Time-resolved gas-phase kinetic and quantum chemical studies of reactions of silylene with chlorine-containing species. 1. HCl

Time-resolved kinetic studies of the reaction of silylene, SiH2, generated by laser flash photolysis of phenylsilane, have been carried out to obtain rate constants for its bimolecular reaction with HCL The reaction was studied in the gas phase at 10 Torr total pressure in SF6 bath gas, at five temperatures in the range of 296-611 K. The second-order rate constants fitted the Arrhenius equation: log(k/cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) = (-11.51 +/- 0.06) + (1.92 +/- 0.47 kJ mol(-1))/RTIn10 Experiments at other pressures showed that these rate constants were unaffected by pressure in the range of 10-100 Torr, but showed small decreases in value of no more than 20% ( +/- 10%) at I Toff, at both the highest and lowest temperatures. The data are consistent with formation of an initial weakly bound donor-acceptor complex, which reacts by two parallel pathways. The first is by chlorine-to-silicon H-shift to make vibrationally excited chlorosilane, SiH3Cl*, which yields HSiCl by H-2 elimination from silicon. In the second pathway, the complex proceeds via H-2 elimination (4-center process) to make chlorosilylene, HSiCl, directly. This interpretation is supported by ab initio quantum calculations carried out at the G3 level which reveal the direct H-2 elimination route for the first time. RRKM modeling predicts the approximate magnitude of the pressure effect but is unable to determine the proportions of each pathway. The experimental data agree with the only previous measurements at room temperature. Comparisons with other reactions of SiH2 are also drawn.

Time-resolved gas-phase kinetic and quantum chemical studies of reactions of silylene with chlorine-containing species. 2. CH3Cl

Time-resolved kinetic studies of the reaction of silylene, SiH2, generated by laser flash photolysis of both silacyclopent-3-ene and phenylsilane, have been carried out to obtain second-order rate constants for its reaction with CH3Cl. The reaction was studied in the gas phase at six temperatures in the range 294-606 K. The second-order rate constants gave a curved Arrhenius plot with a minimum value at T approximate to 370 K. The reaction showed no pressure dependence in the presence of up to 100 Torr SF6. The rate constants, however, showed a weak dependence on laser pulse energy. This suggests an interpretation requiring more than one contributing reaction pathway to SiH2 removal. Apart from a direct reaction of SiH2 with CH3Cl, reaction of SiH2 with CH3 (formed by photodissociation of CH3Cl) seems probable, with contributions of up to 30% to the rates. Ab initio calculations (G3 level) show that the initial step of reaction of SiH2 with CH3Cl is formation of a zwitterionic complex (ylid), but a high-energy barrier rules out the subsequent insertion step. On the other hand, the Cl-abstraction reaction leading to CH3 + ClSiH2 has a low barrier, and therefore, this seems the most likely candidate for the main reaction pathway of SiH2 with CH3Cl. RRKM calculations on the abstraction pathway show that this process alone cannot account for the observed temperature dependence of the rate constants. The data are discussed in light of studies of other silylene reactions with haloalkanes.

Gas phase kinetic and quantum chemical studies of the reactions of silylene with the methylsilanes. Absolute rate constants, temperature dependences, RRKM modelling and potential energy surfaces

Time resolved studies of silylene, SiH2, generated by the 193 nm laser. ash photolysis of phenylsilane, have been carried out to obtain rate coefficients for its bimolecular reactions with methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl-silanes in the gas phase. The reactions were studied over the pressure range 3 - 100 Torr with SF6 as bath gas and at five temperatures in the range 300 - 625 K. Only slight pressure dependences were found for SiH2 + MeSiH3 ( 485 and 602 K) and for SiH2 + Me2SiH2 ( 600 K). The high pressure rate constants gave the following Arrhenius parameters: [GRAPHICS] These are consistent with fast, near to collision-controlled, association processes. RRKM modelling calculations are consistent with the observed pressure dependences ( and also the lack of them for SiH2 + Me3SiH). Ab initio calculations at both second order perturbation theory (MP2) and coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) levels, showed the presence of weakly-bound complexes along the reaction pathways. In the case of SiH2 + MeSiH3 two complexes, with different geometries, were obtained consistent with earlier studies of SiH2 + SiH4. These complexes were stabilised by methyl substitution in the substrate silane, but all had exceedingly low barriers to rearrangement to product disilanes. Although methyl groups in the substrate silane enhance the intrinsic SiH2 insertion rates, it is doubtful whether the intermediate complexes have a significant effect on the kinetics. A further calculation on the reaction MeSiH + SiH4 shows that the methyl substitution in the silylene should have a much more significant kinetic effect ( as observed in other studies).

