the origin of the enhanced activity of the π-acceptor phosphinine ligand

The factors governing the activity in Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation were investigated using a set of computational tools. We performed DFT calculations on the phosphinine-modified Rh catalyst [HRh(CO)3(PC5H2R3)] and compared it to the phosphane-modified HRh(CO)3(PR3) and HRh(CO)2(PR3)2 complexes. The π-acceptor phosphinine ligand coordinates preferentially at the equatorial site of the pentacoordinated Rh complex with the heterocycle perpendicular to the equatorial plane, although the ligand freely rotates around the Rh–P bond. The overall energy barrier can be divided into the following contributions: alkene complex formation, alkene rotation and alkene insertion. In the absence of steric effects (model systems), the overall barrier correlates with the computed barrier for alkene rotation. This proves that π-acceptor ligands reduce back-donation to the alkene, leading to a lower rotational barrier and, consequently, to a higher activity. The Rh–P donor–acceptor interactions were quantified using a modified version of energy decomposition analysis (EDA). In Rh–phosphinine systems, the efficient directionality of the π-back-donation, rather than the overall acceptor ability, is responsible for the high catalytic activity. Introducing steric effects increases the energy required to coordinate the alkene, increasing the overall barrier. The factors governing the activity in Rh–monophosphane catalysts seem to be related to those derived for Rh–diphosphane during the development of a QSAR model (Catal. Sci. Technol. 2012, 2, 1694). To investigate whether the findings for mono- can be extrapolated to diphosphane ligands, we re-examined our previous QSAR model using the Topological Maximum Cross Correlation (TMACC) method based on easy-to-interpret 2D-descriptors. The TMACC descriptors highlight heteroatoms close to phosphorus as activity-increasing atoms, whereas highly substituted carbon atom groups are highlighted as activity-decreasing groups

Lewis Base Behavior of Bridging Nitrido Ligands of Titanium Polynuclear Complexes

The Lewis base behavior of mu(3)-nitrido ligands of the polynuclear titanium complexes [{Ti(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(mu-NH)}(3)(mu(3)-N)] (1) and [{Ti(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}(4)-(mu(3)-N)(4)] (2) to MX Lewis acids has been observed for the first time. Complex 1 entraps one equivalent of copper(I) halide or copper(I) trifluorornethanesulfonate through the basal NH imido groups to give cube-type adducts [XCu{(mu(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(mu(3)-N)}] (X=Cl (3), Br (4), I (5), OSO(2)CF(3) (6)). However, the treatment of 1 with an excess (>= 2 equiv) of copper reagents afforded complexes [XCu{(mu(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(mu(4)-N)(CuX)}] (X=Cl (7), Br (8), I (9) OSO(2)CF(3) (10)) by incorporation of an additional CuX fragment Lit the mu(3)-N nitrido apical group. Similarly, the tetranuclear cube-type nitrido derivative 2 is capable of incorporating one, two, or up to three CuX units at the mu(3)-N ligands to give complexes [{Ti(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}(4)(mu(3)-N)(4-n)-{(mu(4)-N)CuX}(n)] (X=Br (11), n=1; X=Cl (12) n=2; X=OSO(2)CF(3) (13), n=3). Compound 2 also reacts with silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfortate (>= 1 equiv) to give the adduct [{Ti(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))}(4)(mu(3)-N)(3){(mu(4)-N)AgOSO(2)CF(3)}] (14). X-ray crystal structure determinations have been performed for complexes 8-13. Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to understand the nature and strength of the interactions of [{Ti(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(mu-NH)}(3)(mu(3)-N)] (1') and [{Ti(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))}(4)-(mu(3)-N)(4)] (2') model complexes with copper and silver MX fragments. Although coordination through the three basal NH imido groups is thermodynamically preferred in the case of V, in both complexes the mu(3)-nitrido groups act as two-electron donor Lewis bases to the appropriate Lewis acids.MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN Y CIENCIA, COMUNIDAD DE MADRID, UNIVERSIDAD DE ALCALÁ, GENERALITAT DE CATALUNY

A Bridging bis-Allyl Titanium Complex: Mechanistic Insights into the Electronic Structure and Reactivity

Treatment of the dinuclear compound [{Ti(η5-C5Me5)Cl2}2(μ-O)] with allylmagnesium chloride provides the formation of the allyltitanium(III) derivative [{Ti(η5-C5Me5)(μ-C3H5)}2(μ-O)] (1), structurally identified by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the electronic structure of 1 is a singlet state, and the molecular orbital analysis, along with the short Ti −Ti distance, reveal the presence of a metal −metal single bond between the two Ti(III) centers. Complex 1 reacts rapidly with organic azides, RN3 (R = Ph, SiMe3), to yield the allyl μ-imido derivatives [{Ti(η5-C5Me5)(CH2CH=CH2)}2(μ-NR)(μ-O)] [R = Ph(2), SiMe3(3)] along with molecular nitrogen release. Reaction of 2 and 3 with H2 leads to the μ-imido propyl species [{Ti(η5-C5Me5)(CH2CH2CH3)}2(μ-NR)(μ-O)] [R = Ph(4), SiMe3(5)]. Theoretical calculations were used to gain insight into the hydrogenation mechanism of complex 3 and rationalize the lower reactivity of 2. Initially, the μ-imido bridging group in these complexes activates the H2 molecule via addition to the Ti −N bonds. Subsequently, the titanium hydride intermediates induce a change in hapticity of the allyl ligands, and the nucleophilic attack of the hydride to the allyl groups leads to metallacyclopropane intermediates. Finally, the proton transfer from the amido group to the metallacyclopropane moieties affords the propyl complexes 4 and 5.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades Universidad de Alcalá Generalitat de Cataluny

