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Structures and energies of main group metal formyl complexes. The mechanism of the reaction of LiH with CO. An ab initio study

Journal Article · · J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6631607

Formyl complexes, MCHO, of first- and second-row metals and metal hydrides (M = Li, BeH, BH/sub 2/, Na, MgH, AlH/sub 2/) have been investigated by means of ab initio calculations (MP2/6-31+G*//6-31G* and lower levels). Both eta/sup 2/ (i.e., bridged) and eta/sup 1/ coordination of the metals are found: the former is favored by larger electronegativity differences between the metal and the formyl carbon. Such eta/sup 2/ coordination is characterized by rather long CO bonds, significant alkoxy-carbene character in the formyl group, and a bridging energy of about 5-8 kcal/mol for M = BeH and AlH/sub 2/. The formyl carbon-metal interactions are predominantly ionic. The insertion reaction of CO into the LiH bond, a model for similar processes in transition-metal compounds, proceeds via an initially formed linear coordination complex, HLi-CO, and a three-membered ring transition structure.d The latter lies energetically about 19 kcal/mol above the complex. The overall activation and reaction energies from LiH + CO to the formyllithium product, LiCHO, are +13 and -3 kcal/mol, respectively. The energies of the reaction of the other metal hydrides with CO to form the corresponding formyl compounds are all endothermic by about 1-7 kcal/mol. Thus, with the exception of M = Li, all the formyl complexes, MCHO, are thermodynamically unstable, but they may be observable at lower temperatures if the activation energies for the loss of CO are comparable to that of LiCHO (about 16 kcal/mol).

Research Organization:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet, Erlangen-Nuernberg, West Germany
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6631607
Journal Information:
J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 109:9; ISSN JACSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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