Sequential Reduction of High Hydride Count Octahedral Rhodium Clusters [Rh6(PR3)6H12][BArF4]2: Redox-Switchable Hydrogen Storage

Theoretical and DFT Study of Atypical Pentanuclear [(iPr3P)Ni]5Hn (n = 4, 6, 8) Clusters: What are the Rules?

The structure, bonding, and properties of a series of atypical pentanuclear nickel hydride clusters supported by electron-rich iPr3P of the type [(iPr3P)Ni]5Hn (n = 4, 6, 8; H4, H6, H8) and their anionic models where iPr3P are substituted by H- (H4', H6', H8') were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. All clusters were calculated to adopt a similar square pyramidal core geometry. Calculations indicate singlet ground states with small singlet-triplet gaps for H4 and H6, similar to previously reported experimental values. Molecular orbital theory description clusters were investigated using the simplified model complexes [HNi]5Hn5- (n = 4, 6, 8; H4', H6', H8'). The results show that there are three skeletal electron pairs (SEPs) in H4'. The addition of two molecules of H2 to form H6' and H8' results in the partial or full occupation of two degenerate MOs (e* set) that give two SEPs and one SEP, respectively. Indeed, the occupation of these low-lying weakly antibonding orbitals governs the multielectron chemistry available for these clusters and plays a role in their unique reactivity.

Heptanuclear Silver Hydride Clusters as Catalytic Precursors for the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol

We report on the design, synthesis, and characterization of the first silver hydride clusters solely protected and stabilized by dithiophosphonate ligands and their application for the in situ generation of silver nanoparticles towards the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol in an aqueous system. The synthesis of the silver monohydride cluster involves the incorporation of an interstitial hydride using sodium borohydride. Poly-nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry were used to establish the structural properties. The structural properties were then confirmed with a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, which showed a distorted tetracapped tetrahedron core with one hydride ion encapsulated within the core of the silver framework. Additionally, the synthesized heptanuclear silver hydride was utilized as a precursor for the in situ generation of silver nanoparticles, which simultaneously catalyzed the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The mechanism of the catalytic activity was investigated by first synthesizing AgNPs, which was subsequently used as a catalyst. The kinetic study showed that the pseudo-first constant obtained using the cluster (2.43 × 10−2 s−1) was higher than that obtained using the synthesized AgNPs (2.43 × 10−2 s−1). This indicated that the silver monohydride cluster was more active owing to the release of the encapsulated hydride ion and greater reaction surface prior to aggregation.

Hydride-encapsulated bimetallic clusters supported by 1,1-dithiolates

A four-coordinated hydride lying at the center of heptanuclear bimetallic clusters was anisotropically refined to convergence by X-ray crystallography.

Ionization methods for the mass spectrometry of organometallic compounds

The rapid development of new ionization methods has greatly expanded the ability of mass spectrometry to target diverse areas of chemistry. Synthetic organometallic and inorganic chemists often find themselves with interesting characterization problems that mass spectrometry could potentially find the answer for, but without a guide for choosing the appropriate method of analysis. This tutorial review seeks to provide that guidance via a simple flow chart followed by a brief description of how each common ionization method works. It covers all of the commonly used ionization techniques as well as promising variants and aims to be a resource of first resort for organometallic chemists and analysts tackling a new problem.

The free-energy barrier to hydride transfer across a dipalladium complex

We use density-functional theory molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) simulations to determine the hydride transfer coordinate between palladium centres of the crystallographically observed terminal hydride locations, Pd–Pd–H, originally postulated for the solution dynamics of the complex bis-NHC dipalladium hydride [{(MesIm)₂CH₂}₂Pd₂H][PF₆], and then calculate the free-energy along this coordinate. We estimate the transfer barrier-height to be about 20 kcal mol⁻¹ with a hydride transfer rate in the order of seconds at room temperature. We validate our DFT-MD modelling using inelastic neutron scattering which reveals anharmonicity of the hydride environment that is so pronounced that there is complete failure of the harmonic model for the hydride ligand. The simulations are extended to high temperature to bring the H-transfer to a rate that is accessible to the simulation technique.

Hydrogen storage and evolution catalysed by metal hydride complexes

The storage and evolution of hydrogen are catalysed by appropriate metal hydride complexes. Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide by hydrogen is catalysed by a [C,N] cyclometalated organoiridium complex, [Ir(III)(Cp*)(4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN(2))benzoic acid-κC(3))(OH(2))](2)SO(4) [Ir-OH(2)](2)SO(4), under atmospheric pressure of H(2) and CO(2) in weakly basic water (pH 7.5) at room temperature. The reverse reaction, i.e., hydrogen evolution from formate, is also catalysed by [Ir-OH(2)](+) in acidic water (pH 2.8) at room temperature. Thus, interconversion between hydrogen and formic acid in water at ambient temperature and pressure has been achieved by using [Ir-OH(2)](+) as an efficient catalyst in both directions depending on pH. The Ir complex [Ir-OH(2)](+) also catalyses regioselective hydrogenation of the oxidised form of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) to produce the 1,4-reduced form (NADH) under atmospheric pressure of H(2) at room temperature in weakly basic water. In weakly acidic water, the complex [Ir-OH(2)](+) also catalyses the reverse reaction, i.e., hydrogen evolution from NADH to produce NAD(+) at room temperature. Thus, interconversion between NADH (and H(+)) and NAD(+) (and H(2)) has also been achieved by using [Ir-OH(2)](+) as an efficient catalyst and by changing pH. The iridium hydride complex formed by the reduction of [Ir-OH(2)](+) by H(2) and NADH is responsible for the hydrogen evolution. Photoirradiation (λ > 330 nm) of an aqueous solution of the Ir-hydride complex produced by the reduction of [Ir-OH(2)](+) with alcohols resulted in the quantitative conversion to a unique [C,C] cyclometalated Ir-hydride complex, which can catalyse hydrogen evolution from alcohols in a basic aqueous solution (pH 11.9). The catalytic mechanisms of the hydrogen storage and evolution are discussed by focusing on the reactivity of Ir-hydride complexes.

