Energetics of the manganese oxide cluster cations Mn(N)O+ (N = 2-5): role of oxygen in the binding of manganese atoms

The photodissociation of manganese oxide cluster cations Mn(N)O+ (N = 2-5), into Mn(N-1)O+ (one-atom loss) and Mn(N-2)O+ (two-atom), was investigated in the photon-energy range of 1.08-2.76 eV. The bond-dissociation energies D0(Mn(N-1)O+...Mn) for N = 3, 4, and 5 were determined to be 1.84+/-0.03, 0.99+/-0.05, and 1.25+/-0.14 eV, respectively, from the threshold energies for the one- and two-atom losses. As Mn2O+ did not dissociate even at the highest photon energy used, the bond dissociation energy of Mn2O+, D0(Mn+...MnO), was obtained from a density-functional-theory calculation to be 3.04 eV. The present findings imply that the core ion Mn2O+ is bound weakly with the rest of the manganese atoms in Mn(N)O+.     

Dissociation kinetics of energy-selected Cp(2)Mn(+) ions studied by threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy

Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy has been used to investigate the dissociation kinetics of the manganocene ion, Cp(2)Mn(+) (Cp = eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl). The Cp loss reaction was found to be extremely slow over a large ion internal energy range. By simulating the measured asymmetric time-of-flight peak shapes and breakdown diagram, the 0 K thermochemical dissociation limit for CpMn(+) production was determined to be 9.55 +/- 0.15 eV. A CpMn(+)-Cp bond energy of 3.43 eV was obtained by combining this CpMn(+) + Cp dissociation limit with the Cp(2)Mn adiabatic ionization energy of 6.12 +/- 0.07 eV. Combining the measured onset with known heats of formation of Cp and Mn(+), the Cp-Mn(+) bond energy was determined to be 3.38 +/- 0.15 eV. These results lead to 298 K heats of formation of Cp(2)Mn(+) and CpMn(+) of 863 +/- 7 and 935 +/- 16 kJ/mol, respectively. Finally, by combining these results with a previous measurement of the CpMn(CO)(3) --> CpMn(+) + 3CO + e(-) dissociation limit, we arrive at a new value for Delta(f)H degrees (298K)(CpMn(CO)(3)) of -424 +/- 17 kJ/mol.     

Guided ion beam studies of the reactions of Co n+ (n=1-18) with N2: Cobalt cluster mononitride and dinitride bond energies

The reactions of Co n+ (n=1-18) with N2 are measured as a function of kinetic energy over a range of 0-15 eV in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. A variety of Co m +, Co m N+, and Co m N2+ (m相似文献   

Heats of formation of Co(CO)(2)NOPR(3), R = CH(3) and C(2)H(5), and its ionic fragments

A joint threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectrometry (TPEPICO) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) study on the thermochemistry of Co(CO)(2)NOPR(3), R = CH(3) (Me) and C(2)H(5) (Et), complexes is presented. Adiabatic ionization energies of 7.36 +/- 0.04 and 7.24 +/- 0.04 eV, respectively, were extracted from scans of the total ion and threshold electron signals. In the TPEPICO study, the following 0 K onsets were determined for the various fragment ions: CoCONOPMe(3)(+), 8.30 +/- 0.05 eV; CoNOPMe(3)(+), 9.11 +/- 0.05 eV; CoPMe(3)(+) 10.80 +/- 0.05 eV; CoCONOPEt(3)(+), 8.14 +/- 0.05 eV; CoNOPEt(3)(+), 8.92 +/- 0.05 eV; and CoPEt(3)(+), 10.66 +/- 0.05 eV. These onsets were combined with the Co(+)-PR(3) (R = CH(3) and C(2)H(5)) bond dissociation energies of 2.88 +/- 0.11 and 3.51 +/- 0.17 eV, obtained from the TCID experiments, to derive the heats of formation of the neutral and ionic species. Thus, the Co(CO)(2)NOPR(3) (R = CH(3) and C(2)H(5)) 0 K heats of formation were found to be -350 +/- 13 and -376 +/- 18 kJ x mol(-)(1), respectively. These heats of formation were combined with the published heat of formation of Co(CO)(3)NO to determine the substitution enthalpies of the carbonyl to phosphine substitution reactions. Room-temperature values of the heats of formation are also given using the calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies. Analysis of the TCID experimental results provides indirectly the adiabatic ionization energies of the free phosphine ligands, P(CH(3))(3) and P(C(2)H(5))(3), of 7.83 +/- 0.03 and 7.50 +/- 0.03 eV, respectively.     

