High-Resolution Electron Spectroscopy of Gas-Phase Metal-Aromatic Complexes

Effect of a single methyl substituent on the electronic structure of cobaltocene studied by computationally assisted MATI spectroscopy

Metallocenes represent archetypical organometallic compounds playing key roles in various fields of fundamental and applied chemistry. Many of their unique properties arise from low ionization energies (IE) which can be tuned by introducing substituents into the rings. Here we report the first mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectrum of a methylmetallocene, (Cp')(Cp)Co (Cp' = η5-C5H4Me, Cp = η5-C5H5). The presence of a single Me group allows us to study the "pure" effect of methylation without the mutual influence of substituents. The MATI technique provides an extremely high accuracy in determining the adiabatic IE of (Cp')(Cp)Co which equals 5.2097(6) eV. The effect of a Me group on the IE of cobaltocene appears to be 36% stronger than that in bis(η6-benzene)chromium. The MATI spectrum of (Cp')(Cp)Co shows a rich vibronic structure from which vibrational frequencies of the free ion are determined. This information provides a solid basis for testing the quality of quantum chemical calculations. Various levels of the DFT and coupled cluster computations are used to describe the structural and electronic transformations accompanying the detachment of an elctron from (Cp')(Cp)Co. New aspects of the methyl substituent influence on the potential energy surfaces, as well as on the inhomogeneous changes in charge density and electrostatic potential caused by ionization, are discussed.

Spin-orbit coupling of electrons on separate lanthanide atoms of Pr2O2 and its singly charged cation

Although it plays a critical role in the photophysics and catalysis of lanthanides, spin-orbit coupling of electrons on individual lanthanide atoms in small clusters is not well understood. The major objective of this work is to probe such coupling of the praseodymium (Pr) 4f and 6s electrons in Pr2O2 and Pr2O2+. The approach combines mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy and spin-orbit multiconfiguration second-order quasi-degenerate perturbation theory. The energies of six ionization transitions are precisely measured; the adiabatic ionization energy of the neutral cluster is 38 045 (5) cm-1. Most of the electronic states involved in these transitions are identified as spin-orbit coupled states consisting of two or more electron spins. The electron configurations of these states are 4f46s2 for the neutral cluster and 4f46s for the singly charged cation, both in planar rhombus-type structures. The spin-orbit splitting due to the coupling of the electrons on the separate Pr atoms is on the order of hundreds of wavenumbers.

Ionization of Decamethylmanganocene: Insights from the DFT-Assisted Laser Spectroscopy

Metallocenes represent one of the most important classes of organometallics with wide prospects for practical use in various fields of chemistry, materials science, molecular electronics, and biomedicine. Many applications of these metal complexes are based on their ability to form molecular ions. We report the first results concerning the changes in the molecular and electronic structure of decamethylmanganocene, Cp*₂Mn, upon ionization provided by the high-resolution mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy supported by DFT calculations. The precise ionization energy of Cp*₂Mn is determined as 5.349 ± 0.001 eV. The DFT modeling of the MATI spectrum shows that the main structural deformations accompanying the detachment of an electron consist in the elongation of the Mn-C bonds and a change in the Me out-of-plane bending angles. Surprisingly, the DFT calculations predict that most of the reduction in electron density (ED) upon ionization is associated with the hydrogen atoms of the substituents, despite the metal character of the ionized orbital. However, the ED difference isosurfaces reveal a complex mechanism of the charge redistribution involving also the carbon atoms of the molecule.

Metal-Ligand Bonds in Rare Earth Metal-Biphenyl Complexes

A series of theoretical methods, including density functional theory, multiconfiguration molecular orbital theory, and ab initio valence bond theory, are devoted to understanding the metal-ligand bonds in M-BP (BP = biphenyl; M = Sc, Y, or La) complexes. Different from most transition metal-BP complexes, the most stable metal-biphenyl conformers are not half-sandwich but clamshell. Energy decomposition analysis results reveal that the M-BP bonds in the clamshell conformers possess extra-large orbital relaxation. According to the wave function analysis, 2-fold donations and 2-fold back-donations exist in the clamshell M-BP bonds. The back-donations from M to BP are quite strong, while donations from BP to M are quite weak. Our work improves our understanding of the metal-ligand bonds, which can be considered as the "reversed" Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model.

Laser spectroscopic and computational insights into unexpected structural behaviours of sandwich complexes upon ionization

Transition-metal sandwich complexes play key roles in various fields such as fundamental and applied chemistry; many of their unique properties arise from their ability to form stable or reactive ions. The first mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectra of mixed sandwich compounds, (Ch)(Cp)Cr and (Cot)(Cp)Ti (Ch = η⁷-C₇H₇, Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅, Cot = η⁸-C₈H₈), presented in this work provide an extremely accurate description of the electron detachment. The ionization energies of the neutrals and stabilization energies of the metal-ligand interactions upon ionization are derived from the MATI data with an accuracy of 0.0006 eV. In combination with DFT calculations, laser threshold ionization spectroscopy reveals surprisingly different structural variations accompanying the detachment of the non-bonding d_z² electron from the sandwich molecules. The geometry of (Ch)(Cp)Cr remains practically unchanged while the ionization of (Cot)(Cp)Ti causes a noticeable shortening of the inter-ring distance, similar to that resulting from the ionization of a typical antibonding orbital. Electron density analysis throws light on the nature of these amazing effects.

Boron-Mediated Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage and Rearrangement of Benzene Forming the Borepinyl Radical and Borole Derivatives

The reaction of atomic boron with benzene in solid neon has been investigated by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy with isotopic substitutions as well as quantum chemical calculations. The reaction is initiated by boron atom addition to benzene in forming an η²-(1, 4) π adduct (A). A borepinyl radical (B) formed by C-C bond insertion is also observed on annealing. The η²-(1,4) π adduct photoisomerizes to an unprecedented borole substituted vinyl radical intermediate (C) via ring-opening and rearrangement reactions involving an antiaromatic borole subunit. A previously unconsidered 1-ethynyl-2-dihydro-1H-borole radical (D) is generated as the final product under UV light irradiation. The results presented herein give new insight into the benzene carbon-carbon bond cleavage and rearrangement reactions mediated by a nonmetal and provide a possible route for the construction of heterocyclic borepinyl and borole species via benzene ring opening and rearrangement reactions.

Substituent effects on the electronic structures of sandwich compounds: new understandings provided by DFT-assisted laser ionization spectroscopy of bisarene complexes

Recent advances on substituent effects in transition metal bisarene complexes studied with high-resolution threshold ionization spectroscopy are reviewed to demonstrate new aspects of the ligand influence on electronic structures of sandwich molecules. Unprecedented accuracy in the determination of ionization energies provided by the laser techniques makes it possible to reveal and describe quantitatively such fine phenomena as isotope effects, the mutual substituent influence or variations of substituent effects on replacing the central metal atom with its Group analogues. In combination with DFT calculations, laser ionization spectroscopy unveils mechanisms of the ligand influence on unique redox properties of sandwich complexes which are of key importance for their practical use.

Rydberg state mediated multiphoton ionization of (η7-C7H7)(η5-C5H5)Cr: DFT-supported experimental insights into the molecular and electronic structures of excited sandwich complexes

The first REMPI/DFT study of a mixed sandwich complex reveals fine ligand effects on structural transformations accompanying electronic excitation.

Spectroscopy and formation of lanthanum-hydrocarbon radicals formed by association and carbon-carbon bond cleavage of isoprene

La atom reaction with isoprene is carried out in a laser-vaporization molecular beam source. The reaction yields an adduct as the major product and C-C cleaved and dehydrogenated species as the minor ones. La(C₅H₈), La(C₂H₂), and La(C₃H₄) are characterized with mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy and quantum chemical computations. The MATI spectra of all three species exhibit a strong origin band and several weak vibronic bands corresponding to La-ligand stretch and ligand-based bend excitations. La(C₅H₈) is a five-membered metallacycle, whereas La(C₂H₂) and La(C₃H₄) are three-membered rings. All three metallacycles prefer a doublet ground state with a La 6s¹-based valence electron configuration and a singlet ion. The five-membered metallacycle is formed through La addition and isoprene isomerization, whereas the two three-membered rings are produced by La addition and insertion, hydrogen migration, and carbon-carbon bond cleavage.

Low-Energy Photoelectron Imaging Spectroscopy of Lan(benzene) (n = 1 and 2)

La_n(benzene) (n = 1 and 2) are formed in a pulsed laser-ablation molecular beam source and characterized by low-energy photoelectron imaging spectroscopy. The photoelectron spectrum of La₂(benzene) displays a strong origin band, a short metal-ligand stretching progression, and a weak ring deformation band. Four isomers are considered for La₂(benzene), and the preferred structure is an inverse sandwich with two La atoms residing on the opposite sides of the benzene ring. The ground electronic state of the inverse sandwich is ¹A_1g (D_3d) with (5d_xy,x²-y² + π*)⁴6s² electron configuration. Ionization removes a La-based 6s electron and yields a ²A_1g ion. The spectrum of La(benzene) is similar to the zero-electron kinetic energy spectrum reported previously by our group, although the spectral line width is somewhat broader. The measurement of the photoelectron angular distribution of La(benzene) confirms that the ejected electron has largely a p wave character. The metal-ligand bonding of La₂(benzene) is considerably stronger than that of La(benzene) due to the threefold binding of each La atom in the dilanthanum species and the twofold binding in the monolanthanum complex.

Influences of the propyl group on the van der Waals structures of 4-propylaniline complexes with one and two argon atoms studied by electronic and cationic spectroscopy

4-propylaniline complexes with one and two argon atoms formed in the molecular beam were studied in the first excited electronic state, S1, using resonance enhanced two-photon ionization spectroscopy and in the cation ground state, D0, using mass analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy. The combination of electronic and cationic spectra of the clusters allows two conformations to be identified in both aniline-Ar1 and aniline-Ar2, which are assigned to either the gauche configuration or anti-configuration of 4-propylaniline. The gauche isomer exhibits complex bands shifted 29 cm(-1) and 89 cm(-1) from the S1 origin bands and 83 cm(-1) and 148 cm(-1) from the ionization potential assigned to the Ar1 and Ar2 complexes, respectively. For the anti-rotamer, the corresponding shifts actually become nearly additive, 53 cm(-1) and 109 cm(-1) for the S1 origin bands, and 61 cm(-1) and 125 cm(-1) for the ionization potentials. Ab initio calculations provide insights into the influences of the propyl and amino groups on the positions of the argon atoms within the clusters. In addition, the binding energy of one argon with the gauche isomer of 4-propylaniline has been measured to be 550 ± 5 cm(-1) in the D0 state, 496 ± 5 cm(-1) in the S1 state, and 467 ± 5 cm(-1) in the neutral ground state, S0.

Spectroscopy and structure of the simplest actinide bonds

Understanding the influence of electrons in partially filled f- and d-orbitals on bonding and reactivity is a key issue for actinide chemistry. This question can be investigated by using a combination of well-defined experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. Gas phase spectroscopic data are particularly valuable for the evaluation of theoretical models. Consequently, the primary objectives of our research have been to obtain gas phase spectra for small actinide molecules. To complement the experimental effort, we are investigating the potential for using relativistic ab initio calculations and semiempirical models to predict and interpret the electronic energy level patterns for f-element compounds. Multiple resonance spectroscopy and jet cooling techniques have been used to unravel the complex electronic spectra of Th and U compounds. Recent results for fluorides, sulfides, and nitrides are discussed.

Communication: The ionization spectroscopy of mixed carboxylic acid dimers

We report mass analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy of supersonically cooled gas phase carboxylic complexes with 9-hydroxy-9-fluorenecarboxylic acid (9HFCA), an analog of glycolic acid. The vibrationally resolved cation spectrum for the 9HFCA complex with formic acid allows accurate determination of its ionization potential (IP), 64,374 ± 8 cm(-1). This is 545 cm(-1) smaller than the IP of 9HFCA monomer. The IPs of 9HFCA complexes with acetic acid and benzoic acid shift by -1133 cm(-1) and -1438 cm(-1), respectively. Density functional calculations confirm that Cs symmetry is maintained upon ionization of the 9HFCA monomer and its acid complexes, in contrast to the drastic geometric rearrangement attending ionization in complexes of 9-fluorene carboxylic acid. We suggest that the marginal geometry changes and small IP shifts are primarily due to the collective interactions among one intramolecular and two intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the dimer.

Electron spin multiplicities of transition-metal aromatic radicals and ions: M[C6(CH3)6] and M(+)[(C6(CH3)6] (M = Ti, V, and Co)

Determination of electron spin multiplicities of transition-metal radicals and ions challenges both experimentalists and theoreticians. In this work, we report preferred electron spin states of M[C(6)(CH(3))(6)] and M(+)(C(6)(CH(3))(6)], where M = Ti, V, and Co. The neutral radicals were formed in a supersonic metal cluster beam source, and their masses were measured with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Precise ionization energies of the radicals and metal-ligand stretching frequencies of the ions were measured by pulsed field ionization zero electron kinetic energy spectroscopy. C-H stretching frequencies of the methyl group in the radicals were obtained by infrared-ultraviolet two-photon ionization. Electron spin multiplicities of the radicals and ions were investigated by combining the spectroscopic measurements, density functional theory, and Franck-Condon factor calculations. The preferred spin states are quintet, sextet, and quartet for the neutral Ti, V, and Co radicals, respectively; for the corresponding singly charged cations, they are quartet, quintet, and triplet. In these high-spin states, the aromatic ring remains nearly planar. This finding contrasts to the previous study of Sc(hmbz), for which low-spin states are favored, and the aromatic ring is severely bent.