The arrangement of first- and second-shell water molecules in trivalent aluminum complexes: results from density functional theory and structural crystallography

The structural and energetic features of a variety of gas-phase aluminum ion hydrates containing up to 18 water molecules have been studied computationally using density functional theory. Comparisons are made with experimental data from neutron diffraction studies of aluminum-containing crystal structures listed in the Cambridge Structural Database. Computational studies indicate that the hexahydrated structure Al[H(2)O](6)(3+) (with symmetry T(h)()), in which all six water molecules are located in the innermost coordination shell, is lower in energy than that of Al[H(2)O](5)(3+).[H(2)O], where only five water molecules are in the inner shell and one water molecule is in the second shell. The analogous complex with four water molecules in the inner shell and two in the outer shell undergoes spontaneous proton transfer during the optimization to give [Al[H(2)O](2)[OH](2)](+).[H(3)O(+)](2), which is lower in energy than Al[H(2)O](6)(3+); this finding of H(3)O(+) is consistent with the acidity of concentrated Al(3+) solutions. Since, however, Al[H(2)O](6)(3+) is detected in solutions of Al(3+), additional water molecules are presumed to stabilize the hexa-aquo Al(3+) cation. Three models of a trivalent aluminum ion complex surrounded by a total of 18 water molecules arranged in a first shell containing 6 water molecules and a second shell of 12 water molecules are discussed. We find that a model with S(6) symmetry for which the Al[H(2)O](6)(3+) unit remains essentially octahedral and participates in an integrated hydrogen bonded network with the 12 outer-shell water molecules is lowest in energy. Interactions between the 12 second-shell water molecules and the trivalent aluminum ion in Al[H(2)O](6)(3+) do not appear to be sufficiently strong to orient the dipole moments of these second-shell water molecules toward the Al(3+) ion.     

Factors influencing Al(3+)-dimer speciation and stability from density functional theory calculations

We have investigated aqueous Al-dimer complexes using density functional theory methods (e.g. the B3LYP exchange-correlation functional and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set). In these calculations interactions between the Al(3+) cations and the H(2)O or OH(-) coordinating ligands are considered explicitly while the second hydration shell and remaining solvent are treated as a continuum under the IEF-PCM formalism. The Al-dimer chemical reactivity is discussed by analysis of changes in geometry, electronic structure and Gibbs free energy of formation, relative to two independent Al(H(2)O) monomers, as a function of water and hydroxide coordination. Our results indicate that the mechanism of cooperativity, i.e. decreased Al-water bond stability with increasing OH(-) coordination and increased water ligand hydrolysis as complex CN decreases, is operating on the dimer species and that, therefore, a wide variety of dimer species are available. While the stability of these species is observed to be dependent on the number of water and hydroxide ligands, the hydroxide bridging structure (singly, doubly and triply bridged species are considered) does not appear to correlate with dimer stability. Interestingly, intra-molecular H-bonds (in the form of the well known H(3)O bridge as well as two bridging structures, H(4)O(2) and H(2)O, that have not, to our knowledge, been previously considered) are observed to influence dimer stability. The evaluation of the equilibrium mole fraction of the dimer species in equilibrium with the aqueous Al(3+) monomer species of our previous study displays the qualitatively correct trend of solution composition as pH increases, namely monomeric aqueous Al(3+) and Al(OH) complexes dominate at low and high pH, respectively, and all remaining monomer and dimer species exist at intermediate pH. Further refinement of our data set by eliminating dimer complexes with OH/Al ratios greater than 2.6 brings our predicted equilibrium mole fraction distributions into excellent agreement with experimental observations. The triply bridged dimer is observed in low amounts while the singly and doubly bridged dimers dominate our model system at pH = ～4-7.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetism of an f element nitrosyl complex, (C5Me4H)3UNO

(C(5)Me(4)H)(3)U, 1, reacts with 1 equiv of NO to form the first f element nitrosyl complex (C(5)Me(4)H)(3)UNO, 2. X-ray crystallography revealed a 180° U-N-O bond angle, typical for (NO)(1+) complexes. However, 2 has a 1.231(5) ? N═O distance in the range for (NO)(1-) complexes and a short 2.013(4) ? U-N bond like the U═N bond of uranium imido complexes. Structural, spectroscopic, and magnetic data as well as DFT calculations suggest that reduction of NO by U(3+) has occurred to form a U(4+) complex of (NO)(1-) that has π interactions between uranium 5f orbitals and NO π* orbitals. These bonding interactions account for the linear geometry and short U-N bond. The complex displays temperature-independent paramagnetism with a magnetic moment of 1.36 μ(B) at room temperature. Complex 2 reacts with Al(2)Me(6) to form the adduct (C(5)Me(4)H)(3)UNO(AlMe(3)), 3.     

