Transition Metal Carbonyl Clusters Research Articles

Formation of Delocalized Linear M-B-M Covalent Bonds: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of BM2(CO)8+ (M = Co, Rh, Ir) Complexes.

Investigations of transition-metal boride clusters not only lead to novel structures but also provide important information about the metal-boron bonds that are critical to understanding the properties of boride materials. The geometric structures and bonding features of heteronuclear boron-containing transition metal carbonyl cluster cations BM(CO)6+ and BM2(CO)8+ (M = Co, Rh, and Ir) are studied by a combination of the infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and density functional calculations at B3LYP/def2-TZVP level. The completely coordinated BM2(CO)8+ complexes are characterized as a sandwich structure composed of two staggered M(CO)4 fragments and a boron cation, featuring a D3d symmetry and 1Eg electronic ground state as well as metal-anchored carbonyls in an end-on manner. In conjunction with theoretical calculations, multifold metal-boron-metal bonding interactions in BM2(CO)8+ complexes involving the filled d orbitals of the metals and the empty p orbitals of the boron cation were unveiled, namely, one σ-type M-B-M bond and two π-type M-B-M bonds. Accordingly, the BM2(CO)8+ complexes can be described as a linear conjugated (OC)4M═B═M(CO)4 skeleton with a formal B-M bond index of 1.5. The three delocalized d-p-d covalent bonds render compensation for the electron deficiency of the cationic boron center and endow both metal centers with the favorable 18-electron structure, thus contributing much to the overall structural stability of the BM2(CO)8+ cations. As a comparison, the saturated BRh(CO)6+ and BIr(CO)6+ complexes are determined to be a doublet Cs-symmetry structure with an unbridged (OC)2B-M(CO)4 pattern, involving a two-center σ-type (OC)2B → M(CO)4+ dative single bond along with a weak covalent B-M half bond. This work offers important insight into the structure and bonding of late transition metal boride carbonyl cluster cations.

Formation of Delocalized Linear M-B-M Covalent Bonds: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of BM2(CO)8+ (M = Co, Rh, Ir) Complexes.

Investigations of transition-metal boride clusters not only lead to novel structures but also provide important information about the metal-boron bonds that are critical to understanding the properties of boride materials. The geometric structures and bonding features of heteronuclear boron-containing transition metal carbonyl cluster cations BM(CO)6+ and BM2(CO)8+ (M = Co, Rh, and Ir) are studied by a combination of the infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and density functional calculations at B3LYP/def2-TZVP level. The completely coordinated BM2(CO)8+ complexes are characterized as a sandwich structure composed of two staggered M(CO)4 fragments and a boron cation, featuring a D3d symmetry and 1Eg electronic ground state as well as metal-anchored carbonyls in an end-on manner. In conjunction with theoretical calculations, multifold metal-boron-metal bonding interactions in BM2(CO)8+ complexes involving the filled d orbitals of the metals and the empty p orbitals of the boron cation were unveiled, namely, one σ-type M-B-M bond and two π-type M-B-M bonds. Accordingly, the BM2(CO)8+ complexes can be described as a linear conjugated (OC)4M═B═M(CO)4 skeleton with a formal B-M bond index of 1.5. The three delocalized d-p-d covalent bonds render compensation for the electron deficiency of the cationic boron center and endow both metal centers with the favorable 18-electron structure, thus contributing much to the overall structural stability of the BM2(CO)8+ cations. As a comparison, the saturated BRh(CO)6+ and BIr(CO)6+ complexes are determined to be a doublet Cs-symmetry structure with an unbridged (OC)2B-M(CO)4 pattern, involving a two-center σ-type (OC)2B → M(CO)4+ dative single bond along with a weak covalent B-M half bond. This work offers important insight into the structure and bonding of late transition metal boride carbonyl cluster cations.

Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Mass-Selected Dinuclear Transition Metal Boride Carbonyl Cluster Cations.

