Remarkable aspects of unsaturation in trinuclear metal carbonyl clusters: the triiron species Fe3(CO)n (n = 12, 11, 10, 9)

The trinuclear iron carbonyls Fe(3)(CO)(n) (n = 12, 11, 10, 9) have been studied by density functional theory using the B3LYP and BP86 functionals. The experimentally known C(2)(v) isomer of Fe(3)(CO)(12), namely Fe(3)(CO)(10)(mu-CO)(2), is found to be the global minimum below the unbridged D(3)(h) isomer analogous to the known structures for Ru(3)(CO)(12) and Os(3)(CO)(12). The lowest-energy isomer found for Fe(3)(CO)(11) is Fe(3)(CO)(9)(mu(3)-CO)(2) with iron-iron distances in the Fe(3) triangle, suggesting the one double bond (2.460 A by B3LYP and 2.450 A by BP86) and two single bonds (2.623 A by B3LYP and 2.604 A by BP86) required to give each Fe atom the favored 18-electron configuration. Two different higher-energy dibridged structures Fe(3)(CO)(9)(mu(2)-CO)(2) are also found for Fe(3)(CO)(11). The lowest-energy isomer found for Fe(3)(CO)(10) is Fe(3)(CO)(9)(mu(3)-CO) with equivalent iron-iron distances in the Fe(3) ring (2.47 A by B3LYP or BP86). The lowest-energy isomer found for Fe(3)(CO)(9) is Fe(3)(CO)(6)(mu-CO)(3) with distances in the Fe(3) triangle possibly suggesting one single bond (2.618 A by B3LYP and 2.601 A by BP86), one weak double bond (2.491 A by B3LYP and 2.473 A by BP86), and one weak triple bond (2.368 A by B3LYP and 2.343 A by BP86). A higher-lying isomer of Fe(3)(CO)(9), i.e., Fe(3)(CO)(8)(mu-CO), at approximately 21 kcal/mol above the global minimum, has iron-iron distances strongly suggesting two single bonds (2.6 to 2.7 A) and one quadruple bond (2.068 A by B3LYP and 2.103 A by BP86). Wiberg Bond Indices are also helpful in evaluating the iron-iron bond orders.     

Binuclear homoleptic manganese carbonyls: Mn2(CO)x (x = 10, 9, 8, 7)

The unsaturated homoleptic manganese carbonyls Mn(2)(CO)(n)() (n = 7, 8, 9) are characterized by their equilibrium geometries, thermochemistry, and vibrational frequencies using methods from density functional theory (DFT). The computed metal-metal distances for global minima range from 3.01 A for the unbridged Mn(2)(CO)(10) with a Mn-Mn single bond to 2.14 A for a monobridged Mn(2)(CO)(7) formulated with a metal-metal quadruple bond. The global minimum for Mn(2)(CO)(9) has a four-electron bridging mu-eta(2)-CO group and a 2.96 A Mn-Mn distance suggestive of the single bond required for 18-electron configurations for both metal atoms. This structure is closely related to an experimentally realized structure for the isolated and structurally characterized stable phosphine complex [R(2)PCH(2)PR(2)](2)Mn(2)(CO)(4)(mu-eta(2)-CO). An unbridged (OC)(4)Mn-Mn(CO)(5) structure for Mn(2)(CO)(9) has only slightly (<6 kcal/mol) higher energy with a somewhat shorter metal-metal distance of 2.77 A. For Mn(2)(CO)(8) the lowest energy structure is a D(2)(d)() unbridged structure with a 2.36 A metal-metal distance suggesting the triple bond required for the favored 18-electron configuration for both metal atoms. However, the unbridged unsymmetrical (CO)(3)Mn-Mn(CO)(5) structure with a metal-metal bond distance of 2.40 A lies only 1 to 3 kcal/mol above this global minimum. The lowest energy structure of Mn(2)(CO)(7) is an unbridged C(s)() structure with a short metal-metal distance of 2.26 A. This is followed energetically by another C(s)() unbridged Mn(2)(CO)(7) structure with a somewhat longer metal-metal distance of 2.38 A.     