Quantum chemical studies of the hydration of Sr2+ in vacuum and aqueous solution

The geometric structures of gas-phase Sr(2+) hydrates are calculated quantum chemically by using hybrid (B3LYP) and meta-GGA (TPSS) density functional theory, and a range of thermodynamic data (including sequential bond enthalpies, entropies and free energies for the reactions Sr(2+)(H(2)O)(n-1)+H(2)O→Sr(2+)(H(2)O)(n)) are shown to be in excellent agreement with experiment. When the number of coordinating water molecules exceeds six, such that water begins to occupy the second solvation shell, it is found that detailed analysis based on both geometrical and conformational entropy is required in order to confidently identify the experimentally observed structures. The significant increase in coordination number observed experimentally between the gas- and aqueous-phase species is successfully reproduced, as is the first solvation shell geometry. Inaccurate second shell geometries imply that larger model systems may be required to achieve agreement with experiment. Candidate species for on-going computational studies of the interaction of hydrated Sr(2+) with brucite surfaces have been identified.     

Electronic structure of 3d[M(H2O)6](3+) ions from Sc(III) to Fe(III): a quantum mechanical study based on DFT computations and natural bond orbital analyses

The metal-donor atom bonding along the series of 3d[M(H2O)6](3+) ions from Sc(3+) to Fe(3+) has been investigated by density-functional calculations combined with natural localized bond orbital analyses. The M-OH(2) bonds were considered as donor-acceptor bonds, and the contributions coming from the metal ion's 3d sigma-, 3d pi-, and 4s sigma-interactions were treated individually. In this way, the total amount of charge transferred from the water oxygen-donor atoms toward the appropriate metal orbitals could be analyzed in a straightforward manner. One result obtained along these lines is that the overall extent of ligand-to-metal charge transfer shows a strong correlation to the hydration enthalpies of the aqua metal ions. If the contributions to the total ligand-to-metal ion charge transfer are divided into sigma- and pi-contributions, it turns out that Cr(3+) is the best sigma-acceptor, but its pi-accepting abilities are the weakest along the series. Fe(3+) is found to be the best pi-acceptor among the 3d hexaaqua ions studied. Its aptitude to accept sigma-electron density is the second weakest along the series and only slightly higher than that of Sc(3+) (the least sigma-acceptor of all ions) because of the larger involvement of the Fe(3+) 4s orbital in sigma-bonding. The strengths of the three types of bonding interactions have been correlated with the electron affinities of the different metal orbitals. Deviations from the regular trends of electron affinities along the series were found for those [M(H2O)6](3+) ions that are subject to Jahn-Teller distortions. In these cases (d(1) = [Ti(H2O)6](3+), d(2) = [V(H2O)6](3+), and d(4) = [Mn(H2O)6](3+)), ligand-to-metal charge transfer is prevented to go into those metal orbitals that contain unpaired d electrons. A lowering of the complex symmetry is observed and coupled with the following variations: The Ti(3+)- and V(3+)-hexaaqua ions switch from T(h)() to C(i)() symmetry while the Mn(3+)-hexaaqua ion moves to D(2)(h)() symmetry. The loss of orbital overlap leading to a diminished ligand-to-metal charge transfer toward the single occupied metal orbitals is compensated by amplified bonding interactions of the ligand orbitals with the unoccupied metal orbitals to some extent.     

Rates and mechanisms of water exchange of UO2(2+)(aq) and UO2(oxalate)F(H2O)2-: a variable-temperature 17O and 19F NMR study

This study consists of two parts: The first part comprised an experimental determination of the kinetic parameters for the exchange of water between UO2(H2O)5(2+) and bulk water, including an ab initio study at the SCF and MP2 levels of the geometry of UO2(H2O)5(2+), UO2(H2O)4(2+), and UO2(H2O)6(2+) and the thermodynamics of their reactions with water. In the second part we made an experimental study of the rate of water exchange in uranyl complexes and investigated how this might depend on inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions. The experimental studies, made by using 17O NMR, with Tb3+ as a chemical shift reagent, gave the following kinetic parameters at 25 degrees C: kex = (1.30 +/- 0.05) x 10(6) s(-1); deltaH(not equal to) = 26.1 +/- 1.4 kJ/mol; deltaS(not equal to) = -40 +/- 5J J/(K mol). Additional mechanistic indicators were obtained from the known coordination geometry of U(VI) complexes with unidentate ligands and from the theoretical calculations. A survey of the literature shows that there are no known isolated complexes of UO2(2+) with unidentate ligands which have a coordination number larger than 5. This was corroborated by quantum chemical calculations which showed that the energy gains by binding an additional water to UO2(H2O)4(2+) and UO2(H2O)5(2+) are 29.8 and -2.4 kcal/mol, respectively. A comparison of the change in deltaU for the reactions UO2(H2O)5(2+)--> UO2(H2O)4(2+) + H2O and UO2(H2O)5(2+) + H2O --> UO2(H2O)6(2+) indicates that the thermodynamics favors the second (associative) reaction in gas phase at 0 K, while the thermodynamics of water transfer between the first and second coordination spheres, UO2(H2O)5(2+) --> UO2(H2O)4(H2O)2+ and UO2(H2O)5(H2O)2+ --> UO2(H2O)6(2+), favors the first (dissociative) reaction. The energy difference between the associative and dissociative reactions is small, and solvation has to be included in ab initio models in order to allow quantitative comparisons between experimental data and theory. Theoretical calculations of the activation energy were not possible because of the excessive computing time required. On the basis of theoretical and experimental studies, we suggest that the water exchange in UO2(H2O)5(2+) follows a dissociative interchange mechanism. The rates of exchange of water in UO2(oxalate)F(H2O)2- (and UO2(oxalate)F2(H2O)2- studied previously) are much slower than in the aqua ion, kex = 1.6 x 10(4) s(-1), an effect which we assign to hydrogen bonding involving coordinated water and fluoride. The kinetic parameters for the exchange of water in UO2(H2O)52+ and quenching of photo excited *UO2(H2O)5(2+) are very near the same, indicating similar mechanisms.     

Coordination of triply charged lanthanum in the gas phase: theory and experiment

Ion-molecule reactions between complexes [La(CH3CN)n]3+ (n=6-9) or [La(NC(CH2)4CN)n]3+ (n=3-4) and water were studied at low collision energies in the second quadrupole of a tandem mass spectrometer. The products [La(CH3CN)p(H2O)8-p]3+ (p=6-8) and [La(NC(CH2)4CN)q(H2O)8-2q]3+ (q=3-4) had the highest relative abundances. This strongly suggests that the preferred coordination number of La3+ is eight. Similarly, the coordination number of Ca2+ was re-examined both experimentally and theoretically, and was found to be six, in good agreement with previous observations. Density functional calculations provide strong evidence that the primary solvation shell of [La(L)n]3+ consists of eight ligands; additional ligands reside in a second solvation shell and are hydrogen bonded to one or two water molecules in the first shell.     

Solvation of uranyl(II) and europium(III) cations and their chloro complexes in a room-temperature ionic liquid. A theoretical study of the effect of solvent "humidity"

We report a molecular dynamics study of the solvation of the UO2(2+) and Eu3+ cations and their chloro complexes in the [BMI][PF6][H2O] "humid" room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) composed of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium+ and PF6- ions and H2O in a 1:1:1 ratio. When compared to the results obtained in dry [BMI][PF6], the present results reveal the importance of water. The "naked" cations form UO2(H2O)5(2+) and Eu(H2O)9(3+) complexes, embedded in a shell of 7 and 8 PF6- anions, respectively. All studied UO2Cln(2-n) and EuCln(3-n) chloro complexes remain stable during the dynamics and coordinate additional H2O molecules in their first shell. UO2Cl4(2-) and EuCl6(3-) are surrounded by an "unsaturated" water shell, followed by a shell of BMI+ cations. According to an energy component analysis, the UO2Cl4(2-) and EuCl6(3-) species, intrinsically unstable toward dissociation, are more stable than their less halogenated analogues in the IL solution, due to the solvation forces. The different chloro species also interact better with the humid than with the dry IL, which hints at the importance of solvent humidity to improve their solubility. Humidity markedly modifies the local ion environment, with major consequences as far as their spectroscopic properties are concerned. We finally compare the aqueous interface of [BMI][PF6] and [OMI][PF6] ionic liquids, demonstrating the importance of imidazolium substituents (N-butyl versus N-octyl) to the nature of the interface and miscibility with water.     

