Mechanisms of Mn(V)-Oxo to Mn(IV)-Oxyl Conversion: From Closed-Cubane Photosystem II to Mn(V) Catalysts and the Role of the Entering Ligands.

The low activation barrier for O-O coupling in the closed-cubane Oxygen-Evolving Centre (OEC) of Photosystem II (PSII) requires water coordination with the Mn4 'dangler' ion in the Mn(V)-oxo fragment. This coordination transforms the Mn(V)-oxo complex into a more reactive Mn4(IV)-oxyl species, enhancing O-O coupling. This study explains the mechanism behind the coordination and indicates that in the most stable form of the OEC, the Mn4 fragment adopts a trigonal bipyramidal geometry but needs to transition to a square pyramidal form to be activated for O-O coupling. This transition stabilizes the Mn4 dxy orbital, enabling electron transfer from the oxo ligand to the dxy orbital, converting the oxo ligand into an oxyl species. The role of the water is to coordinate with the square pyramidal structure, reducing the energy gap between the oxo and oxyl forms, thereby lowering the activation energy for O-O coupling. This mechanism applies not only to the OEC system but also to other Mn(V)-based catalysts. For other catalysts, ligands such as OH- stabilize the Mn(IV)-oxyl species better than water, improving catalyst activation for reactions like C-H bond activation. This study is the first to explain the Mn(V)-oxo to Mn(IV)-oxyl conversion, providing a new foundation for Mn-based catalyst design.

Elucidating the catalytic mechanisms of O2 generation by [Mn2(µ-O)2(terpy)2(OH2)2]3+ using DFT calculations: a focus on ClO- as oxidant.

The experimentally reported Mn(IV)Mn(III) complex [Mn2(µ-O)2(terpy)2(OH2)2]3+ has been observed catalyzing O2 generation with oxidants like ClO- and HSO5-. Previous mechanistic studies primarily focused on O2 generation with HSO5-, concluding that Mn(IV)Mn(III) acts as a catalyst, generating a Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxyl species as a key intermediate responsible for O-O bond formation. This computational study employs DFT calculations to investigate whether the catalytic generation of O2 using ClO- follows the same mechanism previously identified with HSO5- as the oxidant, or if it proceeds through an alternate pathway. To this end, we explored multiple pathways using ClO- as the oxidant. Interestingly, our findings confirm that in the case of ClO- as the oxidant, similar to what was observed with HSO5-, the Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxyl species indeed plays a crucial role in driving the catalytic evolution of O2 with the potential formation of the binuclear complexes Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxy and Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-OH during the reaction. These complexes are reactive in producing O2, with activation free energies of 15.9 and 14.3 kcal mol-1, respectively. However, our calculations revealed that the Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxyl complex is significantly more reactive in producing O2 than Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxy and Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-OH, with a lower free energy barrier of 8.1 kcal mol-1. Consequently, even though Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxyl is predicted to be present in much lower concentrations than Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-oxy and Mn(IV)Mn(IV)-OH, it emerges as the species acting as the active catalyst for catalytic O2 generation. This study enhances our knowledge of high oxidation state (+3 and +4) manganese chemistry, highlighting its key role in catalysis and paving the way for more efficient Mn-based catalysts with broad applications.

Electronic structure modelling of the edge-functionalisation of graphene by MnxOy particles.

The use of graphenic carbon is attractive as a basal or intermediate support for catalytic particles in advanced catalytic electrodes. This popularity is motivated by its excellent electrical properties and ability to form foliated conformal coatings of exceptional surface area and flexibility. Surface- and edge-functionalisation of graphene sheets affords diverse routes to the covalent attachment of candidate catalytic species. Of particular interest to advanced water oxidation is the possibility of covalent attachment of MnxOy species partially recapitulating the chemistry of the Mn4O5Ca active site of Photosystem II (PSII), which achieves the four-electron oxidation of water under physiological conditions. Here, we report aperiodic density functional theory (DFT) investigations of candidate attachment geometries for a variety of manganese oxide particles to graphene sheets. We find that the flexibility of graphene sheets as well as the conformational degrees of freedom of candidate edge functionalisation permits a large variety of realistic attachment geometries that can act as attachment sites for molecular manganese-oxide species or nuclei for the growth of periodic manganese oxides. We find that substantially simplified models of graphene attachment afford an excellent compromise between computational efficiency, tractability, and accuracy, and characterise the accuracy of these models in detail.

