Exploring Ligand Effects on Structure, Bonding, and Photolytic Hydride Transfer of Cationic Gold(I) Bridging Hydride Complexes of Molybdocene and Tungstenocene.

A diverse family of heterobimetallic bridging hydride adducts of the type [LAu(µ-H)2MCp2][X] (L = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene, IPr; 1,3-bis(1-adamantyl)imidazole-2-ylidene, IAd; 1,3-bis(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-5,5-dimethyl-4,6-diketopyrimidinyl-2-ylidene, DippDAC; triphenylphosphine, PPh3; 2-di-tert-butylphosphino-2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl, tBuXPhos; X = SbF6-, BF4- or TfO-) was synthesized by reacting group VI metallocene dihydrides Cp2MH2 (Cp = cyclopentadienyl anion; M = Mo, W) with cationic gold(I) complexes [LAu(NCMe)][X]. Trimetallic [L'Au2(µ-H)2WCp2][X]2 and tetrametallic [L'Au2{(µ-H)2WCp2}2] [X]2 complexes (L' = rac-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthalene or bis(diphenylphosphinomethane)) were obtained by reacting digold [L'{Au(NCMe)}2][X]2 with Cp2WH2 in a 1:1 and a 1:2 stoichiometry. Accessing such a broad structural diversity allowed us to pinpoint roles played by the ancillary ligands and group VI metals on the bonding properties of this family of bridging hydrides. In particular, a clear effect of the ligand on the interaction energy and electronic structure was observed, with important implications on photolytic reactivity. UV or visible light irradiation, indeed, leads to the selective cleavage of the heterobimetallic Au(µ-H)2M arrangement and formation of molecular gold hydrides. The photolysis was found to be chromoselective (wavelength-dependent), which can be ascribed to different charge redistributions upon excitation to the first (Kasha's reactivity) and higher (anti-Kasha's reactivity) excited states.

Ultrafast Photophysics of Regioisomeric Triphenylamine Dyes Having Dipolar D-π-A-A and Octupolar D-(π-A-A)3 Character with a Benzothiazole Unit in Matched or Mismatched Orientation.

Benzothiazole is among prominent electron-withdrawing heteroarene moieties used in a variety of π-conjugated molecules. Its relative orientation with respect to the principal dipole vector(s) of chromophores derived thereof is crucial, affecting photophysical and nonlinear optical properties. Here we compare the photophysics and ultrafast dynamics of dipolar and octupolar molecules comprising a triphenylamine electron-donating core, ethynylene π-conjugated linker(s) and benzothiazole acceptor(s) having the matched or mismatched orientation (with respect to the direction of intramolecular charge transfer), while a carbaldehyde group is attached as an auxiliary acceptor. Among chromophores without the auxiliary acceptor, stronger fluorescence solvatochromism and faster excited state dynamics are exhibited for the derivatives with the mismatched geometry. On the contrary, introduction of the auxiliary acceptor to the benzothiazole unit enhances the intramolecular charge transfer ICT (featuring ultrafast dynamics of the excited state) for the matched geometry. The data confirm the crucial role of the relative orientation of asymmetric heteroaromatic unit (regioisomeric effect) in dipolar as well as in multipolar molecules in tuning linear and nonlinear optical properties as well as excited state dynamics.

One-Pot Reductive Methylation of Nitro- and Amino-Substituted (Hetero)Aromatics with DMSO/HCOOH: Concise Synthesis of Fluorescent Dimethylamino-Functionalized Bibenzothiazole Ligands with Tunable Emission Color upon Complexation.

One-pot reductive N,N-dimethylation of suitable nitro- and amino-substituted (hetero)arenes can be achieved using a DMSO/HCOOH/Et3N system acting as a low-cost but efficient reducing and methylating agent. The transformation of heteroaryl-amines can be accelerated by using dimethyl sulfoxide/oxalyl chloride or chloromethyl methyl sulfide as the source of active CH3SCH2+ species, while the exclusion of HCOOH in the initial stage of the reaction allows avoiding N-formamides as resting intermediates. The developed procedures are applicable in multigram-scale synthesis, and because of the lower electrophilicity of CH3SCH2+, they also work in pathological cases, where common methylating agents provide N,N-dimethylated products in no yield or inferior yields due to concomitant side reactions. The method is particularly useful in one-pot reductive transformation of 2-H-nitrobenzazoles to corresponding N,N-dimethylamino-substituted heteroarenes. These, upon Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling, afford 2,2'-bibenzazoles substituted with dimethylamino groups as charge-transfer N^N ligands with intensive absorption/emission in the visible region. The fluorescence of NMe2-functionalized bibenzothiazoles remains intensive even upon complexation with ZnCl2, while emission maxima are bathochromically shifted from the green/yellow to orange/red spectral region, making these small-molecule fluorophores, exhibiting large emission quantum yields and Stokes shifts, an attractive platform for the construction of various functional dyes and light-harvesting materials with tunable emission color upon complexation.