Using EPR to follow reversible dihydrogen addition to paramagnetic clusters of high hydride count: [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(12)](+) and [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(14)](+)

A combined structural/EPR/computational chemistry investigation is reported on the two paramagnetic hydrido-cluster salts [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(12)][BAr(F)(4)] and [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(14)][BAr(F)(4)], the latter being formed by reversible addition of H(2) to the former, [BAr(F)(4)](-) = [B{C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)}(4)](-). The solid-state structure of [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(14)][BAr(F)(4)] shows an expanded cluster core compared to previously reported [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(12)][BAr(F)(4)] indicative of the addition of hydrogen to the cluster surface. This expansion correlates well with the calculated (PH(3) replaces PCy(3)) structures. EPR measurements on [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(12)][BAr(F)(4)] indicate two isomers at low temperature, which are tentatively assigned as diastereomers that result from locked phosphine rotation and bridging hydride/semi bridging hydride tautomerism. The EPR signal disappears above 60 K which is suggested to occur due to fast Raman-type relaxation-a phenomenon consistent with the calculated small SOMO/SOMO - 1 and SOMO/LUMO gaps. For [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(14)][BAr(F)(4)] EPR measurements indicate two isomers, the proportion of which change with temperature and deuteration-one axial isomer and one rhombic isomer. DFT calculations on a number of plausible isomers give EPR parameters which fit the experimentally determined rhombic isomer to one in which there is an interstitial hydride in the cluster and thirteen hydride ligands on the surface, while the axial isomer has two dihydrogen-like ligands on the cluster surface. That these isomers lie close in energy comes from both the EPR measurements (as measured from equilibrium constants over a variable temperature range) and DFT calculations. Deuteration of the hydrides should favour the isomer with the lowest zero-point energy and this is the case, with the axial isomer (two D(2) ligands on the surface) being favoured over the rhombic.

A DFT based investigation into the electronic structure and properties of hydride rich rhodium clusters

Density functional theory has been used to investigate the structures, bonding and properties of a family of hydride rich late transition metal clusters of the type [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](x) (x = 0, +1, +2, +3 or +4), [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(16)](x) (x = +1 or +2) and [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](x) (x = 0, +1 or +2). The positions of the hydrogen atoms around the pseudo-octahedral Rh(6) core in the optimized structures of [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](x) (x = 0, +1, +2, +3 or +4) varied depending on the overall charge on the cluster. The number of semi-bridging hydrides increased (semi-bridging hydrides have two different Rh-H bond distances) as the charge on the cluster increased and simultaneously the number of perfectly bridging hydrides (equidistant between two Rh centers) decreased. This distortion maximized the bonding between the hydrides and the metal centers and resulted in the stabilization of orbitals related to the 2T(2g) set in a perfectly octahedral cluster. In contrast, the optimized structures of the 16-hydride clusters [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](x) (x = +1 or +2) were similar and both clusters contained an interstitial hydride, along with one terminal hydride, ten bridging hydrides and two coordinated H(2) molecules which were bound to two rhodium centers in an eta(2):eta(1)-fashion. All the hydrides were on the outside of the Rh(6) core in the lowest energy structures of the 14-hydride clusters [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)] and [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](+), which both contained eleven bridging hydrides, one terminal hydride and one coordinated H(2) molecule. Unfortunately, the precise structure of [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](2+) could not be determined as structures both with and without an interstitial hydride were of similar energy. The reaction energetics for the uptake and release of two molecule of H(2) by a cycle consisting of [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](2+), [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(16)](2+), [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](+), [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](+) and [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](2+) were modelled, and, in general, good agreement was observed between experimental and theoretical results. The electronic reasons for selected steps in the cycle were investigated. The 12-hydride cluster [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](2+) readily picks up two molecules of H(2) to form [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(16)](2+) because it has a small HOMO-LUMO gap (0.50 eV) and a degenerate pair of LUMO orbitals available for the uptake of four electrons (which are provided by two molecules of H(2)). The reverse process, the spontaneous release of a molecule of H(2) from [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(16)](+) to form [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](+) occurs because the energy gap between the anti-bonding SOMO and the next highest energy occupied orbital in [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(16)](+) is 0.9 eV, whereas in [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](+) the energy gap between the anti-bonding SOMO and the next highest energy occupied orbital is only 0.3 eV. At this stage the factors driving the conversion of [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(14)](+) to [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(12)](2+) are still unclear.