Rationalizing the Geometries of the Water Oxidising Complex in the Atomic Resolution, Nominal S3 State Crystal Structures of Photosystem II.

Three atomic resolution crystal structures of Photosystem II, in the double flashed, nominal S3 intermediate state of its Mn4 Ca Water Oxidising Complex (WOC), have now been presented, at 2.25, 2.35 and 2.08 Šresolution. Although very similar overall, the S3 structures differ within the WOC catalytic site. The 2.25 Šstructure contains only one oxy species (O5) in the WOC cavity, weakly associated with Mn centres, similar to that in the earlier 1.95 ŠS1 structure. The 2.35 Šstructure shows two such species (O5, O6), with the Mn centres and O5 positioned as in the 2.25 Šstructure and O5-O6 separation of ∼1.5 Å. In the latest S3 variant, two oxy species are also seen (O5, Ox), with the Ox group appearing only in S3 , closely ligating one Mn, with O5-Ox separation <2.1 Å. The O5 and O6/Ox groups were proposed to be substrate water derived species. Recently, Petrie et al. (Chem. Phys. Chem., 2017) presented large scale Quantum Chemical modelling of the 2.25 Šstructure, quantitatively explaining all significant features within the WOC region. This, as in our earlier studies, assumed a 'low' Mn oxidation paradigm (mean S1 Mn oxidation level of +3.0, Petrie et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015), rather than a 'high' oxidation model (mean S1 oxidation level of +3.5). In 2018 we showed (Chem. Phys. Chem., 2018) this oxidation state assumption predicted two energetically close S3 structural forms, one with the metal centres and O5 (as OH- ) positioned as in the 2.25 Šstructure, and the other with the metals similarly placed, but with O5 (as H2 O) located in the O6 position of the 2.35 Šstructure. The 2.35 Štwo flashed structure was likely a crystal superposition of two such forms. Here we show, by similar computational analysis, that the latest 2.08 ŠS3 structure is also a likely superposition of forms, but with O5 (as OH- ) occupying either the O5 or Ox positions in the WOC cavity. This highlights a remarkable structural 'lability' of the WOC centre in the S3 state, which is likely catalytically relevant to its water splitting function.

DFT Prediction and Experimental Investigation of Valence Tautomerism in Cobalt-Dioxolene Complexes.

The family of complexes of general formula [Co(Me ntpa)(Xdiox)]+ (tpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, n = 0-3 corresponds to successive methylation of the 6-position of the pyridine rings; X = Br4, Cl4, H4, 3,5-Me2, 3,5- tBu2; diox = dioxolene) was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to predict the likelihood of valence tautomerism (VT). The OPBE functional with relativistic and solvent corrections allowed accurate reproduction of trends in spin-state energetics, affording the prediction of VT in complex [Co(Me3tpa)(Br4diox)]+ (1+). One-electron oxidation of neutral precursor [CoII(Me3tpa)(Br4cat)] (1) enabled isolation of target compounds 1(PF6) and 1(BPh4). Solution variable-temperature UV-vis absorption and Evans method magnetic susceptibility data confirm DFT predictions that 1+ exists in a temperature-dependent valence tautomeric equilibrium between low-spin Co(III)-catecholate and high-spin Co(II)-semiquinonate forms. The solution VT transition temperature of 1+ is solvent-tunable with critical temperatures in the range of 291-359 K for the solvents measured. Solid-state magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1(PF6) and 1(BPh4) reveal the onset of VT transitions above room temperature.

Explaining the Different Geometries of the Water Oxidising Complex in the Nominal S3 State Crystal Structures of Photosystem II at 2.25†Šand 2.35†Å.

