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.     

The Origin of the Selectivity and Activity of Ruthenium‐Cluster Catalysts for Fuel‐Cell Feed‐Gas Purification: A Gas‐Phase Approach

Gas‐phase ruthenium clusters Ru_n⁺ (n=2–6) are employed as model systems to discover the origin of the outstanding performance of supported sub‐nanometer ruthenium particles in the catalytic CO methanation reaction with relevance to the hydrogen feed‐gas purification for advanced fuel‐cell applications. Using ion‐trap mass spectrometry in conjunction with first‐principles density functional theory calculations three fundamental properties of these clusters are identified which determine the selectivity and catalytic activity: high reactivity toward CO in contrast to inertness in the reaction with CO₂; promotion of cooperatively enhanced H₂ coadsorption and dissociation on pre‐formed ruthenium carbonyl clusters, that is, no CO poisoning occurs; and the presence of Ru‐atom sites with a low number of metal–metal bonds, which are particularly active for H₂ coadsorption and activation. Furthermore, comprehensive theoretical investigations provide mechanistic insight into the CO methanation reaction and discover a reaction route involving the formation of a formyl‐type intermediate.     

Metal‐catalyzed reversible conversion between chemical and electrical energy designed towards a sustainable society

Proton dissociation of an aqua‐Ru‐quinone complex, [Ru(trpy)(q)(OH₂)]²⁺ (trpy = 2,2′ : 6′,2″‐terpyridine, q = 3,5‐di‐t‐butylquinone) proceeded in two steps (pK_a = 5.5 and ca. 10.5). The first step simply produced [Ru(trpy)(q)(OH)]⁺, while the second one gave an unusual oxyl radical complex, [Ru(trpy)(sq)(O^?.)]⁰ (sq = 3,5‐di‐t‐butylsemiquinone), owing to an intramolecular electron transfer from the resultant O^2? to q. A dinuclear Ru complex bridged by an anthracene framework, [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂]²⁺ (btpyan = 1,8‐bis(2,2′‐terpyridyl)anthracene), was prepared to place two Ru(trpy)(q)(OH) groups at a close distance. Deprotonation of the two hydroxy protons of [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂]²⁺ generated two oxyl radical Ru‐O^?. groups, which worked as a precursor for O₂ evolution in the oxidation of water. The [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂](SbF₆)₂ modified ITO electrode effectively catalyzed four‐electron oxidation of water to evolve O₂ (TON = 33500) under electrolysis at +1.70 V in H₂O (pH 4.0). Various physical measurements and DFT calculations indicated that a radical coupling between two Ru(sq)(O^?.) groups forms a (cat)Ru‐O‐O‐Ru(sq) (cat = 3,5‐di‐t‐butylcathechol) framework with a μ‐superoxo bond. Successive removal of four electrons from the cat, sq, and superoxo groups of [Ru₂(btpyan)(cat)(sq)(μ‐O₂^?)]⁰ assisted with an attack of two water (or OH^?) to Ru centers, which causes smooth O₂ evolution with regeneration of [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂]²⁺. Deprotonation of an Ru‐quinone‐ammonia complex also gave the corresponding Ru‐semiquinone‐aminyl radical. The oxidized form of the latter showed a high catalytic activity towards the oxidation of methanol in the presence of base. Three complexes, [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)₂]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(C(O)OH)]⁺, and [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(CO₂)]⁰ exist as an equilibrium mixture in water. Treatment of [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)₂]²⁺ with BH₄^? gave [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(C(O)H)]⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(CH₂OH)]⁺, and [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(OH₂)]²⁺ with generation of CH₃OH in aqueous conditions. Based on these results, a reasonable catalytic pathway from CO₂ to CH₃OH in electro‐ and photochemical CO₂ reduction is proposed. A new pbn (pbn = 2‐pyridylbenzo[b]‐1,5‐naphthyridine) ligand was designed as a renewable hydride donor for the six‐electron reduction of CO₂. A series of [Ru(bpy)_3‐n(pbn)_n]²⁺ (n = 1, 2, 3) complexes undergoes photochemical two‐ (n = 1), four‐ (n = 2), and six‐electron reductions (n = 3) under irradiation of visible light in the presence of N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃. © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 169–186; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.200800039     

From Adlayer Islands to Surface Alloy: Structural and Chemical Changes on Bimetallic PtRu/Ru(0001) Surfaces

