Theoretical Studies of the Electronic Structures and Spectrum Properties of Pt n Ni m (n + m = 7, n, m ≠ 0) Clusters

We studied Pt _n Ni _m (n + m = 7, n, m ≠ 0) clusters within the framework of the density functional theory (B3LYP) at the LANL2DZ level. The calculated results show that the Fermi levels are determined by the number of Pt atoms, which gain electrons from Ni atoms. Meanwhile, multifarious orbital hybridization is found in the frontier molecular orbital, and the more platinum or nickel atoms, the smaller energy gap it has. Moreover, the calculated IR and Raman spectrum indicates the aromatic character, which is vital for transitional metal clusters.     

A density functional study of bare and hydrogenated platinum clusters

We perform density functional theory calculations using Gaussian atomic-orbital methods within the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange and correlation to study the interactions in the bare and hydrogenated platinum clusters. The minimum-energy structures, binding energies, relative stabilities, vibrational frequencies and the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular-orbital gaps of Pt_nH_m (n = 1–5, m = 0–2) clusters are calculated and compared with previously studied pure platinum and hydrogenated platinum clusters. We investigate any magic behavior in hydrogenated platinum clusters and find that Pt₄H₂ is more stable than its neighboring sizes. The lowest energy structure of Pt₄ is found to be a distorted tetrahedron and that of Pt₅ is found to be a bridge site capped tetrahedron which is a new global minimum for Pt₅ cluster. The successive addition of H atoms to Pt_n clusters leads to an oscillatory change in the magnetic moment of Pt₃–Pt₅ clusters.     

Density functional calculations on CO attached to PtnRu(10−n) (n = 6–10) clusters

B3LYP and SCF‐Xα calculations have been performed on Pt_nRu_(10−n)CO (n = 6–10) clusters. The work aims to simulate the adsorption of CO on the (111) surface of platinum metal and to examine the electronic effects that arise when some Pt atoms are replaced with Ru. Adsorption energies and Pt C and C O stretching frequencies have been calculated for each cluster. Ru does affect the electronic structure of the clusters, the calculated adsorption energies, and frequencies, the Pt C frequency more than the C O. The donation‐backbonding mechanism that accompanies the shift in CO stretching frequency that occurs when CO adsorbs on platinum does not explain the differences in frequency shift observed in CO on various Pt/Ru surfaces. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 77: 589–598, 2000     

Monomeric Chini‐Type Triplatinum Clusters Featuring Dianionic and Radical‐Anionic π*‐Systems

Owing to their unique topologies and abilities to self‐assemble into a variety of extended and aggregated structures, the binary platinum carbonyl clusters [Pt₃(CO)₆]_n^2? (“Chini clusters”) continue to draw significant interest. Herein, we report the isolation and structural characterization of the trinuclear electron‐transfer series [Pt₃(μ‐CO)₃(CNAr^Dipp2)₃]^n? (n=0, 1, 2), which represents a unique set of monomeric Pt₃ clusters supported by π‐acidic ligands. Spectroscopic, computational, and synthetic investigations demonstrate that the highest‐occupied molecular orbitals of the mono‐ and dianionic clusters consist of a combined π*‐framework of the CO and CNAr^Dipp2 ligands, with negligible Pt character. Accordingly, this study provides precedent for an ensemble of carbonyl and isocyanide ligands to function in a redox non‐innocent manner.     

Structure of a Platinum–Alumina Catalyst Prepared from the Carbonyl Cluster H2[Pt3(CO)6]5

The state of a platinum carbonyl cluster in an initial aqueous acetone solution and its transformations on the surface of aluminum oxide in the course of catalyst preparation were studied by EXAFS spectroscopy. It was found that water enters the polynuclear framework of the dissolved cluster (the Pt–O distance is 2.55 Å, where O is the oxygen atom of water). Structural changes in the supported cluster in the course of catalyst preparation exhibited a strong interaction of platinum with alumina (the Pt–O distance is 1.92–1.95 Å), beginning at the step of H₂[Pt₃(CO)₆]₅ adsorption. This interaction was retained upon the subsequent high-temperature treatments of the catalyst. The structures of samples prepared from platinum carbonyl and chloroplatinic acid were significantly different. In the former case, a surface prototype was formed from the initial cluster; in the latter case, the sample consisted of platinum metal clusters of a considerable size.     

