Thermodynamics of (1,4-difluorobenzene + an n-alkane) and of (hexafluorobenzene + an n-alkane)

Excess molar enthalpies H^E and excess molar volumes V^E have been measured, as a function of mole fraction x₁, at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure for the five liquid mixtures (x₁1,4-C₆H₄F₂ + x₂n-C_lH_2l+2), l = 7, 8, 10, 12 and 16. In addition, H^E and excess molar heat capacities C_P^E at constant pressure have been determined for the two liquid mixtures (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C_lH_2l+2), l = 7 and 14, at the same temperature and pressure. The instruments used were flow microcalorimeters of the Picker design (the H^E version was equipped with separators) and a vibrating-tube densimeter, respectively.

The excess enthalpies of the five difluorobenzene mixtures are all positive and quite large; they increase with increasing chain length l of the n-alkane from H^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(J mol⁻¹) = 1050 for l = 7 to 1359 for l = 16. The corresponding excess volumes V^E are all positive and also increase with increasing l: V^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(cm³ mol⁻¹) = 0.650 for l = 7 and 1.080 for l = 16. Interestingly, the excess enthalphies of the corresponding mixtures with hexafluorobenzene are only about 5% larger, whereas the excess volumes of (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C_lH_2l+2) are roughly twice as large as those of their counterparts in the series containing 1,4-C₆H₄F₂. Specifically, at 298.15 K H^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(J mol⁻¹) = 1119 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₇H₁₆) and 1324 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₁₄H₃₀), and for the same mixtures V^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(cm³ mol⁻¹) = 1.882 and 2.093, respectively. The excess heat capacities for both systems are negative and of about the same magnitude as the excess heat capacities of mixtures of fluorobenzene with the same n-alkanes (Roux et al., 1984): C_P^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹) = −1.18 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₇H₁₆), and −2.25 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₁₄H₃₀). The curve C_P^E vs. (x₁ for x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₁₄H₃₀) shows a sort of “hump” for x₁ 0.5, which is presumed to indicate emerging W-shape composition dependence at lower temperatures.     

Kinetische und mechanistische untersuchungen von übergangsmetallkomplex-reaktionen : IX. Substitution von CO durch PPh3 in aminocarbinkomplexen: Präparative und kinetische untersuchungen

Pentacarbonyl(diethylaminocarbyne)chromium tetrafluoroborate, [(CO)₅₋ CrCNEt₂]BF₄ (I), reacts with PPh₃ with substitution of CO and formation of trans-tetracarbonyl(diethylaminocarbyne)triphenylphosphanechromium tetra-fluoroborate, trans-[PPh₃(CO)₄CrCNEt₂]BF₄ (III). Substitution of CO by PPh₃ in neutral trans-tetracarbonyl(halo)(diethylaminocarbyne)chromium complexes, trans-X(CO)₄CrCNEt₂ (IVa: X = Br, IVb: X = I), leads in a reversible reaction to the corresponding tricarbonyl complexes, mer-X(PPh₃)(CO)₃₋ CrNEt₂ (V), PPh₃ occupying the cis-position to the carbyne ligand. With PPh₃ in large excess both reactions follow a first-order rate law. This as well as the activation parameters (ΔH≠ = 104–113 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS≠ = 64–71 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) indicate a dissociative mechanism.     

Structures and energetics of C3H6S isomers: a Gaussian-3 ab initio study

Twenty-two isomers/conformers of C₃H₆S^+√ radical cations have been identified and their heats of formation (ΔH_f) at 0 and 298 K have been calculated using the Gaussian-3 (G3) method. Seven of these isomers are known and their ΔH_f data are available in the literature for comparison. The least energy isomer is found to be the thioacetone radical cation (4⁺) with C_2v symmetry. In contrast, the least energy C₃H₆O^+√ isomer is the 1-propen-2-ol radical cation. The G3 ΔH_f298 of 4⁺ is calculated to be 859.4 kJ mol⁻¹, ca. 38 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than the literature value, ≤821 kJ mol⁻¹. For allyl mercaptan radical cation (7⁺), the G3 ΔH_f298 is calculated to be 927.8 kJ mol⁻¹, also not in good agreement with the experimental estimate, 956 kJ mol⁻¹. Upon examining the experimental data and carrying out further calculations, it is shown that the G3 ΔH_f298 values for 4⁺ and 7⁺ should be more reliable than the compiled values. For the five remaining cations with available experimental thermal data, the agreement between the experimental and G3 results ranges from fair to excellent.

