Superweak complexes of tetrahedral P4 molecules with the silver cation of weakly coordinating anions

The silver aluminates AgAl[OC(CF3)2(R)]4 (R = H, CH3, CF3) react with solutions of white phosphorus P4 to give complexes that bind one or two almost undistorted tetrahedral P4 molecules in an fashion: [Ag(P4)2]+[Al(OC(CF3)3)4]+ (1) containing the first homoleptic metal-phosphorus cation, the molecular species (P4)AgAl[OC(CH3)(CF3)2]4 (2), and the dimeric Ag(mu,eta2-P4)Ag bridged [(P4)AgAl[OC(H)(CF3)2]4]2 (3). Compounds 1-3 were characterized by variable-temperature (VT) 31P NMR spectroscopy (1 also by VT 32P MAS-NMR spectroscopy), Raman spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Other Ag:P4 ratios did not lead to new species, and this observation was rationalized on thermodynamic grounds. The Ag(P4)2+ ion has an almost planar coordination environment around the Ag+ ion due to d(x2 - y2)(Ag) --> sigma*(P-P) backbonding. Calculations (HF-DFT) on six Ag(P4)2+ isomers 4a-f showed that the planar eta2 form 4a is only slightly favored by 5.2 kJ mol(-1) over the tetrahedral eta2 species 4b; eta1-P4 and eta3-P4 complexes are less favorable (27-76 kJ mol(-1)). The bonding of the P4 moiety in [RhCl(eta2-P4)(PPh3)2], the only compound in which an eta2 bonding mode of a tetrahedral P4 molecule has been claimed, must be regarded as a tetraphosphabicyclobutane, and not as a tetrahedro-P4 complex, on the basis of the published NMR and vibrational spectra, the calculated geometry of [RhCl(P4)(PH3)2] (10), the highly endothermic (385 kJ mol(-1)) calculated dissociation enthalpy of 10 into P4 and RhCl(PH3)2 (11), as well as atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) population analyses of 10 and the Ag(P4)2+ ion. Therefore, 1-3 are the first examples of species containing eta2-coordinated tetrahedral P4 molecules.     

Relative Lewis basicities of six AI(ORF)4- superweak anions and the structures of LiA

The relative Lewis basicities of six Al(ORF)4- ions, Al[OC(CH3)(CF3)2]4-, Al(OC(CF3)3]4-, Al(OCPh(CF3)2]4-, Al[OC[4-C6H4(tBu)](CF3)2]4-, Al(OC(Cy)(CF3)2]4-, and Al(OCPh2(CF3)]4-, have been determined by measuring their relative coordinating abilities towards Li+ in dichloromethane. The relative Li- Lewis basicities of the Al(ORF)4- ions are linearly related to the aqueous pKa values of the corresponding parent HORF fluoroalcohols. The Lewis basicity of Al[OCH(CF3)2]4- could not be measured because two of these anions can coordinate to one Li+ cation. The structures of LiAl[OCH(CF3)2]4 and [1-Et-3-Me-1,3-C3H3N2][Li[Al[OCH(CF3)2)4]2] were determined.     

Silver complexes of cyclic hexachlorotriphosphazene

The first solid-state structures of complexed P3N3X6 (X = halogen) are reported for X = Cl. The compounds were obtained from P3N3Cl6 and Ag[Al(OR)4] salts in CH2Cl2/CS2 solution. The very weakly coordinating anion with R = C(CF3)3 led to the salt Ag(P3N3Cl6)2+[Al(OR)4]- (1), but the more strongly coordinating anion with R' = C(CH3)(CF3)2 gave the molecular adduct (P3N3Cl6)AgAl(OR')4 (3). Crystals of [Ag(CH2Cl2)(P3N3Cl6)2]+[Al(OR)4]- (2), in which Ag+ is coordinated by two phosphazene and one CH2Cl2 ligands, were isolated from CH2Cl2 solution. The three compounds were characterized by their X-ray structures, and 1 and 3 also by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy. Solution and solid-state 31P NMR investigations in combination with quantum chemically calculated chemical shifts show that the 31P NMR shifts of free and silver-coordinated P3N3Cl6 differ by less than 3 ppm and indicate a very weakly bound P3N3Cl6 ligand in 1. The experimental silver ion affinity (SIA) of the phosphazene ligand was derived from the solid-state structure of 3. The SIA shows that (PNCl2)3 is only a slightly stronger Lewis base than P4 and CH2Cl2, while other ligands such as S8, P4S3, toluene, and 1,2-Cl2C2H4 are far stronger ligands towards the silver cation. The energetics of the complexes were assessed with inclusion of entropic, thermal, and solvation contributions (MP2/TZVPP, COSMO). The formation of the cations in 1, 2, and 3 was calculated to be exergonic by delta(r)G(degrees)(CH2Cl2) = -97, -107, and -27 kJ mol(-1), respectively. All prepared complexes are thermally stable; formation of P3N3Cl5+ and AgCl was not observed, even at 60 degrees C in an ultrasonic bath. Therefore, the formation of P3N3Cl5+ was investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Other possible reaction pathways that could lead to the successful preparation of P3N3X5+ salts were defined.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on the reactions of alkylcobalamins with cyanide

