Reactions of heavier main‐group compounds with hydrogen,ammonia, ethylene and related small molecules

The first reaction between hydrogen and a main‐group compound under ambient conditions was reported in 2005. This unexpected result has been followed by numerous others which show that such reactivity is widespread in unsaturated and multiple bonded main‐group species. These may react spontaneously not only with hydrogen, but also with ethylene, ammonia and related molecules. This account focuses on results from the author's laboratory but also on parallel work by other groups. The link between HOMO‐LUMO separations, symmetry considerations and reactivity of the main‐group species is emphasized as is their similarity in reactivity to transition‐metal organometallic compounds. DOI 10.1002/tcr.201100016     

Oligonuclear Molecular Models of Intermetallic Phases: A Case Study on [Pd2Zn6Ga2(Cp*)5(CH3)3]

The synthesis, characterization, and theoretical investigation by means of quantum‐chemical calculations of an oligonuclear metal‐rich compound are presented. The reaction of homoleptic dinuclear palladium compound [Pd₂(μ‐GaCp*)₃(GaCp*)₂] with ZnMe₂ resulted in the formation of unprecedented ternary Pd/Ga/Zn compound [Pd₂Zn₆Ga₂(Cp*)₅(CH₃)₃] ( 1 ), which was analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, MS, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 consisted of two C_s‐symmetric molecular isomers, as revealed by NMR spectroscopy, at which distinct site‐preferences related to the Ga and Zn positions were observed by quantum‐chemical calculations. Structural characterization of compound 1 showed significantly different coordination environments for both palladium centers. Whilst one Pd atom sat in the central of a bi‐capped trigonal prism, thereby resulting in a formal 18‐valence electron fragment, {Pd(ZnMe)₂(ZnCp*)₄(GaMe)}, the other Pd atom occupied one capping unit, thereby resulting in a highly unsaturated 12‐valence electron fragment, {Pd(GaCp*)}. The bonding situation, as determined by atoms‐in‐molecules analysis (AIM), NBO partial charges, and molecular orbital (MO) analysis, pointed out that significant Pd? Pd interactions had a large stake in the stabilization of this unusual molecule. The characterization and quantum‐chemical calculations of compound 1 revealed distinct similarities to related M/Zn/Ga Hume–Rothery intermetallic solid‐state compounds, such as Ga/Zn‐exchange reactions, the site‐preferences of the Zn/Ga positions, and direct M? M bonding, which contributes to the overall stability of the metal‐rich compound.     

Strike a balance: optimization of backbone torsion parameters of AMBER polarizable force field for simulations of proteins and peptides

Based on the AMBER polarizable model (ff02), we have re-optimized the parameters related to the main-chain (Phi, Psi) torsion angles by fitting to the Boltzmann-weighted average quantum mechanical (QM) energies of the important regions (i.e., beta, P(II), alpha(R), and alpha(L) regions). Following the naming convention of the AMBER force field series, this release will be called ff02pol.rl The force field has been assessed both by energetic comparison against the QM data and by the replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations of short alanine peptides in water. For Ace-Ala-Nme, the simulated populations in the beta, P(II) and alpha(R) regions were approximately 30, 43, and 26%, respectively. For Ace-(Ala)(7)-Nme, the populations in these three regions were approximately 24, 49, and 26%. Both were in qualitative agreement with the NMR and CD experimental conclusions. In comparison with the previous force field, ff02pol.rl demonstrated good balance among these three important regions. The optimized torsion parameters, together with those in ff02, allow us to carry out simulations on proteins and peptides with the consideration of polarization.     

Orbital overlap and chemical bonding

The chemical bonds in the diatomic molecules Li(2)-F(2) and Na(2)-Cl(2) at different bond lengths have been analyzed by the energy decomposition analysis (EDA) method using DFT calculations at the BP86/TZ2P level. The interatomic interactions are discussed in terms of quasiclassical electrostatic interactions DeltaE(elstat), Pauli repulsion DeltaE(Pauli) and attractive orbital interactions DeltaE(orb). The energy terms are compared with the orbital overlaps at different interatomic distances. The quasiclassical electrostatic interactions between two electrons occupying 1s, 2s, 2p(sigma), and 2p(pi) orbitals have been calculated and the results are analyzed and discussed. It is shown that the equilibrium distances of the covalent bonds are not determined by the maximum overlap of the sigma valence orbitals, which nearly always has its largest value at clearly shorter distances than the equilibrium bond length. The crucial interaction that prevents shorter bonds is not the loss of attractive interactions, but a sharp increase in the Pauli repulsion between electrons in valence orbitals. The attractive interactions of DeltaE(orb) and the repulsive interactions of DeltaE(Pauli) are both determined by the orbital overlap. The net effect of the two terms depends on the occupation of the valence orbitals, but the onset of attractive orbital interactions occurs at longer distances than Pauli repulsion, because overlap of occupied orbitals with vacant orbitals starts earlier than overlap between occupied orbitals. The contribution of DeltaE(elstat) in most nonpolar covalent bonds is strongly attractive. This comes from the deviation of quasiclassical electron-electron repulsion and nuclear-electron attraction from Coulomb's law for point charges. The actual strength of DeltaE(elstat) depends on the size and shape of the occupied valence orbitals. The attractive electrostatic contributions in the diatomic molecules Li(2)-F(2) come from the s and p(sigma) electrons, while the p(pi) electrons do not compensate for nuclear-nuclear repulsion. It is the interplay of the three terms DeltaE(orb), DeltaE(Pauli), and DeltaE(elstat) that determines the bond energies and equilibrium distances of covalently bonded molecules. Molecules like N(2) and O(2), which are usually considered as covalently bonded, would not be bonded without the quasiclassical attraction DeltaE(elstat).     

