Reactions of Laser-Ablated Ni, Pd, and Pt Atoms with Carbon Monoxide: Matrix Infrared Spectra and Density Functional Calculations on M(CO)n (n = 1−4), M(CO)n- (n = 1−3), and M(CO)n+ (n = 1−2), (M = Ni, Pd, Pt)

An isolable, chelating bis[cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene] stabilizes a strongly bent, dicoordinate Ni(0) complex

Chelating ligands have had a tremendous impact in coordination chemistry and catalysis. Notwithstanding their success as strongly σ-donating and π-accepting ligands, to date no chelating bis[cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes] have been reported. Herein, we describe a chelating, C2-symmetric bis[cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene] ligand, which was isolated as a racemic mixture. The isolation and structural characterization of its isostructural, pseudotetrahedral complexes with iron, cobalt, nickel, and zinc dihalides featuring eight-membered metallacycles demonstrates the binding ability of the bis(carbene). Reduction of the nickel(II) dibromide with potassium graphite produces a dicoordinate nickel(0) complex that features one of the narrowest angles measured in any unsupported dicoordinate transition metal complexes.

Spectroscopic Signature of the Carbon-Carbon Coupling Reaction between Carbon Monoxide and Nickel Carbide

Spectroscopic characterization of ketenylidene complexes is of essential importance for understanding the structure-reactivity relationships of the catalytic sites. Here, we report a size-specific photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopic study of the reactions of carbon monoxide with nickel carbide. Quantum chemical calculations have been conducted to search for the energetically favorable isomers and to recognize the experimental spectra. The target products with the chemical formula of NiC(CO)n- (n = 3-5) are characterized to have an intriguing ketenylidene CCO unit. The evolution from NiC(CO)3- to NiC(CO)4- involves the breaking and formation of the Ni-C bond and the coordination conversion between the terminal and bridging carbonyls. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal an efficient C-C bond formation process within the reactions of carbon monoxide and laser-vaporized nickel carbide. This work highlights the pivotal roles played by metal carbides in the C-C bond formation and also proposes new ideas for the design and chemical control of a broad class of complexes with unique physical and chemical properties.

Adsorption and Oxidation of CO on Ceria Nanoparticles Exposing Single-Atom Pd and Ag: A DFT Modelling

Various COx species formed upon the adsorption and oxidation of CO on palladium and silver single atoms supported on a model ceria nanoparticle (NP) have been studied using density functional calculations. For both metals M, the ceria-supported MCOx moieties are found to be stabilised in the order MCO < MCO2 < MCO3, similar to the trend for COx species adsorbed on M-free ceria NP. Nevertheless, the characteristics of the palladium and silver intermediates are different. Very weak CO adsorption and the small exothermicity of the CO to CO2 transformation are found for O4Pd site of the Pd/Ce21O42 model featuring a square-planar coordination of the Pd2+ cation. The removal of one O atom and formation of the O3Pd site resulted in a notable strengthening of CO adsorption and increased the exothermicity of the CO to CO2 reaction. For the analogous ceria models with atomic Ag instead of atomic Pd, these two energies became twice as small in magnitude and basically independent of the presence of an O vacancy near the Ag atom. CO2-species are strongly bound in palladium carboxylate complexes, whereas the CO2 molecule easily desorbs from oxide-supported AgCO2 moieties. Opposite to metal-free ceria particle, the formation of neither PdCO3 nor AgCO3 carbonate intermediates before CO2 desorption is predicted. Overall, CO oxidation is concluded to be more favourable at Ag centres atomically dispersed on ceria nanostructures than at the corresponding Pd centres. Calculated vibrational fingerprints of surface COx moieties allow us to distinguish between CO adsorption on bare ceria NP (blue frequency shifts) and ceria-supported metal atoms (red frequency shifts). However, discrimination between the CO2 and CO32- species anchored to M-containing and bare ceria particles based solely on vibrational spectroscopy seems problematic. This computational modelling study provides guidance for the knowledge-driven design of more efficient ceria-based single-atom catalysts for the environmentally important CO oxidation reaction.

