Reactivity of Dicoordinated Stannylones (Sn 0 ) versus Stannylenes (Sn II ): An Investigation Using DFT‐Based Reactivity Indices

α-methylation and α-fluorination electronic effects on the regioselectivity of carbonyl groups of uracil by H and triel bonds in the interaction of U, T and 5FU with HCl and TrH3 (Tr = B, Al)

Quantum chemical calculations at the ωB97XD/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory have been executed to investigate the effect of substituents via hydrogen-bonded and triel-bonded complexes between uracil (U), thymine (T) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) with HCl for the former complexes, and with BH₃ and AlH₃ for the latter complexes. These calculations are supported by single-point energy calculations at MP2/6-311++G(d,p) and CCSD/6-31 + G(d,p) levels of theory, Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) and Molecular Electrostatic Potentials (MEPs) analyses, and global/local reactivity descriptors. The results reveal that triel-bonded complexes are strongly bounded than hydrogen-bonded ones, and Al-containing dimers stronger than B-containing ones. In addition, as the central triel atom grows in size, B-containing dimers (B-O triel bond) are accompanied by weak B-H⋯O unconventional H-bonds. According to local reactivity descriptors, the B-O triel bond is hard-hard interaction that indicates that the association is primarily charge controlled, while the Al-O triel bond is soft-soft interaction that is primarily orbital controlled. In both Hydrogen as well as triel-bonded complexes, the α-methylation slightly overestimates the binding strength of U, while the α-fluorination exerts the opposite role by underestimating the binding strength of U. In overall, the effect of substituents on the bond strength and thus on the regioselectivity is very small, suggesting a competition between the two carbonyl groups in terms of structures and binding energies.

Fast kinetics studies of the Lewis acid-base complexation of transient stannylenes with σ- and π-donors in solution

The Lewis acid-base complexation chemistry of dimethyl- and diphenylstannylene (SnMe2 and SnPh2, respectively) in hexanes solution has been studied by laser photolysis methods. Complexation of the two stannylenes with a series of nine O-, S-, and N-donors (including cyclic and acyclic dialkyl ethers and sulfides, a primary, secondary, and tertiary amine, ethyl acetate and acetone), two alkenes, and an alkyne proceeds rapidly and reversibly to generate the corresponding stannylene-donor Lewis pairs, which have been detected in each case by time-resolved UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The complexes exhibit UV-vis absorption maxima in the range of λmax ∼ 310-405 nm depending on the donor and substitution at tin. Bimolecular rate constants for complexation (kC), which could be determined for 14 of the 24 Lewis pairs that were studied, were found to fall within a factor of four of the diffusional limit in all cases, with SnMe2 showing consistently higher reactivity than SnPh2. Equilibrium constants for complexation (KC) could be measured for all but one of the stannylene-π- and O-donor pairs, the values corresponding to (gas phase) binding free energies in the range of +1.1 to -3.9 kcal mol-1. Comparison of the experimental equilibrium constants for complexation of SnMe2 and SnPh2 with methanol and diethyl ether to those measured previously for the homologous silylenes and germylenes indicates that Lewis acidity decreases in the order SiR2 > SnR2 > GeR2 for both the dimethyl- and diphenyltetrylene series, the diphenyl derivatives exhibiting significantly stronger Lewis acidity in all three cases. The experimental trends in the binding energies and UV-vis spectra of the complexes are reproduced well by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which have been carried out at the (TD)ωB97XD/def2-TZVP level of theory. The experimental data also show evidence of a reaction between tetramethyldistannene (Me2Sn[double bond, length as m-dash]SnMe2, 4a) and amine donors, which is suggested to afford the corresponding amine-stabilized stannylidenestannylene structure. The mechanistic proposal is supported by DFT calculations of the complexation of 4a and SnMe2 with model O-, S- and N-donors.

New Insight into the Nature of Bonding in the Dimers of Lappert's Stannylene and Its Ge Analogs: A Quantum Mechanical Study

The strength and nature of the connection in Lappert's stannylene dimer ({Sn[CH(SiMe3)2]2}2) and its smaller analogs, simplified stannylenes, as well as similar Ge complexes were studied by means of DFT-D3 calculations, energy decomposition analysis (EDA), electrostatic potential (ESP), and natural population analysis. The trans-bent structure of the investigated molecules was rationalized by means of EDA, ESP, and molecular orbital (MO) analyses. The different ESPs for the monomers studied are a result of different hybridization of the Sn (Ge) atoms. The comparably strong stabilization in the largest and the smallest systems with a dramatically different substituent size is explained by the different nature of the binding between monomers. For all complexes, it has been found that the total attractive interaction is mostly provided by the electrostatic component (>50%), followed by orbital interaction and dispersion. In the largest molecule (Lappert's stannylene), the dispersion interaction plays a more significant role in stabilization and its magnitude is comparable to that of orbital interaction; on the other hand in the smallest molecule (SnH2), where bulky substituents are replaced by H only, the dispersion energy is less important and the E-E bond is more of a charge-transfer character, caused by donor-acceptor orbital interactions. The charge transfer in Ge dimers is greater than in the Sn ones due to shorter distances between monomers, which cause better ⟨HOMO/LUMO⟩ overlaps. The easier dimerization of Lappert's stannylene as compared to Kira's ({Sn[(Me3Si)2CHCH2CH2CH(SiMe3)2-κ(2)C,C']}) stannylene is explained by the different orientation of their substituents-asymmetry promotes dimerization.

Reactivity of low-oxidation state tin compounds: an overview of the benefits of combining DFT Theory and experimental NMR spectroscopy

The reactivity and complexation properties of dicoordinated Sn(II) and Sn(0) compounds are reviewed. The (dominant) electrophilicity of the stannylenes was confirmed and quantified through density functional theory (DFT) based reactivity indices. For these compounds, combining theoretical DFT calculations and experimental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic results has evidenced their potential to undergo π-complexation from aromatic π clouds in addition to significantly stronger σ-complexation. Moreover, their potential as Lewis bases was scrutinized in their interactions and reactions with iron and tungsten carbonyl Lewis acids. Finally, a prospective comparison of the reactivity of divalent stannylenes and stannylones, with a 0 oxidation state at the Sn atom, is presented.