The correlation between structural and chemical properties of bimetallic PtRu/Ru(0001) model catalysts and their modification upon stepwise annealing of a submonolayer Pt‐covered Ru(0001) surface up to the formation of an equilibrated Pt_xRu_1?x/Ru(0001) monolayer surface alloy was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and by the adsorption of CO and D₂ probe molecules. Both temperature‐programmed desorption and IR measurements demonstrate the influence of the surface structure on the adsorption properties of the bimetallic surface, which can be explained by changes of the composition of the adsorption ensembles (ensemble effects) for D adsorption and by changes in the electronic interaction (ligand effects, strain effects) of the metallic constituents for CO and D adsorption upon alloy formation.     

New insights on the Cd UPD on Au(111)

The Cd underpotential deposition (UPD) process on Au(111) was analyzed by means of combined electrochemical measurements and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the underpotential range 300?ΔE (mV) ?400, 2D Cd islands are formed on the fcc regions of the Au(111)‐(√3 × 22) reconstructed surface without lifting the reconstruction. At lower underpotentials, the 2D Cd islands grow and, simultaneously, new 2D islands nucleate and coalesce with the previous ones forming a complete condensed Cd monolayer (ML). STM images and long time polarization experiments performed at ΔE = 70 mV demonstrate the formation of an Au? Cd surface alloy. At ΔE = 10 mV, the formation of the complete Cd ML is accompanied by a significant Au? Cd surface alloying and the kinetic results reveal two different solid‐state diffusion processes. The first one, with a diffusion coefficient D₁ = 4 × 10^?17 cm² s^?1, could be ascribed to the mutual diffusion of Au and Cd atoms through a highly distorted (vacancy‐rich) Au? Cd alloy layer. The second and faster diffusion process (D₂ = 7 × 10^?16 cm² s^?1) is associated with the appearance of an additional peak in the anodic stripping curves and could be attributed to the formation of another Cd_zAu_x alloy phase. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A CAS study on S‐loss and O‐loss dissociation mechanisms of the SO2+ ion in the C,D, and E states

In the present work, we mainly study dissociation of the C ²B₁, D²A₁, and E²B₂ states of the SO₂⁺ ion using the complete active‐space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) methods. We first performed CASPT2 potential energy curve (PEC) calculations for S‐ and O‐loss dissociation from the X, A, B, C, D, and E primarily ionization states and many quartet states. For studying S‐loss predissociation of the C, D, and E states by the quartet states to the first, second, and third S‐loss dissociation limits, the CASSCF minimum energy crossing point (MECP) calculations for the doublet/quartet state pairs were performed, and then the CASPT2 energies and CASSCF spin‐orbit couplings were calculated at the MECPs. Our calculations predict eight S‐loss predissociation processes (via MECPs and transition states) for the C, D, and E states and the energetics for these processes are reported. This study indicates that the C and D states can adiabatically dissociate to the first O‐loss dissociation limit. Our calculations (PEC and MECP) predict a predissociation process for the E state to the first O‐loss limit. Our calculations also predict that the E²B₂ state could dissociate to the first S‐ and O‐loss limits via the A²B₂ ← E²B₂ transition. On the basis of the 13 predicted processes, we discussed the S‐ and O‐loss dissociation mechanisms of the C, D, and E states proposed in the previous experimental studies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Synthesis,structure, redox property and ligand replacement reaction of ruthenium(II) complexes containing a terpyridyl ligand with a redox active moiety

Ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a redox-active tridentate ligand 4′-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (tpyOMe), analogous to terpyridine, and 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) were synthesized by the sequential replacement of Cl by CH₃CN and CO on the complex. The new ruthenium complexes were characterized by various methods including IR and NMR. The molecular structures of [Ru(tpyOMe)(bpy)(CH₃CN)]²⁺ and two kinds of [Ru(tpyOMe)(bpy)(CO)]²⁺ were determined by X-ray crystallography. The incorporation of monodentate ligands (Cl, CH₃CN and CO) regulated the energy levels of the MLCT transitions and the metal-centered redox potentials of the complexes. The kinetic data observed in this study indicates that the ligand replacement reaction of [Ru(tpyOMe)(bpy)Cl]⁺ to [Ru(tpyOMe)(bpy)(CH₃CN)]²⁺ proceeds by a solvent-assisted dissociation process.     

n‐Dopants Based on Dimers of Benzimidazoline Radicals: Structures and Mechanism of Redox Reactions