Thermochemistry of the activation of N2 on iron cluster cations: Guided ion beam studies of the reactions of Fe(n)+ (n = 1-19) with N2

The kinetic energy dependences of the reactions of Fe(n)+ (n = 1-19) with N2 are studied in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer over the energy range of 0-15 eV. In addition to collision-induced dissociation forming Fe(m)+ ions, which dominate the product spectra, a variety of Fe(m)N2+ and Fe(m)N+ product ions, where m < or = n, is observed. All processes are observed to exhibit thresholds. Fe(m)+ - N and Fe(m)+ - 2N bond energies as a function of cluster size are derived from the threshold analysis of the kinetic energy dependences of the endothermic reactions. The trends in this thermochemistry are compared to the isoelectronic D0(Fe(n)+ - CH), and to bulk phase values. A fairly uniform barrier of 0.48+/-0.03 eV at 0 K is observed for formation of the Fe(n)N2+ product ions (n = 12, 15-19) and can be related to the rate-limiting step in the Haber process for catalytic ammonia production.     

Potential energy surface for activation of methane by Pt(+): a combined guided ion beam and DFT study

A guided-ion beam tandem mass spectrometer is used to study the reactions of Pt(+) with methane, PtCH(2)(+) with H(2) and D(2), and collision-induced dissociation of PtCH(4)(+) and PtCH(2)(+) with Xe. These studies experimentally probe the potential energy surface for the activation of methane by Pt(+). For the reaction of Pt(+) with methane, dehydrogenation to form PtCH(2)(+) + H(2) is exothermic, efficient, and the only process observed at low energies. PtH(+), formed in a simple C-H bond cleavage, dominates the product spectrum at high energies. The observation of a PtH(2)(+) product provides evidence that methane activation proceeds via a (H)(2)PtCH(2)(+) intermediate. Modeling of the endothermic reaction cross sections yields the 0 K bond dissociation energies in eV (kJ/mol) of D(0)(Pt(+)-H) = 2.81 +/- 0.05 (271 +/- 5), D(0)(Pt(+)-2H) = 6.00 +/- 0.12 (579 +/- 12), D(0)(Pt(+)-C) = 5.43 +/- 0.05 (524 +/- 5), D(0)(Pt(+)-CH) = 5.56 +/- 0.10 (536 +/- 10), and D(0)(Pt(+)-CH(3)) = 2.67 +/- 0.08 (258 +/- 8). D(0)(Pt(+)-CH(2)) = 4.80 +/- 0.03 eV (463 +/- 3 kJ/mol) is determined by measuring the forward and reverse reaction rates for Pt(+) + CH(4) right harpoon over left harpoon PtCH(2)(+) + H(2) at thermal energy. We find extensive hydrogen scrambling in the reaction of PtCH(2)(+) with D(2). Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of PtCH(4)(+), identified as the H-Pt(+)-CH(3) intermediate, with Xe reveals a bond energy of 1.77 +/- 0.08 eV (171 +/- 8 kJ/mol) relative to Pt(+) + CH(4). The experimental thermochemistry is favorably compared with density functional theory calculations (B3LYP using several basis sets), which also establish the electronic structures of these species and provide insight into the reaction mechanism. Results for the reaction of Pt(+) with methane are compared with those for the analogous palladium system and the differences in reactivity and mechanism are discussed.     

