29Si NMR Spectroscopy as a Probe of s- and f-Block Metal(II)-Silanide Bond Covalency

We report the use of ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations combined to benchmark the covalency in the chemical bonding of s- and f-block metal-silicon bonds. The complexes [M(Si^tBu₃)₂(THF)₂(THF)_x] (1-M: M = Mg, Ca, Yb, x = 0; M = Sm, Eu, x = 1) and [M(Si^tBu₂Me)₂(THF)₂(THF)_x] (2-M: M = Mg, x = 0; M = Ca, Sm, Eu, Yb, x = 1) have been synthesized and characterized. DFT calculations and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopic analyses of 1-M and 2-M (M = Mg, Ca, Yb, No, the last in silico due to experimental unavailability) together with known {Si(SiMe₃)₃}^--, {Si(SiMe₂H)₃}^--, and {SiPh₃}^--substituted analogues provide 20 representative examples spanning five silanide ligands and four divalent metals, revealing that the metal-bound ²⁹Si NMR isotropic chemical shifts, δ_Si, span a wide (∼225 ppm) range when the metal is kept constant, and direct, linear correlations are found between δ_Si and computed delocalization indices and quantum chemical topology interatomic exchange-correlation energies that are measures of bond covalency. The calculations reveal dominant s- and d-orbital character in the bonding of these silanide complexes, with no significant f-orbital contributions. The δ_Si is determined, relatively, by paramagnetic shielding for a given metal when the silanide is varied but by the spin-orbit shielding term when the metal is varied for a given ligand. The calculations suggest a covalency ordering of No(II) > Yb(II) > Ca(II) ≈ Mg(II), challenging the traditional view of late actinide chemical bonding being equivalent to that of the late lanthanides.

Comprehensive Benchmark Study on the Calculation of 29Si NMR Chemical Shifts

A comprehensive and diverse benchmark set for the calculation of ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts is presented. The SiS146 set includes 100 silicon containing compounds with 146 experimentally determined reference ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts measured in nine different solvents in a range from -400 to +828 ppm. Silicon atoms bound to main group elements as well as transition metals with coordination numbers of 2-6 in various bonding patterns including multiple bonds and coordinative and aromatic bonding are represented. The performance of various common and specialized density functional approximations including (meta-)GGA, hybrid, and double-hybrid functionals in combination with different AO basis sets and for differently optimized geometries is evaluated. The role of scalar-relativistic effects is further investigated by inclusion of the zeroth order regular approximation (ZORA) method into the calculations. GGA density functional approximations (DFAs) are found to outperform hybrid DFAs with B97-D3 performing best with an MAD of 7.2 ppm for the subset including only light atoms (Z < 18), while TPSSh is the best tested hybrid functional with an MAD of 10.3 ppm. For ²⁹Si cores in the vicinity of heavier atoms, the application of ZORA proved indispensable. Inclusion of spin-orbit effects into the ²⁹Si NMR chemical shift calculation decreases the mean absolute deviations by up to 74% compared to calculations applying effective core potentials.

1H, 13C and 29Si magnetic shielding in gaseous and liquid tetramethylsilane

Tetramethylsilane (TMS) is well-known as a reference standard of ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts. In the present study, we have observed TMS molecules in gaseous and liquid solutions. In the gas phase, the shielding parameters of TMS are monitored as the functions of density when xenon and krypton are applied as the buffer gases. It permits the evaluation of shielding in an isolated TMS molecule which is determined from the measurements of frequency and available nuclear magnetic moments. Having the shielding constants of an isolated TMS molecule, it is possible to proceed with the evaluation of ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si TMS shielding in liquid state, which is extremely useful for the complete referencing of NMR spectra for protons, carbon-13 and silicon-29 nuclei. Consequently, the readings of chemical shifts and shielding parameters can be practically performed in the same experiment.

Origin of the 29Si NMR chemical shift in R3Si–X and relationship to the formation of silylium (R3Si+) ions

The origin in deshielding of ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts in R₃Si–X, where X = H, OMe, Cl, OTf, [CH₆B₁₁X₆], toluene, and O_X (O_X = surface oxygen), as well as ⁱPr₃Si⁺ and Mes₃Si⁺ were studied using DFT methods.

Spectroscopic characterization of silica aerogels prepared using several precursors – effect on the formation of molecular clusters

The structural and spectroscopic properties of silica aerogels were studied using complementary approaches, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Analysis of the hypersensitivity of the (29)Si NMR chemical shift of the pentacoordinate silicon compounds to the temperature effect. N-(Silylmethyl)acetamides

Theoretical investigation of the phenomenon of hypersensitivity of the (29)Si NMR chemical shift, δ, in the pentacoordinate silicon compounds to the temperature effect has been performed by the example of N-(silylmethyl)acetamides MeC(O)NMeCH2SiX3 (X = Me, 1; OMe, 2; F, 3) and MeC(O)NMeCH2SiMe2F (4) with the use of experimental dynamic NMR (DNMR) (29)Si data. It is based on the following: (i) the analysis of the potential energy surface of molecules 1-4 in polar solvents and the energetics of interconversion between their possible isomeric forms; (ii) the calculations of δ at different temperatures taking into account the dependence of the dielectric constant (ε) of the medium on T, and (iii) the isolation of dynamic, geometrical, and polar contributions to the temperature drift of δ. The results obtained allowed us to give a consistent explanation of the DNMR (29)Si spectra of acetamides 1-4 and to elucidate the nature of an unusual effect of T on δ.