The molecular structure of beryllocene, (C5H5)2Be. A reinvestigation by gas phase electron diffraction

The electron scattering pattern of gaseous dicyclopentadienylberyllium, Cp₂Be, has been recorded from s = 2.00 to 39.00 Å⁻¹ with a nozzle temperature of about 120°C. Molecular models of D_5d symmetry or models containing one π-bonded and one σ-bonded Cp ring are not compatible with the data. The possibility the gaseous Cp₂Be consists fo a mixture D_5d and π-Cp, σ-Cp conformers is considered and rejected. A model of C_5v symmetry can be brought into satisfactory agreement with the data. It is also found that a slip sandwich model obtained from the C_5v model by moving sideways the ring which is at the greatest distance from Be, while keeping the two rings essentially parallel is compatible with the electron diffraction data. The best fit between experimental and calculated intensity curves is obtained with a model with a sideways slip of 0.8(1) Å. This model is similar to that indicated by the X-ray diffraction investigations by Wong and coworkers [4,5]. It is suggested that the potential energy of the molecule does not change much as the magnitude of the slip changes and that the molecule thus undergoes large amplitude vibration.     

Reactions of naphthaleneytterbium with bis(cyclopentadienyl)complexes of cobalt, nickel, chromium and vanadium. X-Ray crystal structure of the triple-decker CpVC10H8VCp

Naphthaleneytterbium, C₁₀H₈Yb(THF)₃, reacts with Cp₂Cr, Cp₂Co, Cp₂Ni, and Cp₂V in THF to give Cp₂Yb. In the case of the reaction of C₁₀H₈Yb(THF)₃ with Cp₂V, vanadium-containing intermediates could be isolated. One of them, CpVC₁₀H₈VCp, has been characterized by X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, with a 907.0(5), b 798.8(3), c 1080.8(5) pm, β 105.21(4)°; Z = 2. The structure was refined to R = 0.0288 for 1131 observed reflections (F_o > 4σ(F_o)).     

Das Reaktionsverhalten von Cp2NbCl2 gegenüber WF6—Struktur von [Cp2NbCl2]4[WF6]2[WCl6]

The oxidation of Cp₂NbCl₂ with pure WF₆ in SO₂ solution yielded the cationic metallocene species [Cp₂NbCl₂]⁺[WF₆]⁻ essentially in quantitative yield. The same reaction carried out in the presence of either equimolar amounts or a two-fold excess of HCN led to the preparation of the new niobocenium salt [Cp₂NbCl₂]₄⁺[WF₆]²⁻ which was studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This compound represents the first example of a structurally characterized metallocene-WF₆⁻ complex, and crystallizes in the tetragonal system: space group, P4₁2₁2(No. 92), a = 11.083(8) Å, c = 48.285 (9) Å; Z = 8; R = 0.0759, R_W = 0.0841. ab]Die Oxidation von Cp₂NbCl₂ mit reinem WF₆ führt in SO₂-Lösung zur Synthese von [Cp₂NbCl₂ ]⁺[WF₆]⁻ in nahezu quantitativer Ausbeute. Die analoge Reaktion führt unter Anwesenheit der äquimolaren Menge oder eines zweifachen Überschusses an HCN zur Ausbildung des Niobocenium-Komplexsalzes [Cp₂NbCl₂]₄⁺ [WF₆]₂⁻[WCl₆]²⁻, von dem eine Röntgenstrukturanalyse angefertigt wurde. Diese Verbindung repräsentiert den ersten structurell charakterisierten Vertreter eines Metallocen-WF₆⁻-Komplexes und kristallisiert im tetragonalen System: Raumgruppe P4₁2₁2 (Nr. 92), a = 11.083(8) Å, c = 48.285(9) Å; Z = 8; R = 0.0759, R_W = 0.0841. kw]Niobium; X-ray diffraction; Oxidation; Metallocenes     

Polymerization of ethylene with (C5Me5)2Zr(NMe2)2 cocatalyzed by common alkyl aluminums