Dimers of 2‐substituted N,N′‐dimethylbenzimidazoline radicals, (2‐Y‐DMBI)₂ (Y=cyclohexyl (Cyc), ferrocenyl (Fc), ruthenocenyl (Rc)), have recently been reported as n‐dopants for organic semiconductors. Here their structural and energetic characteristics are reported, along with the mechanisms by which they react with acceptors, A (PCBM, TIPS‐pentacene), in solution. X‐ray data and DFT calculations both indicate a longer C?C bond for (2‐Cyc‐DMBI)₂ than (2‐Fc‐DMBI)₂, yet DFT and ESR data show that the latter dissociates more readily due to stabilization of the radical by Fc. Depending on the energetics of dimer (D₂) dissociation and of D₂‐to‐A electron transfer, D₂ reacts with A to form D⁺ and A^? by either of two mechanisms, differing in whether the first step is endergonic dissociation or endergonic electron transfer. However, the D⁺/0.5 D₂ redox potentials—the effective reducing strengths of the dimers—vary little within the series (ca. ?1.9 V vs. FeCp₂^+/0) (Cp=cyclopentadienyl) due to cancelation of trends in the D^+/0 potential and D₂ dissociation energy. The implications of these findings for use of these dimers as n‐dopants, and for future dopant design, are discussed.     

Modification of Surface Reactivity by CO: Effects on Decomposition and Polymerization of Acetaldehyde on Ru(0001)

The adsorption and reaction of acetaldehyde on the clean and CO pre-covered Ru(0001) surfaces have been investigated using temperature programmed desorption method. On the clean Ru(0001) surface, the decomposition of acetaldehyde is the main reaction channel, with little polymerization occurring. However, on the CO pre-covered Ru(0001) surface, the decomposition of acetaldehyde is inhibited considerably with increasing CO coverage. Whereas, the polymerization occurs efficiently, especially at high CO coverage (θ_CO>0.5 ML), which is strongly CO coverage dependent. Combined with previous studies, the well-ordered hexagonal structure of CO layer formed on the Ru(0001) surface at high CO coverage that matches the configuration of paraldehyde is likely to be the origin of this remarkable phenomenon.     

The synthesis of thionitrosodimethylamine (Me2NNS) complexes of ruthenium,osmium, and iridium

Neutral hydrido complexes [ML]ClH(PPh₃)₃ ([ML] = Ru(CO), Os(CO) and Ir(Cl)] react with thionitrosodimethylamine, Me₂NNS, to give [ML]ClH-(SNNMe₂)(PPh₃)₂ with H trans to Me₂NNS, while the hydrido cations cis,trans-[[ML]H(SNNMe₂)₂(PPh₃)₂]⁺ are obtained from Me₂NNS and [Ru(NCMe)₂(CO)-(PPh₃)₂]⁺, [OsH(OH₂)(CO)(PPh₃)₃]⁺ and [IrClH(NCMe)₂(PPh₃)₂]⁺, respectively. The coordinatively unsaturated aryl complexes [ML′]Cl(p-tolyl)(PPh₃)₂ ([ML′]Ru(CO), Os(CO) and Os(CS)) coordinate one molecule of Me₂NNS to give [ML′]Cl(p-tolyl)(SNNMe₂)(PPh₃)₂, the chloride ligands of which are labile. Spectroscopic data suggest that in all these complexes the Me₂NNS ligand adopts a η¹(S) coordination mode.     

Microwave Irradiation for the Facile Synthesis of Transition‐Metal Nanoparticles (NPs) in Ionic Liquids (ILs) from Metal–Carbonyl Precursors and Ru‐, Rh‐, and Ir‐NP/IL Dispersions as Biphasic Liquid–Liquid Hydrogenation Nanocatalysts for Cyclohexene

