Topological analysis and charge density studies of an alpha-diimine macrocyclic complex of cobalt(II)--a combined experimental and theoretical study

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the paramagnetic Co(II)(C12H20N8)(H2O)2] x 2 ClO4 complex was made on the basis of the electron density distribution and topological analysis. Accurate single-crystal diffraction data were measured on a suitable crystal with Mo(K alpha) radiation at 125 K. The CoII ion is coordinated in a square bipyramidal fashion with four imino nitrogen atoms at the equatorial plane and two water molecules at the axial positions. The hydrogen-bonding interaction at 125 K between the coordinated water molecule and the ClO(4)(-) ion makes the space group different from that at 298 K. Parallel MO calculations were made at UHF and DFT/UB3LYP. The agreement between experiment and theory is reasonably good. The chemical bonding characterization is presented in terms of the topological properties associated with bond critical points and the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis as well. The Co-N(imino) and Co-O(water) bonds are dative bonds, where the lone-pair electrons of N or O serve as a -donor; however, a certain covalent character is identified in the Co-N(imino) bond. A delocalized C-N, N-N pi-bond model is proposed. The d-orbital energies of Co in this complex are such that E(d(xz)) is approximately equal to E(d(yz)) is approximately equal to E(dx(2-y2)) < E(d(z2)) < E(d(xy)); notice that d(xy) and d(z2) are d(sigma) orbitals in this case. The Co(II) ion is in a low-spin d7 state with the singly occupied d(z2) orbital. The asphericity in electron density at Co and Cl nuclei is nicely demonstrated by the Laplacian of electron density. The envelope plot of the isovalue Laplacian surface around the nucleus gives the exact shape of such asphericity. The isovalue Laplacian surfaces of these two nuclei show significantly different VSCC character in both experimental and theoretical results.