Ligand substitution equilibria of different alkylcobalamins (RCbl, R = Me, CH(2)Br, CH(2)CF(3), CHF(2), CF(3)) with cyanide have been studied. It was found that CN(-) first substitutes the 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (Bzm) moiety in the alpha-position, followed by substitution of the alkyl group in the beta-position trans to Bzm. The formation constants K(CN) for the 1:1 cyanide adducts (R(CN)Cbl) were found to be 0.38 +/- 0.03, 0.43 +/- 0.03, and 123 +/- 9 M(-1) for R = Me, CH(2)Br, and CF(3), respectively. In the case of R = CH(2)CF(3), the 1:1 adduct decomposes in the dark with CN(-) to give (CN)(2)Cbl. The unfavorable formation constants for R = Me and CH(2)Br indicate the requirement of very high cyanide concentrations to produce the 1:1 complex, which cause the kinetics of the displacement of Bzm to be too fast to follow kinetically. The kinetics of the displacement of Bzm by CN(-) could be followed for R = CH(2)CF(3) and CF(3) to form CF(3)CH(2)(CN)Cbl and CF(3)(CN)Cbl, respectively, in the rate-determining step. Both reactions show saturation kinetics at high cyanide concentration, and the limiting rate constants are characterized by the activation parameters: R = CH(2)CF(3), DeltaH = 71 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -25 +/- 4 J K(-1) mol(-1), and DeltaV = +8.9 +/- 1.0 cm(3) mol(-1); R = CF(3), DeltaH = 77 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = +44 +/- 11 J K(-1) mol(-1), and DeltaV = +14.8 +/- 0.8 cm(3) mol(-1), respectively. These parameters are interpreted in terms of an I(d) and D mechanism for R = CH(2)CF(3) and CF(3), respectively. The results of the study enable the formulation of a general mechanism that can account for the substitution behavior of all investigated alkylcobalamins including coenzyme B(12).     

Extending the coordination chemistry of molecular P(4)S(3): the polymeric Ag(P(4)S(3))(+) and Ag(P(4)S(3))(2)(+) cations

Upon reacting P(4)S(3) with AgAl(hfip)(4) and AgAl(pftb)(4) [hfip = OC(H)(CF(3))(2); pftb = OC(CF(3))(3)], the compounds Ag(P(4)S(3))Al(hfip)(4) 1 and Ag(P(4)S(3))(2)(+)[Al(pftb)(4)](-) 2 formed in CS(2) (1) or CS(2)/CH(2)Cl(2) (2) solution. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determinations, Raman and solution NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. One-dimensional chains of [Ag(P(4)S(3))(x)](infinity) (x = 1, 1; x = 2, 2) formed in the solid state with P(4)S(3) ligands that bridge through a 1,3-P,S, a 2,4-P,S, or a 3,4-P,P eta(1) coordination to the silver ions. Compound 2 with the least basic anion contains the first homoleptic metal(P(4)S(3)) complex. Compounds 1 and 2 also include the long sought sulfur coordination of P(4)S(3). Raman spectra of 1 and 2 were assigned on the basis of DFT calculations of related species. The influence of the silver coordination on the geometry of the P(4)S(3) cage is discussed, additionally aided by DFT calculations. Consequences for the frequently observed degradation of the cage are suggested. An experimental silver ion affinity scale based on the solid-state structures of several weak Lewis acid base adducts of type (L)AgAl(hfip)(4) is given. The affinity of the ligand L to the silver ion increases according to P(4) < CH(2)Cl(2) < P(4)S(3) < S(8) < 1,2-C(2)H(4)Cl(2) < toluene.     