Stable chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, and iridium metal nanoparticles (M‐NPs) have been reproducibly obtained by facile, rapid (3 min), and energy‐saving 10 W microwave irradiation (MWI) under an argon atmosphere from their metal–carbonyl precursors [M_x(CO)_y] in the ionic liquid (IL) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF₄]). This MWI synthesis is compared to UV‐photolytic (1000 W, 15 min) or conventional thermal decomposition (180–250 °C, 6–12 h) of [M_x(CO)_y] in ILs. The MWI‐obtained nanoparticles have a very small (<5 nm) and uniform size and are prepared without any additional stabilizers or capping molecules as long‐term stable M‐NP/IL dispersions (characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), and dynamic light scattering (DLS)). The ruthenium, rhodium, or iridium nanoparticle/IL dispersions are highly active and easily recyclable catalysts for the biphasic liquid–liquid hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane with activities of up to 522 (mol product) (mol Ru)^?1 h^?1 and 884 (mol product) (mol Rh)^?1 h^?1 and give almost quantitative conversion within 2 h at 10 bar H₂ and 90 °C. Catalyst poisoning experiments with CS₂ (0.05 equiv per Ru) suggest a heterogeneous surface catalysis of Ru‐NPs.     

Structure and Magnetization Dynamics of Dy−Fe and Dy−Ru Bonded Complexes

We present an investigation of isostructural complexes that feature unsupported direct bonds between a formally trivalent lanthanide ion (Dy³⁺) and either a first‐row (Fe) or a second‐row (Ru) transition metal (TM) ion. The sterically rigid, yet not too bulky ligand PyCp₂^2? (PyCp₂^2?=[2,6‐(CH₂C₅H₃)₂C₅H₃N]^2?) facilitates the isolation and characterization of PyCp₂Dy?FeCp(CO)₂ ( 1 ; d(Dy–Fe)=2.884(2) Å) and PyCp₂Dy?RuCp(CO)₂ ( 2 ; d(Dy–Ru)=2.9508(5) Å). Computational and spectroscopic studies suggest strong TM→Dy bonding interactions. Both complexes exhibit field‐induced slow magnetic relaxation with effectively identical energy barriers to magnetization reversal. However, in going from Dy?Fe to Dy?Ru bonding, we observed faster magnetic relaxation at a given temperature and larger direct and Raman coefficients, which could be due to differences in the bonding and/or spin–phonon coupling contributions to magnetic relaxation.     

Photodissociation Dynamics of Benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) at 266, 248, and 193 nm

The photodissociation of gaseous benzaldehyde (C₆H₅CHO) at 193, 248, and 266 nm using multimass ion imaging and step‐scan time‐resolved Fourier‐transform infrared emission techniques is investigated. We also characterize the potential energies with the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df,2p) method and predict the branching ratios for various channels of dissociation. Upon photolysis at 248 and 266 nm, two major channels for formation of HCO and CO, with relative branching of 0.37:0.63 and 0.20:0.80, respectively, are observed. The C₆H₅+HCO channel has two components with large and small recoil velocities; the rapid component with average translational energy of approximately 25 kJ mol^?1 dominates. The C₆H₆+CO channel has a similar distribution of translational energy for these two components. IR emission from internally excited C₆H₅CHO, ν₃ (v=1) of HCO, and levels v≤2, J≤43 of CO are observed; the latter has an average rotational energy of approximately 13 kJ mol^?1 and vibrational energy of approximately 6 kJ mol^?1. Upon photolysis at 193 nm, similar distributions of energy are observed, except that the C₆H₅+HCO channel becomes the only major channel with a branching ratio of 0.82±0.10 and an increased proportion of the slow component; IR emission from levels ν₁ (v=1) and ν₃ (v=1 and 2) of HCO and v≤2, J≤43 of CO are observed; the latter has an average energy similar to that observed in photolysis at 248 nm. The observed product yields at different dissociation energies are compared to statistical‐theory predicted results based on the computed singlet and triplet potential‐energy surfaces.     

Thermal isomerization of ruthenium hydride compounds containing asymmetric bidentate pyrrole‐imine ligands

A series of ruthenium hydride compounds containing substituted bidentate pyrrole‐imine ligands were synthesized and characterized. Reacting RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃ with one equivalent of [C₄H₃NH(2‐CH=NR)] in ethanol in the presence of KOH gave compounds {RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂[C₄H₃N(2‐CH=NR)]} where trans‐Py‐Ru‐H 1, R = CH₂CH₂C₆H₉; cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 2, R = Ph‐2‐Me; and cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 3, R = C₆H₁₁. Heating trans‐Py‐Ru‐H 1 in toluene at 70°C for 12 hr resulted a thermal conversion of the trans‐Py‐Ru‐H 1 into its cis form, {RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂[C₄H₃N(2‐CH=NCH₂CH₂C₆H₉)]} (cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 1) in very high yield. The ¹H NMR spectra of trans‐Py‐Ru‐H 1, cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 2, cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 3, and cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 1 all show a typical triplet at ca. δ–11 for the hydride. The trans and cis form indicate the relative positions of pyrrole ring and hydride. The geometries of trans‐Py‐Ru‐H 1, cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 1, and cis‐Py‐Ru‐H 3 are relatively similar showing typical octahedral geometries with two PPh₃ fragments arranged in trans positions.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and X‐ray Structures of Ru3(CO)9(dotpm)(L) Complexes [L = PPh3, P(C6H4Cl‐p)3, and PPh2(C6H4Br‐p)]

The reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₀(dotpm) ( 1 ) [dotpm = (bis(di‐ortho‐tolylphosphanyl)methane)] and one equivalent of L [L = PPh₃, P(C₆H₄Cl‐p)₃ and PPh₂(C₆H₄Br‐p)] in refluxing n‐hexane afforded a series of derivatives [Ru₃(CO)₉(dotpm)L] ( 2 – 4 ), respectively, in ca. 67–70 % yield. Complexes 2 – 4 were characterized by elemental analysis (CHN), IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 2 , 3 , and 4 were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The bidentate dotpm and monodentate phosphine ligands occupy equatorial positions with respect to the Ru triangle. The effect of substitution resulted in significant differences in the Ru–Ru and Ru–P bond lengths.     

Density functional theory and RRKM calculations of decompositions of the metastable E‐2,4‐pentadienal molecular ions

The potential energy profiles for the fragmentations that lead to [C₅H₅O]⁺ and [C₄H₆]^+? ions from the molecular ions [C₅H₆O]^+? of E‐2,4‐pentadienal were obtained from calculations at the UB3LYP/6‐311G + + (3df,3pd)//UB3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory. Kinetic barriers and harmonic frequencies obtained by the density functional method were then employed in Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus calculations of individual rate coefficients for a large number of reaction steps. The pre‐equilibrium and rate‐controlling step approximations were applied to different regions of the complex potential energy surface, allowing the overall rate of decomposition to be calculated and discriminated between three rival pathways: C? H bond cleavage, decarbonylation and cyclization. These processes should have to compete for an equilibrated mixture of four conformers of the E‐2,4‐pentadienal ions. The direct dissociation, however, can only become important in the high‐energy regime. In contrast, loss of CO and cyclization are observable processes in the metastable kinetic window. The former involves a slow 1,2‐hydrogen shift from the carbonyl group that is immediately followed by the formation of an ion‐neutral complex which, in turn, decomposes rapidly to the s‐trans‐1,3‐butadiene ion [C₄H₆]^+?. The predominating metastable channel is the second one, that is, a multi‐step ring closure which starts with a rate‐limiting cis—trans isomerization. This process yields a mixture of interconverting pyran ions that dissociates to the pyrylium ions [C₅H₅O]⁺. These results can be used to rationalize the CID mass spectrum of E‐2,4‐pentadienal in a low‐energy regime. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure Sensitivity of CO Oxidation on Co3O4: A DFT Study

The reaction mechanism of CO oxidation on the Co₃O₄ (110) and Co₃O₄ (111) surfaces is investigated by means of spin‐polarized density functional theory (DFT) within the GGA+U framework. Adsorption situation and complete reaction cycles for CO oxidation are clarified. The results indicate that 1) the U value can affect the calculated energetic result significantly, not only the absolute adsorption energy but also the trend in adsorption energy; 2) CO can directly react with surface lattice oxygen atoms (O_2f/O_3f) to form CO₂ via the Mars–van Krevelen reaction mechanism on both (110)‐B and (111)‐B; 3) pre‐adsorbed molecular O₂ can enhance CO oxidation through the channel in which it directly reacts with molecular CO to form CO₂ [O₂(a)+CO(g)→CO₂(g)+O(a)] on (110)‐A/(111)‐A; 4) CO oxidation is a structure‐sensitive reaction, and the activation energy of CO oxidation follows the order of Co₃O₄ (111)‐A(0.78 eV)>Co₃O₄ (111)‐B (0.68 eV)>Co₃O₄ (110)‐A (0.51 eV)>Co₃O₄ (110)‐B (0.41 eV), that is, the (110) surface shows higher reactivity for CO oxidation than the (111) surface; 5) in addition to the O_2f, it was also found that Co³⁺ is more active than Co²⁺, so both O_2f and Co³⁺ control the catalytic activity of CO oxidation on Co₃O₄, as opposed to a previous DFT study which concluded that either Co³⁺ or O_2f is the active site.     

