Allyl Ligand Reactivity in Tantalum(V) Compounds: Experimental and Computational Evidence for Allyl Transfer to the Formamidinate Ligand in fac-Ta(NMe2)3(η1-allyl)[iPrNC(H)NiPr] via a Metallo-Claisen Rearrangement

Evaluating Transition Metal Barrier Heights with the Latest Density Functional Theory Exchange-Correlation Functionals: The MOBH35 Benchmark Database

A new database of transition metal reaction barrier heights (MOBH35) is presented. Benchmark energies (forward and reverse barriers and reaction energy) are calculated using DLPNO-CCSD(T) extrapolated to the complete basis set limit using a Weizmann-1-like scheme. Using these benchmark energies, the performance of a wide selection of density functional theory (DFT) exchange-correlation functionals, including the latest from the Martin, Truhlar, and Head-Gordon groups, is evaluated. It was found, using the def2-TZVPP basis set, that the ωB97M-V (MAD 1.7 kcal/mol), ωB97M-D3BJ (MAD 1.9 kcal/mol), ωB97X-V (MAD 2.0 kcal/mol), and revTPSS0-D4 (MAD 2.2 kcal/mol) hybrid functionals are recommended. The double-hybrid functionals B2K-PLYP (MAD 1.7 kcal/mol) and revDOD-PBEP86-D4 (MAD 1.8 kcal/mol) also performed well, but this has to be balanced by their increased computational cost.

New azido-substituted tantalum compounds: syntheses and DFT examination of nitrogen-rich mono-, di-, and trinuclear tantalum(V) compounds

The syntheses of new tantalum compounds containing an ancillary azido ligand(s) are described. The tantalum compound with the composition Ta(NMe2)4(N3) has been synthesized in high yield from the reaction of TaCl(NMe2)4 with NaN3 in THF. The solid-state structure reveals a dimeric architecture based on Ta2(NMe2)8(μ-N3)2 (), where the eight-membered dimetallocyclic ring possesses a chair-like conformation with bridging azido ligands binding the two Ta(NMe2)4 moieties. Solution molecular weight measurements and electronic structure calculations predict to exist as a monomer at room temperature. reacts with the formamidine (i)PrNC(H)NH(i)Pr to furnish fac-Ta(NMe2)3(η(1)-N3)[(i)PrNC(H)N(i)Pr] () and Me2NH; compound has been characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Treatment of with p-toluidine affords the trinuclear compound Ta3(NMe2)5(μ-NMe2)(μ-NC6H4Me-4)2(NC6H4Me-4)(μ-N3)2(η(1)-N3) (). Compound contains three non-bonded tantalum atoms that are ligated by edge-bridging imido, amido, and azido ligands. The molecular structure of has been determined by X-ray crystallography, and the unprecedented presence of terminal and bridging imido, amido, and azido ligands in a single tantalum compound confirmed. The bonding in has been examined by DFT, and these data are discussed relative to the crystallographic structure. Compounds represent the first structurally characterized examples of heteroleptic tantalum compounds that possess an all-nitrogen coordination sphere with at least one azido ligand.