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Wolfgang Scherer

Publications and source records attributed to Wolfgang Scherer.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Valence shell charge concentrations at pentacoordinate d0 transition-metal centers: non-VSEPR structures of Me2NbCl3 and Me3NbCl2.

The molecular structures of the monomeric, pentacoordinated methylchloroniobium(IV) compounds Me3NbCl2 and Me2NbCl3 have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and, for Me3NbCl2, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each of the molecules is found to have a heavy-atom skeleton in the form of a trigonal bipyramid (TBP) with Cl atoms in the axial positions, in accord with their vibrational spectra. The TBP is somewhat distorted in the case of Me2NbCl3 with the two axial Nb--Cl bonds bent away from the equatorial, slightly shorter Nb--Cl bond. In the case of Me3NbCl2, moreover, the X-ray model suggests structural distortions away from the idealized C3h geometry, in line with the results of quantum chemical calculations. Structure optimizations by DFT calculations and least-squares refinement to the GED data yield the following structural parameters (calcd/exptl; eq=equatorial; ax=axial; distances in A, angles in degrees; average values in brackets): Me3NbCl2, in C(3v) symmetry, Nb--Cl 2.370/2.319(3), Nb--C 2.173/2.152(4), C--H 1.096/1.124(5), angle-spherical NbCH 109.3/105.2(8), angle-spherical ClNbC 92.2/93.3(2), angle-spherical CNbC 119.9/119.7(1); Me2NbCl3, in C(2v) symmetry, Nb--Cl(ax) 2.361/2.304(5), Nb--Cl(eq) 2.321/2.288(9), Nb--C 2.180/2.135(9), C--H 1.094/1.12(1), angle-spherical Cl(ax)NbCl(eq) 98.5/96.5(6), angle-spherical CNbC 121.0/114(2), angle-spherical NbCH 108.9/109(2). The electronic structures of Me2NbCl3 and Me3NbC(2 have been explored by rigorous analysis of both the wavefunction and the topology of the electron density, employing DFT calculations. Hence the structures of these compounds are shown to reflect repulsion between the Nb--C and Nb--Cl bonding electron density and charge concentrations induced by the methyl ligands in the valence shell of the Nb atom and arising mainly from use of Nb(4d) functions in the Nb--C bonds.

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Agostic interactions in d0 metal alkyl complexes.

The phenomenon of agostic interactions is reviewed and the nature of the interaction is revisited. A historical perspective is followed by an overview of experimental techniques used to diagnose agostic behavior, and previous interpretations of agostic bonding are presented. A series of simple metal alkyl complexes is considered and a new model for the phenomenon in d(0) systems is developed which sets them apart from agostic late-transition-metal complexes. Factors such as the valence electron count and coordination number of the metal center are revealed to be unimportant in facilitating the interaction in most d(0) systems. The charge density distribution in several transition-metal alkyl complexes is explored by experimental and theoretical techniques, including the powerful "Atoms in Molecules" approach. Local charge concentrations are shown to play an important role in the agostic interaction. Finally, we demonstrate for the first time a way to manipulate and control the magnitude and disposition of such local charge concentrations, and hence the strength of agostic interactions in d(0) metal alkyl complexes.

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Valence charge concentrations, electron delocalization and beta-agostic bonding in d0 metal alkyl complexes.

In this paper we describe a range of model d(0) metal ethyl compounds and related complexes, studied by DFT calculations and high resolution X-ray diffraction. The concept of ligand-opposed charge concentrations (LOCCs) for d(0) metal complexes is extended to include both cis-and trans-ligand-induced charge concentrations (LICCs) at the metal, which arise as a natural consequence of covalent metal-ligand bond formation in transition metal alkyl complexes. The interplay between locally induced sites of increased Lewis acidity and an ethyl ligand is crucial to the development of a beta-agostic interaction in d(0) metal alkyl complexes, which is driven by delocalization of the M-C bonding electrons. Topological analysis of theoretical and experimental charge densities reveals LICCs at the metal atom, and indicates delocalization of the M-C valence electrons over the alkyl fragment, with depletion of the metal-directed charge concentration (CC) at the alpha-carbon atom, and a characteristic ellipticity profile for the C(alpha)-C(beta) bond. These ellipticity profiles and the magnitude of the CC values at C(alpha) and C(beta) provide experimentally observable criteria for assessing quantitatively the extent of delocalization, with excellent agreement between experiment and theory. Finally, a concept is proposed which promises systematic control of the extent of C-H activation in agostic complexes.

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Electron delocalization in acyclic and N-heterocyclic carbenes and their complexes: a combined experimental and theoretical charge-density study.

