Effective monkey saddle points and berry and lever mechanisms in the topomerization of SF(4) and related tetracoordinated AX(4) species

The topomerization mechanisms of the SF(4) and SCl(2)F(2) sulfuranes, as well as their higher (SeF(4), TeF(4)) and isoelectronic analogues PF(4)(-), AsF(4)(-), SbF(4)(-), SbCl(4)(-), ClF(4)(+), BrF(4)(+), BrCl(2)F(2)(+), and IF(4)(+)), have been computed at B3LYP/6-31+G and at B3LYP/6-311+G. All species have trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) C(2)(v)() ground states. In such four-coordinated molecules, Berry rotation exchanges both axial with two equatorial ligands simultaneously while the alternative "lever" mechanism exchanges only one axial ligand with one equatorial ligand. While the barrier for the lever exchange in SF(4) (18.8 kcal mol(-1)) is much higher than that for the Berry process (8.1 kcal mol(-1)), both mechanisms are needed for complete ligand exchange. The F(ax)F(ax) and F(eq)F(eq) isomers of SF(2)Cl(2) have nearly the same energy and readily interconvert by BPR with a barrier of 7.6 kcal mol(-1). The enantiomerization of the F(ax)F(eq) chiral isomer can occur by either the Berry process (transition state barrier 8.3 kcal mol(-1)) or the "lever" mechanism via either of two C(s)() transition states, based on the TBP geometry: Cl(ax) <--> Cl(eq) or F(ax) <--> F(eq) exchanges with barriers of 6.3 and 15.7 kcal mol(-1), respectively. Full scrambling of all ligand sites is possible only by inclusion of the lever mechanism. Planar, "tetrahedral", and triplet forms are much higher in energy. The TBP C(3)(v) structures of AX(4) either have two imaginary frequencies (NIMAG = 2) for the X = F, Cl species or are minima (NIMAG = 0) for the X = Br, I compounds. These "effective monkey saddle points" have degenerate modes with two small frequencies, imaginary or real. Although a strictly defined "monkey saddle" (with degenerate frequencies exactly zero) is not allowed, the flat C(3)(v) symmetry region serves as a "transition state" for trifurcation of the pathways. The BPR mechanism also is preferred over the alternative lever process in the topomerization of the selenurane SeF(4) (barriers 5.9 vs. 12.1 kcal mol(-1)), the tellurane TeF(4) (2.1 vs. 6.4), and the interhalogen cations ClF(4)(+) (2.5 vs 14.8), BrF(4)(+) (4.7 vs. 11.3), BrF(2)Cl(2)(+) (14.6 vs. 17.4), and IF(4)(+) (1.4 vs. 6.0), as well as for the series PF(4)(-) (7.0 vs. 9.0), AsF(4)(-) (9.3 vs. 17.2), and SbF(4)(-) (3.8 vs. 5.3 kcal mol(-1)), all computed at B3LYP/6-311+G with the inclusion of quasirelativistic pseudopotentials for Te, I, and Sb. The heavier halogens increasingly favor the lever process, where the barrier (2.6 kcal mol(-1)) pertaining to the effective monkey saddle point (C(3)(v) minimum for SbCl(4)(-)) is less than that for the Berry process (8.2 kcal mol(-1)).     

Pseudorotation of trigonal bipyramidal molecules: Berry rotation contra “turnstile” rotation in PF5

The energy surface for the intramolecular nuclear motion in PF₅ is analysed with the aid of a modified CNDO/2 procedure. It is shown that intramolecular exchange of equatorial and apical fluorine atoms can only take place by a Berry pseudorotation mechanism and that the alternative “turnstile” processes correspond to special realization of rearrangement pathways in that “reaction valley“.     