Trimethylphosphite derivatives of the mixed cobalt—iridium tetranuclear cluster Co2Ir2(CO)12

Up to four carbonyl groups of Co₂Ir₂(CO)₁₂ have been replaced by trimethylphosphite to form tetranuclear clusters of formula Co₂Ir₂(CO)_12?n[P(OMe)₃]_n. The clusters do not exhibit the redistribution of the metal core which is observed in the case of mixed cobalt—rhodium clusters. Attachment of three or four trimethylphosphites to the metal skeleton of the cluster inhibits the scrambling of the carbonyl groups.     

Metal triangles as building blocks in metal cluster chemistry

Many trinuclear metal clusters have structures based on isolated metal triangles with either single bonds (e.g.,M ₃(CO)₁₂ whereM = Fe, Ru, Os) or double bonds (e.g., Re₃ Cl ₁₂ ^3– ) along each edge of the triangle. Individual metal triangles can be joined in the following ways to form more complicated triangulated networks: (1) Bridging an edge of a triangle with a new vertex to give rafts in which adjacent triangles share edges; (2) Bridging a vertex of a triangle with a new edge to give bowties in which adjacent triangles share vertices; (3) Capping a triangular face with a new vertex to give a chain of tetrahedra in which adjacent tetrahedra share faces. Such triangulated metal networks are particularly common in osmium carbonyl chemistry and in mixed osmium/platinum carbonyl derivatives. Platinum triangles of the type Pt₃L₆ are analogous to cyclopropenyl rings and can form sandwiches with one or two mercury atoms in the center such as the mercuric derivative Hg[Pt.₃(µ₂-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NC)₃] (2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NC)₃]₂ and the mercurous derivative Hg₂[Pt₃(µ₂-CO)₃L₃]₂. Platinum triangles can also be stacked in the absence of filling to give [Pt₃(µ₂-CO)₃(CO)₃] _n ^2– (n=2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10). Metal triangles also form the faces of metal deltahera of which the octahedron, bicapped square antiprism, and icosahedron are found in globally delocalized transition metal clusters.This article is dedicated to Prof. L. F. Dahl in recognition of his many seminal contributions to metal cluster chemistry.     

Magnetic properties and EPR spectroscopy of molecular metal clusters

The magnetic properties of molecular metal cluster compounds resemble those of small metal particles in the metametallic size regime. Even-electron metal carbonyl clusters with 10 or more metal atoms are paramagnetic, because their frontier orbital separations of less than 1 eV lead to high-spin electronic configurations. The rhodium cluster [Rh₁₇S₂(CO)₃₂]^3? gives EPR below 200 K withg=2.04, the first example of this type of paramagnetism in an even-electron carbonyl cluster of this 4d metal. Its spectral parameters are compared with those of osmium carbonyl clusters and some significant differences highlighted. Attempts have also been made to generate radical cations from lower-nuclearity, diamagnetic molecular clusters such as Rh₆(CO)₁₆ by chemical oxidation in sulphuric acid. An EPR active species (g=2.09) believed to be [Rh₆(CO)₁₆]⁺ has been obtained.     

