CAl3X (X = B/Al/Ga/In/Tl) with 16 valence electrons: can planar tetracoordinate carbon be stable?

Eco-Friendly Piper cubeba Official Extract Corrosion Inhibition of C-Steel in 1 M Sulfamic Acid

This work offers a high-performing, environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 M sulfamic acid (H2NSO3H). Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate the anticorrosion properties of Pipper cubeba official extract (P.cubebaOE) for carbon steel in 1 M H2NSO3H at 25 to 45 °C. At a temperature of 45 °C, the P.cubebaOE reached a maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency of 96%. P.cubebaOE was also subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in order to ascertain its primary chemical composition. Additionally, the behavior of P.cubebaOE in terms of corrosion inhibition on carbon steel was examined at the microscopic level using scanning electron microscopy. The findings demonstrate that P.cubebaOE's adsorption type on carbon steel conforms to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Based on the adsorption isotherm model, the free energy was estimated to be approximately -20.0 kJ/mol, suggesting that P.cubebaOE is physically adsorbing on the surface of carbon steel. The results of the density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations show that P.cubebaOE exhibits excellent inhibition performance on carbon steel in H2NSO3H solution and are consistent with the electrochemical experimental results. This work offers significant information on the development of environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel.

CBe2 H5 - : Unprecedented 2σ/2π Double Aromaticity and Dynamic Structural Fluxionality in a Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Cluster

A 14-electron ternary anionic CBe2 H5 - cluster containing a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) atom is designed herein. Remarkably, it can be stabilized by only two beryllium atoms with both π-acceptor/σ-donor properties and two hydrogen atoms, which means that the conversion from planar methane (transition state) to ptC species (global minimum) requires the substitution of only two hydrogen atoms. Moreover, two ligand H atoms exhibit alternate rotation, giving rise to interesting dynamic fluxionality in this cluster. The electronic structure analysis reveals the flexible bonding positions of ligand H atoms due to C-H localized bonds, highlighting the rotational fluxionality in the cluster, and two CBe2 3c-2e delocalized bonds endow its rare 2σ/2π double aromaticity. Unprecedentedly, the fluxional process exhibits a conversion in the type of bonding (σ bond↔π bond), which is an uncommon fluxional mechanism. The cluster can be seen as an attempt to apply planar hypercoordinate carbon species to molecular motors.

18-valence-electron rule lighted planar tetracoordinate carbon and nitrogen: the global energy minima of CAl4Zn and NAl4Zn. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023;25:4211-4215. [PMID: 36655923 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04743h]

The exploration of planar hypercoordinate carbon (phC) is challenging and significant. It is often puzzling to chemists whether the designed phC species should satisfy the 18-valence-electron rule, an authoritative rule in the phC field. In this study, we introduced a zinc atom into the extremely unstable 16-valence-electron planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) species CAl₄ and its isoelectronic structure NAl₄⁺ with a planar tetracoordinate nitrogen (ptN), and designed the 18-valence-electron CAl₄Zn and NAl₄Zn⁺ possessing a ptC and ptN, respectively. The thermodynamic results indicate that the ptC/N species CAl₄Zn and NAl₄Zn⁺ are the global energy minima, and also showed that the 18-valence-electron rule is more appropriate in designing ptC/N species having the CAl₄ and NAl₄⁺ skeletons, compared with the 16-valence-electron rule. Simultaneously, the BOMD simulations found that CAl₄Zn is dynamically stable. Although NAl₄Zn⁺ was isomerized at 298 and 500 K, it is dynamically viable. The excellent stability may be explained by the perfect electronic structure. First, the HOMO-LUMO gaps became much wider after the introduction of the Zn atom. Second, AdNDP analysis indicated that the introduction of the Zn atom promoted the formation of peripheral Al-Al and Al-Zn covalent bonds, providing a stable and comfortable bonding environment for ptC/N. In addition, the σ and π double aromaticity further stabilized the ptC/N species. Hence, as dynamic global energy minima display σ and π double aromaticity, the ptC/N species CAl₄Zn and NAl₄Zn⁺ are promising in gas phase generation.