Unsaturation in binuclear cyclopentadienyliron carbonyls

The binuclear cyclopentadienyliron carbonyls Cp2Fe2(CO)n (n = 4, 3, 2, 1; Cp = eta(5)-C5H5) have been studied by density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP and BP86 methods. The trans- and cis-Cp2Fe2(CO)2(mu-CO)2 isomers of Cp2Fe2(CO)4 known experimentally are predicted by DFT methods to be genuine minima with no significant imaginary vibrational frequencies. The energies of these two Cp2Fe2(CO)2(mu-CO)2 structures are very similar, consistent with the experimental observation of an equilibrium between these isomers in solution. An intermediate between the interconversion of the trans- and cis-Cp2Fe2(CO)2(mu-CO)2 dibridged isomers of Cp2Fe2(CO)4 can be the trans unbridged isomer of Cp2Fe2(CO)4 calculated to be 2.3 kcal/mol (B3LYP) or 9.1 kcal/mol (BP86) above the global minimum trans-Cp2Fe2(CO)2(mu-CO)2. For the unsaturated Cp2Fe2(CO)3, the known triplet isomer Cp2Fe2(mu-CO)3 with an Fe=Fe double bond similar to the O=O double bond in O2 is found to be the global minimum. The lowest-energy structure for the even more unsaturated Cp2Fe2(CO)2 is a dibridged structure Cp2Fe2(mu-CO)2, with a short Fe-Fe distance suggestive of the Fe[triple bond]Fe triple bond required to give both Fe atoms the favored 18-electron configuration. Singlet and triplet unbridged structures for Cp2Fe2(CO)2 were also found but at energies considerably higher (20-50 kcal/mol) than that of the global minimum Cp2Fe2(mu-CO)2. The lowest-energy structure for Cp2Fe2(CO) is the triplet unsymmetrically bridged structure Cp2Fe2(mu-CO), with a short Fe-Fe distance (approximately 2.1 A) suggestive of the sigma + 2pi + (2/2)delta Fe[quadruple bond]Fe quadruple bond required to give both Fe atoms the favored 18-electron rare gas configuration.     

单、双核钌羰基化合物Ru（CO）n（n=5，4，3）和Ru2（CO）n（n=9，8）的理论研究

采用两种密度泛函方法对中性单核Ru（CO）n（n=5,4,3）和双核Ru2（CO）n（n=9,8）化合物进行理论计算,优化出16个稳定异构体．研究发现,和Os（CO）5类似,Ru（CO）5存在两个能量接近的最低异构体．Ru（CO）4的能量最低异构体为C2v对称性的单态构型．Ru（CO）3能量最低异构体为G对称性的单态构型．Ru2（c0）。的两个能量接近的最低异构体分别含有单个桥羰基和3个桥羰基．双核不饱和Ru2（CO）8的能量最低异构体为含有两个桥羰基的单态Q构型．通过比较M2（CO）n（M=Fe,Ru,Os;n=9,8）的能量最低构型,发现Fe和Ru倾向于形成含有多个桥配位羰基的构型,而Os则更倾向于形成不含桥配位羰基的构型．对离解能的研究表明,和失去一个羰基生成Ru2（CO）8相比,Ru2（CO）9更容易离解为Ru（CO）5和Ru（CO）4．     

Molybdenum-molybdenum multiple bonding in homoleptic molybdenum carbonyls: comparison with their chromium analogues