Structural and electronic properties of small platinum metallorganic complexes

A theoretical first-principles study of Pt _n (ligand) _m (n = 1–3) metallorganic complexes is performed, by varying the number of metal atoms and the nature and number of organic coordinate ligands (specifically, vinylic and arylic ligands). For each system, the nature of the bonding, the structure and the energetics of the metal/organic-species interaction are analyzed to derive information on the growth of coated metal clusters in solution. It is found that two régimes can be distinguished: a “coordinatively saturated” régime, in which the ratio among the number of ligands and the number of metal atoms is high and a ligand/organic π-interaction mode is preferred, and a “coordinatively unsaturated” régime, in which the ligand/metal ratio is low and a ligand/organic σ-interaction mode is preferred. Reactive channels, such as oxidative insertion of Pt into C–H bonds with the corresponding formation of platinum hydride species, can be opened in the latter régime.     

Alkoxide Clusters of Molybdenum and Tungsten as Templates for Organometallic Chemistry: Comparison with Carbonyl Clusters of the Later Transition Elements

Alkoxide and carbonyl ligands complement each other because they both behave as “π buffers” to transition metals. Alkoxides, which are π donors, stabilize early transition metals in high oxidation states by donating electrons into vacant d_π orbitals, whereas carbonyls, which are π acceptors, stabilize later transition elements in their lower oxidation states by accepting electrons from filled d_π orbitals. Both ligands readily form bridges that span M? M bonds. In solution fluxional processes that involve bridge–terminal ligand exchange are common to both alkoxide and carbonyl ligands. The fragments [W(OR)₃], [CpW(CO)₂], [Co(CO)₃], and CH are related by the isolobal analogy. Thus the compounds [(RO)₃W ? W(OR)₃], [Cp(CO)₂W?W(CO)₂Cp], hypothetical [(CO)₃Co?Co(CO)₃], and HC?CH are isolobal. Alkoxide and carbonyl cluster compounds often exhibit striking similarities with respect to substrate binding—e.g., [W₃(μ₃-CR)(OR′)₉] versus [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₉] and [W₄(C)(NMe)(OiPr)₁₂] versus [Fe₄(C)(CO)₁₃]—but differ with respect to M? M bonding. The carbonyl clusters use e_g-type orbitals for M? M bonding whereas the alkoxide clusters employ t_2g-type orbitals. Another point of difference involves electronic saturation. In general, each metal atom in a metal carbonyl cluster has an 18-electron count; thus, activation of the cluster often requires thermal or photochemical CO expulsion or M? M bond homolysis. Alkoxide clusters, on the other hand, behave as electronically unsaturated species because the π electrons are ligand-centered and the LUMO metal-centered. Also, access to the metal centers may be sterically controlled in metal alkoxide clusters by choice of alkoxide groups whereas ancillary ligands such as tertiary phosphanes or cyclopentadienes must be introduced if steric factors are to be modified in carbonyl clusters. A comparison of the reactivity of alkynes and ethylene with dinuclear alkoxide and carbonyl compounds is presented. For the carbonyl compounds CO ligand loss is a prerequisite for substrate uptake and subsequent activation. For [M₂(OR)₆] compounds (M = Mo and W) the nature of substrate uptake and activation is dependent upon the choice of M and R, leading to a more diverse chemistry.     

Analysis of a stacked-triangular platinum carbonyl cluster dianion, [Pt3(CO)6] 3 2− by252Cf-Plasma Desorption Mass Spectrometry

²⁵²Cf-Plasma Desorption Mass Spectrometry (²⁵²Cf-PDMS) has been used to investigate the [(Ph₃PCH₂C₅H₄)Fe(C₅H₅)]⁺ salt of the prototype dianionic, platinum carbonyl cluster, [Pt₃(CO)₃(₂-CO)₃] ₃ ^2– . An envelope of singly charged [Pt₉(CO) _x ]^– ions with the principal peak centered atx=8 was observed in the negative ion mass spectrum as a result of successive losses of the carbonyl ligands from the intact platinum core. Another feature of the negative ion spectrum was the prominent occurrence of other envelopes of multiple peaks which conform to Pt₁₂, Pt₁₅, Pt₁₈, Pt₂₁, and Pt₂₄ singly charged metal cores. An unexpected observation was the presence of singly charged positive ions of the dianionic cluster which were formed without incorporation of the counterion. A similar but, largely unresolvable, broad envelope of singly charged ions containing the Pt₉ core resulted with a peak maximum corresponding closely to the completely carbonylated cluster. The peak distribution extended from the fully decarbonylated cluster to well beyond the mass of the fully carbonylated cluster. Analogous peaks attributable to singly charged positive ions of the Pt₁₂, Pt₁₅, and Pt₁₈ clusters were also evident. Very little fragmentation was observed below the molecular ion in either the positive or negative ion mass spectra except for ions associated with the counterion. A detailed analysis of the mass spectra, including the types of ions observed and correlations with the molecular architecture are described.     

