Figure 18 presents the C-O stretching vibrational frequencies of the first-row transition-metal monocarbonyl cations, neutrals, and anions in solid neon; similar diagrams have been reported for neutral MCO species in solid argon, but three of the early assignments have been changed by recent work and one new assignment added. The laser-ablation method produces mostly neutral atoms with a few percent cations and electrons for capture to make anions; in contrast, thermal evaporation gives only neutral species. Hence, the very recent neon matrix investigations in our laboratory provide carbonyl cations and anions for comparison to neutrals on a level playing field. Several trends are very interesting. First, for all metals, the C-O stretching frequencies follow the order cations > neutrals > anions with large diagnostic 100-200 cm-1 separations, which is consistent with the magnitude of the metal d to CO pi * donation. Second, for a given charge, there is a general increase in C-O stretching vibrational frequencies with increasing metal atomic number, which demonstrates the expected decrease in the metal to CO pi * donation with increasing metal ionization potential. Some of the structure in this plot arises from the extra stability of the filled and half-filled d shell and from the electron pairing that occurs at the middle of the TM row; the plot resembles the "double-humped" graph found for the variation in properties across a row of transition metals. For the anions, the variation with metal atom is the smallest since all of the metals can easily donate charge to the CO ligand. Third, for the early transition-metal Ti, V, and Cr families, the C-O stretching frequencies decrease when going down the family, but the reverse relationship is observed for the late transition-metal Fe, Co, and Ni families. In most of the present discussion, we have referred to neon matrix frequencies; however, the argon matrix frequencies are complementary, and useful information can be obtained from comparison of the two matrix hosts. In most cases, the neon-to-argon red shift for neutral carbonyls is from 11 to 26 cm-1, but a few (CrCO) lie outside of this range. In the case of FeCO and Fe(CO)2, it appears that neon and argon trap different low-lying electronic states. In general, the carbonyl neutrals and anions have similar shifts but carbonyl cations have larger matrix shifts. For example, the FeCO+ fundamental is at 2123.0 cm-1 in neon and 2081.5 cm-1 in argon, a 42.5 cm-1 shift, which is larger than those found for FeCO- (11.7 cm-1) and FeCO (11.7 cm-1). It is unusual for different low-lying electronic states to be trapped in different matrices, but CUO provides another example. The linear singlet state (1047.3, 872.2 cm-1) is trapped in solid neon, and a calculated 1.2 kcal/mol higher triplet state is trapped in solid argon (852.5, 804.3 cm-1) and stabilized by a specific interaction with argon. The bonding trends are well described by theoretical calculations of vibrational frequencies. Table 5 compares the scale factors (observed neon matrix/calculated) for the C-O stretching modes of the monocarbonyl cations, neutrals, and anions of the first-row transition metals observed in a neon matrix using the B3LYP and BP86 density functionals. Most of the calculated carbonyl harmonic stretching frequencies are within 1% of the experimental fundamentals at the BP86 level of theory, while calculations using the B3LYP functional give frequencies that are 3-4% higher as expected for these density functionals and calculations on saturated TM-carbonyls. For second- and third-row carbonyls using the BP86 density functional and the LANL effective core potential in conjunction with the DZ basis set, the agreement between theory and experiment is just as good. For example, the 16 M(CO)1-4 neutral and anion and 2 MCO+ cation (M = Ru, Os) carbonyl frequencies are fit within 1.5%. The 16 species (M = Rh, Ir) are fit within 1%, but the Rh(CO)1-4+ calculations are 2-3% too low and Ir(CO)1-4+ computations are 1-2% too low. In addition to predicting the vibrational frequencies, DFT can be used to calculate different isotopic frequencies, and isotopic frequency ratios can be computed as a measure of the normal vibrational mode in the molecule for an additional diagnostic. For diatomic CO, the 12CO/13CO ratio 1.0225 and C16O/C18O ratio 1.0244 characterize a pure C-O stretching mode. In a series of molecules such as RhCO+, RhCO, and RhCO-, where the metal-CO bonding varies, the Rh-C, C-O vibrational interaction is different and the unique isotopic ratios for the carbonyl vibration are characteristic of that particular molecule. Table 6 summarizes the isotopic ratios observed and calculated for the RhCO+,0,- species. Note that RhCO+ exhibits slightly more carbon-13 and less oxygen-18 involvement in the C-O vibration than CO itself and that this trend increases to RhCO and to RhCO- as the Rh-C bond becomes shorter and stronger. Note also how closely the calculated and observed ratios both follow this trend. In a molecule with two C-O stretching modes, for example, bent Ni(CO)2 exhibits a strong b2 mode at 1978.9 cm-1 and a weak a1 mode at 2089.7 cm-1 in solid neon, and these two modes involve different C and O participations. The symmetric mode shows substantially more C (1.0242) and less O (1.0217) participation than does the antisymmetric mode with C (1.0228) and O (1.0238) involvement, based on the given isotopic frequency ratios, which are nicely matched by DFT calculations (a1 1.0244, 1.0224 and b2 1.0232, 1.0241, respectively). These investigations of vibrational frequencies in unsaturated transition-metal carbonyl cations, neutrals, and anions clearly demonstrate the value of a close working relationship between experiment and theory to identify and characterize new molecular species.