草酸氧钒钾K_6[(VO)_2(C_2O_4)_5]·4H_2O的晶体和分子结构

K_6[(VO)_2(C_2O_4)_5]·4H_2O的晶体属单斜晶系,空间群为C2/c。a=16.149(5),b=7.304(2),c=23.591(5),β=94.62(2)°,Z=4。晶体结构用直接法解出并经全矩阵最小二乘法修正至R=0.085。晶体中的络阴离子是双核的,每个VO~(2+)被两个草酸根所螯合,且呈顺式排布。另有一个草酸根将两个VO~(2+)连接在一起,该草酸根的C—C键中点位于对称心上。     

Dichloro­[(1E,1′E)‐1,1′‐(pyridine‐2,6‐di­yl)diethanone bis­(O‐methyloxime)‐κ3N1,N2,N6]cobalt(II)

In the title compound, [CoCl₂(C₁₁H₁₅N₃O₂)], the Co^II ion is five‐coordinated in a strongly distorted square‐pyramidal arrangement, with one of the two Cl atoms located in the apical position, and the other Cl atom and the three N‐donor atoms of the tridentate methyloxime ligand located in the basal plane. The non‐H atoms, except for the Cl atoms, lie on a mirror plane. The two equatorial Co—N_oxime distances are almost equal (mean 2.253 Å) and are substanti­ally longer than the equatorial Co—N_pyridine bond [2.0390 (19) Å]. The structure is stabilized by intra‐ and inter­molecular C—H⋯Cl contacts, which involve one of the methyl C atoms belonging to the methyloxime groups.     

Mechanistic insights into the cis-trans isomerization of ruthenium complexes relevant to catalysis of olefin metathesis

The mechanism of the trans to cis isomerization in Ru complexes with a chelating alkylidene group has been investigated by using a combined theoretical and experimental approach. Static DFT calculations suggest that a concerted single‐step mechanism is slightly favored over a multistep mechanism, which would require dissociation of one of the ligands from the Ru center. This hypothesis is supported by analysis of the experimental kinetics of isomerization, as followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. DFT molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the variation of geometrical parameters around the Ru center in the concerted mechanism is highly uncorrelated; the mechanism actually begins with the transformation of the square‐pyramidal trans isomer, with the Ru?CHR bond in the apical position, into a transition state that resembles a metastable square pyramidal complex with a Cl atom in the apical position. This high‐energy structure collapses into the cis isomer. Then, the influence of the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand, the halogen, and the chelating alkylidene group on the relative stability of the cis and trans isomers, as well as on the energy barrier separating them, was investigated with static calculations. Finally, we investigated the interconversion between cis and trans isomers of the species involved in the catalytic cycle of olefin metathesis; we characterized an unprecedented square‐pyramidal metallacycle with the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand in the apical position. Our analysis, which is relevant to the exchange of equatorial ligands in other square pyramidal complexes, presents evidence for a remarkable flexibility well beyond the simple cis–trans isomerization of these Ru complexes.     

Spectroscopic and magnetic properties of copper(II) complexes derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone. Structures of [Cu(NO3)(C7H8N4S)(H2O)](NO3) and [{Cu(NCS)(C7H7N4S)}2]

Complexes with the formula CuX(L) (X=N₃ 1, NCO 2 and NCS 3) and [Cu(NO₃)(HL)(H₂O)](NO₃) 4, where HL=C₇H₈N₄S, (pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone), have been characterised. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on compounds 3 and 4 have been carried out. The structure of compound 4 consists of monomeric distorted square pyramidal copper(II) species. The copper(II) ions are coordinated to the NNS atoms from the tridentate thiosemicarbazone ligand and one oxygen atom of a nitrate group in the equatorial position. The oxygen atom of the water molecule occupies the apical position. The structure of compound 3 consists of non-centrosymmetric {Cu₂(μ-SR)₂} entities in which the copper(II) ions exhibit five-coordinate square–pyramidal geometry. The thiosemicarbazone ligand and one nitrogen atom from the thiocyanate ion are in a basal position. The sulfur atom of the tridentate ligand acts as a bridge occupying the apical position. Structural and spectroscopic results suggest the presence of relevant σ ligand-to-metal charge transfer and metal-to-ligand π-backdonation character in these compounds. The ESR spectra of compounds 3 and 4 show rhombic symmetry. For complexes 1 and 2 the ESR spectra exhibit axial signals. Magnetic measurements on compounds 1, 2 and 3 show antiferromagnetic couplings. The susceptibility data were fitted by the Bleaney–Bowers’ equation for copper(II) dimers. The obtained J/k values are −4.22, −6.10 and −7.33 K for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

