small extent for the lighter Ng atoms and to a somewhat greater extent for the heavier analogues. The Si?Xe/Rn bonds can be termed covalent bonds, whereas the Si?He/Ne bonds are noncovalent. The Si?Ar/Kr bonds possess some degree of covalent character, as they are borderline cases. Contributions from polarization and charge transfer and exchange are key terms in forming Si?Ng bonds. We also studied the effect of substituting the H atoms of SiH₃⁺ by halide groups (?X) on the Ng binding ability. SiF₃⁺ showed enhanced Ng binding ability, whereas SiCl₃⁺ and SiBr₃⁺ showed a lower ability to bind Ng than SiH₃⁺. A compromise originates from the dual play of the inductive effect of the ?X groups and X→Si π backbonding (p_z–p_z interaction).     

Syntheses,structures, and properties of two mononuclear cobalt(III) azido complexes containing a tetradentate N-donor Schiff base as end-capping ligand

Two hexacoordinated mononuclear Co(III) compounds of the type cis-[Co(L)(N₃)₂] X [1, X = ClO₄; 2, X = PF₆; L = N,N′-(bis(pyridine-2-yl)benzylidine)-1,4-butanediamine] have been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 both have distorted octahedral geometry with two terminal azides in mutual cis orientations. In the crystalline state, two mononuclear units of 1 are associated by weak C–H…π interactions to produce a dimeric unit, which packs through C–H…O hydrogen bonds and π…π interactions leading to a 2-D continuum. The mononuclear units in 2 are engaged in weak cooperative intermolecular C–H…π interactions and multiple C–H…F hydrogen bonds giving rise to a 3-D network structure. These diamagnetic compounds are redox active and show luminescence in DMF solutions.     

Direct ab initio MD study on the hydrogen abstraction reaction of triplet state acetone from methanol molecule

Solvent re-orientation process of triplet acetone/methanol complex and intermolecular hydrogen atom abstraction reaction on the triplet state energy surface, (CH₃)₂C=O (T₁) + CH₃OH → (CH₃)₂C–OH + CH₂OH in gas phase, have been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) and direct ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) methods. The static DFT calculation of hydrogen abstraction reaction at the T₁ state showed that the transition state is 16.4 and 30.9 kcal/mol lower than the energy levels of S₁ and S₂ states, respectively, and 9.2 kcal/mol higher than the bottom of T₁ state. The product state, (CH₃)₂C–OH⋯CH₂OH, is 8.4 kcal/mol lower in energy than the level of T₁ state. The direct ab initio MD calculation showed that the product is rapidly formed within 150 fs and the separated products (CH₃)₂C–OH + CH₂OH were formed. The mechanism of reaction dynamics of the triplet acetone/methanol complex was discussed on the basis of theoretical results.     

Hypervalent versus nonhypervalent carbon in noble-gas complexes

Silicon in [Cl? SiH₃? Cl]^? is hypervalent, whereas carbon in [Cl? CH₃? Cl]^? is not. We have recently shown how this can be understood in terms of the ball‐in‐a‐box model, according to which silicon fits perfectly into the box that is constituted by the five substituents, whereas carbon is too small and, in a sense, “drops to the bottom” of the box. But how does carbon acquire hypervalency in the isostructural and isoelectronic noble gas (Ng)/methyl cation complexes [Ng? CH₃? Ng]⁺ (Ng=He and Ne), which feature a delocalized D_3h‐symmetric structure with two equivalent C? Ng bonds? From Ng=Ar onwards, the [Ng? CH₃? Ng]⁺ complex again acquires a propensity to localize one of its axial C? Ng bonds and to largely break the other one, and this propensity increases in the order Ng=Ar3Ng⁺ and, for comparison, CH₃Ng⁺, NgHNg⁺, and NgH⁺. It appears that, at variance with [Cl? CH₃? Cl]^?, the carbon atom in [Ng? CH₃? Ng]⁺ can no longer be considered as a ball in a box of the five substituents.     