Cation CH₃CHSCH₂^+√ (10⁺) has the least energy among the eleven distonic radical cations identified. Their ΔH_f298 values range from 918 to 1151 kJ mol⁻¹. Nevertheless, only one of them, CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺), has been observed. Its G3 ΔH_f298 value is 980.9 kJ mol⁻¹, in fair agreement with the experimental result, 990 kJ mol⁻¹.

A couple of reactions involving C₃H₆S^+√ isomers CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺) and trimethylene sulfide radical cation (13⁺) have also been studied with the G3 method and the results are consistent with experimental findings.     

Hm and Vm thermodynamic surfaces for binary mixtures in the near critical region

Even for such simple mixtures as (argon+methane), the excess enthalpy H^E_m and the excess volume V^E_m in the near critical region are about two orders of magnitude higher than for the liquid mixture at low temperatures and pressures near ambient conditions. Mixtures for which the critical temperatures are close together, and for which the critical pressures are far apart, have similar H^E_m (x,p,T) and V^E_m (x,p,T) surfaces, and near critical isotherms show double maxima in the supercritical fluid region. Mixtures for which the critical pressures are close together, and the critical temperatures are far apart, also have similar H^E_m (x,p,T) and V^E_m (x,p,T) surfaces, but isobars on the surfaces are ‘S’ shaped. The shapes of these near-critical excess-function surfaces can be understood from an inspection of the enthalpy, or residual enthalpy curves of the mixture and of the pure components. Examples of both are given. Attention is drawn to the large value that these excess functions can have close to a pure component critical point.     

Thermally and photochemically induced vinyl-hydrogen activation of [η-1,2:3,4-(trans-1,3,5-hexatriene)](η-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt: Regio- and stereospecific hydrogen migrations

[η⁴-1,2:3,4-(trans-1,3,5-hexatriene)](η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt (3) undergoes dimerization to form a flyover carbene, 5, with concomitant elimination of one equivalent of trans-1,3,5-hexatriene. Structure 5 thermally rearranges via a metal-mediated [1,5]-H shift to carbene 6: E_a = 29.1 ± 0.4 kcal mol⁻¹, log A = 11.6 ± 0.6. The structures of 5 and 6 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray determination. Low temperature irradiation of 6 generates 13 which undergoes a thermally induced reversion to 6: E_a = 19.4 ± 0.9 kcal mol⁻¹, log A = 10.0 ± 1.3. Deuterium labeling studies indicate the mechanisms involved in these C---H transformations are intramolecular, regio-, and stereospecific. The chemical study of this system is extended to include a variety of homologous CpCo(triene) complexes. A comparison between the triene approach to the formation of these flyover pentadienyl carbenes and direct carbene addition is described.     

Thermoynamic properties (Hm, CP,m, Vm, κT) of binary mixtures {x1,3-Dioxane + (1−x)Cyclohexane} at 298.15 K