The transition-metal-boron bonding interactions and geometric structures of heterodinuclear transition metal carbonyl cluster cations BM(CO)n+ (M = Co, Ni, and Cu) are studied by a combination of the infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/def2-TZVP level. The BCu(CO)5+ and BCo(CO)6+ cations are characterized as an (CO)2B-M(CO)3/4+ structure involving an σ-type (OC)2B → M(CO)3,4+ dative bonding with end-on carbonyls, while for BNi(CO)5,6+ complexes with a bridged carbonyl, a 3c-2e bond involving the 5σ electrons of the bridged carbonyl and an electron-sharing bond between the B(CO)2 fragment and the Ni(CO)2,3+ subunits were revealed. Moreover, the fundamental driving force of the exclusive existence of a bridged carbonyl group in the boron-nickel complexes has been demonstrated to stem from the desire of the B and Ni centers for the favorable 8- and 18-electron structures.

Kenneth Wade. 13 October 1932—16 March 2014

Much of Ken Wade's scientific career was devoted to developing and exploiting the chemistries of boron, aluminium, gallium and indium (the Group 13 elements). He made significant contributions to both experimental and theoretical aspects of the subject and was a highly regarded teacher and attentive research supervisor. Ken was a modest and self-critical man who had a rare ability to recognize patterns in large chemical and molecular structure data sets and express the resulting generalizations in the form of simple rules that experimental chemists could appreciate and use to predict new compounds. Ken was fascinated by the structures of cluster compounds that are based on regular polyhedral shapes. Cluster molecules generally contain groups of metal atoms linked by metal–metal bonds and located on one or more spherical shells. Since the 1960s they have attracted the attention of both academic and industrial chemists. Understanding and predicting their three-dimensional shapes raised a significant intellectual challenge for chemists. The clusters also attracted attention because they occupy an intermediate position between co-ordination compounds based on a single metal atom and the parent metal, which has an infinite number of linked metal atoms. This provided chemists with a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of their electronic and chemical properties as the cluster size increases. Ken was the first to recognize the electronic relationships connecting closo- , nido- , arachno- and hypho - clusters. These clusters are inter-related by the successive removal of vertices from a regular closo- deltahedron, i.e. a polyhedron with all the faces triangular. His ability to connect the structures of these molecules to the number of valence electrons involved in skeletal bonding represented a significant contribution to chemical bonding theories. Ken communicated his conclusions in very clearly written papers and books. This made the complexities of cluster chemistry amenable to many and especially those who did not have a strong background in quantum chemistry. The skeletal electron counting rules, or Wade's Rules, which Ken pioneered, are now very much part of the fabric of modern cluster chemistry and form an important component of modern undergraduate inorganic chemistry courses. Wade's Rules may be applied to main group and transition metal carbonyl clusters as well as clusters containing both main group and transition metal fragments. Besides providing an accessible entry into cluster chemistry for students, the rules have been used creatively by many leading synthetic chemists to discover new classes of compounds.

Complexes of transition metal carbonyl clusters with tin(II) phthalocyanine in neutral and radical anion states: methods of synthesis, structures and properties.

