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Ligand‐Supported E 3 Clusters (E=Si–Sn)
Author(s) -
Pan Sudip,
Saha Ranajit,
Osorio Edison,
Chattaraj Pratim K.,
Frenking Gernot,
Merino Gabriel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201700494
Subject(s) - carbene , chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , cluster (spacecraft) , crystallography , stereochemistry , computational chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , receptor , computer science , programming language
The interaction among E 3 (E=Si, Ge, Sn) clusters and different ligands (L) encompassing five carbon‐based donors (cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (cAAC), N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC), saturated NHC (SNHC), mesoionic carbenes (MIC1, and MIC2)), two nitrogen‐based donors (trimethylamine and pyridine), and two phosphorous‐based donors (phosphinine and trimethylphosphine) in E 3 (L) 3 complexes is explored through DFT computations. Although all carbenes form very strong bonds with E 3 clusters, cAAC makes the strongest bond with Si 3 and Ge 3 clusters, and MIC1 with the Sn 3 cluster. Nevertheless, other ligand‐bound complexes are also viable at room temperature. This finding indicates that experimentalists may make use of them to synthesize the desired clusters based on precursor availability. The nature of the interaction in E−L bonds is analyzed through natural bond orbital analysis; energy decomposition analysis, in combination with the natural orbital for chemical valence; and adaptive natural density partitioning analysis. The L→E σ‐donation and L←E π‐back‐donation play important roles in making contacts between L and E 3 clusters favorable; where the former is significantly more dominant over the latter.