Bis‐NHC Chelate Complexes of Nickel(0) and Platinum(0)

For a long time d¹⁰‐ML₂ fragments have been known for their potential to activate unreactive bonds by oxidative addition. In the development of more active species, two approaches have proven successful: the use of strong σ‐donating ligands leading to electron‐rich metal centers and the employment of chelating ligands resulting in a bent coordination geometry. Combining these two strategies, we synthesized bis‐NHC chelate complexes of nickel(0) and platinum(0). Bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) and ‐platinum(0) react with bisimidazolium salts, deprotonated in situ at room temperature, to yield tetrahedral or trigonal‐planar bis‐NHC chelate olefin complexes. The synthesis and characterization of these complexes as well as a first example of C? C bond activation with these systems are reported. Due to the enforced cis arrangement of two NHCs, these compounds should open interesting perspectives for bond‐activation chemistry and catalysis.     

Über die bildung von β-halogenalkyleisenkomplexen bei der oxidativen addition von brom an (tetracarbonyl)(olefin)eisenkomplexe und den zerfall der σ-komplexe

Addition of bromine to (tetracarbonyl)(olefin)iron complexes at low temperatures leads to the formation of (tetracarbonyl)(β-bromoalkyl)iron complexes in a stereospecific way. These novel iron σ-complexes show hindered rotation around the carboncarbon bond and undergo β-elimination in a stereospecific manner. The same kind of σ-complexes are assumed intermediates responsible for the dehalogenation of vicinal dibromides by nonacarbonyldiiron.     

Understanding glycine conformation through molecular orbitals

The four most stable C(s) conformers of glycine have been investigated using a variety of quantum-mechanical methods based on Hartree-Fock theory, density-functional theory (B3LYP and statistical average of orbital potential), and electron propagation (OVGF) treatments. Information obtained from these models were analyzed in coordinate and momentum spaces using dual space analysis to provide insight based on orbitals into the bonding mechanisms of glycine conformers, which are generated by rotation of C-O(H) (II), C-C (III), and C-N (IV) bonds from the global minimum structure (I). Wave functions generated from the B3LYP/TZVP model revealed that each rotation produced a unique set of fingerprint orbitals that correspond to a specific group of outer valence orbitals, generally of a' symmetry. Orbitals 14a', 13a', 12a', and 11a' are identified as the fingerprint orbitals for the C-O(H) (II) rotation, whereas fingerprint orbitals for the C-C (III) bond rotation are located as 16a' [highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)], 15a' [next highest molecular occupied molecular orbital (NHOMO)], 14a', and 12a' orbitals. Fingerprint orbitals for IV generated by the combined rotations around the C-C, C-O(H), and C-N bonds are found as 16a', 15a', 14a', 13a', and 11a', as well as in orbitals 2a" and 1a". Orbital 14a' is identified as the fingerprint orbital for all three conformational processes, as it is the only orbital in the outer valence region which is significantly affected by the conformational processes regardless rotation of which bond. Binding energies, molecular geometries, and other molecular properties such as dipole moments calculated based on the specified treatments agree well with available experimental measurements and with previous theoretical calculation.     

Terminally coordinated AsS and PS ligands

The terminal AsS and PS complexes [(N(3)N)W(ES)] (N(3)N=N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(3))(3); E=P (3), As (4)) were synthesised by reaction of [(N(3)N)W[triple chemical bond]As] and [(N(3)N)W[triple chemical bond]P], respectively, with cyclohexene sulfide. Both complexes present very short W--E and E--S bond lengths. The bonding was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the fragment calculation method and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. According to the fragment analysis, in which the complexes were separated in an ES and a (N(3)N)W fragment, the bonding in complexes 3, 4 and [(N(3)N)W(SbS)] (5) is realised over a set of two sigma (1 sigma and 2 sigma) and two degenerate pi molecular orbitals (MOs) (1 pi and 2 pi). The 1 sigma MO is a bonding MO extended over the N(ax)-W-E-S core, whereas the 2 sigma MO is localised mainly on the E-S fragment. The 1 pi set is a E-S localised bonding molecular orbital, whereas the 2 pi set is in phase with respect to W-E but in antiphase with respect to E-S. Both methods indicate bond orders around two for both the E--S and the W--E bonds. The polarity of the complexes was examined by Hirshfeld charge analysis. This shows that complexes 3 and 4 are only slightly polarised, whereas 5 is moderately polarised toward the sulphur. As suggested by the computational results, the pi system in complexes 3-5 is best described by two three-centre four-electron bonds.     