Experimental and theoretical evidence for homogeneous catalysis in the gas-phase reaction of SiH2 with H2O (and D2O): a combined kinetic and quantum chemical study

Time-resolved kinetic studies of the reaction of silylene, SiH2, with H2O and with D2O have been carried out in the gas phase at 297 K and at 345 K, using laser flash photolysis to generate and monitor SiH2. The reaction was studied independently as a function of H2O (or D2O) and SF6 (bath gas) pressures. At a fixed pressure of SF6 (5 Torr), [SiH2] decay constants, k(obs), showed a quadratic dependence on [H2O] or [D2O]. At a fixed pressure of H2O or D2O, k(obs) Values were strongly dependent on [SF6]. The combined rate expression is consistent with a mechanism involving the reversible formation of a vibrationally excited zwitterionic donor-acceptor complex, H2Si...OH2 (or H2Si...OD2). This complex can then either be stabilized by SF6 or it reacts with a further molecule of H2O (or D2O) in the rate-determining step. Isotope effects are in the range 1.0-1.5 and are broadly consistent with this mechanism. The mechanism is further supported by RRKM theory, which shows the association reaction to be close to its third-order region of pressure (SF6) dependence. Ab initio quantum calculations, carried out at the G3 level, support the existence of a hydrated zwitterion H2Si...(OH2)(2), which can rearrange to hydrated silanol, with an energy barrier below the reaction energy threshold. This is the first example of a gas-phase-catalyzed silylene reaction.

What have we learnt about heavy carbenes through laser flash photolysis studies?

Time resolved gas-phase kinetic studies have contributed a great deal of fundamental information about the reactions and reactivity of heavy carbenes (silylenes, germylenes and stannylenes) during the past two decades. In this article we trace the development of our understanding through the mechanistic themes of intermediate complexes, third body assisted associations, catalysed reactions, non-observed reactions and substituent effects. Ab initio (quantum chemical) calculations have substantially assisted mechanistic interpretation and are discussed where appropriate. Trends in reactivity are identified and some signposts to future studies are indicated. This review, although detailed, is not comprehensive.

Anion-pi, Lone-Pair-pi, pi-pi and Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions in a Cu-II Complex of 2-Picolinate and Protonated 4,4 '-Bipyridine: Crystal Structure and Theoretical Studies

A Cu-II complex of protonated 4,4'-bipyridine (Hbyp) and 2-picolinate (pic), [Cu-2(pic)(3)(Hbyp)(H2O)(ClO4)(2)], has been synthesised and characterised by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structure consists of two copper atoms that have different environments, bridged by a carboxylate group. The equatorial plane is formed by the two bidentate picolinate groups in one Cu-II, and one picolinate, one monodentate 4,4'-bipyridyl ligand and a water molecule in the other. Each copper atom is also weakly bonded to a perchlorate anion in an axial position. One of the coordinated perchlorate groups displays anion-pi interaction with the coordinated pyridine ring. The noncoordinated carboxylate oxygen is involved in lone-pair (l.p.)-pi interaction with the protonated pyridine ring. In addition there are pi-pi and H-bonding interactions in the structure. Bader's theory of "atoms in molecules" (AIM) is used to characterise the anion-pi and l.p.-pi interactions observed in the solid state. A high-level ab initio study (RI-MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory) has been performed to analyse the anion-pi binding affinity of the pyridine ring when it is coordinated to a transition metal and also when the other pyridine ring of the 4,4'-bipyridine moiety is protonated. Theoretical investigations support the experimental findings of an intricate network of intermolecular interactions, which is characterised in the studied complex, and also indicate that protonation as well as coordination to the transition metal have important roles in influencing the pi-binding properties of the aromatic ring. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

The determination of molecular properties from MULTIMODE with an application to the calculation of Franck-Condon factors for photoionization of CF3 to CF3+

Extensions to the code MULTIMODE to obtain rovibrational wave functions and properties are described. An application of these new capabilities is made to a calculation of the Franck-Condon factors for photoionization of CF3 to CF3+. These calculations make use of a new, full-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface, which is also described here.

