Singlet-Triplet Gaps of Cobalt Nitrosyls: Insights from Tropocoronand Complexes.

A density functional theory (DFT) study of {CoNO}(8) cobalt nitrosyl complexes containing the [n,n]tropocoronand ligand (TC-n,n) has revealed a sharp reduction of singlet-triplet gaps as the structures change from near-square-pyramidal (for n = 3) to trigonal-bipyramidal with an equatorial NO (for n = 5, 6). An experimental reinvestigation of [Co(TC-3,3)(NO)] has confirmed that it is not paramagnetic, as originally reported, but diamagnetic, like all other {CoNO}(8) complexes. Furthermore, DFT calculations indicate a substantial singlet-triplet gap of about half an eV or higher for this complex. At the other end of the series, low-energy, thermally accessible triplet states are predicted for [Co(TC-6,6)(NO)]. Enhanced triplet-state reactivity may well provide a partial explanation for the failure to isolate this compound as a stable species.

Electronic structure of a paramagnetic {MNO}6 complex: MnNO 5,5-tropocoronand.

Using density functional theory (OLYP/STO-TZP) calculations, we have investigated the electronic structure of [Mn(5,5-tropocoronand)(NO)], a rare paramagnetic {MNO}(6) complex. Experimental methods, including magnetic susceptibility measurements and high-field electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, have not provided an unambiguous spin state assignment for this complex. In other respects, however, the compound was fully characterized, including by means of single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The optimized S = 1 OLYP geometry reproduced all key aspects of the trigonal-bipyramidal molecular structure, including a short Mn-N(O) distance (approximately 1.7 A) and an essentially linear MnNO angle. In contrast, the S = 0 and S = 2 optimized structures disagreed with the crystal structure in critical respects. Moreover, three different exchange-correlation functionals (OLYP, B3LYP, and B3LYP*) indicated an S = 1 ground state by a clear margin of energy. An examination of the Kohn-Sham MOs of this state indicated a primarily d(xz)(2)d(yz)(2)d(xy)(1)d(x(2)-z(2))(1) electronic configuration, where the z axis is identified with the nearly linear MnNO axis. The d(y(2)) orbital is formally unoccupied in this state, interacting, as it does, head-on with two tropocoronand nitrogens lying along the y axis, the pseudo-3-fold axis of the trigonal bipyramid. The doubly occupied d(xz) and d(yz) orbitals are in actuality d(pi)(Fe)-pi*(NO)-based pi-bonding molecular orbitals, the alpha and beta "components" of which are significantly offset spatially. This offset results in excess minority spin density on the NO unit. Thus, the OLYP/TZP atomic spin populations are Mn, 2.85; N(O), -0.52; and O, -0.35.

Mapping the d-d excited-state manifolds of transition metal beta-diiminato-imido complexes. Comparison of density functional theory and CASPT2 energetics.

Trigonal-planar, middle transition metal diiminato-imido complexes do not exhibit high-spin states, as might be naively expected on the basis of their low coordination numbers. Instead, the known Fe(III), Co(III), and Ni(III) complexes exhibit S = 3/2, S = 0, and S = 1/2 ground states, respectively. Kohn-Sham DFT calculations have provided a basic molecular orbital picture of these compounds as well as a qualitative rationale for the observed spin states. Reported herein are ab initio multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations, which provide a relatively detailed picture of the d-d excited-state manifolds of these complexes. Thus, for a C(2v) Fe(III)(diiminato)(NPh) model complex, two near-degenerate states ((4)B(2) and (4)B(1)) compete as contenders for the ground state. Moreover, the high-spin sextet, two additional quartets and even a low-spin doublet all occur at <0.5 eV, relative to the ground state. For the Co(III) system, although CASPT2 reproduces an S = 0 ground state, as observed experimentally for a related complex, the calculations also predict two exceedingly low-energy triplet states; there are, however, no other particularly low-energy d-d excited states. In contrast to the Fe(III) and Co(III) cases, the Ni(III) complex has a clearly nondegenerate (2)B(2) ground state. The CASPT2 energetics provide benchmarks against which we can evaluate the performance of several common DFT methods. Although none of the functionals examined perform entirely satisfactorily, the B3LYP hybrid functional provides the best overall spin-state energetics.

Bonding in Low-Coordinate Environments: Electronic Structure of Pseudotetrahedral Iron-Imido Complexes.

A detailed density functional theory study of pseudotetrahedral Fe(III/IV)-imido-phosphine complexes has yielded a host of new insights. The calculations confirm dxy(2)dx(2)-y(2)(2)dz(2)(1) (or dδ(2)dδ'(2)dσ(1)) electronic configurations for Fe(III)-imido complexes of this type, as previously proposed, where the z direction may be identified with the Fe-Nimido vector. However, geometry optimization of a sterically unencumbered model complex indicated a bent (162°) imido linkage, in sharp contrast to the linear imido groups present in the sterically hindered complexes that have been studied experimentally. Under C3v symmetry, the Fe(III)-imido molecular orbital (MO) energy-level diagram indicates the existence of near-degenerate (2)A1 and (2)E states, and accordingly, the bending of the imido group appears to be ascribable to a pseudo-Jahn-Teller distortion. For Fe(IV)-imido complexes, our calculations indicate a dxy(2)dx(2)-y(2)(1)dz(2)(1) (or dδ(2)dδ'(1)dσ(1)) electronic configuration, which is somewhat different from the dxy(1)dx(2)-y(2)(1)dz(2)(2) (or dδ(1)dδ'(1)dσ(2)) configuration proposed in the literature. Not surprisingly, for a sterically unencumbered Fe(IV)-imido complex, the degenerate (3)E state (under C3v symmetry) results in a mild Jahn-Teller distortion and a slightly bent (173°) imido linkage (on relaxing the symmetry constraint). The calculations also shed light on the surprising stability of the dz(2)-based MO, which points directly at the imido nitrogen, relative to the dπ-based MOs. The low-coordinate nature of the complexes [Formula: see text] the absence of equatorial ligands and of a ligand trans with respect to the imido ligand [Formula: see text] plays a key role in stabilizing the dz(2) orbital as well as the complexes as a whole. The electronic configurations of Fe(IV)-imido porphyrins are radically different from that of the pseudotetrahedral complexes studied here, and we have speculated that these differences may well account for the nonobservation so far of Fe(IV)-imido porphyrins.

Trigonal bipyramidal iron(III) and manganese(III) oxo, sulfido, and selenido complexes. An electronic-structural overview.

Using density functional theory calculations, we have carried out a broad survey of trigonal bipyramidal iron(III) and manganese(III) oxo, sulfido, selenido, and hydroxo complexes, with tripodal tetradentate "triureidoamine" supporting ligands. The calculations reproduce the experimentally observed high-spin states of these compounds; a multifunctional analysis suggests that the high-spin nature of these species follows largely from their trigonal bipyramidal geometry. In conjunction with earlier calculations, the present study provides a broad overview of spin density profiles in iron-oxo species in general. Iron-oxo d(pi)-p(pi) interactions invariably result in a substantial spin density on the oxygen, which in turn may be significantly tuned by hydrogen bonding interactions. The oxygen spin densities are smaller in analogous manganese-oxo species, indicating that manganese is less adept at pi-bonding than iron, which parallels earlier findings on porphyrin systems. The Fe(III)-S/Se spin density profiles provide one of the first confirmations in a transition metal context of Schleyer's prediction that the heavier p-block elements are as effective as their second-row congeners in terms of their pi-donating ability.

The challenge of being straight: explaining the linearity of a low-spin [FeNO]7 unit in a tropocoronand complex.