The binuclear molybdenum carbonyls Mo(2)(CO)(n) (n = 11, 10, 9, 8) have been studied by density functional theory using the BP86 and MPW1PW91 functionals. The lowest energy Mo(2)(CO)(11) structure is a singly bridged singlet structure with a Mo-Mo single bond. This structure is essentially thermoneutral toward dissociation into Mo(CO)(6) + Mo(CO)(5), suggesting limited viability similar to the analogous Cr(2)(CO)(11). The lowest energy Mo(2)(CO)(10) structure is a doubly semibridged singlet structure with a Mo═Mo double bond. This structure is essentially thermoneutral toward disproportionation into Mo(2)(CO)(11) + Mo(2)(CO)(9), suggesting limited viability. The lowest energy Mo(2)(CO)(9) structure has three semibridging CO groups and a Mo≡Mo triple bond analogous to the lowest energy Cr(2)(CO)(9) structure. This structure appears to be viable toward CO dissociation, disproportionation into Mo(2)(CO)(10) + Mo(2)(CO)(8), and fragmentation into Mo(CO)(5) + Mo(CO)(4) and thus appears to be a possible synthetic objective. The lowest energy Mo(2)(CO)(8) structure has one semibridging CO group and a Mo≡Mo triple bond similar to that in the lowest energy Mo(2)(CO)(9) structure. This differs from the lowest energy Cr(2)(CO)(8) structure, which is a triply bridged structure. A higher energy unbridged D(2d) Mo(2)(CO)(8) structure was found with a very short Mo-Mo distance of 2.6 ?. This interesting structure has two degenerate imaginary vibrational frequencies. Following the corresponding normal modes leads to a Mo(2)(CO)(8) structure, lying ~5 kcal/mol above the global minimum, with two four-electron donor bridging CO groups and a Mo═Mo distance suggesting a formal double bond. All of the triplet Mo(2)(CO)(n) (n = 10, 9, 8) structures were found to be relatively high energy structures, lying at least 22 kcal/mol above the corresponding global minimum. The singlet-triplet splittings for the Mo(2)(CO)(n) (n = 10, 9, 8) structures are significantly higher than those of the Cr(2)(CO)(n) analogues. The Mo-Mo Wiberg bond indices confirm our assigned bond orders based on predicted bond distances.     

Unsaturated binuclear cyclopentadienylrhenium carbonyl derivatives: metal-metal multiple bonds and agostic hydrogen atoms

The cyclopentadienylrhenium carbonyls Cp 2Re 2(CO) n (Cp = eta (5)-C 5H 5; n = 5, 4, 3, 2) have been studied by density functional theory. The global minima for the Cp 2Re 2(CO) n ( n = 5, 4, 3, 2) derivatives are predicted to be the singly bridged structure Cp 2Re 2(CO) 4(mu-CO) with a formal Re-Re single bond; the doubly semibridged structure Cp 2Re 2(CO) 4 with a formal ReRe double bond; the triply bridged structure Cp 2Re 2(mu-CO) 3 with a formal ReRe triple bond; and the doubly bridged structure Cp 2Re 2(mu-CO) 2, respectively. The first three of these predicted structures have been realized experimentally in the stable compounds (eta (5)-C 5H 5) 2Re 2(CO) 4(mu-CO), (eta (5)-Me 5C 5) 2Re 2(CO) 4 and (eta (5)-Me 5C 5) 2Re 2(mu-CO) 3. In addition, structures of the type Cp 2Re-Re(CO) n with both rings bonded only to one metal and unknown in manganese chemistry are also found for rhenium but at energies significantly above the global minima. The unsaturated Cp 2Re-Re(CO) n structures ( n = 4, 3, 2) have agostic Cp hydrogen atoms forming C-H-Re bridges to the unsaturated Re(CO) n group with a Re-H distance as short as 2.04 A.     

