Ab initio and DFT studies on the structure and binding interaction of M+CO2 (M=Sc,Ti,…,Zn)

Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Gas-Phase CO Oxidation on the Scandium Monoxide Carbonyl Complexes

The CO chemisorption onto the ScO⁺ cation was investigated using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations. The spectra were recorded in the CO stretching vibrational region for the OSc(CO)_n⁺ (n = 4-6) complex series. Comparisons of the experimental spectra with the simulated ones have established the geometries and present strong evidence that all of the CO ligands are chemisorbed, which could not be readily oxidized by scandium monoxide core into CO₂. Complementary calculations demonstrate that, regardless of the thermodynamic feasibility, the CO oxidation on the scandium monoxide carbonyl complexes is kinetically unfavorable due to the significant barriers involved in the CO oxidation process. Nevertheless, the consecutive CO adsorption has a positive influence on the Sc-O bond activation.

Formation of large clusters of CO2 around anions: DFT study reveals cooperative CO2 adsorption

The cooperative O⋯C secondary interactions compensate for the diminishing effect of primary anion⋯C interactions in anionic clusters of CO₂ molecules.

Infrared spectra and structures of the neutral and charged CrCO2 and Cr(CO2)2 isomers in solid neon

The reactions from codeposition of laser-ablated chromium atoms with carbon dioxide in excess neon are studied by infrared absorption spectroscopy. The species formed are identified by the effects of isotopic substitution on their infrared spectra. Density functional calculations are performed to support the spectral assignments and to interpret the geometric and electronic structures of the experimentally observed species. Besides the previously reported insertion products OCrCO and O2Cr(CO)2, the one-to-one Cr(CO2) complex and the one-to-two Cr(CO2)2 complex as well as the CrOCrCO and OCCrCO3 complexes are also formed. The Cr(CO2) complex is characterized to be side-on η(2)-C,O-coordinated. The Cr(CO2)2 complex is identified to involve a side-on η(2)-C,O-coordinated CO2 and an end-on η(1)-O-coordinated CO2. OCCrCO3 is a carbonate carbonyl complex predicted to have a planar structure with a η(2)-O,O-coordinated carbonate ligand. The CrOCrCO complex is predicted to be linear with a high-spin ground state. Besides the neutral molecules, charged species are also produced. The Cr(CO2)(+) and Cr(CO2)2(+) cation complexes are characterized to have linear end-on η(1)-O-coordinated structures with blue-shifted antisymmetric CO2 stretching vibrational frequencies. The OCrCO(-) anion is bent with the Cr-O and CO stretching frequencies red-shifted from those of OCrCO neutral molecule.

The dramatic effect of NH3 co-ligation on the Fe+-assisted activation of carbon dioxide in the gas phase: from bare metal ions to complexes

The catalytic efficiency of Fe(+) ion over the CO(2) decomposition in the gas phase has been extensively investigated with the help of electronic structure calculation methods. Potential-energy profiles for the activation process Fe(+) + CO(2) --> CO + FeO(+) along two rival potential reaction paths, namely the insertion and addition pathways, originating from the end-on kappa(1)-O and kappa(2)-O,O coordination modes of CO(2) with the metal ion, respectively, have been explored by DFT calculations. For each pathway the potential energy surfaces of the high-spin sextet (S = 5/2) and the intermediate-spin quartet (S = 3/2) spin-states have been explored. The complete energy reaction profile calculated by a combination of ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) computational techniques reveals a two-state reactivity, involving two spin inversions, for the decomposition process and accounts well for the experimentally observed inertness of bare Fe(+) ions towards CO(2) activation. Furthermore, the coordination of up to three extra ancillary NH(3) ligands with the Fe(+) metal ion has been explored and the geometric and energetic reaction profiles of the CO(2) activation processes Fe(+) + n x NH(3) + CO(2) --> [Fe(NH(3))(n)(CO(2))](+) --> [Fe(NH(3))(n)(O)(CO)](+) --> CO + [Fe(O)(NH(3))(n)](+) (n = 1, 2 or 3) have thoroughly been scrutinized for both the insertion and the addition mechanisms. Inter alia, the geometries and energies of the various states of the [Fe(NH(3))(n)(CO(2))](+) and [Fe(NH(3))(n)(O)(CO)](+) complexes are explored and compared. Finally, a detailed analysis of the coordination modes of CO(2) in the cationic [Fe(NH(3))(n)(CO(2))](+) (n = 0, 1, 2 and 3) complexes is presented.

