Comparison of side-on and end-on coordination of E2 ligands in complexes [W(CO)5E2] (E=N,P, As,Sb, Bi,Si-, Ge-, Sn-, Pb-)

Complexes of W(CO)(5) with neutral diatomic pnictogen ligands N(2), P(2), As(2), Sb(2), and Bi(2) and anionic Group 14 ligands Si(2) (2-), Ge(2) (2-), Sn(2) (2-), and Pb(2) (2-) coordinated in both side-on and end-on fashion have been optimized by using density functional theory at the BP86 level with valence sets of TZP quality. The calculated bond energies have been used to compare the preferential binding modes of each respective ligand. The results were interpreted by analyzing the nature of the interaction between the ligands and the metal fragment using an energy partitioning method. This yields quantitative information regarding the strength of covalent and electrostatic interactions between the metal and ligand, as well as the contributions by orbitals of different symmetry to the covalent bonding. Results show that all the ligands studied bind preferentially in a side-on coordination mode, with the exception of N(2), which prefers to coordinate in an end-on mode. The preference of the heavier homologues P(2)-Bi(2) for binding in a side-on mode over the end-on mode in the neutral complexes [(CO)(5)WE(2)] comes mainly from the much stronger electrostatic attraction in the former species. The energy difference between the side-on and end-on isomers of the negatively charged complexes with the ligands Si(2) (2-), Ge(2) (2-), Sn(2) (2-), and Pb(2) (2-) is much less and it cannot be ascribed to a particular bonding component.     

The role of rigid unit modes in negative thermal expansion

The rigid unit mode (RUM) model provides a valuable computational method to investigate correlations of transverse thermal motions of atoms important in negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials. We report here detailed RUM calculations of ten framework oxide structures that have been studied for their negative (or ultra low) thermal expansion properties. The results negate any simple and direct correlation between presence or absence of RUMs in a structure and its NTE property. All the structures considered can be viewed as networks of polyhedral connected by corners only. All evidence supports the importance the transverse motion of the atoms at the corners, but NTE does not correlate well with the presence RUMs for the polyhedra.     

The kinetics of reaction of 4-nitrophenylnitromethane with N’-Propyl-N,N-dipropylbenzimidamide in aprotic solvents. a steric effect on tunneling

Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters have been established for the reaction between the carbon acid, 4-nitrophenylnitromethane, (4-NPNM), and the base N’-n-propyl-N,N-di-n-propylbenzimidamide, (N’PDPBA), in mesitylene and in chlorobenzene. In some cases deuteron transfer from 4-(D₂)NPNM to the base has also been studied. In addition, some results for the proton transfer reaction in tetrahydrofuran have been collected. Spectrophotometric methods have been employed to monitor the ion-pair product, which is solvatochromic. In general the solvent dependence of the parameters is as expected, but there is some indication of specific solvation. The kinetic isotope effects of 11 and 8 in mesitylene and chlorobenzene, respectively, are larger than those predicted classically. However, as is discussed the n-propyl group on the secondary nitrogen of the base may serve to reduce the extent of tunneling compared to that in an unsubstituted analogue by a steric effect.     

On assignment of fundamental vibrational modes of hypophosphite anion and its deuterated analogue

Results of ab initio and density functional theory calculations on the structure and vibrational frequencies of hypophosphite anion indicate earlier experimental assignments of the fundamental vibrational modes are correct while the recent reassignments of several modes proposed by Bickley et al. are inconsistent with the calculated results.     