Molar excess enthalpies H_m^E, isobaric heat capacities C_P,m^E, volumes V_m^E and isothermal compressibilities κT^E for the 1,3-dioxane(3DX) + cyclohexane mixture were measured at 298.15 K, in order to compare to those of the 1,4-dioxane(4DX) + cyclohexane mixture. H_m^E is endothermic and the maximum value about 1.5 kJ mol⁻¹ at x ≈ 0.45, and lower than that of the 4DX mixture by about 80 J mol⁻¹. V_m^E is positive over the whole concentration and the maximum value is about 0.85 cm³ mol⁻¹ at x ≈ 0.45, and lower than that of the 4DX mixture. The above results suggest the energetic unstabilization, resulting in the volume expansion in the mixture. C_P,m^E shows the characteristic W-shaped concentration dependence, which has maximum at x ≈ 0.45 and two minima at x ≈ 0.1 and 0.9. The maximum C_P,m^E value for 3DX mixture shifts toward the positive side, compared to that of 4DX mixture. κT^E were estimated from speeds of sound, densities, thermal expansion coefficients and isobaric heat capacities of the pure component liquids and the mixtures. The κT^E result shows the positive concentration dependence over the whole composition range. The 3DX mixture has the similar thermodynamic properties to the 4DX mixture, despite that 4DX is the nonpolar solvent and 3DX is the dipolar liquid. this means that there exists the local dipolar interaction between 4DX molecules, and the prevalence of “microheterogeneity” in the both mixtures.     

A Gaussian-2 ab initio study of [C2H5S] ions: III. H2 and CH4 eliminations from CH3CHSH and CH3SCH2

Gaussian-2 ab initio calculations were performed to examine the six modes of unimolecular dissociation of cis-CH₃CHSH⁺ (1⁺), trans-CH₃CHSH⁺ (2⁺), and CH₃SCH₂⁺ (3⁺): 1⁺→CH₃⁺+trans-HCSH (1); 1⁺→CH₃+trans-HCSH⁺ (2); 1⁺→CH₄+HCS⁺ (3); 1⁺→H₂+c-CH₂CHS⁺ (4); 2⁺→H₂+CH₃CS⁺ (5); and 3⁺→H₂+c-CH₂CHS⁺ (6). Reactions (1) and (2) have endothermicities of 584 and 496 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Loss of CH₄ from 1⁺ (reaction (3)) proceeds through proton transfer from the S atom to the methyl group, followed by cleavage of the C–C bond. The reaction pathway has an energy barrier of 292 kJ mol⁻¹ and a transition state with a wide spectrum of nonclassical structures. Reaction (4) has a critical energy of 296 kJ mol⁻¹ and it also proceeds through the same proton transfer step as reaction (3), followed by elimination of H_2. Formation of CH₃CS⁺ from 2⁺ (reaction (5)) by loss of H₂ proceeds through protonation of the methine (CH) group, followed by dissociation of the H₂ moiety. Its energy barrier is 276 kJ mol⁻¹. On both the MP2/6-31G* and QCISD/6-31G* potential-energy surfaces, the H₂ 1,1-elimination from 3⁺ (reaction (6)) proceeds via a nonclassical intermediate resembling c-CH₃SCH₂⁺ and has a critical energy of 269 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Thermochemistry of organosilicon compounds VII. Permethylcyclosilazanes and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazane

The enthalpy of formation (ΔH_f⁰), enthalpy of evaporation (ΔH_v⁰) and enthalpy of atomization (ΔH_a) of permethylcyclosilazanes (Me₂SiNH)_n (n = 3, 4) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazane (Me₂SiH)₂NH have been determined. The enthalpies of formation of these compounds were compared with those calculated by the Benson-Buss-Franklin and Tatevskii additive schemes. In higher permethylcyclosilazanes the energy of the endocyclic Si---N bond is 306 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹ (73 kcal mol⁻¹), that is 12 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹ (3 kcal mol⁻¹) lower than the energy of the acyclic Si---N bond. The strain energy of the cyclotrisilazane ring is estimated to be 10.5 kJ mol⁻¹ (2.5 kcal mol⁻¹), whereas the energy of the ring Si---N bond is 295 kJ mol⁻¹ (70.5 kcal mol⁻¹).

The thermochemical data for permethylcyclosilazanes were compared with the corresponding values for permethylcyclosiloxanes calculated from the results of previously reported studies.     