Structure and Bonding in Planar Hypercoordinate Carbon Compounds

The term hypercoordination refers to the extent of the coordination of an element by its normal value. In the hypercoordination sphere, the element can achieve planar and/or non-planar molecular shape. Hence, planar hypercoordinate carbon species violate two structural rules: (i) The highest coordination number of carbon is four and (ii) the tetrahedral orientation by the connected elements and/or groups. The unusual planar orientations are mostly stabilized by the electronic interactions of the central atom with the surrounding ligands. In this review article, we will talk about the current progress in the theoretical prediction of viable planar hypercoordinate carbon compounds. Primary knowledge of the planar hypercoordinate chemistry will lead to its forthcoming expansion. Experimental and theoretical interests in planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC), planar pentacoordinate carbon (ppC), and planar hexacoordinate carbon (phC) are continued. The proposed electronic and mechanical strategies are helpful for the designing of the ptC compounds. Moreover, the 18-valence electron rule can guide the design of new ptC clusters computationally as well as experimentally. However, the counting of 18-valence electrons is not a requisite condition to contain a ptC in a cluster. Furthermore, this ptC idea is expanded to the probability of a greater coordination number of carbon in planar orientations. Unfortunately, until now, there are no such logical approaches to designing ppC, phC, or higher-coordinate carbon molecules/ions. There exist a few global minimum structures of phC clusters identified computationally, but none have been detected experimentally. All planar hypercoordinate carbon species in the global minima may be feasible in the gas phase.

Pentacoordinate Carbon Atoms in a Ferrocene Dication Derivative—[Fe(Si2-η5-C5H2)2]2+

Pentacoordinate carbon atoms are theoretically predicted here in a ferrocene dication derivative in the eclipsed-(1; C2v), gauche-(2; C2) and staggered-[Fe(Si2-η5-C5H2)2]2+(3; C2h) forms for the first time. Energetically, the relative energy gaps for 2 and 3 range from −3.06 to 16.74 and −2.78 to 40.34 kJ mol−1, respectively, when compared to the singlet electronic state of 1 at different levels. The planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) atom in the ligand Si2C5H2 becomes a pentacoordinate carbon upon complexation. The ligand with a ptC atom was predicted to be both a thermodynamically and kinetically stable molecule by some of us in our earlier theoretical works. Natural bond orbital and adaptive natural density partitioning analyses confirm the pentacoordinate nature of carbon in these three complexes (1–3). Although they are hypothetical at the moment, they support the idea of “hypercoordinate metallocenes” within organometallic chemistry. Moreover, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations carried out at 298 K temperature for 2000 fs suggest that these molecules are kinetically stable.

Ternary CE2Ba2 (E = As, Sb) Clusters: New Pentaatomic Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Species with 18 Valence Electrons

18-valence-electron (ve) rule is one important guide for us to design planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) species. Using the "polarization of ligands" strategy, the new pentaatomic ptC species CE₂Ba₂ (E = As, Sb) with 18 ve are designed in this work. Computer structural searches and high-level calculations reveal that the ptC CE₂Ba₂ (E = As, Sb) species are global minima (GMs) on the potential energy surfaces, whose C center is coordinated by the interspaced E and Ba atoms. CE₂Ba₂ (E = As, Sb) are also kinetically stable. Chemical bonding analyses reveal that the ptC core is stabilized by two localized C-E σ bonds, one delocalized five-center two-electron (5c-2e) σ bond and one delocalized 5c-2e π bond. One π and three σ bonds collectively conform to the 8-electron counting, which determines the stability of ptC CE₂Ba₂ (E = As, Sb) species. Interestingly, the delocalized 2π and 2σ electrons render the ptC systems π/σ double aromaticity. Additional 10 electrons contribute to peripheral lone pairs of E and E-Ba bonding.