Hydride Transfer to Gold: Yes or No? Exploring the Unexpected Versatility of Au⋠⋠⋠H-M Bonding in Heterobimetallic Dihydrides.

The potential for coordination and H-transfer from Cp2 MH2 (M=Zr, W) to gold(I) and gold(III) complexes was explored in a combined experimental and computational study. [(L)Au]+ cations react with Cp2 WH2 giving [(L)Au(κ2 -H2 WCp2 )]+ (L=IPr (1), cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (2), PPh3 (3) and Dalphos-Me (4) [IPr=1,3-bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazolylidene; Dalphos-Me=di(1-adamantyl)-2-(dimethylamino)phenyl-phosphine], while [Au(DMAP)2 ]+ (DMAP=p-dimethylaminopyridine) affords the C2 -symmetric [Au(κ-H2 WCp2 )2 ]+ (5). The Dalphos complex 4 can be protonated to give the bicationic adduct 4 H, showing AuI ⋅⋅⋅H+ -N hydrogen bonding. The gold(III) Lewis acid [(C^N-CH)Au(C6 F5 )(OEt2 )]+ binds Cp2 WH2 to give an Au-H-W σ-complex. By contrast, the pincer species [(C^N^C)Au]+ adds Cp2 WH2 by a purely dative W→Au bond, without Au⋅⋅⋅H interaction. The biphenylyl-based chelate [(C^C)Au]+ forms [(C^C)Au(µ-H)2 WCp2 ]+ , with two 2-electron-3-centre W-H⋅⋅⋅Au interactions and practically no Au-W donor acceptor contribution. In all these complexes, strong but polarized W-H bonds are maintained, without H-transfer to gold. On the other hand, the reactions of Cp2 ZrH2 with gold complexes led in all cases to rapid H-transfer and formation of gold hydrides. Relativistic DFT calculations were used to rationalize the striking reactivity and bonding differences in these heterobimetallic hydride complexes along with an analysis of their characteristic NMR parameters and UV/Vis absorption properties.

A Ketimide-Stabilized Palladium Nanocluster with a Hexagonal Aromatic Pd7 Core.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of the mixed-valent, ketimide-stabilized Pd7 nanosheet, [Pd7(N═CtBu2)6] (1), via reaction of PdCl2(PhCN)2 and Li(N═CtBu2). tBuCN, isobutylene, and isobutane are also formed in the reaction. The presence of these products suggests that Li(N═CtBu2) acts as a reducing agent in the transformation, converting the Pd(II) starting material into the mixed-valent Pd(I)/Pd(0) product. Complex 1 features a hexagonal planar [Pd7]6+ core stabilized by six ketimide ligands, which surround the [Pd7]6+ center in an alternating up/down fashion. In situ NMR spectroscopic studies, as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations, suggest that 1 is formed via the intermediacy of the bimetallic Pd(II) ketimide complex, [(tBu2C═N)Pd(µ-N,C-N═C(tBu)C(Me)2CH2)Pd(N═CtBu2)] (2). DFT calculations also reveal that 1 is a rare example of an all-metal aromatic nanocluster with hexagonal symmetry, sustaining a net diatropic ring-current of 10.6 nA/T, which is similar to that of benzene (11.8 nA/T) or other well-established transition-metal aromatic systems. Finally, we have found that 1 reacts with Ph3P, cleanly forming the tris-ligated 16-electron Pd(0) phosphine complex, Pd(PPh3)3 (3), suggesting that 1 could be a useful precatalyst for a variety of cross-coupling reactions.

Stable Actinide π Complexes of a Neutral 1,4-Diborabenzene.