Recently two atomic resolution crystal structures of Photosystem II, in the double flashed, nominal S3 intermediate state of its Mn4 Ca water oxidising complex (WOC), have been presented (Young et al., Nature 2016, 540, 453; Suga et al., Nature 2017, 543, 131). These structures are at 2.25 Šand 2.35 Šresolution, respectively. Although highly similar in most respects, the structures differ in a key region within the WOC catalytic site. In the 2.25 Šstructure, one oxy species (O5) is observed within the WOC cavity, weakly associated with the Mn centres, similar to that seen earlier in the 1.95 ŠXRD structure of the S1 intermediate (Suga et al., Nature, 2015, 517, 99). In the 2.35 Šstructure, two such species are seen (O5, O6), with the Mn centres and O5 positioned as in the 2.25 Šstructure and an O5-O6 separation of ∼1.5 Å, consistent with peroxo formation. This suggests O5 and O6 are substrate water derived species in this double flashed form. Recently we have presented (Petrie, et al., Chem. Phys. Chem., 2017) a large scale (220 atom) quantum chemical model of the Young et al. 2.25 Šstructure, which quantitatively explains all significant features within the WOC region of that structure, particularly the positions of the metal centres and O5 group. Critical to this was our assumption of a 'low' Mn oxidation paradigm (mean S1 Mn oxidation level of +3.0, Petrie et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015), rather than a 'high' oxidation model (mean S1 oxidation level of +3.5), widely assumed in the literature. Here we show that our same oxidation state model predicts two classes of energetically close S3 structural forms, analogous to the S1 state, one with the metal centres and O5 positioned as in the 2.25 Šstructure, and the other with the metals similarly placed, but with O5 located in the O6 position of the 2.35 Šstructure. We show that the Suga et al. 2.35 Šstructure is likely a superposition of two such forms, one from each class, which is consistent with reported atomic occupancies for that structure and the relative total energies we calculate for the two structural forms.

Quadratic and cubic hyperpolarizabilities of nitro-phenyl/-naphthalenyl/-anthracenyl alkynyl complexes.

1-Nitronaphthalenyl-4-alkynyl and 9-nitroanthracenyl-10-alkynyl complexes [M](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-4-C10H6-1-NO2) ([M] = trans-[RuCl(dppe)2] (6b), trans-[RuCl(dppm)2] (7b), Ru(PPh3)2(η5-C5H5) (8b), Ni(PPh3)(η5-C5H5) (9b), Au(PPh3) (10b)) and [M](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-10-C14H8-9-NO2) ([M] = trans-[RuCl(dppe)2] (6c), trans-[RuCl(dppm)2] (7c), Ru(PPh3)2(η5-C5H5) (8c), Ni(PPh3)(η5-C5H5) (9c), Au(PPh3) (10c)) were synthesized and their identities were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Electrochemical studies and a comparison to the 1-nitrophenyl-4-alkynyl analogues [M](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-4-C6H4-1-NO2) ([M] = trans-[RuCl(dppe)2] (6a), trans-[RuCl(dppm)2] (7a), Ru(PPh3)2(η5-C5H5) (8a), Ni(PPh3)(η5-C5H5) (9a), Au(PPh3) (10a)) reveal a decrease in oxidation potential for ruthenium and nickel complexes on proceeding from the phenyl- to naphthalenyl- and then anthracenyl-containing bridge. HOMO → LUMO transitions characteristic of MC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-1-C6H4 to 4-C6H4-1-NO2 charge transfer red-shift and gain in intensity on proceeding to the ruthenium complexes; the low-energy transitions have increasing ILCT character on proceeding from the phenyl- to naphthalenyl- and then anthracenyl-containing bridge. Spectroelectrochemical studies of the Ru-containing complexes reveal the appearance of low-energy bands corresponding to chloro-to-RuIII charge transfer that red-shift on proceeding from the phenyl- to naphthalenyl- and then anthracenyl-containing bridge. Second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) studies at 1064 nm employing ns pulses and the hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique reveal an increase in quadratic optical nonlinearity upon introduction of metal to the precursor alkyne to afford alkynyl complexes and on proceeding from ligated-gold to -nickel and then to -ruthenium for a fixed alkynyl ligand. Quadratic NLO data of the gold complexes optically transparent at the second-harmonic wavelength reveal an increase in ßHRS on proceeding from the phenyl- to the naphthalenyl-containing complex. Broad spectral range third-order nonlinear optical studies employing fs pulses and the Z-scan technique reveal an increase in two-photon absorption cross-section on replacing ligated-gold by -nickel and then -ruthenium for a fixed alkynyl ligand. Computational studies undertaken using time-dependent density functional theory have been employed to assign the nature of the key optical transitions and suggest that the significant optical nonlinearities observed for the ruthenium-containing complexes correlate with the low-energy formally Ru → NO2 band which possesses strong MLCT character, while the more moderate nonlinearities of the gold complexes correlate with a band higher in energy that is primarily ILCT in character.