A re-investigation of copper coordination in the octa-repeats region of the prion protein

An aqueous solution spectroscopic (Vis and EPR) study of the copper(II) complexes with the Ac-HGGG-NH2 and Ac-PHGGGWGQ-NH2 polypeptides (generically designated as L) suggests square base pyramids ascribable to [Cu(L)H(-2)] complex species, which contain three nitrogen donor atoms, arising from imidazole and peptide groups, in the equatorial plane and for a pseudo-octahedral geometry in the case of [CuLH-3]- and [Cu(L)H-4]2- which have four nitrogen donor atoms in their equatorial plane. The coordination sphere of the copper complex in the [Cu(L)H(-2)] species, which is present at neutral pH values, is completed by two oxygen donor atoms. ESI-MS spectra ascertained that water molecules are not present in the coordination equatorial plane of this latter species, in comparison with other copper(II) complexes with ligands bearing nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms and surely having equatorial water molecules. This indicates the coordination of a carbonyl oxygen atom in the equatorial plane has to be invoked. However, no direct proof about the involvement of a carbonyl group oxygen donor atom apically linked to copper was obtained, due to the flexibility of these structures at room temperature. Additionally, the low A(ll) value leads one to consider another oxygen atom of a carbonyl group being involved in the apical bond to copper in a fast exchange fashion. This apical interaction, which may also involve a water molecule, is more pronounced in the Cu-Ac-HGGG-NH2 than in the analogous Cu-Ac-PHGGGWGQ-NH2 system, probably because of the presence of tryptophan and proline in the polypeptide sequence.     

Hydrogen atom mediated Stone-Wales rearrangement of pyracyclene: a model for annealing in fullerene formation

We have investigated the Stone-Wales (SW) rearrangement of pyracyclene (C(14)H(12)) using quantum mechanical molecular modeling. Of particular interest in this study is the effect of an added hydrogen atom on the barriers to SW rearrangement. Hydrogen atoms are found in high abundance during combustion, and their effect upon isomerization of aromatic compounds to more stable species may play an important role in the combustion synthesis of fullerenes. We have calculated the barriers for the SW rearrangement in pyracyclene using density functional theory B3LYP/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p). Two mechanisms have been investigated: (i) a mechanism with two identical transition states of C(1) symmetry and a cyclobutyl intermediate and (ii) a mechanism with one transition state containing an sp(3) carbon (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 5572-5580; Nature 1993, 366, 665-667). We find that the barriers for these mechanisms are 120.0 kcal mol(-1) for the cyclobutyl mechanism and 130.1 kcal mol(-1) for the sp(3) mechanism. Adding a hydrogen atom to the internal bridge carbon atoms of pyracyclene reduces the barrier of the cyclobutyl mechanisms to 67.0 kcal mol(-1) and the sp(3) mechanism to 73.1 kcal mol(-1). The bonding of carbon atoms in pyracyclene is similar to those found in isomers of C(60), and the barriers are low enough so that these reactions can become significant during fullerene synthesis in flames. Adding hydrogen atoms to the external bridge atoms on pyracyclene produces a smaller reduction in the SW barrier and adding hydrogen atoms to nonbridge external carbon atoms results in no reduction of the barrier.     

Proton-coupled electron transfer versus hydrogen atom transfer in benzyl/toluene,methoxyl/methanol,and phenoxyl/phenol self-exchange reactions