Coordination of tin(II) phthalocyanine to transition metal carbonyl clusters in neutral {SnII(Pc2-)}0 or radical anion {SnII(Pc˙3-)}- states is reported. Direct interaction of Co4(CO)12 with {SnII(Pc2-)}0 yields a crystalline complex {Co4(CO)11·SnII(Pc2-)} (1). There is no charge transfer from the cluster to phthalocyanine in 1, which preserves the diamagnetic Pc2- macrocycle. The Ru3(CO)12 cluster forms complexes with one or two equivalents of {SnII(Pc˙3-)}- to yield crystalline {Cryptand[2.2.2](Na+)}{Ru3(CO)11·SnII(Pc˙3-)}- (2) or {Cryptand[2.2.2](M+)}2{Ru3(CO)10·[SnII(Pc˙3-)]2}2-·4C6H4Cl2 (3) (M+ is K or Cs). Paramagnetic {SnII(Pc˙3-)}- species in 2 are packed in π-stacking [{SnII(Pc˙3-)}-]2 dimers, providing strong antiferromagnetic coupling of spins with exchange interaction J/kB = -19 K. Reduction of Ru3(CO)12, Os3(CO)12 and Ir4(CO)12 clusters by decamethylchromocene (Cp*2Cr) and subsequent oxidation of the reduced species by {SnIVCl2(Pc2-)}0 yield a series of complexes with high-spin Cp*2Cr+ counter cations (S = 3/2): (Cp*2Cr+){Ru3(CO)11·SnII(Pc˙3-)}-·C6H4Cl2 (4), (Cp*2Cr+){Os3(CO)10Cl·SnII(Pc˙3-)}-·C6H4Cl2 (5) and (Cp*2Cr+){Ir4(CO)11·SnII(Pc˙3-)}2- (6). It is seen that reduced clusters are oxidized by SnIV, which is transferred to SnII, whereas the Pc2- macrocycle is reduced to Pc˙3-. In the case of Os3(CO)12, oxidation of the metal atom in the cluster is observed to be accompanied by the formation of Os3(CO)10Cl with one OsI center. Rather weak magnetic coupling is observed between paramagnetic Cp*2Cr+ and {SnII(Pc˙3-)}- species in 4, but this exchange interaction is enhanced in 5 owing to Os3(CO)10Cl clusters with paramagnetic OsI (S = 1/2) also being involved in antiferromagnetic coupling of spins. The formation of {SnII(Pc˙3-)}- with radical trianion Pc˙3- macrocycles in 2-5 is supported by the appearance of new absorption bands in the NIR spectra and essential Nmeso-C bond alternation in Pc (for 3-5). On the whole, this work shows that both diamagnetic {SnII(Pc2-)}0 and paramagnetic {SnII(Pc˙3-)}- ligands substitute carbonyl ligands in the transition metal carbonyl clusters, forming well-soluble paramagnetic solids absorbing light in the visible and NIR ranges.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of an α-unsaturated carboxylic acid catalyzed by intact chiral transition metal carbonyl clusters - diastereomeric control of enantioselectivity.

Twenty clusters of the general formula [(μ-H)2Ru3(μ3-S)(CO)7(μ-P-P*)] (P-P* = chiral diphosphine of the ferrocene-based Walphos or Josiphos families) have been synthesised and characterised. The clusters have been tested as catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of tiglic acid [trans-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid]. The observed enantioselectivities and conversion rates strongly support catalysis by intact Ru3 clusters. A catalytic mechanism involving an active Ru3 catalyst generated by CO loss from [(μ-H)2Ru3(μ3-S)(CO)7(μ-P-P*)] has been investigated by DFT calculations.

Infrared Spectra, Structures and Bonding of Binuclear Transition Metal Carbonyl Cluster Ions

Binuclear transition metal carbonyl clusters serve as the simplest models in understanding metal-metal and ligand bonding that are important organometallic chemistry catalysis. Binuclear first row transition metal carbonyl ions are produced via a pulsed laser vaporization/supersonic expansion cluster ion source in the gas phase. These ions are studied by mass-selected infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching frequency region. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on the geometric structures and vibrational spectra of the carbonyl ions. Their geometric and electronic structures are determined by comparison of the experimental IR spectra with the simulated spectra. The structure and the metal-metal and metal-CO bonding of both saturated and unsaturated homonuclear as well as heteronuclear carbonyl cluster cations and anions are discussed.

A Hypothetical Model for the Formation of Transition Metal Carbonyl Clusters Based upon 4n Series Skeletal Numbers

<p>Skeletal numbers of elements have been introduced as derivatives of the 4n series method. They are based on the number of valence electrons present in the skeletal element. They are extremely useful in deducing possible shapes of skeletal elements in molecules or clusters especially the small to medium ones. For large skeletal clusters, the skeletal numbers may simply be regarded as identity numbers. In carbonyl clusters, they can be used as a guide to facilitate the distribution of the ligands such as CO, H and charges onto the skeletal atoms. A naked skeletal cluster may be viewed as a reservoir for skeletal linkages which get utilized when ligands or electrons get bound to it. The sum of linkages used up by the ligands bound to a skeletal fragment and the remaining cluster skeletal numbers is equal to the number of the skeletal linkages present in the original ‘naked parent’ skeletal cluster. The skeletal numbers can be used as a quick way of testing whether or not a skeletal atom obeys the 8-or 18-electron rules.</p>

Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study of Heteronuclear Transition Metal Carbonyl Cluster Cations in the Gas Phase.

