The impact of agostic interactions (i.e., 3-center-2-electron M-H-C bonds) on the structures and reactivity of organotransition metal compounds is reviewed.

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Although compounds that feature 3-centre 2-electron (3c-2e) bonds are well known, there has been no previous effort to classify the interactions according to the number of electrons that each atom contributes to the bond, in a manner analogous to the classification of 2-centre 2-electron (2c-2e) bonds as either normal covalent or dative covalent. This article provides an extension to the Covalent Bond Classification (CBC) method by categorizing 3c-2e interactions according to whether (i) the two electrons are provided by one or by two atoms and (ii) the central bridging atom provides two, one, or zero electrons. Class I 3c-2e bonds are defined as those in which two atoms each contribute one electron to the 3-centre orbital, while Class II 3c-2e bonds are defined as systems in which the pair of electrons are provided by a single atom. Class I and Class II 3c-2e interactions can be denoted by structure-bonding representations that employ the "half-arrow" notation, which also provides a convenient means to determine the electron count at a metal centre. In contrast to other methods of electron counting, this approach provides a means to predict metal-metal bond orders that are in accord with theory. For example, compounds that feature symmetrically bridging carbonyl ligands do not necessarily have to be described as "ketone derivatives" because carbon monoxide can also serve as an electron pair donor to two metal centres. This bonding description also provides a simple means to rationalize the theoretical predictions of the absence of M-M bonds in molecules such as Fe(2)(CO)(9) and [CpFe(CO)(2)](2), which are widely misrepresented in textbooks as possessing M-M bonds.

Equilibrium studies have been performed to determine the Brønsted acidity of [(C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 )]‚ H 2 O, the aqua species that exists in acetonitrile solutions of B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 in the presence of water. NMR spectroscopic analysis of the deprotonation of [(C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 )]‚H 2 O with 2,6-Bu t 2 C 5 H 3 N in acetonitrile allows a pK value of 8.6 to be determined for the equilibrium [(C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 )]‚H 2 O a [(C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH)] -+ [H 3 O] + . On the basis of a calculated value for the hydrogen bond interaction in [(C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 )]‚H 2 O, the pK a for (C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 ) is estimated to be 8.4 in acetonitrile. Such a value indicates that (C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 ) must be regarded as a strong acid, with a strength comparable to that of HCl in acetonitrile. Dynamic NMR spectroscopic studies indicate that the aqua and acetonitrile ligands in (C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH 2 ) and (C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(NCMe) are labile, with dissociation of H 2 O being substantially more facile than that of MeCN, by a factor of ca. 200 in rate constant at 300 K. Ab initio calculations were performed in the gas phase and with a dielectric solvent model to determine the strength of B-L bonds (L ) H 2 O, ROH, MeCN) and hydrogen bonds involving B-OH 2 and B-O(H)R derivatives.

The electronic influence of unbridged and ansa-bridged ring substituents on a zirconocene center has been studied by means of IR spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational methods. With respect to IR spectroscopy, the average of the symmetric and asymmetric stretches (nu(CO(av))) of a large series of dicarbonyl complexes (Cp(R))(2)Zr(CO)(2) has been used as a probe of the electronic influence of a cyclopentadienyl ring substituent. For unbridged substituents (Me, Et, Pr(i), Bu(t), SiMe(3)), nu(CO(av)) on a per substituent basis correlates well with Hammett sigma(meta) parameters, thereby indicating that the influence of these substituents is via a simple inductive effect. In contrast, the reduction potentials (E degrees ) of the corresponding dichloride complexes (Cp(R))(2)ZrCl(2) do not correlate well with Hammett sigma(meta) parameters, thereby suggesting that factors other than the substituent inductive effect also influence E degrees. Ansa bridges with single-atom linkers, for example [Me(2)C] and [Me(2)Si], exert a net electron-withdrawing effect, but the effect is diminished upon increasing the length of the bridge. Indeed, with a linker comprising a three-carbon chain, the [CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)] ansa bridge becomes electron-donating. In contrast to the electron-withdrawing effect observed for a single [Me(2)Si] ansa bridge, a pair of vicinal [Me(2)Si] ansa bridges exerts an electron-donating effect relative to that from the single bridge. DFT calculations demonstrate that the electron-withdrawing effect of the [Me(2)C] and [Me(2)Si] ansa-bridges is due to stabilization of the cyclopentadienyl ligand acceptor orbital, which subsequently enhances back-donation from the metal. The calculations also indicate that the electron-donating effect of two vicinal [Me(2)Si] ansa bridges, relative to that of a single bridge, is a result of it enforcing a ligand conformation that reduces back-donation from the metal.

