Microhydration effects on the electronic spectra of protonated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: [naphthalene-(H2O)(n = 1,2)]H+

Vibrational and electronic spectra of protonated naphthalene (NaphH(+)) microsolvated by one and two water molecules were obtained by photofragmentation spectroscopy. The IR spectrum of the monohydrated species is consistent with a structure with the proton located on the aromatic molecule, NaphH(+)-H(2)O. Similar to isolated NaphH(+), the first electronic transition of NaphH(+)-H(2)O (S(1)) occurs in the visible range near 500 nm. The doubly hydrated species lacks any absorption in the visible range (420-600 nm) but absorbs in the UV range, similar to neutral Naph. This observation is consistent with a structure, in which the proton is located on the water moiety, Naph-(H(2)O)(2)H(+). Ab initio calculations for [Naph-(H(2)O)(n)]H(+) confirm that the excess proton transfers from Naph to the solvent cluster upon attachment of the second water molecule.     

The proton complex of a diaza-macropentacycle: structure, slow formation, and chirality induction by ion pairing with the optically active 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl phosphate anion

The protonation of a sterically crowded [N2S6] macropentacycle (1) with 1 equiv of CF3SO3H in CDCl3 is slow and gives the singly (oo(+) [1 x H](+)) and doubly (o(+)o(+) [1 x 2H](2+)) protonated forms as kinetic products, the i(+)o form of [1 x H](+) being the thermodynamic product. i(+)o [1 x H](+) is C3 helically chiral in the solid state and in solution. The barrier to racemization (DeltaG(double dagger)) of the [1 x H](+) propeller is >71 kJ mol(-1). The ammonium proton is encapsulated in the tetrahedral coordination sphere provided by the endo (i) nitrogen bridgehead atom and the three proximal thioether sulfurs, which makes [1 x H](+) a proton complex. Use of the optically active acid (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate (BNPH) in chloroform allowed us to induce a significant diastereomeric excess (24% de), which produced a detectable ICD. The de was decreased in acetone-d6 (10%), suggesting that the sense of chirality of [1 x H](+) is controlled by ion-pair interactions. Detailed NMR studies allowed us to locate the chiral anion on the endo side of [1 x H](+), in the cavity lined by endo t-Bu groups, and to establish that the rate of anion exchange in [1 x H][(S,R)-(+/-)-BNP] was higher than the rate of propeller inversion of [1 x H](+).     

Intercalation of Methylene Blue into Mordenites: Role of Zeolite Acidity

The intercalation of methylene blue into mordenite zeolite was studied by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Methylene blue was incorporated into mordenite by ion exchange in the aqueous phase. Samples of sodium, calcium and protonated mordenite were subjected to methylene blue loading. The DR spectra observed shortly after mixing the dye with sodium mordenite are those of aggregated species adsorbed on the surface. The period of intercalation is very short (1 h) for protonated mordenite and is too long for calcium mordenite (7 days). The hydrated mordenite samples containing intercalated methylene blue show two 660 and 610 nm bands which are assigned to monomeric and dimeric species of methylene blue, respectively. Upon dehydration a new band at 745 nm is observed which corresponds to the protonated dye molecule. The intensity of this band increases with severity of dehydration. Those dehydrated samples containing merely aggregated dye molecules adsorbed on the surface do not show the 745 nm band. The protonation of methylene blue is reversible by the dehydration-hydration process.     

New Methylene Blue (NMB) Encapsulated in Mesoporous AlMCM‐41 Material and Its Application for Amperometric Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Real Samples

New methylene blue (NMB) dye incorporated into AlMCM‐41 surfactant‐free and hybrid surfactant‐AlMCM‐41 mesophase. UV‐vis evidence shows that new methylene blue dye protonated in both cases of zeolites. New methylene blue is electroactive in zeolites and their electrochemical activity has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and compared to that of NMB in aqueous solutions. New methylene blue molecules are not released to the solution during CV measurements and are accessible to H₃O⁺ ions. The presence of surfactant affects the kinetics of the redox process through proton ions diffusion. The midpoint potentials (E_m) values show that new methylene blue dye incorporated into AlMCM‐41 can be reduced easily with respect to solution new methylene blue. New methylene blue interacting with surfactant polar heads and residual Br^? ions as a results, it shows a couple of peaks in high potential with respect to new methylene blue solution. The electrode made with methylene blue‐AlMCM‐41 without surfactant was used for the mediated oxidation of ascorbic acid. The anodic peak current observed in cyclic voltammetry was linearly dependent on the ascorbic acid concentration. The calibration plot was linear over the ascorbic acid concentration range 1.0×10^?5 to 5.0×10^?4 M. The detection limit of the method is 1.0×10^?5 M, low enough for trace ascorbic acid determination in various real samples.     