Polymerizations of ethylene have been carried out by using Cp₂^*Zr(NMe₂)₂ (Cp^*=C₅Me₅) compound combined with common alkyl aluminums (AlR₃) and methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalysts. The AlMe₃ cocatalyzed system showed no activity due to the formation of stable but inactive heterodinuclear [Cp₂^*2Zr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂]⁺ cations; however, the bulkier AlR₃ [AlEt₃, Al(i-Bu)₃ and Al(i-Bu)₂H] cocatalyzed systems showed very high activities. Especially, Cp₂^*Zr(NMe₂)₂/Al(i-Bu)₃ catalyst showed higher catalytic activity and produced higher molecular weight (MW) polymer than Cp₂^*Zr(NMe₂)₂/MAO catalyst, demonstrating both MAO and bulky AlR₃ are effective cocatalysts for Cp₂^*Zr(NMe₂)₂ compound.     

Binding energies and electronic structures of Cu(OH2)n and Cu(NH3)n (n=1–4): anomaly of the two ligand Cu complexes

Ab initio calculations up to MP4(SDTQ) level and density functional theory have been used to estimate binding energies and electronic structures of Cu⁺(L)_n (L=OH₂, NH₃, n=1–4) complexes using TZP basis set types. The computed binding energies agree well with experimental values. General trends in structures and energetics are recorded for both Cu⁺(OH₂)_n and Cu⁺(NH₃)_n systems. The first two ligands are more strongly bound to Cu⁺ than the third and fourth molecules. The 4s–3dσ hybridization and electrostatic interactions are the main factors behind the higher binding energies for the first two ligands. Analysis of HOMO mixed orbitals in the copper ion as well as in complexes indicates shrinking of the orbital lobes directed to the ligand with shrinking more effective in the two ligand system. The lower binding energies for the third and fourth ligands were attributed to the attenuation of sdσ hybridization and decreasing of Cu–L attraction at long separation which is necessary to relieve Cu–L and L–L exchange repulsions. NBO analysis and charge-model calculations support the presence of sdσ hybridization and electron transfer to the copper ion in case of the first two ligands.     

Influence of the modification of the ligands on hex-1-ene hydroformylation catalyzed by [HRh{P(OPh)3}4] and [HRh(CO){P(OPh)3}3]. Catalytic activity of the sytem [HRh}P(OPh)3}4]+Cp2Zr(CH2PPh2)2

A study has been carried out of the catalytic activity of the systems formed by [HRh{P(OPh)₃}₄] or [HRh(CO){P(OPh)₃}₃] with the modifying ligands P(OPh)₃, PPh₃, diphos and Cp₂Zr(CH₂PPh₂)₂ in hydroformylation of hex-1-ene (at p = 5 bar). The best results were obtained with the system [HRh{P(OPh)₃}₄]+Cp₂Zr(CH₂PPh₂)₂ (75–85% yeild of aldehydes).     

Crystal structure of Fe(η-C5H5BCMe3)2 a “problem structure”

The complex Fe(η⁶-C₅H₅CMe₃)₂ crystallizes in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group P (C_i¹; No. 2) with unit cell dimensions of a 8.770(1) Å, b 8.878(1) Å, c 11.991(1) Å, 107.56(1)°, β 90.85(1)°, γ 90.13(1)°, V 890.0(2) ų and Z = 2. A full sphere of data was collected on a four-circle diffractometer. The structure was solved and refined to R 7.93% for all 3155 independent reflections and R 4.98% for those 2002 data with | F₀ | > 6σ. | F₀ |. The molecules lie on crystallographic inversion centers at 0, 0, 0 and 1/2, 0, 1/2; the crystallographic asymmetric unit therefore consists of two independent half molecules. The molecule centered at 0, 0, 0 (molecule “A”) is ordered and well-defined; that centered on 1/2, 0, 1/2 (molecule “B”)is probably disordered, as indicated by larger “thermal parameters” and a greater range of apparent interatomic distances. Discussion em phasizes the geometry of molecule A, which has precise C_i symmetry with Fe(1A)-B(1A) 2.297(4) Å and Fe(1A)-C(ring) distances ranging from 2.057(6) Å to 2.138(4) Å.     

