Can Cyclen Bind Alkali Metal Azides? A DFT Study as a Precursor to Synthesis1. Issue 13 (16th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bhakhoa, Hanusha; Rhyman, Lydia; Lee, Edmond P. F.; Ramasami, Ponnadurai; Dyke, John M.
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 22:Issue 13(2016)
• Page Start: 4469
• Page End: 4482
• Publication Date: 2016-02-16
• Subjects: azides -- alkali metals -- density functional calculations -- host–guest chemistry -- sandwich complexes; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201504607
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

Abstract: Can cyclen (1, 4, 7, 10‐tetraazacyclododecane) bind alkali metal azides? This question is addressed by studying the geometric and electronic structures of the alkali metal azide‐cyclen [M(cyclen)N3 ] complexes using density functional theory (DFT). The effects of adding a second cyclen ring to form the sandwich alkali metal azide‐cyclen [M(cyclen)2 N3 ] complexes are also investigated. N3 − is found to bind to a M + (cyclen) template to give both end‐on and side‐on structures. In the end‐on structures, the terminal nitrogen atom of the azide group (N1) bonds to the metal as well as to a hydrogen atom of the cyclen ring through a hydrogen bond in an end‐on configuration to the cyclen ring. In the side‐on structures, the N3 unit is bonded (in a side‐on configuration to the cyclen ring) to the metal through the terminal nitrogen atom of the azide group (N1), and through the other terminal nitrogen atom (N3) of the azide group by a hydrogen bond to a hydrogen atom of the cyclen ring. For all the alkali metals, the N3 ‐side‐on structure is lowest in energy. Addition of a second cyclen unit to [M(cyclen)N3 ] to form the sandwich compounds [M(cyclen)2 N3 ] causes the bond strength between the metal and the N3 unit to decrease. It is hoped that this computational study will be a precursor to the synthesis and experimental study of these new macrocyclic compounds; structural parameters and infrared spectra were computed, which will assist future experimental work. Abstract : [M(cyclen)N3 ] complexes computed : The geometric and electronic structures of the alkali metal azide‐1, 4, 7, 10‐tetraazacyclododecane complexes, [M(cyclen)N3 ], were studied using density functional theory (DFT). N3 − is found to bind to a M + (cyclen) template to give both end‐on and side‐on structures. The effects of adding a second cyclen ring to form the sandwich alkali metal azide‐cyclen [M(cyclen)2 N3 ] complexes were also investigated (see figure).