The π coordination of arene and anionic heteroarene ligands is a ubiquitous bonding motif in the organometallic chemistry of d-block and f-block elements. By contrast, related π interactions of neutral heteroarenes including neutral bora-π-aromatics are less prevalent particularly for the f-block, due to less effective metal-to-ligand backbonding. In fact, π complexes with neutral heteroarene ligands are essentially unknown for the actinides. We have now overcome these limitations by exploiting the exceptionally strong π donor capabilities of a neutral 1,4-diborabenzene. A series of remarkably robust, π-coordinated thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) half-sandwich complexes were synthesized by simply combining the bora-π-aromatic with ThCl4 (dme)2 or UCl4 , representing the first examples of actinide complexes with a neutral boracycle as sandwich-type ligand. Experimental and computational studies showed that the strong actinide-heteroarene interactions are predominately electrostatic in nature with distinct ligand-to-metal π donation and without significant π/δ backbonding contributions.

Si-H Bond Activation with Bullock's Cationic Tungsten(II) Catalyst: CO as Cooperating Ligand.

An in-depth investigation of the reaction of tertiary hydrosilanes with [CpW(CO)2(IMes)]+[B(C6F5)4]- reveals a fundamentally new Si-H bond activation mode. Unlike the originally proposed oxidative addition of the Si-H bond to the tungsten(II) center, there is strong experimental and NMR spectroscopic evidence for the involvement of one of the CO ligands of the cationic complex in the Si-H bond breaking event. The Si-H bond is heterolytically cleaved to form a tungsten(II) hydride and a silylium ion, which is stabilized by one of the CO ligands. This reactive hydrosilane adduct was eventually isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Quantum-chemical calculations support a cooperative mechanism, but a stepwise process consisting of oxidative addition and subsequent tungsten-to-oxygen silyl migration in the tungsten(IV) silyl hydride is also energetically feasible. However, our combined spectroscopic and computational analysis favors the cooperative pathway. The newly identified hydrosilane adduct is the key intermediate of Bullock's ionic carbonyl hydrosilylation.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Linear, Two-Coordinate Pt(II) Ketimide Complex.

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a linear, two-coordinate Pt(II) ketimide complex, Pt(N═CtBu2)2 (1), formed via the reaction of PtCl2(1,5-COD) with 2 equiv of Li(N═CtBu2). Also generated in the reaction is the bimetallic complex [(tBu2C═N)Pt(µ-N,C-N═C(tBu)C(Me)2CH2)Pt(N═CtBu2)] (2). Both complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Notably, complex 1 exhibits short Pt-N distances (av. Pt-N = 1.817 Å) and an unusually deshielded 195Pt chemical shift (δPt = -629 ppm) with a large 1J(195Pt,14N) coupling constant (537 Hz). These data, in combination with a detailed density functional theory electronic structure analysis, reveal the presence of highly covalent Pt═N multiple bonds formed by a combination of σ-donation, π-donation, and π-backdonation.

13C NMR Shifts as an Indicator of U-C Bond Covalency in Uranium(VI) Acetylide Complexes: An Experimental and Computational Study.

A series of uranium(VI)-acetylide complexes of the general formula UVI(O)(C≡C-C6H4-R)[N(SiMe3)2]3, with variation of the para substituent (R = NMe2, OMe, Me, Ph, H, Cl) on the aryl(acetylide) ring, was prepared. These compounds were analyzed by 13C NMR spectroscopy, which showed that the acetylide carbon bound to the uranium(VI) center, U- C≡C-Ar, was shifted strongly downfield, with δ(13C) values ranging from 392.1 to 409.7 ppm for Cl and NMe2 substituted complexes, respectively. These extreme high-frequency 13C resonances are attributed to large negative paramagnetic (σpara) and relativistic spin-orbit (σSO) shielding contributions, associated with extensive U(5f) and C(2s) orbital contributions to the U-C bonding in title complexes. The trend in the 13C chemical shift of the terminal acetylide carbon is opposite that observed in the series of parent (aryl)acetylenes, due to shielding effects of the para substituent. The 13C chemical shifts of the acetylide carbon instead correlate with DFT computed U-C bond lengths and corresponding QTAIM delocalization indices or Wiberg bond orders. SQUID magnetic susceptibility measurements were indicative of the Van Vleck temperature independent paramagnetism (TIP) of the uranium(VI) complexes, suggesting a magnetic field-induced mixing of the singlet ground-state (f0) of the U(VI) ion with low-lying (thermally inaccessible) paramagnetic excited states (involved also in the perturbation-theoretical treatment of the unusually large paramagnetic and SO contributions to the 13C shifts). Thus, together with reported data, we demonstrate that the sensitive 13C NMR shifts serve as a direct, simple, and accessible measure of uranium(VI)-carbon bond covalency.