The Nature of Nonclassical Carbonyl Ligands Explained by Kohn–Sham Molecular Orbital Theory

When carbonyl ligands coordinate to transition metals, their bond distance either increases (classical) or decreases (nonclassical) with respect to the bond length in the isolated CO molecule. C−O expansion can easily be understood by π-back-donation, which results in a population of the CO's π*-antibonding orbital and hence a weakening of its bond. Nonclassical carbonyl ligands are less straightforward to explain, and their nature is still subject of an ongoing debate. In this work, we studied five isoelectronic octahedral complexes, namely Fe(CO)₆²⁺, Mn(CO)₆⁺, Cr(CO)₆, V(CO)₆⁻ and Ti(CO)₆²⁻, at the ZORA-BLYP/TZ2P level of theory to explain this nonclassical behavior in the framework of Kohn–Sham molecular orbital theory. We show that there are two competing forces that affect the C−O bond length, namely electrostatic interactions (favoring C−O contraction) and π-back-donation (favoring C−O expansion). It is a balance between those two terms that determines whether the carbonyl is classical or nonclassical. By further decomposing the electrostatic interaction ΔV_elstat into four fundamental terms, we are able to rationalize why ΔV_elstat gives rise to the nonclassical behavior, leading to new insights into the driving forces behind C−O contraction.     

Oxidation of Organometallic Compounds

Stable organometallic compounds, notably of the later transition metals (groups VI–VIII), usually are characterized by closed shell electron configurations (typically 18-electron valence shells) which are destabilized by electron addition or removal. One-electron oxidation of such compounds results in the formation of unstable radical ions, whose characteristic reactivity patterns include susceptibility to nucleophilic attack, disproportionation, and metal-carbon bond dissociation. Two-electron oxidation may result in dissociation or oxidation of the organic ligand. In this review studies on the chemical and electrochemical oxidations of metal carbonyls, metal-olefin complexes, and alkyl transition-metal compounds are described. The studies encompass the following themes: (1) The kinetics and thermodynamics of the initial redox steps; (2) The characterization and reactivity patterns of the resulting oxidation products; (3) The synthetic and catalytic applications of organometallic redox processes.     

A Versatile Palladium Synthon: [Pd(NHC)(PhC≡CPh)]**

The synthesis and isolation of [Pd(NHC)(PhC≡CPh)] complexes are reported. These new 14-electron Pd(0)-complexes are key synthons leading to known palladium(0) and palladium(II) species, as well as permitting access to unprecedented mixed NHC-phosphite palladium(0) complexes. This motif permits the facile catalytic hydrosilylation of allenes. DFT calculations have allowed the characterization of the relatively weak interaction between the metal and the diphenylacetylene ligand, with a comparison with a series of ligands with more or less coordinating power, bearing varied structural and electronic properties.     

The Trigonal Prism in Coordination Chemistry

Herein we analyze the accessibility of the trigonal‐prismatic geometry to metal complexes with different electron configurations, as well as the ability of several hexadentate ligands to favor that coordination polyhedron. Our study combines i) a structural database analysis of the occurrence of the prismatic geometry throughout the transition‐metal series, ii) a qualitative molecular orbital analysis of the distortions expected for a trigonal‐prismatic geometry, and iii) a computational study of complexes of several transition‐metal ions with different hexadentate ligands. Also the tendency of specific electron configurations to present a cis bond‐stretch Jahn–Teller distortion is analyzed.     

Charge‐Shift Bonding: A New and Unique Form of Bonding

Charge‐shift bonds (CSBs) constitute a new class of bonds different than covalent/polar‐covalent and ionic bonds. Bonding in CSBs does not arise from either the covalent or the ionic structures of the bond, but rather from the resonance interaction between the structures. This Essay describes the reasons why the CSB family was overlooked by valence‐bond pioneers and then demonstrates that the unique status of CSBs is not theory‐dependent. Thus, valence bond (VB), molecular orbital (MO), and energy decomposition analysis (EDA), as well as a variety of electron density theories all show the distinction of CSBs vis‐à‐vis covalent and ionic bonds. Furthermore, the covalent–ionic resonance energy can be quantified from experiment, and hence has the same essential status as resonance energies of organic molecules, e.g., benzene. The Essay ends by arguing that CSBs are a distinct family of bonding, with a potential to bring about a Renaissance in the mental map of the chemical bond, and to contribute to productive chemical diversity.     

Implementation of molecular symmetry in valence bond calculation

A novel strategy for the construction of many-electron symmetry-adapted wave function is proposed for ab initio valence bond (VB) calculations and is implemented for valence bond self-consistent filed (VBSCF) and breathing orbital valence bond (BOVB) methods with various orbital optimization algorithms. Symmetry-adapted VB functions are constructed by the projection operator of symmetry group. The many-electron symmetry-adapted wave function is expressed in terms of symmetry-adapted VB functions, and thus the VB calculations can be performed with the molecular symmetry restriction. Test results show that molecular symmetry reduces the computational cost of both the iteration numbers and CPU time. Furthermore, excited states with specific symmetry can be conveniently obtained in VB calculations by using symmetry-adapted VB functions.     