Proton transfer reactions and dynamics of sulfonic acid group in Nafion®

Proton transfer reactions and dynamics of the hydrophilic group (-SO(3)H) in Nafion? were studied at low hydration levels using the complexes formed from CF(3)SO(3)H, H(3)O(+) and nH(2)O, 1 ≤n≤ 3, as model systems. The equilibrium structures obtained from DFT calculations suggested at least two structural diffusion pathways at the -SO(3)H group namely, the "pass-through" and "pass-by" mechanisms. The former involves the protonation and deprotonation at the -SO(3)H group, whereas the latter the proton transfer in the adjacent Zundel complex. Analyses of the asymmetric O-H stretching frequencies (ν(OH)) of the hydrogen bond (H-bond) protons showed the threshold frequencies (ν(OH*)) of proton transfer in the range of 1700 to 2200 cm(-1). Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics (BOMD) simulations at 350 K anticipated slightly lower threshold frequencies (ν(A)(OH*,MD)), with two characteristic asymmetric O-H stretching frequencies being the spectral signatures of proton transfer in the H-bond complexes. The lower frequency (ν(A)(OH,MD))) is associated with the oscillatory shuttling motion and the higher frequency (ν(B)(OH,MD))) the structural diffusion motion. Comparison of the present results with BOMD simulations on protonated water clusters indicated that the -SO(3)H group facilitates proton transfer by reducing the vibrational energy for the interconversion between the two dynamic states (Δν), resulting in a higher population of the H-bonds with the structural diffusion motion. One could therefore conclude that the -SO(3)H groups in Nafion? act as active binding sites which provide appropriate structural, energetic and dynamic conditions for effective structural diffusion processes in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The present results suggested for the first time a possibility to discuss the tendency of proton transfer in H-bond using Δν(BA)(OH,MD)) and provided theoretical bases and guidelines for the investigations of proton transfer reactions in theory and experiment.     

TiO_2薄膜光催化降解亚甲基蓝(英文)

用常压气相沉积法镀膜制得的二氧化钛薄膜为催化剂,以紫外灯为光源,研究了亚甲基蓝的光催化降解。实验表明：镀膜时基片温度为２００℃;用铜线作为底物,在染料溶液中加Ｈ２Ｏ２,可提高光催化活性。     

Epifluorescence imaging of electrochemically switchable Langmuir-Blodgett films of Nafion

A combination of electrochemistry and luminescence methods was exploited to obtain information on the electrochemical activity and homogeneity of Nafion Langmuir-Blodgett films. The redox behavior of the Ru(bpy)3(2+) probe incorporated in the Nafion film was monitored by epifluorescence microscopy. The photoluminescent images, recorded by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, reflect the distribution of the probe in the film, which resulted as very uniform, particularly in comparison with spin-coated films. Apparent diffusion coefficients (Dapp) determined by cyclic voltammetry for films of less than 10 layers are in the range of 1 x 10(-12) to 8 x 10(-12) cm(2) s(-1), that is, 2 orders of magnitude lower than values reported in the literature for spin-coated Nafion films. The application to the electrode of a potential able to oxidize the luminescent Ru(bpy)3(2+) to the nonluminescent Ru(bpy)3(3+) switched off the photoluminescence with a response time that for the LB films was much shorter than that for the spin-coated ones. Experimental evidence and calculations indicate that lowering of the film thickness down to the nanometric level is very effective in shortening the switching time, notwithstanding the lowering of the Dapp value in LB films.     

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions at methylene blue adsorbed nafion and clay coated electrodes

Nafion and montmorillonite clay adsorbed methylene blue coated onto platinum electrode were prepared. These dye modified electrodes were used as photoelectrodes in a photogalvanic cell in the presence of Fe²⁺ ions. The photoelectrochemical investigations showed that the dye coated electrodes behaved as cathode upon irradiation whereas the plain platinum electrode dipped in a homogeneous solution containing methylene blue and Fe²⁺ ions behaved as anode. It is suggested that the intermediate complex formed between the photoreduced methylene blue and ferric ion lead to the reductive reaction at the coated electrode.     

