- Award ID(s):
- 1940456
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10329570
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
- Volume:
- 23
- Issue:
- 36
- ISSN:
- 1463-9076
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 20298 to 20306
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Density functional theory and ab initio multi-reference calculations are performed to examine the stability and electronic structure of boron complexes that host diffuse electrons in their periphery. Such complexes (solvated electron precursors or SEPs) have been experimentally identified and studied theoretically for several s- and d-block metals. For the first time, we demonstrate that a p-block metalloid element can form a stable SEP when appropriate ligands are chosen. We show that three ammonia and one methyl ligands can displace two of the three boron valence electrons to a peripheral 1s-type orbital. The shell model for these outer electrons is identical to previous SEP systems (1s, 1p, 1d, 2s). Further, we preformed the first examination of a molecular system consisting of two SEPs bridged by a hydrocarbon chain. The electronic structure of these dimers is very similar to that of traditional diatomic molecules forming bonding and anti-bonding σ and π orbitals. Their ground state electronic structure resembles that of two He atoms, and our results indicate that the excitation energies are nearly independent of the chain length for four carbon atoms or longer. These findings pave the way for the development of novel materials similar to expanded metals and electrides.more » « less
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Inverse-sandwich samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes were synthesized by the reduction of their trivalent halide precursors with potassium graphite in the presence of biphenyl. While the samarium complex had a similar structure as previously reported rare earth metal biphenyl complexes, with the two samarium ions bound to the same phenyl ring, the ytterbium counterpart adopted a different structure, with the two ytterbium ions bound to different phenyl rings. Upon the addition of crown ether to encapsulate the potassium ions, the inverse-sandwich samarium biphenyl structure remained intact; however, the ytterbium biphenyl structure fell apart with the concomitant formation of a divalent ytterbium crown ether complex and potassium biphenylide. Spectroscopic and computational studies were performed to gain insight into the electronic structures and bonding interactions of these samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes. While the ytterbium ions were found to be divalent with a 4f 14 electron configuration and form a primarily ionic bonding interaction with biphenyl dianion, the samarium ions were in the trivalent state with a 4f 5 electron configuration and mainly utilized the 5d orbitals to form a δ-type bonding interaction with the π* orbitals of the biphenyl tetraanion, showing covalent character.more » « less
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Abstract Exploration of the reduction chemistry of the 2,2’‐bipyridine (bipy) lanthanide metallocene complexes Cp*2LnCl(bipy) and Cp*2Ln(bipy) (Cp* = C5Me5) resulted in the isolation of a series of complexes with unusual composition and structure including complexes with a single Cp* ligand, multiple azide ligands, and bipy ligands with close parallel orientations. These results not only reveal new structural types, but they also show the diverse chemistry displayed by this redox‐active platform. Treatment of Cp*2NdCl(bipy) with excess KC8resulted in the formation of the mono‐Cp* Nd(III) complex, [K(crypt)]2[Cp*Nd(bipy)2],
