Steric, electronic, and secondary effects on the coordination chemistry of ionic phosphine ligands and the catalytic behavior of their metal complexes

The effects of introducing ionic functionalities in phosphine ligands on the coordination chemistry of these ligands and the catalytic behavior of the corresponding metal complexes are reviewed. The steric and electronic consequences of such functionalizations are discussed. Apart from these steric and electronic effects, the presence of charged groups often leads to additional, supramolecular interactions that occur in the second coordination sphere of the metal complex, such as intramolecular, interligand hydrogen bonding and Coulombic repulsion. These interactions can significantly alter the behavior of the phosphine ligand in question. Such effects have been observed in phosphine-metal association/dissociation equilibria, ligand substitution reactions, and stereoisomerism in phosphine-metal complexes. By drawing general conclusions, this review offers an insight into the coordination and catalytic behavior of phosphine ligands containing ionic functionalities and their corresponding metal complexes.     

Titanium complexes bearing bidentate benzimidazole-containing ligands and their behavior in ethylene polymerization

A series of potentially bidentate benzimidazolyl ligands of the type (Bim)CH₂D (where Bim = benzimidazolyl and D = NMe₂L1, NEt₂L2, NPrⁱ₂L3, OMe L4 and SMe L5) has been reacted with Ti(NMe₂)₄ to give five- and six-coordinate Ti(IV) complexes of the type [(Bim)CH₂D]Ti(NMe₂)₃ and [(Bim)CH₂D]₂Ti(NMe₂)₂, respectively. The X-ray structures of [(Bim)CH₂OMe]Ti(NMe₂)₃, [(Bim)CH₂NMe₂]₂Ti(NMe₂)₂ and [(Bim)CH₂OMe)]₂Ti(NMe₂)₂ are reported along with an evaluation of their behavior in ethylene polymerization.     

Theoretical study on the reactive sites and intramolecular interactions in taxol and its four analogues

A density‐functional study of the paclitaxel (Taxol) molecule and its four analogues has been performed. The theory of Bader's atoms in molecules (AIM) was applied to examine the electronic structure of these molecules at their ground state. Topological analysis reveals that the esterification of hydroxyl group attached to the oxetane ring results in great change of conformation of the taxane ring, and thus is responsible for bioactivity of the oxetane oxygen atom. It was found that there exists some intramolecular interactions in the molecule, including normal hydrogen bonds (HBs) and double HBs. Visualization of the molecule shows that the central bodies (the four fused rings) of the molecules are wrapped by the intramolecular interactions. It is supposed that these intramolecular interactions lower the aqueous solubility and protect the flexible oxetane ring, which is regarded as the dominating bioactivity site of the drug, from being opened. Our results provide an extended and consistent set of data to gauge classical force fields in view of the atomistic investigations of the interaction of the bioactive molecules. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Influence of metal and ligand types on stacking interactions of phenyl rings with square-planar transition metal complexes

In order to find out whether metal type influences the stacking interactions of phenyl rings in square-planar complexes, geometrical parameters for Cu, Ni, Pd and Pt complexes, with and without chelate rings, were analyzed and compared. By searching the Cambridge Structural Database, 220 structures with Cu complexes, 211 with Ni complexes, 285 with Pd complexes, and 220 with Pt complexes were found. The results show that the chelate ring has a tendency to make the stacking interaction with the phenyl ring independent of metal type in the chelate ring. However, there are some differences among metals for complexes without a chelate ring. There are a number of structures containing Pd and Pt complexes, without chelate rings, that have short carbon-metal distances and parallel orientations of the phenyl ring with respect to the coordination plane. It was found that some of these complexes have a common fragment, CN, as a part of the ligands. This indicates that the CN supports stacking interactions of square planar complexes with the phenyl ring.      