Effects of fluorine on the structures and energetics of the propynyl and propargyl radicals and their anions

[reaction: see text] The adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)) of the CH(3)-C[triple bond]C(*) radical [experiment = 2.718 +/- 0.008 eV] and the gas-phase basicity of the CH(3)-C[triple bond]C:(-) anion [experiment = 373.4 +/- 2 kcal/mol] have been compared with those of their fluorine derivatives. The latter are studied using theoretical methods. It is found that there are large effects on the electron affinities and gas-phase basicities as the H atoms of the alpha-CH(3) group in the propynyl system are substituted by F atoms. The predicted electron affinities are 3.31 eV (FCH(2)-C[triple bond]C(*)), 3.86 eV (F(2)CH-C[triple bond]C(*)), and 4.24 eV (F(3)C-C[triple bond]C(*)), and the predicted gas-phase basicities of the fluorocarbanion derivatives are 366.4 kcal/mol (FCH(2)-C[triple bond]C:(-)), 356.6 kcal/mol (F(2)CH-C[triple bond]C:(-)), and 349.8 kcal/mol (F(3)C-C[triple bond]C:(-)). It is concluded that the electron affinities of fluoropropynyl radicals increase and the gas-phase basicities decrease as F atoms sequentially replace H atoms of the alpha-CH(3) in the propynyl system. The propargyl radicals, lower in energy than the isomeric propynyl radicals, are also examined and their electron affinities are predicted to be 0.98 eV ((*)CH(2)-C[triple bond]CH), 1.18 eV ((*)CFH-C[triple bond]CH), 1.32 eV ((*)CF(2)-C[triple bond] CH), 1.71 eV ((*)CH(2)-C[triple bond]CF), 2.05 eV ((*)CFH-C[triple bond]CF), and 2.23 eV ((*)CF(2)-C[triple bond]CF).     

Energetics of C-Cl, C-Br, and C-I bonds in haloacetic acids: enthalpies of formation of XCH2COOH (X=CI, Br, I) compounds and the carboxymethyl radical

The standard molar enthalpies of formation of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoacetic acids in the crystalline state, at 298.15 K, were determined as deltafH(o)m(C2H3O2Cl, cr alpha)=-(509.74+/- 0.49) kJ x mol(-1), deltafH(o)m(C2H3O2Br, cr I)-(466.98 +/- 1.08) kJ x mol(-1), and deltafH(o)m (C2H3O2I, cr)=-(415.44 +/- 1.53) kJ x mol(-1), respectively, by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry. Vapor pressure versus temperature measurements by the Knudsen effusion method led to deltasubH(o)m(C2H3O2Cl)=(82.19 +/- 0.92) kJ x mol(-1), deltasubH(o)m(C2H3O2Br)=(83.50 +/- 2.95) kJ x mol(-1), and deltasubH(o)m-(C2H3O2I) = (86.47 +/- 1.02) kJ x mol(-1), at 298.15 K. From the obtained deltafH(o)m(cr) and deltasubH(o)m values it was possible to derive deltafH(o)m(C2H3O2Cl, g)=-(427.55 +/- 1.04) kJ x mol(-1), deltafH(o)m (C2H3O2Br, g)=-(383.48 +/- 3.14) kJ x mol(-1), and deltafH(o)m(C2H3O2I, g)=-(328.97 +/- 1.84) kJ x mol(-1). These data, taken with a published value of the enthalpy of formation of acetic acid, and the enthalpy of formation of the carboxymethyl radical, deltafH(o)m(CH2COOH, g)=-(238 +/- 2) kJ x mol(-1), obtained from density functional theory calculations, led to DHo(H-CH2COOH)=(412.8 +/- 3.2) kJ x mol(-1), DHo(Cl-CH2COOH)=(310.9 +/- 2.2) kJ x mol(-1), DHo(Br-CH2COOH)=(257.4 +/- 3.7) kJ x mol(-1), and DHo(I-CH2COOH)=(197.8 +/- 2.7) kJ x mol(-1). A discussion of the C-X bonding energetics in XCH2COOH, CH3X, C2H5X, C2H3X, and C6H5X (X=H, Cl, Br, I) compounds is presented.     

