Structure and coordination of organometallic groups on a chemically modified SiO2 surface

Abstract

The structural, electronic, and energy parameters of the metal-containing clusters (H3SiO)3Si−O−XMe n (X=H, B, Al, or Zn;n=0, 1, or 2), which model organometallic groups on a SiO2 surface modified with B-, Al-, and Zn-containing alkyls, have been studied by quantum-chemical methods. Full geometry optimization for these clusters was carried out by the SCF MO LCAO method taking into account the electron correlation within the frameworks of the MP2 and B3LYP schemes using the 6-31G(d) (6-311G(d) for Zn) basis set. The effect of the crystal environment was taken into account in calculations of siliconoxygen clusters containing 10 and 30 silicon atoms using theab initio SCF/6-31G(d) and semiempirical MNDO-PM3 methods. Various modes of coordination and interactions of organometallic groups with oxygen atoms of surface groups were studied. For the organoaluminum group on the surface, two stable conformations were found, namely, the three-coordinate structure with the chain −O−AlMe2 ligand and the four-coordinate (quasicyclic) structure with the Al atom that forms two nonequivalent bonds with the O atoms at the same Si atom. The four-coordinate structure is energetically more favorable. No stable structures were found for the organoboron and organozinc fragments.