The electronic spectroscopy of transition metal carbonyls: The tough case of Cr(CO)6

Photo-activated CO-release in the amino tungsten Fischer carbene complex, [(CO)5WC(NC4H8)Me], picosecond time resolved infrared spectroscopy, time-dependent density functional theory, and an antimicrobial study

Picosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy was used to probe the photo-induced early state dynamics preceding CO loss in the Fischer carbene complex, [(CO)₅WC(NC₄H₈)CH₃]. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations were employed to help in understanding the photochemical and photophysical processes leading to CO-loss. Electrochemical initiated CO release was quantified using gas chromatography. The potential of [(CO)₅WC(NC₄H₈)CH₃], as an antimicrobial agent under irradiation conditions was studied using a Staphylococcus aureus strain.

Photochemical or electrochemical bond breaking – exploring the chemistry of (μ2-alkyne)Co2(CO)6 complexes using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, spectro-electrochemical and density functional methods

The photoassisted Pauson–Khand reaction involves the formation of a high-spin diradical species and not CO loss as previously thought.

Comprehensive investigation of the electronic excitation of W(CO)6 by photoabsorption and theoretical analysis in the energy region from 3.9 to 10.8 eV

High-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption measurements in the wavelength range of 115-320 nm (10.8-3.9 eV) have been performed together with comprehensive relativistic time-dependent density functional calculations (TDDFT) on the low-lying excited sates of tungsten hexacarbonyl, W(CO)6. The higher resolution obtained reveals previously unresolved spectral features of W(CO)6. The spectrum shows two higher-energy bands (in the energy ranges of 7.22-8.12 eV and 8.15-9.05 eV), one of them with clear vibrational structure, and a few lower-energy shoulders in addition to a couple of lower-energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands reported in the literature before. Absolute photoabsorption cross sections are reported and, where possible, compared to previously published results. On the basis of this combined experimental/theoretical study the absorption spectrum of the complex has been totally re-assigned between 3.9 and 10.8 eV under the light of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects. The present comprehensive knowledge of the nature of the electronically excited states may be of relevance to estimate neutral dissociation cross sections of W(CO)6, a precursor molecule in focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) processes, from electron scattering measurements.

Mechanistic Study for the Photochemical Reactions of d6 M(CO)5(CS) (M = Cr, Mo, and W) Complexes

The mechanisms of photoextrusion reactions are determined theoretically for the model system of six-coordinated M(CO)₅(CS) (M = Cr, Mo, and W), using both CASSCF and MP2-CAS methods and the Def2-SVPD basis set. Three types of elimination reaction pathways (i.e., path I, path II, and path III for axial CO extrusion, equatorial CO extrusion, and CS ligand extrusion, respectively) are considered in this study. Theoretical findings show that the photoextrusion mechanism for Cr and Mo complexes proceeds as follows: M-S₀-Rea + hν → M-S₁-FC → M-CI → M-Pro + CO. This study shows that when the reactant, M(CO)₅(CS) (M-S₀-Rea), is photoirradiated by UV light, it is excited vertically to many low-lying singlet excited states. It then relaxes to the first singlet excited state from the Franck-Condon point (M-S₁-FC). After passing through a conical intersection point (M-CI), this species eliminates a CO group to yield a five-coordinated product, M(CO)₄(CS) (M-S₀-Pro). However, for the W analogue, the photolysis mechanism is represented as W-S₀-Rea + hν → W-T₁-Min → W-T₁-TS → W-T₁/S₀ → W-S₀-Pro + CO. That is to say, when the reactant, W(CO)₅(CS) (W-S₀-Rea), absorbs UV light, it is excited to its several low-lying excited states by a vertical excitation. This species may then return to an intermediate at the first triplet excited state (W-T₁-Min) by means of intersystem crossings or conical intersections. After passing through a triplet transition state (W-T₁-TS) and a subsequent intersystem crossing (W-T₁/S₀), this molecule finally loses a CO ligand to produce a photoproduct at the ground singlet state (W-S₀-Pro). In other words, conical intersections and intersystem crossings play a decisive role in these photoextrusion reactions for M(CO)₅(CS). Theoretical evidence from a kinetic viewpoint strongly supports the theory that the photolysis of M(CO)₅(CS) only produces CO-loss photoproducts rather than the CS-loss photoproduct. Theoretical analysis using the results of this study allows a good interpretation of the available experimental observations.

An investigation into the photochemistry of, and the electrochemically induced CO-loss from, [(CO)5MC(OMe)Me](M = Cr or W) using low-temperature matrix isolation, picosecond infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and time-dependent density functional theory

The photophysics and photochemistry of [(CO)5MC(OMe)Me] (M = Cr or W) were investigated using picosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy (M = Cr or W), low-temperature matrix isolation techniques (M = Cr), and time-dependent density functional calculations (M = Cr or W). These studies provide unambiguous evidence for the photochemical formation of a long-lived, 18-electron metallaketene species capable of acting as a synthetically useful intermediate. For the Cr complex, an intermediate metallacyclopropanone singlet excited state was detected on the reaction path to the metallaketene species. This metallacyclopropanone excited state species has a lifetime of less than 100 ps and a characteristic bridging carbonyl band at 1770 cm(-1). The tungsten ketene species was also detected but in contrast to the chromium system, this forms directly from a low-lying triplet excited state. The electrochemical release of CO showed a greater efficiency for the chromium complex when compared to the tungsten.