Unlocking Structural Diversity in Gold(III) Hydrides: Unexpected Interplay of cis/ trans-Influence on Stability, Insertion Chemistry, and NMR Chemical Shifts.

The synthesis of new families of stable or at least spectroscopically observable gold(III) hydride complexes is reported, including anionic cis-hydrido chloride, hydrido aryl, and cis-dihydride complexes. Reactions between (C^C)AuCl(PR3) and LiHBEt3 afford the first examples of gold(III) phosphino hydrides (C^C)AuH(PR3) (R = Me, Ph, p-tolyl; C^C = 4,4'-di- tert-butylbiphenyl-2,2'-diyl). The X-ray structure of (C^C)AuH(PMe3) was determined. LiHBEt3 reacts with (C^C)AuCl(py) to give [(C^C)Au(H)Cl]-, whereas (C^C)AuH(PR3) undergoes phosphine displacement, generating the dihydride [(C^C)AuH2]-. Monohydrido complexes hydroaurate dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate to give Z-vinyls. (C^N^C)Au pincer complexes give the first examples of gold(III) bridging hydrides. Stability, reactivity and bonding characteristics of Au(III)-H complexes crucially depend on the interplay between cis and trans-influence. Remarkably, these new gold(III) hydrides extend the range of observed NMR hydride shifts from δ -8.5 to +7 ppm. Relativistic DFT calculations show that the origin of this wide chemical shift variability as a function of the ligands depends on the different ordering and energy gap between "shielding" Au(dπ)-based orbitals and "deshielding" σ(Au-H)-type MOs, which are mixed to some extent upon inclusion of spin-orbit (SO) coupling. The resulting 1H hydride shifts correlate linearly with the DFT optimized Au-H distances and Au-H bond covalency. The effect of cis ligands follows a nearly inverse ordering to that of trans ligands. This study appears to be the first systematic delineation of cis ligand influence on M-H NMR shifts and provides the experimental evidence for the dramatic change of the 1H hydride shifts, including the sign change, upon mutual cis and trans ligand alternation.

Thorium Cubanes-Synthesis, Solid-State and Solution Structures, Thermolysis, and Chalcogen Exchange Reactions.

Thorium cubanes (py)8Th4(µ3-E')4(µ2-EPh)4(η-EPh)4 (E, E' = S, Se) were prepared from ligand-based redox reactions of elemental E' with Th(EPh)4. Products with all four possible E/E' combinations (E,E' = S,S; Se,Se; S,Se; Se,S) were isolated and structurally characterized, ligand exchange reactions were explored, and the heterochalcogen compounds (py)8Th4(µ3-S)4(µ2-SePh)4(η-SePh)4 and (py)8Th4(µ3-Se)4(µ2-SPh)4(η-SPh)4 were heated to deliver solid solutions of ThS xSe2- x. NMR spectroscopy indicated that the structure of (py)8Th4(µ3-Se)4(µ2-SePh)4(η-SePh)4 is static in pyridine solution, with no exchange between bridging and terminal PhE- ligands on the NMR time scale. A computational analysis of 77Se NMR shifts provides insight into the solution structure of both clusters and monomeric chalcogenolates.

Molecular Thorium Compounds with Dichalcogenide Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, 77Se NMR Study, and Thermolysis.

A series of dimeric thorium disulfides and diselenides have been prepared with sterically undemanding ancillary ligands. Five complexes, (py)6Th2I4(µ2-S2)2, (py)6Th2Br2(SC6F5)2(µ2-S2)2, (py)6Th2I4(µ2-Se2)2, (py)6Th2I2(SC6F5)2(µ2-Se2)2, and (py)6Th2Br2(SC6F5)2(µ2-Se2)2, were isolated in high yields by first reducing mixtures of I2, F5C6SSC6F5, PhSeSePh, or PhSSPh, and PhSeBr with elemental Th, followed by in situ ligand-based redox reactions with elemental sulfur or selenium. These are the first examples of thorium compounds with bridging dichalcogenide ligands. Attempts to prepare chloride derivatives gave mixtures of (py)4ThCl4 and either (py)6Th2Cl2(SC6F5)2(µ2-S2)2 or (py)8Th4Se4(SePh)4(SC6F5)4. All products were characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and IR, UV-visible, and NMR spectroscopy. A computational analysis of experimental 77Se NMR chemical shifts reveals that the solvated dimeric structures with two bridging dichalcogenides are maintained in solution. Thermolysis of (py)6Th2I4(µ2-Se2)2 leads to reduction of the bridging Se22- moieties, oxidation of the I- ligand, and formation of solid-state ThSe2 and I2.

