M-M bond-stretching energy landscapes for M 2(dimen) 4 2+ (M = Rh, Ir; Dimen = 1,8-diisocyanomenthane) complexes

Bryan M. Hunter, Randy M. Villahermosa, Christopher L. Exstrom, Michael G. Hill, Kent R. Mann, Harry B. Gray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Isomers of Ir 2(dimen) 4 2+ (dimen = 1,8-diisocyanomenthane) exhibit different Ir-Ir bond distances in a 2:1 MTHF/EtCN solution (MTHF = 2-methyltetrahydrofuran). Variable-temperature absorption data suggest that the isomer with the shorter Ir-Ir distance is favored at room temperature [K = ∼8; δH° = -0.8 kcal/mol; δS° = 1.44 cal mol -1 K -1]. We report calculations that shed light on M 2(dimen) 4 2+ (M = Rh, Ir) structural differences: (1) metal-metal interaction favors short distances; (2) ligand deformational-strain energy favors long distances; (3) out-of-plane (A 2u) distortion promotes twisting of the ligand backbone at short metal-metal separations. Calculated potential-energy surfaces reveal a double minimum for Ir 2(dimen) 4 2+ (∼4.1 Å Ir-Ir with 0° twist angle and ∼3.6 Å Ir-Ir with ±12° twist angle) but not for the rhodium analogue (∼4.5 Å Rh-Rh with no twisting). Because both the ligand strain and A 2u distortional energy are virtually identical for the two complexes, the strength of the metal-metal interaction is the determining factor. On the basis of the magnitude of this interaction, we obtain the following results: (1) a single-minimum (along the Ir-Ir coordinate), harmonic potential-energy surface for the triplet electronic excited state of Ir 2(dimen) 4 2+ (R e,Ir-Ir = 2.87 Å; F Ir-Ir = 0.99 mdyn Å -1); (2) a single-minimum, anharmonic surface for the ground state of Rh 2(dimen) 4 2+ (R e,Rh-Rh = 3.23 Å; F Rh-Rh = 0.09 mdyn Å -1); (3) a double-minimum (along the Ir-Ir coordinate) surface for the ground state of Ir 2(dimen) 4 2+ (R e,Ir-Ir = 3.23 Å; F Ir-Ir = 0.16 mdyn Å -1).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6898-6905
Number of pages8
JournalInorganic chemistry
Volume51
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 18 2012

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