A comparative ab initio study of the geometry and force field of thionformic acid with formic and thiolformic acids

The energy and force field for the planar cis and trans conformers of thionformic acid have been calculated using the 4–31 G basis set, augmented by a complete set of d-functions on the sulfur atom, with full geometry optimization. Extensive comparisons are made between the changes in geometry and selected force constants in going from cis- (chain) to the trans- (ring) structures of thionformic, thiolformic and formic acid. These changes are discussed in terms of a hydrogen bonding type of interaction in the O---HS, S---HO and O---HO structural units respectively. Of the thioacid conformers, the trans-thiol is found to be the most stable; the trans-thion and cis-thiol both about 10 kJ mol⁻¹ less stable; and the cis-thion the least stable by about 38 kJ mol⁻¹.     

TEMPO-initiated oxidation of 2-aminophenol to 2-aminophenoxazin-3-one

The oxidation reaction of 2-aminophenol (OAP) to 2-aminophenoxazin-3-one (APX) initiated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) has been investigated in methanol at ambient temperature. The oxidation of OAP was followed by electronic spectroscopy and the rate constants were determined according to the rate law −d[OAP]/dt=k_obs[OAP][TEMPO]. The rate constant, activation enthalpy and entropy at 298 K are as follows: k_obs (dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹)=(1.49±0.02)×10⁻⁴, E_a=18±5 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔH^‡=15±4 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS^‡=−82±17 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The results of oxidation of OAP show that the formation of 2-aminophenoxyl radical is the key step in the activation process of the substrate.     

Organometallic complexes for nonlinear optics: Part 32: Synthesis, optical spectroscopy and theoretical studies of some osmium alkynyl complexes

The complexes trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (1), trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (2), and 1,3,5-{trans-[OsCl(dppe)₂(4-CCC₆H₄CC)]}₃C₆H₃ (3) have been prepared. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal a quasi-reversible oxidation process for each complex at 0.36–0.39 V (with respect to the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple at 0.56 V), assigned to the Os^II/III couple. In situ oxidation of 1–3 using an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell affords the UV–Vis–NIR spectra of the corresponding cationic complexes 1⁺–3⁺; a low-energy band is observed in the near-IR region (11 000–14 000 cm⁻¹) in each case, in contrast to the neutral complexes 1–3 which are optically transparent below 20 000 cm⁻¹. Density functional theory calculations on the model compounds trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] and trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] have been used to rationalize the observed optical spectra and suggest that the low-energy bands in the spectra of the cationic complexes can be assigned to transitions involving orbitals delocalized over the metal, chloro and alkynyl ligands. These intense bands have potential utility in switching nonlinear optical response, of interest in optical technology.     

Heat capacity of copper hydride

The heat capacity of copper hydride has been measured in the temperature range 2–60 and 60–250 K using two adiabatic calorimeters. Special procedure for the purification of CuH has been applied and a careful analysis of sample contamination has been performed. The experimental results have been extrapolated up to 300 K due to instability of the copper hydride at room temperature. From the temperature dependence of heat capacity the values of entropy S°(T), thermal part of enthalpy H°(T)−H°(0) and Gibbs function [−(G°(T)−H°(0))] have been calculated assuming S°(0)=0. The standard absolute entropy, standard entropy of formation from the elements and enthalpy of decomposition of copper hydride from the elements have been calculated and found to be 130.8 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (H₂), −85.1 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (H₂), −55.1 kJ mol⁻¹ (H₂), respectively. These new results gave the possibility of discussion on thermodynamic properties of copper hydride. Debye temperature has been for the first time determined experimentally.     

Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of N-(2-cyanoethyl) aniline (C9H10N2)

The low temperature heat capacities of N-(2-cyanoethyl)aniline were measured with an automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 83 to 353 K. The temperature corresponding to the maximum value of the apparent heat capacity in the fusion interval, molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion of this compound were determined to be 323.33 ± 0.13 K, 19.4 ± 0.1 kJ mol⁻¹ and 60.1 ± 0.1 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. Using the fractional melting technique, the purity of the sample was determined to be 99.0 mol% and the melting temperature for the tested sample and the absolutely pure compound were determined to be 323.50 and 323.99 K, respectively. A solid-to-solid phase transition occurred at 310.63 ± 0.15 K. The molar enthalpy and molar entropy of the transition were determined to be 980 ± 5 J mol⁻¹ and 3.16 ± 0.02 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic functions of the compound [H_T − H_298.15] and [S_T − S_298.15] were calculated based on the heat capacity measurements in the temperature range of 83–353 K with an interval of 5 K.     

