Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2000

Abstract

The reactivity differences observed experimentally for Cp*W(NO)(CH2CMe3)2 and CpMo(NO)(CH2CMe3)2 have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) techniques. The reactions of the CpW(NO)(CH2) model complex with NH3 and CH4 are more exothermic and have lower activation barriers than the corresponding processes for CpMo(NO)(CH2). The η2(C,H) methane complex CpM(NO)(CH2)(CH4) (M = Mo, W) can undergo two competitive processes: C-H activation to afford CpM(NO)(CH3)2 or loss of methane. The relative barrier heights are almost identical for M = W, whereas the formation of CpM(NO)(CH3)2 is significantly disfavored for M = Mo. The activation of C-H and N-H bonds proceeds via a direct, metal-assisted 1,2 addition across the M double bond CH2 bond without a distinct carbene-hydride intermediate. The relative stability order of the products can be rationalized in part through metal-ligand π-bonding considerations. The relative orbital energies, which are consistently lower for Mo than for W, can be used to rationalize various reactivity differences observed experimentally for the CpM(NO)(alkyl)2 species, including the selective coordination of small molecules. The absence of sufficient steric bulk in the model complexes likely contributes to the overestimation of the calculated activation energies and the discrepancy between some of the calculated and experimental structural parameters.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Organometallics

First Page

2858

Last Page

2867

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