The reaction of Ni atoms with molecular oxygen has been reinvestigated experimentally in neon matrices and theoretically at the DFT PW91PW91/6311G(3df) level. Experimental results show that i) the nature of the ground electronic state of the superoxide metastable product is the same in neon and argon matrices, ii) two different photochemical pathways exist for the conversion of the superoxide to the dioxide ground state (involving 1.6 or 4 eV photons) and iii) an important matrix effect exists in the Ni + O(2)--> Ni(O(2)) or ONiO branching ratios. Theoretical results confirm that the electronic ground state of the metastable superoxide corresponds to the singlet state, in agreement with former CCSD(T) calculations, but in contradiction with other recent works. Our results show that the ground electronic state of the dioxide is (1)Sigma(+)(g) with the lowest triplet and quintet states at slightly higher energy, consistent with the observation of weak vibronic transitions in the near infrared. The potential energy profiles are modelled for the ground state and nine electronic excited states and a pathway for the Ni(triplet) + O(2)(triplet) --> Ni(O(2)) or ONiO (singlet) reaction is proposed, as well as for the Ni(O(2)) --> ONiO photochemical reaction, accounting for the experimental observations.

Herein thermal and catalytic dehydrogenation of the guanidine–borane adducts H3B·hppH (hppH = 1,3,4,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐2H‐pyrimido[1,2‐a]pyrimidine) and H3B·N(H)C(NMe2)2 are analysed. Thermal decomposition of H3B·hppH at 80 °C leads to [HB(μ‐hpp)]2 and a second boron hydride, which is tentatively identified as [(κ2N‐hpp)BH2]. Decomposition in boiling toluene (110 °C) leads to a mixture of [H2B(μ‐hpp)]2 and [HB(μ‐hpp)]2, from which [H2B(μ‐hpp)]2 can be separated and crystallised. In the presence of a catalyst (with Cp2TiCl2/nBuLi or [Rh(1,5‐cod)Cl]2 as precatalysts) dehydrogenation at 80 °C leads predominantly to [H2B(μ‐hpp)]2. In the case of H3B·N(H)C(NMe2)2 uncatalysed dehydrogenation turns out to be a very slow process even at 110 °C. Interestingly, the ultimate product of this process is oligomeric methylimino borane, [HBNMe]n. This pathway can be modelled and understood with the aid of quantum chemical calculations. Faster dehydrogenation can be initiated by addition of a catalyst. Finally, the possible mechanisms for thermal and Cp2Ti‐catalysed dehydrogenation are analysed for the model compound H3B·N(H)C(NH2)2 by means of quantum chemical (DFT) calculations.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

The formation of Ni2O2 can be observed from the condensation of effusive beams of Ni and O2 in neon or argon matrices. Observation of 58Ni(2)16O2, 58Ni60Ni16O2, 60Ni2(16)O2, Ni(2)18O2 and Ni(2)16O18O isotopic data for five fundamental transitions enable a discussion of structural parameters for matrix-isolated Ni2O2 in its cyclic ground state. Analysis of the nickel isotopic effects on the 58,60Ni2(16)O18O fundamentals suggest an elongated rhombic structure with a Ni-O bond force constant (240+/-10 N m-1) and NiONi bond angles around 79 degrees. The latter points to a Ni-Ni internuclear distance shorter than the O-O one. Low-lying singlet, triplet and quintet states have been studied using density functional theory with an unrestricted wave function and broken symmetry formalism. The high spin states and closed shell singlet states have been also investigated at the CCSD(T) level. The Ni2O2 ground state is calculated to be an antiferromagnetic singlet state with all the hybrid functionals. The first order properties (energies, geometry) calculated with a hybrid functional are very similar when different exchange-correlation functionals with different exact exchange fractions are used and the calculated ground state geometry (NiONi bond angle near 80 degrees, NiO bond distance around 179.5 pm) is in good agreement with the experimental estimate. Nevertheless, a correct reproduction of the experimental vibrational properties is found only when a hybrid functional containing an exact exchange fraction in the 0.4-0.5 range is used. The orbital and topological bonding analyses of Ni2O2 reveal that the relatively short Ni-Ni internuclear distance within the molecule should not be interpreted as a remaining metal-metal bonding interaction, but clearly indicate that the bonding driving force is due to the formation of four strong and highly polarized Ni-O bonds. Even in such an early stage of metal oxidation, the Ni-Ni interaction has virtually disappeared.