Linear Optical, Quadratic and Cubic Nonlinear Optical, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Studies of "Rigid-Rod" Bis-Alkynyl Ruthenium Complexes.

The syntheses of oligo(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (OPEs) end-functionalized by a nitro acceptor group and with a ligated ruthenium unit at varying locations in the OPE chain, namely, trans-[Ru{(C≡C-1,4-C6 H4 )n NO2 }(C≡CR)(dppe)2 ] (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; n=1, R=1,4-C6 H4 C≡C-1,4-C6 H4 C≡CPh, 1,4-C6 H4 NEt2 ; n=2, R=Ph, 1,4-C6 H4 C≡CPh, 1,4-C6 H4 C≡C-1,4-C6 H4 C≡CPh, 1,4-C6 H4 NO2 , 1,4-C6 H4 NEt2 ; n=3, R=Ph, 1,4-C6 H4 C≡CPh), are reported. Their electrochemical properties were assessed by cyclic voltammetry, their linear optical properties and quadratic and cubic nonlinear optical properties were assayed by UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, hyper-Rayleigh scattering studies employing nanosecond pulses at 1064 nm, and broad spectral range Z-scan studies employing femtosecond pulses, respectively, and their linear optical properties and vibrational spectroscopic behavior in the formally RuIII state was examined by UV/Vis/NIR and IR spectroelectrochemistry, respectively. The potentials of the metal-localized oxidation processes are sensitive to alkynyl-ligand modification, but this effect is attenuated on π-bridge lengthening. Computational studies employing time-dependent density functional theory were undertaken on model complexes, with a 2D scan revealing a soft potential-energy surface for intra-alkynyl-ligand aryl-ring rotation; this is consistent with the experimentally observed blueshift in optical absorption maxima. Quadratic optical nonlinearities are significant and cubic NLO coefficients for these small complexes are small. The optimum length of the alkynyl ligands and the ideal metal location in the OPE to maximize the key coefficients have been defined.

Trigonal prismatic metal complexes: a not so rare coordination geometry?

The solid state structures of two metal complexes of a hexaamine macrobicyclic ligand, in which the metal ion has an exact trigonal prismatic geometry, have been determined. Theoretical calculations showed this is the most stable geometry for d(0), d(10) and high spin d(5) metal complexes of the ligand with M-N bond distances >∼2.35 Å.

Effect of concomitant oxidation and deprotonation of hydrated Mn centres in rationalising the FTIR difference silence of D1-Asp170 in Photosystem II.

The observation of negligible FTIR differences in carboxylate vibrational modes for the D1-Asp170 residue of Photosystem II (PSII) on successive one-electron oxidations of the Mn4CaO5 oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) is counterintuitive in light of the apparent ligation of D1-Asp170 to an oxidisable Mn ion in the X-ray crystallographic structures of PSII. Here, we show computational support for the hypothesis that suppression of the FTIR difference spectrum in the 1100cm(-1) to 1700cm(-1) region of D1-Asp170 occurs by concomitant Mn oxidation and deprotonation of water ligands bound to the ligated metal centre. Density functional theory calculations on the model species [Mn(II)Ca(COOH)(OH)2(H2O)2](+) over two successive oxidations of the Mn ion are performed, where those oxidations are accompanied by deprotonation of water and µ-hydroxo ligands coordinated to the Mn ion. In contrast, dramatically increased FTIR difference activity is observed where these oxidations are unaccompanied by proton loss.

Theoretical study of the mechanism for the sequential N-O and N-N bond cleavage within N2O adducts of N-heterocyclic carbenes by a vanadium(iii) complex.

A theoretical study into the reactions of the N2O adducts of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and a V((III)) complex was carried out using DFT calculations. Unlike most transition metal reactions with N2O that simply release N2 following O-atom transfer onto the metal centre, this NHC-based system traps the entire N2O molecule and then cleaves both the N-O and N-N bond in two consecutive reactions. The NHC presence increases the reactivity of N2O by altering the distribution of electron density away from the O-atom towards the two N-atoms. This electronic redistribution enables V-N binding interactions to form a reactive N,O-donor intermediate species. Our results show that bond breaking with concomitant ligand migration occurs via a concerted process for both the N-O and N-N cleavage reactions.