Lower main-group element complexes with a soft scorpionate ligand: the structural influence of stereochemically active lone pairs

The syntheses and structures of complexes of the fifth period elements indium and antimony, and the sixth period element bismuth with the soft scorpionate ligand, hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate (Tm(Me)) are reported. A considerable variety of structural motifs were obtained by reaction of the main-group element halide and NaTm(Me). The indium(III) complexes took the form [In(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))(2)](+). This motif could not, however, be isolated for antimony(III), the dominant product being [Sb(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))(kappa(1)-Tm(Me))X] (X = Br, I). An iodo-bridged species [Sb(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))I(mu(2)-I)](2), analogous to a previously reported bismuth complex, was also isolated. Reaction of antimony(III) acetate with NaTm(Me) results in a remarkable species in which three different ligand binding modes are observed. In each antimony complex the influence of the nonbonded electron pair is observed in the structure. Bismuth halides form complexes analogous to those of antimony, with directional lone pairs, but in addition, reaction of Bi(NO(3))(3) with NaTm(Me) results in a complex with a regular S(6) coordination sphere and a nonstereochemically active lone pair. Comparisons are drawn with known Tm(Me) complexes of As, Sn, and Bi in which the stereochemical influence of the lone pairs is negligible and with Tm(Me) complexes of Te and Bi in which the lone pairs are stereochemically active. This study highlights the ability of Tm(Me) to coordinate in a variety of modes as dictated by the metal centre with no adverse effects on the stability of the complexes formed.     

Bond orders between molecular fragments

An extension of the Mayer bond order for the interaction between molecular fragments is presented. This approach allows the classical chemical concepts of bond order and valence to be utilised for fragments and the interactions between the fragments and symmetry-adapted linear combinations to be analysed. For high-symmetry systems, the approach allows the contribution from each irreducible representation to be assessed and provides a semiquantitative measure of the role of each bonding mode to interfragment interactions. The utility of this tool has been examined by a study of the bonding in symmetrical sandwich complexes. The validity of the frontier-orbital approach and the contributions from each frontier-orbital interaction can also be assessed within this model. As demonstrated by a study of a number of mixed-sandwich complexes, the model proves to be especially useful for low-symmetry systems in which separation of the sigma, pi and delta roles in bonding of the ligand is difficult to assess. The fragment bond order describes the interaction between preoptimized fragment orbitals and is independent of the charges that are placed on these fragments. Although the method allows the chemist to define fragments in any way they choose, most insight is gained by using the same frontier orbitals employed so successfully in perturbational molecular-orbital approaches. The results are free from the influence of the electron-counting method used to describe fragments, such as the rings and metals in sandwich complexes.     

Cationic Crown Ether Complexes of Germanium(II)

Fit for a king : Cationic complexes of Ge^II can be prepared by using crown ethers to stabilize and protect the germanium center. Three different crown ethers were employed: [12]crown‐4 (see structure, Ge teal, O red, C gray), [15]crown‐5, and [18]crown‐6. The structures of the cationic complexes depend on the cavity size of the crown ether and on the substituent on germanium.

     

生物运动仿生力学与智能微型飞行器

概述了微型飞行器研究与发展现状,分析了实用化面临的主要技术关键,重点讨论了低雷诺数空气动力学、高升阻比气动布局、智能控制等问题．已有的经验和理论分析表明：主尺度小于15cm以后,用常规方法已经很难设计出具有良好飞行性能的微型飞行器,而必须采用仿生学方法．对微型飞行器仿生学设计中的一些主要问题,包括高升力、高机动性、抗干扰稳定性以及飞行过程的力能学分析等问题分别进行了讨论。     

Atypical “Masked” Frustrated Lewis Pair Character in a Geminal-Linked Phosphine-Borane

We report the synthesis and reactivity of the geminal-linked fluorene-derived P/B frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) ⁱPr₂P(C₁₃H₈)BCy₂ ( 1 ). Compound 1 displays anomalous behavior towards small molecules, acting as a “masked” FLP. This behavior stems from significant polarization of the B−C(fluorene) bond in 1 , as identified by density functional theory (DFT) computations. We exploit this B−C bond polarity through reactions with PhPCl₂, H₃N ⋅ BH₃, and ⁱPrNH₂, demonstrating P−Cl and N−H bond activation, respectively.     

双缆悬索桥空缆状态主缆抗滑安全性研究

为指导双缆悬索桥上下缆垂跨比的取值，明确双缆悬索桥施工阶段主缆抗滑稳定性，提出一种主缆在施工阶段空缆状态下的抗滑安全系数计算方法。基于上缆变下缆的主缆布置方式，通过双缆悬索桥成桥状态反推空缆状态主缆垂度，根据空缆状态下主缆线形为悬链线计算中塔塔顶鞍座处缆力及包角，并据此计算空缆状态抗滑安全系数。建立多塔悬索桥有限元模型对提出的公式进行验证，分析成桥状态上下缆垂跨比和桥梁跨度的取值对空缆到成桥状态主缆垂度变化以及抗滑安全系数的影响。结果表明，采用本文公式计算的双缆悬索桥空缆状态下抗滑安全系数精度较高；上下缆垂跨比对空缆状态主缆抗滑安全性影响较大，抗滑安全系数随着上下缆垂跨比差值的增大迅速减小；空缆状态主缆抗滑安全系数受跨度影响不大，其随跨度增大略有提高。在实际的双缆悬索桥初步设计过程中应考虑施工阶段主缆抗滑稳定性，选择适宜的上下缆垂跨比，采取措施提高施工阶段主缆抗滑安全性。