Cooperative Al-H Bond Activation in DIBAL-H: Catalytic Generation of an Alumenium-Ion-Like Lewis Acid for Hydrodefluorinative Friedel-Crafts Alkylation.

The Ru-S bond in Ohki-Tatsumi complexes breaks oligomeric DIBAL-H structures into their more reactive monomer. That deaggregation is coupled to heterolytic Al-H bond activation at the Ru-S bond, formally splitting the Al-H linkage into hydride and an alumenium ion. The molecular structure of these Lewis pairs was established crystallographically, revealing an additional Ru-Al interaction next to the Ru-H and Al-S bonds. That bonding situation was further analyzed by quantum-chemical calculations and is best described as a three-center-two-electron (3c2e) donor-acceptor σ(Ru-H) → Al interaction. Despite the extra stabilization of the aluminum center by the interaction with both the sulfur atom and the Ru-H bond, the hydroalane adducts are found to be stronger Lewis acids and electrophiles than the free ruthenium catalyst and DIBAL-H in its different aggregation states. Hence, the DIBAL-H molecule and its Al-H bond are activated by the Ru-S bond, but these hydroalane adducts are not to be mistaken as sulfur-stabilized alumenium ions in a strict sense. The Ohki-Tatsumi complexes catalyze C(sp3)-F bond cleavage with DIBAL-H, and the catalytic setup is applied to hydrodefluorinative Friedel-Crafts alkylations. A broad range of CF3-substituted arenes is efficiently converted into unsymmetrical diarylmethanes with various arenes as nucleophiles. Computed fluoride-ion affinities (FIAs) of the hydroalane adducts as well as DIBAL-H in its aggregation states support this experimental finding.

Insights into trans-Ligand and Spin-Orbit Effects on Electronic Structure and Ligand NMR Shifts in Transition-Metal Complexes.

Surprisingly general effects of trans ligands L on the ligand NMR shifts in third-row transition-metal complexes have been found by quasi-relativistic computations, encompassing 5d10 , 5d8 , and to some extent even 5d6 situations. Closer analysis, with emphasis on 1 H shieldings in a series of linear HAuI Lq complexes, reveals a dominance of spin-orbit (SO) effects, which can change sign from appreciably shielding for weak trans ligands to appreciably deshielding for ligands with strong trans influence. This may be traced back to increasing destabilization of a σ-type MO at scalar relativistic level, which translates into very different σ-/π-mixing if SO coupling is included. For the strongest trans ligands, the σ-MO may move above the highest occupied π-type MOs, thereby dramatically reducing strongly shielding contributions from predominantly π-type spinors. The effects of SO-mixing are in turn related to angular momentum admixture from atomic spinors at the metal center. These SO-induced trends hold for other nuclei and may also be used to qualitatively predict shifts in unknown complexes.

Four-Component Relativistic Density Functional Calculations of EPR Parameters for Model Complexes of Tungstoenzymes.

For a closer validation of four-component relativistic DFT methods within the matrix Dirac-Kohn-Sham (mDKS) framework with global hybrid functionals for EPR parameter calculations to be applied in the modeling of tungsten enzymes, we refine a previously suggested protocol for computations on 5d systems. This is done for a series of larger, unsymmetrical W(V) complexes thought to closely resemble enzyme active sites in this oxidation state. Particular focus is placed on complexes with thiolate and dithiolene ligands, along with an evaluation of the influence of different amounts of exact-exchange incorporated in hybrid PBE0-xHF functionals, an implicit solvent model, and structural changes on the computed EPR parameters. Compared to previous work, a slightly modified protocol with different optimal exact-exchange admixtures for electronic g- and hyperfine A-tensors is found to provide the best agreement with experimental EPR data. It will provide the basis for our subsequent tungsten enzyme modeling efforts.