Synthesis and application of bidentate nickel complexes bearing hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands in ethylene oligomerization

Three bidentate salicylaldimine nickel complexes containing different long-chain alkyl groups in their ligand backbone were synthesized in good yield. All the bidentate salicylaldimine ligands and their nickel complexes were fully characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. Three bidentate nickel complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors in ethylene oligomerization. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the catalytic activity was 5.75 × 10⁵ g/(mol Ni·h) and the oligomers were mainly butenes (52.10%) and octenes (32.63%) for bidentate nickel complex with 1-tetradecyl as core in the ligand backbone (R₁₄-complex) using toluene as solvent. However, bidentate nickel complex with 1-octadecyl as core in the ligand backbone (R₁₈-complex) produced mainly octenes (59.38%) and C10 + olefins (29.01%) and the catalytic activity was 2.23 × 10⁵ g/(mol Ni·h). After activation with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC) in toluene, three nickel complexes yielded mainly C10 + products which contained Friedel-Craft alkylated-toluene, and their catalytic activities were above 1.5 × 10⁶ g/(mol Ni·h). For the bidentate salicylaldimine nickel catalysts with hyperbranched molecules as ligand backbones, the solvent and the reaction conditions had a large effect on catalytic activity as well as oligomerization distribution except the structure of the catalyst and the co-catalyst.     

Valence charge concentrations, electron delocalization and beta-agostic bonding in d0 metal alkyl complexes

In this paper we describe a range of model d(0) metal ethyl compounds and related complexes, studied by DFT calculations and high resolution X-ray diffraction. The concept of ligand-opposed charge concentrations (LOCCs) for d(0) metal complexes is extended to include both cis-and trans-ligand-induced charge concentrations (LICCs) at the metal, which arise as a natural consequence of covalent metal-ligand bond formation in transition metal alkyl complexes. The interplay between locally induced sites of increased Lewis acidity and an ethyl ligand is crucial to the development of a beta-agostic interaction in d(0) metal alkyl complexes, which is driven by delocalization of the M-C bonding electrons. Topological analysis of theoretical and experimental charge densities reveals LICCs at the metal atom, and indicates delocalization of the M-C valence electrons over the alkyl fragment, with depletion of the metal-directed charge concentration (CC) at the alpha-carbon atom, and a characteristic ellipticity profile for the C(alpha)-C(beta) bond. These ellipticity profiles and the magnitude of the CC values at C(alpha) and C(beta) provide experimentally observable criteria for assessing quantitatively the extent of delocalization, with excellent agreement between experiment and theory. Finally, a concept is proposed which promises systematic control of the extent of C-H activation in agostic complexes.     

Restricting the versatile metal-binding behaviour of adenine by using deaza-purine ligands in mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes

In order to deepen our understanding of the versatile behaviour of adenine (Hade) as ligand, we have synthesized four novel ternary copper(II) complexes having two deazaadenine ligands, namely 4-azabenzimidazole (H4abim) or 7-azaindole (H7azain) as N1,N6-dideazaadenine or N1,N6,N7-trideazaadenine, respectively. The related compounds were studied by thermal, spectral and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. In [Cu(NBzIDA)(H4abim)]_n (1) the recognition between H4abim and the (N-benzyliminodiacetate)-copper(II) chelate only displays the formation of the Cu–N7(purine-like) bond, in contrast to Hade behaviour in [Cu(NBzIDA-like)(Hade)(H₂O)]·H₂O (Cu–N3(Hade) bond reinforced by N9–H···O(IDA-like) interaction). In [Cu(EIDA)(H7azain)(H₂O)] (2, EIDA = N-ethyliminodiacetate ligand), [Cu(NBzIDA)(H7azain)(H₂O)] (3) and [Cu(μ₂-SO₄)(H7azain)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (4), H7azain binds Cu(II) centre by the Cu–N3(purine-like) bond, reinforced by a N9–H···O(IDA-like or sulfate) intra-molecular interligand interaction.     

Theoretical and molecular modelling studies on organic transition metal complexes,II. Calculation of the stability constants of bidentate ligands in relation to theIrving-Williams order

The bidentate chelates of the transition elements Mn to Zn with salicylaldoxime, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 8-mercaptoquinoline have been constructed using molecular graphics and the stability constants derived from the calculated reaction enthalpies using an extended CNDO/2 method. The results generally follow theIrving-Williams order except for the mercaptoquinoline where large entropy effects are known to be present experimentally. The influence of substituents on the stability constant of salicylaldoxime is reflected in the calculated value particularly for electron-withdrawing groups.

