How does Lewis acid affect the reactivity of mononuclear high-valent chromium-oxo species? A theoretical study

Abstract

Density functional theory calculations were performed to study the Lewis acid (Sc3+) effects on the reactivity of ultrahigh-valent chromium-oxo species toward both C-H bond activation and sulfoxidation reactions. Calculations confirm that the oxidizing power of chromium-oxo species is enhanced by binding Sc3+ ion. In sulfoxidation reactions, especially, binding Sc3+ ion enhances the redox potential of the chromium-oxo species, whereby the activation barrier is decreased dramatically. The details of the reactions obtained by theory are disclosed in this work.