The molecular structure, equilibrium conformation and barrier to internal rotation in decachloroferrocene, Fe(η-C5Cl5)2, determined by gas electron diffraction.

The molecular structure of decachloroferrocene has been determined by gas electron diffraction supported by quantum chemical calculations. The equilibrium conformation has staggered ligand rings and D(5d) symmetry. The barrier to internal rotation is, however, only 0.8(2) kJ mol⁻¹. This barrier is so low that even at room temperature the vast majority of molecules in the gas phase would have sufficient thermal energy to undergo virtually non-hindered internal rotation. While the eclipsed equilibrium conformation of unsubstituted ferrocene is determined by attractive dispersion interaction between the two cyclopentadienyl ligands, the staggered equilibrium conformation of Fe(η-C5Cl5)2 is due to steric repulsion between Cl atoms at different rings. The ligands are non-planar: the C-Cl bonds are bent 3.7(3)° out of the plane of the C5 ring away from the metal atom. The Fe-C, C-C and C-Cl bond distances (r(a)) are: 205.0(4) pm, 143.4(3) pm and 170.2(4) pm respectively.

Molecular structures of tris(dipivaloylmethanato) complexes of the lanthanide metals, Ln(dpm)3, studied by gas electron diffraction and density functional theory calculations: a comparison of the Ln-O Bond distances and enthalpies in Ln(dpm)3 complexes and the cubic sesquioxides, Ln2O3.

The molecular structures of tris(dipivaloylmethanato)neodymium(III), Nd(dpm)3, and tris(dipivaloylmethanato)ytterbium(III), Yb(dpm)3, have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and structure optimizations through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both molecules were found to have D3 molecular symmetry. The most important structure parameters (r(a) structure) are as follows (GED/DFT): Nd-O = 2.322(5)/2.383 A, Yb-O = 2.208(5)/2.243 A, O-Nb-O = 72.1(3)/71.3 degrees , and O-Yb-O = 75.3(2)/75.8 degrees . The twist angles of the LnO6 coordination polyhedron, defined as zero for prismatic and 30 degrees for antiprismatic coordination, were theta = 19.1(3)/14.2 degrees for Nd and 20.4(2)/19.2 degrees for Yb. Structure optimizations of La(dpm)3, Gd(dpm)3 Er(dpm)3, and Lu(dpm)3 by DFT also yielded equilibrium structures of D3 symmetry with bond distances of La-O = 2.438 A, Gd-O = 2.322 A, Er-O = 2.267 A, and Lu-O = 2.232 A. The Ln-O bond distances in 12 Ln(dpm)3 complexes studied by GED decrease in a nearly linear manner with the increasing atomic number (Z) of the metal atom, as do the Ln-O bond distances in the cubic modifications of 14 sesquioxides, Ln2O3. The bond distances in the dpm complexes are, however, about 2% shorter. The mean Ln-O bond rupture enthalpies of the cubic sesquioxides calculated from thermodynamic data in the literature vary in an irregular manner with the atomic number; the La-O, Gd-O, Tb-O, and Lu-O bonds are nearly equally strong, and the remaining bonds are significantly weaker. The Ln-O bond rupture enthalpies previously reported for 11 Ln(dpm)3 complexes are on the average 13 kJ mol(-1) or about 5% smaller than in the sesquioxides, but they vary in a similar manner along the series: it is suggested that the pattern reflects variations in the absolute enthalpies of the gaseous Ln atoms.

The equilibrium structure of ferrocene.

The molecular structures of ferrocene in the eclipsed (equilibrium) and staggered (saddle-point) conformations have been determined by full geometry optimizations at the levels of second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) theory, coupled-cluster singles-and-doubles (CCSD) theory, and CCSD theory with a perturbative triples correction [CCSD(T)] in a TZV2P+f basis set. Existing experimental results are reviewed. The agreement between the CCSD(T) results and experiment is in all cases excellent; the calculated structure parameters and the barrier to internal rotation of the ligand rings differ from the most accurate experimental values by less than two estimated standard deviations. The CCSD(T) calculations for single-configuration-dominated transition metal complexes such as ferrocene thus appear to have an accuracy comparable to that observed for molecules containing only first- and second-row atoms, and to be of a quality similar to that obtained experimentally. A comparison with previous DFT results indicates that the B3LYP model gives overall the best DFT results, with a deviation of around 2 pm for the metal-carbon distance and smaller errors for the cyclopentadienyl rings.