Mechanisms of hydrolysis-oligomerization of aluminum alkoxide Al(OC3H7)3

As one of the representative superinsulating materials, the aluminum trioxypropyl Al(OC(3)H(7))(3) aerogel may be applied in launch vehicles and manned spacecrafts. In this study, the structures and hydrolysis mechanisms of the monomer, dimers, and trimers of Al(OC(3)H(7))(3) in neutral and alkaline environments were studied at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level by using the CPCM solvation model to understand the fundamental chemistry of Al(OC(3)H(7))(3) hydrolysis and oligomerization. Our calculation shows that the first-order hydrolyses of the monomer and oligomers are energetically favorable in both alkaline and neutral solutions. In alkaline solutions, they are more apt to oligomerize than to hydrolyze due to high energy barriers and large binding energies in the formation of anionic species. For the oligomers under neutral condition (1) Al(OC(3)H(7))(3) is linked by four-membered Al-O rings with pentacoordinated bridging and tetracoordinated Al atoms, (2) the hydrolyzed propoxy groups will be expelled by solvent molecules, and (3) partly hydrolyzed species can condense to oligomers with bridging OH groups or O atoms.     

DFT-UX3LYP studies on the coordination chemistry of Ni2+. Part 1: Six coordinate [Ni(NH3)n(H2O)(6-n)]2+ complexes

DFT calculations with the UX3LYP hybrid functional and a medium-sized 6-311++G(d,p) basis set were performed to examine the gas-phase structure of paramagnetic (S = 1) six-coordinate complexes [Ni(NH3)n(H2O)(6-n)](2+), 0 < or = n < or = 6. Significant interligand hydrogen bonding was found in [Ni(H2O)6](2+), but this becomes much less significant as NH3 replaces H2O in the coordination sphere of the metal. Bond angles and bond lengths obtained from these calculations compare reasonably well with available crystallographic data. The mean calculated Ni-O bond length in [Ni(H2O)6](2+) is 2.093 A, which is 0.038 A longer than the mean of the crystallographically observed values (2.056(22) A, 108 structures) but within 2sigma of the experimental values. The mean calculated Ni-N bond length in [Ni(NH3)6](2+) is 2.205(3) A, also longer (by 0.070 A) than the crystallographically observed mean (2.135(18) A, 7 structures). Valence bond angles are reproduced within 1 degree. The successive replacement of H2O by NH3 as ligands results in an increase in the stabilization energy by 7 +/- 2 kcal mol(-1) per additional NH3 ligand. The experimentally observed increase in the lability of H2O in Ni(II) as NH3 replaces H2O in the coordination sphere is explained by an increase in the Ni-OH2 bond length. It was found from a natural population analysis that complexes with the highest stabilization energies are associated with the greatest extent of ligand-to-metal charge transfer, and the transferred electron density is largely accommodated in the metal 4s and 3d orbitals. An examination of the charge density rho bcp and the Laplacian of the charge density nabla(2)rho(bcp) at the metal-ligand bond critical points (bcp) in the series show a linear correlation with the charge transferred to the metal. Values of nabla(2)rho(bcp) are positive, indicative of a predominantly closed-shell interaction. The charge transferred to the metal increases as n, the number of NH3 ligands in the complex, increases. This lowers the polarizing ability of the metal on the ligand donors and the average metal-ligand bond length increases, resulting in a direct correlation between the dissociation energy of the complexes and the reciprocal of the average metal-ligand bond length. There is a strong correlation between the charge transferred to the metal and experimental DeltaH values for successive replacement of H2O by NH3, but a correlation with stability constants (log beta values) breaks when n = 5 and 6, probably because of entropic effects in solution. Nevertheless, DFT calculations may be a useful way of estimating the stability constants of metal-ligand systems.     

The electronic structure of the hydrated proton: a comparative X-ray absorption study of aqueous HCl and NaCl solutions

The oxygen K edge X-ray absorption spectra of aqueous HCl and NaCl solutions reveal distinct perturbations of the local water molecules by the respective solutes. While the addition of NaCl leads to large spectral changes, the effect of HCl on the observed X-ray absorption spectrum is surprisingly small. Density functional theory calculations suggest that this difference primarily reflects a strong blue shift of the hydrated proton (in either the Eigen (H9O4+) or Zundel (H2O5+) forms) spectrum relative to that of H2O, indicating the tighter binding of electrons in H3O+. This spectral shift counteracts the spectral changes that arise from direct electrostatic perturbation of water molecules in the first solvation shell of Cl-. Consequently, the observed spectral changes effected by HCl addition are minimal compared to those engendered by NaCl. Additionally, these results indicate that the effect of monovalent cations on the nature of the unoccupied orbitals of water molecules in the first solvation shell is negligible, in contrast to the large effects of monovalent anions.     

α-Al2O3(0001)表面弛豫及其对表面电子态的影响

The relaxation and electronic structure of the α-Al2O3 (0001) super-cell (2×2) surface with single Al atoms layer-terminated are studied using ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory and pseudo potential method. The calculations employ slab geometry and periodic boundary conditions, with the occupied orbitals expanded in plane waves. It is found that the surface relaxation results in the change of surface electronic states by investigating the relaxation and the population of the Al-O atoms of the surface. By analyzing the difference of the density of state and electron charge density between the unrelaxed and relaxed surface, it is obvious that the α-Al2O3 (0001) crystal surface appears on the O-surface state from which is most contribution to the O2p states, and the surface electronic density plotted by electron localization function (ELF) shows the characteristics of surface bonding atoms. The ELF indicates the outmost Al-O ionic bonds of the relaxed surface are much stronger than that of the unrelaxed surface.     

Theoretical study of [Ni (H2O)n]2+(H2O)m (n ≤ 6, m ≤ 18)

The [Ni-(H(2)O)(n)](2+)(H(2)O)(m) (n ≤ 6, m ≤ 18) complexes were studied by means of first-principles all-electron calculations performed with the BPW91 gradient corrected functional and the 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets for the H, O, and Ni atoms. Triplet states were found as low-lying states for each (n, m) combination. The estimated Ni(2+)-(H(2)O)(n) binding energies (112.8-57.4 kcal/mol for the first layer and 52.0-23.0 kcal/mol for the second one) decreases and the Ni(2+)-OH(2) bond lengths lengthen as n + m increases. With six H(2)O moieties the Ni(2+) ion furnishes its first coordination sphere of octahedral geometry. Further water addition renders the formation of the second layer. The effect of Ni(2+) on the (H(2)O)(n)···(H(2)O)(m) hydrogen bond formation for several "n" and "m" combinations was studied, revealing an enhancement of this kind of bonding, which is of key importance for the stabilization and growth of the clusters. For some n + m isomers the second layer appears before the first octahedral layer is fully formed. For example, the square planar Ni(2+)-(H(2)O)(4) core originates two-dimensional 4 + 2 and 4 + 4 isomers, where each outer water molecule accepts two H-bonds, lying 2.0 kcal/mol above the 6 and 6 + 2 ground states. The clusters were also studied by IR spectra; the OH stretching vibrational frequencies allowed us to identify the outer solvation shells by the presence of red-shifted hydrogen bond regions.     