Degenerate hydrogen atom exchange reactions have been studied using calculations, based on density functional theory (DFT), for (i) benzyl radical plus toluene, (ii) phenoxyl radical plus phenol, and (iii) methoxyl radical plus methanol. The first and third reactions occur via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms. The transition structure (TS) for benzyl/toluene hydrogen exchange has C(2)(h)() symmetry and corresponds to the approach of the 2p-pi orbital on the benzylic carbon of the radical to a benzylic hydrogen of toluene. In this TS, and in the similar C(2) TS for methoxyl/methanol hydrogen exchange, the SOMO has significant density in atomic orbitals that lie along the C-H vectors in the former reaction and nearly along the O-H vectors in the latter. In contrast, the SOMO at the phenoxyl/phenol TS is a pi symmetry orbital within each of the C(6)H(5)O units, involving 2p atomic orbitals on the oxygen atoms that are essentially orthogonal to the O.H.O vector. The transferring hydrogen in this reaction is a proton that is part of a typical hydrogen bond, involving a sigma lone pair on the oxygen of the phenoxyl radical and the O-H bond of phenol. Because the proton is transferred between oxygen sigma orbitals, and the electron is transferred between oxygen pi orbitals, this reaction should be described as a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). The PCET mechanism requires the formation of a hydrogen bond, and so is not available for benzyl/toluene exchange. The preference for phenoxyl/phenol to occur by PCET while methoxyl/methanol exchange occurs by HAT is traced to the greater pi donating ability of phenyl over methyl. This results in greater electron density on the oxygens in the PCET transition structure for phenoxyl/phenol, as compared to the PCET hilltop for methoxyl/methanol, and the greater electron density on the oxygens selectively stabilizes the phenoxyl/phenol TS by providing a larger binding energy of the transferring proton.     

catena‐Poly[[[4‐bromo‐2‐(2‐pyridyl­methyl­imino­meth­yl)­phenol­ato]­zinc(II)]‐μ‐chloro]

The title complex, [Zn(C₁₃H₁₀BrN₂O)Cl]_n, is a chloride‐bridged polynuclear zinc(II) compound. Each Zn^II ion is five‐coordinated in a square‐pyramidal configuration, with one O and two N atoms of one Schiff base and one bridging Cl atom defining the basal plane, and another bridging Cl atom occupying the apical position. The novelty of the compound lies in the bridging by chlorine of two square‐pyramidal Zn atoms, so that the bridging atom is apical for one Zn ion and basal for the other. This structural arrangement has not been observed before. The linked moieties form polymeric zigzag chains running along the a axis.     

H+NH3反应势能面的量子化学研究

本文采用UCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ方法研究了H NH3反应势能面,获得了夺氢反应和交换反应过渡态的的几何结构和振动频率。夺氢反应的过渡态具有Cs对称性,其能垒为61.92 kJ/mol。交换反应的过渡态具有C3v对称性,其能垒为39.69 kJ/mol。H NH3发生形成Td对称性的反应中间体NH4里德堡自由基。与夺氢反应相比,交换反应具有更低的反应能垒,并且NH4自由基在反应中可形成长寿命的共振态,和夺氢反应形成竞争关系,因此在H NH3反应的量子动力学研究中必须同时考虑这两类反应。本文还采用更大的基组aug-cc-pVQZ和aug-cc-pV5Z研究了势能面对基组的收敛行为。     

Expanding molecular dynamics simulations to the NMR time scale. I. Studies of conformational interconversions of 1, 1-difluoro-4, 4-dimethylcycloheptane using MM3-MD

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of 35,000 picoseconds (ps) has been carried out to study the conformational interconversions of 1,1-difluoro-4,4-dimethylcycloheptane at room temperature using the MM3 force field. The exchange between axial and equatorial fluorine atoms was the only conformational interconversion that occurred, and it took place via the process of pseudorotation. Ring inversions (twist–chair < twist–boat < twist–chair) were not observed. The axial-equatorial exchange of the two fluorine atoms took place five times during the MD trajectory of 35,000 ps. The two CH₃ groups occupied symmetrical positions (exchangeable by a C₂-like rotations, where C₂-like means it would be C₂ if the fluorines were not present) in the MM3 structures, and during most of the time of the MD trajectory. The methyls occasionally moved off the C₂-like axis in the simulated process, mostly because the C₂-like axis was momentarily moved so that it did not pass through the ring atom to which the two CH₃ groups are bonded. A C₂-like symmetry of the twist-chair conformation was maintained approximately during most of the MD simulation. The conformational geometry with the highest energy obtained during the axial-equatorial exchange process was found and used to locate the transition state. The energy barrier for this axial-equatorial exchange was calculated to be 4.7 kcal/mol, and it compares with the value (5.0 kcal/mol) determined by dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and DFT analysis of a new trinuclear complex of copper