Chasing the Mond Cation: Synthesis and Characterization of the Homoleptic Nickel Tetracarbonyl Cation and its Tricarbonyl-Nitrosyl Analogue

130 years after Mond discovered the first homoleptic carbonyl complex Ni(CO)₄, we report on a [Ni(CO)₄]^.+ salt as the first synthesis of any homoleptic nickel carbonyl cation in the condensed phase. It was prepared by oxidation of nickel metal with the synergistic oxidant Ag[F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂]/0.5 I₂ (R^F=C(CF₃)₃) in CO atmosphere. This D_2d‐symmetric metalloradical represents the last missing entry among the structurally characterized homoleptic carbonyl cations of Groups 6 to 11. Additionally, the nickel tricarbonyl‐nitrosyl cation [Ni(CO)₃(NO)]⁺ was obtained by usage of NO[F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂] and all products were fully characterized by means of IR, Raman, NMR/EPR, single crystal and powder XRD.

Infrared + vacuum ultraviolet two-color ionization spectroscopy of neutral metal complexes based on a tunable vacuum ultraviolet free-electron laser

This paper describes an experimental technique for studying neutral metal complexes using infrared + vacuum ultraviolet (IR+VUV) two-color ionization spectroscopy based on a tunable VUV free-electron laser (VUV-FEL). The preliminary IR spectroscopy results of mass-selected nickel tetracarbonyl are reported in this work. The results demonstrate that the tunable VUV-FEL light allows the selective ionization of a given neutral cluster free of confinement along with the recording of well-resolved IR spectra. As the ionization energies of many neutral clusters are accessible by a broadly tunable VUV-FEL (50-150 nm) and near-threshold ionization can be readily achieved, the proposed experimental method offers unique possibilities for the size-specific study of a wide variety of confinement-free neutral clusters.

TiO2-supported Pt single atoms by surface organometallic chemistry for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Platinum single atoms are grafted by SOMC on morphology-controlled TiO₂. Their structure is characterized by EXAFS and other techniques, and their activity and stability in HER and backwards reaction are studied and compared to Pt nanoparticles.

Photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopic and theoretical study of heteronuclear vanadium-nickel carbonyl anions VNi(CO) n - (n = 2-6)

Mass-selected heteronuclear vanadium-nickel carbonyl anions VNi(CO) _n ^- (n = 2-6) were investigated by photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations to obtain their chemical bonding and intrinsic electronic structure in the gas phase. The calculated energies (adiabatic detachment energies)/vertical detachment energies (VDEs) match well with experimental values: 1.30/1.49, 1.66/1.95, 2.22/2.48, 2.70/2.89, and 2.95/3.15 eV. The VDE value of VNi(CO) _n ^- increases with an increase of cluster size, implying that the negative electron is stabilized upon the bonding of CO molecules. VNi(CO)₂ ^- consists of one bridging carbonyl and one terminal carbonyl, whose feature is different from MNi(CO)₂ ^- (M = Sc, Y, La, and Ce) with the involvement of one side-on-bonded carbonyl and one terminal CO carbonyl. The building block composed of three bridging carbonyls is favored for VNi(CO)₃ ^-, the structure of which persists up to n = 6. The additional CO ligands are preferentially coordinated in the terminal mode to the Ni atom at n = 4 and then to the V atom at n = 5 and 6. The results obtained in this work would provide a molecular-level understanding about chemisorbed CO molecules on alloy surfaces/interfaces, which is important to understand CO molecule activation processes.