Formation of [C60C5H5] adduct cations and theoretical study of the isomers

We study here the reactions between C₆₀ and planar C₅H₅⁺ cations that lead to the formation of [C₆₀C₅H₅]⁺ adduct cations in the chemical ionization source of the mass spectrometer. The structures, stabilities and charge locations of some possible isomers of [C₆₀C₅H₅]⁺: σ-adduct, π-complex, [1,4]- and [l,2]-addition cations, are studied by AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. We find that the most stable is the σ-addition cation. Another interesting and stable structure is the π-complex cation which is bonded by the electrostatic interaction at the inter-ring distance of 1.589 Å with the C_5v symmetry. The C₅H₅⁺ cyclopentadienium cation seems to be an “inverted umbrella” sitting on a five-membered ring of the C₆₀ cage.     

Gas-phase stability of cluster ions SF m + (SF6) n with m = 0–5 and n = 1–3

The gas-phase stabilities of cluster ions SF⁺_m (SF₆)_n with m = 0−5 were determined by using a high pressure mass spectrometer. The bond energies of SF⁺_m (SF₆)₁ were found to be less than 10 kcal/mol and to decrease with m = 0 → 5. There appear to be rather large gaps in the bond energies between n = 1 and 2 for the clusters SF⁺_m (SF₆)_n with m = 0−4. The structures of SF⁺₅, SF⁺ (SF₆)₁, SF⁺₃ (SF₆)₁, and SF⁺₅ (SF₆)₁ were investigated by ab initio molecular orbital calculations. For SF⁺₅, the D_3h geometry is found to be most stable andC_4v is a transition state of the Berry pseudorotation. For the ion-molecule complexes, the “on-top hat” models were found to be the most stable structures.     

Structures and conformations of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF3SO2)2O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF3SO2)2CF2

The geometric structures and conformational properties of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF₃SO₂)₂O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio calculations (HF/3–21G*). The calculations predict for both systems two stable conformers with C₂ symmetry and one with C₁ symmetry. In both compounds structures with C₂ symmetry and dihedral angles SOSC ≈ 100° ((CF₃SO₂)₂O) and SCSC ≈ 150° ((CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂) are lowest in energy. According to the GED analyses the dominant conformer of (CF₃SO₂)₂O possesses C₂ symmetry with SOSC dihedral angles of 99.1(14)°. The presence of up to 30% of the two other conformers cannot be excluded; for (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ only one conformer with C₂ symmetry and SCSC dihedral angles of 143(2)° is observed. A complete set of geometric parameters is given.     

Synthesis and characterisation of [(C5Me4R)2NbS2]2M complexes (M = Fe, Co; R = Me, Et) : organometallic tetrathiometalates with niobocene ligands

Irradiation of Cp₂^* Nb(η²---S₂)H (Cp^* = C₅Me₅) 1a in the presence of Fe(CO)₅ gives the CO-free complex [Cp₂^*NbS₂]₂Fe 2a. The core of 2a contains an FeS₄ tetrahedron which is ligated by two niobocene ligands as shown by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the reaction of 1a or Cp₂^xNb(η²---S₂)H (CP^x = C₅Me₄Et) 1b with Co₂(CO)₈, compounds 3a and 3b of the same type are formed. Electrochemical studies of 2a and 3a,b show that they undergo three reversible 1e⁻ steps. The oxidation of 3b exerts a considerable influence on its absorption spectrum. A qualitative EHMO analysis is in agreement with a strong delocalisation of electron density over the whole NbS₂MS₂Nb system.     

Structures and conformations of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF3SO2)2O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF3SO2)2CF2

The geometric structures and conformational properties of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF₃SO₂)₂O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio calculations (HF/3–21G*). The calculations predict for both systems two stable conformers with C₂ symmetry and one with C₁ symmetry. In both compounds structures with C₂ symmetry and dihedral angles SOSC ≈ 100° ((CF₃SO₂)₂O) and SCSC≈ 150° ((CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ are lowest in energy. According to the GED analyses the dominant conformer of (CF₃SO₂)₂O₂ possesses C₂ symmetry with SOSC dihedral angles of 99.1(14)°. The presence of up to 30% of the two other conformers cannot be excluded; for (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ only one conformer with C₂ symmetry and SCSC dihedral angles of 143(2)° is observed. A complete set of geometric parameters is given.     