Tunable N-substitution in zwitterionic benzoquinonemonoimine derivatives: metal coordination, tandemlike synthesis of zwitterionic metal complexes, and supramolecular structures

Full details on a very efficient transamination reaction for the synthesis of zwitterionic N,N-dialkyl-2-amino-5-alcoholate-1,4-benzoquinonemonoiminium derivatives [C6H2(=NHR)2(=O)2] 5-16 are reported. The molecular structures of zwitterions 5 (R=CH3) in 5.H2O, 13 (R=CH2CH2OMe), 15 (R=CH2CH2NMe2), and of the parent, unsubstituted system [C6H2(=NH2)2(=O)2] 4 in 4.H2O have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This one-pot preparation can be carried out in water, MeOH, or EtOH and allows access to new zwitterions with N-substituents bearing functionalities such as -OMe (13), -OH (9-12), NR1R2 with R1 = or not equal R2 (14-16) or an alkene (8), leading to a rich coordination chemistry and allowing fine-tuning of the supramolecular arrangements in the solid state. As previously described for 15, which reacted with Zn(acac)2 to afford the octahedral Zn(II) complex [Zn[C6H2(NCH2CH2NMe2)O(O)(NHCH2CH2NMe2)]2] (20), ligands 13 and 16 with coordinating "arms" afforded with Zn(acac)2 the 2:1 adducts [Zn[C6H2(NCH2CH2X)O(=O)(NHCH2CH2NX)]2] 19 (X=OMe) and 21 (X=NHEt), with N2O4 and N4O2 donor sets around the octahedral Zn(II) center, respectively. Furthermore, zwitterions 15 and 16 reacted with ZnCl2 to give the stable, crystallographically characterized Zn(II) zwitterionic complexes [ZnCl2[C6H2(NCH2CH2NR1R2)O(=O)(NHCH2CH2NHR1R2)]] 22 (R1=R2=Me) and 23 (R1=Et, R2=H) by means of an unprecedented, tandemlike synthesis in which 1) the two pendant amino groups of the organic benzoquinonemonoimine zwitterionic precursor favor metal coordination and proton transfer and 2) the saturated linker prevents pi-conjugation between the charges. The nature of the structural arrangements in the solid state for both inorganic (20, 22, 23) and organic (5, 9, 13, and 15) molecules is determined by subtle variations in the nature of the N-substituent on the zwitterion precursor.     

Structures of Organo Alkali Metal Complexes and Related Compounds

The investigation of the reactivity and structure of organometallic compounds of alkali metals has experienced a blustering development in the last decades. This class includes compounds that are especially important for our understanding of chemical bonding and also quite simple, for example methyl alkali metal complexes, whose structures have been unequivocally determined. Organometallic compounds of alkali metals (and also magnesium) generally exist as ion aggregates whose properties can be significantly modified through solvation by, for example, ether or amines. Important advances in the synthesis of new compounds, especially those of the heavier alkali metals, have been based on these results. It was long believed that the alkali metals had little tendency to undergo coordination and that their coordination chemistry would offer few surprises. This picture has now changed completely. Results from crystal structure investigations have revealed a variety of often surprising structure types (rings, heterocubanes, chains, layers, etc.) not only with the organometallic compounds but also with the amides, imides, alkoxides, phenoxides, enolates, and even halides. A comparison reveals interesting similarities between compounds that appear to be so different and leads to a general classification of the structure types possible with C, N, O, and halo ligands.     

偶氮苯自组装单分子膜中长程电子转移机理

利用自组装技术在金电极表面构造了具有不同前端健长度偶氮苯功能化的单分子膜体系：Au／S（CH2）nNHCO-N＝N-OCH2CH3（n＝2，3，4，6）．研究结果表明，仍氮苯到金电极的表现电子转移速率随它们之间的距离长度的增加而呈指数性的下降趋势．基于Marcus电子隧穿理论，得到了此自组装膜体系的长程电子隧穿系数ρ＝（1．35±0．2）／CH2在和可逆电活性分子自组装膜体系及理论计算相比较的基础上，从偶氮苯分子自组装膜结构与电子转移过程的关系角度对这一结果进行了分析和说明．     

液晶CPBOB吸附的STM研究

利用STM对吸附在导电基底上的液晶进行研究，能提供近原子分辨的液晶分子图象，这一创新不仅拓宽了STM的研究领域，也使STM成为研究液晶吸附的重要手段之一．根据液晶相变特征不同，样品的制备方法大致分四种情况：直接法，加热法，气相沉积法和溶剂法．无论采用以上哪种方法，