Theoretical study on the transition-metal oxoboryl complex: M-BO bonding nature, mechanism of the formation reaction, and prediction of a new oxoboryl complex

The Pt-BO bonding nature and the formation reaction of the experimentally reported platinum(II) oxoboryl complex, simplified to PtBr(BO)(PMe(3))(2), were theoretically investigated with the density functional theory method. The BO(-) ligand was quantitatively demonstrated to have extremely strong σ-donation but very weak d(π)-electron-accepting abilities. Therefore, it exhibits a strong trans influence. The formation reaction occurs through a four-center transition state, in which the B(δ+)-Br(δ-) polarization and the Br → Si and O p(π) → B p(π) charge-transfer interactions play key roles. The Gibbs activation energy (ΔG°(++)) and Gibbs reaction energy (ΔG°) of the formation reaction are 32.2 and -6.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The electron-donating bulky phosphine ligand is found to be favorable for lowering both ΔG°(++) and ΔG°. In addition, the metal effect is examined with the nickel and palladium analogues and MBrCl[BBr(OSiMe(3))](CO)(PR(3))(2) (M = Ir and Rh). By a comparison of the ΔG°(++) and ΔG° values, the M-BO (M = Ni, Pd, Ir, and Rh) bonding nature, and the interaction energy between [MBrCl(CO)(PR(3))(2)](+) and BO(-) with those of the platinum system, MBrCl(BO)(CO)(PR(3))(2) (M = Ir and Rh) is predicted to be a good candidate for a stable oxoboryl complex.