The conformations of 1,2-acenaphthene derivatives and steric interaction of contiguous nitroxy groups

Inter-oxygen distances and conformational flexibility were estimated for cis- and trans-1,2-acenaphthenediol from X-ray data, intramolecular hydrogen bonding, the kinetics of glycol cleavage, and cyclization experiments. The optical and NMR spectra of the isomeric dinitrate esters and related compounds in solution showed significant differences. The symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching bands of the nitroxy group occurred at 1276 ± 2 cm⁻¹ and 1639 ± 7 cm⁻¹ respectively in the trans-dinitrate and in ethyl and benzyl nitrates and were shifted to higher frequencies by 9 cm⁻¹ and 16 cm⁻¹ respectively in the cis-dinitrate. The analogy to similar effects observed in cyclic 1,2-diketones, -haloketones, and o-halonitrobenzenes suggested intramolecular interaction of the contiguous nitroxy groups.

The reaction of the dinitrates with pyridine at 25° was pseudo first-order and the ratio k_trans/k_cis of 6·5 was consistent with an E_CO mechanism involving nitroxy group interaction in the cis isomer.     

Excess volumes for binary liquid mixtures of methylethylketone with methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and cyclohexane at various temperatures

Dilatometric measurements of excess volumes V^E have been made for binary liquid mixtures of methylethylketone with methylene chloride (CH₂Cl₂), 1,2-dichloroethane (CH₂ClCH₂Cl) and tetrachloroethylene (CCl₂CCl₂) at 293.15 and 303.15 K, for mixtures of methylethylketone with trichloroethylene (CHClCCl₂) at 298.15 and 308.15 K, and for mixtures of methylethylketone with cyclohexane (c-C₆H₁₂) at 303.15 K. The values of V^E have been found to be highly positive for methylethylketone + c-C₆H₁₂, slightly positive for methylethylketone + CH₂Cl₂ and methylethylketone + CCl₂CCl₂, and slightly negative for methylethylketone + CHClCCl₂ and methylethylketone + CH₂ClCH₂Cl. The results indicate the existence of specific interactions of methylethylketone with CH₂Cl₂, CH₂ClCH₂Cl, CHClCCl₂ and CCl₂CCl₂.     

Übergangsmetall-carbin-komplexe : LXXXIII. Neue anionische mer-dihalogeno-tricarbonyl-dialkylamino-carbin-komplexe des wolframs

The reaction of trans-X(CO)₄WCNR₂ (X = Br, R = ^c hex (cyclohexyl); X = Cl, R = ^c hex, ⁱpr (isopropyl) with M⁺X⁻ (M⁺ = NEt₄⁺, X⁻ = Br⁻; M⁺ = PPN⁺, X⁻ = Cl⁻) leads under substitution of one CO ligand to new anionic dihalo(tricarbonyl)carbyne-tungsten complexes of the type M⁺ mer-[(X)₂(CO)₃WCNR₂]⁻ (M⁺ = NEt₄⁺, X = Br, R = ^c hex; M⁺ = PPN⁺, X = Cl, R = ^c hex, ⁱ pr), whose composition and structure were determined by elemental analysis as well as by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In the anionic carbyne complexes the entered halogen ligand, coordinated in a cis position relative to the carbyne ligand on the metal, can be easily substituted by neutral nucleophiles, as the reaction of PPN⁺ mer-[(Cl)₂(CO)₃WCN^chex₂]⁻ with PPh₃ demonstrates yielding the neutral carbyne complex mer-[Cl(CO)₃(PPh₃)WCN^chex₂].     