Photochemical synthesis and structural characterization of (η-C5Me5)3Mo3(CO)4(μ2-H)(μ3-O): an unprecedented 46-electron trimolybdenum cluster containing a localized monoprotonated Mo---Mo double bond

Irradiation of the 30-electron Mo₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂(CO)₄ and Re₂(CO)₁₀ in toluene solution (containing H₂O) afforded (in 1–2% yields) a novel triangular metal cluster, (η⁵-C₅Me₅)₃Mo₃(CO)₄(η₂-H)(η₃-O) (1), which was characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Compound 1, of pseudo C_s-m symmetry, has a triangulo-Mo₃(η₃-O) core with composite Mo---H---Mo and Mo---Mo electron-pair bonds along one unusually short edge (2.660(1) Å) and Mo--- electron-pair bonds along the other two edges (2.916(1) and 2.917(1) Å). The edge-bridged hydride ligand, which displays a characteristic high-field proton NMR resonance at δ −17.79 ppm, was not found from the crystallographic determination but was located via a quantitative potential-energy-minimization method. This procedure unambiguously established that the optimized hydrogen position, which corresponds to a distinct coordination site with identical Mo---H distances of 1.85 Å, is the only one that can be sterically occupied by a metal-bound hydride ligand. This 46-electron species is the first electron-deficient trimolybdenum cluster containing a monoprotonated Mo---Mo double bond; its existence is attributed to ligand overcrowding due to the bulky pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rings. Black (η⁵- C₅Me₅)₃Mo₃(CO)₄(η₂-H)(η₃-O) · 1/2THF crystallizes with two formula species in a triclinic unit cell of P1 symmetry with a 8.603(4), b 11.115(4), c 19.412(11) Å, 80.69(4)°, β 101.10(4)°, and γ 98.88(3)° at −40° C. Least-squares refinement (RAELS with 221 variables) of one independent Mo₃ molecule and a centrosymmetrically-disordered THF molecule converged at R₁(F) 5.62%, R₂(F 6.88% for 8460 independent diffractometry data (I₀ ρ 3σ(I₀ collected at −40° C with Mo-K radiation     

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanisms of ethylene with Cp2TiR, Cp2Ti(Cl)R, and Cp2Ti(Cl:AlH2Cl)R (R=H and CH3)

The potential energy surfaces for reactions of ethylene with Cp₂Ti⁺R, Cp₂Ti(Cl)R, and Cp₂Ti(Cl:AlH₂Cl)R (R=H and CH₃) were calculated by ab initio molecular orbital methods. These six reaction mechanisms were compared. Of the two possible reaction paths, attack of ethylene at Ti and the Cl and R ligands (path IN) and that from the opposite side of the Cl ligand (path OUT), the former is found to be more favorable, with a very low activation energy for reaction of ethylene with Cp₂Ti(Cl)H. For reaction of ethylene with Cp₂Ti(Cl)CH₃, the insertion transition states on both paths have almost the same energy barrier height above the reactants. For reaction of ethylene with Cp₂Ti(Cl:AlH₂Cl)R, the bond alternation between Ti–Cl and Cl–Al plays an important role in the mechanisms.     

Reaktionen von (η-formaldehyd)zirconocen-dimer mit heterokumulenen

The (η²-formaldehyde)zirconocene dimer (Cp₂ H₂)₂ (7) inserts CO₂ into the zirconium to carbon bond of the metallaoxirane moiety to give [(Cp₂ H₂)(Cp₂ =O)] (8). Reaction with diphenylketene 7 gives the cyclodimeric 1 : 1 addition product (Cp₂ =CPh₂)₂ (10) via the mono-insertion product 9. Similarly, treatment of 7 with t-butylisocyanate yields the intermediate complex [(Cp₂ H₂)(Cp₂ =NCMe₃)] (11) which gives the final product (Cp₂ =NCMe₃)₂ (12). Here two five-membered metallacycles are joined together by oxygen bridges via a central four-membered Zr₂O₂ metallacycle. Complex 12 was characterized by X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in space group P2₁/n with cell parameters a 10.142(1), b 17.949(2), c 12.001(1) Å, β = 114.27(1)°; Z = 2, R = 0.055, R_w = 0.054.     