Infrared Spectroscopic and Density Functional Theory Study on the Reactions of Rhodium and Cobalt Atoms with Carbon Dioxide in Rare-Gas Matrixes

Reactions of laser-ablated rhodium and cobalt atoms with carbon dioxide molecules in solid argon and neon have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. The OMCO, O2MCO, OMCO(-) (M = Rh, Co), OCo2CO, and OCoCO(+) molecules have been formed and characterized on the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, ultraviolet irradiation, CCl4-doping experiments, and the change of laser power. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these products. The overall agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these products from the matrix infrared spectrum.

Infrared Spectroscopic and Density Functional Theory Study on the Reactions of Lanthanum Atoms with Carbon Dioxide in Rare-Gas Matrices

Reactions of laser-ablated La atoms with CO2 molecules in solid argon and neon have been investigated using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy. On the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, and CCl4-doping experiments, absorptions at 1839.9 and 753.6 cm-1 in argon and 1855.9 and 771.3 cm-1 in neon are assigned to the C-O and La-O stretching vibrations of the OLaCO molecule, respectively. Ultraviolet-visible photoinduced isomerization of OLaCO to La-(eta2-OC)O and OLa-(eta2-CO) have been observed under different wavelength photolyses in the solid matrix. The neon matrix experiments give the C-O and La-O stretching vibrations of the OLaCO- anion at 1769.5 and 779.3 cm-1, respectively. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these products, which support the experimental assignments of the infrared spectra. The present study reveals that the C-O stretching vibrational frequencies of OMCO decrease from Sc to La, which indicates an increase in metal d orbital --> CO pi* back-donation in this series.

Reactions of Group 3 Transition Metal Atoms with CS2 and OCS: Matrix Isolation Infrared Spectra and Density-Functional Calculations of SMCS, SM-(η2-CS), SMCO, and SM-(η2-CO) in Solid Argon

Laser-ablated scandium, yttrium, and lanthanum atoms were reacted with CS2 and OCS molecules in an argon matrix. Products of the type SMCX and S-M(eta2-CX) (X = S or O) were formed on sample deposition. Photolysis favored the S-M(eta(2)-CX) complex, while annealing increased the more stable SMCX isomer. Product absorptions are identified by density-functional frequency calculations and isotopic substitutions. This work reports the first vibrational spectroscopic characterization of Sc, Y, and La reaction products with CS2 and OCS and the subsequent interconversion between SMCX and S-M(eta2-CX) structural isomers.

Sequential Bond Energies of Fe+(CO2)n,n= 1−5, Determined by Threshold Collision-Induced Dissociation and ab Initio Theory†

Collision-induced dissociation of the Fe+ (CO2)n complexes for n = 1-5 is studied using kinetic energy dependent guided ion beam mass spectrometry. In all cases, the primary products are endothermic loss of an intact neutral ligand from the complex. The cross section thresholds are interpreted to yield 0 K bond energies after accounting for the effects of multiple ion-molecule collisions, internal energy of the complexes, and unimolecular decay rates. These values are compared with density functional theoretical values for all five complexes. Theory provides bond energies in reasonable agreement with experiment for n = 1-4 and predictions for the infrared spectroscopy of these complexes that agree nicely with experimental results of Gregoire and Duncan (J. Chem. Phys. 2002, 117, 2120). Our thermochemical results are also compared with the Fe+ (CO)n and Fe+ (N2)n complexes, previously studied.