Excited state evolution towards ligand loss and ligand chelation at group 6 metal carbonyl centres

The photochemistry and photophysics of three model "half-sandwich" complexes (η(6)-benzophenone)Cr(CO)3, (η(6)-styrene)Cr(CO)3, and (η(6)-allylbenzene)Cr(CO)3 were investigated using pico-second time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory methods. The (η(6)-benzophenone)Cr(CO)3 complex was studied using two excitation wavelengths (470 and 320 nm) while the remaining complexes were irradiated using 400 nm light. Two independent excited states were detected spectroscopically for each complex, one an unreactive excited state of metal-to-arene charge-transfer character and the other with metal-to-carbonyl charge transfer character. This second excited state leads to an arrested release of CO on the pico-second time-scale. Low-energy excitation (470 nm) of (η(6)-benzophenone)Cr(CO)3 populated only the unreactive excited state which simply relaxes to the parent complex. Higher energy irradiation (320 nm) induced CO-loss. Irradiation of (η(6)-styrene)Cr(CO)3, or (η(6)-allylbenzene)Cr(CO)3 at 400 nm provided evidence for the simultaneous population of both the reactive and unreactive excited states. The efficiency at which the unreactive excited state is populated depends on the degree of conjugation of the substituent with the arene π-system and this affects the efficiency of the CO-loss process. The quantum yield of CO-loss is 0.50 for (η(6)-allylbenzene)Cr(CO)3 and 0.43 for (η(6)-styrene)Cr(CO)3. These studies provide evidence for the existence of two photophysical routes to CO loss, a minor ultrafast route and an arrested mechanism involving the intermediate population of a reactive excited state. This reactive excited state either relaxes to reform the parent species or eject CO. Thus the quantum yield of the CO-loss is strongly dependent on the excitation wavelength. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations confirm that the state responsible for ultrafast CO-loss has significant metal-centred character while the reactive state responsible for the arrested CO-loss has significant metal-to-carbonyl charge-transfer character. The CO-loss product (η(6)-allylbenzene)Cr(CO)2 formed following irradiation of (η(6)-allylbenzene)Cr(CO)3 reacts further with the pendent alkenyl group to form the chelate product (η(6),η(2)-allylbenzene)Cr(CO)2.

Intensity of d−d Symmetry-Forbidden Electronic Transition in Cr(CO)6

Absolute absorption intensities (oscillator strengths) are calculated for the d-d symmetry-forbidden transition in hexacarbonyl chromium. The vibronic coupling mechanism is taken into account in a way that represents an alternative to the traditional perturbative approach of Herzberg and Teller. In the so-called direct method, the electronic transition moment is directly expanded in a power series of the vibrational normal coordinates of suitable symmetry. In the present case, i.e., d-d ligand field transitions, or more specifically (1)A(1g) --> (1)T(1g) and (1)A(1g) --> (1)T(2g) transitions, the dipole selection rule is broken by vibronic interaction induced by normal modes that transform like T(1u) and T(2u) representations of the O(h) group. An analysis of the relative importance of normal modes in promoting electronic transitions is carried out.

Theoretical study of the electronic structure of MCH2+(M=Fe,Co,Ni)

State of the art coupled cluster (CC) methods are applied to accurately characterize the ground state electronic structure and photoelectron spectra of transition metal carbene ions MCH(2) (+) (M=Fe, Co, and Ni). The geometries and energies of the lowest energy quartet, triplet, and doublet electronic states as well as several low-lying vertical excitation energies of FeCH(2) (+), CoCH(2) (+), and NiCH(2) (+) are reported. The excitation energies are computed using the equation-of-motion CC and for states of different symmetries, by the energy differences of single reference ground and excited states (Delta-CC). The latter employ several reference states; the unrestricted Hartree-Fock, restricted open shell Hartree-Fock, and unrestricted Kohn-Sham. We conclude that the (2)A(1) electronic ground state of NiCH(2) (+) is separated by about 30.0 kJ/mol from the next highest state, and the lowest (4)B(1) and (4)B(2) states of FeCH(2) (+) as well as the (3)A(2) and (3)A(1) states of CoCH(2) (+) are nearly degenerate. The presence of metal-pi*(MCH(2)) charge transfer states with significant oscillator strengths in the visible/near-UV energy domain of the theoretical spectra of FeCH(2) (+) and CoCH(2) (+) are at the origin of the photofragmentation of these compounds observed after irradiation between 310 and 360 nm.