Transition‐Metal Complexes [(PMe3)2Cl2M(E)] and [(PMe3)2(CO)2M(E)] with Naked Group 14 Atoms (E=C–Sn) as Ligands; Part 2: Complexation with W(CO)5

Density functional calculations at the BP86/TZ2P level were carried out to understand the ligand properties of the 16‐valence‐electron(VE) Group 14 complexes [(PMe₃)₂Cl₂M(E)] ( 1ME ) and the 18‐VE Group 14 complexes [(PMe₃)₂(CO)₂M(E)] ( 2ME ; M=Fe, Ru, Os; E=C, Si, Ge, Sn) in complexation with W(CO)₅. Calculations were also carried out for the complexes (CO)₅W–EO. The complexes [(PMe₃)₂Cl₂M(E)] and [(PMe₃)₂(CO)₂M(E)] bind strongly to W(CO)₅ yielding the adducts 1ME–W(CO)₅ and 2ME–W(CO)₅ , which have C_2v equilibrium geometries. The bond strengths of the heavier Group 14 ligands 1ME (E=Si–Sn) are uniformly larger, by about 6–7 kcal mol^?1, than those of the respective EO ligand in (CO)₅W‐EO, while the carbon complexes 1MC–W(CO)₅ have comparable bond dissociation energies (BDE) to CO. The heavier 18‐VE ligands 2ME (E=Si–Sn) are about 23–25 kcal mol^?1 more strongly bonded than the associated EO ligand, while the BDE of 2MC is about 17–21 kcal mol^?1 larger than that of CO. Analysis of the bonding with an energy‐decomposition scheme reveals that 1ME is isolobal with EO and that the nature of the bonding in 1ME–W(CO)₅ is very similar to that in (CO)₅W–EO. The ligands 1ME are slightly weaker π acceptors than EO while the π‐acceptor strength of 2ME is even lower.     

Mechanism of CO Oxidation on Cu2O (111) Surface: A DFT and Microkinetic Study

Catalytic oxidation has been recognized as one of the most efficient and promising techniques for the abatement of CO and volatile organic compounds. In the present work, the CO oxidation mechanism on perfect Cu₂O (111) surface was investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the periodic surface model. The unsaturated singly coordinated Cu⁺ site of Cu₂O (111) surface could effectively adsorb gaseous CO molecule with a strong adsorption energy of −1.558 eV. The adsorbed O on Cu₂O (111) surface is very active toward CO oxidation with only 0.269 eV energy barrier. The reaction between CO and lattice O is the rate‐determining step of Mars‐van‐Krevelen (MvK) type CO oxidation with the energy barrier of 1.629 eV. The CO oxidation cycle initiated by the reaction between coadsorbed CO and O₂ at the Cu_I site has a relatively lower energy barrier of 1.082 eV and is, therefore, more likely to proceed compared with the MvK cycle. Microkinetic rate constants of elementary reaction steps based on the transition state theory were deduced, which could be helpful in the kinetic modeling of CO oxidation on Cu₂O surface.     

Photodissociation Dynamics of OCS at 217 nm

The S(¹D₂)+CO(X¹Σ⁺) product channel from photodissociation of OCS at 217 nm has been measured using the DC slice velocity map imaging (VMI) technique in combination with resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI). Two diflerent REMPI intermediate states (¹F₃ and ¹P₁) and several pump-probe laser polarization geometries are used to detect the angular momentum polarization of the photofragmented S(¹D₂). The molecular- frame polarization parameters, as well as the laboratory-frame anisotropy parameters, for individual rotational states of co-fragment CO, are determined using two diflerent full quantum theories. The measured total kinetic energy release spectrum from photodissociation of OCS indicates two dissociation channels, corresponding to the fast and slow recoiling velocities of S(¹D₂), respectively. The slow channel is concluded to originate from an initial photoexcitation to the A(¹A') state, followed by a non-adiabatic transition to the ground state. The fast channel is found to follow a coherent excitation to A(¹A') and B(¹A') states, where contributions of the two states are almost equal at 217 nm. The determined alignment and anisotropy parameters further indicate that the slow channel follows an incoherent excitation, while the fast channel follows a coherent excitation to A(¹A') and B(¹A') states with a phase di erence of π/2.