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Theoretische und Molekülmodellierungs-Studien von organischen Übergangsmetallkomplexen, 2. Mitt.: Berechnung der Stabilitätskonstanten von zweizähnigen Liganden in Relation zurIrving-Williams-Ordnung

Zusammenfassung Die zweizähnigen Chelate der Übergangsmetalle Mn bis Zn mit Salicylaldoxim, 8-Hydroxychinolin und 8-Mercaptochinolin wurden unter Verwendung von molekulargraphischen Methoden und den Stabilitätskonstanten aus den mittels einer erweiterten CNDO/2-Methode ermittelten Reaktionsenthalpien konstruiert. Die Ergebnisse folgen generell derIrving-Williams-Ordnung, mit Ausnahme von 8-Mercaptochinolin, von dem bekannt ist, daß experimentell große Entropieeffekte auftreten. Der Einfluß von Substituenten auf die Stabilitätskonstanten der Salicylaldoximkomplexe spiegelt sich besonders für elektronenabziehende Gruppen in den berechneten Werten deutlich wider.

     

Ambiphilic diphosphine-borane ligands: metal-->borane interactions within isoelectronic complexes of rhodium, platinum and palladium

Coordination of an ambiphilic diphosphine-borane (DPB) ligand to the RhCl(CO) fragment affords two isomeric complexes. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, each complex adopts a square-pyramidal geometry with trans coordination of the two phosphine buttresses and axial RhB contacts, but the two differ in the relative orientations around the rhodium and boron centres. DFT calculations on the actual complexes provide insight into the influence of the pi-accepting CO co-ligand, compared with previously reported complexes [Rh(mu-Cl)(dpb)]2 and [RhCl(dmap)(dpb)]. In addition, comparison of the nu(CO) frequency of [RhCl(CO)(dpb)] with that of the related borane-free complex [RhCl(CO)(iPr2PPh)2] substantiates the significant electron-withdrawing effect that the sigma-accepting borane moiety exerts on the metal. Valence isoelectronic [PtCl2(dpb)] and [PdCl2(dpb)] complexes have also been prepared and characterized spectroscopically and structurally. The pronounced influence of the transition metal on the magnitude of the M-->B interaction is highlighted by geometric considerations and NBO analyses.     

Effect of a metal ion on intramolecular spin exchange in spin-labeled complexes

The characteristic features of intramolecular spin exchange in 14 complexes of Ag^I, Hg^II, Ni^II, Pd^II, Pt^II, Au^III, and Pt^IV with spin-labeled ligands were studied by ESR spectroscopy. The measured values of the exchange integral ‖J‖ and the differences between the enthalpies of the efficient conformations (ΔH) were compared with the electronic polarization (refraction)R _f of the Ni^II, Pd^II, and Pt^II ions and Klopman's rigidity parameters σ_K, which characterize the total polarazibility of the ions and the degree of covalence of the bond between the metal atom and the donor atom of the ligand, respectively. Delocalization of the electron spin density and the efficiency of spin exchange are determined by the relative contributions of the s, p, and d orbitals, which produce the overlap integral of wave functions, ‖J‖, and by the geometric features of the coordination polyhedron, which affect the mutual orientation of the N−O fragments. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2005–2009, October, 1999.     

Agostic interactions in d0 metal alkyl complexes

The phenomenon of agostic interactions is reviewed and the nature of the interaction is revisited. A historical perspective is followed by an overview of experimental techniques used to diagnose agostic behavior, and previous interpretations of agostic bonding are presented. A series of simple metal alkyl complexes is considered and a new model for the phenomenon in d(0) systems is developed which sets them apart from agostic late-transition-metal complexes. Factors such as the valence electron count and coordination number of the metal center are revealed to be unimportant in facilitating the interaction in most d(0) systems. The charge density distribution in several transition-metal alkyl complexes is explored by experimental and theoretical techniques, including the powerful "Atoms in Molecules" approach. Local charge concentrations are shown to play an important role in the agostic interaction. Finally, we demonstrate for the first time a way to manipulate and control the magnitude and disposition of such local charge concentrations, and hence the strength of agostic interactions in d(0) metal alkyl complexes.     

Exchange interactions in some low-dimensional metal dithiolene complexes

Low-dimensional systems are formed by planar metal dithiolene complexes which stack as columnar structures in the solid state. Stronger interactions among units within a chain leads to highly anisotropic magnetic properties. The magnetic effects are a manifestation of exchange interaction,J and can be studied through detailedepr techniques in conjunction with magnetic susceptibility and x-ray crystal structure. A brief review of such studies carried out mostly in our laboratory is presented along with the relevant background materials.     