Spontaneous Shape Alteration and Size Separation of Surfactant-Free Silver Particles Synthesized by Laser Ablation in Acetone during Long-Period Storage

The technique of laser ablation in liquids (LAL) has already demonstrated its flexibility and capability for the synthesis of a large variety of surfactant-free nanomaterials with a high purity. However, high purity can cause trouble for nanomaterial synthesis, because active high-purity particles can spontaneously grow into different nanocrystals, which makes it difficult to accurately tailor the size and shape of the synthesized nanomaterials. Therefore, a series of questions arise with regards to whether particle growth occurs during colloid storage, how large the particle size increases to, and into which shape the particles evolve. To obtain answers to these questions, here, Ag particles that are synthesized by femtosecond (fs) laser ablation of Ag in acetone are used as precursors to witness the spontaneous growth behavior of the LAL-generated surfactant-free Ag dots (2–10 nm) into different polygonal particles (5–50 nm), and the spontaneous size separation phenomenon by the carbon-encapsulation induced precipitation of large particles, after six months of colloid storage. The colloids obtained by LAL at a higher power (600 mW) possess a greater ability and higher efficiency to yield colloids with sizes of <40 nm than the colloids obtained at lower power (300 mW), because of the generation of a larger amount of carbon ‘captors’ by the decomposition of acetone and the stronger particle fragmentation. Both the size increase and the shape alteration lead to a redshift of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the Ag colloid from 404 nm to 414 nm, after storage. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis shows that the Ag particles are conjugated with COO– and OH– groups, both of which may lead to the growth of polygonal particles. The CO and CO₂ molecules are adsorbed on the particle surfaces to form Ag(CO)_x and Ag(CO₂)_x complexes. Complementary nanosecond LAL experiments confirmed that the particle growth was inherent to LAL in acetone, and independent of pulse duration, although some differences in the final particle sizes were observed. The nanosecond-LAL yields monomodal colloids, whereas the size-separated, initially bimodal colloids from the fs-LAL provide a higher fraction of very small particles that are <5 nm. The spontaneous growth of the LAL-generated metallic particles presented in this work should arouse the special attention of academia, especially regarding the detailed discussion on how long the colloids can be preserved for particle characterization and applications, without causing a mismatch between the colloid properties and their performance. The spontaneous size separation phenomenon may help researchers to realize a more reproducible synthesis for small metallic colloids, without concern for the generation of large particles.

Zero-valent isocyanides of nickel, palladium and platinum as transition metal σ-type Lewis bases

Transition metal complexes that contain metal-to-ligand retrodative σ-bonds have become the subject of increasing studies over the last decade. Lewis acidic "Z-type ligands" can modulate the electronic structure of their resultant complexes in a manner distinct from 2e^- donor ligands, and can also engage in cooperative reactivity with a Lewis basic transition metal. In this Feature article, we summarize our work with transition metal isocyanide complexes of group 10 metals that have exploited metal-based σ-type Lewis basicity. While the complexes Ni(CNAr^Mes2)₃, Pd(CNAr^Dipp2)₂ and Pt(CNAr^Dipp2)₂ were initially targeted as analogues to unstable, low-coordinate metal carbonyls, it soon became apparent that these zero-valent metal centers bore appreciable Lewis basic qualities due largely to the enhanced σ-donor/π-acid ratio of isocyanides compared to CO. Detailed spectroscopic and structural studies of metal-only Lewis pairs (MOLPs) formed from these complexes have furthered our understanding of the electronic structure perturbations effected by Z-type ligand binding. In addition, the platinum (boryl)iminomethane (BIM) complex Pt(κ²-N,B-^Cy₂BIM)(CNAr^Dipp2) has illuminated a general ligand design strategy that can engender significant reverse-dative interactions with buttressed Lewis acids, and also has expanded the known scope of cooperative reactivity that can be realized at a transition metal-borane linkage.