Conformational properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-nitrobenzenesulfonamide in gas and crystalline phases. Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bond

A combined gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical (B3LYP/6-311+G**, B3LYP/cc-pvtz, MP2/cc-pvtz) study of molecular structure of 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (2-NBSA) was carried out. Quantum chemical calculations showed that 2-NBSA has four conformers, two of which are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bond. The latter (with the S–N bond in a close to orthogonal position around the phenyl ring and differing from each other by staggered or eclipsed positions of the N–H and S=O bonds in the SO₂NH₂ group) presented in a saturated vapor over 2-NBSA at T = 433 (3) K in commensurable amounts. Experimental internuclear distances (Ǻ) for the staggered conformer are (?): r _h1(C–H)_av. = 1.071(9), r _h1(C–C)_av. = 1.390(4), r _h1(C–S) = 1.789(8), r _h1(S=O)_av. = 1.427(6), r _h1(S–N) = 1.644(6), r _h1(N–O)_av. = 1.221(4), r _h1(C′–N) = 1.487(8), r _h1(N–H)_av. = 1.014. Calculations at B3LYP/cc-pvtz level were performed to determine the structure and the energies of the transition states between conformers. It was shown that the conformer structures of free molecule differ from those of a molecule stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds in a crystal. Influence of a substituent X (X = –CH₃, –NO₂) on conformational features of the ortho-substituted benzenesulfonamide was established.     

A Density Functional Investigation on C2Aun+ (n?=?1, 3, 5) and C2Aun (n?=?2, 4, 6): from Gold Terminals, Gold Bridges, to Gold Triangles

A systematic density functional theory investigation on C₂Au _n ⁺ (n = 1,3,5) and C₂Au _n (n = 2,4,6) indicates that gold atoms serve as terminals (–Au) in the chain-like C_s C₂Au⁺ (C=C–Au⁺) and D_∞h C₂Au₂ (Au–C≡C–Au) and as bridges (–Au–) in the side-on coordinated C_2v C₂Au₃ ⁺ ([Au–C≡C–Au]Au⁺) and C_s C₂HAu₂ ⁺([H–C≡C–Au]Au⁺). However, when the number of gold atoms reaches four, they form stable gold triangles (–Au₃) in the head-on coordinated C_2v C₂Au₄ (Au–C≡C–Au₃) and the side-on coordinated C_2v C₂Au₅ ⁺ ([Au–C≡C–Au]Au₃ ⁺). Similar –Au₃ triangular units exist in the head-on coordinated C_2v C₂HAu₃ (H–C≡C–Au₃) and D_2d C₂Au₆ (Au₃–C≡C–Au₃). The existence of stable –Au₃ triangular units in small dicarbon aurides is significant and intriguing. The high stability of Au₃ triangles originates from the fact that an equilateral D_3h Au₃ ⁺ cation possesses a completely delocalized three-center-two-electron (3c–2e) σ bond and therefore is σ-aromatic in nature. The extension from H/Au analogy to H/Au₃ analogy established in this work may have important implications in designing new gold-containing catalysts and nano-materials.     

Insertion reactions of the p-complex structure of silylenoid into C–X bonds (X = F,Cl, Br,O, and N)

The insertion reactions of the p-complex structure (A) of silylenoid H₂SiLiF into C–X bonds of CH₃XH _n−1 (X = F, Cl, Br, O, N; n = 1, 1, 1, 2, 3) have been studied using ab initio and DFT methods. The results indicate that the insertions proceed in a concerted manner, forming H₂SiXH _n−1CH₃ and LiF. The order of reactivity by A insertion indicates the reaction barriers increase for the same-row element X from right to left in the periodic table, whereas change very little for the same-family element X. The insertions of A and the three-membered-ring structure of H₂SiLiF are similar. Both structures may participate in insertion reactions.     

Modeling Ar and Kr matrix effect on the ν s (Cl–H) and ν l (Cl–H) of Cl–H···NH3 by the IEF-PCM method

Ar and Kr matrix effect on the geometry and Cl–H stretching (ν _s (Cl–H)) and librational (ν _l (Cl–H)) frequencies of the hydrogen-bonded complex Cl–H···NH₃ are simulated within the framework of polarizable continuum model with integral equation formalism (IEF-PCM) at B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with the basis set 6-311++G(2df,2pd). Within the framework of B3LYP and IEF-PCM, the simulated gas phase, Ar, and Kr matrix ν _s (Cl–H) of the complex are 2140, 1684, and 1550 cm⁻¹, respectively, which deviate from the experimental values (~2200, 1371, and 1218 cm⁻¹) by −60, 313, and 332 cm⁻¹. Within the framework of MP2 and IEF-PCM, the gas phase, Ar, and Kr matrix ν _s (Cl–H) are calculated as 2366, 2037, and 1957 cm⁻¹ by the harmonic approximation, and as 2177, 1876, and 1665 cm⁻¹ by the full-dimensional anharmonic correction. The matrix effect modeling is of greater importance than the anharmonic correction in accounting for the large experimental gas phase to Ar or Kr matrix shift of the ν _s (Cl–H) (−829 or −982 cm⁻¹). Our calculations do not support the assignment of the 733.8 and 736.9 cm⁻¹ bands to the Ar and Kr matrix ν _l (Cl–H).     

