A density functional theory calculation on lanthanide monosulfides

Systematic Investigation of Electronic States and Bond Properties of LnO, LnO+, LnS, and LnS+ (Ln = La-Lu) by Spin-Orbit Multiconfiguration Perturbation Theory

The electronic structures of lanthanide monoxides (LnO/LnO+) and monosulfides (LnS/LnS+) for all lanthanide series elements (Ln = La-Lu) have been systematically analyzed with sophisticated quantum chemical calculations. The ground electronic configuration has been determined to be Ln 4fn6s1 or 4fn+1 for the neutral molecules and Ln 4fn for the cations. The low-lying energy states resulting from spin-orbit coupling and ligand field effects have been resolved using spin-orbit multiconfiguration quasi-degenerate second-order perturbation theory calculations. The ionization energies of LnO (5.20-7.06 eV) are about 0.3-2.2 eV lower than those of LnS (5.54-9.22 eV) due to the difference in the Ln 6s and 4f orbital energies from which an electron is removed during the ionization process. The bond dissociation energies (BDEs) have been computed by the state-averaged general multiconfigurational perturbation theory and the completely renormalized coupled-cluster [CR-CC(2,3)] methods. The BDEs are highly dependent on the lanthanide elements as several factors of the lanthanides affect the bond dissociation. The calculated bond lengths and energies agree well with available experimental values and are systematically predicted for the series of lanthanide monoxides and monosulfides where experimental values are not available. Furthermore, the LS terms of low-lying energy states and their corresponding bond properties have been clarified in detail to systematize the similarities and differences of the lanthanide compounds.

Ab initio composite strategies and multireference approaches for lanthanide sulfides and selenides

The f-block ab initio correlation consistent composite approach was used to predict the dissociation energies of lanthanide sulfides and selenides. Geometry optimizations were carried out using density functional theory and coupled cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples with one- and two-component Hamiltonians. For the two-component calculations, relativistic effects were accounted for by utilizing a third-order Douglas-Kroll-Hess Hamiltonian. Spin-orbit coupling was addressed with the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian within a multireference configuration interaction approach. The state averaged complete active space self-consistent field wavefunctions obtained for the spin-orbit coupling energies were used to assign the ground states of diatomics, and several diagnostics were used to ascertain the multireference character of the molecules.

Ab Initio Composite Approaches for Heavy Element Energetics: Ionization Potentials for the Actinide Series of Elements

The first, second, and third gas-phase ionization potentials have been determined for the actinide series of elements using an ab initio composite scalar and fully relativistic approach, employing the coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) and Dirac Hartree-Fock (DHF) methods, extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. The impact of electron correlation and basis set choice within this framework are examined. Additionally, the first three ionization potentials were obtained using an ab initio heavy element correlation-consistent Composite Approach (here referred to as α-ccCA). This is the first utilization of a ccCA for actinide species.

Bond dissociation energies of lanthanide sulfides and selenides

Resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy has been employed to observe sharp predissociation thresholds in the spectra of the lanthanide sulfides and selenides for the 4f metals Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Lu. As these molecules possess a large density of electronic states near the ground separated atom limit, these predissociation thresholds are argued to coincide with the true 0 K bond dissociation energies (BDEs). This is because spin-orbit and nonadiabatic couplings among these states allow the molecules to predissociate rapidly when the BDE is reached or exceeded. The measured BDEs, in eV, are as follows: 5.230(3) (PrS), 4.820(3) (NdS), 4.011(17) (SmS), 3.811(8) (EuS), 5.282(5) (GdS), 5.292(3) (TbS), 4.298(3) (DyS), 4.251(3) (HoS), 4.262(3) (ErS), 5.189(3) (LuS), 4.496(3) (PrSe), 4.099(3) (NdSe), 3.495(17) (SmSe), 3.319(3) (EuSe), 4.606(3) (GdSe), 4.600(6) (TbSe), 3.602(3) (DySe), 3.562(3) (HoSe), 3.587(3) (ErSe), and 4.599(6) (LuSe). Through the use of thermochemical cycles, the 0 K gaseous heat of formation, Δ_fH_0K ^○, is reported for each molecule. A threshold corresponding to the onset of two-photon ionization in EuSe was also observed, providing the ionization energy of EuSe as 6.483(10) eV. Through a thermochemical cycle and the above reported BDE of the neutral EuSe molecule, the BDE for the Eu⁺-Se cation was also determined as D₀(Eu⁺-Se) = 2.506(10) eV. Bonding trends of the lanthanide sulfides and selenides are discussed. Our previous observation that the transition metal sulfides are 15.6% more strongly bound than the corresponding selenides continues to hold true for the lanthanides as well.

