Structural and Electronic Properties of Reduced Transition Metal Oxide Clusters, M3O8 and M3O8− (M = Cr, W), from Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Calculations

Conceptual DFT and TDDFT study on electronic structure and reactivity of pure and sulfur doped (CrO3)n (n = 1-10) clusters

Different isomers of (CrO₃)_n (n = 1-10) cluster units have been investigated using Density functional approach. Their stability and reactivity has been analyzed by plotting chemical potential and HOMO-LUMO gap as a function of cluster size. The CrO₃, (CrO₃)₆ and (CrO₃)₉ are identified as the most reactive species. Reactivity of each atomic site in the cluster has been interpreted using local reactivity descriptors called Fukui Function plots. The clusters have been doped with sulfur by adding it as substitutional impurity, effect of sulfur doping has been understood by analyzing excitation energies and absorption wavelengths using time dependent-DFT(TDDFT) at CAM-B3LYP level of theory.

On the structural and electronic properties of hexanuclear vanadium oxide clusters V6On(-/0) (n=12-15): is V6O12 cluster planar or cage-like?

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out to investigate the structural and electronic properties of a series of hexanuclear vanadium oxide clusters V6On(-/0) (n=12-15). Generalized Koopmans' theorem is applied to predict the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) and simulate the photoelectron spectra (PES) for V6On(-) (n=12-15) clusters. Extensive DFT calculations are performed in search of the lowest-energy structures for both the anions and neutrals. All of these clusters appear to prefer the polyhedral cage structures, in contrast to the planar star-like structures observed in prior model surface studies for the V6O12 cluster. Molecular orbitals are performed to analyze the chemical bonding in the hexanuclear vanadium oxide clusters and provide insights into the sequential oxidation of V6On(-) (n=12-15) clusters. The V6On(-) (n=12-15) clusters possess well-defined V(5+) and V(3+) sites, and may serve as molecular models for surface defects. Electron spin density analyses show that the unpaired electrons in V6On(-) (n=12-14) clusters are primarily localized on the V(3+) sites rather than on the V(5+) sites. The difference gas phase versus model surface structures of V6O12 hints the critical roles of cluster-substrate interactions in stabilizing the planar V6O12 cluster on model surfaces.

Relevant and unprecedented C-H/σ supramolecular interactions involving σ-aromatic M2X2 cores

A novel type of C-H/σ supramolecular interaction involving σ-aromatic M2X2 (M = Cu, Hg; X = Cl, Br, I, S) cores is reported for the first time. Three new polymeric coordination copper complexes, {[Cu(μ-Cl)(Cl)(μ-L)]2}n (1), {[Cu(μ-I)(μ-L)]2}n (2) and [Cu(Br)2(μ-L)(CH3CN)2]2 (3), have been synthesized with the organic ligand α,ω-bis(benzotriazoloxy)propane system (L) and halides as counterions. A very interesting C-H/σ supramolecular interaction has been observed in the solid state structure of compound 2, similar to a C-Hπ interaction, which has been confirmed by Bader's "atoms-in-molecules" AIM analysis. The Nucleus Independent Chemical Shift (NICs) method was used to evaluate the aromatic character of the different cores in this study. The influence of the nature of the metal ions, bridging atoms, oxidation states, and coordination environments around the metal centers on the strength of the aromaticity of the M2X2 cores was theoretically analyzed and explained. The binding ability of the 1-alkoxy-1,2,3-benzotriazole ring to establish π-π and C-H/π interactions and how its coordination to Cu(I) and Cu(II) ions affects the strength of the aforementioned interactions have been discussed. The electron deficient triazole ring and its π-acidity increases upon coordination of the Cu ion, leading to the formation of a lone pair (lp)-π interaction involving the five-membered ring of the ligand, which has also been analyzed. We have also analyzed the C-H/σ interactions of previously reported X-ray crystal structures of different coordination polymers based on a binuclear copper(I) complex and 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, dithioethers, and benzotriazol-1-yl-based pyridyl units as ligands using I- as a counter-ion. Complex 1 shows antiferromagnetic behavior with a magnetic coupling constant of J = -7.9 cm(-1). Moreover, photoluminescence and TGA studies of the complexes were also carried out.

Dehydration, dehydrogenation, and condensation of alcohols on supported oxide catalysts based on cyclic (WO3)3 and (MoO3)3 clusters

The review summarizes recent synthesis and reactivity studies of model oxide catalysts prepared by the deposition of gas phase cyclic (WO₃)₃ and (MoO₃)₃ clusters.

Computational study on the molecular structures and photoelectron spectra of bimetallic oxide clusters MW2O9(-/0) (M=V, Nb, Ta)

Density functional theory (DFT) and coupled cluster theory (CCSD(T)) calculations are carried out to investigate the electronic and structural properties of a series of bimetallic oxide clusters MW2O9(-/0) (M=V, Nb, Ta). Generalized Koopmans' theorem is applied to predict the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) and simulate the photoelectron spectra (PES). Theoretical calculations at the B3LYP level yield singlet and doublet ground states for the bimetallic anionic and neutral clusters, respectively. All the clusters present the six-membered ring structures with different symmetries, except that the TaW2O9(-) cluster shows a chained style with a penta-coordinated tantalum atom. Spin density analyses reveal oxygen radical species in all neutral clusters, consistent with their structural characteristics. Moreover, additional calculations are performed to study the oxidation reaction of CO molecule with the W3O9(+) cation and the isoelectronic VW2O9 cluster, and results indicate that the introduction of vanadium at tungsten site can efficiently improve the oxidation reactivity.

Gas-Phase Neutral Binary Oxide Clusters: Distribution, Structure, and Reactivity toward CO

Neutral binary (vanadium-cobalt) oxide clusters are generated and detected in the gas phase for the first time. Their reactivities toward carbon monoxide (CO) are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Experimental results suggest that neutral VCoO4 can react with CO to generate VCoO3 and CO2. Density functional theory studies show parallel results as well as provide detailed reaction mechanisms.

Structure characterization of metal oxide clusters by vibrational spectroscopy: possibilities and prospects

This article summarizes the methodological progress that has been made in the vibrational spectroscopy of isolated polynuclear metal oxide clusters, with particular emphasis on free electron laser-based infrared action spectroscopy of gas phase clusters, over the last decade. The possibilities, limitations and prospects of the various experimental approaches are discussed using representative examples from pivotal studies in the field.

Molybdenum oxides versus molybdenum sulfides: geometric and electronic structures of Mo₃X(y)⁻ (X = O, S and y = 6, 9) clusters

We have conducted a comparative computational investigation of the molecular structure and water adsorption properties of molybdenum oxide and sulfide clusters using density functional theory methods. We have found that while Mo₃O₆⁻ and Mo₃S₆⁻ assume very similar ring-type isomers, Mo₃O₉⁻ and Mo₃S₉⁻ clusters are very different with Mo₃O₉⁻ having a ring-type structure and Mo₃S₉⁻ having a more open, linear-type geometry. The more rigid ∠(Mo-S-Mo) bond angle is the primary geometric property responsible for producing such different lowest energy isomers. By computing molecular complexation energies, it is observed that water is found to adsorb more strongly to Mo₃O₆⁻ than to Mo₃S₆⁻, due to a stronger oxide-water hydrogen bond, although dispersion effects reduce this difference when molybdenum centers contribute to the binding. Investigating the energetics of dissociative water addition to Mo₃X₆⁻ clusters, we find that, while the oxide cluster shows kinetic site-selectivity (bridging position vs terminal position), the sulfide cluster exhibits thermodynamic site-selectivity.