Bond dissociation energies and structures of CuNO(+) and Cu(NO)(2)(+)

The bond dissociation energies of CuNO(+), Cu(NO)(2)(+), and CuAr(+) are determined by means of guided ion beam mass spectrometry and quantum chemical calculations. From the experiment, the values D(0)(Cu(+)-NO) = 1.13 +/- 0.05, D(0)(ONCu(+)-NO) = 1.12 +/- 0.06, D(0)(Cu(+)-Ar) = 0.50 +/- 0.07, and D(0)(Cu(+)-Xe) = 1.02 +/- 0.06 eV are obtained. The computational approaches corroborate these results and provide additional structural data. The relative values of D(0)(Cu(+)-NO) and D(0)(Cu(+)-Xe) are consistent with the approximately thermoneutral formation of CuXe(+) upon interacting CuNO(+) with xenon. The sequential bond dissociation energies of Cu(NO)(2)(+) exhibit a trend similar to those of other Cu(I) complexes described in the literature. Although metathesis of nitric oxide to N(2) and O(2) is of considerable interest, no evidence for N-N- or O-O-bond formations in Cu(NO)(n)(+) ions (with n up to 3) is obtained within the energy range studied experimentally.     

Binding energies of CO on gold cluster cations Au n + (n=1-65): a radiative association kinetics study

Room temperature CO adsorption on isolated gold cluster cations is studied over a wide size range (Au(n) (+),126), with notable exceptions at n=30, 31 and 48, 49 which manifest local binding energy maxima. For the smallest sizes (3相似文献   

The dissociation kinetics of energy-selected CpMn(CO)(3)(+) ions studied by threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy

Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy has been used to investigate the dissociation kinetics of the cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl ion, CpMn(CO)(3)(+). The ionization energy of CpMn(CO)(3) was measured from the threshold photoelectron spectrum to be 7.69 +/- 0.02 eV. The dissociation of the CpMn(CO)(3)(+) ion proceeds by the sequential loss of three CO molecules. The first and third CO loss reactions were observed to be slow (lifetimes in the microsecond range). By simulating the resulting asymmetric time-of-flight peak shapes and breakdown diagram, 0 K onsets for three product ions were determined to be 8.80 +/- 0.04, 9.43 +/- 0.04, and 10.51 +/- 0.06 eV, respectively. Combined with the adiabatic ionization energy, the three successive Mn-CO bond energies in the CpMn(CO)(3)(+) were found to be alternating with values of 1.11 +/- 0.04, 0.63 +/- 0.04, and 1.08 +/- 0.06 eV, respectively. Using a scaled theoretical Cp-Mn(+) bond energy of 3.10 +/- 0.10 eV and the combined results from theory and experiment, the 298 K gas-phase heat of formation of CpMn(CO)(3) is suggested to be -419 +/- 15 kJ/mol. Based on this value, the 298 K heats of formation of CpMn(CO)(3)(+), CpMn(CO)(2)(+), CpMnCO(+), and CpMn(+) are 325 +/- 15, 546 +/- 15, 719 +/- 15, and 938 +/- 15 kJ/mol, respectively. By scaling theoretical calculated neutral bond energies with the experimental information derived in this study, the successive Mn-CO bond energies were estimated to be 1.88, 1.10, and 1.03 eV, respectively, while the Cp-Mn bond energy was found to be 2.16 eV. Comparison between the quantum chemical calculations and experimental values shows that the loss of CO groups follows the lowest energy adiabatic path, in which electronic spin on the metal center is not conserved.     