Combined experimental and theoretical charge-density studies on free and metal-coordinated N-heterocyclic carbenes have been performed to investigate the extent of electron delocalization in these remarkable species. Tracing the orientation of the major axis of the bond ellipticity (the least negative curvature in the electron density distribution) along the complete bond paths distinguishes unambiguously between fully delocalized systems and those with interrupted cyclic electron delocalization. Evaluation of charge-density-based properties such as atomic quadrupole moments serves as a direct and quantitative measure of the extent of pi-electron delocalization and reveals consistency between theory and experiment. A detailed topological analysis of theoretical charge densities for two benchmark carbene systems, viz., 1,2-dimethylpyrazol-3-ylidene 1a and 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene 2a, and their corresponding stable chromium pentacarbonyl complexes 1 and 2, highlights the advantages of charge-density-based criteria to analyze such complex electronic situations. Thus, 1a and 2a display a different extent of electron delocalization; yet nearly identical p(pi) occupations at the carbene center are computed for 1a and 2a. However, atomic quadrupoles Q(zz) - the charge-density analogues of p(pi) occupation - reveal faithfully the electronic differences in 1a and 2a and demonstrate the sensitivity of charge-density-based properties to the bonding situation. The acyclic aminocarbene (iPr(2)N)(2)CCr(CO)(4) has also been studied, and the high barrier to rotation about the C-N bond is shown not to arise solely from p(pi)-p(pi) bonding.

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Valence-shell charge concentrations and electron delocalization in alkyllithium complexes: negative hyperconjugation and agostic bonding.

In this paper we present the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the ethyl ligand and some related organic moieties; we then proceed to consider a range of alkyllithium complexes studied by DFT calculations and high-resolution X-ray and neutron diffraction. Topological analysis of the charge density is used to follow changes in the electronic structure of the organic fragment. The charge concentrations (CCs) in the valence shell at the alpha and beta atoms reveal faithfully the delocalization of the lone pair at the Calpha atom or of the Li-C bonding electrons. Negative hyperconjugation is thus shown to arise from delocalization of the lone pair or the Li-C bonding electrons over the alkyl fragment, with depletion of the metal-directed charge concentration at Calpha, and characteristic ellipticity profiles for the bonds involved in hyperconjugative delocalization. In the case of so-called lithium agostic complexes, we show that close Li.H contacts are a consequence of this delocalization and further secondary interactions, with Li.H-C agostic interactions, playing only a minor role. The ellipticity profiles and the magnitude of the CCs at Calpha provide a quantitative measure of the extent of delocalization, and show excellent agreement between experiment and theory.

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Volatile Donor-Functionalized Alkoxy Derivatives of Lutetium and Their Structural Characterization(1).

Reaction of beta-functionalized alcohols of type HOCR(2)CH(2)do (1a, do = OMe, R = Me; 1b, do = OMe, R = Et; 1c, do = NMe(2), R = Me) with Ln[N(SiMe(3))(3)](3) yields highly volatile (sublimation < 100 degrees C/10(-)(3) Torr) and n-hexane-soluble homoleptic alkoxide complexes [Ln(OCR(2)CH(2)do)(3)] (2a-d, Ln = Y, Lu). A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of Lu(OCMe(2)CH(2)OMe)(3) (2a) revealed a dinuclear complex with significantly polarized metal centers originating from asymmetrical ligand association (triple-bridging). Unintentional employment of "water-contaminated" alcohol 1a resulted in the formation of n-hexane-soluble 3 exhibiting a substantially increased sublimation temperature (>220 degrees C/10(-)(3) Torr). Crystallization of 3 affords single crystals 3a featuring the tetranuclear constitution Lu(4)(O)(OH)(OCMe(2)CH(2)OMe)(9). 3a represents an unprecedented lanthanide alkoxide comprising both oxo and hydroxo units in addition to alkoxide ligands. The Lu(4)O(15)-core structure of 3a adopts a "butterfly" rather than a tetrahedral geometry. Potentially tridentate alcohols HOCtBu(CH(2)OiPr)(2) (4) and HOCiPr(2)CH(2)OCH(2)OMe (5) afford alkoxide complexes "Nd(OR)(3)" (6, 7) of reduced volatility. 2a crystallizes from n-hexane at ambient temperature in space group P2(1)/n with a = 13.510(1) Å, b = 15.130(1) Å, c = 38.953(4) Å, beta = 93.11(1) degrees, V = 7950 Å(3), and Z = 8. Least-squares refinement of the model based on 11 747 reflections (I > 2.0 sigma(I)) converged to a final R = 3.5%. 3a crystallizes from n-hexane at -35 degrees C in space group Cc with a = 21.63(1) Å, b = 14.49(3) Å, c = 21.04(2) Å, beta = 109.70(3) degrees, V = 6209 Å(3), and Z = 4. Least-squares refinement of the model based on 6057 reflections (I > 3.0 sigma(I)) converged to a final R = 6.7%.

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