The new trinuclear complex [Cu₂(μ-L)₂CuCl₂] has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and X-ray spectroscopy, where L is a dianionic tetradentate Schiff base ligand with N₂O₂ donor atoms. The molecular structure of [Cu₂(μ-L)₂CuCl₂] was determined by X-ray crystallography. In the complex, the most remarkable aspect of the trinuclear complex is that it adopts a bent structure for the three copper atoms, with a Cu1Cu3Cu2 intramolecular angle of approximately 90.62(2)°. All three copper atoms are five coordinate, with a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry. In the two terminals moieties, the basal plane of the square pyramidal is formed by two oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms of the Schiff base ligand, and the apical position at the Cu atom is occupied by the bridging Cl1 anion. The Cu1Cl1Cu2 angle is 110.51(5)°. The central copper atom also has a five-coordinate, slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry, with four phenolato oxygens belonging to the Schiff base ligands from Cu(salpn) units describing the square planar base and the Cl anions being apical. The optimized structure of the complex has been studied using the B3LYP/6-31G(d)/LanL2TZf level of theory. The calculation shows that all the copper atoms are five coordinate with distorted square pyramidal structures, which is consistent with experimental data.     

New relativistic ANO basis sets for transition metal atoms

New basis sets of the atomic natural orbital (ANO) type have been developed for the first, second, and third row transition metal atoms. The ANOs have been obtained from the average density matrix of the ground and lowest excited states of the atom, the positive and negative ions, and the atom in an electric field. Scalar relativistic effects are included through the use of a Douglas-Kroll-Hess Hamiltonian. Multiconfigurational wave functions have been used with dynamic correlation included using second order perturbation theory (CASSCF/CASPT2). The basis sets are applied in calculations of ionization energies, electron affinities, and excitation energies for all atoms and polarizabilities for spherically symmetric atoms. These calculations include spin-orbit coupling using a variation-perturbation approach. Computed ionization energies have an accuracy better than 0.2 eV in most cases. The accuracy of computed electron affinities is the same except in cases where the experimental values are smaller than 0.5 eV. Accurate results are obtained for the polarizabilities of atoms with spherical symmetry. Multiplet levels are presented for some of the third row transition metals.     

Structural Studies of a Copper(II) Complex with Inequivalent 2‐Acetylpyridine 3‐Piperidylthiosemicarbazonato Ligands and a Nickel(II) Complex with Different Modes of Coordination by the Two Thiosemicarbazonato Moieties of 1‐Phenylglyoxal Bis{N(4)‐diethylthiosemicarbazone}

The crystal structure of a copper(II) complex of 2‐acetylpyridine 3‐piperidylthiosemicarbazone, [Cu(Acpip)₂], indicates a tridentate, monoanionic ligand (i. e., pyridine nitrogen, imine nitrogen and thiolato sulfur atoms) and a bidentate, monanionic ligand (i. e., imine nitrogen and thiolato sulfur atoms). The stereochemistry approaches square pyramidal with the bidentate ligand occupying an apical (imine nitrogen atom) and basal (thiolato sulfur atom) position. The structure of a nickel(II) complex of 1‐phenylglyoxal N(4)‐diethylthiosemicarbazone, [Ni(Pg4DE)], has a 4‐6‐5 trichelate system rather than the 5‐5‐5 system common to bis(thiosemicarbazones). Coordination of the hydrazinic nitrogen atom of the “phenyl arm” along with the thiolato sulfur atom provides the 4‐membered chelate ring.     

Synthesis and Characterization of [Hg(sulfamethoxazolato)2]·2DMSO and[Cu2(μ‐CH3CO2)4(sulfamethoxazole)2]

[Hg(sulfamethoxazolato)₂]·2DMSO ( 1 ) and [Cu₂(CH₃COO)₄(sulfa‐methoxazole)₂] ( 2 ) can be obtained by the reaction of sulfamethoxazole with mercury acetate or copper acetate in methanol. The structures of the two complexes were characterized by single crystal X—ray diffractometry. Compound 1 consists of sulfamethoxazolato ligands bridging the metal ions building an unidimensional chain. Two solvent dimethylsulfoxide molecules are involved via N‐H···O hydrogen bridges. The mercury atom shows a linear primary coordination arrangement formed by two trans deprotonated sulfonamidic nitrogen atoms. The overall coordination around the metal atom may be regarded as a strongly distorted octahedron when the interactions of mercury with four sulfonamidic oxygen atoms [bond distances of 2.761(4) Å—2.971(4) Å] are also considered to build an equatorial plane and the N1 and N1′ atoms [bond distance of 2.037(5) Å] occupy the apical positions. Compound 2 is a dinuclear complex in which the copper ions are bridged by four syn‐syn acetate ligands which are related by a symmetry centre located in the centre of the complex. Each copper atom presents a nearly octahedral coordination where the equatorial plane is formed by four oxygen atoms and an isoxazolic nitrogen atom and the second copper atom occupy the apical positions.     