Direct determination of the ionization energies of PtC, PtO, and PtO2 with VUV radiation

Photoionization efficiency curves were measured for gas-phase PtC, PtO, and PtO2 using tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation at the Advanced Light Source. The molecules were prepared by laser ablation of a platinum tube, followed by reaction with CH4 or N2O and supersonic expansion. These measurements provide the first directly measured ionization energy for PtC, IE(PtC) = 9.45 +/- 0.05 eV. The direct measurement also gives greatly improved ionization energies for the platinum oxides, IE(PtO) = 10.0 +/- 0.1 eV and IE(PtO2) = 11.35 +/- 0.05 eV. The ionization energy connects the dissociation energies of the neutral and cation, leading to greatly improved 0 K bond dissociation energies for the neutrals: D0(Pt-C) = 5.95 +/- 0.07 eV, D0(Pt-O) = 4.30 +/- 0.12 eV, and D0(OPt-O) = 4.41 +/- 0.13 eV, as well as enthalpies of formation for the gas-phase molecules DeltaH(0)(f,0)(PtC(g)) = 701 +/- 7 kJ/mol, DeltaH(0)(f,0)(PtO(g)) = 396 +/- 12 kJ/mol, and DeltaH(0)(f,0)(PtO2(g)) = 218 +/- 11 kJ/mol. Much of the error in previous Knudsen cell measurements of platinum oxide bond dissociation energies is due to the use of thermodynamic second law extrapolations. Third law values calculated using statistical mechanical thermodynamic functions are in much better agreement with values obtained from ionization energies and ion energetics. These experiments demonstrate that laser ablation production with direct VUV ionization measurements is a versatile tool to measure ionization energies and bond dissociation energies for catalytically interesting species such as metal oxides and carbides.     

Pulsed field-ionization photoelectron-photoion coincidence study of the process N2+hnu-->N++N+e-: bond dissociation energies of N2 and N2+

We have examined the dissociative photoionization reaction N2+hnu-->N++N+e- near its threshold using the pulsed field-ionization photoelectron-photoion coincidence (PFI-PEPICO) time-of-flight (TOF) method. By examining the kinetic-energy release based on the simulation of the N+ PFI-PEPICO TOF peak profile as a function of vacuum ultraviolet photon energy and by analyzing the breakdown curves of N+ and N2+, we have determined the 0-K threshold or appearance energy (AE) of this reaction to be 24.2884+/-0.0010 eV. Using this 0-K AE, together with known ionization energies of N and N2, results in more precise values for the 0-K bond dissociation energies of N-N (9.7543+/-0.0010 eV) and N-N+ (8.7076+/-0.0010 eV) and the 0-K heats of formation for N (112.469+/-0.012 kcal/mol) and N+ (447.634+/-0.012 kcal/mol).     

Thermochemistry of N-N containing ions: a threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy study of ionized methyl- and tetramethylhydrazine

The unimolecular dissociation reactions of the methylhydrazine (MH) and tetramethylhydrazine (TMH) radical cations have been investigated using tandem mass spectrometry and threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy in the photon energy ranges 9.60-31.95 eV (for the MH ion) and 7.74-29.94 eV (for the TMH ion). Methylhydrazine ions (CH3NHNH2(+*)) have three low-energy dissociation channels: hydrogen atom loss to form CH2NHNH2(+) (m/z 45), loss of a methyl radical to form NHNH2(+) (m/z 31), and loss of methane to form the fragment ion m/z 30, N2H2(+*). Tetramethylhydrazine ions only exhibit two dissociation reactions near threshold: that of methyl radical loss to form (CH3)2NNCH3(+) (m/z 73) and of methane loss to form the fragment ion m/z 72 with the empirical formula C3H8N2(+*). The experimental breakdown curves were modeled with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory, and it was found that, particularly for methyl radical loss, variational transition state theory was needed to obtain satisfactory fits to the data. The 0 K enthalpies of formation (delta(f)H0) for all fragment ions (m/z 73, m/z 72, m/z 45, m/z 31, and m/z 30) have been determined from the 0 K activation energies (E0) obtained from the fitting procedure: delta(f)H0[(CH3)2NNCH3(+)] = 833 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0 [C3H8N2(+*)] = 1064 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0[CH2NHNH2(+)] = 862 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0[NHNH2(+)] = 959 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), and delta(f)H0[N2H2(+*)] = 1155 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1). The breakdown curves have been measured from threshold up to h nu approximately 32 eV for both hydrazine ions. As the photon energy increases, other dissociation products are observed and their appearance energies are reported.     

