Fluoroborylene Complexes FBMF2 (M = Sc, Y, La, Ce): Matrix Infrared Spectra and Quantum Chemical Calculations

Inorg Chem. 2019 Feb 18;58(4):2363-2371. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b02801. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Abstract

Laser-ablated group 3 transition metal and cerium atom reactions with boron trifluoride were explored in excess solid neon at 4 K through matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The fluoroborylene complexes FBMF2 (M = Sc, Y, La, Ce) were trapped in inert gas and identified by the isotopic substitutions. The observed frequencies of FBMF2 were reproduced by DFT, NEVPT2, and CASSCF calculations. From Sc to La, the observed F-11B stretching mode has been observed at 1391.9 cm-1 (Sc), 1370.8 cm-1 (Y), and 1337.1 cm-1(La); however, for Ce this mode shifts up to 1340.8 cm-1, which is due to relativistic effects. The electron localization function (ELF) analysis and the theory of atoms in molecules (AIM) were applied to investigate the character of the B-M bond in FBMF2 molecules, which favors bond order 1.5.