Wolfgang Scherer

Experimental and Theoretical Charge Density Studies at Subatomic Resolution

Analysis of accurate experimental and theoretical structure factors of diamond and silicon reveals that the contraction of the core shell due to covalent bond formation causes significant perturbations of the total charge density that cannot be ignored in precise charge density studies. We outline that the nature and origin of core contraction/expansion and core polarization phenomena can be analyzed by experimental studies employing an extended Hansen-Coppens multipolar model. Omission or insufficient treatment of these subatomic charge density phenomena might yield erroneous thermal displacement parameters and high residual densities in multipolar refinements. Our detailed studies therefore suggest that the refinement of contraction/expansion and population parameters of all atomic shells is essential to the precise reconstruction of electron density distributions by a multipolar model. Furthermore, our results imply that also the polarization of the inner shells needs to be adopted, especially in cases where second row or even heavier elements are involved in covalent bonding. These theoretical studies are supported by direct multipolar refinements of X-ray powder diffraction data of diamond obtained from a third-generation synchrotron-radiation source (SPring-8, BL02B2).

On the Electronic Structure of NiII Complexes That Feature Chelating Bisguanidine Ligands

In this work we report on the syntheses and properties of several new Ni complexes featuring the chelating bisguanidines bis(tetramethylguanidino)benzene (btmgb), bis(tetramethylguanidino)naphthalene (btmgn), and bis(tetramethylguanidino)biphenyl (btmgbp) as ligands. All complexes were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and quantum chemical calculations. A detailed inspection of the magnetic susceptibility of [(btmgb)NiX(2)] and [(btmgbp)NiX(2)] (X=Cl, Br) revealed a linear temperature dependence of chi(-1)(T) above 50 K, which was in agreement with a Curie-Weiss-type behavior and a triplet ground state. Below approximately 25 K, however, magnetic susceptibility studies of the paramagnetic d(8) Ni complexes revealed the presence of a significant zero-field splitting (ZFS) that results from spin-orbit mixing of excited states into the triplet ground state. The electronic consequences that might arise from the mixing of states as well as from a possible non-innocent behavior of the ligand have been explored by an experimental charge density study of [(btmgb)NiCl(2)] at low temperatures (7 K). Here, the presence of ZFS was identified as one potential reason for the flat angle-spherical Cl-Ni-Cl deformation potential and the distinct differences between the angle-spherical X-Ni-X valence angles observed by experiment and predicted by DFT. An analysis of the topology of the experimentally and theoretically derived electron-density distributions of [(btmgb)NiCl(2)] confirmed the strong donor character of the bisguanidine ligand but clearly ruled out any significant non-innocent ligand (NIL) behavior. Hence, [(btmgb)NiCl(2)] provides an experimental reference system to study the mixing of certain excited states into the ground state unbiased from any competing NIL behavior.

A chiral C3-symmetric hexanuclear triangular-prismatic copper(II) cluster derived from a highly modular dipeptidic N,N′-terephthaloyl-bis(S-aminocarboxylato) ligand

The enantiomeric dipeptidic ligand N,N′-terephthaloyl-bis(L-phenylalaninato) (TBPhe2–) reacts with copper(II) acetate in ethanol under the formation of the hexanuclear double-layered triangular-prismatic cluster [Cu2(μ4-TBPhe-κO : κO′ : κO″ : κO′″)2(EtOH)(H2O)]3·∼28(H2O/0.33EtOH) with C3-symmetry, homochiral conformer assembly in the crystal and strong antiferromagnetic coupling within the Cu2(O2CR)4 paddle-wheel unit (J = −214 K).

Valence shell charge concentrations and the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson bonding model

Combined experimental and theoretical charge density studies of the complex [Ni(η2-C2H4)dbpe] (dbpe = But2PCH2CH2PBut2), 1, reveal how the location and magnitude of charge concentrations in the valence shell of the metal atom influence the σ- and π-components of the metal–olefin interaction.

Relativistic Effects on the Topology of the Electron Density

The topological analysis of electron densities obtained either from X-ray diffraction experiments or from quantum chemical calculations provides detailed insight into the electronic structure of atoms and molecules. Of particular interest is the study of compounds containing (heavy) transition-metal elements, which is still a challenge for experiment as well as from a quantum-chemical point of view. Accurate calculations need to take relativistic effects into account explicitly. Regarding the valence electron density distribution, these effects are often only included indirectly through relativistic effective core potentials. But as different variants of relativistic Hamiltonians have been developed all-electron calculations of heavy elements in combination with various electronic structure methods are feasible. Yet, there exists no systematic study of the topology of the total electron density distribution calculated in different relativistic approximations. In this work we therefore compare relativistic Hamiltonians with respect to their effect on the electron density in terms of a topological analysis. The Hamiltonians chosen are the four-component Dirac-Coulomb, the quasi-relativistic two-component zeroth-order regular approximation, and the scalar-relativistic Douglas-Kroll-Hess operators.

Anagostic Interactions under Pressure: Attractive or Repulsive?

Square-planar d(8)-ML4 complexes might display subtle but noticeable local Lewis acidic sites in axial direction in the valence shell of the metal atom. These sites of local charge depletion provide the electronic prerequisites to establish weakly attractive 3c-2e M⋅⋅⋅H-C agostic interactions, in contrast to earlier assumptions. Furthermore, we show that the use of the sign of the (1)H NMR shifts as major criterion to classify M⋅⋅⋅H-C interactions as attractive (agostic) or repulsive (anagostic) can be dubious. We therefore suggest a new characterization method to probe the response of these M⋅⋅⋅H-C interactions under pressure by combined high pressure IR and diffraction studies.