Ambidentate coordination of dimethyl sulfoxide in rhodium(III) complexes

The two dimethyl sulfoxide solvated rhodium(III) compounds, [Rh(dmso-κO)(5)(dmso-κS)](CF(3)SO(3))(3) (1 & 1* at 298 K and 100 K, respectively) and [Rh(dmso-κO)(3)(dmso-κS)(2)Cl](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (2), crystallize with orthorhombic unit cells in the space group Pna2(1) (No. 33), Z = 4. In the [Rh(dmso)(6)](3+) complex with slightly distorted octahedral coordination geometry, the Rh-O bond distance is significantly longer with O trans to S, 2.143(6) ? (1) and 2.100(6) ? (1*), than the mean Rh-O bond distance with O trans to O, 2.019 ? (1) and 2.043 ? (1*). In the [RhCl(dmso)(5)](3+) complex, the mean Rh-O bond distance with O trans to S, 2.083 ?, is slightly longer than that for O trans to Cl, 2.067(4) ?, which is consistent with the trans influence DMSO-κS > Cl > DMSO-κO of the opposite ligands. Raman and IR absorption spectra were recorded and analyzed and a complete assignment of the vibrational bands was achieved with support by force field calculations. An increase in the Rh-O stretching vibrational frequency corresponded to a decreasing trans-influence from the opposite ligand. The Rh-O force constants obtained were correlated with the Rh-O bond lengths, also including previously obtained values for other M(dmso)(6)(3+) complexes with trivalent metal ions. An almost linear correlation was obtained for the MO stretching force constants vs. the reciprocal square of the MO bond lengths. The results show that the metal ion-oxygen bonding of dimethyl sulfoxide ligands is electrostatically dominated in those complexes and that the stretching force constants provide a useful measure of the relative trans-influence of the opposite ligands in hexa-coordinated Rh(III)-complexes.     

Theoretical study of the geometries and dissociation energies of molecular water on neutral aluminum clusters Al(n) (n = 2-25)

Geometries and dissociation energies of water molecules on Al(n) (n = 2-25) clusters were investigated using density functional theory with all electron relativistic spin-polarized calculations under the generalized gradient approximation. An extensive structure search was performed to identify the low-energy conformations of Al(n)H(2)O complexes for each size. Optimal adsorption sites were assigned for low-energy isomers of the clusters. Size and site specific dependences were studied for the Al(n)H(2)O complexes in stabilities, geometries, adsorption energies, dissociation energies, Al-O bond lengths, and other characteristic quantities. The stabilities and geometries revealed that H atom in H(2)O is not inclined to bond with Al atoms. The most stable Al(n)H(2)O configurations for each size tend to correspond to the most stable bare Al(n) cluster except of Al(6) and Al(24) clusters. The HO bond lengths increase generally 0.01 ? with respect to the isolated H(2)O in all of the adsorption complexes. The dissociation energy of an isolated H(2)O into HO and H was 5.39 eV, which decreased about two-thirds to the energy range of 0.83-2.12 eV with the help of Al(n) clusters. In spite of the fluctuations, the dissociation energies of Al(n)H(2)O complexes rise with the size increasing as a whole. In addition, we also found that the bare Al(n) clusters with high vertical ionization potentials usually have high dissociation energies of H(2)O in the corresponding adsorption models. The energetically preferred spin-multiplicity of all the odd-n Al(n)H(2)O complexes is doublet, and it is singlet for all the even-n complexes with exception of Al(2)H(2)O which is triplet.     

Synthesis of Al complexes containing phenoxy-imine ligands and their use as the catalyst precursors for efficient living ring-opening polymerisation of epsilon-caprolactone

Al complexes containing phenoxy-imine ligands of type, Me2Al[O-2-R1-6-(R2N=CH)C6H3] [R1 = Me, R2 = 2,6-iPr2C6H3 (1a), tBu (1b); R1 = tBu, R2 = 2,6-iPr2C6H3 (2a), tBu (2b), cyclohexyl (2c), adamantyl (2d), C6H5 (2e), 2,6-Me2C6H3 (2f), C6F5 (2g)] have been prepared in high yields from AlMe3 by treating with 1.0 equiv. of 2-R1-6-(R2N=CH)C6H3OH in n-hexane. Structures for 1a, 1b, 2a-e and 2g were determined by X-ray crystallography, and these complexes have a distorted tetrahedral geometry around Al; both the Al-O and the Al-N bond distances were influenced by substituents in both the aryloxo and the imino groups. Me2Al[mu2-O-2-(R2N=CH)C6H4](AlMe3) [R2 = 2,6-iPr2C6H3 (3a), tBu (3b)] were prepared exclusively by reaction of AlMe3 with 2-(R2N=CH)C6H4OH, and these complexes form a distorted tetrahedral geometry around each Al centre with additional AlMe3 coordinating to the oxygen in the phenoxy-imine ligand. Complexes 1a, 1b and 2a-g were tested as catalyst precursors for ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of epsilon-caprolactone (CL) in the presence of (n)BuOH (1.0 equiv. to Al), and their catalytic activities were strongly influenced by the imino substituent (R2). The efficient ROP has been achieved using the C6F5 analogue (2g), with the ROP taking place in a living manner.     