Coupled Electron‐Proton Transport in Electropolymerized Methylene Blue and the Influences of Its Protonation Level on the Rate of Electron Exchange with β‐Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

This paper describes electrochemical characteristics of poly(methylene blue) electrolytically deposited on glassy carbon and examines the electrocatalytic activity of the polymer toward oxidation of the coenzyme NADH. Redox‐active properties of the cationic polyelectrolyte arose from both electron self‐exchange between electroactive sites and a high ionic film‐conductivity. The diffusion coefficient of charge carriers in the film increased with decreasing solution pH, indicating the pH dependence of the electron diffusion coefficient. The electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at the polymer‐modified electrode proceeded via an intermediate charge‐transfer complex of the reduced polymer with the oxidized coenzyme. The complex dissociated more rapidly into the oxidation products as the reduced polymer protonated. Thus, the rate constant for the cross‐exchange reaction rose with a decrease in pH. For NADH oxidation, the polyelectrolyte exhibited an electrocatalytic activity higher than the monomeric dye because of a stronger oxidizing power of the second oxidized form of the polymer.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Dry Gelatin Containing Bound Methylene Blue

Excited states of methylene blue bound to dry gelatin undergo electron-transfer quenching reactions with neighboring amino acid residues to give reduced, methylene blue-free radicals. At the low loadings of methylene blue bound to gelatin used in this work, the absorption spectra indicated that the methylene blue existed principally in its monomeric form. The rates of methylene blue fluorescence quenching depended on the temperature at which the gelatin was dried. There was no detectable fluorescence characteristic of the localized excited singlet state of methylene blue when the dye is bound to gelatin dried at 15°C, where a significant proportion of the protein exists in its a -helical form. Instead, weak emission with a maximum at 645 nm is observed. It is inferred from this that the rate of quenching of any localized excited singlet states of the dye bound to a -helical gelatin is very fast thereby competing efficiently with radiative relaxation. The weak emission at 645 nm is ascribed to a fluorescent exciplex formed between bound methylene blue and a neighboring electron/proton donor residue of the gelatin. While fluorescence characteristic of the localized methylene blue singlet state was observed from dyed gelatin dried at 50°C, i.e. in its random coil form, the triplet state is subject to rapid quenching by electron/proton transfer with protein moieties.     

Intermolecular proton binding in the presence of a large electric dipole: Ar-tagged vibrational predissociation spectroscopy of the CH3CN x H+ x OH2 and CH3CN x D+ x OD2 complexes

We report Ar-predissociation vibrational spectra of the binary proton-bound hydrates of acetonitrile (AN), AN x H(+) x OH(2) and AN x D(+) x OD(2), in the 600-3800 cm(-1) energy range. This complex was specifically chosen to explore the nature of the intermolecular proton bond when there is a large difference between the electric dipole moments of the two tethered molecules. Sharp, isotope-dependent bands in the vicinity of 1000 cm(-1) are traced to AN x H(+) x OH(2) vibrations involving the parallel displacement of the shared proton along the heavy atom axis, nu(sp)(parallel). These transitions lie much lower in energy than anticipated by a recently reported empirical trend which found the nu(sp)(parallel) fundamentals to be strongly correlated with the difference in proton affinities (DeltaPA) between the two tethered molecules (Roscioli et al., Science, 2007, 316, 249). The different behavior of the AN x H(+) x OH(2) complex is discussed in the context of the recent theoretical prediction (Fridgen, J. Phys. Chem A., 2006, 110, 6122) that a large disparity in dipole moments would lead to such a deviation from the reported (DeltaPA) trend.     

Electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry of peptide cations containing a lysine homologue: a mobile proton model for explaining the observation of b-type product ions

Eleven doubly protonated peptides with a residue homologous to lysine were investigated by electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry (ECD-MS). Lysine homologues provide the unique opportunity to examine the ECD fragmentation behavior by allowing us to vary the length of the lysine side chain, with minimal structural change. The lysine homologue has a primary amine side chain with a length that successively decreases by one methylene (CH(2)) unit from the --CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)NH(2) of lysine and the accompanying decrease of its proton affinities: lysine (K), 1006.5(+/-7.2) kJ/mol; ornithine (K(*)), 1001.1(+/-6.6) kJ/mol; 2,4-diaminobutanoic acid (K(**)), 975.8(+/-7.4) kJ/mol; 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (K(***)), 950.2(+/-7.2) kJ/mol. In general, the lysine-homologous peptides exhibited overall ECD fragmentation patterns similar to that of the lysine-containing peptides in terms of the locations, abundances, and ion types of products, such as yielding c(+) and z(+.) ions as the dominant product ions. However, a close inspection of product ion mass spectra showed that ECD-MS for the alanine-rich peptides with an ornithinyl or 2,4-diaminobutanoyl residue gave rise to b ions, while the lysinyl-residue-containing peptides did not, in most cases, produce any b ions. The peptide selectivity in the generation of b(+) ions could be understood from within the framework of the mobile proton model in ECD-MS, previously proposed by Cooper (Ref. 29). The exact mass analysis of the resultant b ions reveals that these b ions are not radical species but rather the cationic species with R-CO(+) structure (or protonated oxozalone ion), that is, b(+) ions. The absence of [M+2H](+.) species in the ECD mass spectra and the selective b(+)-ion formation are evidence that the peptides underwent H-atom loss upon electron capture, and then the resulting reduced species dissociated following typical MS/MS fragmentation pathways. This explanation was further supported by extensive b(+) ions generated in the ECD of alanine-based peptides with extended conformations.     

Electrochemical Preparation of Brilliant‐Blue‐Modified Poly(diallyldimethylammonium Chloride) and Nafion‐Coated Glassy Carbon Electrodes and Their Electrocatalytic Behavior Towards Oxygen and L‐Cysteine

Brilliant blue FCF‐modified glassy carbon electrodes have been prepared by cycling the Nafion (or poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC)) coated electrodes repeatedly 15 cycles in brilliant blue FCF (BB FCF) dye solution. The BB FCF molecules are incorporated into Nafion coating by cycling the film‐covered electrode between +0.3 to 1.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in pH 1.5 BB FCF solution while PDDAC‐coated electrode cycled between 0 to ?1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in pH 6.5 BB FCF solution to immobilize the dye. Electrostatic interaction between dye molecule and PDDAC was predominant in PDDAC coating whereas immobilization of dye in Nafion film attributed to the combined effect of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The voltammetric features of BB FCF‐modified electrodes resemble that of surface‐confined redox couples. The peak potentials of BB FCF‐incorporated PDDAC‐coated electrode were shifted to more positive potential region with decreasing pH of contacting solution. BB FCF‐modified electrodes showed electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of oxygen and oxidation of L ‐cysteine with significant decease of overvoltage compared to unmodified electrode. The BB FCF‐modified Nafion‐coated electrode was tested for its analytical applications toward determination of L ‐cysteine. The linear range of calibration plot at BB FCF‐modified Nafion‐coated electrode is 10 to 100 μM, which coincides with L ‐cysteine levels in biological fluids. Sensitivity and detection limit of the electrode are 111 nA μM^?1 and 0.5 μM, respectively.     

Protonation of gas-phase aromatic molecules: IR spectrum of the fluoronium isomer of protonated fluorobenzene