Spectroscopic and theoretical investigations of vibrational frequencies in binary unsaturated transition-metal carbonyl cations, neutrals, and anions.

Vibrational spectroscopy measurements are described for mass-selected metal cation-molecular complexes using the technique of infrared resonance-enhanced photodissociation (REPD) spectroscopy. We discuss the mechanism of the REPD process in the infrared and how multiphoton techniques or rare gas tagging can be employed to facilitate dissociation processes in strongly bound complexes. Spectra are reported for Fe+(CO2)n complexes that demonstrate the formation of coordination spheres around the metal cation and for Mg+(CO2)n complexes, where the interaction with theory makes it possible to obtain structures for small clusters. Both of these studies investigate the asymmetric stretch region of CO2. Ni+(C2H2)n complexes are studied in the C-H stretch region, demonstrating evidence for intracluster cyclization reactions. Finally, experiments are described for metal ion-benzene (M = V, Al) complexes excited in the benzene ring distortions and C-H bending region. These experiments confirm the ~ -bonded configura...

Infrared spectroscopy to probe structure and dynamics in metal ion-molecule complexes

Metal hydrides are of considerable importance in chemical synthesis as intermediates in catalytic hydrogenation reactions. Transition metal atoms react with dihydrogen to produce metal dihydrides or dihydrogen complexes and these may be trapped in solid matrix samples for infrared spectroscopic study. The MH2 or M(H2) molecules so formed react further to form higher MH4, (H2)MH2, or M(H2)2, and MH6, (H2)2MH2, or M(H2)3 hydrides or complexes depending on the metal. In this critical review these transition metal and dihydrogen reaction products are surveyed for Groups 3 though 12 and the contrasting behaviour in Groups 6 and 10 is discussed. Minimum energy structures and vibrational frequencies predicted by Density Functional Theory agree with the experimental results, strongly supporting the identification of novel binary transition metal hydride species, which the matrix-isolation method is well-suited to investigate. 104 references are cited.

Matrix infrared spectra and density functional calculations of transition metal hydrides and dihydrogen complexes.

Infrared spectra and density functional theory calculations on transition metal nitrosyls. Vibrational frequencies of unsaturated transition metal nitrosyls.