The MOF-driven synthesis of supported palladium clusters with catalytic activity for carbene-mediated chemistry

The development of catalysts able to assist industrially important chemical processes is a topic of high importance. In view of the catalytic capabilities of small metal clusters, research efforts are being focused on the synthesis of novel catalysts bearing such active sites. Here we report a heterogeneous catalyst consisting of Pd₄ clusters with mixed-valence 0/+1 oxidation states, stabilized and homogeneously organized within the walls of a metal-organic framework (MOF). The resulting solid catalyst outperforms state-of-the-art metal catalysts in carbene-mediated reactions of diazoacetates, with high yields (>90%) and turnover numbers (up to 100,000). In addition, the MOF-supported Pd₄ clusters retain their catalytic activity in repeated batch and flow reactions (>20 cycles). Our findings demonstrate how this synthetic approach may now instruct the future design of heterogeneous catalysts with advantageous reaction capabilities for other important processes.

Molecular structures of gas-phase neutral morpholine and its monohydrated complexes: experimental and theoretical approaches

Morpholine (NH(CH₂CH₂)₂O) is a typical six-membered aliphatic heterocyclic compound.

Probing the microhydration of metal carbonyls: a photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopic and theoretical study of Ni(CO)3(H2O)n. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016;18:26719-26724. [PMID: 27711570 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp05035b]

A series of microhydrated nickel carbonyls, Ni(CO)₃(H₂O)_n^- (n = 0-4), are prepared via a laser vaporization supersonic cluster source in the gas phase and identified by mass-selected photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Vertical detachment energies for the n = 1-4 anions are measured from the photoelectron spectra to be 1.429 ± 0.103, 1.698 ± 0.090, 1.887 ± 0.080, and 2.023 ± 0.074 eV, respectively. The C-O stretching vibrational frequencies in the corresponding neutral clusters are determined to be 1968, 1950, 1945, and 1940 cm^-1 for n = 1-4, respectively, which are characteristic of terminal CO. It is determined that the hydrogen atom of the first water molecule is bound to the nickel center. Addition of a second water molecule prefers solvation at the carbonyl terminal. Spectroscopy combined with theory suggests that the solvation of nickel tricarbonyl is dominated by a water-ring network. The present findings would have important implications for the fundamental understanding of the multifaceted mechanisms of the multibody interaction of water and carbon monoxide with transition metals.

Submerged Barriers in the Ni(+) Assisted Decomposition of Propionaldehyde

The reaction dynamics of the Ni(+) mediated decarbonylation of propionaldehyde was assessed using the single photon initiated decomposition rearrangement reaction (SPIDRR) technique. The exothermic production of Ni(+)CO was temporally monitored and the associated rate constants, k(E), were extracted as a function of activating photon energy. In addition, the reaction potential energy surface was calculated at the UCCSD(T)/def2-TZVP//PBEPBE/cc-pVDZ level of theory to provide an atomistic description of the reaction profile. The decarbonylation of propionaldehyde can be understood as proceeding through parallel competitive reaction pathways that are initiated by Ni(+) insertion into either the C-C or C-H bond of the propionaldehyde carbonyl carbon. Both paths lead to the elimination of neutral ethane and are governed by submerged barriers. The lower energy sequence is a consecutive C-C/C-H addition process with a submerged barrier of 14 350 ± 600 cm(-1). The higher energy sequence is a consecutive C-H/C-C addition process with a submerged barrier of 15 400 ± 600 cm(-1). Both barriers were determined using RRKM calculations fit to the experimentally determined k(E) values. The measured energy difference between the two barriers agrees with the DFT computed difference in rate limiting transition-state energies, 18 413 and 19 495 cm(-1).

Infrared photodissociation spectra of mass selected homoleptic nickel carbonyl cluster cations in the gas phase