Gas-phase reactions of atomic lanthanide cations with CO2 and CS2: room-temperature kinetics and periodicities in reactivity

Gas-phase reactions of atomic lanthanide cations (excluding Pm+) have been surveyed systematically with CO2 and CS2 using an inductively coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. Observations are reported for reactions with La+, Ce+, Pr+, Nd+, Sm+, Eu+, Gd+, Tb+, Dy+, Ho+, Er+, Tm+, Yb+, and Lu+ at room temperature (295 +/- 2 K) in helium at a total pressure of 0.35 +/- 0.02 Torr. The observed primary reaction channels correspond to X-atom transfer (X = O, S) and CX2 addition. X-atom transfer is the predominant reaction channel with La+, Ce+, Pr+, Nd+, Gd+, Tb+, and Lu+, and CX2 addition occurs with the other lanthanide cations. Competition between these two channels is seen only in the reactions of CS2 with Nd+ and Lu+. Rate coefficient measurements indicate a periodicity in the reaction efficiencies of the early and late lanthanides. With CO2 the observed trends in reactivity across the row and with exothermicity follow trends in the energy required to achieve two unpaired non-f valence electrons by electron promotion within the Ln+ cation that suggest the presence of a kinetic barrier, in a manner much like those observed previously for reactions with isoelectronic N2O. In contrast, no such barrier is evident for S-atom transfer from the valence isolectronic CS2 molecule which proceeds at unit efficiency, and this is attributed to the much higher polarizability of CS2 compared to CO2 and N2O. Up to five CX2 molecules were observed to add sequentially to selected Ln+ and LnX+ cations.

Carbon Disulfide Reactions with Atomic Transition-Metal and Main-Group Cations: Gas-Phase Room-Temperature Kinetics and Periodicities in Reactivity

The reactions of 46 atomic-metal cations with CS2 have been investigated at room temperature using an inductively-coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. Rate coefficients and products were measured for the reactions of fourth-period atomic ions from K+ to Se+, of fifth-period atomic ions from Rb+ to Te+ (excluding Tc+), and of sixth-period atomic ions from Cs+ to Bi+. Primary reaction channels were observed leading to S-atom transfer, CS2 addition and, with Hg+, electron transfer. S-atom transfer appears to be thermodynamically controlled and occurs exclusively, and with unit efficiency, in the reactions with most early transition-metal cations (Sc+, Ti+, Y+, Zr+, Nb+, La+, Hf+, Ta+, and W+) and with several main-group cations (As+, Sb+) and less efficiently with Se+, Re+ and Os+. Other ions, including most late transition and main-group metal cations, react with CS2 with measurable rates mostly through CS2 addition or not at all (K+, Rb+, Cs+). Traces of excited states (< 10%) were seen from an inspection of the observed product ions to be involved in the reactions with Mo+, Te+, Ba+ and Au+ and possibly Pt+ and Ir+. The primary products YS+, ZrS+, NbS+, HfS+, TaS+, WS+, ReS+ and OsS+ react further by S-atom transfer to form MS2(+), and TaS2(+) reacts further to form TaS3(+). CS2 addition occurs with the cations MCS2(+), MS+, MS2(+), CS2(+), and TaS3(+) to form M+(CS2)(n) (n < or = 4), MS+(CS2)(n) (n < or = 4), MS2(+)(CS2)(n) (n < or = 3), (CS2)2(+) and TaS3(+)(CS2). Up to four CS2 molecules add sequentially to bare metal cations and monosulfide cations, and three to disulfide cations. Equilibrium constant measurements are reported that provide some insight into the standard free energy change for CS2 ligation. Periodic variations in deltaG degrees are as expected from the variation in electrostatic attraction, which follows the trend in atomic-ion size and the trend in repulsion between the orbitals of the atomic cations and the occupied orbitals of CS2.

Density Functional Study of the Insertion and Ring-Opening Mechanism of MCP over Cp2LaH and Cp2LuH Catalysts

The insertion and ring opening of methylenecyclopropane (MCP) catalyzed by Cp2LnH (Ln = La and Lu) was investigated using DFT method. Geometries and energies of the reactants, minima, and transition states for this reaction were obtained. The present study indicates the formation of Cp2LaH-MCP complex followed by 1,2-insertion through a tetrahedral transition state with subsequent ring opening at the proximal bond via hydrogen transfer transition state resulting in the formation of the final product.