Binuclear manganese and rhenium carbonyls M2(CO)n (n = 10, 9, 8, 7): comparison of first row and third row transition metal carbonyl structures

The equilibrium geometries, thermochemistry, and vibrational frequencies of the homoleptic binuclear rhenium carbonyls Re2(CO)n (n = 10, 9, 8, 7) were determined using the MPW1PW91 and BP86 methods from density functional theory (DFT) with the effective core potential basis sets LANL2DZ and SDD. In all cases triplet structures for Re2(CO)n were found to be unfavorable energetically relative to singlet structures, in contrast to corresponding Mn2(CO)n derivatives, apparently owing to the larger ligand field splitting of rhenium. For M2(CO)10 (M = Mn, Re) the unbridged structures (OC)5M-M(CO)5 are preferred energetically over structures with bridging CO groups. For M2(CO)9 (M = Mn, Re) the two low energy structures are (OC)4M(micro-CO)M(CO)4 with an M-M single bond and a four-electron donor bridging CO group and (OC)4M[double bond, length as m-dash]M(CO)5 with no bridging CO groups and an M[double bond, length as m-dash]M distance suggesting a double bond. The lowest energy structures for Re2(CO)8 have Re[triple bond, length as m-dash]Re distances in the range 2.6-2.7 A suggesting the triple bonds required to give the Re atoms the favored 18-electron configuration. Low energy structures for Re2(CO)7 are either of the type (OC)(4)M[triple bond, length as m-dash]M(CO)3 with short metal-metal distances suggesting triple bonds or have a single four-electron donor bridging CO group and longer M-M distances consistent with single or double bonds. The 18-electron rule thus appears to be violated in these highly unsaturated Re2(CO)7 structures.     

Theoretical study on homoleptic mononuclear and binuclear ruthenium carbonyls Ru(CO)n (n= 3–5) and Ru2(CO)n (n = 8, 9)

Homoleptic mononuclear and binuclear ruthenium carbonyls Ru(CO) _n (n = 3–5) and Ru₂(CO) _n (n = 8,9) have been investigated using density functional theory. Sixteen isomers are obtained. For Ru(CO)₅, the lowest-energy structure is the singlet D _3h trigonal bipyramid. Similar to Os(CO)₅, the distorted square pyramid isomer with C _2v symmetry lies ∼7 kJ·mol⁻¹ higher in energy. For the unsaturated mononuclear ruthenium carbonyls Ru(CO)₄ and Ru(CO)₃, a singlet structure with C _2v symmetry and a C _s bent T-shaped structure are the lowest-energy structures, respectively. The global minimum for the Ru₂(CO)₉ is a singly bridged (CO)₄Ru(μ-CO)Ru(CO)₄ structure. A triply bridged Ru₂(CO)₆(μ-CO)₃ structure analogous to the known Fe₂(CO)₉ structure is predicted to lie very close in energy to the global minimum. For Ru₂(CO)₈, the doubly bridged C ₂ structure is predicted to be the global minimum. For the lowest-energy structures of M₂(CO) _n (M = Fe, Ru, Os, n = 9,8), it is found that both iron and ruthenium are favored to form structures containing more bridging carbonyl groups, while osmium prefers to have structures with less bridging carbonyl groups. The study of dissociation energy shows that the dissociation of Ru₂(CO)₉ into the mononuclear fragments Ru(CO)₅ + Ru(CO)₄ is a less energetically demanding process than the dissociation of one carbonyl group from Ru₂(CO)₉ to give Ru₂(CO)₈.     

Unsaturation in homoleptic tetranuclear iridium carbonyls: a comparison of density functional theory with the MP2 method in metal cluster structures

The lowest energy Ir₄(CO)₁₂ structure is predicted by density functional theory to be a triply bridged structure analogous to the experimental structures for its lighter congeners M₄(CO)₉(??-CO)₃ (M=Co, Rh). The experimental unbridged structure for Ir₄(CO)₁₂ is predicted to lie ~6?kcal/mol above the triply bridged structure. However, the MP2 method predicts the unbridged structure for Ir₄(CO)₁₂ to be the lowest energy structure by ~9?kcal/mol over the triply bridged structure. The lowest energy Ir₄(CO)₁₁ structure is predicted to be a doubly bridged structure with a central tetrahedral Ir₄ unit. A higher energy Ir₄(CO)₁₁ structure at ~18?kcal/mol above this global minimum is found with an unusual ??₄-CO group bridging all four atoms of a central Ir₄ butterfly. This Ir₄(CO)₈(??-CO)₂(??₄-CO) structure is analogous to the lowest energy Co₄(CO)₁₁ structure found in a previous theoretical study, as well as Rh₄(CO)₄(??-CO)₄(PBu ₃ ^t )₂(PtPBu ₃ ^t )(??₄-CO), which has been synthesized by Adams and coworkers. The Ir₄ tetrahedron is remarkably persistent in the more highly unsaturated Ir₄(CO) _n (n?=?10, 9, 8) structures with relatively little changes in the Ir?CIr distances as carbonyl groups are removed. This appears to be related to the spherical aromaticity in the tetrahedral Ir₄ structures.     

