Structures and Properties of the Products of the Reaction of Lanthanide Atoms with H2O: Dominance of the +II Oxidation State.

The reactions of lanthanides with H2O have been studied using density functional theory with the B3LYP functional. H2O forms an initial Lewis acid-base complex with the lanthanides exothermically with interaction energies from -2 to -20 kcal/mol. For most of the Ln, formation of HLnOH is more exothermic than formation of H2LnO, HLnO + H, and LnOH + H. The reactions to produce HLnOH are exothermic from -25 to -75 kcal/mol. The formation of LnO + H2 for La and Ce is slightly more exothermic than formation of HLnOH and is less or equally exothermic for the rest of the lanthanides. The Ln in HLnOH and LnOH are in the formal +II and +I oxidation states, respectively. The Ln in H2LnO is mostly in the +III formal oxidation state with either Ln-O(-)/Ln-H(-) or Ln-(H2)(-)/Ln=O(2-) bonding interactions. A few of the H2LnO have the Ln in the +IV or mixed +III/+IV formal oxidation states with Ln=O(2-)/Ln-H(-) bonding interactions. The Ln in HLnO are generally in the +III oxidation state with the exception of Yb in the +II state. The orbital populations calculated within the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis are consistent with the oxidation states and reaction energies. The more exothermic reactions to produce HLnOH are always associated with more backbonding from the O(H) and H characterized by more population in the 6s and 5d in Ln and the formation of a stronger Ln-O(H) bond. Overall, the calculations are consistent with the experiments in terms of reaction energies and vibrational frequencies.

The Synthesis, Characterization and Dehydrogenation of Sigma-Complexes of BN-Cyclohexanes.

The coordination chemistry of the 1,2-BN-cyclohexanes 2,2-R2 -1,2-B,N-C4 H10 (R2 =HH, MeH, Me2 ) with Ir and Rh metal fragments has been studied. This led to the solution (NMR spectroscopy) and solid-state (X-ray diffraction) characterization of [Ir(PCy3 )2 (H)2 (η(2) η(2) -H2 BNR2 C4 H8 )][BAr(F) 4 ] (NR2 =NH2 , NMeH) and [Rh(iPr2 PCH2 CH2 CH2 PiPr2 )(η(2) η(2) -H2 BNR2 C4 H8 )][BAr(F) 4 ] (NR2 =NH2 , NMeH, NMe2 ). For NR2 =NH2 subsequent metal-promoted, dehydrocoupling shows the eventual formation of the cyclic tricyclic borazine [BNC4 H8 ]3 , via amino-borane and, tentatively characterized using DFT/GIAO chemical shift calculations, cycloborazane intermediates. For NR2 =NMeH the final product is the cyclic amino-borane HBNMeC4 H8 . The mechanism of dehydrogenation of 2,2-H,Me-1,2-B,N-C4 H10 using the {Rh(iPr2 PCH2 CH2 CH2 PiPr2 )}(+) catalyst has been probed. Catalytic experiments indicate the rapid formation of a dimeric species, [Rh2 (iPr2 PCH2 CH2 CH2 PiPr2 )2 H5 ][BAr(F) 4 ]. Using the initial rate method starting from this dimer, a first-order relationship to [amine-borane], but half-order to [Rh] is established, which is suggested to be due to a rapid dimer-monomer equilibrium operating.

Bis-BN cyclohexane: a remarkably kinetically stable chemical hydrogen storage material.

A critical component for the successful development of fuel cell applications is hydrogen storage. For back-up power applications, where long storage periods under extreme temperatures are expected, the thermal stability of the storage material is particularly important. Here, we describe the development of an unusually kinetically stable chemical hydrogen storage material with a H2 storage capacity of 4.7 wt%. The compound, which is the first reported parental BN isostere of cyclohexane featuring two BN units, is thermally stable up to 150 °C both in solution and as a neat material. Yet, it can be activated to rapidly desorb H2 at room temperature in the presence of a catalyst without releasing other detectable volatile contaminants. We also disclose the isolation and characterization of two cage compounds with S4 symmetry from the H2 desorption reactions.

Boron-substituted 1,3-dihydro-1,3-azaborines: synthesis, structure, and evaluation of aromaticity.

Getting the family together: A general synthetic strategy based on nucleophilic substitution provided B-substituted 1,3-dihydro-1,3-azaborines (see scheme), BN isosteres of arenes with potential for application in biomedicine and materials science. Experimental structural analysis and calculations suggest that the aromaticity of the 1,3-dihydro-1,3-azaborine heterocycle is intermediate between that of benzene and that of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine.