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Scientific Reports volume 12, Article number: 10041 (2022) Cite this article

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Planar hypercoordinate structures are gaining immense attention due to the shift from common paradigm. Herein, our high level ab initio calculations predict that planar pentacoordinate aluminium and gallium centres in Cu5Al2+ and Cu5Ga2+ clusters are global minima in their singlet ground states. These clusters are thermodynamically and kinetically very stable. Detailed electronic structure analyses reveal the presence of σ-aromaticity which is the driving force for the stability of the planar form.

Introducing new chemical structures is one of the most important goals in chemistry. Challenging the known dogma of chemical structure has always been fascinating in chemical community. One such example of rule breaking structure is the case of planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) which was first convincingly proposed in 1968 to exist in planar D4h transition states between tetrahedral enantiomers of simple substituted methane1. This observation led Hoffmann, Alder, and Wilcox in 1970 to explore the electronic feature for the stabilization of such ptCs by using molecular orbital theory2. However, ab initio study revealed that isolation of planar methane is impossible as the energy difference between the planar and tetrahedral form is3 130 kcal/mol. The first global minimum ptCs were predicted in 1976 on some Li-substituted ptC molecules and 1,1-dilithiocyclopropane and 3,3-dilithio-cyclopropene molecules4. The first experimental evidence of ptC came in the year5 1977. Since then many planar penta- (ppC), hexa- (phC) and hepta-coordinate (p7C) carbon were computationally explored6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15. For example, in 2008, the first ppC, CAl5+ was experimentally characterized and theoretically found to be global minima14. Similarly, the first phC, B6C2 was proposed by Schleyer et al.11 however, the latter study revealed that carbon avoids planar hypercoordination12. The true global minimum containing a phC was recently proposed15 which contain a planar hexacoordinate carbon atom surrounded by ligands with half covalent and half ionic bonding. Such achievements of novel hypercoordinate carbon (hpC) molecules have created a new dogma in present day chemistry that highest coordination number of carbon in no longer four.

These studies have also inspired the quest for other systems containing planar hypercoordinate main group elements such as group 13 elements. The first molecule containing planar hexacoordinate boron (phB) was predicted in16 1991 which triggered further examples of hypercoordinate boron16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28. Zhai et al.20 reported experimental and theoretical evidence of perfectly planar B8- and B9- anions clusters with hepta and octa-coordinate boron atom. Theoretical study by Yu et al.26 revealed that B6H5+ cation is aromatic with a planar pentacoordinate boron (ppB) centre. We have also recently reported a phB species, BBe6H6+ cluster featuring double aromaticity27. Unlike B, its heavier analogues (Al and Ga) received little attention in the realm of planar hypercoordination. Schleyer and co-workers had shown that there is a dramatic drop in the energy of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) upon planarization of28 AlH4−. Experimental realization of ptAl species has been reported29,30. Averkiev et al.31 have made an in silico prediction of planar nonacoordinate aluminum centre, AlB9, based on previously proved doubly aromatic boron clusters20. All boron planar aromatic clusters has also been studied by both theoretically and experimentally32,33. A cluster containing a phAl in the global minimum form of Al4C6 cluster was also reported34. Similarly, recent theoretical study has also reported a thermodynamically and kinetically stable phGa species35. Despite of these achievements, reports on planar pentacoordinate Al and Ga centres (ppAl and ppGa) in isolated clusters are extremely rare. Herein, we report the global minimum of ppAl and ppGa centres in isolated binary clusters, Cu5Al2+ and Cu5Ga2+. The proposed ppAl and ppGa clusters are found to be thermodynamically and kinetically stable and possess double aromaticity.

In order to explore systematically the potential energy surface of the title compound, ABCluster code36,37 in combination with M06-2X/TZVP level38 has been adopted which produced 30 stationary points. For the exploration of the potential energy surface, both the singlet and triplet states were considered. Full optimization of the low lying isomers was done using M06-2X/def2-TZVP level. The motivation towards using M06-2X functional is due to the fact that this functional has been used to explore potential energy surface of planar pentacoordinate nitrogen (ppN)39, planar hexacoordinate boron (ppB)27 and ppM (M = Zn, Cd, Hg)40. Moreover, to investigate the artifact of the level of theory used, we have further optimized the local minima ppAl and ppGa structures at TPSSh41 and PBE042 level. All these provided minimum energy structures with large value of the lowest vibrational frequency (Table S1, supporting information). Hence, the discussion in the text will be based on M06-2X results unless otherwise noted. The energies were then refined by running single point calculations at CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP level of theory on M06-2X optimized geometries. Vibrational harmonic frequency calculations were also performed at M06-2X/def2-TZVP level to confirm that the structures are true minima. All these calculations were performed using Gaussian16 suite of programs43. The electronic structure of the molecules were analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO)44 calculations at M06-2X/def2-TZV level. ETS-NOCV analysis were performed at M06-2X/def2-TZVP level considering cationic Al and Ga (triplet) and triplet Cu5+ as ΔEorb for these fragmentation is the least and hence the best choice45,46. In addition, adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP)47, quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM)48 and electron localization function (ELF)49,50 were also analyzed at M06-2X/def2-TZV level using Multiwfn program code51. To quantify the aromaticity, nucleus independent chemical shift calculations (NICS)52 were performed by placing a ghost atom (symbol Bq) at the geometric mean of the Cu-Al-Cu and Cu-Ga-Cu rings and with an incremental distance of 0.2 Å above the ring upto a distance of 2 Å.

Figure 1 shows the optimized geometries of the global minima of Cu5Al2+ and Cu5Ga2+ along with their low energy isomers calculated at CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP//M06-2X/def2-TZVP level. The global minima of Cu5Al2+ (1A) and Cu5Ga2+ (1G) clusters feature D5h symmetry in their singlet spin ground states. The Cu-Al distance in 1A is 2.481 Å (Wiberg bond index is 0.512) while the Cu-Cu distance is 2.917 Å (WIB is 0.052). Similarly, the Cu-Ga distance in 1G is 2.500 Å (WIB is 0.492) and Cu-Cu distances are in the range 2.932–2.942 Å (WIBs are in the range (0.045–0.048). The computed natural charges using NBO method reveals a negative charge of − 1.28e and − 1.37e for the central Al and Ga atoms respectively while Cu atoms are significantly positive. This implies a significant amount of charge donation from the Cu5 unit to the central Al and Ga atoms. Moreover, the attraction between these opposite charges may result in high degree of electrostatic interaction which may also account for the stability of these clusters.

The relative energies in kcal/mol of the low energy isomers (A–L) of Cu5Al2+ (top) and Cu5Ga2+ (bottom) calculated at CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP//M06-2X/def2-TZVP level of theory. T1 diagnostic values are given within parenthesis.

The detailed electronic structure of the global minima has been studied using natural bonding orbital (NBO) analysis44. Figure 2 shows the frontier Kohn–Sham orbitals along with their energies in eV. The HOMO in each case is a doubly degenerate σ orbital consisting of Cu–Cu and Cu–Al/Ga bonds while the HOMO-1 encompasses the whole ring. These three sets of σ molecular orbitals (MOs) are responsible for showing σ-aromaticity according to Hückel (4n + 2) rule. However, there is no occupied π MOs which suggests absence of any π-aromaticity in these clusters. The calculated HOMO–LUMO gaps of these clusters are significant which may account for the stability of the singlet spin states of these clusters. The electronic structure of these clusters is exactly similar to that of σ-aromatic Au5Zn+ cluster53.

Frontier Kohn–Sham orbitals of (a) Cu5Al2+ and (b) Cu5Ga2+. Contour value used was 0.03 au.

We then turned our attention to investigate the electronic structure of the ppAl and ppGa structures using adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) scheme47. AdNDP partitions the electron density in n-centre n-electron bonds and is very helpful in understanding the presence of multicentre bonds47. Figure 3 shows the bonds recovered using AdNDP analysis of Cu5Al2+ cluster as a representative case. AdNDP locates five d orbitals (1c–2e) on each Cu atom with occupation number of 1.99 |e| and three 6c–2e Cu–Al σ bonds which may result in σ-aromaticity in the ring. AdNDP analysis reveals the absence of π bonds and hence, certifies the absence of π aromaticity. The nature of Cu–Al and Cu–Ga bonds have been further analyzed within the realm of quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM)48 and electron localization function (ELF)49,50. The Cu-Al and Cu-Ga bonds are characterized by significant presence of electron density ρ (0.04 a.u) at the bond critical points, negative value of Laplacian of electron density ∇2ρ, negative value of local electronic energy density, H(r) and significant value of electron localization function (ELF) (Table 1). All these topological parameters refer to covalent character of the Cu–Al and Cu–Ga bonds. The Laplacian plot of electron density and electron localization function (Fig. 4) in the molecular plane clearly reveals significant electron delocalization.

Bonds recovered using AdNDP analysis of Cu5Al2+ cluster.

Plot of (a) laplacian of electron density (red = charge concentration, blue = charge depletion) and (b) electron localization function (ELF) in the molecular plane of Cu5Al2+ and (c) and (d) are for Cu5Ga2+.