Dative sigma- and pi-bonding in boron-nitrogen compounds: molecular structures of (CH3)2NB(CH3)N(CH3)B(CH3)2 and [(CH3)2B]2NN(CH3)2 determined by gas electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations.

The molecular structures of dimethylamino[(dimethylboryl)methylamino]methylborane, Me2NBMeNMeBMe2 (1) and 1,1-bis(dimethylboryl)-2,2-dimethylhydrazine, (Me2B)2NNMe2 (2) have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED), density functional theory calculations at the B3PW91/6-311++G** level and ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-311++G** level. 1 adopts an open structure similar to that of the isoelectronic hydrocarbon molecule permethylbutadiene; the central B-N bond distance at 148.0/149.3(7) pm (MP2/GED) corresponds to a single covalent N--B bond distance, the two terminal distances, 140.9/140.5(4) pm and 141.8/141.3(4) pm, correspond to the distance between N and B atoms joined by a covalent sigma-bond and a dative pi-bond. A closed form where the establishment of a dative bond between the terminal N and B atoms has led to the formation of a four-membered ring also corresponds to a minimum on the potential energy surface, but the energy is calculated to be 14.3 kJ mol(-1) higher at the MP2 level. This structure is also incompatible with the GED data. 2 adopts a structure in which a dative sigma-bond between the dimethylamino N atom and one of the boron atoms has led to the formation of a three-membered N(2)B ring. The dative sigma-bond distance is 165.5/164.0(13) pm, the two other bond distances in the ring are N-B=150.6/148.9(9) pm corresponding to a covalent sigma-bond and N-N=145.1/145.4(3) pm. The terminal B--N distance 139.6/138.9(9) pm is consistent with a covalent sigma-bond augmented by a dative pi-bond. An open Y-shaped structure also corresponds to a minimum on the potential energy surface, but the energy is 18.7 kJ mol(-1) higher (MP2) and it is incompatible with the GED data.

Valence shell charge concentrations at pentacoordinate d0 transition-metal centers: non-VSEPR structures of Me2NbCl3 and Me3NbCl2.

The molecular structures of the monomeric, pentacoordinated methylchloroniobium(IV) compounds Me3NbCl2 and Me2NbCl3 have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and, for Me3NbCl2, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each of the molecules is found to have a heavy-atom skeleton in the form of a trigonal bipyramid (TBP) with Cl atoms in the axial positions, in accord with their vibrational spectra. The TBP is somewhat distorted in the case of Me2NbCl3 with the two axial Nb--Cl bonds bent away from the equatorial, slightly shorter Nb--Cl bond. In the case of Me3NbCl2, moreover, the X-ray model suggests structural distortions away from the idealized C3h geometry, in line with the results of quantum chemical calculations. Structure optimizations by DFT calculations and least-squares refinement to the GED data yield the following structural parameters (calcd/exptl; eq=equatorial; ax=axial; distances in A, angles in degrees; average values in brackets): Me3NbCl2, in C(3v) symmetry, Nb--Cl 2.370/2.319(3), Nb--C 2.173/2.152(4), C--H 1.096/1.124(5), angle-spherical NbCH 109.3/105.2(8), angle-spherical ClNbC 92.2/93.3(2), angle-spherical CNbC 119.9/119.7(1); Me2NbCl3, in C(2v) symmetry, Nb--Cl(ax) 2.361/2.304(5), Nb--Cl(eq) 2.321/2.288(9), Nb--C 2.180/2.135(9), C--H 1.094/1.12(1), angle-spherical Cl(ax)NbCl(eq) 98.5/96.5(6), angle-spherical CNbC 121.0/114(2), angle-spherical NbCH 108.9/109(2). The electronic structures of Me2NbCl3 and Me3NbC(2 have been explored by rigorous analysis of both the wavefunction and the topology of the electron density, employing DFT calculations. Hence the structures of these compounds are shown to reflect repulsion between the Nb--C and Nb--Cl bonding electron density and charge concentrations induced by the methyl ligands in the valence shell of the Nb atom and arising mainly from use of Nb(4d) functions in the Nb--C bonds.