Synchronized fluxional motion and cyclometalation of ligands in platinum(II) complexes

Oscillation of the 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen) ligand between nonequivalent exchanging sites in [Pt(Me)(dmphen)(P(o-tolyl)3)]+ and phosphane rotation around the Pt-P bond take place at the same rate. Thus, this cationic complex behaves as a molecular gear, exhibiting a fascinating synchronism between two otherwise independent fluxional motions. The process (DeltaG(3330)(#) = 68.5 +/- 0.2 kJ mol(-1)) was found to be unaffected by (i) the nature of various counteranions (X = PF6- 1, SbF6- 2, CF3SO3- 3, BF4- 4, BArf- 5), (ii) the polarity or the electron-donor properties of the solvent and, (iii) the addition of weak nucleophiles. Restricted phosphane rotation around the Pt-P bond impedes free dmphen oscillation in a 14-electron three-coordinate T-shaped intermediate, containing eta1-coordinated dmphen, generated by easy Pt-N bond dissociation from [Pt(Me)(dmphen)(P(o-tolyl)3)]+. 1-5 undergo easy orthoplatination, leading to new [Pt(dmphen){CH2C6H4P(o-tolyl)2-kappaC,P}]X cyclometalated Pt(II) compounds (X = PF6- 1, SbF6- 2, CF3SO3- 3, BF4- 4, BArf- 5). The kinetics of the cyclometalation of 3 and 4 were followed in tetrachloroethane by both 1H NMR and spectrophotometric techniques (kobs = 1.7 x 10-4 s(-1) at 333 K, DeltaH = 59.3 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), and DeltaS = -141 +/- 8 J K(-1) mol(-1)). Ring opening of dmphen is again a prerequisite for C-H bond activation, which takes place through a multistep oxidative-addition reductive-elimination pathway. The molecular structure of cyclometalated 10 shows a butterfly shape with two o-tolyl rings projected above and below the coordination plane. Variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra revealed hindered rotation around the P-Cipso(o-tolyl) bonds at rather mild temperatures (DeltaG(3330)(#) = 55.2 +/- 0.4 kJ mol(-1)). Dmphen oscillation results very slowly and is dependent on the nature of the counteranions, of the solvents, and is strongly accelerated by the presence of weak nucleophiles that act as catalysts, according to an associative mode of activation.     

A photoelectron and TPEPICO investigation of the acetone radical cation

The valence shell photoelectron spectrum, threshold photoelectron spectrum, and threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) mass spectra of acetone have been measured using synchrotron radiation. New vibrational progressions have been observed and assigned in the X 2B2 state photoelectron bands of acetone-h6 and acetone-d6, and the influence of resonant autoionization on the threshold electron yield has been investigated. The dissociation thresholds for fragment ions up to 31 eV have been measured and compared to previous values. In addition, kinetic modeling of the threshold region for CH3* and CH4 loss leads to new values of 78 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1) and 75 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1), respectively, for the 0 K activation energies for these two processes. The result for the methyl loss channel is in reasonable agreement with, but slightly lower than, that of 83 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1) derived in a recent TPEPICO study by Fogleman et al. The modeling accounts for both low-energy dissociation channels at two different ion residence times in the mass spectrometer. Moreover, the effects of the ro-vibrational population distribution, the electron transmission efficiency, and the monochromator band-pass are included. The present activation energies yield a Delta(f)H298 for CH3CO+ of 655 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), which is 4 kJ mol(-1) lower than that reported by Fogleman et al. The present Delta(f)H298 for CH3CO+ can be combined with the Delta(f)H298 for CH2CO (-47.5 +/- 1.6 kJ mol(-1)) and H+ (1530 kJ mol(-1)) to yield a 298 K proton affinity for ketene of 828 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1), in good agreement with the value (825 kJ mol(-1)) calculated at the G2 level of theory. The measured activation energy for CH4 loss leads to a Delta(f)H298 (CH2CO+*) of 873 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1).     

Gas-phase heats of formation for alkylimmonium cations by photoionization mass spectrometry

Photoionization mass spectrometry has been used to measure appearance energies for immonium cation formation from 25 alkyl amine precursors. A number of the unimolecular fragmentation processes are shown to involve excess energy at threshold so that, of the 11 different cations investigated, it is only possible to derive reliable 298 K heats of formation for CH2=NH2+ (749.0 +/- 0.9 kJ mol(-1)), CH(3)CH=NH2+ (666.1 +/- 1.1 kJ mol(-1)), C(2)H(5)CH=NH2+ (636.8 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-1)), CH2=NH(CH3)+ (706.1 +/- 1.0 kJ mol(-1)), CH2=NH(C(2)H(5))+ (668.4 +/- 1.3 kJ mol(-1)), and CH2=N(CH3)2+ (668.0 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-1)). When these are compared to those calculated by the G3, G3B3, G2, G2(MP2), CBS-APNO, and W1U composite ab initio methods, it is found that the smallest mean absolute deviation of 1.2 +/- 0.8 kJ mol(-1) is obtained from the G2 calculations.     