Ion-pair dissociation of N2O in the 16.25-16.41 eV: dynamics and electronic structure

The ion-pair dissociation dynamics of N(2)O -->(XUV) N(2)(+)(X (2)Sigma(g)(+), v) + O(-)((2)P(j)) at 16.248, 16.271, 16.389, and 16.411 eV have been studied using the velocity map imaging method and tunable XUV laser. The electronic structures of the ion-pair states have been studied by employing the ab initio quantum chemical calculation. The translational energy distributions and the angular distributions of the photofragments have been measured. The results show that about 40% of available energies are transformed into the translational energies, and the first excited vibrational states are populated most strongly for all four excitation energies. The anisotropy parameters beta are approximately 1. The ab initio calculations at the level of CASSCF6-311++g(3df) show that the equilibrium geometries of the ion-pair states are nonlinear with bond lengths R(N-N) = 1.10 A, R(N-O) = 2.15 A, and bond angle N-N-O = 103 degrees, respectively. The ion-pair states are formed by electron migration from the bonding sigma orbital of N[triple bond]N to the antibonding sigma orbital localized primarily on the O atom. Combining the experimental and theoretical results, it is concluded that the ion-pair dissociation occurs via predissociation of Rydberg states with (1)Sigma(+) symmetry, which converges to the ion-core N(2)O(+)(A (2)Sigma(+)).     

Icosahedral gold cage clusters: M@Au12- (M=V, Nb, and Ta)

We report the observation and characterization of a series of stable bimetallic 18-valence-electron clusters containing a highly symmetric 12-atom icosahedral Au cage with an encapsulated central heteroatom of Group VB transition metals, M@Au(12) (-) (M=V,Nb,Ta). Electronic and structural properties of these clusters were probed by anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Characteristics of the M@Au(12) (-) species include their remarkably high binding energies and relatively simple spectral features, which reflect their high symmetry and stability. The adiabatic electronic binding energies of M@Au(12) (-) were measured to be 3.70+/-0.03, 3.77+/-0.03, and 3.76+/-0.03 eV for M=V, Nb, and Ta, respectively. Comparison of density-functional calculations with experimental data established the highly symmetric icosahedral structures for the 18-electron cluster anions, which may be promising building blocks for cluster-assembled nanomaterials in the form of stoichiometric [M@Au(12) (-)]X(+) salts.     

Gas-phase oxidation of Cm+ and Cm2+ --thermodynamics of neutral and ionized CmO

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was employed to study the products and kinetics of gas-phase reactions of Cm (+) and Cm (2+); parallel studies were carried out with La (+/2+), Gd (+/2+) and Lu (+/2+). Reactions with oxygen-donor molecules provided estimates for the bond dissociation energies, D[M (+)-O] (M = Cm, Gd, Lu). The first ionization energy, IE[CmO], was obtained from the reactivity of CmO (+) with dienes, and the second ionization energies, IE[MO (+)] (M = Cm, La, Gd, Lu), from the rates of electron-transfer reactions from neutrals to the MO (2+) ions. The following thermodynamic quantities for curium oxide molecules were obtained: IE[CmO] = 6.4 +/- 0.2 eV; IE[CmO (+)] = 15.8 +/- 0.4 eV; D[Cm-O] = 710 +/- 45 kJ mol (-1); D[Cm (+)-O] = 670 +/- 40 kJ mol (-1); and D[Cm (2+)-O] = 342 +/- 55 kJ mol (-1). Estimates for the M (2+)-O bond energies for M = Cm, La, Gd, and Lu are all intermediate between D[N 2-O] and D[OC-O] - that is, 167 kJ mol (-1) < D[M (2+)-O] < 532 kJ mol (-1) - such that the four MO (2+) ions fulfill the thermodynamic requirement for catalytic oxygen-atom transport from N2O to CO. It was demonstrated that the kinetics are also favorable and that the CmO (2+), LaO (2+), GdO (2+), and LuO (2+) dipositive ions each catalyze the gas-phase oxidation of CO to CO2 by N2O. The CmO 2 (+) ion appeared during the reaction of Cm (+) with O 2 when the intermediate, CmO (+), was not collisionally cooled - although its formation is kinetically and/or thermodynamically unfavorable, CmO 2 (+) is a stable species.     