Lanthanoiden-Komplexe, IX [1]. Reaktivitätsbestimmender Einfluß der Ligandenkonstitution bei Seltenerdamiden: Herstellung und Struktur sterisch überladener Alkoxid-Komplexe / Lanthanoid Complexes, IX [1]. Reactivity Control of Lanthanoid Amides through Ligand Effects: Synthesis and Structures of Sterically Congested Alkoxy Complexes

It is shown that the introduction of sterically demanding ligands in lanthanoid metal complexes can depend more on the precise composition of the lanthanoid precursor than on the size of the new ligand. Thus, tris(r-butyl)methanol (“rmojt-H”) does not react with the amides Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 of the “late” (small) lanthanoid metals. However, fast and clean reactions occur with the sterically less demanding derivatives Ln[N(SiHMe2)2]3, with new homoleptic complexes Ln(tritox)3 (Ln = Y, Nd) being formed with practically all metals of this group of elements. The molecular and crystal structures of some lanthanoid amides and alkoxides are described.

Elucidation of the bonding in Mn(η2-SiH) complexes by charge density analysis and T1 NMR measurements: asymmetric oxidative addition and anomeric effects at silicon

The bonding in Mn(eta2-SiH) complexes is interpreted in terms of an asymmetric oxidative addition whose extent is controlled by the substitution pattern at the hypercoordinate silicon centre, and especially by the ligand trans to the eta2-coordinating SiH moiety.

Borane and Borohydride Complexes of the Rare‐Earth Elements: Synthesis, Structures, and Butadiene Polymerization Catalysis

The reaction of potassium 2,5-bis[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminomethyl]pyrrolyl [(dip(2)-pyr)K] with the borohydrides of the larger rare-earth metals, [Ln(BH(4))(3)(thf)(3)] (Ln=La, Nd), afforded the expected products [Ln(BH(4))(2)(dip(2)-pyr)(thf)(2)]. As usual, the trisborohydrides reacted like pseudohalide compounds forming KBH(4) as a by-product. To compare the reactivity with the analogous halides, the dimeric neodymium complex [NdCl(2)(dip(2)-pyr)(thf)](2) was prepared by reaction of [(dip(2)-pyr)K] with anhydrous NdCl(3). Reaction of [(dip(2)-pyr)K] with the borohydrides of the smaller rare-earth metals, [Sc(BH(4))(3)(thf)(2)] and [Lu(BH(4))(3)(thf)(3)], resulted in a redox reaction of the BH(4) (-) group with one of the Schiff base functions of the ligand. In the resulting products, [Ln(BH(4)){(dip)(dip-BH(3))-pyr}(thf)(2)] (Ln=Sc, Lu), a dinegatively charged ligand with a new amido function, a Schiff base, and the pyrrolyl function is bound to the metal atom. The by-product of the reaction of the BH(4) (-) anion with the Schiff base function (a BH(3) molecule) is trapped in a unique reaction mode in the coordination sphere of the metal complex. The BH(3) molecule coordinates in an eta(2) fashion to the metal atom. The rare-earth-metal atoms are surrounded by the eta(2)-coordinated BH(3) molecule, the eta(3)-coordinated BH(4) (-) anion, two THF molecules, and the nitrogen atoms from the Schiff base and the pyrrolyl function. All new compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Low-temperature X-ray diffraction data at 6 K were collected to locate the hydrogen atoms of [Lu(BH(4)){(dip)(dip-BH(3))-pyr}(thf)(2)]. The (DIP(2)-pyr)(-) borohydride and chloride complexes of neodymium, [Nd(BH(4))(2)(dip(2)-pyr)(thf)(2)] and [NdCl(2)(dip(2)-pyr)(thf)](2), were also used as Ziegler-Natta catalysts for the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene to yield poly(cis-1,4-butadiene). Very high activities and good cis selectivities were observed by using each of these complexes as a catalyst in the presence of various cocatalyst mixtures.

Crystal‐Packing‐Induced Antiferromagnetic Interactions of Metallocenes: Cyanonickelocenes, ‐cobaltocenes, and ‐ferrocenes

The cyano-substituted metallocenes [M(C5H4CN)2] (M=Fe, 1; Co, 2; Ni 3) and [M(C5Me5)(C5H4CN)] (M=Fe, 4; Co, 5; Ni, 6) were synthesized in yields up to 58 % by treating K(C5H4CN) or Tl(C5H4CN) with suitable transition-metal precursors. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that the oxidation and reduction potentials of all the cyanometallocenes were shifted to positive values by up to 0.8 V. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis showed that 1 had eclipsed ligands, formed planes in the lattice, and--unlike usual metallocenes--lined up in stacks perpendicular to these planes. Powder X-ray studies established that 1 and 2 are isotypic. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded for all the new compounds. Signal shifts of up to delta=1500 ppm were recorded for the paramagnetic molecules 2 and 3 and were, at a given temperature, strikingly different for solution and solid-state spectra. These results pointed to antiferromagnetic interactions as a consequence of molecular ordering in the lattice, as confirmed by magnetic measurements. The temperature-dependent susceptibilities were reproduced by Heisenberg spin-chain models (H=-J sum n- 1 i=1 SiSi+1), thus yielding J=-28.3 and -10.3 cm(-1) for 2 and 3, respectively, whereas J=-11.8 cm(-1) was obtained for 3 from the Ising spin-chain model. In accordance with molecular orbital (MO) considerations, much spin density was found to be delocalized not only on the cyclopentadienyl ligand but also the cyano substituents. The magnetic interaction was interpreted as a Heitler-London spin exchange and was analyzed based on how the interaction depends on the singly occupied MOs and the shift of parallel metallocenes relative to each other.