Variable-temperature 19F NMR and theoretical study of 1,9- and 1,7-C60F(CF3) and C(s-) and C1-C60F17(CF3): hindered CF3 rotation and through-space J(FF) coupling

Milligram amounts of the new compounds 1,9- and 1,7-C60F(CF3) (ca. 85:15 mixture of isomers) and C60F3(CF3) were isolated from a high-temperature C60/K2PtF6 reaction mixture and purified to 98 mol % compositional purity by two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography using Buckyprep and Buckyclutcher columns. The previously observed compounds C60F5(CF3) and C60F7(CF3) were also purified to 90+ mol % for the first time. Variable-temperature 19F NMR spectra of the mixture of C60F(CF3) isomers and the previously reported mixture of C(s)- and C1-C60F17(CF3) isomers demonstrate for the first time that fullerene(F)n(CF3)m derivatives with adjacent F and CF3 substituents exhibit slow-exchange limit hindered CF3 rotation spectra at -40 +/- 10 degrees C. The experimental and density functional theory (DFT) predicted deltaH++ values for CF3 rotation in 1,9-C60F(CF3) are 46.8(7) and 46 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The DFT-predicted deltaH++ values for 1,7-C60F(CF3), C(s)-C60F17(CF3), and C1-C60F17(CF3) are 20, 44, and 54 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The (> or = 4)J(FF) values from the slow-exchange-limit 19F spectra, which vary from ca. 0 to 48(1) Hz, show that the dominant nuclear spin-spin coupling mechanism is through-space coupling (i.e., direct overlap of fluorine atom lone-pair orbitals) rather than coupling through the sigma-bond framework. The 2J(FF) values within the CF3 groups vary from 107(1) to 126(1) Hz. Collectively, the NMR data provide an unambiguous set of (> or = 4)J(FF) values for three different compounds that can be correlated with DFT-predicted or X-ray diffraction derived distances and angles and an unambiguous set of 2J(FF) values that can serve as an internal standard for all future J(FF) calculations.     

Characteristic negative ion fragmentations of deprotonated peptides containing post-translational modifications: mono-phosphorylated Ser, Thr and Tyr. A joint experimental and theoretical study

Peptides and proteins may contain post-translationally modified phosphorylated amino acid residues, in particular phosphorylated serine (pSer), threonine (pThr) and tyrosine (pTyr). Following earlier work by Lehmann et al., the [M-H]- anions of peptides containing pSer and pThr functionality show loss of the elements of H3PO4. This process, illustrated for Ser (and using a model system), is CH3CONH-C(CH2OPO3H2)CONHCH(3) --> [CH3CONHC(==CH2)CONHCH3 (-OPO3H2)] (a) --> [CH3CONHC(==CH2)CONHCH3-H]- + H3PO4, a process endothermic by 83 kJ mol(-1) at the MP2/6-31++G(d,p)//HF/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory. In addition, intermediate (a) may decompose to yield CH3CONHC(==CH2)CONHCH3 + H2PO4 - in a process exothermic by 3 kJ mol(-1). The barrier to the transition state for these two processes is 49 kJ mol(-1). Characteristic cleavages of pSer and pThr are more energetically favourable than the negative ion backbone cleavages of peptides described previously. In contrast, loss of HPO3 from [M-H]- is characteristic of pTyr. The cleavage [NH2CH(CH2-C6H4-OPO3H-)CO2H] --> [NH2C(CH2-C6H4-O-)CO2H (HPO3)] (b) --> NH2CH(CH2-C6H4-O-)CO2H + HPO3 is endothermic by 318 kJ mol(-1) at the HF/6-31+G(d)//AM1 level of theory. In addition, intermediate (b) also yields NH2CH(CH2-C6H4-OH)CO2H + PO3 - (reaction endothermic by 137 kJ mol(-1)). The two negative ion cleavages of pTyr have a barrier to the transition state of 198 kJ mol(-1) (at the HF/6-31+G(d)//AM1 level of theory) comparable with those already reported for negative ion backbone cleavages.     