Asymmetry in platinum acetylide complexes: confinement of the triplet exciton to the lowest energy ligand

To determine structure-optical property relationships in asymmetric platinum acetylide complexes, we synthesized the compounds trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5) (PE1-2), trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5) (PE1-3) and trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]C-C6H4-C[triple bond]CC6H5) (PE2-3) that have different ligands on either side of the platinum and compared their spectroscopic properties to the symmetrical compounds PE1, PE2 and PE3. We measured ground state absorption, fluorescence, phosphorescence and triplet state absorption spectra and performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations of frontier orbitals, lowest lying singlet states, triplet state geometries and energies. The absorption and emission spectra give evidence the singlet exciton is delocalized across the central platinum atom. The phosphorescence from the asymmetric complexes comes from the largest ligand. Time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations show the S1 state has mostly highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) --> lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) character, with the LUMO delocalized over the chromophore. In the asymmetric chromophores, the LUMO resides on the larger ligand, suggesting the S1 state has interligand charge transfer character. The triplet state geometries obtained from the DFT calculations show distortion on the lowest energy ligand, whereas the other ligand has the ground state geometry. The calculated trend in the triplet state energies agrees very well with the experimental trend. Calculations of triplet state spin density also show the triplet exciton is confined to one ligand. In the asymmetric complexes the spin density is confined to the largest ligand. The results show Kasha's rule applies to these complexes, where the triplet exciton moves to the lowest energy ligand.     

Polytopal rearrangement of [Ni(acac)2(py)]: a new square pyramid<==>trigonal bipyramid twist mechanism

The interconversion mechanisms between three idealized polytopal forms (a square pyramid and two trigonal bipyramids) of [M(bidentate)(2)(unidentate)] were investigated by an original combination of molecular mechanics (MM) and density functional theory (DFT) approaches. MM was used to model the mechanistic rearrangement path, and DFT to study selected points along this path. The test case was a five-coordinate [Ni(acac)(2)(py)] species. In the case of [Ni(acac)(2)(py)] it was confirmed (both by MM and by DFT) that the three polytopal forms do indeed represent shallow local minima, of which the square pyramid (SQP) is more stable than the other two. Small energy barriers that separate the three minima prevent spontaneous rearrangement among the polytopal forms in geometry-optimization simulations. The driving force for MM simulation of the polytopal rearrangements was supplied through the L-M-L angle bending terms. MM results for relative energies and geometries are fully supported by DFT. Finally, the implication of the present results to explain some racemization mechanisms of octahedral complexes (namely, the intramolecular bond rupture of tris(chelate) species, and intermolecular dissociation of bis(bidentate) species) is briefly discussed.     

电负性研究Ⅰ.建立元素电负性标度的有效核电荷数方法

通过价层电离能、价键轨道能量用有效核电荷数法建立了周期表中 90种元素的电负性新标度。χ=0 .41 2 3 -EV,该式表明电负性值与价键轨道能量的绝对值的平方根成正比 ,所得数值是一套无量纲的相对参数。元素电负性值随价态的升高与元素非金属性的增强相对应 ,元素电负性的大小不仅与单个成键电子有关 ,而且也与参加价键作用的多个电子甚至整个价层都有紧密的联系。氢的元素电负性值不同于Pauling值、等于 1 .52。用 1 6种氢化物中键的额外离子能Δ′对 (χA-χB) 2 作图 ,两者之间确实具有良好的线性关系。本方法充分体现了目前公认的三大电负性标度的优点 ,该标度同时也是价层电子在价键状态下的一种能量标度 ,是对元素周期律的定量描述和反映。     

Oxidative addition to dimethylplatinum (II) compounds containing bulky nitrogen ligands: crystal structures of compounds [PtMe3I{(Me2NCH2CH2NCH)Ar}] (Ar = phenanthryl or anthryl)

Oxidative addition of methyl iodide to platinum (II) compounds [PtMe₂{(Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCH)Ar}] (Ar = phenanthryl or anthryl) produced the corresponding platinum (IV) compounds. Processes aimed at reducing the steric crowding at the coordination sphere of the platinum (IV) centre such as C-C restricted rotation of the pendant part of the ligand leading to rotamers and isomerisation of the CN moiety have been detected in solution. The obtained platinum (IV) compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. According to the crystallographic characterisation, the anthracene derivative gave an E conformer while a Z conformation was obtained for the phenanthrene derivative. In order to rationalize the experimental results, DFT calculations have been performed.     

Supramolecular recognition. Terpyridyl palladium and platinum molecular clefts and their association with planar platinum complexes

Molecular receptors, consisting of either two parallel cofacially disposed terpyridyl-Pd-Cl+ or terpyridyl-Pt-Cl+ units, are described. Concerted rotation of these units about the molecular spacer can alter their separation between 6.4 and 7.2 A to accommodate the dimensions of molecular guests. Neutral and anionic planar complexes of platinum(II) were investigated as guests to determine if metal-metal interaction between the host and guest metals could stabilize host-guest association. With a neutral guest, it was found that host-guest formation is signaled by a color change from light yellow to deep red. For one of the anionic guests, a visible absorption band appears upon host-guest formation with the platinum receptor that is ascribed to transitions associated with a Pt-Pt interaction. The association constants found for the neutral guest with the palladium and platinum receptors are large, suggesting that metal-metal interaction contributes to the molecular recognition. The structures of the host-(neutral)guest complexes in solution have been determined by 1H NOESY spectra. A crystal structure of the platinum host-(neutral)guest complex is the same as that found in solution and confirms the presence of a Pt-Pt interaction. Temperature-dependent (195)Pt NMR spectra in solution provide a quantitative estimate of the conformational interconversions of the free platinum receptor.