CSinGe4-n2+ (n = 1-3): prospective systems containing planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC)

Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations have been carried out to explore the potential energy surface (PES) of CSi_nGe_4-n^2+/+/0 (n = 1-3) systems. The global minimum structures in the di-cationic states (1a, 1b, and 1c) contain a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC). For the CSi₂Ge₂²⁺ system, the second stable isomer (2b) also contains a ptC with 0.67 kcal mol^-1 higher energy than that of the 1b ptC isomer. The global minima of the neutral and mono-cationic states of the designed systems are not planar. The 1a, 1b, and 1c structures follow the 18 valence electron rule. The relative energies of the low-lying isomers of CSiGe₃²⁺, CSi₂Ge₂²⁺, and CSi₃Ge²⁺ systems with respect to the global minima were calculated using the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ method. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for 50 ps time indicate that all the global minimum structures (1a, 1b, and 1c) are kinetically stable at 300 K and 500 K temperatures. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis suggests strong σ-acceptance of the ptC from the four surrounding atoms and simultaneously π-donation occurs from the ptC center. The nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) showed σ/π-dual aromaticity. We hope that the designed di-cationic systems may be viable in the gas phase.

From Molecules with a Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon to an Astronomically Known C5H2 Carbene

Ethynylcyclopropenylidene (2), an isomer of C₅H₂, is a known molecule in the laboratory and has recently been identified in Taurus Molecular Cloud-1 (TMC-1). Using high-level coupled-cluster methods up to the CCSDT(Q)/CBS level of theory, it is shown that two isomers of C₅H₂ with a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) atom, (SP-4)-spiro[2.2]pent-1,4-dien-1,4-diyl (11) and (SP-4)-spiro[2.2]pent-1,4-dien-1,5-diyl (13), serve as the reactive intermediates for the formation of 2. Here, a theoretical connection has been established between molecules containing ptC atoms (11 and 13) and a molecule (2) that is present nearly 430 light years away, thus providing evidence for the existence of ptC species in the interstellar medium. The reaction pathways connecting the transition states and the reactants and products have been confirmed by intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations at the CCSDT(Q)/CBS//B3LYP-D3BJ/cc-pVTZ level. While isomer 11 is non-polar (μ = 0), isomers 2 and 13 are polar, with dipole moment values of 3.52 and 5.17 Debye at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level. Therefore, 13 is also a suitable candidate for both laboratory and radioastronomical studies.

CSiGaAl2 -/0 and CGeGaAl2 -/0 having planar tetracoordinate carbon atoms in their global minimum energy structures

Density functional theory (DFT) is used to explore the structure, stability, and bonding in CSiGaAl₂ ^-/0 and CGeGaAl₂ ^-/0 systems having planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC). The neutral systems have 17 valence electrons and the mono-anionic systems have 18 valence electrons. The ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for 2000 fs time at two different temperatures (300 and 500 K) supported the kinetic stability of the systems. From the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis it is shown that there is a strong electron donation from the ligand atoms to the ptC atom. We have used Li⁺ ion for the neutralization of the mono-anionic systems and more interestingly it does not disrupt the planar structure. The most preferable site for binding of Li⁺ ion is along the AlAl bond in both of the mono-anionic systems. All the systems in this work have both σ and π aromaticity which is predicted from the computations of nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS). Although the anionic species obey the 18 valence electronic rule, the neutral systems break the rule with 17 valence electrons. However, both sets of systems are stable in the planar form. The bonding analysis of the systems includes molecular orbital, adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), electron localization function (ELF) basin, and aromaticity analyses. The energy decomposition analysis (EDA) determines the interaction of Li⁺ ion with CSiGaAl₂ ^- and CGeGaAl₂ ^- in Li@SiGaAl₂ and Li@GeGaAl₂ , respectively.