Bond dissociation energy and Lewis acidity of the xenon fluoride cation

This study focuses upon the Lewis acid reactivity of XeF(+) with various bases in the gas phase and the determination of the bond dissociation energy of XeF(+). The bond dissociation energy of XeF(+) has been measured by using energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation with neon, argon, and xenon target gases. Experiments with neon target yield a 298 K bond dissociation enthalpy of 2.81 +/- 0.09 eV, and those with argon target give a similar value at 2.83 +/- 0.12 eV. When using a xenon target, a significantly lower value of 1.95 +/- 0.16 eV was observed, which corresponds closely with previous measurements and theoretical predictions. It is proposed that the lighter target gases give inefficient excitation of the XeF(+) vibration leading to dissociation at energies higher than the BDE. Novel xenon-base adducts have been prepared in a flowing afterglow mass spectrometer by termolecular addition to XeF(+) and by reaction of base with XeF(+)(H(2)O). New species have been characterized qualitatively by CID, and it is found that the products formed reflect the relative ionization energies of the fragments. Among the new xenon-containing species that have been prepared are the first examples of xenon carbonyls.     

反式双氧锰(V)咔咯配合物的稳定性

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)的B3LYP方法对反式双氧锰(V)咔咯配合物阴离子的稳定性及其质子化物种进行了理论计算. 结果表明: 反式双氧锰(V)咔咯配合物阴离子构型稳定, 其反式双氧锰键O=Mn=O由锰原子的d轨道与两个氧原子的p轨道分别构成一个σ轨道和两个π轨道; 随着外围取代基吸电性增强, O=Mn=O键长缩短, 拉曼伸缩振动频率增大; 其质子化过程中得到两个质子的轴向氧原子与锰原子的距离超出正常化学键的范围, 从而形成水分子并脱离原来分子, 导致质子化行为是不可逆过程, 而形成单氧的咔咯锰(V)-氧配合物.     

Identification of defect sites on MgO(100) thin films by decoration with Pd atoms and studying CO adsorption properties.

CO adsorption on Pd atoms deposited on MgO(100) thin films has been studied by means of thermal desorption (TDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. CO desorbs from the adsorbed Pd atoms at a temperature of about 250 K, which corresponds to a binding energy, E(b), of about 0.7 +/- 0.1 eV. FTIR spectra suggest that at saturation two different sites for CO adsorption exist on a single Pd atom. The vibrational frequency of the most stable, singly adsorbed CO molecule is 2055 cm(-)(1). Density functional cluster model calculations have been used to model possible defect sites at the MgO surface where the Pd atoms are likely to be adsorbed. CO/Pd complexes located at regular or low-coordinated O anions of the surface exhibit considerably stronger binding energies, E(b) = 2-2.5 eV, and larger vibrational shifts than were observed in the experiment. CO/Pd complexes located at oxygen vacancies (F or F(+) centers) are characterized by much smaller binding energies, E(b) = 0.5 +/- 0.2 or 0.7 +/- 0.2 eV, which are in agreement with the experimental value. CO/Pd complexes located at the paramagnetic F(+) centers show vibrational frequencies in closest agreement with the experimental data. These comparisons therefore suggest that the Pd atoms are mainly adsorbed at oxygen vacancies.     