Infrared spectra of mass-selected homoleptic nickel carbonyl cluster cations including dinuclear Ni2(CO)7(+) and Ni2(CO)8(+), trinuclear Ni3(CO)9(+) and tetranuclear Ni4(CO)11(+) are measured via infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching frequency region. The structures are established by comparison of the experimental spectra with simulated spectra derived from density functional calculations. The Ni2(CO)7(+) cation is characterized to have an unbridged asymmetric (OC)4Ni-Ni(CO)3(+) structure with a Ni-Ni single bond. The Ni2(CO)8(+) cation has a Ni-Ni half-bonded D3d structure with both nickel centers exhibiting an 18-electron configuration. The trinuclear Ni3(CO)9(+) cluster cation is determined to have an open chain like (OC)4Ni-NiCO-Ni(CO)4 structure. The tetranuclear Ni4(CO)11(+) cluster cation is determined to have a tetrahedral structure with two-center and three-center bridge-bonded carbonyl units. These nickel carbonyl cluster cations all involve trigonal pyramid like Ni(CO)4 building blocks that satisfy the 18-electron configuration of the nickel centers.

BLOCK-LOCALIZED WAVEFUNCTION ENERGY DECOMPOSITION (BLW-ED) ANALYSIS OF σ/π INTERACTIONS IN METAL-CARBONYL BONDING

The bonding features in metal-carbonyls including neutral M CO (M = Ni , Pd , Pt ) and M CO + (M+ = Cu +, Ag +, Au +) complexes have been elucidated at the DFT level with relativistic compact effective potentials for transition metals and 6-311+G(d) basis sets for C and O by the block-localized wavefunction (BLW) method. The BLW method can decompose the intermolecular interactions in terms of Heitler–London, polarization, and charge transfer energy contributions. Since the metal– CO bonding involves two synergic interactions, namely the σ-dative bond from the carbon lone electron pair to an empty d σ orbital on the metal, and the π back-donation from filled d π orbitals to the empty 2π* orbital on CO , the present BLW-ED analyses quantitatively demonstrated that in neutral M CO complexes the π-bonding dominates over the σ-bonding, whereas in cationic M CO + complexes, the σ-bonding plays a major role. But in both neutral and cationic species, the CO polarization induced by the metals enhances the C–O bond and increases the C–O vibrational frequencies, while the π back-donation tends to weaken the C–O bond and decrease the C–O vibrational frequencies. For neutral complexes, the latter is more prominent than the former, and consequently, there is a red-shifting of the C–O vibrational frequencies. In contrast, the π back-donation is insignificant in M CO + cations, and the C–O eventually vibrates at higher frequencies than the free CO frequency.

Theoretical study on the gas-phase reaction mechanism between palladium monoxide and methane

The gas-phase reaction mechanism between palladium monoxide and methane has been theoretically investigated on the singlet and triplet state potential energy surfaces (PESs) at the CCSD(T)/AVTZ//B3LYP/6-311+G(2d, 2p), SDD level. The major reaction channel leads to the products PdCH(2) + H(2)O, whereas the minor channel results in the products Pd + CH(3)OH, CH(2)OPd + H(2), and PdOH + CH(3). The minimum energy reaction pathway for the formation of main products (PdCH(2) + H(2)O), involving one spin inversion, prefers to start at the triplet state PES and afterward proceed along the singlet state PES, where both CH(3)PdOH and CH(3)Pd(O)H are the critical intermediates. Furthermore, the rate-determining step is RS-CH(3) PdOH → RS-2-TS1cb → RS-CH(2)Pd(H)OH with the rate constant of k = 1.48 × 10(12) exp(-93,930/RT). For the first C-H bond cleavage, both the activation strain ΔE(≠)(strain) and the stabilizing interaction ΔE(≠)(int) affect the activation energy ΔE(≠), with ΔE(≠)(int) in favor of the direct oxidative insertion. On the other hand, in the PdCH(2) + H(2) O reaction, the main products are Pd + CH(3)OH, and CH(3)PdOH is the energetically preferred intermediate. In the CH(2)OPd + H(2) reaction, the main products are Pd + CH(3)OH with the energetically preferred intermediate H(2)PdOCH(2). In the Pd + CH(3)OH reaction, the main products are CH(2)OPd + H(2), and H(2)PdOCH(2) is the energetically predominant intermediate. The intermediates, PdCH(2), H(2) PdCO, and t-HPdCHO are energetically preferred in the PdC + H(2), PdCO + H(2), and H(2)Pd + CO reactions, respectively. Besides, PdO toward methane activation exhibits higher reaction efficiency than the atom Pd and its first-row congener NiO.

