Chromium(VI) Oxyfluoride Dianions, [Cr2 O4 F6 ]2- and [CrO2 F4 ]2- ; Syntheses and Structures of [XeF5 ]2 [Cr2 O4 F6 ], [XeF5 ]2 [Cr2 O4 F6 ] ⋠nX (X=HF, n=4; X=XeOF4 , n=2), and [XeF5 ][Xe2 F11 ][CrO2 F4 ].

The fluorobasic character of the strong oxidative fluorinator, XeF6 , and the oxidative resistance of the [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ cations have been exploited for the syntheses of several novel Cr(VI) dianion salts. The reactions of XeF6 and CrO2 F2 in anhydrous HF and by direct fusion of the reactants in melts have yielded the first dinuclear Cr(VI) oxyfluoro-dianion salts, [XeF5 ]2 [Cr2 O4 F6 ], [XeF5 ]2 [Cr2 O4 F6 ] ⋅ 4HF, [XeF5 ]2 [Cr2 O4 F6 ] ⋅ 2XeOF4 , and mononuclear Cr(VI) oxyfluoro-dianion salt, [XeF5 ][Xe2 F11 ][CrO2 F4 ]. The salts were structurally characterized by low-temperature (LT) single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and LT Raman spectroscopy. The [CrO2 F4 ]2- and [Cr2 O4 F6 ]2- dianions have distorted octahedral cis-dioxo Cr(VI) coordination spheres in which two F-atoms are trans to one another and two F-atoms are trans to O-atoms, where the [Cr2 O4 F6 ]2- dianion is the fluorine-bridged dimer of the [CrO2 F3 ]- anion. Quantum-chemical calculations were used to obtain the energy-minimized, gas-phase geometries, and the calculated vibrational spectra of the gas-phase dianions and their ion-pairs, which were used to aid in the vibrational frequency assignments of the crystalline salts. NBO and MEPS analyses and SCXRD show these salts are comprised of intimate ion-pairs in which their cations and anions interact through primarily electrostatic Xe- - -F σ-hole bonds.

XeF2 Coordination Complexes of the [BrO2]+ Cation, [O2Br(FXeF)n][AsF6] (n = 1, 2) and [O2Br(FXeF)2][SbF6]; Their Syntheses and Structural Characterizations.

The syntheses and structural characterizations of the first XeF2 coordination complexes of the [BrO2]+ cation are described. The reactions of [BrO2][PnF6] (Pn = As, Sb) with XeF2 in anhydrous HF solvent yield the salts [O2Br(FXeF)n][AsF6] (n = 1, 2) and [O2Br(FXeF)2][SbF6], which were characterized by low-temperature (LT) Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The XeF2 ligands and [PnF6]- coordinate to the Lewis acidic [BrO2]+ cation through primarily electrostatic BrV---FXe σ-hole bonds that result from coordination of the F atoms into regions of high positive electrostatic potential on the Br(V) atom and have bond trajectories that avoid the stereoactive valence electron lone-pair of Br(V). The complexes and their structural characterizations by LT Raman spectroscopy and SCXRD significantly extend the coordination chemistry of Br(V) and provide rare examples of a noble-gas difluoride coordinated to a strong oxidant main-group Lewis acid center.

Synthesis, Structure, and Bonding of a XeIV Transition-Metal Coordination Complex, F3 XeFb - - -WOF4.

The coordination complex, F3 XeFb - - -WOF4 , was synthesized in CFCl3 solvent by reaction of the weak fluoride-ion donor and strong oxidative fluorinating agent, XeF4 , with the moderate-strength fluoride-ion acceptor, WOF4 . The compound is the only transition-metal coordination complex of XeIV and was characterized at low temperatures by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Xenon tetrafluoride and WOF4 coordinate trans to the W=O bond through a W- - -Fb bond. The XeF3 moiety of F3 XeFb - - -WOF4 acquires a degree of [XeF3 ]+ character upon coordination that is reflected by its Xe-F stretching frequencies which are intermediate with respect to those of XeF4 and [XeF3 ]+ . Calculations show W- - -Fb is predominantly an electrostatic, σ-hole bond with a significant orbital contribution that accounts for the bent Xe-Fb - - -W angle. The calculations show F3 XeFb - - -MOF4 (M=Cr, Mo) are less stable than their W analogue, consistent with failed attempts to synthesize F3 XeFb - - -MoOF4 .

Noble-Gas Difluoride Complexes of MOF4 (M=Mo, W); Syntheses, Structures and Bonding of NgF2 ⋠MOF4 and XeF2 ⋠2MOF4 (Ng=Kr, Xe).

The NgF2 ⋅ MOF4 (Ng=Kr, Xe; M=Mo, W) and XeF2 ⋅ 2MOF4 complexes were synthesized in anhydrous HF (aHF) solvent and melts, respectively. Their single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) structures show NgF2 ⋅ MOF4 and XeF2 ⋅ 2MOF4 have Ft -Ng-Fb - - -M arrangements, in which the NgF2 ligands coordinate to MOF4 through Ng-Fb - - -M bridges. The XeF2 ligands of XeF2 ⋅ 2MOF4 also coordinate to F3 OM-Fb '- - -M'OF4 moieties through Xe-Fb - - -M bridges to form Ft -Xe-Fb - - -M(OF3 )-Fb '- - -M'OF4 , where XeF2 coordinates trans to the M=O bond and Fb ' coordinates trans to the M'=O bond. The Ng-Ft , Ng-Fb , and M- - -Fb bond lengths of NgF2 ⋅ nMOF4 are consistent with MOF4 and F3 OM-Fb '- - -M'OF4 fluoride-ion affinity trends: CrOF4

Syntheses and Characterizations of the Mixed Noble-Gas Compounds, [FKrII FXeII F][AsF6 ]⋠0.5 KrII F2 ⋠2 HF, ([KrII 2 F3 ][AsF6 ])2 ⋠XeIV F4 , and XeIV F4 ⋠KrII F2.

Reaction of [XeF][AsF6 ] with excess KrF2 at -78 °C in anhydrous HF (aHF) solvent has yielded the first mixed KrII /XeII noble-gas compound, [FKrFXeF][AsF6 ] ⋅0.5 KrF2 ⋅2 HF, a salt of the [FKrFXeF]+ cation. The potent oxidative fluorinating properties of KrII fluoride species resulted in oxidation of XeII to XeIV in aHF at -60 °C to form the mixed KrII /XeIV cocrystals, ([Kr2 F3 ][AsF6 ])2 ⋅XeF4 and XeF4 ⋅KrF2 . Further decomposition at 22 °C resulted in oxidation of XeIV to XeVI to give the recently reported KrII /XeVI complexes, [F5 Xe(FKrF)n ][AsF6 ] (n=1, 2), [F5 Xe][AsF6 ], and a new KrII /XeVI complex, [(F5 Xe)2 (µ-FKrF)(AsF6 )2 ], which was characterized by low-temperature (LT) Raman spectroscopy. The [FKrFXeF][AsF6 ]⋅0.5 KrF2 ⋅2 HF, ([Kr2 F3 ][AsF6 ])2 ⋅XeF4 , and XeF4 ⋅KrF2 compounds were characterized by LT Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Quantum-chemical calculations were used to assess the bonding in [FKrFXeF]+ , [Kr2 F3 ]+ , and [Xe2 F3 ]+ and to aid in their vibrational assignments.

Group†6 Oxyfluoro-Anion Salts of [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ : Syntheses and Structures of [XeF5 ][M2 O2 F9 ] (M=Mo, W), [Xe2 F11 ][M'OF5 ] (M'=Cr, Mo, W), [XeF5 ][HF2 ]⋠CrOF4 , and [XeF5 ][WOF5 ]⋠XeOF4.

The reactions of the fluoride-ion donor, XeF6 , with the fluoride-ion acceptors, M'OF4 (M'=Cr, Mo, W), yield [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ salts of [M'OF5 ]- and [M2 O2 F9 ]- (M=Mo, W). Xenon hexafluoride and MOF4 react in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) to give equilibrium mixtures of [Xe2 F11 ]+ , [XeF5 ]+ , [(HF)n F]- , [MOF5 ]- , and [M2 O2 F9 ]- from which the title salts were crystallized. The [XeF5 ][CrOF5 ] and [Xe2 F11 ][CrOF5 ] salts could not be formed from mixtures of CrOF4 and XeF6 in aHF at low temperature (LT) owing to the low fluoride-ion affinity of CrOF4 , but yielded [XeF5 ][HF2 ]⋅CrOF4 instead. In contrast, MoOF4 and WOF4 are sufficiently Lewis acidic to abstract F- ion from [(HF)n F]- in aHF to give the [MOF5 ]- and [M2 O2 F9 ]- salts of [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ . To circumvent [(HF)n F]- formation, [Xe2 F11 ][CrOF5 ] was synthesized at LT in CF2 ClCF2 Cl solvent. The salts were characterized by LT Raman spectroscopy and LT single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which provided the first X-ray crystal structure of the [CrOF5 ]- anion and high-precision geometric parameters for [MOF5 ]- and [M2 O2 F9 ]- . Hydrolysis of [Xe2 F11 ][WOF5 ] by water contaminant in HF solvent yielded [XeF5 ][WOF5 ]⋅XeOF4 . Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out for M'OF4 , [M'OF5 ]- , [M'2 O2 F9 ]- , {[Xe2 F11 ][CrOF5 ]}2 , [Xe2 F11 ][MOF5 ], and {[XeF5 ][M2 O2 F9 ]}2 to obtain their gas-phase geometries and vibrational frequencies to aid in their vibrational mode assignments and to assess chemical bonding.

Metal Hydride Vibrations: The Trans Effect of the Hydride.

trans-Dihydride complexes are important in many homogeneous catalytic processes. Here vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) methods are used for the first time to reveal that 4d and 5d metals transmit more effectively than the 3d metals influence of the ligand trans to the hydride and also couple the motions of the trans-hydrides more effectively. This property of the metal is linked to higher hydride reactivity. The IR and Raman spectra of trans-FeH2(dppm)2, trans-RuH2(PPh(OEt)2)4, and mer-IrH3(PiPr2CH2pyCH2PiPr2) provide M-H force constants and H-M-H interaction force constants that increase as FeII < RuII < IrIII. DFT methods are used to determine, for the first time, the effect of the metal ion (MnI, ReI, FeII, RuII, OsII, CoIII, RhIII, IrIII, PtIV) and ligands on the gap in wavenumbers between the symmetric νsymH-M-H and antisymmetric νasymH-M-H vibrational modes of hydrides that are mutually trans in d6 octahedral complexes. The magnitude of this gap reflects the degree of coupling of, or interaction between, these modes, and this is shown to be a distinctive property of the metal ion. The more polarizable 4d and 5d metal ions are found to have an average gap of 246 cm-1, while the 3d metals have only 90 cm-1. This has been verified experimentally for 3d, 4d, and 5d transition-metal trans-dihydrides, where both the IR and Raman spectra have been measured: trans-RuH2(PPh(OEt)2)4 (from the literature) and trans-FeH2(PPh2CH2PPh2)2 and mer-IrH3(PiPr2CH2pyCH2PiPr2) (this work). Because the 4d and 5d metal ions tend to be better catalysts for the hydrogenation of substrates with polar bonds, this gap may be a fundamental determinant of the kinetic hydricity of the catalyst. Finding the magnitude of this gap and a new estimate of the large hydride trans-effect (Δνt -235 cm-1) allows us to improve the simple equation reported previously, which allows a better estimate of νM-H.

Chromium Oxide Tetrafluoride and Its Reactions with Xenon Hexafluoride; the [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ Salts of the [CrVI OF5 ]- , [CrV OF5 ]2- , [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- , and [CrIV F6 ]2- Anions.

Molten mixtures of XeF6 and CrVI OF4 react by means of F2 elimination to form [XeF5 ][Xe2 F11 ][CrV OF5 ]⋅2 CrVI OF4 , [XeF5 ]2 [CrIV F6 ]⋅2 CrVI OF4 , [Xe2 F11 ]2 [CrIV F6 ], and [XeF5 ]2 [CrV 2 O2 F8 ], whereas their reactions in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) and CFCl3 /aHF yield [XeF5 ]2 [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]⋅2 HF and [XeF5 ]2 [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]⋅2 XeOF4 . Other than [Xe2 F11 ][MVI OF5 ] and [XeF5 ][MVI 2 O2 F9 ] (M=Mo or W), these salts are the only Group 6 oxyfluoro-anions known to stabilize noble-gas cations. Their reaction pathways involve redox transformations that give [XeF5 ]+ and/or [Xe2 F11 ]+ salts of the known [CrV OF5 ]2- and [CrIV F6 ]2- anions, and the novel [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- anion. A low-temperature Raman spectroscopic study of an equimolar mixture of solid XeF6 and CrOF4 revealed that [Xe2 F11 ][CrVI OF5 ] is formed as a reaction intermediate. The salts were structurally characterized by LT single-crystal X-ray diffraction and LT Raman spectroscopy, and provide the first structural characterizations of the [CrV OF5 ]2- and [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- anions, where [CrV 2 O2 F8 ]2- represents a new structural motif among the known oxyfluoro-anions of Group 6. The X-ray structures show that [XeF5 ]+ and [Xe2 F11 ]+ form ion pairs with their respective anions by means of Xe- - -F-Cr bridges. Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out to obtain the energy-minimized, gas-phase geometries and the vibrational frequencies of the anions and their ion pairs and to aid in the assignments of their Raman spectra.

Syntheses, Structures, and Bonding of NgF2 ⋠CrOF4 , NgF2 ⋠2CrOF4 (Ng=Kr, Xe), and (CrOF4 )∞.

The noble-gas difluoride adducts, NgF2 ⋅CrOF4 and NgF2 ⋅2CrOF4 (Ng=Kr and Xe), have been synthesized and structurally characterized at low temperatures by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The low fluoride ion affinity of CrOF4 renders it incapable of inducing fluoride ion transfer from NgF2 (Ng=Kr and Xe) to form ion-paired salts of the [NgF]+ cations having either the [CrOF5 ]- or [Cr2 O2 F9 ]- anions. The crystal structures show the NgF2 ⋅CrOF4 adducts are comprised of Ft -Ng-Fb - - -Cr(O)F4 structural units in which NgF2 is weakly coordinated to CrOF4 by means of a fluorine bridge, Fb , in which Ng-Fb is elongated relative to the terminal Ng-Ft bond. In contrast with XeF2 ⋅2MOF4 (M=Mo or W) and KrF2 ⋅2MoOF4 , in which the Lewis acidic, F4 (O)M- - -Fb - - -M(O)F3 moiety coordinates to Ng through a single M- - -Fb -Ng bridge, both fluorine ligands of NgF2 coordinate to CrOF4 molecules to form F4 (O)Cr- - -Fb -Ng-Fb - - -Cr(O)F4 adducts in which both Ng-Fb bonds are only marginally elongated relative to the Ng-F bonds of free NgF2 . Quantum-chemical calculations show that the Cr-Fb bonds of NgF2 ⋅CrOF4 and NgF2 ⋅2CrOF4 are predominantly electrostatic with a small degree of covalent character that accounts for their nonlinear Cr- - -Fb -Ng bridge angles and staggered O-Cr- - -Fb -Ng-Ft dihedral angles. The crystal structures and Raman spectra of two CrOF4 polymorphs have also been obtained. Both are comprised of fluorine-bridged chains that are cis- and trans-fluorine-bridged with respect to oxygen.

Synthesis and Characterization of [XeOXe](2+) in the Adduct-Cation Salt, [CH3 CN- - -XeOXe- - -NCCH3 ][AsF6 ]2.

Acetonitrile and [FXeOXe- - -FXeF][AsF6 ] react at -60 °C in anhydrous HF (aHF) to form the CH3 CN adduct of the previously unknown [XeOXe](2+) cation. The low-temperature X-ray structure of [CH3 CN- - -XeOXe- - -NCCH3 ][AsF6 ]2 exhibits a well-isolated adduct-cation that has among the shortest Xe-N distances obtained for an sp-hybridized nitrogen base adducted to xenon. The Raman spectrum was fully assigned by comparison with the calculated vibrational frequencies and with the aid of (18) O-enrichment studies. Natural bond orbital (NBO), atoms in molecules (AIM), electron localization function (ELF), and molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEPS) analyses show that the Xe-O bonds are semi-ionic whereas the Xe-N bonds may be described as strong electrostatic (σ-hole) interactions.