Electronic spectral studies of molybdenyl complexes. 2. MCD spectroscopy of [MoOS4]- centers

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and absorption spectroscopies have been used to probe the electronic structure of [PPh4][MoO(p-SC6H4X)4] (X = H, Cl, OMe) and [PPh4][MoO(edt)2] complexes (edt = ethane-1,2-dithiolate). The results of density functional calculations (DFT) on [MoO(SMe)4]- and [MoO(edt)2]- model complexes were used to provide a framework for the interpretation of the spectra. Our analysis shows that the lowest energy transitions in [MoVOS4] chromophores (S4 = sulfur donor ligand) result from S-->Mo charge transfer transitions from S valence orbitals that lie close to the ligand field manifold. The energies of these transitions are strongly dependent on the orientation of the S lone-pair orbitals with respect to the Mo atom that is determined by the geometry of the ligand backbone. Thus, the lowest energy transition in the MCD spectrum of [PPh4][MoO(p-SC6H4X)4] (X = H) occurs at 14,800 cm-1, while that in [PPh4][MoO(edt)2] occurs at 11,900 cm-1. The identification of three bands in the absorption spectrum of [PPh4][MoO(edt)2] arising from LMCT from S pseudo-sigma combinations to the singly occupied Mo 4d orbital in the xy plane suggests that there is considerable covalency in the ground-state electronic structures of [MoOS4] complexes. DFT calculations on [MoO(SMe)4]- reveal that the singly occupied HOMO is 53% Mo 4dxy and 35% S p for the equilibrium C4 geometry. For [MoO(edt)2]- the steric constraints imposed by the edt ligands result in the S pi orbitals being of similar energy to the Mo 4d manifold. Significant S pseudo-sigma and pi donation may also weaken the Mo identical to O bond in [MoOS4] centers, a requirement for facile active site regeneration in the catalytic cycle of the DMSO reductases. The strong dependence of the energies of the bands in the absorption and MCD spectra of [PPh4][MoO(p-SC6H4X)4] (X = H, Cl, OMe) and [PPh4][MoO(edt)2] on the ligand geometry suggests that the structural features of the active sites of the DMSO reductases may result in an electronic structure that is optimized for facile oxygen atom transfer.     

Spectroscopic properties of Dy(3+) ions in NaF-B(2)O(3)-Al(2)O(3) glasses

This paper reports the optical properties of Dy(3+) in sodium fluoroborate glasses of the type XNaF.(89-X)B(2)O(3).10 Al(2)O(3).1Dy(2)O(3) (where X=8, 12, 16, 20 and 24). Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Omega(2), Omega(4), Omega(6)) are derived from the absorption spectra. The Judd-Ofelt theory has been applied to interpret the local environment of Dy(3+) ions and bond covalency of RE-O bond. These parameters have been used to calculate radiative transition probabilities (A(rad)), lifetimes (tau(R)) and branching ratios (beta(R)) for the excited level (4)F(9/2). The predicted values of tau(R) are compared with the measured values for (4)F(9/2) level for five glass compositions (Glass (A-E)). The stimulated emission cross-section sigma(lambda(P)) are also evaluated for the (4)F(9/2)-->(6)H(J) (J=11/2, 13/2, and 15/2) transitions.     

On the "yl" bond weakening in uranyl(VI) coordination complexes

The U-O(yl) triple bonds in the UO(2)(2+) aquo ion are known to be weakened by replacing the first shell water with organic or inorganic ligands. Weakening of the U-O(yl) bond may enhance the reactivity of "yl" oxygens and uranyl(VI) cation-cation interactions. Density functional theory calculations as well as previously published vibrational spectroscopic data have been used to study the origin of the U-O(yl) bond weakening in uranyl(VI) coordination complexes. Natural population analyses (NPA) revealed that the electron localization on the O(yl) 2p orbital is a direct measure of the U-O(yl) bond weakening, indicating that the bond weakening is correlated to the weakening of the U-O(yl) covalent bond and not that of the ionic bond. The Mulliken analysis gives poor results for uranium to ligand electron partitioning and is thus unreliable. Further analyses of molecular orbitals near the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) show that both the σ and π donating abilities of the ligands may account for the U-O(yl) bond weakening. The mechanism of the bond weakening varies with coordinating ligand so that each case needs to be examined independently.