Gas-phase acidities and O-H bond dissociation enthalpies of phenol, 3-methylphenol, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, and ethanoic acid

Energy-resolved, competitive threshold collision-induced dissociation (TCID) methods are used to measure the gas-phase acidities of phenol, 3-methylphenol, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, and ethanoic acid relative to hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, and the hydroperoxyl radical using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. The gas-phase acidities of Delta(acid)H298(C6H5OH) = 1456 +/- 4 kJ/mol, Delta(acid)H298(3-CH3C6H4OH) = 1457 +/- 5 kJ/mol, Delta(acid)H298(2,4,6-(CH3)3C6H2OH) = 1456 +/- 4 kJ/mol, and Delta(acid)H298(CH3COOH) = 1457 +/- 6 kJ/mol are determined. The O-H bond dissociation enthalpy of D298(C6H5O-H) = 361 +/- 4 kJ/mol is derived using the previously published experimental electron affinity for C6H5O, and thermochemical values for the other species are reported. A comparison of the new TCID values with both experimental and theoretical values from the literature is presented.     

Energetics of halogen bonding of group 10 metal fluoride complexes

A study is presented of the thermodynamics of the halogen-bonding interaction of C(6)F(5)I with a series of structurally similar group 10 metal fluoride complexes trans-[Ni(F)(2-C(5)NF(4))(PCy(3))(2)] (2), trans-[Pd(F)(4-C(5)NF(4))(PCy(3))(2)] (3), trans-[Pt(F){2-C(5)NF(2)H(CF(3))}(PR(3))(2)] (4a, R = Cy; 4bR = iPr) and trans-[Ni(F){2-C(5)NF(2)H(CF(3))}(PCy(3))(2)] (5a) in toluene solution. (19)F NMR titration experiments are used to determine binding constants, enthalpies and entropies of these interactions (2.4 ≤ K(300) ≤ 5.2; -25 ≤ ΔH(o) ≤ -16 kJ mol(-1); -73 ≤ ΔS(o) ≤ -49 J K(-1) mol(-1)). The data for -ΔH(o) for the halogen bonding follow a trend Ni < Pd < Pt. The fluoropyridyl ligand is shown to have a negligible influence on the thermodynamic data, but the influence of the phosphine ligand is significant. We also show that the value of the spin-spin coupling constant J(PtF) increases substantially with adduct formation. X-ray crystallographic data for Ni complexes 5a and 5c are compared to previously published data for a platinum analogue. We show by experiment and computation that the difference between Pt-X and Ni-X (X = F, C, P) bond lengths is greatest for X = F, consistent with F(2pπ)-Pt(5dπ) repulsive interactions. DFT calculations on the metal fluoride complexes show the very negative electrostatic potential around the fluoride. Calculations of the enthalpy of adduct formation show energies of -18.8 and -22.8 kJ mol(-1) for Ni and Pt complexes of types 5 and 4, respectively, in excellent agreement with experiment.     

Pd0 mechanism of palladium-catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes by CH2N2: a DFT study

Pathways for the reaction of ethene with diazomethane to cyclopropane and dinitrogen catalyzed by Pd(0) complexes have been investigated at the B3LYP level of theory. The computed Gibbs free activation energy of 71.7 kJ mol(-1) for the most favorable catalytic cycle is by far lower than previously reported computed barriers for Pd(II)-catalyzed pathways of this reaction and is now in the range of experimental expectations. Pd(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2) is predicted to be the resting state of the catalyst and the product of a Pd(OAc)(2) precatalyst reduction. The Pd(0) ethene complex is in equilibrium with Pd(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(kappaC-CH(2)N(2)), from which N(2) is eliminated in the rate-determining step. The resulting carbene complex (eta(2)-C(2)H(4))Pd=CH(2) reacts without intrinsic barrier with CH(2)N(2) to Pd(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2) and N(2) and with ethene to the palladacyclobutane (eta(2)-C(2)H(4))Pd(II)[kappaC(1),kappaC(3)-(CH(2))(3)]. The N(2) elimination from Pd(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2)(kappaC-CH(2)N(2)) to (eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2)Pd=CH(2) leads to an overall Gibbs free activation energy of 84.2 kJ mol(-1). The intramolecular rearrangement of (eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2)Pd=CH(2) to the palladacyclobutane (eta(2)-C(2)H(4))Pd(II)[kappaC(1),kappaC(3)-(CH(2))(3)] and the subsequent reductive elimination of cyclopropane are facile. At the BP86 level of theory, Pd(0) preferentially coordinates three ligands. Pd(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(3) is predicted to be the resting state, and the N(2) elimination from the model complex Pd(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2)(kappaC-CH(2)N(2)) is the rate-determining transition state leading to an overall Gibbs free activation energy of 69.4 kJ mol(-1).     

