Gas-phase geometries and energies of bis(2,2′-bipyridine) interacting either with Cu(I) or Ag(I):: Computational study

With a polarized double-zeta basis set, we carried out MP2 and density functional theory geometry optimization of bis(2,2'-bipyridine) interacting either with Cu(I) or Ag(I). The computed gas-phase geometries of both Cu and Ag complexes present tetrahedral distortions around the ions. However, geometry optimization on Cu or Ag ions complexing with ammonia molecules yield perfect tetrahedral coordination and interaction energies comparable to those of the bis(2,2'-bipyridine) complexes. Solid-state laboratory studies on complexes of the same metal ions with substituted bis(2,2'-bipyridine) revealed tetrahedral distortions around the ions, even stronger than those computed in the gas phase. From our analysis of the potential interaction energies we conclude that the origin of the larger distortions in the solid state result from stacking interactions. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.