Heteronuclear transition metal carbonyl cluster cations FeM(CO)8(+) (M = Co, Ni and Cu) and MCu(CO)7(+) (M = Co and Ni) are produced via a laser vaporization supersonic cluster ion source in the gas phase, which are each mass-selected and studied by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching frequency region. Their geometric and electronic structures are established by comparison of the experimental spectra with those derived from density functional theoretical calculations. The FeM(CO)8(+) (M = Co, Ni, Cu) complexes are determined to have eclipsed (CO)5Fe-M(CO)3(+) structures, and the MCu(CO)7(+) (M = Co, Ni) ions are characterized to have staggered (CO)4M-Cu(CO)3(+) structures. Natural bonding orbital analysis indicates that the positive charge is mainly distributed on the M(CO)3 fragment. The metal-metal interaction involves an σ-type (OC)4,5M→M(CO)3(+) dative bonding.

Carbonyl Chalcogenides Clusters Existing as Disguised Forms of Hydrocarbon Isomers

<p>The 4n Series Method has been utilized to categorize, analyze and predict structures for transition metal carbonyl, borane, hydrocarbon and Zintl ion clusters. The method is being extended to study carbonyl chalcogenide clusters. Adequate examples have been given to demonstrate the application of the 4n series method to categorize clusters and where possible predict their possible skeletal structures. In this paper, the method is being applied to the study of carbonyl chalcogenide cluster complexes. What has been found is the striking structural similarity of a wide range of carbonyl chalcogenide clusters to those of corresponding hydrocarbon clusters. It was observed that when a derived hydrocarbon from a cluster, F<sub>CH</sub> = C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>q</sub>, is such that n<q, the cluster portrays structural similarity with an equivalent hydrocarbon. On the other hand when n>q, the ‘hydrocarbon character’ becomes reduced and the typical cluster tendencies increase. When n = q, the situation becomes more or less a borderline case. When q=0, then F<sub>CH</sub> = C<sub>n</sub>. When the series becomes bi-capped or more, then the equivalent carbon cations are obtained.</p>

The Main Group Elements, Fragments, Compounds and Clusters Obey the 4n Rule and Form 4n Series: They are Close relatives to Transition Metal Counterparts via the 14n Linkage

<p>The paper presents numbers which were derived from 4n-based series in a matrix table. The numbers agree precisely with the total number of valence electrons surrounding the respective skeletal elements. The series approach focuses mainly on the number of skeletal elements and their respective number of valence electron content regardless of the origin of the electrons and the type of skeletal elements. For instance, any 6 skeletal elements of transition metal carbonyls surrounded by 86 valence electrons coded as (6,86), series S = 14n+2 normally adopt an octahedral geometry whereas (6,26) series S = 4n+2 for main group elements also tend to adopt an octahedral shape. The transition metal carbonyl cluster series were extensively covered in our previous articles. This paper demonstrates that the main group fragments, clusters and molecules which we normally explain by terms such as valency, valence electrons and octet rule also obey the 4n-based series. The fragments, molecules and clusters of the main group elements correspond well to those of respective transition metal clusters especially the carbonyls if the masking electrons are removed from them. Hence, the series approach is a qualitative method that acts as a unifier of some transition metal clusters with some main group elements clusters.</p>

Generating Formulas of Transition Metal Carbonyl Clusters of Osmium, Rhodium and Rhenium

<p>The series for carbonyl clusters of transition metals have been developed. They may be considered to be formed with a fragment centered around the 14 electron valence content. The capping series are based on the fragment of 12 electron valence content. The formulas of clusters can be decomposed into series from which the shapes of clusters may be predicted. The electron counting numbers of carbonyl clusters can be identified.</p>

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of mass-selected heteronuclear iron-copper carbonyl cluster anions in the gas phase.

Mass-selected heteronuclear iron-copper carbonyl cluster anions CuFe(CO)n(-) (n = 4-7) are studied by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching frequency region in the gas phase. The cluster anions are produced via a laser vaporization supersonic cluster ion source. Their geometric structures are determined by comparison of the experimental spectra with those calculated by density functional theory. The experimentally observed CuFe(CO)n(-) (n = 4-7) cluster anions are characterized to have (OC)4Fe-Cu(CO)n-4 structures, each involving a C3v symmetry Fe(CO)4(-) building block. Bonding analysis indicates that the Fe-Cu bond in the CuFe(CO)n(-) (n = 4-7) cluster anions is a σ type single bond with the iron center possessing the most favored 18-electron configuration. The results provide important new insight into the structure and bonding of hetronuclear transition metal carbonyl cluster anions.

