For a series of boron rings with planar hyper-coordinate 8th group transition metal atoms, singlet 1FeB8-2, multiplet kFeB9n (n = -1, k = 1; n = 0, k = 2), singlet 1CoB8n(n = -1, +1, +3), multiplet kCoB9n (n = +1, k = 2; n = 0, k = 1) and singlet 1NiB9+, the geometry structures have been optimized to be local minima on corresponding potential hyper-surfaces. The electron structures are discussed by orbital analysis and the aromaticity is predicted by nucleus-independent chemical shifts calculation at both the B3LYP/6-311+G* and BP86/6-311+G* levels of theory, respectively. The results suggest that all these structures with high symmetry planar geometries are stable and have aromatic properties with six π valence electrons.
LUO Qiong School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
The smallest molecules up to date containing a D5h pentacoordinate planar carbon (PPC) atom, CBe5 and CBe54-, are presented by means of ab initio calculations. To gain a better understanding about which electronic factors contribute to their stabilization, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and the nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) were calculated. The data reported here suggest that D5h CBe5 is σ aromaticity in nature, while in D5h CBe54- π aromaticity is dominating. The classical octet rule is well satisfied in both molecules, and is one of the fundamental reasons to understand the stability of the pentagon structures. The Be5 ring serves as σ donor in D5h CBe5, and π-acceptor in D5h CBe54-. The D5h CBe54- possessing 18 valence electrons with a closed-shell electron configuration is the most plau-sible candidate for experimental detection.
LUO Qiong State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China