Low-lying excited states and primary photoproducts of [Os3(CO)10(s-cis-L)] (L=cyclohexa-1,3-diene, buta-1,3-diene)] clusters studied by picosecond time-resolved UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy and by density functional theory

Combined picosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared studies were performed, aimed at characterising low-lying excited states of the cluster [Os(3)(CO)(10)(s-cis-L)] (L=cyclohexa-1,3-diene, 1) and monitoring the formation of its photoproducts. Theoretical (DFT and TD-DFT) calculations on the closely related cluster with L=buta-1,3-diene (2') have revealed that the low-lying electronic transitions of these [Os(3)(CO)(10)(s-cis-1,3-diene)] clusters have a predominant sigma(core)pi*(CO) character. From the lowest sigmapi* excited state, cluster 1 undergoes fast Os-Os(1,3-diene) bond cleavage (tau=3.3 ps) resulting in the formation of a coordinatively unsaturated primary photoproduct (1 a) with a single CO bridge. A new insight into the structure of the transient has been obtained by DFT calculations. The cleaved Os-Os(1,3-diene) bond is bridged by the donor 1,3-diene ligand, compensating for the electron deficiency at the neighbouring Os centre. Because of the unequal distribution of the electron density in transient 1 a, a second CO bridge is formed in 20 ps in the photoproduct [Os(3)(CO)(8)(micro-CO)(2)(cyclohexa-1,3-diene)] (1 b). The latter compound, absorbing strongly around 630 nm, mainly regenerates the parent cluster with a lifetime of about 100 ns in hexane. Its structure, as suggested by the DFT calculations, again contains the 1,3-diene ligand coordinated in a bridging fashion. Photoproduct 1 b can therefore be assigned as a high-energy coordination isomer of the parent cluster with all Os-Os bonds bridged.     

Spectral resolution of fluxional organometallics. The observation and FTIR characterization of all-terminal [Rh4(CO)12

In situ FTIR spectroscopy at 1 cm(-1) resolution was conducted on n-hexane solutions of the bridged [Rh4(CO)9(mu-CO)3] in the interval T= 268-288 K and P(T)= 0.1-7.0 MPa using either helium or carbon monoxide as dissolved gas. Analysis of the spectral data sets was conducted using band-target entropy minimization (BTEM), in order to recover the pure component spectra. A new spectral pattern was recovered with terminal vibrations at 2075, 2069.8, 2044.6 and 2042 cm(-1). The new spectrum is consistent with an all-terminal [Rh4(CO)12] species with a C(3v) anticubeoctahedron structure where 2 different [Rh(CO)3] moieties exist, although the presence of some Td structure can not be entirely excluded. The equilibrium between all-terminal [Rh4(CO)12] and the bridged [Rh(4)(CO)9(mu-CO)3] was determined in the presence of both helium and CO. The equilibrium constant K(eq)=[Rh4(CO)12]/[Rh4(CO)9(mu-CO)3] at 275 K was ca. 0.011 and the determined equilibrium parameters were Delta(r)G= 12.63 +/- 4.8 kJ mol(-1), Delta(r)H=-21.45 +/- 2.3 kJ mol(-1) and Delta(r)S=-114.3 +/- 8.35 J mol(-1) K(-1). The free energy indicates a very small difference between the bridged and terminal geometry, and the lower entropy is consistent with a higher symmetry. This finding helps to address a long-standing issue concerning the existence of various [M4(CO)12] symmetries. In a more general context, the present study illustrates the considerable utility of quantitative infrared spectroscopy (occurring on a fast vibrational timescale) combined with sophisticated deconvolution techniques in order to resolve systems which have been demonstrated to be fluxional on the NMR timescale.     