Ternary 14-electron XB2Be2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters: a planar tetracoordinate silicon (ptSi) system and its ptGe/Sn/Pb congeners

A class of ternary 14-electron clusters, XB₂Be₂ (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb), have been computationally predicted with a planar tetracoordinate silicon (ptSi) unit, as well as its heavier ptGe/Sn/Pb congeners. These pentaatomic ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb species are established as global-minimum structures via computer global searches, followed by electronic structure calculations at the PBE0-D3, B3LYP-D3, and single-point CCSD(T) levels. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that they are also kinetically stable against isomerization or decomposition. Chemical bonding analyses show that the clusters have double 2π/2σ aromaticity. The latter concept underlies the stability of ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb clusters, overriding the 14-electron count or its variants, such as the 18-electron rule. No sp³ hybridization occurs in these species, which naturally explains why they are ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb (rather than traditional tetrahedral) systems.

BAl4Mg−/0/+: Global Minima with a Planar Tetracoordinate or Hypercoordinate Boron Atom

We have explored the chemical space of BAl4Mg−/0/+ for the first time and theoretically characterized several isomers with interesting bonding patterns. We have used chemical intuition and a cluster building method based on the tabu-search algorithm implemented in the Python program for aggregation and reaction (PyAR) to obtain the maximum number of possible stationary points. The global minimum geometries for the anion (1a) and cation (1c) contain a planar tetracoordinate boron (ptB) atom, whereas the global minimum geometry for the neutral (1n) exhibits a planar pentacoordinate boron (ppB) atom. The low-lying isomers of the anion (2a) and cation (3c) also contain a ppB atom. The low-lying isomer of the neutral (2n) exhibits a ptB atom. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations carried out at 298 K for 2000 fs suggest that all isomers are kinetically stable, except the cation 3c. Simulations carried out at low temperatures (100 and 200 K) for 2000 fs predict that even 3c is kinetically stable, which contains a ppB atom. Various bonding analyses (NBO, AdNDP, AIM, etc.) are carried out for these six different geometries of BAl4Mg−/0/+ to understand the bonding patterns. Based on these results, we conclude that ptB/ppB scenarios are prevalent in these systems. Compared to the carbon counter-part, CAl4Mg−, here the anion (BAl4Mg−) obeys the 18 valence electron rule, as B has one electron fewer than C. However, the neutral and cation species break the rule with 17 and 16 valence electrons, respectively. The electron affinity (EA) of BAl4Mg is slightly higher (2.15 eV) than the electron affinity of CAl4Mg (2.05 eV). Based on the EA value, it is believed that these molecules can be identified in the gas phase. All the ptB/ppB isomers exhibit π/σ double aromaticity. Energy decomposition analysis predicts that the interaction between BAl4−/0/+ and Mg is ionic in all these six systems.

Globally stabilized bent carbon-carbon triple bond by hydrogen-free inorganic-metallic scaffolding Al4F6

For over 100 years, known bent C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C compounds have been limited to those with organic (I) and all-carbon (II) scaffoldings. Here, we computationally report a novel type (III) of bent C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C compound, i.e., C2Al4F6-01, which is the energetically global minimum isomer and bears an inorganic-metallic scaffolding and unexpected click reactivity.

A sixteen-valence-electron carbon-group 13 family with global penta-atomic planar tetracoordinate carbon: an ionic strategy

