Issue 42, 2020

Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes in organic and organometallic methane C–H activation: a DFT and MCSCF study

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) and multi-configurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) calculations are used to investigate the electronic and steric properties of cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs). Calculations show CAACs’ diverse electronic characteristics in terms of its donor and acceptor capabilities. Reactions of CAACs in methane C–H bond activation via insertion and also as a supporting ligand (L) for L(Cp)M (M = Co, Rh, Ir) motifs via C–H oxidative addition are studied. The binding energies and buried volumes are calculated for selected CAACs as ancillary ligands to the L(Cp)Rh motif. Overall, CAACs show highly tunable electronic and steric properties by adjusting their substituents and backbones. Although CAAC may not be viable in activating inert small molecules with low polarity like methane, this class of ligand has great potential as ancillary ligands for transition metal complexes in catalysis. Calculation of C–H activation by L(Cp)Ir and L(Cp)Rh with CAACs as supporting ligands show CAACs can render the reaction more amenable to catalysis by destabilizing the oxidative addition products while keeping the reaction mildly exergonic, and the barriers reasonable.

Graphical abstract: Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes in organic and organometallic methane C–H activation: a DFT and MCSCF study

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 août 2020
Accepted
12 oct. 2020
First published
12 oct. 2020

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 24320-24329

Author version available

Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes in organic and organometallic methane C–H activation: a DFT and MCSCF study

Z. Sun and T. R. Cundari, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 24320 DOI: 10.1039/D0CP04080K

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