Nigel J. Brookes

Cleavage of Carbon Dioxide by an Iridium-Supported Fischer Carbene. A DFT Investigation

The reaction of CO(2), OCS, and PhNCO with an iridium-supported Fischer alkoxycarbene has been investigated with density functional theory. We have confirmed the mechanism for the important CO(2) reaction and successfully rationalized the selective cleavage of the CS and CN bonds in OCS and PhNCO. Armed with this information we have used our model to predict that the same iridium system will preferentially cleave the CS bond in methyl thiocyanate (MeNCS) rather than the CN bond. The formation of the iridium-supported carbene itself has also been investigated and a fascinating autocatalytic mechanism has been discovered which nicely fits the observed experimental behavior.

Ligand effects in bimetallic high oxidation state palladium systems

Ligand effects in bimetallic high oxidation state systems containing a X-Pd-Pd-Y framework have been explored with density functional theory (DFT). The ligand X has a strong effect on the dissociation reaction of Y to form [X-Pd-Pd](+) + Y(-). In the model system examined where Y is a weak σ-donor ligand and a good leaving group, we find that dissociation of Y is facilitated by greater σ-donor character of X relative to Y. We find that there is a linear correlation of the Pd-Y and Pd-Pd bond lengths with Pd-Y bond dissociation energy, and with the σ-donating ability of X. These results can be explained by the observation that the Pd d(z(2)) population in the PdY fragment increases as the donor ability of X increases. In these systems, the Pd(III)-Pd(III) arrangement is favored when X is a weak σ-donor ligand, while the Pd(IV)-Pd(II) arrangement is favored when X is a strong σ-donor ligand. Finally, we demonstrate that ligand exchange to form a bimetallic cationic species in which each Pd is six-coordinate should be feasible in a high polarity solvent.

Activation of CS2 and CS by ML3 Complexes

The aim of this study was to determine the best neutral ML3 metal complexes for activating and cleaving the multiple bonds in CS2 and CS. Current experimental results show that, so far, only one bond in CS2 can be cleaved, and that CS can be activated but the bond is not broken. In the work described in this paper, density functional theory calculations have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of different ML3 complexes to activate the C-S bonds in CS2 and CS, with M = Mo, Re, W, and Ta and L = NH2. These calculations show that the combination of Re and Ta in the L3Re/CS2/TaL3 complex would be the most promising system for the cleavage of both C-S bonds of CS2. The reaction to cleave both C-S bonds is predicted to be exothermic by about 700 kJ mol(-1) and to proceed in an almost barrierless fashion. In addition, we are able to rationalize why the breaking of the C-S bond in CS has not been observed experimentally with M = Mo: this reaction is strongly endothermic. There is a subtle interplay between charge transfer and pi back-donation, and it appears that the Mo-C and Mo-S bonds are not strong enough to compensate for the breaking of the C-S bond. Our results suggest that, instead, CS could be cleaved with ReL3 or, even better, with a combination of ReL3 and TaL3. Molecular orbitals and Mulliken charges have been used to help explain these trends and to make predictions about the most promising systems for future experimental exploration.

The influence of peripheral ligand bulk on nitrogen activation by three-coordinate molybdenum complexes--a theoretical study using the ONIOM method.

Electronic structure methods have been combined with the ONIOM approach to carry out a comprehensive study of the effect of ligand bulk on the activation of dinitrogen with three‐coordinate molybdenum complexes. Calculations were performed with both density functional and CCSD(T) methods. Our results show that not only is there expected destabilization of the intermediate on the pathway due to direct steric interactions of the bulky groups, but also there is significant electronic destabilization as the size of the ligand increases. This latter destabilization is due to the inability of the molecule to accommodate a rotated amide group bound to the molybdenum once the amide reaches a certain size. This destabilization also leads to a clear preference for the triplet intermediate (rather than the singlet intermediate) for bulky substituents which is in agreement with experiment. Overall, the calculated reaction profile for the bulky substituents shows a good correlation with the available experimental data.

Density Functional Theory Study on the Mechanism of the Reductive Cleavage of CO2 by a Bis-beta-Diketoiminatediiron Dinitrogen Complex

Density functional theory has been used to analyze the detailed reaction mechanism for the reductive cleavage of CO(2) by a dinitrogen bridged bis-beta-diketoiminatediiron complex, L(tBu)Fe-N(2)-FeL(tBu) (I), recently reported by Holland and co-workers. A number of pathways have been investigated and the most likely mechanism correlates well with experimental evidence. A rationale has been provided for the binding of CO(2), the release of CO, and the ready formation of CO(3)(2-). Our results show that the insertion of CO(2) into the diiron complex is the rate determining step of the reductive cleavage reaction. An intramolecular reduction step from the reduced dinitrogen bridge is proposed which serves to increase the activation of CO(2). This is followed by an intersystem crossing from the septet to the nonet state which acts as a driving force for the subsequent release of CO. The overall reductive cleavage reaction is exergonic by 120 kJ/mol, and further reaction of the released CO with the starting diiron complex is also predicted to be strongly exergonic.