Crystallographic and structural characterization of heterometallic platinum complexes Part VI. Heterohexanuclear complexes

This review classifies and analyzes heterohexanuclear platinum clusters into seven types of metal combinations:Pt₅M, Pt₄M₂, Pt₃M₃, Pt₂M₄, PtM₅, Pt₂M₃M′, and Pt₂M₂M₂′. The crystals of these clusters generally belong to six crystal classes: monoclinic, triclinic, orthorhombic, tetragonal, trigonal and cubic. Among the wide range of stereochemistry adopted by these clusters, octahedral and capped square-pyramidal are the most common. Although platinum is classified as a soft metal atom, it bonds to a variety of soft, borderline and hard metals. Nineteen different heterometal ions are involved in hexanuclear platinum clusters. The shortest Pt-M bond distance in the case of M being a non-transition element is 2.395(4) Å for germanium and for M being a transition metal ion it is 2.402(2) Å for Cobalt. The shortest Pt-Pt bond distance observed in these clusters is 2.532 Å. Several relationships between the structural parameters are identified and discussed. Some clusters exist in two isomeric forms and some show crystallographically independent molecules within the same crystal. Such isomers and independent molecules are examples of distortion isomerism.      

The dimensionality and topology of chemical bonding manifolds in metal clusters and related compounds

The chemical bonding manifolds in metal cluster skeletons (as well as in skeletons of clusters of other elements such as boron or carbon) may be classified according to their dimensionalities and their chemical homeomorphism to various geometric structures. The skeletal bonding manifolds of discrete metal cluster polyhedra may be either one-dimensional edge-localized or three-dimensional globally delocalized, although two-dimensional face-localized skeletal bonding manifolds are possible in a few cases. Electron precise globally delocalized metal cluster polyhedra withv vertices have 2v + 2 skeletal electrons and form deltahedra with no tetrahedral chambers having total skeletal bonding manifolds chemically homeomorphic to a closed ball. Electron-rich metal cluster polyhedra withv vertices have more than 2v + 2 skeletal electrons and form polyhedra with one or more non-triangular faces, whereas electron-poor metal cluster polyhedra withv vertices have less than 2v + 2 skeletal electrons and form deltahedra with one or more tetrahedral chambers. Fusion of metal cluster octahedra by sharing (triangular) faces forms three-dimensional analogues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, anthracene, and perinaphthenide. Fusion of metal cluster octahedra by sharing edges can be extended infinitely into one and two dimensions forming chains (e.g. Gd₂Cl₃) and sheets (e.g. ZrCl), respectively. Infinite extension of such fusion of metal cluster octahedra into all three dimensions leads to bulk metal structures. Unusual anionic platinum carbonyl clusters can be contructed from stacks of Pt₃ triangles or Pt₅ pentagons. The resulting platinum polyhedra appear to exhibit edge-localized bonding, supplemented by unusual types of delocalized bonding at the top and the bottom of the stacks. Superconducting ternary molybdenum chalcogenides and lanthanide rhodium borides consist of infinite lattices of electronically linked edge-localized Mo₆ octahedra or Rh₄ tetrahedra, leading naturally to the idea of porous delocalization in superconducting materials.     