On the accuracy of DFT methods in reproducing ligand substitution energies for transition metal complexes in solution: the role of dispersive interactions

The performance of a series of density functionals when tested on the prediction of the phosphane substitution energy of transition metal complexes is evaluated. The complexes Fe-BDA and Ru-COD (BDA=benzylideneacetone, COD=cyclooctadiene) serve as reference systems, and calculated values are compared with the experimental values in THF as obtained from calorimetry. Results clearly indicate that functionals specifically developed to include dispersion interactions usually outperform other functionals when BDA or COD substitution is considered. However, when phosphanes of different sizes are compared, functionals including dispersion interactions, at odd with experimental evidence, predict that larger phosphanes bind more strongly than smaller phosphanes, while functionals not including dispersion interaction reproduce the experimental trends with reasonable accuracy. In case of the DFT-D functionals, inclusion of a cut-off distance on the dispersive term resolves this issue, and results in a rather robust behavior whatever ligand substitution reaction is considered.     

Ferromagnetic versus antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in tetrathiafulvalene-based 3d/4f heterobimetallic complexes

(TTF-salphen)M compounds (TTF-salphen(2-)=4,5-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalene-N,N'-phenylenebis(salicylideneimine) dianion; M=Cu(II) and Ni(II)) have been treated with Ln(hfac)(3)·2H(2)O precursors (hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion; Ln=Gd(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III)) to elaborate unprecedented 3d/4f TTF-based heterobimetallic complexes of formula [(TTF-salphen)MLn(hfac)(3)]. All the structures of these compounds have been resolved by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. The structures of these complexes are formed by a TTF-salphen(2-) ligand coordinated to the 3d metal ions in the inert tetradentate N(2)O(2) site. The Ln(hfac)(3) fragment is coordinated to the (TTF-salphen)M one through the two phenolate bridges. Even if the complexes are similar in both Cu(II) and Ni(II) families, the crystal packing is different. In the first case, dimers of TTF-salphen(2-) donors constitute the organic network. In the other case, a reminiscent organic network is observed with S···S contacts. The photophysical properties of [(TTF-salphen)CuDy(hfac)(3)] (3) in chloroform solution highlight the redshift of the TTF→salphen charge transfer (400 cm(-1)) relative to the analogue excitations in (TTF-salphen)Cu, which attest to the stability of these structures in solution. Static magnetic measurements have allowed us to quantify the ferromagnetic interactions (J=+1.29 cm(-1)) between Cu(II) and Gd(III) in the [(TTF-salphen)CuGd(hfac)(3)] complex. Finally, an empirical method that consists of the comparisons of the magnetic properties of [(TTF-salphen)CuTb(hfac)(3)] with [(TTF-salphen)NiTb(hfac)(3)] and [(TTF-salphen)CuDy(hfac)(3)] with [(TTF-salphen)NiDy(hfac)(3)] has established that ferromagnetic interactions take place between Cu(II) and Tb(III) ions, whereas unusual antiferromagnetic interactions have been identified between Cu(II) and Dy(III) ions.     

Relative contributions of desolvation, inter- and intramolecular interactions to binding affinity in protein kinase systems

In several previous studies, we performed sensitivity analysis to gauge the relative importance of different atomic partial charges in determining protein-ligand binding. In this work, we gain further insights by decomposing these results into three contributions: desolvation, intramolecular interactions, and intermolecular interactions, again based on a Poisson continuum electrostatics model. Three protein kinase-inhibitor systems have been analyzed: CDK2-deschloroflavopiridol, PKA-PKI, and LCK-PP2. Although our results point out the importance of specific intermolecular interactions to the binding affinity, they also reveal the remarkable contributions from the solvent-mediated intramolecular interactions in some cases. Thus, it is necessary to look beyond analyzing protein-ligand interactions to understand protein-ligand recognition or to gain insights into designing ligands and proteins. In analyzing the contributions of the three components to the overall binding free energy, the PKA-PKI system with a much larger ligand was found to behave differently from the other two systems with smaller ligands. In the former case, the intermolecular interactions are very favorable, and together with the favorable solvent-mediated intramolecular interactions, they overcome the large desolvation penalties to give a favorable electrostatics contribution to the overall binding affinity. On the other hand, the other two systems with smaller ligands only present modest intermolecular interactions and they are not or are only barely sufficient to overcome the desolvation penalty even with the aid of the favorable intramolecular contributions. As a result, the binding affinity of these two systems do not or only barely benefit from electrostatics contributions.     