Metal-Metal Bonding in Trinuclear, Mixed-Valence [Ti3X12](4-) (X = F, Cl, Br, I) Face-Shared Complexes.

Metal-metal bonding in structurally characterized In4Ti3Br12, comprising linear, mixed-valence d(1)d(2)d(1) face-shared [Ti3Br12](4-) units with a Ti-Ti separation of 3.087 Å and strong antiferromagnetic coupling (Θ = -1216 K), has been investigated using density functional theory. The antiferromagnetic configuration, in which the single d electron on each terminal Ti(III) (d(1)) metal center is aligned antiparallel to the two electrons occupying the central Ti(II) (d(2)) metal site, is shown to best agree with the reported structural and magnetic data and is consistent with an S = 0 ground state in which two of the four metal-based electrons are involved in a two-electron, three-center σ bond between the Ti atoms (formal Ti-Ti bond order of ∼0.5). However, the unpaired spin densities on the Ti sites indicate that while the metal-metal σ interaction is strong, the electrons are not fully paired off and consequently dominate the ground state antiferromagnetic coupling. The same overall partially delocalized bonding regime is predicted for the other three halide [Ti3X12](4-) (X = F, Cl, I) systems with the metal-metal bonding becoming weaker as the halide group is descended. The possibility of bond-stretch isomerism was also examined where one isomer has a symmetric structure with identical Ti-Ti bonds while the other is unsymmetric with one short and one long Ti-Ti bond. Although calculations indicate that the latter form is more stable, the barrier to interconversion between equivalent unsymmetric forms, where the short Ti-Ti bond is on one side of the trinuclear unit or the other, is relatively small such that at room temperature only the averaged (symmetric) structure is likely to be observed.

Rationalising the geometric variation between the A and B monomers in the 1.9†Šcrystal structure of photosystem†II.

Density functional theory calculations are reported on a set of models of the water-oxidising complex (WOC) of photosystem II (PSII), exploring structural features revealed in the most recent (1.9 Šresolution) X-ray crystallographic studies of PSII. Crucially, we find that the variation in the Mn-Mn distances seen between the A and B monomers of this crystal structure can be entirely accounted for, in the low oxidation state (LOS) paradigm, by consideration of the interplay between two hydrogen-bonding interactions involving proximate amino acid residues with the oxo bridges of the WOC, that is, His337 with O3 (which leads to a general elongation in the Mn-Mn distances between Mn1, Mn2 and Mn3) and Arg357 with O2 (which results in a specific elongation of the Mn2-Mn3 distance).

Sulfur dioxide activation: a theoretical investigation into dual S═O bond cleavage by three-coordinate molybdenum(III) complexes.

Cummins et al. have observed that 3 equiv of Mo(N[R]Ar)3 (R = C(CD3)2CH3, Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2) are required for dual S═O bond cleavage within a SO2 molecule. Using density functional theory calculations, this theoretical study investigates a mechanism for this SO2 cleavage reaction that is mediated by MoL3, where L = NH2 or N[(t)Bu]Ph. Our results indicate that an electron transfers into the SO2 ligand, which leads to Mo oxidation and initiates SO2 coordination along the quartet surface. The antiferromagnetic (AF) nature of the (NH2)3Mo-SO2 adduct accelerates intersystem crossing onto the doublet surface. The first S═O bond cleavage occurs from the resulting doublet adduct and leads to formation of L3Mo═O and SO. Afterward, the released SO molecule is cleaved by the two remaining MoL3, resulting in formation of L3Mo═S and an additional L3Mo═O. This mononuclear mechanism is calculated to be strongly exothermic and proceeds via a small activation barrier, which is in accordance with experimental results. An additional investigation into a binuclear process for this SO2 cleavage reaction was also evaluated. Our results show that the binuclear mechanism is less favorable than that of the mononuclear mechanism.

Five-coordinate [Pt(II)(bipyridine)2(phosphine)](n+) complexes: long-lived intermediates in ligand substitution reactions of [Pt(bipyridine)2](2+) with phosphine ligands.