catena‐Poly[aquacopper(II)‐μ‐[N‐(1‐oxido‐2‐naphthylmethylene)glycinato‐O,N,O′:O′]]

In the title compound, [Cu(C₁₃H₉NO₃)(H₂O)]_n, the Cu^II ion is in a slightly distorted square‐pyramidal environment, with four short bonds in the basal plane formed by three donor atoms of the Schiff base and a water O atom. A symmetry‐related neighbouring mol­ecule provides an apical carboxylate O atom at a distance of 2.551 (3) Å; this contact leads to the formation of zigzag polymeric chains. In addition, the chain fragments are connected to each other by hydrogen bonding.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Antibacterial Activities of Four Schiff Base Copper(II), Zinc(II), and Cadmium(II) Complexes Derived from 2‐[(2‐Dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol

Four Schiff base complexes, [Zn₂L₂(NCS)₂] ( 1 ), [Cd₂L₂(NCS)₂]_n ( 2 ), [Zn₄L₂(N₃)₂Cl₄(OH₂)(CH₃OH)] ( 3 ), and [Cu₄L₂(N₃)₂Cl₄(OH₂)(CH₃OH)] ( 4 ) (where L = 2‐[(2‐dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and single crystal X‐ray determinations. Both 1 and 2 are structurally similar polynuclear complexes. In 1 , each Zn atom has a slightly distorted square‐pyramidal coordination configuration. In the basal plane, the Zn atom is coordinated by one O and two N atoms of one L, and by one O atom of another L. The apical position is occupied by one terminal N atom of a coordinated thiocyanate anion. The Zn···Zn separation is 3.179(3) Å. While in 2 , the Cd1 atom is six‐coordinated in an octahedral coordination. In the equatorial plane, the Cd1 atom is coordinated by one O and two N atoms of one L, and by one O atom of another L. The axial positions are occupied by the terminal N and S atoms from two bridging thiocyanate anions. The coordination of Cd2 atom in 2 is similar to those of the zinc atoms in 1 . The Cd···Cd separation is 3.425(2) Å. Both 3 and 4 are novel tetra‐nuclear complexes. Each metal atom in the complexes has a slightly distorted square‐pyramidal coordination. The arrangements of the terminal metal atoms are similar, involving one O and two N atoms of one L ligand and one bridging Cl atom defining the basal plane, and one O atom of a coordinated water molecule or MeOH molecule occupying the apical position. The coordinations of the central metal atoms are also similar. The basal plane of each metal atom involves one O atom of one L ligand, one terminal Cl atom, and two terminal N atoms from two bridging azide groups. The apical position is occupied by a bridging Cl atom which also acts as a basal donor atom of the terminal metal atom. The Schiff base ligand and the four complexes showed high selectivity and antibacterial activities against most of the bacteria.     

Magnetic coupling in end-to-end azido-bridged copper and nickel binuclear complexes: a theoretical study

The influence of structural parameters on the exchange coupling J between metal atoms in end-to-end azido-bridged binuclear complexes of Cu(II) and Ni(II) has been studied by means of density functional calculations. For the case of double-bridged Cu(II) compounds, four ideal pentacoordinate models have been employed in which the coordination spheres of the two metal atoms are either a trigonal bipyramid or a square pyramid, connected through equatorial or axial bridges. The distortion from those ideal geometries along a Berry pathway has also been analyzed. For the hexacoordinate Ni(II) compounds, models with two or one bridging ligands have been studied. The effect of the bridging M-N-N bond angles on the exchange coupling has been analyzed for both the Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes.