Theory for the change of bond character in divalent-metal clusters

To determine the size dependence of the bonding in divalent-metal clusters we use a many-electron Hamiltonian describing the interplay between van der Waals (vdW) and covalent interactions. Using a saddle-point slave-boson method and taking into account the size-dependent screening of charge fluctuations, we obtain for Hg_n a sharp transition from vdW to covalent bonding for increasing n. We show also, by solving the model Hamiltonian exactly, that for divalent metals vdW and covalent bonding coexist already in the dimers.

Dipodal Ferrocene Derivatives for Nanostructured Redox-Functionalised Surfaces

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on solid surfaces are of great current interest in science and nanotechnology. This thesis describes the preparation of several symmetrically 1,1’-substituted ferrocene derivatives that contain anchoring groups suitable for chemisorption on gold and may give rise to SAMs with electrochemically switchable properties. The binding groups are isocyano (-NC), isothiocyanato (-NCS), phosphanyl (-PPh2), thioether (-SR) and thienyl. In the context of SAM fabrication, isothiocyanates and phosphanes are adsorbate systems which, surprisingly, have remained essentially unexplored. SAMs on gold have been fabricated with the adsorbates from solution and investigated primarily by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The results of these analytical investigations are presented and discussed in matters of the film quality and possible binding modes. The quality of self-assembled monolayers fabricated from 1,1’-diisocyanoferrocene and 1,1’-diisothiocyanatoferrocene turned out to be superior to that of films based on the other adsorbate species investigated. Films of those absorbates as well as of dppf afforded well-defined SAMs of good quality. All other films of this study based on sulfur containing anchoring groups exhibit chemical inhomogeneity and low orientational order of the film constituents and therefore failed to give rise to well-defined SAMs. Surface coordination chemistry is naturally related to molecular coordination chemistry. Since all SAMs described in this thesis were prepared on gold (111) surfaces, the ferrocene-based ligands of this study have been investigated in their ability for complexation towards gold(I). The sulfur-based ferrocene ligands [fc(SR)2] failed to give stable gold(I) complexes. In contrast, 1,1’-diisocyanoferrocene (1) proved to be an excellent ligand for the complexation of gold(I). Several complexes were prepared and characterised utilising a series of gold(I) acetylides. These complexes show interesting structural motifs in the solid state, since intramolecular aurophilic interactions lead to a parallel orientation of the isocyano moieties, combined with an antiparallel alignment of neighbouring units. The reaction of 1 with the gold(I) acetylide [Au(C≡C–Fc)]n turned out to be very unusual, since the two chemically equivalent isocyano groups undergo a different reaction. One group shows an ordinary coordination and the other one undergoes an extraordinary 1,1-insertion into the Au-C bond. As a sideline of the research of this thesis several ferrocene derivatives have been tested for their suitability for potential surface reactions. Copper(I) mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azidoferrocene derivatives with terminal alkynes appeared very promising in this context, but failed to a certain extent in terms of ‘click’ chemistry, since the formation of the triazoles depended on the strict exclusion of oxygen and moisture and yields were only moderate. Staudinger reactions between dppf and azidoferrocene derivatives were also tested. The nucleophilic additions of secondary amines to 1,1’-diisothiocyanatoferrocene led to the respective thiourea derivatives in quantitative yields.

Electronic origin of bond softening and hardening in femtosecond-laser-excited magnesium

Many ultrafast structural phenomena in solids at high fluences are related to the hardening or softening of particular lattice vibrations at lower fluences. In this paper we relate femtosecond-laser-induced phonon frequency changes to changes in the electronic density of states, which need to be evaluated only in the electronic ground state, following phonon displacement patterns. We illustrate this relationship for a particular lattice vibration of magnesium, for which we—surprisingly—find that there is both softening and hardening as a function of the femtosecond-laser fluence. Using our theory, we explain these behaviours as arising from Van Hove singularities: We show that at low excitation densities Van Hove singularities near the Fermi level dominate the change of the phonon frequency while at higher excitations Van Hove singularities that are further away in energy also become important. We expect that our theory can as well shed light on the effects of laser excitation of other materials.