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization of small water clusters

Tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization studies of water clusters are performed using 10-14 eV synchrotron radiation and analyzed by reflectron time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. Photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves for protonated water clusters (H2O)(n)H+ are measured with 50 meV energy resolution. The appearance energies of a series of protonated water clusters are determined from the photoionization threshold for clusters composed of up to 79 molecules. These appearance energies represent an upper limit of the adiabatic ionization energy of the corresponding parent neutral water cluster in the supersonic molecular beam. The experimental results show a sharp drop in the appearance energy for the small neutral water clusters (from 12.62 +/- 0.05 to 10.94 +/- 0.06 eV, for H2O and (H2O)4, respectively), followed by a gradual decrease for clusters up to (H2O)23 converging to a value of 10.6 eV (+/-0.2 eV). The dissociation energy to remove a water molecule from the corresponding neutral water cluster is derived through thermodynamic cycles utilizing the dissociation energies of protonated water clusters reported previously in the literature. The experimental results show a gradual decrease of the dissociation energy for removal of one water molecule for small neutral water clusters (3 相似文献   

A challenge to chemical intuition: donor-acceptor interactions in H3B-L and H2B+-L (L=CO; EC5H5, E=N-Bi)

The equilibrium geometries and bond energies of the complexes H(3)B-L and H(2)B(+)-L (L=CO; EC(5)H(5): E=N, P, As, Sb, Bi) have been calculated at the BP86/TZ2P level of theory. The nature of the donor-acceptor bonds was investigated by energy decomposition analysis (EDA). The bond strengths of H(3)B-L have the order CO>N>P>As>Sb>Bi. The calculated values are between D(e)=37.1 kcal mol(-1) for H(3)B-CO and D(e)=6.9 kcal mol(-1) for H(3)B-BiC(5)H(5). The bond dissociation energies of the cations H(2)B(+)-CO and H(2)B(+)-EC(5)H(5) are larger than for H(3)B--L, particularly for complexes of the heterobenzene ligands. The calculated values are between D(e)=51.9 kcal mol(-1) for H(2)B(+)-CO and D(e)=122.1 kcal mol(-1) for H(2)B(+)-NC(5)H(5). The trend of the BDE of H(2)B(+)-CO and H(2)B(+)-EC(5)H(5) is N>P>As>Sb>Bi>CO. A surprising result is found for H(2)B(+)-CO, which has a significantly stronger and yet substantially longer bond than H(3)B-CO. The reason for the longer but stronger bond in H(2)B(+)-CO compared with that in H(3)B-CO comes mainly from the change in electrostatic attraction and pi bonding at shorter distances, which increases more in the neutral system than in the cation, and to a lesser extent from the deformation energy of the fragments. The H(2)B(+)<--NC(5)H(5) pi( perpendicular) donation plays an important role for the stronger interactions at shorter distances compared with those in H(3)B-NC(5)H(5). The attractive interaction in H(2)B(+)--CO further increases at bond lengths that are shorter than the equilibrium value, but this is compensated by the energy which is necessary to deform BH(2) (+) from its linear equilibrium geometry to the bent form in the complex. The EDA shows that the contributions of the orbital interactions to the donor-acceptor bonds are always larger than the classical electrostatic contributions, but the latter term plays an important role for the trend in bond strength. The largest contributions to the orbital interactions come from the sigma orbitals. The EDA calculations suggest that heterobenzene ligands may become moderately strong pi donors in complexes with strong Lewis acids, while CO is only a weak pi donor. The much stronger interaction energies in H(2)B(+)-EC(5)H(5) compared with those in H(3)B-EC(5)H(5) are caused by the significantly larger contribution of the pi(perpendicular) orbitals in H(2)B(+)-EC(5)H(5) and by the increase of the binding interactions of the sigma+pi( parallel) orbitals.