Structure and magnetism of [M3](6/7+) metal chain complexes from density functional theory: analysis for copper and predictions for silver.

The ground-state electronic structure of the trinuclear complex Cu3(dpa)4Cl2 (1), where dpa is the anion of di(2-pyridyl)amine, has been investigated within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and compared with that obtained for other known M3(dpa)4Cl2 complexes (M = Cr, Co, Ni) and for the still hypothetical Ag3(dpa)4Cl2 compound. Both coinage metal compounds display three singly occupied x2-y2-like (delta) orbitals oriented toward the nitrogen environment of each metal atom, generating antibonding M-(N4) interactions. All other metal orbital combinations are doubly occupied, resulting in no delocalized metal-metal bonding. This is at variance with the other known symmetric M3(dpa)4Cl2 complexes of the first transition series, which all display some delocalized bonding through the metal backbone, with formal bond multiplicity decreasing in the order Cr > Co > Ni. An antiferromagnetic coupling develops between the singly occupied MOs via a superexchange mechanism involving the bridging dpa ligands. This magnetic interaction can be considered as an extension to the three aligned Cu(II) atoms of the well-documented exchange coupling observed in carboxylato-bridged dinuclear copper compounds. Broken-symmetry calculations with approximate spin projection adequately reproduce the coupling constant observed for 1. Oxidation of 1 removes an electron from the magnetic orbital located on the central Cu atom and its ligand environment; 1+ displays a much weaker antiferromagnetic interaction coupling the terminal Cu-N4 moieties via four ligand pathways converging through the x2-y2 orbital of the central metal. The silver homologues of 1 and 1+ display similar electronic ground states, but the calculated magnetic couplings are stronger by factors of about 3 and 4, respectively, resulting from a better overlap between the metal centers and their equatorial ligand environment within the magnetic orbitals.

Metal-metal bond length variability in Co(3)(dipyridylamide)(4)Cl(2): bond-stretch isomerism, crystal field effects, or spin transition process? A DFT study.

The unprecedented structural behavior of Co(3)(dipyridylamide)(4)Cl(2), characterized in two crystalline forms in which the tricobalt framework is either symmetric or highly nonsymmetric at room temperature is investigated by means of gradient-corrected DFT calculations. The isolated molecule is assigned a single energy minimum associated with a low-spin (doublet) electronic configuration. The optimal geometry closely reproduces the X-ray structure observed for the isomer displaying equivalent metal-metal distances. However, the ground-state potential energy surface is extremely shallow with respect to a distortion of the Co(3) framework. A "weak" distortion, similar to that observed for the unsymmetrical complex at low temperature (Deltad(Co-Co) = 0.08 A at 110 K) induces a destabilization of 1.1 kcal.mol(-1) only. The distortion observed at room temperature (Deltad(Co-Co) = 0.17 A) destabilizes the isolated complex by 4.2 kcal.mol(-1). These results are rationalized in terms of the "three-electron three-center" concept applied to the sigma-bonding electrons of the cobalt framework. A phenomenological model based upon the Heisenberg Hamiltonian successfully reproduces the calculated potential energy curve and assigns the relative stability of the symmetric structure to local forces (Pauli repulsion, ligand bite, etc.) distinct from delocalized sigma bonding. In view of these results, the two structures characterized from X-rays cannot be termed "bond-stretch isomers" according to the strict definition given by Parkin. To investigate the origin of the distorted form, an electric field was applied to the isolated molecule, but it did not shift the equilibrium position toward asymmetry, despite a strong polarization of the electron density. Finally, the quartet state of lowest energy ((4)A state) has an optimal structure that is distorted and that reproduces most of the distinctive features observed in the nonsymmetric structure. Despite the high relative energy calculated for this quartet state, we assign the occurrence of the nonsymmetric form and its extreme variability with temperature to a progressive population of this excited state as temperature increases.

Electronic origin of the structural versatility in linear trichromium complexes of dipyridylamide.

Spin unrestricted DFT calculations on Cr3(dpa)4Cl2 (dpa = dipyridylamide) suggest that the linear (Cr3)6+ metal framework could adopt either a symmetric conformation, or a strongly nonsymmetric one, depending on the nature of the spin coupling between the localized metal electrons.

Quantum-Chemical Investigations of Stabilizing Interactions in µ-Diborylcarbene Dicobalt Complexes with a Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Atom.

Quantum-chemical methods have been employed to study the nature of stabilization in dinuclear cobalt complexes of the general formula [{(C5 H5 )Co}2 (µ-CR(1) 2 BCBR(2) R(3) )] (6) as well as the "antivan't Hoff-Le Bel" configuration of the planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) atom of the bridging diborylcarbene ligand 9. Extended Hückel and ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations have been carried out for the model compounds 6b (R(1) = R(2) = R(3) = H) and 6c (R(1) = R(2) = H; R(3) = C6 H5 ). Ab initio electron deformation density maps and natural population analysis calculations show that complexes 6 are stabilized through push-pull effects by which the ptC experiences π electron density delocalization and σ electron density accumulation. The calculated electronic configuration of the ptC in the free ligand 9b is σ(2.978) π(1.501) , and in 6b σ(3.944) π(1.356) . Electron density donation from one cobalt atom to an aryl group on the bridging ligand further contributes to the stabilization of the complexes 6.

Electron distributions in peptides and related molecules. 1. An experimental and theoretical study of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan methylamide.

The thermal vibrations and electron density of N-Ac-L-Trp-NHMe have been analyzed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data measured at 103 K with Mo K alpha radiation to a resolution corresponding to (sin theta max)/ lambda = 1.17 A-1. Measurements of 10,527 reflections gave 4913 unique data [R(int)(magnitude of F2) = 0.019] of which 2641 had I greater than 3 sigma (I). A multipolar atomic density model was fitted [R(magnitude of F) = 0.028] in order to calculate phases for the crystal structure factors and map the valence-electron distribution. The phase problem for determining deformation densities by Fourier synthesis for noncentrosymmetric crystals is discussed. The experimental density agrees well with the theoretical density from an ab initio SCF molecular wave function calculated at the crystallographic molecular geometry with a split-valence basis set. Both the experimental and theoretical analyses confirm that the electron distribution is the same in the two different peptide groups in the molecule. Crystal data: C14H17N3O2, Mr = 259.31, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), Z = 4, F(000) = 522 e from 295 to 103 K; at 295 K, a = 8.152(2), b = 11.170 (2), c = 15.068 (3) A, V = 1372 A3, Dx = 1.26 mg mm-3; at 103 K, a = 8.209 (3), b = 11.016 (2), c = 14.760 (4) A, V = 1135 A3, Dx = 1.29 mg mm-3, mu = 0.083 mm-1 for lambda = 0.7107 A.