A variational method for the calculation of spin-rovibronic energy levels of any triatomic molecule in an electronic triplet state

The triatomic spin-rovibronic variational code RVIB3 has been extended to include the effect of two uncoupled electrons, for both (3)Sigma(-) and (3)Pi (Renner-Teller) electronic states. The spin-orbital-rotational kinetic energy is included in the usual way, via terms (J+L+S). The phenomenological terms AL.S and lambda 2/3(3S(z)(2)) are introduced to reproduce the 3 spin-orbit and spin-spin splittings, respectively. Calculations are performed to evaluate the spin-rovibronic energy levels of CCO (X) over tilde (3) Sigma(-) and CCO (A) over tilde (3) Pi for which the Born-Oppenheimer potentials are derived from high-accuracy ab initio calculations.

Vibrational energy levels for the electronic ground state of the diazocarbene (CNN) molecule

The vibrational energy levels of diazocarbene (diazomethylene) in its electronic ground state, (X) over tilde (3) Sigma(-) CNN, have been predicted using the variational method. The potential energy surfaces of (X) over tilde (3) A" CNN were determined by employing ab initio single reference coupled cluster with single and double excitations (CCSD), CCSD with perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)], multi-reference complete active space self-consistent-field (CASSCF), and internally contracted multi-reference configuration interaction (ICMRCI) methods. The correlation-consistent polarised valence quadruple zeta (cc-pVQZ) basis set was used. Four sets of vibrational energy levels determined from the four distinct analytical potential functions have been compared with the experimental values from the laser-induced fluorescence measurements of Wurfel et al. obtained in 1992. The CCSD, CCSD(T), and CASSCF potentials have not provided satisfactory agreement with the experimental observations. In this light, the importance of both non-dynamic (static) and dynamic correlation effects in describing the ground state of CNN is emphasised. Our best theoretical fundamental frequencies at the cc-pVQZ ICMRCI level of theory, v(1) = 1230, v(2) = 394, and v(3) = 1420 cm(-1) are in excellent agreement with the experimental values of v(1) = 1235, v(2) = 396, and v(3) = 1419cm(-1) and the mean absolute deviation between the 23 calculated and experimental vibrational energy levels is only 7.4 cm(-1). It is shown that the previously suggested observation of the v(3) frequency at about 2847cm(-1) was in fact the first overtone 2v(3).

Calculations of rovibrational energies and dipole transition intensities for polyatomic molecules using MULTIMODE

We report rigorous calculations of rovibrational energies and dipole transition intensities for three molecules using a new version of the code MULTIMODE. The key features of this code which permit, for the first time, such calculations for moderately sized but otherwise general polyatomic molecules are briefly described. Calculations for the triatomic molecule BF(2) are done to validate the code. New calculations for H(2)CO and H(2)CS are reported; these make use of semiempirical potentials but ab initio dipole moment surfaces. The new dipole surface for H(2)CO is a full-dimensional fit to the dipole moment obtained with the coupled-cluster with single and double excitations and a perturbative treatment of triple excitations method with the augmented correlation consistent triple zeta basis set. Detailed comparisons are made with experimental results from a fit to relative data for H(2)CS and absolute intensities from the HITRAN database for H(2)CO.

