Ab initio study of the transient boron hydrides B3H7, B3H9, B4H8, and B4H12 and the fluxional anion B3H8-

11B NMR Chemical Shift Predictions via Density Functional Theory and Gauge-Including Atomic Orbital Approach: Applications to Structural Elucidations of Boron-Containing Molecules

11B nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a useful tool for studies of boron-containing compounds in terms of structural analysis and reaction kinetics monitoring. A computational protocol, which is aimed at an accurate prediction of 11B NMR chemical shifts via linear regression, was proposed based on the density functional theory and the gauge-including atomic orbital approach. Similar to the procedure used for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen chemical shift predictions, a database of boron-containing molecules was first compiled. Scaling factors for the linear regression between calculated isotropic shielding constants and experimental chemical shifts were then fitted using eight different levels of theory with both the solvation model based on density and conductor-like polarizable continuum model solvent models. The best method with the two solvent models yields a root-mean-square deviation of about 3.40 and 3.37 ppm, respectively. To explore the capabilities and potential limitations of the developed protocols, classical boron-hydrogen compounds and molecules with representative boron bonding environments were chosen as test cases, and the consistency between experimental values and theoretical predictions was demonstrated.

Heats of Formation of Boron Hydride Anions and Dianions and Their Ammonium Salts [BnHmy-][NH4+]y with y = 1−2

Thermochemical parameters of the closo boron hydride BnHn2- dianions, with n=5-12, the B3H8- and B11H14- anions, and the B5H9 and B10H14 neutral species were predicted by high-level ab initio electronic structure calculations. Total atomization energies obtained from coupled-cluster CCSD(T)/complete basis set (CBS) extrapolated energies, plus additional corrections were used to predict the heats of formation of the simplest BnHmy- species in the gas phase in kcal/mol at 298 K: DeltaHf(B3H8-)=-23.1+/-1.0; DeltaHf(B5H52-)=119.4+/-1.5; DeltaHf(B6H62-)=64.1+/-1.5; and DeltaHf(B5H9)=24.1+/-1.5. The heats of formation of the larger species were evaluated by the G3 method from hydrogenation reactions (values at 298 K, in kcal/mol with estimated error bars of+/-3 kcal/mol): DeltaHf(B7H72-)=51.8; DeltaHf(B8H82-)=46.1; DeltaHf(B9H92-)=24.4; DeltaHf(B10H102-)=-12.5; DeltaHf(B11H112-)=-11.8; DeltaHf(B12H122-)=-86.3; DeltaHf(B11H14-)=-57.3; and DeltaHf(B10H14)=18.7. A linear correlation between atomization energies of the dianions and energies of the BH units was found. The heats of formation of the ammonium salts of the anions and dianions were predicted using lattice energies (UL) calculated from an empirical expression based on ionic volumes. The UL values (0 K) of the BnHn2- dianions range from 319 to 372 kcal/mol. The values of UL for the B3H8- and B11H14- anions are 113 and 135 kcal/mol, respectively. The calculated lattice energies and gas-phase heats of formation of the constituent ions were used to predict the heats of formation of the ammonium crystal salts [BnHmy-][NH4+]y. These results were used to evaluate the thermodynamics of the H2 release reactions from the ammonium hydro-borate salts.

Can the Bis(diboranyl) Structure of B4H10 Be Observed? The Story Continues

Pathways for the conversion of the unknown bis(diboranyl) isomer of tetraborane(10) (B(4)H(10)) to the known arachno isomer have been determined for the first time with the use of an electron correlation ab initio quantum chemical method and without the use of constraints in determination of the transition structures. Two isomers of tetraborane(10), one new, with a pentacoordinated boron atom have been found on the theoretical potential energy surface. Several other pathways for molecular rearrangement of tetraborane(10) have also been characterized. The theoretical method was MP2 theory with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The most likely pathway for the conversion of the bis(diboranyl) isomer of tetraborane(10) to the arachno isomer is a concerted pathway with two pentacoordinated intermediates. The highest energy transition state for this pathway lies 27.7 kcal/mol above the bis(diboranyl) isomer. At the same level of the theory, the bis(diboranyl) isomer lies 9.2 kcal/mol above the known arachno isomer. The two isomers with a pentacoordinated boron atom lie 12.5 and 13.1 kcal/mol above the arachno isomer.