Effect of the nature of the metal atom on hydrogen bonding and proton transfer to [Cp*MH3(dppe)]: tungsten versus molybdenum

The hydrogen-bonding and proton-transfer pathway to complex [Cp*W(dppe)H(3)] (Cp*=eta(5)-C(5)Me(5); dppe=Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)) was investigated experimentally by IR, NMR, UV/Vis spectroscopy in the presence of fluorinated alcohols, p-nitrophenol, and HBF(4), and by using DFT calculations for the [CpW(dhpe)H(3)] model (Cp=eta(5)-C(5)H(5); dhpe=H(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PH(2)) and for the real system. A study of the interaction with weak acids (CH(2)FCH(2)OH, CF(3)CH(2)OH, (CF(3))(2)CHOH) allowed the determination of the basicity factor, E(j)=1.73+/-0.01, making this compound the most basic hydride complex reported to date. A computational investigation revealed several minima for the [CpW(dhpe)H(3)] adducts with CF(3)CH(2)OH, (CF(3))(2)CHOH, and 2(CF(3))(2)CHOH and confirms that these interactions are stronger than those established by the Mo analogue. Their geometries and relative energies are closely related to those of the homologous Mo systems, with the most stable adducts corresponding to H bonding with M-H sites, however, the geometric and electronic parameters reveal that the metal center plays a greater role in the tungsten systems. Proton-transfer equilibria are observed with the weaker proton donors, the proton-transfer step for the system [Cp*W(dppe)H(3)]/HOCH(CF(3))(2) in toluene having DeltaH=(-3.9+/-0.3) kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS=(-17+/-2) cal mol(-1) K(-1). The thermodynamic stability of the proton-transfer product is greater for W than for Mo. Contrary to the Mo system, the protonation of the [Cp*W(dppe)H(3)] appears to involve a direct proton transfer to the metal center without a nonclassical intermediate, although assistance is provided by a hydride ligand in the transition state.     

Off-center oxygen-arene interactions in solution: a quantitative study

[reaction: see text] Triptycenes with C1-MeO/RCOO (R = H, Me, Et, i-Pr, CF3) and C9-XC6H4CH2 (X = Me, H, F, CN, CF3) have been prepared to determine lone pair-arene interactions in the off-center configuration. The ratios of the syn and anti conformers were determined by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The syn conformer allows the attached arene and the MeO/ester to interact with each other while the anti conformer does not. The free energies of interaction have been derived from the syn/anti ratios. Compound 7 in the ester series with X = H and R = CF3 is the only compound that shows a slightly repulsive interaction (0.08 kcal/mol). Compound 2e in the MeO series with X = CF3 exhibits an attractive interaction (-0.47 +/- 0.05 kcal mol). All other compounds show smaller attractive interactions.     

On the parallel mechanism of the dissociation of energy-selected P(CH3)3+ ions

Energy selected trimethyl phosphine ions were prepared by threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy. This ion dissociates via H, CH(3), and CH(4) loss, the latter two involving hydrogen transfer steps. The ion time-of-flight distribution and the breakdown diagram are analyzed in terms of the statistical RRKM theory, which includes tunneling. Ab initio and DFT calculations provide the vibrational frequencies required for the RRKM modeling. CH(3) loss could produce both the P(CH(3))(2)(+) by a simple bond dissociation step, and the more stable HP(CH(2))CH(3)(+) ion by a hydrogen transfer step. Quantum chemical calculations are extensively used to uncover the reaction scheme, and they strongly suggest that the latter product is exclusively formed via an isomerization step in the energy range of the experiment. The data analysis, which includes modeling with the trimethyl phosphine thermal energy distribution, provides accurate onset energies for both H (E(0K) = 1024.1 +/- 3.5 kJ/mol) and CH(3) (E(0K) = 1024.8 +/- 3.5 kJ/mol) loss reactions. From this analysis, we conclude that the Delta(f)H(298K) degrees [HP(CH(2))(CH(3))(+)] = 783 +/- 8 kJ/mol and Delta(f)H(298K) degrees [P(CH(2))(CH(3))(2)(+)] = 711 +/- 8 kJ/mol.     