A joint electrochemical/spectroelectrochemical inspection (and re-inspection) of high-nuclearity platinum carbonyl clusters

The accurate study of the electron transfer activity of the tetraanion [Pt₁₉(CO)₂₂]⁴⁻ is presented together with that of the dianion [Pt₃₈(CO)₄₄]²⁻, which was previously studied by spectroelectrochemistry but only partially examined from the electrochemical viewpoint. The main feature of the two clusters is that they undergo a sequence of close-spaced pairs of reversible one-electron processes, which are qualitatively reminiscent of those exhibited by the dianion [Pt₂₄(CO)₃₀]²⁻. In order to focus on such unique aspect of the three structurally characterised platinum clusters, we have investigated (and reinvestigated) their electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical redox properties, also reporting on the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the monoanion [Pt₂₄(CO)₃₀]⁻, which represents the first successful study of the paramagnetism of homoleptic platinum–carbonyl clusters.     

The Influence of Unsaturated Hydrocarbon Ligands on the Stabilization of Platinum Tetramer

In the present study, Pt₄(CH)_n (1 ≤ n ≤ 7) and Pt₄(benzene)₂ metalorganic complexes have been investigated by performing density functional theory within spin polarized local density approximation, generalized gradient approximation and hybrid exchange correlation functionals in terms of the geometric properties, stability and energetics, electronic properties and chemical reactivity indexes. Locally stable isomers are distinguished from transition states by vibrational frequency analysis. Our calculations indicate that Pt₄(CH)₄ and Pt₄benzene metal hydrocarbon complexes are the most stable structures among the studied species.     

Distinctive features of supported catalysts prepared from platinum carbonyl clusters

The formation of Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ and Pt/C catalysts from platinum carbonyl clusters H₂[Pt₃(CO)₆]_n (n = 2, 5) is studied. The strength of interaction between clusters (strong Lewis bases) and the support and the state of platinum in catalysts are governed by the acceptor strength of the support. The formation of a stable platinum compound with a surface of γ-Al₂O₃ (strong Lewis acid) is shown for a Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst by the method of radial distribution functions. In a Pt/C catalyst containing the same amount of Pt supported on a carbon material known to be a weaker acceptor, metallic platinum is formed along with surface-bonded platinum. Proceeding from the existence of the active phase of catalysts in the form of a surface platinum complex and platinum crystallites, the properties of catalysts are discussed in the complete oxidation of methane and the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane, as well as the high dispersity of platinum and its thermal stability     

Study of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime, based on the ABEEM/MM model

Various properties of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime with the change of cluster size have been systemically explored based on the newly developed flexible-body and charge-fluctuating ABEEM/MM water potential model. The ABEEM/MM water model is to take ABEEM charges of all atoms, bonds, and lone-pairs of water molecules into the intermolecular electrostatic interaction term in molecular mechanics. The computed correlating properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O) _n (n = 2–34) include optimal structures, structural parameters, ABEEM charge distributions, binding energies, hydrogen bonds, dipole moments, and so on. The study of optimal structures shows that the ABEEM/MM model can correctly predict the following important structural features, such as the transition from two-dimensional (from dimer to pentamer) to three-dimensional (for clusters larger than the hexamer) structures at hexamer region, the transition from cubes to cages at dodecamer (H₂O)₁₂, the transition from all-surface (all water molecules on the surface of the cluster) to one water-centered (one water molecule at the center of the cluster, fully solvated) structures at (H₂O)₁₇, the transition from one to two internal molecules in the cage at (H₂O)₃₃, and so on. The first three structural transitions are in good agreement with those obtained from previous work, while the fourth transition is different from that identified by Hartke. Subsequently, a systematic investigation of structural parameters, ABEEM charges, energetic properties, and dipole moments of water clusters with increasing cluster size can provide important reference for describing the objective trait of hydrogen bonds in water cluster system, and also provide a strong impetus toward understanding how the water clusters approach the bulk limit.     