Infrared spectroscopy and structures of manganese carbonyl cations, Mn(CO)n+ (n = 1-9)

Manganese carbonyl cations of the form Mn(CO)(n)(+) (n = 1-9) are produced in a molecular beam by laser vaporization in a pulsed nozzle source. Mass selected infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching region is used to study these complexes and their "argon-tagged" analogues. The geometries and electronic states of these complexes are determined by comparing their infrared spectra to theoretical predictions. Mn(CO)(6)(+) has a completed coordination sphere, consistent with its predicted 18-electron stability. It has an octahedral structure in its singlet ground state, similar to its isoelectronic analogue Cr(CO)(6). Charge-induced reduction in pi back-bonding leads to a decreased red-shift in Mn(CO)(6)(+) (upsilon(CO) = 2106 cm(-1)) compared with Cr(CO)(6) (upsilon(CO) = 2003 cm(-1)). The spin multiplicity of Mn(+)(CO)(n) complexes gradually decreases with progressive ligand addition. MnCO(+) is observed as both a quintet and a septet, Mn(CO)(2)(+) is observed only as a quintet, while Mn(CO)(3,4)(+) are both observed as triplets. Mn(CO)(5)(+) and Mn(CO)(6)(+) are both singlets, as are all larger complexes.

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 Laser-Ablated La and Y Atoms with CO: Matrix Infrared Spectra and DFT Calculations of the M(CO)x and MCO+ (M = La, Y; x = 1−4) Molecules

Reactions of laser-ablated lanthanum and yttrium atoms with carbon monoxide molecules in solid neon have been investigated using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy. The M(CO)x and MCO+ (M = La, Y; x = 1-4) molecules have been formed and identified on the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, and CCl4-doping experiments. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these lanthanum and yttrium carbonyls. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts substantiates the identification of these carbonyls from the matrix infrared spectrum. The present study reveals that the C-O stretching vibrational frequencies of MCO+ decrease from Sc to La, which indicates an increasing in metal d orbital --> CO pi* back-donation in this series.

Infrared diode laser spectroscopy of jet-cooled NiCO, Ni(CO)3(C13O), and Ni(CO)3(CO18)

Gas phase infrared spectroscopic investigations of the CO vibration of jet-cooled NiCO, Ni(CO)3(13CO), and Ni(CO)3(C18O) are reported. The spectra were obtained using a recently assembled pulsed-discharge slit-jet IR diode laser spectrometer. The rotationally resolved spectrum of NiCO was collected as it was formed in the discharge, while the spectra of Ni(CO)3(13CO) and Ni(CO)3(C18O) were recorded as they were destroyed. For NiCO, band origins of 2010.692 89(34) and 2010.645 28(23) cm(-1) were measured, along with values of B0=0.151 094(7) and 0.149 597(6) cm(-1) and B(1)=0.150 244(7) and 0.148 742(6) cm(-1) for 58NiCO and 60NiCO, respectively. The B0 values for these isotopologs were used to determine the two bond lengths in NiCO, giving r0 (Ni-C)=1.641(40) A and r0 (C-O)=1.193(53) A, in agreement with recent microwave measurements. The constants determined for Ni(CO)3(13CO) were upsilon0=2022.075 753(95) cm(-1), B"=0.034 736(2) cm(-1), and B'=0.034 688(2) cm(-1). For Ni(CO)3(C18O), upsilon0=2021.936 83(18) cm(-1), B"=0.033 764(4) cm(-1), and B'=0.033 710(4) cm(-1) were obtained. From these rotational constants, bond lengths of r0 (Ni-C)=1.839+/-0.007 A and r0 (C-O)=1.121+/-0.010 A were obtained. These values are discussed in relation to the bond lengths measured by electron and x-ray diffraction methods.