Use of (77)Se and (125)Te NMR Spectroscopy to Probe Covalency of the Actinide-Chalcogen Bonding in [Th(En){N(SiMe3)2}3](-) (E = Se, Te; n = 1, 2) and Their Oxo-Uranium(VI) Congeners.

Reaction of [Th(I)(NR2)3] (R = SiMe3) (1) with 1 equiv of either [K(18-crown-6)]2[Se4] or [K(18-crown-6)]2[Te2] affords the thorium dichalcogenides, [K(18-crown-6)][Th(η(2)-E2)(NR2)3] (E = Se, 2; E = Te, 3), respectively. Removal of one chalcogen atom via reaction with Et3P, or Et3P and Hg, affords the monoselenide and monotelluride complexes of thorium, [K(18-crown-6)][Th(E)(NR2)3] (E = Se, 4; E = Te, 5), respectively. Both 4 and 5 were characterized by X-ray crystallography and were found to feature the shortest known Th-Se and Th-Te bond distances. The electronic structure and nature of the actinide-chalcogen bonds were investigated with (77)Se and (125)Te NMR spectroscopy accompanied by detailed quantum-chemical analysis. We also recorded the (77)Se NMR shift for a U(VI) oxo-selenido complex, [U(O)(Se)(NR2)3](-) (δ((77)Se) = 4905 ppm), which features the highest frequency (77)Se NMR shift yet reported, and expands the known (77)Se chemical shift range for diamagnetic substances from ∼3300 ppm to almost 6000 ppm. Both (77)Se and (125)Te NMR chemical shifts of given chalcogenide ligands were identified as quantitative measures of the An-E bond covalency within an isoelectronic series and supported significant 5f-orbital participation in actinide-ligand bonding for uranium(VI) complexes in contrast to those involving thorium(IV). Moreover, X-ray diffraction studies together with NMR spectroscopic data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide convincing evidence for the actinide-chalcogen multiple bonding in the title complexes. Larger An-E covalency is observed in the [U(O)(E)(NR2)3](-) series, which decreases as the chalcogen atom becomes heavier.

Paramagnetic NMR of Phenolic Oxime Copper Complexes: A Joint Experimental and Density Functional Study.

1 H and 13 C pNMR properties of bis(salicylaldoximato)copper(II) were studied in the solid state using magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopy and, for the isolated complex and selected oligomers, using density-functional theory at the PBE0-1/3 //PBE0-D3 level. Large paramagnetic shifts are observed, up to δ(1 H)=272 ppm and δ(13 C)=1006 ppm (at 298 K), which are rationalised through spin delocalisation from the metal onto the organic ligand and the resulting contact shifts arising from hyperfine coupling. The observed shift ranges are best reproduced computationally using exchange-correlation functionals with a high fraction of exact exchange (such as PBE0-1/3 ). Through a combination of experimental techniques and first-principles computation, a near-complete assignment of the observed signals is possible. Intermolecular effects on the pNMR shifts, modelled computationally in the dimers and trimers through effective decoupling between the local spins via A-tensor and total spin rescaling in the pNMR expression, are indicated to be small. Addition of electron-donating substituents and benzannelation of the organic ligand is predicted computationally to induce notable changes in the NMR signal pattern, which suggests that pNMR spectroscopy can be a sensitive probe for the spin distribution in paramagnetic phenolic oxime copper complexes.

Completing the Heterocubane Family [Cp*AlE]4 (E = O, S, Se, and Te) by Selective Oxygenation and Sulfuration of [Cp*Al]4: Density Functional Theory Calculations of [Cp*AlE]4 and Reactivity of [Cp*AlO]4 toward Hydrolysis.

The subvalent aluminum compound [Cp*Al]4 (1) reacts with dioxygen, N2O, or sulfur to yield the heterocubane complexes [Cp*AlX]4 [X = O (2) and S (3)]. Treatment of [Cp*AlO]4 (2) with (tBuO)3SiOH gave [(tBuO)3SiOAlO]4 (6) and Cp*H. The structures and spectroscopic data of the Al clusters are supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which also demonstrate the importance of noncovalent interactions (NCI) in oligomeric Al(I) complexes as well as in [Cp*AlS]4 and the heavier homologues of Se and Te. The computed (27)Al NMR shifts indicate a deshielding at the Al centers with increasing electronegativity of the chalcogen atom as well as significant spin-orbit shielding effects within the heavier heterocubane [Al4E4] cores. Further hydrolysis of 6 with an additional amount of silanol in the presence of water resulted in the formation of [Al4(OH)6(OH2)2(OSiOtBu3)6] (7), which shows a structural motif found in boehmite and diaspore.

