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Kuster L, Bélanger-Bouliga M, Shaw TE, Jurca T, Nazemi A, Frenette M. Insight into the nature of carbon-metal bonding for N-heterocyclic carbenes in gold/silver complexes and nanoparticles using DFT-correlated Raman spectroscopy: strong evidence for π-backbonding. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:11052-11068. [PMID: 38619424 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00143e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have emerged as promising ligands for stabilizing metallic complexes, nanoclusters, nanoparticles (NPs) and surfaces. The carbon-metal bond between NHCs and metal atoms plays a crucial role in determining the resulting material's stability, reactivity, function, and electronic properties. Using Raman spectroscopy coupled with density functional theory calculations, we investigate the nature of carbon-metal bonding in NHC-silver and NHC-gold complexes as well as their corresponding NPs. While low wavenumbers are inaccessible to standard infrared spectroscopy, Raman detection reveals previously unreported NHC-Au/Ag bond-stretching vibrations between 154-196 cm-1. The computationally efficient r2SCAN-3c method allows an excellent correlation between experimental and predicted Raman spectra which helps calibrate an accurate description of NHC-metal bonding. While π-backbonding should stabilize the NHC-metal bond, conflicting reports for the presence and absence of π-backbonding are seen in the literature. This debate led us to further investigate experimental and theoretical results to ultimately confirm and quantify the presence of π-backbonding in these systems. Experimentally, an observed decrease in the NHC's CN stretching due to the population of the π* orbital is a good indication for the presence of π-backbonding. Using energy decomposition analysis - natural orbitals for chemical valence (EDA-NOCV), our calculations concur and quantify π-backbonding in these NHC-bound complexes and NPs. Surprisingly, we observe that NPs are less stabilized by π-backbonding compared to their respective complexes-a result that partially explains the weaker NHC-NP bond. The protocol described herein will help optimize metal-carbon bonding in NHC-stabilized metal complexes, nanoparticles and surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucille Kuster
- Department of Chemistry, NanoQAM and Centre Québécois de Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
| | - Marilyne Bélanger-Bouliga
- Department of Chemistry, NanoQAM and Centre Québécois de Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
| | - Thomas E Shaw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
| | - Titel Jurca
- Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
| | - Ali Nazemi
- Department of Chemistry, NanoQAM and Centre Québécois de Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
| | - Mathieu Frenette
- Department of Chemistry, NanoQAM and Centre Québécois de Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Bachir N, Kenouche S, Martínez-Araya JI. The effect of {O,N}=X⋯M={Ti,Zr,Hf} interactions on the sensitivity of CNO 2 trigger bonds in FOX-7: Approach based on the QTAIM/EDA-NOCV analysis. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 126:108645. [PMID: 37812869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
The local chemical reactivity of FOX-7 (1,1-diamino-2,2-nitroethylene, also known as DADNE from DiAminoDiNitroEthylene) was elucidated through a quantitative study of the electrostatic potential on the molecular surface, topological analysis based on Bader's theory, and the EDA-NOCV method. Unlike (O2N)2CC(NH2)H2N⋯Cp2MCH3+ complexes, which exhibit both σ-donor and π-acceptor features, the situation is different concerning the (H2N)2CC(NO2)(O)NO⋯Cp2MCH3+ complexes, where both charge transfers correspond to the σ-donation. The two charge transfers reinforce each other, resulting in increased stability for (H2N)2CC(NO2)(O)NO⋯Cp2MCH3+. This seems to strengthen the (H2N)2CC(NO2)(O)NO⋯M={Ti,Zr,Hf} bond, which may explain the high stability of (H2N)2CC(NO2)(O)NO⋯Cp2MCH3+ compared to (O2N)2CC(NH2)-H2N⋯Cp2MCH3+. Results from topological analysis revealed that the decreased sensitivity to decomposition of CNO2 bonds depends on the chemical nature of the interacting metal, and the best achievements are obtained for the Hf-based complex. Our results demonstrate that the interaction of M={Ti,Zr,Hf} with CNO2 is more favourable than that with CNH2, this specific action on the trigger bond may support the use of Metallocene Methyl Cations (MMC) as possible neutralisers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassima Bachir
- Group of Modeling of Chemical Systems using Quantum Calculations, Applied Chemistry Laboratory (LCA). University M. Khider of Biskra, 07000 Biskra, Algeria
| | - Samir Kenouche
- Group of Modeling of Chemical Systems using Quantum Calculations, Applied Chemistry Laboratory (LCA). University M. Khider of Biskra, 07000 Biskra, Algeria
| | - Jorge I Martínez-Araya
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello (UNAB), Av. República 275, 8370146 Santiago, Chile; Centro de Química Teórica y Computacional (CQT&C). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Santiago, Chile.
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Kumar Ray A, Paul A. Inept N 2 Activation of Tri-Nuclear Nickel Complex with Labile Sulfur Ligands Facilitates Selective N 2 H 4 Formation in Electrocatalytic Conversion of N 2. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301435. [PMID: 37267469 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Conversion of N2 to the energy vector N2 H4 under benign conditions is highly desirable. However, such N2 fixation processes are extremely rare. It has been recently reported that N2 to N2 H4 conversion can be achieved electrochemically by using a trinuclear [Ni3 (S2 C3 H6 )4 ]2- complex (named as [Ni3 S8 ]2- ). There are hardly any precedents of Nitrogen Reduction Reaction (NRR) by molecular catalysts having Ni and the highly unusual selectivity for N2 H4 over NH3 makes this electrochemical reduction unique. A systematic theoretical study employing calibrated Density Functional Theory to unearth the mechanisms of NRR (4e- /4H+ ) and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (2e- /2H+ ) was conducted for the aforementioned trinuclear Ni complex. Our findings unravel a curious case of ligand lability working in tandem with metal centers in facilitating this unprecedented electrocatalytic activity. Furthermore, it is shown that the poor N-N bond activation property of Ni is responsible for this unusual selectivity. Additionally, the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) mechanistic pathways have also been delineated in this report. The mechanistic intricacies thus unearthed in this study may assist in developing more efficient electrocatalysts for N2 H4 production through NRR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuj Kumar Ray
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A&2B, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Ankan Paul
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A&2B, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India
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Gärtner A, Karaca US, Rang M, Heinz M, Engel PD, Krummenacher I, Arrowsmith M, Hermann A, Matler A, Rempel A, Witte R, Braunschweig H, Holthausen MC, Légaré MA. Achieving Control over the Reduction/Coupling Dichotomy of N 2 by Boron Metallomimetics. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:8231-8241. [PMID: 36977310 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
We report a detailed computational and experimental study of the fixation and reductive coupling of dinitrogen with low-valent boron compounds. Consistent with our mechanistic findings, the selectivity toward nitrogen fixation or coupling can be controlled through either steric bulk or the reaction conditions, allowing for the on-demand synthesis of nitrogen chains. The electronic structure and intriguing magnetic properties of intermediates and products of the reaction of dinitrogen with borylenes are also elucidated using high-level computational approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalena Gärtner
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Uhut S Karaca
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maximilian Rang
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Myron Heinz
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philipp D Engel
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ivo Krummenacher
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Merle Arrowsmith
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Hermann
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Matler
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna Rempel
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Robert Witte
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Holger Braunschweig
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Max C Holthausen
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marc-André Légaré
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal H3A 0B8, Québec, Canada
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