Topological analysis of electron densities: is the presence of an atomic interaction line in an equilibrium geometry a sufficient condition for the existence of a chemical bond?

The structure, energetics, and electron density in the inclusion complex of He in adamantane, C10H16, have been studied by density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP6-311++G(2p,2d) level. Topological analysis of the electron density shows that the He atom is connected to the four tertiary tC atoms in the cage by atomic interaction lines with (3,-1) critical points. The calculated dissociation energy of the complex He@adamantane(g)=adamantane(g) + He(g) of DeltaE=-645 kJ mol(-1) nevertheless shows that the He-tC interactions are antibonding.

Molecular structures of two metal tetrakis(tetrahydroborates), Zr(BH4)(4) and U(BH4)(4): equilibrium conformations and barriers to internal rotation of the triply bridging BH4 groups.

The molecular structures of Zr[(mu-H)(3)BH](4) and U[(mu-H)(3)BH](4) have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and gas electron diffraction (GED). The triply bridged bonding mode of the tetrahydroborate groups in the former is confirmed, but both DFT calculations and GED structure refinements indicate that the BH(4) groups are rotated some 12 degrees away from the orientation in which the three bridging B-H bonds are staggered with respect to the opposing ZrB(3) fragment. As a result the symmetry of the equilibrium conformation is reduced from T(d) to T. Bond distances and valence angles are as follows (DFT/GED): Zr-B = 232.2/232.4(5) pm; Zr-H(b) = 214.8/214.4(6) pm; B-H(b) = 125.3/127.8(8) pm; B-H(t) = 119.4/118.8(17) pm; angle ZrBH(b) = 66.2/65.6(3) degrees; the smallest dihedral angle of type tau(BZrBH(b)) = 48/45(2) degrees. DFT calculations on Hf(BH(4))(4) indicate that the structure of this molecule is very similar to that of the Zr analogue. Matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy and DFT calculations on U(BH(4))(4) show that while the polymeric solid-state structure is characterized by terminal triply bridging and metal-metal bridging bidentate BH(4) groups, all BH(4) groups are triply bridging in the gaseous monomer. Calculations with one of the two nonbonding 5f electrons on U occupying an a(1) and the other distributed equally among the three t(2) orbitals indicate that the equilibrium conformation has T(d) symmetry, i.e. that the three B-H(b) bonds of each tetrahydroborate group are exactly staggered with respect to the opposing UB(3) fragment with tau(BUBH(b)) = 60 degrees. Calculations including spin-orbit interactions indicate that Jahn-Teller distortions from T(d) symmetry are either absent or very small. The best agreement between observed and calculated GED intensity data was obtained for a model of T(d) symmetry, but models of T symmetry with dihedral angles tau(BUBH(b)) > 42 degrees cannot be ruled out. Bond distances and valence angles are as follows (DFT/GED): U-B = 248.8/251.2(4) pm; U-H(b) = 227.7/231.5(6) pm; B-H(b) = 126.0/131.6(5) pm, B-H(t) = 119.5/117.8(11) pm; angle UBH(b) = 65.6/63.1(3) degrees. It is suggested that the different equilibrium conformations of the three molecules are determined primarily by repulsion between bridging H atoms in different tetrahydroborate groups.

Molecular Structure of a Monomeric, Base-Free Metal(I) Amide, TlN[Si(CH(3))(3)](2), by Gas Electron Diffraction and by Density Functional Theory and ab Initio MP2 Calculations.

Thallium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide is a monomer in the gas phase. The molecular symmetry is C(2), the Tl-N bond length is 214.8(12) pm by gas electron diffraction as compared to about 258 pm in the crystalline dimer (Klinkhammer, K. W.; Henkel, S. J. Organomet. Chem. 1994, 480, 167). Structure optimization by DFT or ab initio (MP2) calculations with the ECP basis set on the Tl atom fails to reproduce the experimental Tl-N bond distance unless the 5s,5p,5d electrons on the metal are described explicitly and the atomic basis set includes both polarization and diffuse functions.