The reaction of [Pt(N-N)2](2+) [N-N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-Me2bpy)] with phosphine ligands [PPh3 or PPh(PhSO3)2(2-)] in aqueous or methanolic solutions was studied by multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, (31)P, and (195)Pt) NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, UV-visible spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. NMR spectra of solutions containing equimolar amounts of [Pt(N-N)2](2+) and phosphine ligand give evidence for rapid formation of long-lived, 5-coordinate [Pt(II)(N-N)2(phosphine)](n+) complexes. In the presence of excess phosphine ligand, these intermediates undergo much slower entry of a second phosphine ligand and loss of a bpy ligand to give [Pt(II)(N-N)(phosphine)2](n+) as the final product. The coordination of a phosphine ligand to the Pt(II) ion in the intermediate [Pt(N-N)2(phosphine)](n+) complexes is supported by the observation of (31)P-(195)Pt coupling in the (31)P NMR spectra. The 5-coordinate nature of [Pt(bpy)2{PPh(PhSO3)2}] is confirmed by X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystal structural analysis shows that the Pt(II) ion in [Pt(bpy)2{PPh(PhSO3)2}]·5.5H2O displays a distorted square pyramidal geometry, with one bpy ligand bound asymmetrically. These results provide strong support for the widely accepted associative ligand substitution mechanism for square planar Pt(II) complexes. X-ray structural characterization of the distorted square planar complex [Pt(bpy)(PPh3)2](ClO4)2 confirms this as the final product of the reaction of [Pt(bpy)2](2+) with PPh3 in CD3OD. The results of density functional calculations on [Pt(bpy)2](2+), [Pt(bpy)2(phosphine)](n+), and [Pt(bpy)(phosphine)2](n+) indicate that the bonding energy follows the trend of [Pt(bpy)(phosphine)2](n+) > [Pt(bpy)2(phosphine)](n+) > [Pt(bpy)2](2+) for stability and that the formation reactions of [Pt(bpy)2(phosphine)](n+) from [Pt(bpy)2](2+) and [Pt(bpy)(phosphine)2](n+) from [Pt(bpy)2(phosphine)](n+) are energetically favorable. These calculations suggest that the driving force for the formation of [Pt(bpy)(phosphine)2](n+) from [Pt(bpy)2](2+) is the formation of a more energetically favorable product.

What does the Sr-substituted 2.1 Å resolution crystal structure of photosystem II reveal about the water oxidation mechanism?

A density functional study of the Sr-substituted photosystem II water oxidising complex demonstrates that its recent X-ray crystal structure is consistent with a (Mn(III))4 oxidation state pattern, and with a Sr-bound hydroxide ion. The Sr-water-hydroxide interactions rationalize differences in the exchange rates of substrate water and kinetics of dioxygen bond formation relative to the Ca-containing structure.

NO2 bond cleavage by MoL3 complexes.

The cleavage of one N-O bond in NO2 by two equivalents of Mo(NRAr)3 has been shown to occur to form molybdenum oxide and nitrosyl complexes. The mechanism and electronic rearrangement of this reaction was investigated using density functional theory, using both a model Mo(NH2)3 system and the full [N((t)Bu)(3,5-dimethylphenyl)] experimental ligand. For the model ligand, several possible modes of coordination for the resulting complex were observed, along with isomerisation and bond breaking pathways. The lowest barrier for direct bond cleavage was found to be via the singlet η(2)-N,O complex (7 kJ mol(-1)). Formation of a bimetallic species was also possible, giving an overall decrease in energy and a lower barrier for reaction (3 kJ mol(-1)). Results for the full ligand showed similar trends in energies for both isomerisation between the different isomers, and for the mononuclear bond cleavage. The lowest calculated barrier for cleavage was only 21 kJ mol(-1)via the triplet η(1)-O isomer, with a strong thermodynamic driving force to the final products of the doublet metal oxide and a molecule of NO. Formation of the full ligand dinuclear complex was not accompanied by an equivalent decrease in energy seen with the model ligand. Direct bond cleavage via an η(1)-O complex is thus the likely mechanism for the experimental reaction that occurs at ambient temperature and pressure. Unlike the other known reactions between MoL3 complexes and small molecules, the second equivalent of the metal does not appear to be necessary, but instead irreversibly binds to the released nitric oxide.

Syntheses of pentanuclear group 6 iridium clusters by core expansion of tetranuclear clusters with Ir(CO)2(η5-C5Me4R) (R = H, Me).