Vapor-liquid equilibria for the system water + tert.-pentanol at 4 temperatures

Precise isothermal vapor-liquid equilibrium data at 10, 30, 55 and 70°C for the system water + tert.-pentanol were measured using a computer-operated differential static apparatus. Activity coefficients at infinite dilution were derived from the experimental P − x data in the dilute region using a flexible Legendre polynomial, and the vapor-liquid-liquid locus was derived directly from the P − x data near the liquid-liquid phase boundary. Heteroazeotropic points were measured directly by distillation using a rotating band column. Furthermore the UNIQUAC and the NRTL models were used to correlate the experimental P − x data and to derive the azeotropic data.

Experimental H^E data were taken from literature and used together with the experimental P − x data to simultaneously fit temperature dependent interaction parameters for UNIQUAC and NRTL. The parameters were used to predict the azeotropic composition over a large temperature range. The results were compared with those of a simple analytical thermodynamic equation using only the pure component vapor pressure data, heats of mixing in the heterogeneous region and the azeotropic composition at one temperature.

Heats of mixing were measured at 140°C with the help of a flow calorimeter in order to determine the slope of H^E vs. x₁ in the heterogeneous region. The H^E data were used to check the reliability of the G^E model parameters and the equation to calculate the temperature dependence of the heteroazeotropic composition.     

Étude thermochimique des méthylnaphtalènes

Calorimetric measurements of enthalpies of change of state (sublimation or vaporization) of methylnaphthalenes gave the following results:

1-methylnaphthalene: (ΔH√_vap)_m=(57.32±0.42) kJ mol⁻¹

2-methylnaphthalene: (ΔH√_sub)_m=(65.69±0.84) kJ mol⁻¹

Combination of these values with those obtained by Speros and Rossini¹ for enthalpies of combustion of these compounds makes it possible to determine their energy of isomerization more accurately. This energy is (2.97±2.41) kJ mol⁻¹ and should be attributed to steric hindrance in the 1-methylnaphthalene molecule.

The comparison of energies of conjugation, theoretical as well as experimental, which we have determine for both molecules studied, confirms the present result.     

Vapor–liquid equilibria and excess properties for methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) containing binary systems

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is recently widely used in the chemical and petrochemical industry as a non-polluting octane booster for gasoline and as an organic solvent. The isobaric or isothermal vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) were determined directly for MTBE+C₁–C₄ alcohols. The excess enthalpy (H^E) for butane+MTBE or isobutene+MTBE and excess volume (V^E) for MTBE+C₃–C₄ alcohols were also determined. Besides, the infinite dilute activity coefficient, partial molar excess enthalpies and volumes at infinite dilution (γ^∞, H^E,∞, V^E,∞) were calculated from measured data. Each experimental data were correlated with various g^E models or empirical polynomial.     

The active catalytic species and its isomerisation in the catalytic carbonylation of methanol — a density functional study

The Monsanto acetic acid process is one of the most effective ways to produce acetic acid industrially. This process has been studied experimentally but theoretical investigations are so far sparse. In the current work the active catalytic species [Rh(CO)₂I₂]⁻ (1) and its isomerisation has been studied theoretically using the hybrid B3LYP exchange and correlation functional. Similar calculations has been performed for the iridium complex [Ir(CO)₂I₂]⁻ (2) that also is catalytically active in the methanol carbonylation. Experimental work has confirmed the existence of the cis forms of the active catalytic species, but they do not rule out the possibility of the trans isomers. Our gas phase results show that cis-1 has 4.95 kcal/mol lower free energy than trans-1, and cis-2 has 10.39 kcal/mol lower free energy than trans-2. In the case of rhodium, trans-1 can take part to the catalytic cycle but in case of iridium this is not very likely. We have also investigated the possible mechanisms of the cis to trans conversions. The ligand association mechanism gave free energy barrier of 13.7 kcal/mol for the rhodium complex and 19.8 kcal/mol for iridium. Thus the conversion for the rhodium complex is feasible whereas for iridium it is unlikely.