Recent studies suggest that the developmental toxicity associated with childhood lead poisoning may be attributable to interactions of Pb(II) with proteins containing thiol-rich structural zinc-binding sites. Here, we report detailed structural studies of Pb(II) in such sites, providing critical insights into the mechanism by which lead alters the activity of these proteins. X-ray absorption spectroscopy of Pb(II) bound to structural zinc-binding peptides reveals that Pb(II) binds in a three-coordinate Pb(II)-S3 mode, while Zn(II) is known to bind in a four-coordinate mode in these proteins. This Pb(II)-S3 coordination in peptides is consistent with a trigonal pyramidal Pb(II)-S3 model compound previously reported by Bridgewater and Parkin, but it differs from many other reports in the small molecule literature which have suggested Pb(II)-S4 as a preferred coordination mode for lead. Reexamination of the published structures of these "Pb(II)-S4" compounds reveals that, in almost all cases, the coordination number of Pb is actually 5, 6, or 8. The results reported herein combined with this new review of published structures suggest that lead prefers to avoid fourcoordination in sulfur-rich sites, binding instead as trigonal pyramidal Pb(II)-S3 or as Pb(II)-S5-8. In the case of structural zinc-binding protein sites, the observation that lead binds in a three-coordinate mode, and in a geometry that is fundamentally different from the natural coordination of zinc in these sites, explains why lead disrupts the structure of these peptides and thus provides the first detailed molecular understanding of the developmental toxicity of lead.

The Covalent Bond Classification (CBC) method provides a means to classify covalent molecules according to the number and types of bonds that surround an atom of interest. This approach is based on an elementary molecular orbital analysis of the bonding involving the central atom (M), with the various interactions being classified according to the number of electrons that each neutral ligand contributes to the bonding orbital. Thus, with respect to the atom of interest (M), the ligand can contribute either two (L), one (X), or zero (Z) electrons to a bonding orbital. A normal covalent bond is represented as M–X, whereas dative covalent bonds are represented as either M←L or M→Z, according to whether the ligand is the donor (L) or acceptor (Z). A molecule is classified as [ML l X x Z z ] according to the number of L, X, and Z ligand functions that surround M. Not only does the [ML l X x Z z ] designation provide a formal classification of a molecule, but it also indicates the electron configuration, the valence, and the number of nonbonding electrons on M. As such, the classification allows a student to understand relationships between molecules, thereby increasing their ability to conceptualize and learn the chemistry of the elements.

The overall reductive elimination of RH from the ansa-molybdenocene and -tungstenocene complexes [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]Mo(Ph)H and [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(R)H (R = Me, Ph) is characterized by an inverse primary kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the tungsten system but a normal KIE for the molybdenum system. Oxidative addition of PhH to [[Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]M] also differs for the two systems, with the molybdenum system exhibiting a substantial intermolecular KIE, while no effect is observed for the tungsten system. These differences in KIEs indicate a significant difference in the reactivity of the hydrocarbon adducts [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]M(RH) for the molybdenum and tungsten systems. Specifically, oxidative cleavage of [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]M(RH) is favored over RH dissociation for the tungsten system, whereas RH dissociation is favored for the molybdenum system. A kinetics analysis of the interconversion of [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(CH(3))D and [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(CH(2)D)H, accompanied by elimination of methane, provides evidence that the reductive coupling step in this system is characterized by a normal KIE. This observation demonstrates that the inverse KIE for overall reductive elimination is a result of an inverse equilibrium isotope effect (EIE) and is not a result of an inverse KIE for a single step. A previous report of an inverse kinetic isotope effect of 0.76 for C-H reductive coupling in the [Tp]Pt(CH(3))H(2) system is shown to be erroneous. Finally, a computational study provides evidence that the reductive coupling of [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(Ph)H proceeds via the initial formation of a benzene sigma-complex, rather than an eta(2)-pi-benzene complex.