Reactivity of CO2 towards Mo[N(R)Ph]3

The Laplaza/Cummins L(3)Mo (L = N(R)Ar) system is a very important complex for activating small molecules such as N(2). Previous experimental work has shown that CS(2) binds to the L(3)Mo system and forms an Mo-CS-Mo intermediate, while the environmentally important CO(2) molecule is unreactive. The aim of this paper is to explain why there is this contrast in reactivity. We have used density functional methods to show that at first glance the reaction of 3L(3)Mo + CO(2) should proceed smoothly to give L(3)Mo-O + L(3)Mo-CO-MoL(3). However initial coordination of the CO(2) molecule to L(3)Mo does not take place because of the bending of CO(2), the energy required to cross from the doublet to the quartet state, and the lower metal-CO(2) binding energy compared to metal-CS(2). The subsequent formation of the L(3)Mo-CO-MoL(3) intermediate is similarly unfeasible due to steric and entropic effects. We have provided a molecular orbital rationalization for these effects and have also shown that it is important to take account of steric factors in order to get an accurate understanding of the energetic picture.

Tuning the Laplaza-Cummins 3-coordinate M[N(R)Ph]3 catalyst to activate and cleave CO2

The Laplaza-Cummins catalyst L(3)Mo (L = N(R)Ar), is experimentally inactive towards carbon dioxide. Previous theoretical analysis identified the cause for this inactivity and suggested that a switch to a d(2) transition metal may induce activity towards the inert CO(2) molecule. In this manuscript we have tested this hypothesis by altering the central metal to Ta, Nb or V. Our calculations suggest that the tantalum analogue, TaL(3), will successfully bind to CO(2) in a mononuclear η(2) arrangement and, importantly, will strongly activate one C-O bond to a point where spontaneous C-O cleavage occurs. This prediction of a strongly exothermic reaction takes into consideration the initial barrier to formation, spin crossings, ligand bulk and even the choice of density functional in the calculations. The Nb analogue will likely coordinate CO(2) but reaction may not proceed further. In contrast, the V analogue faces an initial coordination barrier and is not expected to be sufficiently active to coordinate CO(2) to the triamide catalyst. A similar scenario exists for mixed metal interactions involving a d(2) and d(4) combination in a bridging dinuclear arrangement.

A Molecular Orbital Rationalization of Ligand Effects in N2 Activation

Molecular orbital theory has been used to study a series of [(micro-N2){ML3}2] complexes as models for dinitrogen activation, with M=Mo, Ta, W, Re and L=NH2, PH2, AsH2, SbH2 and N(BH2)2. The main aims of this study have been to provide a thorough electronic analysis of the complexes and to extend previous work involving molecular orbital analyses. Molecular orbital diagrams have been used to rationalize why for L=NH2 ligand rotation is important for the singlet state but not the triplet, to confirm the effect of ligand pi donation, and to rationalize the importance of the metal d-electron configuration. The outcomes of this study will assist with a more in-depth understanding of the electronic basis for N2 activation and allow clearer predictions to be made about the structure and multiplicity of systems involved in transition-metal catalysis.

Scission of Carbon Monoxide Using TaR3, R=(N(tBu)Ph) or OSi(tBu)3: A DFT Investigation

The experimentally known reduction of carbon monoxide using a 3-coordinate [Ta(silox)(3)] (silox=OSi(tBu)(3)) complex initially forms a ketenylidene [(silox)(3)Ta-CCO], followed by a dicarbide [(silox)(3)Ta-CC-Ta(silox)(3)] structure. The mechanism for this intricate reaction has finally been revealed by using density functional theory, and importantly a likely structure for the previously unknown intermediate [(silox)(3)Ta-CO](2) has been identified. The analysis of the reaction pathway and the numerous intermediates has also uncovered an interesting pattern that results in CO cleavage, that being scission from a structure of the general form [(silox)(3)Ta-C(n)O] in which n is even. When n is odd, cleavage cannot occur. The mechanism has been extended to consider the effect of altering both the metal species and the ligand environment. Specifically, we predict that introducing electron-rich metals to the right of Ta in the periodic table to create mixed-metal dinuclear intermediates shows great promise, as does the ligand environment of the Cummins-style 3-coordinate amide structure. This latter environment has the added complexity of improved electron donation from amide rotation that can significantly increase the reaction exothermicity.

NO 2 bond cleavage by MoL 3 complexes

The cleavage of one N-O bond in NO2 by two equivalents of Mo(NRAr)3 has been shown to occur to form molybdenum oxide and nitrosyl complexes. The mechanism and electronic rearrangement of this reaction was investigated using density functional theory, using both a model Mo(NH2)3 system and the full [N((t)Bu)(3,5-dimethylphenyl)] experimental ligand. For the model ligand, several possible modes of coordination for the resulting complex were observed, along with isomerisation and bond breaking pathways. The lowest barrier for direct bond cleavage was found to be via the singlet η(2)-N,O complex (7 kJ mol(-1)). Formation of a bimetallic species was also possible, giving an overall decrease in energy and a lower barrier for reaction (3 kJ mol(-1)). Results for the full ligand showed similar trends in energies for both isomerisation between the different isomers, and for the mononuclear bond cleavage. The lowest calculated barrier for cleavage was only 21 kJ mol(-1)via the triplet η(1)-O isomer, with a strong thermodynamic driving force to the final products of the doublet metal oxide and a molecule of NO. Formation of the full ligand dinuclear complex was not accompanied by an equivalent decrease in energy seen with the model ligand. Direct bond cleavage via an η(1)-O complex is thus the likely mechanism for the experimental reaction that occurs at ambient temperature and pressure. Unlike the other known reactions between MoL3 complexes and small molecules, the second equivalent of the metal does not appear to be necessary, but instead irreversibly binds to the released nitric oxide.