The BCO molecule, prepared by the reaction of boron atoms with CO, has been trapped in solid neon and argon matrices at 4 K. The X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra in the two matrices were analyzed to show that its ground electronic state is 4-SIGMA, with a zero-field-splitting parameter D = 0.074 cm-1. Hyperfine splittings observed for the B-10, B-11 and C-13 nuclei indicate that the three spins are predominantly on the boron atom. Ab initio calculations, at both the SCF and MBPT(2) levels, find the lowest state of both BCO and BOC to be 4-SIGMA+, but the carbonyl is about 70 kcal/mol more stable than BOC. The calculated spin density on boron in BCO is 0.81 au compared to the experimental value of approximately 0.83 au. Also, calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies for the two molecules are quite different, and the distinctive C-O stretching frequency calculated to lie at 2101 cm-1 for BCO was observed in an argon matrix at 2091 cm-1. The resultant picture of bonding in BCO is almost that of a classic Lewis acid-base bonded complex with the three spins distributed in essentially P-pi-2 and sp-sigma orbitals on boron.
Molecules that contain boron-boron multiple bonds are extremely rare due to the electron-deficient nature of boron. Here we report experimental and theoretical evidence of a neutral OCBBCO molecule with some boron-boron triple bond character. The molecule was produced and unambiguously characterized by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that the molecule has a linear singlet ground state with a very short boron-boron bond length.
Reaction of boron atoms with carbon monoxide: matrix infrared spectra of BCO, (BCO)2, and B(CO)2
作者:Thomas R. Burkholder、Lester Andrews
DOI:10.1021/j100204a020
日期:1992.12
Infrared spectra were obtained for Ar/CO samples codeposited with laser ablated boron atoms on a 12 +/- 1 K salt window. BCO was identified as the primary reaction product, based on isotopic substitution at all atomic positions and ab initio structure and frequency calculations. The dicarbonyl, B(CO)2, and the linear dimer, (BCO)2, were also identified from the infrared spectra. A higher cluster species containing bridging carbonyls appeared on annealing and was stable until the matrix sublimed away.