Linear MgCp*₂ vs Bent CaCp*₂: London Dispersion, Ligand-Induced Charge Localizations, and Pseudo-Pregostic C–H···Ca Interactions

In the family of metallocenes, MgCp*2 (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) exhibits a regular linear sandwich structure, whereas CaCp*2 is bent in both the gas phase and solid state. Bending is typically observed for metal ions which possess a lone pair. Here, we investigate which electronic differences cause the bending in complexes lacking lone pairs at the metal atoms. The bent gas-phase geometry of CaCp*2 suggests that the bending must have an intramolecular origin. Geometry optimizations with and without dispersion effects/d-type polarization functions on MCp2 and MCp*2 gas-phase complexes (M = Ca, Mg) establish that attractive methyl···methyl London dispersion interactions play a decisive role in the bending in CaCp*2. A sufficient polarizability of the metal to produce a shallow bending potential energy curve is a prerequisite but is not the reason for the bending. Concomitant ligand-induced charge concentrations and localizations at the metal atoms are studied in further detail, for which real-spac...