Exploring chromium (VI) dioxodihalides chemistry: Is density functional theory the most suitable tool?

The performance of semilocal and hybrid density functionals in 3d transition-metal chemistry

We investigate the performance of contemporary semilocal and hybrid density functionals for bond energetics, structures, dipole moments, and harmonic frequencies of 3d transition-metal (TM) compounds by comparison with gas-phase experiments. Special attention is given to the nonempirical metageneralized gradient approximation (meta-GGA) of Tao, Perdew, Staroverov, and Scuseria (TPSS) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 146401 (2003)], which has been implemented in TURBOMOLE for the present work. Trends and error patterns for classes of homologous compounds are analyzed, including dimers, monohydrides, mononitrides, monoxides, monofluorides, polyatomic oxides and halogenides, carbonyls, and complexes with organic pi ligands such as benzene and cyclopentadienyl. Weakly bound systems such as Ca(2), Mn(2), and Zn(2) are discussed. We propose a reference set of reaction energies for benchmark purposes. Our all-electron results with quadruple zeta valence basis sets validate semilocal density-functional theory as the workhorse of computational TM chemistry. Typical errors in bond energies are substantially larger than in (organic) main group chemistry, however. The Becke-Perdew'86 [Phys. Rev. A 38, 3098 (1988); Phys. Rev. B 33, 8822 (1986)] GGA and the TPSS meta-GGA have the best price/performance ratio, while the TPSS hybrid functional achieves a slightly lower mean absolute error in bond energies. The popular Becke three-parameter hybrid B3LYP underbinds significantly and tends to overestimate bond distances; we give a possible explanation for this. We further show that hybrid mixing does not reduce the width of the error distribution on our reference set. The error of a functional for the s-d transfer energy of a TM atom does not predict its error for TM bond energies and bond lengths. For semilocal functionals, self-interaction error in one- and three-electron bonds appears to be a major source of error in TM reaction energies. Nevertheless, TPSS predicts the correct ground-state symmetry in the vast majority of cases and rarely fails qualitatively. This further confirms TPSS as a general purpose functional that works throughout the periodic table. We also give workstation timing comparisons for the 645-atom protein crambin.

A scaled quantum mechanical force field for the sulfuryl halides. I. The symmetric halides SO2X2 (X=F, Cl, Br)

Force fields and vibrational wavenumbers were calculated for the molecules SO2X2 (X=F, Cl, Br) using DFT techniques. The previously available experimental data and assignments for SO2F2 and SO2Cl2 were compared with the theoretical results and revised, and new low temperature infrared and Raman data were obtained for SO2Cl2. These data were subsequently used in the definition of scaled quantum mechanics force fields for such molecules. Adjusted wavenumbers were also predicted for the still unknown SO2Br2. A comparison is made with results published for the VO2X2- anions.

Magnetic coupling and intermetallic electron transfer in the heterodinuclear bioctahedral complexes MW(III)Cl(9)(n-) (M = V(II), Cr(III), Mn(IV)): tweaking the balance between ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate the effect of intermetallic electron transfer on the mode of magnetic coupling in the face-shared bimetallic complexes MWCl(9)(n-) (M = V, Cr, Mn; all with a nominal d(3) valence electronic configuration on each metal atom). These calculations illustrate a simple rule: when the oxidation state of M is lower than that of W, antiferromagnetic coupling is preferred, while ferromagnetism (via crossed exchange pathways) is favored when M has the higher oxidation state. This underlying trend in intermetallic interactions is seen to depend on the interplay among ligand field splitting, spin polarization splitting of alpha- and beta-spin orbitals, and the relative energies of the M and W valence d orbitals, and is mirrored in the results seen in a wider survey of mixed-metal, face-shared complexes.

The reaction of permanganyl chloride with olefins: intermediates and mechanism as derived from matrix-isolation studies and density functional theory calculations

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict that the [2+3] addition of tetramethylethylene (TME) to the MnO2 moiety of MnO3Cl is thermodynamically favoured over [2+1] addition (epoxidation), while the kinetic barriers for both reactions are of comparable height. However, in an experimental investigation of the TME/MnO3Cl system by means of matrix-isolation techniques, selective formation of the epoxidation product [ClO2Mn[O[C(CH3)2]2]] (1) was observed. Compound 1 was characterised by IR spectroscopy with the aid of isotopic-enrich-ment experiments in combination with DFT frequency calculations. This result, at first sight surprising, is supported by studies in solution, and, even with the numerically equal energy barriers suggested by the calculations, it can be rationalised in terms of the much broader reaction channel leading to epoxidation as opposed to the much more narrow approach path for formation of the glycolate.

Mechanisms for the formation of epoxide and chlorine-containing products in the oxidation of ethylene by chromyl chloride: a density functional study

The reaction between CrO2Cl2 and ethylene leading to the formation of epoxide and chlorohydrin precursors or directly to 1,2-dichloroethane has been studied by density functional theory. The formation of the epoxide precursor (Cl2(O)Cr-OC2H4) was found to take place via a [3+2] addition of ethylene to two Cr=O bonds followed by rearrangement of the five-membered diol to the epoxide product. The alternative mechanisms involving a direct addition of oxygen to ethylene or the [2+2] addition of the olefin to a Cr=O bond were found to have much higher activation energies. The formation of the chlorohydrin precursor (Cl(O)Cr-OCH2=CHCl) was found to take place via a [3+2] addition to one Cr—Cl and one Cr=O bond. Pathways involving initial [2+2] addition to a Cr—Cl or Cr=O bond had much higher activation barriers. The generation of 1,2-dichloroethane is highly unfavorable with an endothermicity of 44.7 kcal/mol and an even higher activation barrier. It is suggested that the formation of epoxide and chlorohydrin from the respective precursors requires the addition of H2O.Key words: reaction mechanisms, epoxide, oxidation of ethylene, chromyl chloride, DFT.

Reactive Intermediates in Olefin Oxidations with Chromyl Chloride. IR-Spectroscopic Proof for O=CrCl(2)-Epoxide Complexes

After photolytic induction (411 nm) of the reaction between chromyl chloride and olefins in low-temperature matrixes, for the first time primary products of this system have been isolated and identified: the reaction of propylene yields O=CrCl(2).O=CHCH(2)CH(3) and while in the case of trans- and cis-2-butylene, OCrCl(2).O=C(CH(3))(CH(2)CH(3)) as well as OCrCl(2).(trans-2,3-butylene oxide) and OCrCl(2).(cis-2,3-butylene oxide) are obtained, respectively. Epoxide formation proceeds under complete retention of stereochemistry, and the regioselective reaction route leading to the carbonyl products can be suppressed if all hydrogen atoms at the olefinic bond are substituted: tetramethylethylene is selectively oxidized to tetramethylethylene oxide, which forms a complex with OCrCl(2). All products were characterized by IR spectroscopy, which was further supported by DFT calculations in certain cases. The mechanism leading to the formation of these products, their electronic states, and the implications of the matrix results on the thermal reactions of chromyl chloride are discussed.