Infrared Matrix-Isolation and Theoretical Study of the Reactions of Ruthenocene with Ozone.

The thermal and photochemical reactions of ozone with ruthenocene were studied in argon matrices at 10-15 K by infrared spectroscopy. Irradiation of freshly deposited matrices with near-infrared light (λ = 880 nm) from an LED resulted in new peaks in their infrared spectra that were assigned to three new ruthenocene oxide structures (4, 5, and 6) calculated by the density functional theory. It is proposed that the near-infrared light caused photodissociation of some ozone molecules and subsequent reactions of the atomic oxygen produced with adjacent ruthenocene molecules in the matrix. Structures 4 and 5 contain a Ru=O oxo group resulting from the attack of atomic oxygen on the ruthenium atom, and structure 6 contains a C=O aldehyde group resulting from the attack of atomic oxygen on a ring carbon atom. Subsequent irradiation of the matrix with red light (λ = 625 nm) from an LED resulted in a fourth new structure (7), and it also initiated a reversible photochemical conversion 4 ⇄ 5 + O2, with the forward direction promoted by red light (λ = 625 nm) and the reverse direction promoted by near-infrared light (λ = 880 nm). Structure 7, which contains ruthenium-coordinated cyclopentadienyl, cyclopentadienone, and hydride ion, is the most stable of the four new structures as shown by the calculated energies relative to ruthenocene plus O(3P). Structure 7 is proposed as an intermediate in the chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition of the Ru/RuO2 film forming reactions on substrates at elevated temperatures reported in the literature.

Charge-Transfer Complexes and Photochemistry of Ozone with Ferrocene and n-Butylferrocene: A UV-vis Matrix-Isolation Study.

The reactions of ozone with ferrocene (cp2Fe) and with n-butylferrocene (n-butyl cp2Fe) were studied using matrix isolation, UV-vis spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. The codeposition of cp2Fe with O3 and of n-butyl cp2Fe with O3 into an argon matrix led to the production of 1:1 charge-transfer complexes with absorptions at 765 and 815 nm, respectively. These absorptions contribute to the green matrix color observed upon initial deposition. The charge-transfer complexes underwent photochemical reactions upon irradiation with red light (λ ≥ 600 nm). Theoretical UV-vis spectra of the charge-transfer complexes and photochemical products were calculated using TD-DFT at the B3LYP/6-311G++(d,2p) level of theory. The calculated UV-vis spectra were in good agreement with the experimental results. MO analysis of these long-wavelength transitions showed them to be n→ π* on the ozone subunit in the complex and indicated that the formation of the charge-transfer complex between ozone and cp2Fe or n-butyl cp2Fe affects how readily the π* orbital on O3 is populated when red light (λ ≥ 600 nm) is absorbed. 1:1 complexes of cp2Fe and n-butyl cp2Fe with O2 were also observed experimentally and calculated theoretically. These results support and enhance previous infrared studies of the mechanism of photooxidation of ferrocene by ozone, a reaction that has considerable significance for the formation of iron oxide thin films for a range of applications.

Infrared matrix-isolation and theoretical studies of the reactions of ferrocene with ozone.

The reactions between ferrocene (Cp2Fe) (2a) and ozone (O3) were studied using low-temperature matrix-isolation techniques coupled with theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Co-deposition of Ar/Cp2Fe and Ar/O3 gas mixtures onto a cryogenically cooled CsI window produced a dark-green charge-transfer complex, Cp2Fe-O3, that photodecomposed upon red (λ ≥ 600 nm) and infrared (λ ≥ 1000 nm) irradiation but was stable to green or blue irradiation. Products of photodecomposition were characterized by FT-IR, oxygen-18 labeling, and DFT calculations using the B3LYP functionals and the 6-311G++(d,2p) basis set. Likely, photochemical products included four structures having the molecular formula C10H10FeO, identified by DFT calculations based on their calculated infrared spectra and (18)O isotope shifts. Each of these calculated molecules had one intact and fully coordinated η(5)-C5H5 cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ring and (1) an η(5)-C5H5O cyclic ether (pyran ring) (2b), (2) an η(4)-C5H5O linear aldehyde (2c), (3) a bidentate cyclic aldehyde with a seven-membered ring including the iron atom (2d), or (4) an Fe-O bond and an η(2)-C5H5 (Cp) ring (2e). No conclusive evidence for a gas-phase thermal reaction between ferrocene and ozone was observed under the conditions of these experiments. However, strong evidence for a surface-catalyzed thermal reaction was observed in merged-jet experiments wherein the gases were premixed before deposition. Surface-catalyzed ferrocene-ozone reaction products included a thin film of Fe2O3 observed on the walls of the merged tube as well as cyclopentadiene (C5H6), cyclopentadienone (C5H4O), and further oxidation products observed in the matrix. Possible mechanisms for both the photochemical and the thermal reactions are discussed.

Infrared matrix isolation and theoretical studies of reactions of ozone with bicyclic alkenes: α-pinene, norbornene, and norbornadiene.

The reactions of ozone with three bicyclic alkenes, α-pinene, norbornene, and norbornadiene, were studied by low-temperature (14 K), argon matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy including (18)O isotope-labeling studies. Theoretical calculations of some of the proposed reaction intermediates and products were carried out using the Gaussian 09 suite of programs, applying density functional theory (DFT), the B3LYP functional, and the 6-311G++(d,2p) basis set. In the α-pinene/ozone system, the thermal reaction between α-pinene and ozone was too slow to observe under the twin-jet or merged-jet deposition conditions of these experiments. However, red light (λ ≥ 600 nm) irradiation of the argon matrixes containing α-pinene and ozone caused new infrared peaks to appear that could be readily assigned to reaction products of α-pinene with O((3)P) resulting from ozone photolysis: α-pinene oxide (with an epoxide ring) and two isomeric ketones. Norbornene and norbornadiene were both found to react with ozone in the gas phase during twin-jet or merged-jet deposition of these mixtures with argon. New peaks observed in the infrared spectra were assigned to the primary ozonides, Criegee intermediates, and secondary ozonides of norbornene and norbornadiene, indicating that the bulk of these reactions proceeded via the "classic" Criegee mechanism for ozonolysis of alkenes. Calculated infrared frequencies and molecular energies support these conclusions. Ultraviolet irradiation of these mixtures resulted in complete decomposition of the early intermediates and the formation of acids, aldehydes, alcohols, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. In any case, no evidence for "unusual" chemistry, prompted by the bicyclic nature of the reactants, was observed.