The design of planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) has always been a challenge due to its unique bonding mode that necessitates the perfect balance between the carbon center and surrounding ligands both electronically and mechanically. A unique type of 18-valence-electron (18ve) template, i.e., CAl42-, has been found to be very effective in designing various novel 18ve-species upon skeletal substitution. In this work, we showed that though ptC is not the global structure for the parent 16ve-CAl4, suitable skeletal substitution can allow for a series of global minimum ptC species. Theoretical calculations at the level of CCSD(T)/def2-QZVP//B3LYP/def2-QZVP for 35 carbon-group 13 systems with 16-ve, i.e., CXaYbZcKd (X, Y, Z, K = Al/Ga/In/Tl; 0 ≤ a, b, c, d ≤ 4, a + b + c + d = 4), showed that 9 systems (CAl3Tl, CGa3Tl, CGa2Tl2, CAl2GaTl, CAl2InTl, CGa2InTl, CAlGa2Tl, CGa2InTl and CAlGaInTl) possess global minimum ptC and 2 systems (CAl3In and CAl2Tl2) have quasi-GM ptC. Except for CAl3Tl and CAl3In, all the ptCs were predicted for the first time. All these stable ptC structures have the same skeleton and can be described as the same ionic sub-structure, i.e., [A-]B+. This study not only enriches 16ve-ptC, but also directly demonstrates that utilizing an ionic strategy, non-ptC CAl4 also can be used as a template to extend the ptC family.

Mono-silicon isoelectronic replacement in CAl4 : van't hoff/le bel carbon or not?

In cluster studies, the isoelectronic replacement strategy has been successfully used to introduce new elements into a known structure while maintaining the desired topology. The well-known penta-atomic 18 valence electron (ve) species C Al 4 2 - and its Al^- /Si or Al/Si⁺ isoelectronically replaced clusters CAl₃ Si^- , CAl₂ Si₂ , C AlSi 3 - , and C Si 4 2 + , all possess the same anti-van't Hoff/Le Bel skeletons, that is, nontraditional planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) structure. In this article, however, we found that such isoelectronic replacement between Si and Al does not work for the 16ve-CAl₄ with the traditional van't Hoff/Le Bel tetrahedral carbon (thC) and its isoelectronic derivatives CAl₃ X (X = Ga/In/Tl). At the level of CCSD(T)/def2-QZVP//B3LYP/def2-QZVP, none of the global minima of the 16ve mono-Si-containing clusters CAl₂ SiX⁺ (X = Al/Ga/In/Tl) maintains thC as the parent CAl₄ does. Instead, X = Al/Ga globally favors an unusual ptC structure that has one long C─X distance yet with significant bond index value, and X = In/Tl prefers the planar tricoordinate carbon. The frustrated formation of thC in these clusters is ascribed to the CSi bonding that prefers a planar fashion. Inclusion of chloride ion would further stabilize the ptC of CAl₂ SiAl⁺ and CAl₂ SiGa⁺ . The unexpectedly disclosed CAl₂ SiAl⁺ and CAl₂ SiGa⁺ represent the first type of 16ve-cationic ptCs with multiple bonds. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Planar tetracoordinate carbon molecules with 14 valence electrons: examples of CBe4Mnn−2 (M = Li, Au; n = 1–3) clusters

Planar tetracoordinate carbon species are viable with 14 valence electrons, which violate the 18-electron rule. Chemical bonding around the C center is governed by double 2π/6σ aromaticity.

CLiAl2E and CLi2AlE (E = P, As, Sb, Bi): Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Clusters with 16 and 14 Valence Electrons

The strategy to remove the lone pairs of ligands combined with the bonding similarity between Li and Al have been utilized to design new planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) species C 2v CLiAl2E and CLi2AlE based on ptC global minima CAl3E (E = P, As, Sb, Bi) clusters. The explorations of potential energy surfaces and high-level CCSD(T) calculations indicate that these planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) species with 16 and 14 valence electrons (ve) are the global minima except for CLiAl2P. Bonding analyses reveal that there is one π and three σ bonds between C and ligands, one delocalized σ bond between the peripheral ligands, and three/two lone pairs for CLiAl2E and CLi2AlE (E = P, As, Sb, Bi). Especially, the C=E double bonds are crucial for the stabilities of these ptC clusters. The ptC core is governed by 2π + 6σ bonding, which conforms to the 8-electron counting. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations reveal that CLiAl2E and CLi2AlE (E = P, As, Sb, Bi) clusters are robust against isomerization and decomposition. The results obtained in this work complete the series of ptC CLi n Al3-n E (E = P, As, Sb, Bi; n = 0-3) systems and 18ve, 16ve, 14ve, and 12ve counting.

