NMR Magnetic Shielding in Transition Metal Compounds Containing Cadmium, Platinum, and Mercury

Abstract

In this article, we delve into the intricate behavior of electronic mechanisms underlying NMR magnetic shieldings σ in molecules containing heavy atoms, such as cadmium, platinum, and mercury. Specifically, we explore PtXn−2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I; n = 4, 6) and XCl2Te2Y2H6 (X = Cd, Hg; Y = N, P) molecular systems. It is known that the leading electronic mechanisms responsible for the relativistic effects on σ are well characterized by the linear response with elimination of small components model (LRESC). In this study, we present the results obtained from the innovative LRESC-Loc model, which offers the same outcomes as the LRESC model but employs localized molecular orbitals (LMOs) instead of canonical MOs. These LMOs provide a chemist’s representation of atomic core, lone pairs, and bonds. The whole set of electronic mechanisms responsible of the relativistic effects can be expressed in terms of both non-ligand-dependent and ligand-dependent contributions. We elucidate the electronic origins of trends and behaviors exhibited by these diverse mechanisms in the aforementioned molecular systems. In PtX4−2 molecules, the predominant relativistic mechanism is the well-established one-body spin–orbit (σSO(1)) mechanism, while the paramagnetic mass–velocity (σMv) and Darwin (σDw) contributing mechanisms also demand consideration. However, in PtX6−2 molecules, the σ(Mv/Dw) contribution surpasses that of the SO(1) mechanism, thus influencing the overall ligand-dependent contributions. As for complexes containing Cd and Hg, the ligand-dependent contributions exhibit similar magnitudes when nitrogen is substituted with phosphorus. The only discrepancy arises from the σSO(1) contribution, which changes sign between the two molecules due to the contribution of bond orbitals between the metal and tellurium atoms.