Giant spin-orbit effects on 1H and 13C NMR shifts for uranium(vi) complexes revisited: role of the exchange-correlation response kernel, bonding analyses, and new predictions.

Previous relativistic quantum-chemical predictions of unusually large 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts for ligand atoms directly bonded to a diamagnetic uranium(vi) center (P. Hrobárik, V. Hrobáriková, A. H. Greif and M. Kaupp, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 10884) have been revisited by two- and four-component relativistic density functional methods. In particular, the effect of the exchange-correlation response kernel, which had been missing in the previously used two-component version of the Amsterdam Density Functional program, has been examined. Kernel contributions are large for cases with large spin-orbit (SO) contributions to the NMR shifts and may amount to up to ∼30% of the total shifts, which means more than a 50 ppm difference for the metal-bonded carbon shifts in some extreme cases. Previous calculations with a PBE-40HF functional had provided overall reasonable predictions, due to cancellation of errors between the missing kernel contributions and the enhanced exact-exchange (EXX) admixture of 40%. In the presence of an exchange-correlation kernel, functionals with lower EXX admixtures give already good agreement with experiments, and the PBE0 functional provides reasonable predictive quality. Most importantly, the revised approach still predicts unprecedented giant 1H NMR shifts between +30 ppm and more than +200 ppm for uranium(vi) hydride species. We also predict uranium-bonded 13C NMR shifts for some synthetically known organometallic U(vi) complexes, for which no corresponding signals have been detected to date. In several cases, the experimental lack of these signals may be attributed to unexpected spectral regions in which some of the 13C NMR shifts can appear, sometimes beyond the usual measurement area. An extremely large uranium-bonded 13C shift above 550 ppm, near the upper end of the diamagnetic 13C shift range, is predicted for a known pincer carbene complex. Bonding analyses allow in particular the magnitude of the SO shifts, and of their dependence on the functional, on the ligand position in the complex, and on the overall electronic structure to be better appreciated, and improved confidence ranges for predicted shifts have been obtained.

A Relativistic Quantum-Chemical Analysis of the trans Influence on (1)H NMR Hydride Shifts in Square-Planar Platinum(II) Complexes.

Empirical correlations between characteristic (1)H NMR shifts in Pt(II) hydrides with trans ligand influence series, Pt-H distances, and (195)Pt shifts are analyzed at various levels of including relativistic effects into density-functional calculations. A close examination of the trans ligand effects on hydride NMR shifts is shown to be dominated by spin-orbit shielding σ(SO). A rather complete understanding of the trends has been obtained by detailed molecular orbital (MO)-by-MO and localized MO analyses of the paramagnetic and spin-orbit (SO) contributions to the chemical shifts, noting that it is the perpendicular shift-tensor components that determine the trend of the (1)H hydride shifts. In contrast to previous assumptions, the change of the Pt-H distance in given complexes does not allow correlations between hydride shifts and metal-hydrogen bond length to be understood. Instead, variations in the polarization of metal 5d orbitals by the trans ligand affects the SO (and partly paramagnetic) shift contributions, as well as the Pt-H distances and the covalency of the metal-hydrogen bond (quantified, e.g., by natural atomic charges and delocalization indices from quantum theory atoms-in-molecules), resulting in a reasonable correlation of these structural/electronic quantities with hydride σ(SO) shieldings. Our analysis also shows that specific σ(p)- and σ(SO)-active MOs are not equally important across the entire series. This explains some outliers in the correlation for limited ranges of trans-influence ligands. Additionally, SO effects from heavy-halide ligands may further complicate trends, indicating some limitations of the simple one-parameter correlations. Strikingly, σ-donating/π-accepting ligands with a very strong trans influence are shown to invert the sign of the usually shielding σ(SO) contribution to the (1)H shifts, by a substantial reduction of the metal 5d orbital involvement in Pt-H bonding, and by involvement of metal 6p-type orbitals in the magnetic couplings, in violation of the Buckingham-Stephens "off-center ring-current" picture.