posted on 2004-03-01, 00:00authored byIsrael Fernández, Fernando P. Cossío, Ana Arrieta, Begoña Lecea, María José Mancheño, Miguel A. Sierra
A systematic density functional theory (DFT) study of free and Cr- and W-coordinated
alkoxy-carbenes has been carried out. The structure of the free carbenes and their relative
energies remains unaltered by coordination to the metal. A clear bias for the anti-isomer is
observed in both the free and coordinated carbenes. The exception is complexes having
alkynyl substituents. In this case, the metal complex prefers the syn-disposition. The
theoretical model explains the observed bias for the anti-isomer by the stabilizing contribution
of a stereoelectronic effect due to the two-electron donation from the σCH orbital of the O-Me
group to the π*CO orbital of the CO ligand and feedback donation of the πCO orbital to the
σ*CH orbital and the destabilizing repulsion between the groups linked to the carbene carbon.
This last factor is the determinant one since the linear triple bond produces a clear bias for
the syn-isomer only in the coordinated carbene, showing that the steric contribution rather
than the electronic repulsion is responsible for the structure of group 6 Fischer carbenes.
The anti−syn isomerization in chromium(0)-carbene complexes has also been studied. This
process occurs without affecting either the carbene ligand or the coordination sphere of the
metal by rotation of the C(Cr)−O−Me bonds. The developed model is fully applicable to
tungsten-carbene complexes.