We have carried out a density functional theory study of the S = 1/2 [FeNO]7 tropocoronand complex, Fe(5,5-TC)NO, as well as of some simplified models of this compound. The calculations accurately reproduce the experimentally observed trigonal-bipyramidal geometry of this complex, featuring a linear NO in an equatorial position and a very short Fe-N(NO) distance. Despite these unique structural features, the qualitative features of the bonding turn out to be rather similar for Fe(5,5-TC)NO and [FeNO]7 porphyrins. Thus, there is a close correspondence between the molecular orbitals (MOs) in the two cases. However, there is a critical, if somewhat subtle, difference in the nature of the singly occupied MOs (SOMOs) between the two. For square-pyramidal heme-NO complexes, the SOMO is primarily Fe d(z)2-based, which favors sigma-bonding interactions with an NO pi orbital, and hence a bent FeNO unit. However, for trigonal-bipyramidal Fe(5,5-TC)(NO), the SOMO is best described as primarily Fe d(x2-z2) in character, with the Fe-N(NO) vector being identified as the z direction. Apparently, such a d orbital is less adept at sigma bonding with NO and, as such, pi bonding dominates the Fe-NO interaction, leading to an essentially linear FeNO unit and a short Fe-N(NO) distance.

Toward modeling H-NOX domains: a DFT study of heme-NO complexes as hydrogen bond acceptors.

Density functional theory calculations (PW91/STO-TZP, including basis-set superposition error corrections) have been used to evaluate hydrogen bond energies of five- and six-coordinate heme-NO complexes with phenol and imidazole, chosen as models for distal pocket tyrosine and histidine residues. The calculated interaction energies are approximately 2 kcal/mol for phenol and 3-4 kcal/mol for imidazole, which are 2-4 times smaller than the energies calculated for heme-O(2) complexes hydrogen-bonding with a distal histidine. Interestingly, the hydrogen bond energies are found to be very similar for five- and six-coordinate heme-NO complexes, which may be viewed as contrary to the interpretation of a recent observation on a bacterial H-NOX (Heme-Nitric oxide/OXygen-binding) protein with sequence homology to mammalian-soluble guanylate cyclase.

Electronic structure of cis-Mo(P)(NO)2, where P is a porphyrin: an organometallic perspective of metalloporphyrin-NO complexes.

This study presents a first MO analysis of the stereochemistry of cis-Mo(P)(NO)(2), where the Mo(NO)(2) unit eclipses a pair of opposite Mo-N bonds and also adopts a remarkable horseshoe-like conformation. In addition, we have uncovered a number of analogies--in terms of commonalities of metal-ligand orbital interactions--between the dinitrosylmetalloporphyrins, Fe(P)(NO)(2) and Mo(P)(NO)(2), and the two dialkylmetalloporphyrins, Ru(P)(CH(3))(2), and Zr(P)(CH(3))(2).

Understanding the unexpected linearity of the trans-{Mn(NO)2}8 unit in a phthalocyanine complex: some thoughts on dinitrosylheme intermediates in biology.

Simple MO arguments provide a qualitative explanation for the near-linear ON-Mn-NO arrangement observed for the trans-{Mn(NO)2}8 anion [Mn(Pc)(NO)2]-, which is unexpected for an Enemark-Feltham electron count n>6. The metal center in this species may be described as low-spin d6("t2g6") and the two unpaired electrons occupy a pair of eu orbitals composed of NO(pi*) components, giving rise to a triplet ground state. In a certain sense, these eu SOMOs may be likened to the SOMO (singly occupied molecular orbital) of the allyl radical. The electronic structure of this species is quite different from that of diamagnetic dinitrosylheme intermediates, which have been spectroscopically characterized in synthetic studies as well as proposed for soluble guanylate cyclase and cytochrome c'. Some speculative remarks are offered as to why this proposal is not an unreasonable one from an electronic-structural perspective.

Electronic structure of high-valent transition metal corrolazine complexes. The young and innocent?

This is a first quantum chemical study of corrolazine complexes. DFT calculations suggest that despite their extremely contracted central cavities, compared with porphyrins, a variety of corrolazine complexes may be expected to exist as stable compounds. The calculations also indicate that corrolazine complexes may be regarded as strongly electron-deficient analogues of corrole complexes. Thus, the calculated valence ionization potentials of P(V) and Cu(III) corrolazine derivatives are dramatically higher than those of analogous corrole derivatives. In addition, DFT calculations on Fe(IV) and Mn(IV) corrole and corrolazine derivatives suggest that compared with the often noninnocent corrole ligands, corrolazines are electronically more innocent and stabilize "purer" high-valent states of transition metal ions.