Electronic Structure of Rh(2)(&mgr;-CO)(CO)(2)(H(2)PCH(2)PH(2))(2). An Example of a Non-A-Frame Structure

Calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock configuration interaction (HF-CI) methodology have been carried out to investigate the rhodium-rhodium coupling in Rh(2)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2), 1 (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) and in Rh(2)(&mgr;-CO)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2), 2. DFT geometries, obtained with the Dgauss program, are in good agreement with those determined from X-ray, but HF geometries, calculated using the same basis sets, yield bond distances systematically too long. Calculations indicate that the rhodium atoms in 1 are linked by a single bond. The insertion of a semibridging carbonyl between the two metal atoms leads to a shortening of the rhodium-rhodium distance and also to a noticeable weakening of the metal-metal interaction. Both effects, and also the stabilization of the HOMO of 2, are related to an observed change from square planar to tetrahedral of the ligand environment of the Rh atom proximal to the inserted CO. Both MO analysis and bond characterization from the topology of the charge density confirm the existence of a bonding interaction between the semibridging carbonyl and the distal rhodium atom. The electronic structures of the dicationic complex [Rh(2)(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)](2+) and of the A-frame-like, isoelectronic system Rh(2)Br(2)(&mgr;-CO) (dppm)(2) are also discussed. The electron deformation density is derived from 2 by means of several methodological approaches, namely, HF, HF-CI, DFT, and DFT + gradient corrections. The HF deformation density obtained in the plane containing the metals and the three CO ligands is discussed, as well as the "correlation density" obtained from the difference maps DFT - HF and CI - HF.     

Reversing the stereoselectivity of the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction: formation of endo-fused norbornadiene adducts

[reaction: see text] An unprecedented endo-selective and regioselective intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction takes place when heterobimetallic (Mo-Co) complexes derived from N-(2-alkynoyl)oxazolidinones or sultams are heated in the presence of norbornadiene.     

The Coulomb Hole of the Ne Atom

We analyze the Coulomb hole of Ne from highly-accurate CISD wave functions obtained from optimized even-tempered basis sets. Using a two-fold extrapolation procedure we obtain highly accurate results that recover 97 % of the correlation energy. We confirm the existence of a shoulder in the short-range region of the Coulomb hole of the Ne atom, which is due to an internal reorganization of the K-shell caused by electron correlation of the core electrons. The feature is very sensitive to the quality of the basis set in the core region and it is not exclusive to Ne, being also present in most of second-row atoms, thus confirming that it is due to K-shell correlation effects.     

A Convenient Stereoselective Synthesis of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(Neopentyloxy)isoborneol

A convenient preparation of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(neopentyloxy)isoborneol (= (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(2,2-dimethyl-propoxy)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol; 1a ), a valuable chiral auxiliary, is described. The synthesis involves six steps starting from the readily available camphorquinone ( 5 ) and gives 1a in 48% overall yield. The key step is the chemoselective hydrolysis of the less hindered 1,3-dioxolane moiety in the camphorquinone di-acetal 4 .     

Modular bis(oxazoline) ligands for palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation: unprecedented conformational behaviour of a bis(oxazoline) palladium eta3-1,3-diphenylallyl complex

New families of enantiopure bis(oxazolines) with 4,5-trans (5 a-g) or 4,5-cis (6 c) stereochemistry at the individual rings have been prepared in high yield. Their eta(3)-allyl palladium complexes (8 a-g, 9 c and 10) have been used as catalytic precursors in allylic alkylation reactions with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %) for the trans oxazoline derivatives, while Pd/6 c system was inactive. NMR studies on palladium eta(3)-1,3-diphenylallyl intermediates (11 a, c and e) showed the presence of syn/syn- and syn/anti-allyl isomers in solution; this resembles the first example of eta(3)-eta(1)-eta(3) isomerism in Pd allylic complexes containing bis(oxazolines) derived from malonic acid.     

Stereoselectivity in the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction of electron-deficient terminal alkynes

A family of terminal alkyne dicobalthexacarbonyl complexes bearing groups with a range of electron-withdrawing abilities has been synthesized. After submitting these complexes to the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction with norbornadiene, electron-deficient substrates afforded up to 26% of the unexpected endo-cyclopentenone.     

Electron localization function at the correlated level

The electron localization function (ELF) has been proven so far a valuable tool to determine the location of electron pairs. Because of that, the ELF has been widely used to understand the nature of the chemical bonding and to discuss the mechanism of chemical reactions. Up to now, most applications of the ELF have been performed with monodeterminantal methods and only few attempts to calculate this function for correlated wave functions have been carried out. Here, a formulation of ELF valid for mono- and multiconfigurational wave functions is given and compared with previous recently reported approaches. The method described does not require the use of the homogeneous electron gas to define the ELF, at variance with the ELF definition given by Becke. The effect of the electron correlation in the ELF, introduced by means of configuration interaction with singles and doubles calculations, is discussed in the light of the results derived from a set of atomic and molecular systems.     

Highlights on the Binding of Cobalta-Bis-(Dicarbollide) with Glucose Units

Metalla-bis-dicarbollides, such as the cobalta-bis-dicarbollide (COSAN) anion [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻, have attracted much attention in biology but a deep understanding of their interactions with cell components is still missing. For this purpose, we studied the interactions of COSAN with the glucose moiety, which is ubiquitous at biological interfaces. Octyl-glucopyranoside surfactant (C8G1) was chosen as a model as it self-assembles in water and creates a hydrated glucose-covered interface. At low COSAN content and below the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of C8G1, COSAN binds to C8G1 monomers through the hydrophobic effect. Above the CMC of C8G1, COSAN adsorbs onto C8G1 micelles through the superchaotropic effect. At high COSAN concentrations, COSAN disrupts C8G1 micelles and the assemblies become similar to COSAN micelles but with a small amount of solubilized C8G1. Therefore, COSAN binds in a versatile way to C8G1 through either the hydrophobic or superchaotropic effect depending on their relative concentrations.