Molecular structure and conformation of triphenylsilane from gas-phase electron diffraction and theoretical calculations, and structural variations in H4?nSiPhn molecules (n?=?1–4)

The molecular structure of triphenylsilane has been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction and theoretical calculations. The electron diffraction intensities from a previous study (Rozsondai B, Hargittai I, J Organomet Chem 334:269, 1987) have been reanalyzed using geometrical constraints and initial values of vibrational amplitudes from calculations. The free molecule has a chiral, propeller-like equilibrium conformation of C ₃ symmetry, with a twist angle of the phenyl groups τ = 39° ± 3°; the two enantiomeric conformers easily interconvert via three possible pathways. The low-frequency vibrational modes indicate that the three phenyl groups undergo large-amplitude torsional and out-of-plane bending vibrations about their respective Si–C bonds. Least-squares refinement of a model accounting for the bending vibrations gives the following bond distances and angles with estimated total errors: r _g(Si–C) = 1.874 ± 0.004 ?, 〈r _g(C–C)〉 = 1.402 ± 0.003 ?, 〈r _g(C–H)〉 = 1.102 ± 0.003 ?, and ∠_aC–Si–H = 108.6° ± 0.4°. Electron diffraction studies and MO calculations show that the lengths of the Si–C bonds in H_4−n SiPh _n molecules (n = 1–4) increase gradually with n, due to π → σ*(Si–C) delocalization. They also show that the mean lengths of the ring C–C bonds are about 0.003 ? larger than in unsubstituted benzene, due to a one hundredth angstrom lengthening of the C_ipso–C_ortho bonds caused by silicon substitution. A small increase of r(Si–H) and decrease of the ipso angle with increasing number of phenyl groups is also revealed by the calculations.     

HNgBeF3 (Ng = Ar‐Rn): Superhalogen‐supported noble gas insertion compounds

Ab initio and density functional theory‐based calculations are performed to study the structure, stability, and nature of bonding of superhalogen‐supported noble gas (Ng) compounds of the type HNgY where (Ng = Ar‐Rn; Y = BeF₃). Here, BeF₃ acts as the superhalogen. Calculations show that the HNgBeF₃ spontaneously dissociates into product following the dissociation channels: HNgBeF₃ → HBeF₃ + Ng and HNgBeF₃ → Ng + HF + BeF₂. The transition states are optimized and the energy barriers are computed to show the metastable behavior of HNgBeF₃. HNgBeF₃ molecules are kinetically stable with respect to the first dissociation process having energy barriers of 1.0, 5.0, 10.6, and 13.9 kcal/mol for Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn analogues, respectively, at CCSD(T)/Aug‐cc‐pVTZ level. These calculations suggest that the HXeBeF₃ and HRnBeF₃ can be shown to be stable up to ∼100 K temperature with a half‐life of ∼10² seconds. The nature of H Ng and two different types of Ng F bonds in HNgBeF₃ molecules is explored through the natural bond orbital and electron density analyses. The large Wiberg bond index (WBI) values for the H Ng bond indicate the formation of almost a single bond in between H‐atoms and Ng‐atoms, whereas small WBI values for the two Ng F bonds indicate a noncovalent interaction in between them. The electron density analysis further supports the covalency of the H Ng bond and noncovalent interaction in the two Ng F bonds in HNgBeF₃.     

Theoretical predictions of the nitrogen heterocyclic compounds with metal and noble gas (metal = Cu,Ag, Au)

Here, we report a new type of Ng-containing compounds formed between the Ng-M group and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, (CH₂)_nHNCuNg⁺ (n = 2, 3), (CH)₄NMNg, and (CH)₅NCuNg⁺ (M = Cu, Ag, Au; Ng = Ar, Kr, Xe). Quantum chemistry computations were carried out to optimize their geometric structures and calculate the dissociation energies, dissociation enthalpy, and dissociation free energy change. The stability of these Ng-bonding complexes was inspected by investigating the three dissociation processes of the these compounds into (a) Ng, M, and nitrogen heterocycle C_nN; (b) C_nN + MNg⁺; and (c) C_nNM + Ng, which are all endothermic and nonspontaneous, these dissociation processes are also turned out to be endergonic in nature at standard state. The natural bond orbital, atoms in molecules, and energy decomposition analysis based on the molecular wavefunction show that the M-Ng and M-N bonds have some covalent and electrostatic characters.     