Kinetic study of the reactions of Cl atoms with CF3CH2CH2OH, CF3CF2CH2OH, CHF2CF2CH2OH, and CF3CHFCF2CH2OH

The reaction kinetics of chlorine atoms with a series of partially fluorinated straight-chain alcohols, CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH (1), CF(3)CF(2)CH(2)OH (2), CHF(2)CF(2)CH(2)OH (3), and CF(3)CHFCF(2)CH(2)OH (4), were studied in the gas phase over the temperature range of 273-363 K by using very low-pressure reactor mass spectrometry. The absolute rate coefficients were given by the expressions (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): k(1) = (4.42 +/- 0.48) x 10(-11) exp(-255 +/- 20/T); k(1)(303) = (1.90 +/- 0.17) x 10(-11), k(2) = (2.23 +/- 0.31) x 10(-11) exp(-1065 +/- 106/ T); k(2)(303) = (6.78 +/- 0.63) x 10(-13), k(3) = (8.51 +/- 0.62) x 10(-12) exp(-681 +/- 72/T); k(3)(303) = (9.00 +/- 0.82) x 10(-13) and k(4) = (6.18 +/- 0.84) x 10(-12) exp(-736 +/- 42/T); k(4)(303) = (5.36 +/- 0.51) x 10(-13). The quoted 2sigma uncertainties include the systematic errors. All title reactions proceed via a hydrogen atom metathesis mechanism leading to HCl. Moreover, the oxidation of the primarily produced radicals was investigated, and the end products were the corresponding aldehydes (R(F)-CHO; R(F) = -CH(2)CF(3), -CF(2)CF(3), -CF(2)CHF(2), and -CF(2)CHFCF(3)), providing a strong experimental indication that the primary reactions proceed mainly via the abstraction of a methylenic hydrogen adjacent to a hydroxyl group. Finally, the bond strengths and ionization potentials for the title compounds were determined by density functional theory calculations, which also suggest that the alpha-methylenic hydrogen is mainly under abstraction by Cl atoms. The correlation of room-temperature rate coefficients with ionization potentials for a set of 27 molecules, comprising fluorinated C2-C5 ethers and C2-C4 alcohols, is good with an average deviation of a factor of 2, and is given by the expression log(k) (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) = (5.8 +/- 1.4) - (1.56 +/- 0.13) x (ionization potential (in eV)).     

Stable CI3+ salts and attempts to prepare CHI2+ and CH2I+

The room-temperature stable CI3+ salts [CI3+[pftb](-)1 and [CI3]+[al-f-al](-) 2([pftb](-) = [Al(OC(CF3)3)4](-); [al-f-al](-) = [((CF3)3CO)3Al-F-Al(OC(CF3)3)3](-)) were prepared in quantitative yields from purified CI4 and the corresponding silver aluminates with total exclusion of light (NMR, IR, UV-VIS, X-ray diffraction). The isolated CI(3)(+) cation is trigonal planar with a sum of <(I-C-I) = 360.0 degrees (1) and 359.9 degrees (2). Attempts to prepare CHI2+ and CH2I+ salts from CHI3 or CH2I2/Ag[pftb] mixtures remained unsuccessful; the reaction with CH2I2 leads to the formation of the adduct [Ag(CH2I2)3]+[pftb](-)3, while for HCI3, dismutation with formation of 1 as well as 3 was observed. All particles were also calculated at the MP2/TZVPP level to predict the vibrational and electronic spectra as well as to calculate the Gibbs free energies of all reactions (DeltaG degrees , gas phase and CH2Cl2 solution). Quantum chemical calculations were also used to investigate the stability of the [pftb](-) anion against the electrophilic attack of the CX3+ and CHnX3-n+ cations (X = F-I, n = 1-3). The strength of the Lewis acidity of these cations and of the isoelectronic boron halides BX()and BHnX3-n have been established on the basis of their fluoride ion affinities (FIAs). The FIAs of the carbon and the boron containing compounds show opposite trends, with fluorinated halomethyl cations being stronger acids than their heavier congeners but iodinated holoboranes being stronger acids than their lighter homologues.