The hapticity of octafluorocyclooctatetraene in its first-row mononuclear transition metal carbonyl complexes: effect of perfluorination

The iron tricarbonyl complex of octafluorocyclooctatetraene was synthesized by Hughes and co-workers and shown by X-ray crystallography to have a trihapto–monohapto structure (η^3,1-C₈F₈)Fe(CO)₃ in contrast to the tetrahapto structure (η⁴-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₃ formed by the non-fluorinated cyclooctatetraene. This difference has stimulated a comprehensive density functional theoretical study of the octafluorocyclooctatetraene metal carbonyl complexes (C₈F₈)M(CO) _n (n = 4, 3, 2, 1 for M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe; n = 3, 2, 1 for M = Co, Ni) for comparison with their hydrogen analogues (C₈H₈)M(CO) _n . In most such systems, the substitution of fluorine for hydrogen leads to relatively small changes in the preferred structures. However, for the iron carbonyl derivatives (C₈X₈)Fe(CO)₃ (X = H, F), the difference observed experimentally has been confirmed by theory with (η^3,1-C₈F₈)Fe(CO)₃ and (η⁴-C₈H₈)Fe(CO)₃ being the lowest energy structures by 4 and 14 kcal/mol, respectively. The ligand exchange reactions C₈H₈ + (C₈F₈)M(CO) _n  → C₈F₈ + (C₈H₈)M(CO) _n are predicted to be exothermic for almost all of the systems considered, with the (η^3,1-C₈X₈)Fe(CO)₃ system being the main exception. This suggests that the C₈F₈ ligand generally bonds more weakly to transition metals than the C₈H₈ ligand in accord with the electron-withdrawing effect of the ligand fluorine atoms.     

Gold and platinum molecular cluster compounds studied by 197Au Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The technique of ¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer absorption spectroscopy has been used to study four varieties of the high nuclearity gold molecular cluster compounds abbreviated as Au₅₅, all having a cuboctahedral structure, with 12 PPh₃-ligands or modifications of PPh₃. The technique of emission spectroscopy developed in our laboratory [1] has been applied to four different molecular platinum carbonyl cluster compounds of varying cluster nuclearity, abbreviated as Pt₃₈, Pt₂₆, Pt₂₄, and Pt₁₉ [2]. The four Au55 compounds were studied, both as dry materials and as frozen solutions. The M6ssbauer parameters of the chlorine ligated site of the water soluble version differ strongly due to the effect of Na⁺ on the Au-Cl distances. In the frozen solution, the effect of the ionic charge on this cluster can be clearly seen. The similarity of the spectra of all the Pt compounds, especially the occurrence of a substantial singlet contribution in all spectra, is explained by a coalescing mechanism for the low-nuclearity clusters, induced by the neutron irradiation damage inflicted while preparing the sample as M6ssbauer sources. The observed decrease of the absorption intensity with increasing temperature is evidence for a cluster character of the sample remaining after neutron irradiation.     

A Magnetic Study of Low Moment Nickel Clusters Formed from the Solid-State Decomposition Reaction of Nickel bis-1,5-Cyclooctadiene

Variable temperature SQUID magnetometry measurements were made on a sample of commercially available nickel bis-1,5-cyclooctadiene (Ni(COD)₂) is reported. The material is shown to be a mixed phase magnetic system where the Ni(COD)₂ behaves as a diamagnet containing a paramagnetic component at low temperatures which we believe consists of elemental Ni clusters arising from the decomposition of the material. The magnetic response of the Ni clusters can be described by the combination of two Langevin functions, which indicate cluster magnetic moments of 1.8 μ _B and 15 μ _B suggesting Ni _n clusters with n = 2–3 and n = 14–19. However, we demonstrate that these clusters appear to show a spin transition to an S = 0 state at low temperatures, which may be a consequence of interactions between the clusters and the surrounding organic medium. Nevertheless, our results suggest that Ni(COD)₂ is a novel material for the study of Ni clusters embedded in a diamagnetic background material.