Ability of fullerenes to act as η6 ligands in transition metal complexes. A comparative PM3(tm)–density functional theory study

High‐quality DFT calculations are employed to estimate the arene exchange energies for reactions of general formula: For C₆₀ and C₇₀ complexes of Cr(CO)₃, full geometry optimizations at the DFT level using moderately large basis sets were performed, while for the other systems a hybrid approach was developed in which the geometries were obtained at the PM3(tm) level and the energetics were evaluated at the DFT level. C₇₀ is shown to be a slightly better arene ligand than C₆₀; however, no enhancements of arene‐like bonding capabilities are seen for C₇₈ and C₈₄ relative to C₇₀. Explicit calculation of a series of exchange energies at the DFT level using both DFT and PM3(tm) geometries demonstrates that PM3(tm) geometries are sufficiently accurate for the calculation of energetics at a higher theoretical level, but PM3(tm) calculations are inadequate for a quantitative assessment of exchange energies. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1881–1886, 2001     

Transition metal complexes coordinated by an NAD(P)H model compound and their enhanced hydride-donating abilities in the presence of a base

The ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes containing an NAD(P)H model compound, 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH), as ligand, [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(BNAH)]2+ (1 a) and [Re(bpy)(CO)3(BNAH)]+ (1 b), were quantitatively produced by the reaction of the corresponding metal hydrido complexes with BNA(+) (1-benzylnicotinamidium cation). In the presence of base with pK(a) = 8.9, 1 a and 1 b have much greater reducing power than "free" BNAH. The oxidation potentials of 1 a in the absence and the presence of triethylamine were 0.55 V and -0.04 V, respectively, versus Ag/AgNO(3), whereas that of "free" BNAH was 0.30 V. Spectroscopic results clearly showed that the base extracts a proton from the carbamoyl group on 1 a and 1 b to give the deprotonated BNAH coordinating to the transition-metal complexes [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(BNAH-H+)]+ (3 a) and [Re(bpy)(CO)3(BNAH-H+)] (3 b); this deprotonation underlies the enhancement in reducing ability. The deprotonated forms 3 a and 3 b can efficiently reduce other NAD(P) models to give the corresponding 1,4-dihydro form, resulting in the deprotonated BNA+ being coordinated to the metal complexes [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(BNA(+)-H+)]2+ (2 a) and [Re(bpy)(CO)3(BNA+-H+)]+ (2 b); "free" BNAH and the protonated adducts 1 a and 1 b cannot act in this way. X-ray crystallography was performed on the PF6- salt of 2 a, and showed that the deprotonated nitrogen atom on the carbamoyl group coordinates to the ruthenium(II) metal center with a bond length of 2.086(3) Angstroms. Infrared spectral data suggested that the deprotonated carbamoyl group on the reduced forms 3 a and 3 b is converted to the imido group, and that the oxygen atom coordinates to the metal center.     

The hapticity of cyclooctatetraene in its first row mononuclear transition metal carbonyl complexes: Several examples of octahapto coordination

The two cyclooctatetraene metal carbonyls that have been synthesized are the tetrahapto derivative (η⁴-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₃ and the hexahapto derivative (η⁶-C₈H₈)Cr(CO)₃ using the reactions of cyclooctatetraene with Fe(CO)₅ and with fac-(CH₃CN)₃Cr(CO)₃, respectively. Related C₈H₈M(CO)_n (M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; n = 4, 3, 2, 1) species have now been investigated by density functional theory in order to explore the scope of cyclooctatetraene metal carbonyl chemistry. In this connection, the existence of octahapto (η⁸-C₈H₈)M(CO)_n species is predicted as long as the central metal M does not exceed the 18-electron configuration by receiving eight electrons from the η⁸-C₈H₈ ring. Thus the lowest energy structures (η⁸-C₈H₈)Ti(CO)_n (n = 3, 2, 1), (η⁸-C₈H₈)M(CO)_n (M = V, Cr; n = 2, 1), and (η⁸-C₈H₈)Mn(CO) all have octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ rings. An exception is (η⁶-C₈H₈)Fe(CO), with a hexahapto η⁶-C₈H₈ ring and thus only a 16-electron configuration for the iron atom. Hexahapto (η⁶-C₈H₈)M(CO)_n structures are predicted for the known (η⁶-C₈H₈)Cr(CO)₃ as well as the unknown (η⁶-C₈H₈)Ti(CO)₄, (η⁶-C₈H₈)V(CO)₃, (η⁶-C₈H₈)Mn(CO)₂, and (η⁶-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₂ with 18, 18, 17, 17, and 18 electron configurations, respectively, for the central metal atoms. There are two types of tetrahapto C₈H₈M(CO)_n complexes. In the 1,2,3,4-tetrahapto (η⁴-C₈H₈)M(CO)_n complexes two adjacent CC double bonds, forming a 1,3-diene unit similar to butadiene, are bonded to the metal atom. In the 1,2,5,6-tetrahapto (η^2,2-C₈H₈)M(CO)₃ derivatives two non-adjacent CC double bonds of the C₈H₈ ring are bonded to the metal atom. The known (η⁴-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₃ is a 1,2,3,4-tetrahapto complex. The unknown isomeric 1,2,5,6-tetrahapto complex (η^2,2-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₃ is predicted to lie ∼15 kcal/mol above (η⁴-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₃. The related 1,2,5,6-tetrahapto complexes (η^2,2-C₈H₈)Cr(CO)₄, (η^2,2-C₈H₈)Mn(CO)₄, [(η^2,2-C₈H₈)Mn(CO)₃]⁻, (η^2,2-C₈H₈)Co(CO)₂, and (η^2,2-C₈H₈)Ni(CO)₂ are all predicted to be low-energy structures.     