Metal cluster core expansion at tetrahedral group 6-group 9 mixed-metal clusters MIr3(µ-CO)3(CO)8(η(5)-L) (M = W, Mo, L = C5H5; M = Mo, L = C5Me5) with the iridium capping reagents Ir(CO)2(η(5)-L') (L' = C5Me5, C5Me4H) in refluxing toluene afforded the trigonal-bipyramidal clusters MIr4(µ-CO)3(CO)7(η(5)-C5H5)(η(5)-L') (M = Mo, L' = C5Me5, 1a; M = W, L' = C5Me5, 1b; M = Mo, L' = C5Me4H, 1c; M = W, L' = C5Me4H, 1d) and MoIr4(µ3-H)(µ-CO)2(µ-η(1):η(5)-CH2C5Me4)(CO)7(η(5)-C5Me5) (2). Related reactions with M2Ir2(µ-CO)3(CO)7(η(5)-L)2 (M = W, Mo, L = C5H5; M = Mo, L = C5Me5) afforded M2Ir3(µ-CO)3(CO)6(η(5)-C5H5)2(η(5)-L') (M = Mo, L' = C5Me5, 3a; M = W, L' = C5Me5, 3b; M = Mo, L' = C5Me4H, 3c; M = W, L' = C5Me4H, 3d), W2Ir3(µ-CO)4(CO)5(η(5)-C5H5)2(η(5)-C5Me4H) (4), and Mo2Ir3(µ-CO)3(CO)6(η(5)-C5Me5)3 (5). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 1a-1d, 2, 3a-3d, and 4 confirmed their molecular structures, including the µ-η(1):η(5)-CH2C5Me4 ligand at hydrido cluster 2, derived from a C-H bond activation of one of the methyl groups. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were employed to suggest the structure of 5. The redox behavior of the new clusters was examined through cyclic voltammetry; all clusters exhibit oxidation and reduction processes (with respect to the resting state), with the oxidation processes being the more reversible, and increasingly so on decreasing Ir content of the clusters, replacing W by Mo, and increasing alkylation of the cyclopentadienyl ligands. In situ IR and UV-vis-near-IR spectroelectrochemical studies of the reversible oxidation processes in 1a and 3a were undertaken, with the spectra of the former suggesting progression to an all-terminal CO geometry concomitant with the first oxidation and a significant structural change upon the second oxidation step. DFT studies of 1a revealed that its crystallographically-confirmed Mo-equatorial core geometry is essentially isoenergetic with a possible Mo-apical isomer, and identified several bridging CO structures for the charged states.

Synthesis, magnetic properties, and phosphoesterase activity of dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes.

A series of dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes has been prepared and characterized to generate functional and spectroscopic models for cobalt(II) substituted phosphoesterase enzymes such as the potential bioremediator GpdQ. Reaction of ligands based on 2,2'-(((2-hydroxy-5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(methylene))bis((pyridin-2-ylmethyl)azanediyl)))diethanol (L1) and 2,6-bis(((2-methoxyethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-4-methylphenol (L2) with cobalt(II) salts afforded [Co(2)(CO(2)EtH(2)L1)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)), [Co(2)(CO(2)EtL2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)), [Co(2)(CH(3)L2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)), [Co(2)(BrL2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)), and [Co(2)(NO(2)L2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)). Complexes of the L2 ligands contain a coordinated methyl-ether, whereas the L1 ligand contains a coordinated alcohol. The complexes were characterized using mass spectrometry, microanalysis, X-ray crystallography, UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, IR absorption spectroscopy, solid state magnetic susceptibility measurements, and variable-temperature variable-field magnetic circular dichroism (VTVH MCD) spectroscopy. Susceptibility studies show that [Co(2)(CO(2)EtH(2)L1)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)), [Co(2)(CO(2)EtL2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)), and [Co(2)(CH(3)L2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)) are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled, whereas [Co(2)(BrL2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)) and [Co(2)(NO(2)L2)(CH(3)COO)(2)](PF(6)) are weakly ferromagnetically coupled. The susceptibility results are confirmed by the VTVH MCD studies. Density functional theory calculations revealed that magnetic exchange coupling occurs mainly through the phenolic oxygen bridge. Implications of geometry and ligand design on the magnetic exchange coupling will be discussed. Functional studies of the complexes with the substrate bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate showed them to be active towards hydrolysis of phosphoester substrates.