Reductive Hydrogenation of Sulfido-Bridged Tantalum Alkyl Complexes: A Mechanistic Insight

Hydrogenolysis of a series of alkyl sulfido-bridged tantalum(IV) dinuclear complexes [Ta(?5-C5Me5)R(?-S)]2 [R = Me, nBu (1), Et, CH2SiMe3, C3H5, Ph, CH2Ph (2), p-MeC6H4CH2 (3)] has led quantitatively to the Ta(III) tetrametallic sulfide cluster [Ta(?5-C5Me5)(?3-S)]4 (4) along with the corresponding alkane. Mechanistic information for the formation of the unique low-valent tetrametallic compound 4 was gathered by hydrogenation of the phenyl-substituted precursor [Ta(?5-C5Me5)Ph(?- S)]2, which proceeds through a stepwise hydrogenation process, disclosing the formation of the intermediate tetranuclear hydride sulfide [Ta2(?5-C5Me5)2(H)Ph(?-S)(?3-S)]2 (5). Extending our studies toward tantalum alkyl precursors containing functional groups susceptible to hydrogenation, such as the allyl-and benzylsubstituted compounds [Ta(?5-C5Me5)(?3-C3H5)(?-S)]2 and [Ta(?5-C5Me5)(CH2Ph)(?-S)]2 (2), enables alternative reaction pathways en route to the formation of 4. In the former case, the dimetallic system undergoes selective hydrogenation of the unsaturated allyl moiety, forming the asymmetric complex [{Ta(?5-C5Me5)(?3-C3H5)}(?-S)2{Ta(?5-C5Me5)(C3H7)}] (6) with only one propyl fragment. Species 2, in addition to the hydrogenation of one benzyl fragment and concomitant toluene release, also undergoes partial hydrogenation and dearomatization of the phenyl ring on the vicinal benzyl unity to give a ?5-cyclohexadienyl complex [Ta2(?5-C5Me5)2(?-CH2C6H6)(?-S)2] (7). The mechanistic implications of the latter hydrogenation process are discussed by means of DFT calculationsComunidad de MadridUniversidad de AlcaláPrograma Estímulo a la Investigación de Jóvenes Investigadore

Correction: Core-substituted naphthalenediimides anchored on BiVO4 for visible light-driven water splitting

Correction for 'Core-substituted naphthalenediimides anchored on BiVO4 for visible light-driven water splitting' by Simelys Hernández et al., Green Chem., 2017, 19, 2448–2462

N=N Bond Cleavage by Tantalum Hydride Complexes: Mechanistic Insights and Reactivity.

A series of dinuclear tantalum(IV) hydrides [{TaCpRX2}2(mu-H)2] (CpR = eta5-C5Me5, eta5-C5H4SiMe3, eta5-C5HMe4; X = Cl, Br) show the ability to promote the N=N bond cleavage in their reactions with azobenzene and benzo[c]cinnoline in absence of reducing reagents. Both, characterization of intermediate species and DFT studies point to a mechanism in two stages, in which the Ta-Ta bond splitting is key for the reduction of the N=N bond and its complete scission.Consorcio Madroño - Universidad de Alcal

Effective storage of electrons in water by the formation of highly reduced polyoxometalate clusters

Aqueous solutions of polyoxometalates (POMs) have been shown to have potential as high-capacity energy storage materials due to their potential for multi-electron redox processes, yet the mechanism of reduction and practical limits are currently unknown. Herein, we explore the mechanism of multi-electron redox processes that allow the highly reduced POM clusters of the form {MO3}y to absorb y electrons in aqueous solution, focusing mechanistically on the Wells–Dawson structure X6[P2W18O62], which comprises 18 metal centers and can uptake up to 18 electrons reversibly (y = 18) per cluster in aqueous solution when the countercations are lithium. This unconventional redox activity is rationalized by density functional theory, molecular dynamics simulations, UV–vis, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering spectra. These data point to a new phenomenon showing that cluster protonation and aggregation allow the formation of highly electron-rich meta-stable systems in aqueous solution, which produce H2 when the solution is diluted. Finally, we show that this understanding is transferrable to other salts of [P5W30O110]15– and [P8W48O184]40– anions, which can be charged to 23 and 27 electrons per cluster, respectively

Computational modelling of the interactions between Polyoxometalates and Biological Systems

Polyoxometalates (POMs) structures have raised considerable interest for the last years in their application to biological processes and medicine. Within this area, our mini-review shows that computational modelling is an emerging tool, which can play an important role in understanding the interaction of POMs with biological systems and the mechanisms responsible of their activity, otherwise difficult to achieve experimentally. During recent years, computational studies have mainly focused on the analysis of POM binding to proteins and other systems such as lipid bilayers and nucleic acids, and on the characterization of reaction mechanisms of POMs acting as artificial metalloproteases and phosphoesterases. From early docking studies locating binding sites, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have allowed to characterize the nature of POM···protein interactions, and to evaluate the effect of the charge, size, and shape of the POM on protein affinity, including also, the atomistic description of chaotropic character of POM anions. Although these studies rely on the interaction with proteins and nucleic acid models, the results could be extrapolated to other biomolecules such as carbohydrates, triglycerides, steroids, terpenes, etc. Combining MD simulations with quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods and DFT calculations on cluster models, computational studies are starting to shed light on the factors governing the activity and selectivity for the hydrolysis of peptide and phosphoester bonds catalysed by POMs