Investigating the nature of intermolecular and intramolecular bonds in noble gas containing molecules

This article presents a theoretical study on a number of selected noble gas containing systems of the general formula FNgR and NgR (Ng = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and R = CH₃, CN, CCH, BO, BNH, H, BeO, and AuF). The principal structures, bond energies, spectroscopic, and electronic properties of 28 noble gas containing molecules were investigated using density functional theory at the BMK level. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules, natural bond orbital, and several other analysis methods have been used to provide more insight into the nature of noble gas bonds. Although both F? Ng and Ng? R bonds in the investigated molecules are assigned to have partially covalent and partially electrostatic nature, the covalent character is dominant in Ng? R bonds. In the second part, the intermolecular interactions between FNgR molecules and hydrogen fluoride are overviewed with emphasis on the hydrogen bonding through the fluorine side of noble gas molecule with hydrogen of HF. The calculated interaction energies were found to decrease in magnitude going down the noble gas series. For all noble gases, the strongest hydrogen bond has been observed in the case R=CH₃. On the contrary, using R=CN in the FNgR moiety weakens the interaction strength. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Crystal Structure and Conformation of a 10-Thiabilirubin

 A crystal structure determination of a bilirubin analog with a sulfur instead of a C(10)–CH₂ linking the two dipyrrinones is reported. Conformation-determining torsion angles and key hydrogen bond distances and angles are compared to those obtained from molecular dynamics calculations as well as to the corresponding data from X-ray determinations and molecular dynamics calculations of bilirubin. Like other bilirubins, the component dipyrrinones of the analog are present in the bis-lactam form with (Z)-configurated double bonds at C(4) and C(15). Despite the large differences in bond lengths and angles at –S–vs.–CH₂–, the crystal structure shows considerable similarity to bilirubin: both pigments adopt a folded, intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded ridge-tile conformation stabilized by six hydrogen bonds – although the interplanar angle of the ridge-tile conformation of the title compound is smaller (∼ 86°) than that of bilirubin (∼ 98°). The collective data indicate that even with long C–S bond lengths and a smaller C–S–C bond angle at the pivot point on the ridge-tile seam, intramolecular hydrogen bonding persists.     

Dual-level direct dynamics studies on the hydrogen abstraction reactions of fluorine atoms with CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>X(X=F,Cl)

The kinetic properties of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of CF₃CH₂F + F → CF₃CHF + HF (R1) and CF₃CH₂Cl + F → CF₃CHCl + HF (R2) have been studied by dual-level direct dynamics method. Optimized geometries and frequencies of all the stationary points and extra points along the minimum-energy path (MEP) were obtained at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,2p) level. Two complexes with energies less than that of the reactants were located in the reactant side of each reaction. The energy profiles were further refined with the interpolated single-point energies (ISPE) method at the G3(MP2) level of theory. Using canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with the small-curvature tunneling correction (SCT) method, the rate constants were evaluated over a wide temperature range of 200–2,000 K. Our calculations have shown that C–H bond activity decreases when one hydrogen atom of CF₃CH₃ is substituted by a fluorine atom, than when substituted with a chlorine atom. This is in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Spectral Signatures of Protonated Noble Gas Clusters of Ne,Ar, Kr,and Xe: From Monomers to Trimers

The structures and spectral features of protonated noble gas clusters are examined using a first principles approach. Protonated noble gas monomers (NgH⁺) and dimers (NgH⁺Ng) have a linear structure, while the protonated noble gas trimers (Ng₃H⁺) can have a T-shaped or linear structure. Successive binding energies for these complexes are calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. Anharmonic simulations for the dimers and trimers unveil interesting spectral features. The symmetric NgH⁺Ng are charactized by a set of progression bands, which involves one quantum of the asymmetric Ng-H⁺ stretch with multiple quanta of the symmetric Ng-H⁺ stretch. Such a spectral signature is very robust and is predicted to be observed in both T-shaped and linear isomers of Ng₃H⁺. Meanwhile, for selected asymmetric NgH⁺Ng’, a Fermi resonance interaction involving the first overtone of the proton bend with the proton stretch is predicted to occur in ArH⁺Kr and XeH⁺Kr.     

