Electron density, 71 complexes

Molecular orbitals were one of the first molecular features that could be visualized with simple graphical hardware. The reason for this early representation is found in the complex theory of quantum chemistry. Basically, a structure is more attractive and easier to understand when orbitals are displayed, rather than numerical orbital coefficients. The molecular orbitals, calculated by semi-empirical or ab initio quantum mechanical methods, are represented by isosurfaces, corresponding to the electron density surfeces Figure 2-125a). 

A more complex set of functionals utilizes the electron density and its gradient. These are called gradient-corrected methods. There are also hybrid methods that combine functionals from other methods with pieces of a Hartree-Fock calculation, usually the exchange integrals. 

Pd(II) compounds coordinate to alkenes to form rr-complexes. Roughly, a decrease in the electron density of alkenes by coordination to electrophilic Pd(II) permits attack by various nucleophiles on the coordinated alkenes. In contrast, electrophilic attack is commonly observed with uncomplexed alkenes. The attack of nucleophiles with concomitant formation of a carbon-palladium r-bond 1 is called the palladation of alkenes. This reaction is similar to the mercuration reaction. However, unlike the mercuration products, which are stable and isolable, the product 1 of the palladation is usually unstable and undergoes rapid decomposition. The palladation reaction is followed by two reactions. The elimination of H—Pd—Cl from 1 to form vinyl compounds 2 is one reaction path, resulting in nucleophilic substitution of the olefinic proton. When the displacement of the Pd in 1 with another nucleophile takes place, the nucleophilic addition of alkenes occurs to give 3. Depending on the reactants and conditions, either nucleophilic substitution of alkenes or nucleophilic addition to alkenes takes place. 

Experimental confirmation of the metal-nitrogen coordination of thiazole complexes was recently given by Pannell et al. (472), who studied the Cr(0), Mo(0), and W(0) pentacarbonyl complexes of thiazole (Th)M(CO)5. The infrared spectra are quite similar to those of the pyridine analogs the H-NMR resonance associated with 2- and 4-protons are sharper and possess fine structure, in contrast to the broad, featureless resonances of free thiazole ligands. This is expected since removal of electron density from nitrogen upon coordination reduces the N quad-rupole coupling constant that is responsible for the line broadening of the a protons. 

We can consider the hydroboration step as though it involved borane (BH3) It sim phfies our mechanistic analysis and is at variance with reality only m matters of detail Borane is electrophilic it has a vacant 2p orbital and can accept a pair of electrons into that orbital The source of this electron pair is the rr bond of an alkene It is believed as shown m Figure 6 10 for the example of the hydroboration of 1 methylcyclopentene that the first step produces an unstable intermediate called a tt complex In this rr com plex boron and the two carbon atoms of the double bond are joined by a three center two electron bond by which we mean that three atoms share two electrons Three center two electron bonds are frequently encountered m boron chemistry The tt complex is formed by a transfer of electron density from the tt orbital of the alkene to the 2p orbital... 

The aromatic ring has high electron density. As a result of this electron density, toluene behaves as a base, not only in aromatic ring substitution reactions but also in the formation of charge-transfer (tt) complexes and in the formation of complexes with super acids. In this regard, toluene is intermediate in reactivity between benzene and the xylenes, as illustrated in Table 2. 

Phenolics. PVP readily complexes phenolics of all types to some degree, the actual extent depending on stmctural features such as number and orientation of hydroxyls and electron density of the associated aromatic system. A model has been proposed (102). Complexation with phenoHcs can result in reduced PVP viscosity and even polymer-complex precipitation (103). 

The significance of frontier electron densities is limited to the orientation of substitution for a given aromatic system, but this approach has been developed to give two more complex reactivity indices termed superdelocalizabilities and Z values, which indicate the relative reactivities of different aromatic systems. 

The bis(diene) (46) adds dienophiles preferentially on the side syn to the oxirane moiety (Scheme 35) (80X149). This may be due to formation of a charge-transfer complex by donation of electron density from oxygen into an antibonding orbital on the dienophile. 

At long range, complex interactions having their origin in quantum mechanics are negligible, and molecular interactions can be described by classical electrostatics of nuclei and electron density. 

Deisenhofer, J., et al. X-ray structure analysis of a membrane protein complex. Electron density map at 3 A resolution and a model of the chromophores of the photosynthetic reaction center from Rhodopseudomonas viridis. f. Mol. Biol. 180 385-398, 1984. 

In this mechanism, a complexation of the electrophile with the 7t-electron system of the aromatic ring is the first step. This species, called the 7t-complex, m or ms not be involved directly in the substitution mechanism. 7t-Complex formation is, in general, rapidly reversible, and in many cases the equilibrium constant is small. The 7t-complex is a donor-acceptor type complex, with the n electrons of the aromatic ring donating electron density to the electrophile. No position selectivity is associated with the 7t-complex. 

Trialkyltin substituents are also powerful ipso-directing groups. The overall electronic effects are similar to those in silanes, but the tin substituent is a better electron donor. The electron density at carbon is increased, as is the stabilization of /S-carbocation character. Acidic cleavage of arylstannanes is formulated as an electrophilic aromatic substitution proceeding through an ipso-oriented c-complex. ... 

The CK" ion can act either as a monodentate or bidentate ligand. Because of the similarity of electron density at C and N it is not usually possible to decide from X-ray data whether C or N is the donor atom in monodentate complexes, but in those cases where the matter has been established by neutron diffraction C is always found to be the donor atom (as with CO). Very frequently CK acts as a bridging ligand - CN- as in AgCN, and AuCN (both of which are infinite linear chain polymers), and in Prussian-blue type compounds (p. 1094). The same tendency for a coordinated M CN group to form a further donor-aceeptor bond using the lone-pair of electrons on the N atom is illustrated by the mononuclear BF3 complexes... 

No new pnnciples ate involved in describing the bonding in these complexes and appropriate combinations of ihe 4p ottoilals on the diene system can be used lo construct MOs with the metal-based orbitals for donation and back donation of electron density.As with ethene, two limiting cases can be envisaged wbicb can be represented schematically as in Fig. 19.25. Consistent with... 

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