Benzene and Its Derivatives as Bridging Ligands in Transition-Metal Complexes

Transition-metal complexes in which two or more metal atoms are bridged by one or more arene ligands led a shadowy existence in comparison to the extensive class of mononuclear arene complexes. Arene bridges can occur in a variety of coordination modes and with almost all of the transition–metal elements of the periodic table. Nowhere else are found so many forms of distorted and bent arene rings. The binuclear compounds can be divided into two classes: adducts which show relatively weak metal–arene bonding and complexes which show strong arene–metal interaction. Most of the adducts are in equilibrium with mononuclear complexes in solution or are only stable in the solid state (often as polymers). In both classes syn and anti coordination occurs; their geometries show a wide variation between the extreme cases of η¹ : η¹-bridge and η⁶ : η⁶-triple-decker structure. Metal surfaces with chemisorbed arenes can be seen as a form of multinuclear arene–metal complexes. On transition-metal surfaces, benzene can be bonded to one, two, or four surface atoms. Molecular clusters with face-capping arene ligands that are bonded to three metal atoms have until now mainly been limited to two classes. The arenes bound to {(CO)₃M}₃ (M = Ru, Os) or (CpCo)₃ clusters as μ₃-η² : η² : η² ligands show only a weak trigonal distortion towards a Kekulé structure. Detailed investigations of the molecular structure and ligand dynamics of [(CpCo)₃(μ₃-arene)] complexes considerably help the understanding of the bonding of arenes to metal clusters and to metal surfaces.     

Adsorption structures of benzene on a Si(5 5 12)-2x1 surface: a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and theoretical study

In the first ever attempt to study the adsorption of organic molecules on high-index Si surfaces, we investigated the adsorption of benzene on Si(5 5 12)-(2x1) by using variable-low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. Several distinct adsorption structures of the benzene molecule were found. In one structure, the benzene molecule binds to two adatoms between the dimers of D3 and D2 units in a tilted butterfly configuration. This structure is produced by the formation of di-sigma bonds with the substrate and of two C[Double Bond]C double bonds in the benzene molecule. In another structure, the molecule adsorbs on honeycomb chains with a low adsorption energy because of strain effects. Our DFT calculations predict that the adsorption energies of benzene are 1.03-1.20 eV on the adatoms and 0.22 eV on the honeycomb chains.     

Comparative DFT study of van der Waals complexes: rare-gas dimers, alkaline-earth dimers, zinc dimer, and zinc-rare-gas dimers

Recent interest in the application of density functional theory prompted us to test various functionals for the van der Waals interactions in the rare-gas dimers, the alkaline-earth metal dimers, zinc dimer, and zinc-rare-gas dimers. In the present study, we report such tests for 18 DFT functionals, including both some very recent functionals and some well-established older ones. We draw the following conclusions based on the mean errors in binding energies and complex geometries: (1) B97-1 gives the best performance for predicting the geometry of rare-gas dimers, whereas M05-2X and B97-1 give the best energetics for rare-gas dimers. (2) PWB6K gives the best performance for the prediction of the geometry of the alkaline-earth metal dimers, zinc dimers, and zinc-rare-gas dimers. M05-2X gives the best energetics for the metal dimers, whereas B97-1 gives the best energetics for the zinc-rare-gas dimers. (3) The M05 functional is unique in providing good accuracy for both covalent transition-metal dimers and van der Waals metal dimers. (4) The combined mean percentage unsigned error in geometries and energetics shows that M05-2X and MPWB1K are the overall best methods for the prediction of van der Waals interactions in metal and rare-gas van der Waals dimers.     

Enantiospecific adsorption of cysteine at chiral kink sites on Au(110)-(1 x 2)

Enantiospecific adsorption of cysteine molecules onto chiral kink sites on the Au(110)-(1x2) surface was observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. l- and d-cysteine dimers were found to adopt distinctly different adsorption geometries at S kinks, which can be understood from the need to reach specific, optimum molecule-substrate interaction points. Extended, homochiral domains of l/d-cysteine were furthermore observed to grow preferentially from R/S kinks. The results constitute the first direct, microscopic observation of enantiospecific molecular interaction with chiral sites on a metal single-crystal surface.     