Gas phase reactivity of iron pentacarbonyl with anionic metal clusters

The anionic transition metal carbonyl cluster [H3Ru4(CO)12]− may be energized in the gas phase through collision-induced dissociation (CID), which results in sequential loss of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the cluster. If this experiment is performed in the presence of iron pentacarbonyl gas, up to three equivalents of the iron complex add to the tetranuclear ruthenium complex to give nearly-saturated product clusters with cores containing five, six and seven metal atoms. Further CID reveals that the iron atoms become intimately incorporated into the cluster core, and thus this process represents a method for the gas-phase synthesis of mixed-metal clusters.

Picosecond TRIR Studies of M3(CO)12 (M = Fe, Os) Clusters in Solution

The picosecond photochemical dynamics of two group 8 transition metal carbonyl clusters, Fe3(CO)12 and Os3(CO)12, have been studied using ultrafast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. In both the ...

Infrared photodissociation spectra of mass selected homoleptic dinuclear iron carbonyl cluster anions in the gas phase

Infrared spectra of mass-selected homoleptic dinuclear iron carbonyl cluster anions Fe2(CO)n− (n = 4–9) are measured via infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching frequency region. The cluster anions are produced via a laser vaporization supersonic cluster source. Density functional calculations have been performed and the calculated vibrational spectra are compared to the experimental data to identify the gas-phase structures of the cluster anions. The experimentally observed Fe2(CO)n− (n = 4–7) cluster anions are characterized to have unusual asymmetric (OC)4Fe–Fe(CO)n−4 structures, which also correspond to the computed lowest energy structures. The experimentally observed Fe2(CO)8− cluster anion is determined to have an unbridged structure instead of the previously reported dibridged structure. The Fe2(CO)9− cluster anion is determined to involve a Fe2(CO)8− core anion that is solvated by an external CO molecule. Bonding analysis indicates that these anions each have a Fe–Fe single bond to satisfy the 18-electron configuration of one iron center. The results provide important new insight into the structure and bonding mechanisms of transition-metal carbonyl clusters.

ChemInform Abstract: The N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Chemistry of Transition‐Metal Carbonyl Clusters

AbstractReview: ca. 100 refs.

The N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry of transition-metal carbonyl clusters

In the last decade, chemists have dedicated many efforts to investigate the coordination chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Although most of that research activity has been devoted to mononuclear complexes, transition-metal carbonyl clusters have not escaped from these investigations. This critical review, which is focussed on the reactivity of NHCs (or their precursors) with transition-metal carbonyl clusters (mostly are of ruthenium and osmium) and on the transformations underwent by the NHC-containing species initially formed in those reactions, shows that the polynuclear character of these metallic compounds or, more precisely, the close proximity of one or more metal atoms to that which is or can be attached to the NHC ligand, is responsible for reactivity patterns that have no parallel in the NHC chemistry of mononuclear complexes (74 references).

Electron Reservoir Activity of High-Nuclearity Transition Metal Carbonyl Clusters

Metal carbonyl clusters are molecules or molecular ions perfectly defined in size, composition and structural details, which belong by size to the field of nanomaterials. Their molecular structures result from subtle balances between the metal-metal and metal-carbonyl interactions and usually adopt close-packed structures in which a chunk of cubic or hexagonal metal lattice is surrounded by a shell of CO ligands. Very often, such derivatives display extended redox activity affording reversible electron cascades. In many cases such activity increases if interstitial or semi-interstitial atoms of the main group elements (C, N, P, etc.) are inserted in their frames. This in fact triggers establishment of further metal-to-interstitial atom(s) interactions which not only contribute to the number of cluster valence electrons, but also modifies the bonding character of the frontier molecular orbitals.

ChemInform Abstract: The Role of Co-Catalysts in the Reductive Carbonylation of Aromatic Nitro Derivatives Catalyzed by Transition Metal Carbonyl Clusters

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.