Probing the chemical nature of dihydrogen complexation to transition metals, a gas phase case study: H2-CuF
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Updated: May 15, 2026
In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
Published on: February 1, 2020
Daniel J Frohman1, G S Grubbs, Zhenhong Yu
1Department of Chemistry, Wesleyan University, 52 Lawn Avenue, Middletown, Connecticut 06459-0180, United States.
Abstract:
This work details a gas phase study of the bonding of hydrogen to the metal in a simple diatomic analogue of a metal organic framework (MOF), copper fluoride, via dihydrogen complexation. This is the first microwave study of these types of interactions. J = 1-0 transitions of para-H(2)-CuF, ortho-D(2)-CuF, and HD-CuF have been measured and analyzed. The complexes were prepared by laser ablating a metal copper rod in the presence of a gas mix of 0.6% SF(6) and 3% H(2) in Ar undergoing supersonic expansion. The binding energy of this complex is addressed through quantum chemical calculations and measured nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for copper and deuterium. The significant change in the calculated binding energy and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants in relation to similar molecules suggest bonding greater than that typical of van der Waals interactions.
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