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A structurally well-defined mesoporous Hfbased metal-organic framework (Hf-NU-1000) is employed as a well-defined scaffold for a highly electrophilic single-site d0 Zr-benzyl catalytic center. This new material Hf-NU-1000-ZrBn is fully characterized by a variety of spectroscopic techniques and DFT computation. Hf-NU-1000-ZrBn is found to be a promising single-component catalyst (i.e., not requiring a catalyst/activator) for ethylene and stereoregular 1-hexene polymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed a computational study of the C−C coupling reaction between coordinated ethylene and two vinyl ligands in the binuclear bis(vinyl)-ethylene complex CpRu(η2-C2H4)(μ-η1:η2-CHCH2)2RuCp (1) to yield the ruthenacyclopentadiene complex CpRu(η2-C2H4)(CMeCH-CHCMe)RuCp (28), described by Suzuki et al. This reaction is a sophisticated multistep process with a large number of possible pathways. Agostic interactions and the cooperativity of both Ru centers play a crucial role in the mechanism of the reaction. Our calculations provide support for Suzuki et al.’s proposal that the conversion of the reactant 1to the final product 28proceeds through the intermediate Cp(H)Ru(μ-H)(CMeCH-CHCMe)RuCp (20). However, the pathway originally proposed by Suzuki et al. leading to the intermediate 20is unfavorable (Δ⧧G°298= 33 kcal·mol−1). We found a new, more favorable pathway with a Δ⧧G°298of 20 kcal·mol−1. The rate-determining step of the mechanism is ethylene coordination to the intermediate CpRu(μ-H)(CHMeCH-CHCMe)RuCp (22). The free energy barrier is about 29 and 24 kcal·mol−1at the BP86 and MPWLYP1M level, correspondingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layer-by-layer growth of a surface-attached metal-organic framework (SURMOF), [Cu2(F4bdc)2(dabco)] (F4bdc = tetrafluorobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate and dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane), on carboxylate- and pyridine-terminated surfaces has been investigated by various surface characterization techniques. Particular attention was paid to the dependency of the crystal orientation and morphology on surface functionality, deposition temperature, and first layer order. For the fully oriented deposition of SURMOFs, not only a suitable surface chemistry but also the appropriate temperature has to be chosen. In the case of carboxylate-terminated surfaces, the expected [100] oriented [Cu2(F4bdc)2(dabco)] SURMOF can be achieved at low temperatures (5 °C). In contrast, the predicted [001] oriented SURMOF on pyridine-terminated surface was obtained only at high deposition temperatures (60 °C). Interestingly, we found that rearrangement processes in the very first layer determine the final orientation (distribution) of the growing crystals. These effects could be explained by a surprisingly hampered substitution at the apical position of the Cu2-paddle wheel units, which requires significant thermal activation, as supported by quantum-chemical calculations.

We assess the performance of real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT) for the calculation of absorption spectra of 12 organic dye molecules relevant to photovoltaics and dye-sensitized solar cells with 8 exchange-correlation functionals (3 traditional, 3 global hybrids, and 2 range-separated hybrids). We compare the calculations with traditional linear-response (LR) TDDFT and experimental spectra. In addition, we demonstrate the efficacy of the RT-TDDFT approach to calculate wide absorption spectra of two large chromophores relevant to photovoltaics and molecular switches. RT-TDDFT generally requires longer simulation times, compared to LR-TDDFT, for absorption spectra of small systems. However, it becomes more effective for the calculation of wide absorption spectra of large molecular complexes and systems with very high densities of states.

Porous heterogeneous catalysts play a pivotal role in the chemical industry. Herein a new Hf-based metal-organic framework (Hf-NU-1000) incorporating Hf6 clusters is reported. It demonstrates high catalytic efficiency for the activation of epoxides, facilitating the quantitative chemical fixation of CO2 into five-membered cyclic carbonates under ambient conditions, rendering this material an excellent catalyst. As a multifunctional catalyst, Hf-NU-1000 is also efficient for other epoxide activations, leading to the regioselective and enantioretentive formation of 1,2-bifuctionalized systems via solvolytic nucleophilic ring opening.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constructed from Zr6-based nodes have recently received considerable attention given their exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Because of this, the structural diversity of Zr6-based MOFs has expanded considerably and in turn given rise to difficulty in their precise characterization. In particular it has been difficult to assign where protons (needed for charge balance) reside on some Zr6-based nodes. Elucidating the precise proton topologies in Zr6-based MOFs will have wide ranging implications in defining their chemical reactivity, acid/base characteristics, conductivity, and chemical catalysis. Here we have used a combined quantum mechanical and experimental approach to elucidate the precise proton topology of the Zr6-based framework NU-1000. Our data indicate that a mixed node topology, [Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(OH)4 (OH2)4](8+), is preferred and simultaneously rule out five alternative node topologies.

The silylium ion [C(6)(SiMe(2))(SiHMe(2))(5)](+) offers an amazing example of multiple Si...H interactions. It exhibits a symmetric Si(alpha)-H-Si(alpha) motif supported by two additional Si(beta)-H...Si(alpha) agostic interactions. This cation is highly fluctional in NMR spectra at room temperature due to shift of the hydride bridge. The DFT calculations show that the hydride shift is related to internal rotation of silyl groups. We performed NMR, static DFT, and dynamics studies of this process and found two possible mechanisms, associated with internal rotation of either beta- or gamma-silyls. The energy barrier is largely caused by the silyl internal rotation, whereas the hydride transfer itself is intrinsically quite easy. The gamma-silyl rotation is somewhat more favorable than the beta-silyl rotation. Vibrational dynamics of the cation is also discussed.