Ab initio study of the potential energy surface and product branching ratios for the reaction of O(D) with CH3CH2F

The potential energy surface of O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂F reaction has been studied using QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) method. The calculations reveal an insertion–elimination reaction mechanism of the title reaction. The insertion process has two possibilities: one is the O(¹D) atom inserting into C–F bond of CH₃CH₂F produces one energy-rich intermediate CH₃CH₂OF and another is the O(¹D) atom inserting into one of the C–H bonds of CH₃CH₂F produces two energy-rich intermediates, IM1 and IM2. The three intermediates subsequently decompose to various products. The calculations of the branching ratios of various products formed though the three intermediates have been carried out using RRKM theory at the collision energies of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kcal/mol. CH₃CH₂O is the main decomposition product of CH₃CH₂OF. HF and CH₃ are the main decomposition products for IM1; CH₂OH is the main decomposition product for IM2. Since IM1 is more stable and more likely to form than CH₃CH₂OF and IM2, HF and CH₃ are probably the main products of the O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂F reaction. Our computational results can give insight to reaction mechanism and provide probable explanations for future experiments.     

Synthesis and Characterizations of Ferrocenyl Carbonyl Chromium and Cobalt Clusters

Two novel bimetallic complexes, [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅)–C≡C–C₆H₄–Fc] (Fc = C₅H₅FeC₅H₄] (1) and [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅)–C ≡ C–Fc–C(CH₃)₂–Fc] (3), were synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reaction. By using of (1) and (3) as ligands to react with Co₂(CO)₈, two others novel polymetallic complexes, [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅){Co₂(CO)₆-η ²-μ ²-C≡C–}–C₆H₄–Fc] (2) and [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅){Co₂(CO)₆-η ²-μ ²-C≡C–}Fc–C(CH₃)₂–Fc] (4) were obtained. Four carbonyl complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and MS. The molecular structures of complexes (1), (2) and (4) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The interactions among the ferrocenyl, Cr(CO)₃ and Co₂(CO)₆-η ²-μ ²-C≡C– units were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.     

Noble‐Gas Complexes: Theoretical Investigation of Multicenter Polynuclear Species

Ab initio calculations at the MP2 level of theory disclose the conceivable existence of neutral complexes containing four or five distinct noble gases (Ng) each bound to a distinct Be‐atom. These multicenter polynuclear Ng molecules are formally obtained by replacing the H‐atoms of CH₄ and but‐2‐yne with ? NBeNg moieties, which behave as independent monovalent ‘functional groups’. Our investigated complexes include the five homotetranuclear [C(NBeNg)₄] complexes 1 – 5 (Ng=He? Xe), the five heterotetranuclear complexes [CN₄Be₄(He)(Ne)(Ar)(Kr)] ( 6 ), [CN₄Be₄(He)(Ne)(Ar)(Xe)] ( 7 ), [CN₄Be₄(He)(Ne)(Kr)(Xe)] ( 8 ), [CN₄Be₄(He)(Ar)(Kr)(Xe)] ( 9 ), and [CN₄Be₄(Ne)(Ar)(Kr)(Xe)] ( 10 ), and the heteropentanuclear complex [HC₄N₅Be₅(He)(Ne)(Ar)(Kr)(Xe)] ( 11 ). We also investigated the five model complexes [H₃CNBeNg] (Ng=He? Xe) containing a single ? NBeNg moiety. The geometries and vibrational frequencies of all these species, invariably characterized as minimum‐energy structures, were computed at the MP2(full)/6‐31G(d,p)/SDD level of theory, and their stability with respect to the loss of the various Ng‐atoms was evaluated by single‐point calculations at the MP2(full)/6‐311G(d)/SDD level of theory. The beryllium‐Ng binding energies range from ca. 17 (Ng=He) to ca. 63 (Ng=Xe) kJ/mol, and the results of natural‐bond‐orbital (NBO) and atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) analysis reveal that the Be? Ng interaction is essentially electrostatic for helium, neon, argon, and krypton, and has probably a small covalent contribution for xenon.