Theoretical study on the reactions of Nb and Nb+ with CO2 in gas phase

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to explore the potential energy surfaces of C? O bond activation in CO₂ molecule by gas‐phase Nb atom and Nb⁺ cation for better understanding the reaction mechanism of second‐row metal with CO₂. The minimum‐energy reaction path is found to involve the spin inversion in the different reaction steps. This potential energy curve‐crossing dramatically affects the reaction energetic. The present results show that the mechanism is insertion‐elimination mechanism along the C? O bond activation reaction. All theoretical results not only support the existing conclusions inferred from early experiment but also complement the pathway and mechanism for this reaction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

DFT/TDDFT studies of the ancillary ligand effects on structures and photophysical properties of rhenium (I) tricarbonyl complexes with the imidazo[4,5‐f]‐1,10‐phenanthroline ligand

The seven rhenium (I) tricarbonyl complexes having a general formula fac‐[ReBr(CO)₃(R₁,R₂,R₃‐N^{^}N)] (N^{^}N = imidazo[4,5‐f]‐1,10‐phenanthroline; R₁ = ? ^tBu, R₂ = R₃ = ? H, 1 ; R₁ = ? C?CH, R₂ = R₃ = ? H, 2 ; R₁ = ? ^tBu, R₂ = ? C?CH, R₃ = ? H, 3 ; R₁ = ? ^tBu, R₂ = R₃ = ? C?CH, 4 ; R₁ = ? ^tBu, R₂ = ? CH₃, R₃ = ? H, 5 ; R₁ = ? ^tBu, R₂ = R₃ = ? CH₃, 6 ; R₁ = ? ^tBu, R₂ = ? OCH₃, R₃ = ? H, 7 ) have been investigated theoretically by density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods. The different substituted groups on N^{^}N ligand induce changes on the electronic structures and photophysical properties for these complexes. It is found that the introduction of ? C?C decreases the energy level of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) while the introduction of ? CH₃ or ? OCH₃ lead to increase the energy level of LUMO. The order of LUMO energy level rising is in line with the increasing of donating abilities of substituted groups; and the influence of R₂ position is greater than that of R₁ position on LUMO energy level. The lowest energy absorption bands have changes in the order of 7 < 6 < 5 < 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 . These results of electronic affinity (EA), ionization potential (IP), and reorganization energy (λ) indicate that all of these complexes can be used as electron transporting materials. Moreover, the smallest difference between λ_electron and λ_hole of 4 indicates that it is better to be used as an emitter in the organic light‐emitting diodes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.