High thermal conductive polyvinyl alcohol composites with hexagonal boron nitride microplatelets as fillers

Boron atoms from Nd:YAG laserablation of the solid have been codeposited with Ar/O2 samples on a 11±1 K salt window. The product infrared spectrum was dominated by three strong 11B isotopic bands at 1299.3, 1282.8, and 1274.6 cm− 1 with 10B counterparts at 1347.6, 1330.7, and 1322.2 cm− 1. Oxygen isotopic substitution (16O18O and 18O2 ) confirms the assignment of these strong bands to ν3 of linear BO2. Renner–Teller coupling is evident in the ν2 bending motion. A sharp medium intensity band at 1854.7 has appropriate isotopic ratios for BO, which exhibits a 1862.1 cm− 1 gas phase fundamental. A sharp 1931.0 cm− 1 band shows isotopic ratios appropriate for another linear BO2 species; correlation with spectra of BO− 2 in alkali halide lattices confirms this assignment. A weak 1898.9 cm− 1 band grows on annealing and shows isotopic ratios for a BO stretching mode and isotopic splittings for two equivalent B and O atoms, which confirms assignment to B2O2. A weak 2062 cm− 1 band grows markedly on annealing and shows isotope shifts appropriate for a terminal–BO group interacting with another oxygen atom; the 2062 cm− 1 band is assigned to B2O3 in agreement with earlier work. A strong 1512.3 cm− 1 band appeared on annealing; its proximity to the O2 fundamental at 1552 cm− 1 and pure oxygen isotopic shift suggest that this absorption is due to a B atom–O2 complex.

Reactions of boron atoms with molecular oxygen. Infrared spectra of BO, BO2, B2O2, B2O3, and BO−2 in solid argon

Reactions of pulsed-laser evaporated Al atoms with O 2 in a condensing argon stram gave cyclic-AlO 2 at 496.3 cm -1 as the major product. In addition sharp new absorptions at 1211.2, 1176.3, and 1129.5 cm -1 are identified on the basis of isotropic shifts and multiplets as linear OAlOAlO, AlOAlO, and OAlO, respectively. The identification of linear OAlOAlO and AlOAlO was confirmed by MP2 calculations of isotropic frequencies.

Reactions of pulsed-laser evaporated aluminum atoms with oxygen: infrared spectra of the reaction products in solid argon

Reactions of pulsed laser produced B and N atoms at high dilution in argon favored diboron species. At low laser power with minimum radiation, the dominant reaction with N2 gave BBNN (3Π). At higher laser power, reactions of N atoms contributed the B2N (2B2), BNB (2Σu+), NNBN (1Σ+), and BNBN (3Π) species. These new transient molecules were identified from mixed isotopic patterns, isotopic shifts, and ab initio calculations of isotopic spectra.

Reactions of pulsed laser produced boron and nitrogen atoms in a condensing argon stream

Infrared spectra of boron atom-water molecule reaction products trapped in solid argon

Anhydrous B(OH)3 was pressed into a pellet and sublimed at room temperature under vacuum to give molecular B(OH)3 for argon matrix infrared study. The spectrum showed sharp fundamentals without the effect of hydrogen bonding observed in the solid. Fermi resonances were characterized for two fundamentals. The observed frequencies for B(OH)3 and the three deuterium substituted molecules are in agreement with values from self‐consistent field/double zeta plus polarization (SCF/DZP) calculations allowing for appropriate scale factors. The major thermal decomposition products from pulsed laser evaporation of B(OH)3 were H2O, B2O3, and HOBO. Molecular HOBO was characterized by a strong 2020 cm−1 fundamental, which was confirmed by SCF/DZP calculations.

Thomas R. Burkholder

Papers

Reactions of boron atoms with molecular oxygen. Infrared spectra of BO, BO2, B2O2, B2O3, and BO−2 in solid argon

Reactions of pulsed-laser evaporated aluminum atoms with oxygen: infrared spectra of the reaction products in solid argon

Reactions of pulsed laser produced boron and nitrogen atoms in a condensing argon stream

Infrared spectra of boron atom-water molecule reaction products trapped in solid argon

Infrared spectra of molecular B(OH)3 and HOBO in solid argon