Bonding of seven carbonyl groups to a single metal atom: theoretical study of M(CO)n (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; n = 7, 6, 5, 4)

The equilibrium geometries, thermochemistry, and vibrational frequencies of the homoleptic metal-carbonyls of the group 4 elements, M(CO)n (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; n = 7, 6, 5, 4) were predicted using density functional theory. Analogous M(CO)n structures were found for all three metals. The global minima for the 18-electron M(CO)7 molecules are all singlet C(3v) capped octahedra. The global minima for the 16-electron M(CO)6 species are triplet M(CO)6 structures distorted from O(h) symmetry to D(3d) symmetry. However, the corresponding singlet M(CO)6 structures lie within 5 kcal/mol of the triplet global minima. The global minima for M(CO)n (n = 5, 4) are triplet structures derived from the D(3d) distorted octahedral structures of M(CO)6 by removal of one or two CO groups, respectively. Quintet D(3h) trigonal bipyramidal structures for M(CO)5 and singlet T(d) tetrahedral structures for M(CO)4 are also found, as well as higher energy structures for M(CO)6 and M(CO)7 containing a unique CO group bonded to the metal atom through both M-C and M-O bonds. The dissociation energies M(CO)7 --> M(CO)6 + CO are substantial, indicating no fundamental problem in bonding seven CO groups to a single metal atom.     

Unsaturated trinuclear osmium carbonyls: comparison with their iron analogues

Comparison of theoretical and experimental structural parameters as well as nu(CO) frequencies for Os(3)(CO)(12) suggests that the density functional theory (DFT) method MPW1PW91 with a suitable ECP basis set including relativistic effects is a reliable method for predicting structures and vibrational frequencies of third row transition metal carbonyl derivatives. Using this method the structures of the unsaturated trinuclear osmium carbonyl derivatives Os(3)(CO)(n) (n = 11, 10, 9) have been investigated for comparison with their iron carbonyl analogues. For Os(3)(CO)(11) the global minimum has micro-CO groups bridging each edge of the Os(3) triangle in contrast to its iron analogue predicted to have two micro(3)-CO groups bridging all three iron atoms. An alternative Os(3)(CO)(11) structure having only terminal CO groups, similar to that observed experimentally by Bentsen and Wrighton (J. G. Bentsen and M. S. Wrighton, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1987, 109, 4518) in the photolysis of Os(3)(CO)(12) in low temperature hydrocarbon matrices, is predicted to lie approximately 7 kcal mol(-1) above this global minimum. The global minimum for Os(3)(CO)(10) has one face-bridging micro(3)-CO group and one edge-bridging micro-CO group. For Os(3)(CO)(9) the global minimum has an Os(3) scalene triangle with different metal-metal distances suggesting one single, one double, and one triple metal-metal bond similar to its iron analogue.     

M3（CO）12（M=Fe,Ru,Os）的氧原子转移反应动力学

近期研究表明,M(CO)_6(M=Cr,Mo,W)与Me_3NO作用是缔合反应,Me_3NO中氧原子亲核进攻羰基碳,使其以CO_2的形式脱离金属原子,由此产生的活性中间体M(CO)_5与外来配体快速反应生成M(CO)_5L。有关金属原子簇羰基配合物的类似反应动力学研究尚未见报道。原子簇配合物可能表现出与单核配合物不同的反应性质,并且是有效的均相催化剂,进一步了解其与Me_3NO的反应性质颇有意义。本文报道在Me_3NO存在下M_3(CO)_(12)的CO取代反应(1)的研究结果(M=Fe,Ru,Os)。     