1 , as well as [K(crypt)][Cp*2NdCl2],2 , and the previously reported [K(crypt)][Cp*2Nd(bipy)]. A mono‐Cp* Lu(III) complex, Cp*Lu(bipy)2,3 , was also found in an attempt to make Cp*2Lu(bipy) from LuCl3, 2 equiv. of KCp*, bipy, and K/KI. Surprisingly, the (bipy)1−ligands in neighboring molecules in the structure of3 are oriented in a parallel fashion with intermolecular C⋅⋅⋅C distances of 3.289(4) Å, which are shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii of two carbon atoms, 3.4 Å. Another product with one Cp* ligand per lanthanide was isolated from the reaction of [K(crypt)][Cp*2Eu(bipy)] with azobenzene, which afforded the dimeric Eu(II) complex, [K(crypt)]2[Cp*Eu(THF)(PhNNPh)]2,4 . Attempts to make4 from the reaction between Cp*2Eu(THF)2and a reduced azobenzene anion generated instead the mixed‐valent Eu(III)/Eu(II) complex, [K(crypt)][Cp*Eu(THF)(PhNNPh)]2,5 , which allows direct comparison with the bimetallic Eu(II) complex4 . Mono‐Cp* complexes of Yb(III) are obtained from reactions of the Yb(II) complex, [K(crypt)][Cp*2Yb(bipy)], with trimethylsilylazide, which afforded the tetra‐azido [K(crypt)]2[Cp*Yb(N3)4],6 , or the di‐azido complex [K(crypt)]2[Cp*Yb(N3)2(bipy)],7 a , depending on the reaction stoichiometry. A mono‐Cp* Yb(III) complex is also isolated from reaction of [K(crypt)][Cp*2Yb(bipy)] with elemental sulfur which forms the mixed polysulfido Yb(III) complex [K(crypt)]2[Cp*Yb(S4)(S5)],8 a . In contrast to these reactions that form mono‐Cp* products, reduction of Cp*2Yb(bipy) with 1 equiv. of KC8in the presence of 18‐crown‐6 resulted in the complete loss of Cp* ligands and the formation of [K(18‐c‐6)(THF)][Yb(bipy)4],9 . The (bipy)1−ligands of9 are arranged in a parallel orientation, as observed in the structure of3 , except in this case this interaction is intramolecular and involves pairs of ligands bound to the same Yb atom. Attempts to reduce further the Sm(II) (bipy)1−complex, Cp*2Sm(bipy) with 2 equiv. of KC8in the presence of excess 18‐crown‐6 led to the isolation of a Sm(III) salt of (bipy)2−with an inverse sandwich Cp* counter‐cation and a co‐crystallized K(18‐c‐6)Cp* unit, [K2(18‐c‐6)2Cp*]2[Cp*2Sm(bipy)]2 ⋅ [K(18‐c‐6)Cp*],10 . -
Abstract Chemical reduction of pentacene (C22H14,
1 ) with Group 1 metals ranging from Li to Cs revealed that1 readily undergoes a two‐fold reduction to afford a doubly‐reduced1 2−anion in THF. With the help of 18‐crown‐6 ether used as a secondary coordinating agent, five π‐complexes of1 2−with different alkali metal counterions have been isolated and fully characterized. This series of complexes enables the first evaluation of alkali‐metal ion binding patterns and structural changes of the1 2−dianion based on the crystallographically confirmed examples. The difference in coordination of the smallest Li+ion vs. heavier Group 1 congeners has been demonstrated. In addition, the use of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 in the reaction of1 with Na metal allowed the isolation of the unique solvent‐separated ion product with a “naked” dianion,1 2−. The detailed structural analyses of the series revealed the C−C bond alteration and core deformation of pentacene upon two‐fold reduction and complexation. The negative charge localization at the central six‐membered ring of1 2−identified by theoretical calculations corroborates with the X‐ray crystallographic results. Subsequent in‐depth theoretical analysis provided a detailed description of changes in the electronic structure and aromaticity of pentacene upon reduction. -
Abstract A low‐spin and mononuclear vanadium complex, (Menacnac)V(CO)(η2‐P≡C
t Bu) (2 ) (Menacnac−=[ArNC(CH3)]2CH, Ar=2,6‐i Pr2C6H3), was prepared upon treatment of the vanadium neopentylidyne complex (Menacnac)V≡Ct Bu(OTf) (1 ) with Na(OCP)(diox)2.5(diox=1,4‐dioxane), while the isoelectronic ate‐complex [Na(15‐crown‐5)]{([ArNC(CH2)]CH[C(CH3)NAr])V(CO)(η2‐P≡Ct Bu)} (4 ), was obtained via the reaction of Na(OCP)(diox)2.5and ([ArNC(CH2)]CH[C(CH3)NAr])V≡Ct Bu(OEt2) (3 ) in the presence of crown‐ether. Computational studies suggest that the P‐atom transfer proceeds by [2+2]‐cycloaddition of the P≡C bond across the V≡Ct Bu moiety, followed by a reductive decarbonylation to form the V−C≡O linkage. The nature of the electronic ground state in diamagnetic complexes,2 and4 , was further investigated both theoretically and experimentally, using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements, and comparison of salient bond metrics derived from X‐ray single‐crystal structural characterization. In combination, these data are consistent with a low‐valent vanadium ion in complexes2 and4 . This study represents the first example of a metathesis reaction between the P‐atom of [PCO]−and an alkylidyne ligand.