Predicting viable isomers of [X,C,N] and [H,X,C,N] (X = Sn, Pb)

Metal cyanide/isocyanide and hydrometal cyanide/isocyanide compounds are key metal-carriers in interstellar space. Lighter group 14 elements (X = C/Si/Ge) cyanides/isocyanides and hydrocyanides/hydroisocyanides have been studied theoretically and experimentally. However, no reports are available on the analogues of tin (Sn) and lead (Pb). In this work, we carried out the first theoretical study on the structures and stabilities of [X,C,N] and [H,X,C,N] (X = Sn/Pb) at the CCSD(T)/def2-QZVPP//B3LYP/def2-QZVPP level. Comparisons were made with the lower analogues (X = C/Si/Ge) concerning the structural, energetic and bonding properties. Significantly different from that of c-C₂N, a dative-bonded valence structure of c-XCN for heavier X was revealed for the first time, which can account for the rather worse kinetic stability of cyclic [X,C,N] for heavier X = Si/Ge. A unique kind of agostic bonding was found within three isomers of [H,Pb,C,N], whereas it is absent for X = C/Si/Ge/Sn. The computed structural and spectroscopic data could aid future laboratory and astrophysical detection of the [X,C,N] and [H,X,C,N] (X = Sn/Pb) isomers.

Two new metal cyanide/isocyanide and hydrometal cyanide/isocyanide compounds of Sn and Pb were studied to assist their interstellar detection.

Ternary 12-electron CBe3X3+ (X = H, Li, Na, Cu, Ag) clusters: planar tetracoordinate carbons and superalkali cations

Molecules with planar tetracoordinate carbons (ptCs) are exotic in chemical bonding, and they are normally designed according to the 18-electron rule. Here we report on the viability of ptC clusters with as few as 12 valence electrons, which represent the lower limit in terms of electron counting. Specifically, we have computationally designed a class of ternary 12-electron ptC clusters, CBe3X3+ (X = H, Li, Na, Cu, Ag), based on a rhombic CBe32- unit. Computer structural searches reveal that the ptC species are global minima, whose C center is coordinated in-plane by three Be atoms and a terminal X atom via robust C-Be/C-X bonding, either covalent or ionic. The other two X atoms are on the periphery and each bridge two Be atoms. Bonding analyses show that the ptC core is governed by delocalized 2π/6σ bonding, that is, double π/σ aromaticity, which collectively conforms to the 8-electron counting. Additional 4 electrons contribute to peripheral Be-X-Be and Be-Be σ bonding. The delocalized 2π/6σ frameworks appear to be universal for all ptC clusters, ranging from 18-electron down to 12-electron systems. In other words, the ptC species are dictated entirely by the 8-electron counting. Predicted vertical electron affinities of these ptC clusters range from 3.13 to 5.48 eV, indicative of superalkali or pseudoalkali cations.

New global minima of 6-vertex dicarboranes: classical but unexpected

Dicarboranes generally adopt global minimum predicted by the well-known Wade-Mingos rules, although one classical non-closo structure in the benzvalene form has long been pursued and later synthesized. Here we predicted two new non-closo global minima for 6-vertex dicarboranes (C2B4R6), i.e., trigonal bipyramid (R = SH) and butterfly (R = Cl, NH2, OH, F). The long expected classical benzvalene-like structure, however, is not the global minimum for any of the nine substituents.

Carbon rings decorated with group 14 elements: new aromatic clusters containing planar tetracoordinate carbon

A simple and chemically intuitive approach is used to design ptC-containing E–C clusters (E = Si–Pb).