Binuclear cyclopentadienylcobalt carbonyls: comparison with binuclear iron carbonyls

The binuclear cyclopentadienylcobalt carbonyls Cp2Co2(CO)n (n = 3, 2, 1; Cp = eta5-C5H5) are studied by density functional theory using the B3LYP and BP86 functionals. The experimentally known monobridged isomer Cp2Co2(CO)2(mu-CO) and the tribridged isomer Cp2Co2(mu-CO)3 of Cp2Co2(CO)3 with formal Co-Co single bonds are found to be similar in energy, with the precise relative energies of the two isomers depending on the functional chosen. For Cp2Co2(CO)2, the experimentally known coaxial isomer Cp2Co2(mu-CO)2 with two bridging CO groups and a formal Co=Co double bond (2.360 angstroms by B3LYP or 2.346 angstroms by BP86) is found to lie 38.2 (B3LYP) or 34.9 kcal/mol (BP86) below a perpendicular isomer perpendicular-Cp2Co2(CO)2. Similarly, for Cp2Co2(CO), the coaxial isomer Cp2Co2(mu-CO) with one bridging CO group and a formal CoCo triple bond (2.021 angstroms by B3LYP or 2.050 angstroms by BP86) is found to lie 9.36 (B3LYP) or 9.62 kcal/mol (BP86) below the corresponding perpendicular isomer perpendicular-Cp2Co2(CO). This coaxial isomer Cp2Co2(mu-CO) is a possible intermediate in the known pyrolysis of the trimer (eta5-C5H5)3Co3(mu-CO)3 to give the tetranuclear complex (eta5-C5H5)4Co4(mu3-CO)2. These optimized Cp2Co2(CO)n (n = 3, 2, 1) structures can be compared with the corresponding Fe2(CO)6+n structures since the CpCo and Fe(CO)3 groups are isolobal. In general, the metal-metal bonds are 0.09-0.22 angstroms shorter for the Cp2Co2(CO)n (n = 3, 2, 1) complexes than for the corresponding Fe2(CO)6+n complexes. For Fe2(CO)9, the experimentally well-known Fe2(CO)6(mu-CO)3 isomer is shown to be very close in energy to the unknown Fe2(CO)8(mu-CO) isomer, with the precise relative energies depending on the basis set used.     

Unsaturation in trinuclear cobalt carbonyl compounds of the type ECo3(CO)n (E = CH,CF, P,As; n = 9, 8, 7, 6) with Co3E tetrahedrane structures

Theoretical studies on the known trinuclear cobalt carbonyl derivatives ECo₃(CO)₉ (E = CH, CF, P, As) predict structures with carbonyl groups bridging each edge of the Co₃ triangle in contrast with experiment where structures with all terminal carbonyl groups are found in all cases. However, the energy differences are predicted to be rather small ranging from 4 ± 2 kcal/mol for FCCo₃(CO)₉ to 10 ± 3 kcal/mol for AsCo₃(CO)₉. The global minima for the unsaturated ECo₃(CO)_n (n = 8, 7, 6) derivatives generally have two (for n = 8) or three (for n = 7 and 6) carbonyl groups bridging the edges of the Co₃ triangle. However, structures with all terminal carbonyl groups are also found in all cases as well as higher energy structures in which one of the carbonyl groups bridges all three cobalt atoms. The fluoromethinyl derivatives FCCo₃(CO)_n (n = 9, 8, 7) are anomalous since their unbridged structures or structures with a carbonyl group bridging all three cobalt atoms are closer in energy to the doubly or triply bridged global minima than is the case for the other ECo₃(CO)_n derivatives.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a series of high-hydride content osmium-rhodium carbonyl complexes by the hydrogenation of arene-coordinated clusters