Again, to further quantify the strength of Cu–Al and Cu–B bonds, we carried out extended-transition state method for energy decomposition analysis combined with natural orbital of chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) (Fig. 5)45,46. The ETS-NOCV analysis suggests significant covalent nature of Cu–Al and Cu–Ga bonds. The NOCV pair densities were generated by considering two fragments, Al+ and Ga+ in triplet state and Cu5+ in triplet state. Suppl. Table S2 provides the numerical results of ETS-NOCV considering Al, Ga and Cu5 in different charges and electronic states as interacting fragments. Inspection of the relative size of ΔEorb value reveal that the most reasonable fragmentation scheme is Al and Ga in cationic triplet state with ns1np1⊥ forming an electron-sharing π bond with the triplet Cu5+ state. This fragmentation provides the best description of ETS-NOCV as these fragments give the lowest ΔEorb value. Apart from 3Al+/3 Ga+ → 3Cu5+ σ-donation, a significant amount of 3Cu5+ → 3Al+/3Ga+ σ-backdonation is also evident in the analysis. In addition, a significant amount of 3Cu5+ → 3Al+/3Ga+ π-donation is also found. These 3Cu5+ → 3Al+/3Ga+ donations account for the negative charges at central Al and Ga atoms.

Plot of deformation density, Δρ obtained from ETS-NOCV analysis using Al+ and Ga+ (triplet) and Cu5+ in triplet state for (a) Cu5Al2+ and (b) Cu5Ga2+ clusters. Orbital values are given in kcal/mol. |υ| represents the (alpha/beta) charge eigenvalues. The direction of charge flow is red → green. Cut-off employed, Δρ = 0.004.

For the quantify the aromaticity in the ppAl and ppGa global minima, we have performed nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS)52 calculations. NICS calculations are shown in Fig. 6. Significant negative values of the NICSZZ are found in the molecular plane and upto 2 Å above the molecular plane. This suggests the presence significant diatropic ring current and hence aromaticity in these clusters. The presence of σ-aromaticity has also been reported for planar tetracoordinate fluorine atom where “localization” played a vital role than delocalization54. Similar situation has also been reported of ppSi and ppGe clusters55.

NICSZZ (ppm) against the perpendicular distance (Å) from the centre of the (a) Cu–Al–Cu in Cu5Al2+ cluster and (b) Cu–Ga–Cu in Cu5Ga2+ cluster.

To investigate the dynamic stability of these clusters, we performed Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations for a time period of 25 ps (Fig. 7). with a step size of 0.5 fs from the equilibrium global minimum structure with random velocities assigned to the atoms according to a Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution for one temperature, and then normalized so that the net moment for the entire system is zero. The BOMD calculations were performed at room temperature (298 K) and at elevated temperature (450 K). Figure 7 reveals that these ppAl and ppGa clusters are stable even at elevated temperature within a time frame of 25 ps.

Plot of RMSD (Å) versus time (ps) obtained from BOMD simulation (M06-2X/TZVP) at 298 K and 450 K for (a) Cu5Al2+ and (b) Cu5Ga2+ clusters.

In summary, quantum chemical calculations predict the planar petacoordinate Al and Ga centres in Cu5Al2+ and Cu5Ga2+ are the global minima. These clusters are found to possess σ-aromaticity which may render stability to the planar form. These planar clusters are thermodynamically and kinetically very stable. Planar pentacoordination of other heavier group 13 elements such as In and Tl are not found. Although, the planar form of Cu5In2+ is true local minimum, however, it lies 3.4 kcal/mol higher than the global one (Suppl Figure S1). Planar form of Cu5Tl2+ is a higher order saddle point on the potential energy surface. Thus, it seems that Cu5 framework provides the best cavity size and electronic feature to stabilize planar form of Al and Ga as they have similar size. We feel that these clusters may be a suitable target for experimental characterization.

All the DATA for this work is available with the corresponding authors on reasonable request.

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Authors acknowledges the computational facility of Cotton University.

Department of Chemistry, Advanced Computational Chemistry Centre, Cotton University, Panbazar, Guwahati, Assam, 781001, India

Amlan J. Kalita, Kangkan Sarmah, Farnaz Yashmin, Ritam R. Borah, Indrani Baruah, Rinu P. Deka & Ankur K. Guha

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A.K.; K.S.; F.Y.; R.R.B.; I.B. and R.P.D did the calculations and A.K.G. supervised the project and wrote the original draft.

Correspondence to Ankur K. Guha.

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Kalita, A.J., Sarmah, K., Yashmin, F. et al. σ-Aromaticity in planar pentacoordinate aluminium and gallium clusters. Sci Rep 12, 10041 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14430-4

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Received: 17 March 2022

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14430-4

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