2,2'-Biphosphinines and 2,2'-bipyridines in homoleptic dianionic Group 4 complexes and neutral 2,2'-biphosphinine Group 6 d(6) metal complexes: octahedral versus trigonal-prismatic geometries

The geometric and electronic structure of formally d(6) tris-biphosphinine [M(bp)(3)](q) and tris-bipyridine [M(bpy)(3)](q) complexes were studied by means of DFT calculations with the B3LYP functional. In agreement with the available experimental data, Group 4 dianionic [M(bp)(3)](2-) complexes (1P-3P for M=Ti, Zr, and Hf, respectively) adopt a trigonal-prismatic (TP) structure, whereas the geometry of their nitrogen analogues [M(bpy)(3)](2-) (1N-3N) is nearly octahedral (OC), although a secondary minimum was found for the TP structures (1N'-3N'). The electronic factors at work in these systems are discussed by means of an MO analysis of the minima, MO correlation diagrams, and thermodynamic cycles connecting the octahedral and trigonal-prismatic limits. In all these complexes, pronounced electron transfer from the metal center to the lowest lying pi* ligand orbitals makes the d(6) electron count purely formal. However, it is shown that the bp and bpy ligands accommodate the release of electron density from the metal in different ways because of a change in the localization of the HOMO, which is a mainly metal-centered orbital in bp complexes and a pure pi* ligand orbital in bpy complexes. The energetic evolution of the HOMO allows a simple rationalization of the progressive change from the TP to the OC structure on successive oxidation of the [Zr(bp)(3)](2-) complex, a trend in agreement with the experimental structure of the monoanionic complex. The geometry of Group 6 neutral complexes [M(bp)(3)] (4P and 5P for M=Mo and W, respectively) is found to be intermediate between the TP and OC limits, as previously shown experimentally for the tungsten complex. The electron transfer from the metal center to the lowest lying pi* ligand orbitals is found to be significantly smaller than for the Group 4 dianionic analogues. The geometrical change between [Zr(bp)(3)](2-) and [W(bp)(3)] is analyzed by means of a thermodynamic cycle and it is shown that a larger ligand-ligand repulsion plays an important role in favoring the distortion of the tungsten complex away from the TP structure.     

Theoretical study of the strong intramolecular hydrogen bond and metal-ligand interactions in group 10 (Ni, Pd, Pt) bis(dimethylglyoximato) complexes

The structural and bonding characteristics of the bis(dimethylglyoximato) complexes of group 10 transition metals ([M(dmg)₂], where M = Ni, Pd and Pt) were investigated by means of quantum chemical computations. The equilibrium geometries, energetic and bonding properties were computed using the B3P86 exchange-correlation density functional in conjunction with a 6-311+(+)G^∗∗ basis set. The computations revealed that the strong O⁻?H-O hydrogen bond exists only in the presence of the metal cations. The free (dmg)₂²⁻ ligand has significantly different geometry in which the O⁻?H-O interaction is replaced by N?O-H bonds. The characteristics of the metal-ligand interactions were determined by natural bond orbital analysis.