Gas-phase experiments on the chemistry and coordination of Zn(II) by aprotic solvent molecules

Experiments have been performed in the gas phase on a series of doubly charged zinc–ligand complexes to elucidate their solvation structure and available fragmentation pathways. Production of such complexes was achieved by the formation of neutral argon–ligand clusters followed by the subsequent addition of a single zinc atom using a pickup technique. Multiply charged ions were then produced by electron impact within a high resolution, double-focusing mass spectrometer. Studies have been undertaken on a number of zinc(II) – aprotic solvent complexes including those consisting of argon and carbon dioxide in association with the zinc cation. Investigation of these novel metal–solvent clusters took the form of recorded parent ion intensity distributions and the measurement of fragmentation patterns promoted via collision-induced dissociation (CID). Discussion of the intensity distributions is presented in terms of the solvation of Zn(II) by each solvent, drawing on existing theoretical and experimental data from the gaseous and condensed phases. Investigation of collision-induced dissociation processes includes identifying charge transfer reactions in each solvated system, and analysis of the results in terms of kinetic energy release as well as possible mechanisms for fragmentation pathways. Key words: zinc, clusters, dications, gas phase, solvation.

Growth dynamics and intracluster reactions in Ni+(CO2)n complexes via infrared spectroscopy

Ni(+)(CO(2))(n), Ni(+)(CO(2))(n)Ar, Ni(+)(CO(2))(n)Ne, and Ni(+)(O(2))(CO(2))(n) complexes are generated by laser vaporization in a pulsed supersonic expansion. The complexes are mass-selected in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer and studied by infrared resonance-enhanced photodissociation (IR-REPD) spectroscopy. Photofragmentation proceeds exclusively through the loss of intact CO(2) molecules from Ni(+)(CO(2))(n) and Ni(+)(O(2))(CO(2))(n) complexes, and by elimination of the noble gas atom from Ni(+)(CO(2))(n)Ar and Ni(+)(CO(2))(n)Ne. Vibrational resonances are identified and assigned in the region of the asymmetric stretch of CO(2). Small complexes have resonances that are blueshifted from the asymmetric stretch of free CO(2), consistent with structures having linear Ni(+)-O=C=O configurations. Fragmentation of larger Ni(+)(CO(2))(n) clusters terminates at the size of n=4, and new vibrational bands assigned to external ligands are observed for n> or =5. These combined observations indicate that the coordination number for CO(2) molecules around Ni(+) is exactly four. Trends in the loss channels and spectra of Ni(+)(O(2))(CO(2))(n) clusters suggest that each oxygen atom occupies a different coordination site around a four-coordinate metal ion in these complexes. The spectra of larger Ni(+)(CO(2))(n) clusters provide evidence for an intracluster insertion reaction assisted by solvation, producing a metal oxide-carbonyl species as the reaction product.

Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of Reaction of Ground-State Fe Atoms with Carbon Dioxide

Density functional calculations at the B3LYP level of theory, using the 6-31G(d) and 6-311+G(3df) basis sets, provide a satisfactory description of the geometric and energetic reaction profile of the Fe + CO2 → FeO + CO reaction. The reaction is predicted to be endothermic by 23.24 kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory and to proceed by formation of either a Fe(η2-OCO) or a Fe(η3-OCO) intermediate. The Fe(η2-OCO) intermediate in the 5A' ground state is weakly bound with respect to Fe(5D) and CO2 dissociation products by 0.78 (2.88) kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) (B3LYP/6-311+ G(3df)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)) levels of theory. In contrast, the Fe(η3-OCO) intermediate in the 5A1 ground state is unbound with respect to Fe(5D) and CO2 dissociation products by 8.27 (11.15) kcal/mol at the same levels of theory. However, both intermediates are strongly bound relative to the separated Fe+(6D) and [CO2]- anion; the computed bond dissociation energies for the Fe(η2-OCO) and Fe(η3-OCO) intermediates are 207.33 and 198.28 kcal/mol in terms of ∆E0 at the B3LYP/6-31G(d), respectively. In the Fe(η2-OCO) and Fe(η3-OCO) intermediates, an intramolecular insertion reaction of the Fe atom to O-C bond takes place yielding the isomeric OFe(η1-CO) and OFe(η1-OC) products, respectively, with a relatively low activation barrier of 25.24 (21.69) and 26.36 (23.38) kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) (B3LYP/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)) levels of theory, respectively. The calculated structures, relative stability and bonding properties of all stationary points are discussed with respect to computed electronic and spectroscopic properties, such as charge density distribution and harmonic vibrational frequencies.