A case of four-coordinate silver(I) adopting a high energy planar geometry. Experiment and theory

The ligands PhL and MeL are obtained by condensing 2-formylpyridine with benzil dihydrazone and diacetyl dihydrazone, respectively, in 2: 1 molar proportion. With silver( I), PhL yields a double-stranded dinuclear cationic helicate 1 in which the metal is tetrahedral but MeL gives a cationic one-dimensional polymeric complex 2 where silver( I) is distorted square planar and the ligand backbone is nearly planar. In both complexes, metal: ligand ratio is 1: 1. Ab initio calculations on the ligands at the HF/6-31+G* level reveal that while PhL strongly prefers a helical conformation, MeL has a natural inclination to remain in a planar conformation. Density functional theory calculations on model silver( I) complexes show that formation of the linear polymer in the case of MeL is also an important factor in imposing the planar geometry of Ag(I) in 2.

A DFT study of free radicals formed from artemisinin and related compounds

Ab initio calculations using density functional theory have shown that the reactions that occur between artemisinin, 1, a cyclic trioxane active against malaria, and some metal ions and complexes lead to a series of radicals which are probably responsible for its therapeutic activity. In particular it has been shown that the interaction of Fe(H) with artemisinin causes the O-O bond to be broken as indeed does Fe(III) and Cu(I), while Zn(II) does not. Calculations were carried out with Fe(II) in several different forms including the bare ion, [Fe(H2O)(5)](2+) and [FeP(Im)] (P, porphyrin; Im, imadazole) and similar results were obtained. The resulting oxygen-based radicals are readily converted to more stable carbon-based radicals and/or. stable products. Similar radicals and products are also formed from two simple model trioxanes 2 and 3 that show little or no therapeutic action against malaria although some subtle differences were obtained. This suggests that the scaffold surrounding the pharmacophore may be involved in molecular recognition events allowing efficient uptake of this trioxane warhead into the parasite. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intramolecular proton transfer in [Ph2B-OH2](+). Participation of a phenyl group

Ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31+G* level on [Ph2B-OH2](+) show that in the gas phase the structure with the proton attached to an ipso C is lower in energy than the one with the proton on the oxygen atom by 8.40 kcal mol(-1). The transition states and reaction paths for intramolecular proton transfer in [Ph2B-OH2](+) have also been studied.

Synergetic effects of the Cu/Pt{110} surface alloy: enhanced reactivity of water and carbon monoxide

We have used synchrotron-based high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with ab initio density functional theory calculations to investigate the characteristics of water and CO adsorption on the bimetallic Cu/Pt{110}-(2 x 1) surface at a Cu coverage near 0.5 ML. Cu fills the troughs of the reconstructed clean surface forming nanowires, which are stable up to 830 K. Their presence dramatically influences the adsorption of water and CO. Water adsorption changes from intact to partially dissociated while the desorption temperature of CO on this surface increases by up to 27 K with respect to the clean Pt{110} surface. Ab initio calculations and experimental valence band spectra reveal that the Cu 3d-band is narrowed and shifted upward with respect to bulk Cu surfaces. This and electron donation to surface Pt atoms cause the increase in the bond strength between CO and the Pt surface atoms. The pathway for water dissociation occurs via Cu surface atoms. The heat of adsorption of water bonding to Cu surface atoms was calculated to be 0.82 eV, which is significantly higher than on the clean Pt{110} surface; the activation energy for partial dissociation is 0.53 eV (not corrected for zero point energy).

The gas-phase reactions Of SiCl4 and Si2Cl6 with CH3OH and C2H5OH: an investigation by mass spectrometry and matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy

The gas phase reactions Of SiCl4 and Si2Cl6 With CH3OH and C2H5OH have been investigated using both mass spectrometry and matrix isolation techniques. SiCl4 reacts with both CH3OH and C2H5OH upon mixing of the vapours for times in excess of 3 h to generate the HCl-elimination products SiCl3OR (R = CH3 or C2H5). The identity of these products is confirmed by deuteration experiments and by ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G(d) level. Further products are generated when the mixture is passed through a tube heated to 750degreesC. Si2Cl6 reacts with CH3OH and C2H5OH via a different mechanism in which the Si-Si bond is cleaved to yield SiCl3OR and HCl. Other products of the type SiCl4-n(OCH3)(n) are tentatively identified by a combination of mass spectrometric and matrix isolation measurements. These latter products indicate further replacement of Cl atoms by OR groups as a result of reaction of CH3OH or C2H5OH with the initial product.