The reaction of [Os3Rh(mu-H)3(CO)12] with an excess amount of 4-vinylphenol (as hydride acceptor) in refluxing m-xylene, chlorobenzene or benzene yielded the three new clusters [Os5Rh2(mu-CO){eta6-C6H4(CH3)2}(CO)16] 1, [Os5Rh2(mu-CO)(eta6-C6H5Cl)(CO)16] 2 and [Os5Rh2(mu-CO)(eta6-C6H6)(CO)16] 3. The treatment of [Os3Rh(mu-H)3(CO)12] 4 in refluxing toluene with an excess amount of 4-vinylphenol afforded a new complex, [Os4Rh(mu-H)(eta6-C6H5CH3)(CO)12], which was isolated as a brown complex in 20% yield together with two known compounds, [Os5Rh2(eta6-C6H5CH3)(mu-CO)(CO)16] in 10% yield and [Os3Rh4(mu3-eta1:eta1:eta1-C6H5CH3)(CO)13] in 5% yield. Complexes 1-4 were fully characterized by IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. The molecular structures of compounds 1-3 are isomorphous, and only differ in the arene-derivatives that attach to the same metal core. Their metal cores can be viewed as a monocapped octahedral, in which an osmium atom caps one of the Os-Os-Os triangular faces of the Os4Rh2 metal framework. Complex 4 has a trigonal-bipyramidal metal core with a C6H5Me ligand that is terminally bound to the Rh atom that lies in the trigonal plane of the metal core. The hydrogenation of [Os5Rh2(eta6-C6H5CH3)(mu-CO)(CO)16] with [Os3(mu-H)2(CO)10] in chloroform under reflux resulted in two hydrogen-rich compounds: [Os7Rh3(mu-H)11(CO)23] 5 and [Os5Rh3Cl(mu-H)8(CO)18] 6, both in moderate yields. The reaction of [Os5Rh2(eta6-C6H5CH3)(mu-CO)(CO)16] with hydrogen in refluxing chloroform yielded a new cluster compound, [Os5Rh(mu-H)5(CO)18] 7, in 20% yield, together with a known osmium-rhodium cluster, [Os6Rh(mu-H)7(mu-CO)(CO)18], as a major compound. Clusters 5, 6, and 7 have been fully characterized by both spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. Additionally, a deuterium-exchange experiment was performed on [Os7Rh3(mu-H)11(CO)23] 5 and [Os5Rh3Cl(mu-H)8(CO)18] 6. Both the compounds proved to be able to exchange the H atom with D in the presence of D2SO4, and the absence of the hydride signal in the 1H NMR spectrum is consistent with this. Therefore, clusters 5 and 6 may serve as appropriate new hydrogen storage models.     

Fluorination of [Os3(CO)12] and [Ir4(CO)12

Fluorination of [Os(3)CO(12)] in HF/SbF(5) affords [Os(CO)(4)(FSbF(5))(2)]. According to its crystal structure (orthorhombic, Pna2(1), a = 1590.3(3), b = 1036.6(1), c = 878.2(2) pm, Z = 4), the two SbF(6) units occupy cis positions in the octahedral environment around the Os atom. Fluorination of [Ir(4)(CO)(12)] in HF/SbF(5) produced three different compounds: (1) [Ir(4)(CO)(8)(mu-F)(2)(Sb(2)F(11))(2)] (tetragonal, P4n2, a = 1285.2(2), c = 952.9(1) pm, Z = 2). Here, two of the six edges of the Ir(4) tetrahedron in [Ir(4)CO(12)] are replaced by bridging fluorine atoms. (2) [fac-Ir(CO)(3)(FSbF(5))(2)HF]SbF(6).HF (orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 1250.6(1), b = 1340.7(2), c = 1092.6(2) ppm, Z = 4). The Ir(4) tetrahedron in Ir(4)(CO)(12) is completely broken down, but the facial Ir(CO)(3) configuration is retained. (3) [mer-Ir(CO)(3)F(FSbF(5))(2)] (triclinic, P1, a = 834.9(1), b = 86 4.9(1), c = 1060.0(1) pm, alpha = 69.173(4) degrees, beta = 77.139(4) degrees, gamma = 88.856(4) degrees, Z = 2).