The crystal structure of a phenyliminomethyldicyclopentadienyltitanium(III) complex, Cp2Ti-η-C6H5CN-2,6-(CH3)2C6H3

The crystal structure of Cp₂TiC₆H₅CN-2,6-(CH₃)₂C₆H₃ is reported. The iminoacyl ligand is η²-coordinated at the metal (Ti---C 2.096(4), Ti---N 2.149(4) Å). The cyclopentadienyl ligands show the normal bent Cp₂Ti structure.     

Ab initio MRD-CI study of GaAs, GaAs2(±), Ga2As2(±) and As4 clusters

Using pseudopotentials and double zeta basis sets with s, p diffuse functions and two sets of d functions, MRD-CI calculations were performed on As₂^(±), As₄⁽⁺⁾, GaAs⁻, GaAs₂^(±) and Ga₂As₂^(±). This study complements previous theoretical investigations on Ga^(±) to Ga₄^(±) and GaAs⁽⁺⁾. For As₄ tetrahedral symmetry was assumed, and Re of X¹A₁ determined as 4.73a₀. Vertical ionization potentials to several states of As₄⁺ were calculated. For GaAs₂, GaAs₂⁺ and GaAs₂⁻, ground and one low-lying state were geometry-optimized, both in C_2v (Ga-As-As), and linear symmetry (GaAsAs, C_∞h and AsGaAs, D_∞h). The lowest state of GaAs₂ is ²B₂ in C_2v. For Ga₂As₂, the lowest state and low-lying excited states were optimized in various geometries. The most stable state has rhombic structure (¹A_g in D_2h), but T-form and other forms (C_2v, C_∞v, D_∞h) are only 1–2 eV less stable. In D_2h symmetry, several low-lying excited states of Ga₂As₂ were studied. The ground states of Ga₂As₂⁺ and Ga₂As₂⁻ were found to be ²B_2u, and ²B_2g, respectively. Trends in ionization potentials (IP), electron affinities (EA), atomization energies and fragmentation energies for the molecules Ga_xAs_y and the pure compounds Ga_n and As_n up to 4 atoms, were studied. Ga_xAs_y clusters, with x + y even, have higher IP's than odd-numbered clusters. An experimentally observed alternation of EA, whereby an odd number of atoms have higher EA than their even neighbors, is confirmed. The mixed compounds Ga_xAs_y have atomization energies between those of Ga_n and As_n (x + y = n), usually closer to those of Ga_n. Fragmentation of Ga_xAs_y occurs such that As----As bonds are retained, and if possible, also Ga----As bonds, since the dissociation energy of As₂ is higher than that of GaAs, which in turn is higher than that of Ga₂. Calculated fragmentation energies agree qualitatively with experimental observations about the composition of 3-atomic and 4-atomic clusters Ga_xAs_y.     

Electronically excited states of disulphur dinitride (S2N2) and its conversion to the metallic polymer (SN)x

Ab initio configuration interaction calculations with a double zeta basis augmented by polarisation functions have been carried out for all the lowest singlet and triplet states of S₂N₂ and (SN)₂) - a unit of the polymer (SN)_x. The results satisfactory account for the UV-absorption spectrum of S₂N₂ which is probably dominated by ¹B_2u. There are low-lying singlet and triplet states for (SN)₂, and one of these a σσ* triplet seems likely to be the polymerisation precursor.     

The vapour pressure of di-arsenic pentoxide (As2O5)

The arsenic oxide pressure of As₂O₅ has been studied using mass spectrometry and a transportation method. Mass spectrometry revealed the presence of the species As₄O⁺₆, As₄O⁺₇, and As₄O⁺₈ in the vapour. The existence of volatile species up to As₄O₁₀(g) as a result of the reaction As₄O₁₀(g) As₄O_(10−y) (g) +1/2yO₂(g) has been assumed.

The oxygen pressure of this equilibrium builds up very slowly. The equilibrium pressure can be expressed by log(p_O2/atm) (880−952 K) = −(13940±930)/T + (14.53 ± 1.01)

A stationary arsenic oxide pressure has been measured using the transportation method. Since the oxygen pressure in the transportation gas did not influence the arsenic oxide pressure, it is assumed that only the As₄O₁₀(g) pressure has been measured. The results can be expressed by the linear function log(p_As4O10/atm) (865−1009 K) = −(15741 ± 410)/T + (13.87 ± 0.42).