Adsorption studies of acetic acid dimers on activated charcoal from organic solvents

Acetic acid exists as dimers in organic solvents like benzene, toluene and xylene. Adsorption of dimeric acetic acid on activated charcoal (AC) at various temperatures from benzene, toluene and xylene solutions have been studied. The system obeys Langmuir isotherm, thus signifying a monolayer adsorption of dimers. Corrections on AC-solvent pore volume fillings, molecular cross sectional surface area of acetic acid dimers, the adsorption equilibrium constants, the free energy change and the enthalpy change values are computed at different temperatures for the three solvents. The adsorption process has been found to be physisorption type. The FTIR measurements show that the adsorbed acetic acid dimer seems to retain the cyclic structure against the open chain non-cyclic structure.     

基于2，2′，6，6′-联苯四酸的两个新配位聚合物的水热合成与晶体结构

通过2,2′,6,6′-联苯四酸与相应金属硝酸盐和第二配体的水热反应合成了2个具有不同结构的配位聚合物[Co(bta)0.5(2,2′-bipy)(H2O)]n(1)和{[Cd2(bta)(H2biim)2(H2O)].H2O}n(2)(H4bta=2,2′,6,6′-联苯四酸,2,2′-bipy=2,2′-联吡啶,H2biim=1H,1′H-2,2′-联咪唑),并测定了其晶体结构。1和2都是一维链结构,并且1和2都属于单斜晶系,P21/c空间群。bta配体在1和2中分别采取η6,μ4-六齿和η5,μ4-五齿配位模式,同时bta配体中2个苯环的夹角在化合物1和2中分别是64.80°和64.86°。1与2分别在170℃和120℃以下保持热稳定性。     

Theoretical study of the low-lying States of Fe2-(C6H6)3

Using the gradient-corrected BPW91 method and 6311++G(2d,2p) basis sets, it was found that adsorption of benzene by iron atoms forms a multiple-decker sandwich (MDS) geometry for the ground state (GS) of Fe(2)-(C(6)H(6))(3), as Fe(2) is broken. Though decoordination occurs, the ligands are bonded symmetrically to the Fe sites by η(6) (for the two external rings) and two η(3) (for the central ring) Fe-C coordinations; this big amount of Fe-C bonds enhances the stability of the MDS GS. This is unexpected, as the experiment suggests MDS for TM(n)-(C(6)H(6))(m) species of earlier transition metals (TMs) and clusters covered with benzene, i.e., rice-ball (RB) structures, for late 3d atoms. However, preserving Fe(2), an RB state was found, quasi-degenerate with the GS, with a smaller amount of Fe-C contacts and a stronger Fe(2) bond. The MDS shows higher stability for electron attachment and deletion events, but its adiabatic electron affinity, 1.11 eV, differs more from the experiment (0.80 ± 0.1 eV) than the one (0.97 eV) for RB. Thus, MDS and RB states can appear in a sample of Fe(2)-(C(6)H(6))(3). Like the electron affinity, the ionization energy of the complex is also smaller than those of the metal and benzene moieties, but closer to the former, signifying that the electron, delocalized through the 3d-π bonds, is mainly deleted from the metallic units.     

H2 adsorption on 3d transition metal clusters: a combined infrared spectroscopy and density functional study

The adsorption of H2 on a series of gas-phase transition metal (scandium, vanadium, iron, cobalt, and nickel) clusters containing up to 20 metal atoms is studied using IR-multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy complemented with density functional theory based calculations. Comparison of the experimental and calculated spectra gives information on hydrogen-bonding geometries. The adsorption of H2 is found to be exclusively dissociative on Sc(n)O+, V(n)+, Fe(n)+, and Co(n)+, and both atomic and molecularly chemisorbed hydrogen is present in Ni(n)H(m)+ complexes. It is shown that hydrogen adsorption geometries depend on the elemental composition as well as on the cluster size and that the adsorption sites are different for clusters and extended surfaces. In contrast to what is observed for extended metal surfaces, where hydrogen has a preference for high coordination sites, hydrogen can be both 2- or 3-fold coordinated to cationic metal clusters.     

The intricacies of the stacking interaction in a pyrrole–pyrrole system

Extensive calculations of potential energy surfaces for parallel-displaced configurations of pyrrole–pyrrole systems have been carried out by the use of a dispersion-corrected density functional. System geometries associated with the energy minima have been found. The minimum interaction energy has been calculated as ?5.38 kcal/mol. However, bonding boundaries appeared to be relatively broad, and stacking interactions can be binding even for ring centroid distances larger than 6 Å. Though the contribution of the correlation energy to intermolecular interaction in pyrrole dimers appeared to be relatively small (around 1.6 smaller than it is in a benzene–benzene system), this system’s minimum interaction energy is lower than those calculated for benzene–benzene, benzene–pyridine and even pyridine–pyridine configurations. The calculation of the charges and energy decomposition analysis revealed that the specific charge distribution in a pyrrole molecule and its relatively high polarization are the significant source of the intermolecular interaction in pyrrole dimer systems.     

Explaining the structure of the OH stretching band in the IR spectra of strongly hydrogen-bonded dimers of phosphinic acid and their deuterated analogs in the gas phase: a computational study

We present a simulation of the OH stretching band in the gas-phase IR spectra of strongly hydrogen-bonded dimers of phosphinic acid and their deuterated analogs [(R(2)POOH(D), with R = CH(2)Cl, CH(3)], which is based on a model for a centrosymmetric hydrogen-bonded dimer that treats the high-frequency OH stretches harmonically and the low-frequency intermonomer (i.e., O···O) stretches anharmonically. This model takes into account the following effects: anharmonic coupling between the OH and O···O stretching modes; Davydov coupling between the two hydrogen bonds in the dimer; promotion of symmetry-forbidden OH stretching transitions; Fermi resonances between the fundamental of the OH stretches and the overtones of the in- and out-of-plane bending modes involving the OH groups; direct relaxation of the OH stretches; and indirect relaxation of the OH stretches via the O···O stretches. Using a set of physically sound parameters as input into this model, we have captured the main features in the experimental OH(D) bands of these dimers. The effects of key parameters on the spectra are also elucidated. By increasing the number and strength of the Fermi resonances and by promoting symmetry-forbidden OH stretching transitions in our simulations, we directly see the emergence of the ABC structure, which is a characteristic feature in the spectra of very strongly hydrogen-bonded dimers. However, in the case of the deuterated dimers, which do not exhibit the ABC structure, the Fermi resonances are found to be much weaker. The results of this model therefore shed light on the origin of the ABC structure in the IR spectra of strongly hydrogen-bonded dimers, which has been a subject of debate for decades.     

4-(4-羧基苯氧基)间苯二甲酸构筑的过渡金属配位聚合物: 合成、 晶体结构、 荧光传感与光催化

采用水热法合成了4个配位聚合物[Zn(Hcpoia)(2,2'-bpy)·H₂O]_n(1)和[M(Hcpoia)(phen)]_n·nH₂O[M=Zn(2), Mn(3), Co(4); H₃cpoia=4-(4-羧基苯氧基)间苯二甲酸; 2,2'-bpy=2,2'-联吡啶; phen=1,10-邻菲罗啉], 利用X射线单晶衍射分析确定了配合物的晶体结构. 配合物1为一维链状结构, 中心Zn ²⁺离子的配位环境为[ZnO₄N₂]扭曲的八面体构型, 配体Hcpoia ^2-以μ₁∶η ¹η ⁰和μ₁∶η ¹η ¹配位模式桥连相邻的Zn ²⁺离子. 配合物2和4的结构与配合物1类似, 是由配体Hcpoia ^2-以μ₁∶η ¹η ⁰和μ₁∶η ¹η ¹配位模式联接[MO₄N₂]结构单元而形成的一维链状结构. 配合物1, 2和4中均存在分子间氢键(O—H…O), 氢键的存在使一维链连接形成二维超分子结构. 配合物3为二维网状结构, Mn ²⁺离子的配位环境为[MnO₄N₂]扭曲的八面体构型, 配体Hcpoia ^2-以μ₂∶η ¹η ¹配位模式桥连相邻Mn ²⁺离子形成[Mn₂COO₂]结构单元, 该结构单元被Hcpoia ^2-连接形成二维结构. 在4个配合物中, 2,2'-bpy和phen配体均以端基的形式与金属离子螯合配位. 研究了水溶液中抗生素分子和Fe ³⁺离子对配合物1与荧光强度的影响, 实验结果表明, 甲硝唑、 Fe ³⁺离子对配合物1有荧光猝灭作用, 并进一步考察了甲硝唑浓度和Fe ³⁺离子浓度对配合物1荧光强度的影响. 基于荧光猝灭机理, 配合物1可以用作荧光传感器检测水溶液中的甲硝唑和Fe ³⁺离子. 研究了配合物4对罗丹明B(RhB)的催化降解性能, 发现在氙灯照射和H₂O₂存在条件下, 配合物4对RhB具有较好的光催化降解作用.     

CH···O interaction lowers hydrogen transfer barrier to keto-enol tautomerization of β-cyclohexanedione: combined infrared spectroscopic and electronic structure calculation study

Molecular association and keto-enol tautomerization of β-cyclohexanedione (β-CHD) have been investigated in argon matrix and also in a thin solid film prepared by depositing pure β-CHD vapor on a cold (8 K) KBr window. Infrared spectra reveal that, in low-pressure vapor and argon matrix, the molecules are exclusively in diketo tautomeric form. The CH···O hydrogen bonded dimers of the diketo tautomer are produced by annealing the matrix at 28 K. No indication is found for keto-enol tautomerization of β-CHD in dimeric complexes in argon matrix within the temperature range of 8-28 K. On the other hand, in thin film of pure diketo tautomer, the conversion initiates only when the film is heated at temperatures above 165 K. The observed threshold appears to be associated with excitation of the intermolecular modes, and the IR spectra recorded at high temperatures display narrowing of vibrational bandwidths, which has been associated with reorientations of the molecules in the film. The nonoccurrence of tautomerization of the matrix isolated dimer is consistent with the barrier predicted by electronic structure calculations at B3LYP/6-311++G** and MP2/6-311++G** levels of theory. The transition state calculation predicts that CH···O interaction has a dramatic effect on lowering of the tautomerization barrier, from more than 60 kcal/mol for the bare molecule to ~35-45 kcal/mol for dimers.     

基于2,2＇,6,6＇-联苯四酸的两个新配位聚合物的水热合成与晶体结构

通过2,2＇,6,6’-联苯四酸与相应金属硝酸盐和第二配体的水热反应合成了2个具有不同结构的配位聚合物[Co(bta)0.5(2,2’-bipy)(H2O)]n(1)和{[Cd2,(bta)(H2biim)2(H2O)]·H2O}n(2)(H4bta=2,2’,6,6’-联苯四酸,2,2'-bipy=2,2’-联吡啶,H2biim=1H,1’H-2,2’-联咪唑),并测定了其晶体结构.1和2都是一维链结构,并且1和2都属于单斜晶系,P21/c空间群.bta配体在1和2中分别采取η6,μ4六齿和η5,μ4-五齿配位模式,同时bta配体中2个苯环的夹角在化合物1和2中分别是64.80°和64.86°.1与2分别在170℃和120℃以下保持热稳定性.     

Theoretical study of metal ligand aromatic cation–π interactions of [Co(NH3)6]3+ with benzene

In this work, density functional theory calculations on geometries and energies of all possible conformers of the [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺–C₆H₆ cation–π complex are described. The calculations show that stationary points are several η₂ and the η₃ structures. The most stable η₃ structure has bonding energy, after basis set superposition error correction, of 32.18 kcal/mol. The energies of η₃ structures are similar; also, the energies of η₂ structures are similar while the difference in energy between η₃ and the η₂ structures is about 2 kcal/mol. This indicates a possibility for various orientations of the benzene ring with respect to interacting ligands in the case of metal ligand aromatic cation–π (MLACπ) interactions and a possibility for the existence of these interactions in different molecular systems. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

不同覆盖度下Li原子在Si(001)表面上的吸附构型和电子结构

采用基于赝势平面波基组的密度泛函理论, 对不同Li原子覆盖度下Li/Si(001)体系的吸附构型、电子结构以及吸附Li原子对表面性质的影响进行了系统研究. 计算结果表明, 在所考察的覆盖度范围内, Li原子倾向于吸附在相邻两个Si-Si二聚体之间各种对称性较高的空穴位, 其中覆盖度为0.75 ML(monolayer)时具有最小的平均吸附能. 由能带结构分析结果可知, 随着覆盖度的增大, Si(001)表面存在由半导体→导体→半导体的变化过程. 在覆盖度为1.00 ML时, 由于表层二聚体均受到显著破坏, 使得体系带隙明显增大. 吸附后, 有较多电子从Li原子转移到底物, 导致Si(001)表面功函显著下降, 并随着覆盖度的增加表面功函呈现振荡变化. 此外, 从热力学稳定性角度上看, 覆盖度为0.75 ML的Li/Si(001)表面较难形成.     

Diverse structures and adsorption properties of quasi-Werner-type copper(II) complexes with flexible and polar axial bonds

The quasi-Werner-type copper(II) complex, [Cu(PF(6))(2)(4-mepy)(4)] (1), in which 4-mepy is the 4-methylpyridine ligand, has flexible and polar axial bonds of Cu-PF(6). Flexibility of the Cu-PF(6) bonds induces diverse and unprecedented guest-inclusion structures, such as {[Cu(PF(6))(2)(4-mepy)(4)][Cu(PF(6))(4-mepy)(4)(acetone)]·PF(6)·4acetone} (γ-1?2.5acetone), {[Cu(PF(6))(2)(4-mepy)(4)][Cu(PF(6))(4-mepy)(4)(2-butanone)]·PF(6)·3.5(2-butanone)} (γ-1?2.25(2-butanone)), {[Cu(PF(6))(2)(4-mepy)(4)][Cu(PF(6))(4-mepy)(4)(H(2)O)]·PF(6)·4benzene} (γ-1?0.5H(2)O·2benzene), and {[Cu(PF(6))(2)(4-mepy)(4)]·2benzene} (γ-1?2benzene). Exposure of the dense form, α-1, to benzene vapor affords the benzene-inclusion complex {[Cu(PF(6))(2)(4-mepy)(4)]·2benzene} (γ-1?2benzene), all benzene guests of which are easily removed by vacuum drying, reforming guest-free, dense α-1' with smaller sized crystals than α-1. In contrast to α-1, which shows almost no CO(2) adsorption, α-1' adsorbs CO(2) gas with structural transformations, this being the first example that exhibits adsorption of gas in a dense Werner-type complex and a drastic change in adsorption properties depending on the size of the crystals.     

V, Nb, and Ta complexes with benzene in solid argon: An infrared spectroscopic and density functional study

Vanadium, niobium, and tantalum metal atoms, produced by laser ablation, are reacted with benzene vapor diluted in argon and codeposited onto a 7 K CsI window. The resulting reaction products are trapped, and the M(C6H6) and M(C6H6)2 complexes are identified by benzene isotopic substitution (C6H6, 13C6H6, C6D6). Density functional theory (DFT) frequency calculations are used to support molecular complex assignments. On the basis of the computed energies and a comparison of calculated and observed vibrational isotopic shifts, the ground electronic states and geometries are predicted. The bonding and electronic interactions in these molecules are discussed on the basis of the observed aromatic C-C breathing modes activated in the complexes.     

Conformational mapping and energetics of saccharide-aromatic residue interactions: implications for the discrimination of anomers and epimers and in protein engineering

Aromatic residues play a key role in saccharide-binding sites. Experimental studies have given an estimate of the energetics of saccharide-aromatic residue interactions. In this study, dependence of the energetics on the mutual position-orientation (PO) of saccharide and aromatic residue has been investigated by geometry optimization of a very large number (164) of complexes at MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The complexes are of Tyr and Phe analogs with α/β-D-Glc, β-D-Gal, α-D-Man and α/β-L-Fuc. A number of iso-energy POs are found for the complexes of all six saccharides. Stacking and non-stacking modes of binding are found to be of comparable strengths. In general, complexes of p-OHTol are stronger than those of Tol, and those dominated by OH···O interactions are more stable than ones dominated by CH···π interactions. The strengths of OH···O/π interactions, but not those of CH···π, show large variations. Even though an aromatic residue has a large variety of POs to interact with a saccharide, distinct preferences are found due to anomeric and epimeric differences. An aromatic residue can interact from either the a- or b-face of Glc, but only through the b-face with Gal, its C4-epimer. In contrast, stacking interaction with Man (C2-epimer of Glc) requires the participation of the -CH(2)OH group and free rotation of this group, as is observed in solution, precludes all modes of stacking interactions. It is also found that an aromatic residue can be strategically placed either to discriminate or to accommodate (i) anomers of Glc and of Fuc and (ii) Gal/Fuc. Thus, analysis of the optimized geometries of by far the largest number of complexes, and with six different saccharides, at this level of theory has given insights into how Nature cleverly uses aromatic residues to fine tune saccharide specificities of proteins. These are of immense utility for protein engineering and protein design studies.     

聚苯乙烯微球表面的聚集态结构和苯基堆砌

用扫描隧道显微镜(STM)研究微乳液聚合法制备的聚苯乙烯微球.STM图像显示这种聚苯乙烯微球的表面具有不同的聚集态结构.在表面的某些区域,聚合物链没有相互缠结现象,而是有序地堆积在一起.在适当的情况下,同一条链上的苯基还会堆砌起来,形成一种平行移位的结构,其类似于苯双分子的最稳定结构.还用STM研究了用苯溶胀过的聚苯乙烯粒子,并观察到了类似螺旋结构的聚合物链以及扭曲的聚合物链.在聚苯乙烯微球中,聚合物链段和苯基的有序堆砌状态的存在,是因为苯乙烯单体已经在微乳液内的某些区域堆砌成有序的状态.     

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes of isomeric bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

Highly versatile coordinating ligands are designed and synthesized with two β-diketonate groups linked at the carbon 3 through a phenyl ring. The rigid aromatic spacer is introduced in the molecules to orient the two acetylacetone units along different angles and coordination vectors. The resulting para, meta, and ortho bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands show efficient chelating properties toward Cu(II) ions. In the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine, they promptly react and yield three dimers, 1, 2, and 3, with the bis-acetylacetonate unit in bridging position between two metal centers. X-ray single crystal diffraction shows that the compounds form supramolecular chains in the solid state because of intermolecular interactions. Each of the dinuclear complexes shows a magnetic behavior which is determined by the combination of structural parameters and spin polarization effects. Notably, the para derivative (1) displays a moderate antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -3.3 cm(-1)) along a remarkably long Cu···Cu distance (12.30 ?).