The IR spectrum of the fluoronium isomer of protonated fluorobenzene (F-C(6)H(6)F(+), phenylfluoronium) is recorded in the vicinity of the C-H and F-H stretch fundamentals to obtain the first structured spectrum of an isolated protonated aromatic molecule in the gas phase. Stable F-C(6)H(6)F(+) ions are produced via proton transfer from CH(5)(+) to fluorobenzene (C(6)H(5)F) in a supersonic plasma expansion. The F-C(6)H(6)F(+) spectrum recorded between 2,540 and 4,050 cm(-1) is consistent with a weakly bound ion-dipole complex composed of HF and the phenyl cation, HF-C(6)H(5)(+). The strongest transition occurs at 3,645 cm(-1) and is assigned to the F-H stretch (sigma(FH)). The antisymmetric C-H stretch of the two ortho hydrogen atoms, sigma(CH) = 3,125 cm(-1), is nearly unshifted from bare C(6)H(5)(+), indicating that HF complexation has little influence on the C-H bond strength of C(6)H(5)(+). Despite the simultaneous production of the more stable ring protonated carbenium isomers of C(6)H(6)F(+) (fluorobenzenium) in the electron ionization source, F-C(6)H(6)F(+) can selectively be photodissociated into C(6)H(5)(+) and HF under the present experimental conditions, because it has a much lower dissociation energy than all carbenium isomers. Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory using the 6-311G(2df,2pd) basis support the interpretation of the experimental data and provide further details on structural, energetic, and vibrational properties of F-C(6)H(6)F(+), the carbenium isomers of C(6)H(6)F(+), and other weakly bound HF-C(6)H(5)(+) ion-dipole complexes. The dissociation energy of F-C(6)H(6)F(+) with respect to dehydrofluorination is calculated as D(0) = 4521 cm(-1) (approximately 54 kJ/mol). Analysis of the charge distribution in F-C(6)H(6)F(+) supports the notation of a HF-C(6)H(5)(+) ion-dipole complex, with nearly the whole positive charge of the added proton distributed over the C(6)H(5)(+) ring. As a result, protonation at the F atom strongly destabilizes the C-F bond in C(6)H(5)F.     

Electrophoretic deposition of phthalocyanine in organic solutions containing trifluoroacetic acid

The absorption spectra of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) solutions containing trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA) shows that the number of protons coordinating to the CuPc molecule was 1 and 2 for the first and second proton adducts, respectively, which indicates the formations of CuPcH(+) and CuPcH(2)(2+). This CuPc molecule may act as a catalyst to dissociate TFAA into trifluoroacetate anion (A(-)) and H(+) and form the proton adducts. The electrical conductivity dependence of the solution on CuPc concentration also supports this mechanism. A dense film of CuPc was deposited on an indium tin oxide cathode plate by electrophoresis of the solution. Similar dense films of a wide variety of phthalocyanines (MPc; M = Cu, H(2), Fe, Ni, Zn, Pb, VO) were also deposited using this method. Similar films of CuPc were also formed using dichloromethane (DCM) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) in place of DCE. Depositions are ascribed to the migration of positively charged monomers (i.e., protonated MPc). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that these films are composed of fibrous crystallites, size of which was found to increase with the electrophoresis time, the strength of the applied electrical field and the concentration of CuPc in the bath. The influence of the dielectric constant of the organic solvent on the film growth is discussed.     

Decomposition of neutral, singly and doubly protonated benzoquinone in the gas phase

The unimolecular fragmentations of singly and doubly protonated ortho-, meta-, and para-benzoquinones (BQH(+) and BQH(2)(2+), respectively) are studied by tandem mass spectrometry. The dominant fragmentation pathways lead to the elimination of a neutral CO molecule from BQH(+) and, by charge separation, to the expulsion of protonated CO from BQH(2)(2+). Reaction mechanisms are elucidated based on labeling experiments and UB3 LYP calculations. These results reveal that the respective reactions proceed in an analogous fashion to the decarbonylation of neutral benzoquinones, which decompose into carbon monoxide and cyclopentadienone. Single protonation facilitates all steps on the reaction pathway with neutral CO and O-protonated cyclopentadienone as final products. In contrast, double protonation leads to an increase of the barriers for the decomposition yielding CO.H(+) and O-protonated cyclopentadienone. This major process of BQH(2)(2+) is accompanied by two minor channels, which lead to the elimination of neutral carbon monoxide and water, respectively. The proton affinity of the para-BQH(+) monocation is estimated as 3.6+/-0.3 eV.     

H/D isotopic exchange between water molecules at ice surfaces

H/D isotopic exchange between H(2)O and D(2)O molecules was studied at the surface of ice films at 90-140 K by the technique of Cs(+) reactive ion scattering. Ice films were deposited on a Ru(0001) substrate in different compositions of H(2)O and D(2)O and in various structures to study the kinetics of isotopic exchange. H/D exchange was very slow on an ice film at 95-100 K, even when H(2)O and D(2)O were uniformly mixed in the film. At 140 K, H/D exchange occurred in a time scale of several minutes on the uniform mixture film. Kinetic measurement gave the rate coefficient for the exchange reaction, k(140 K)=1.6(+/-0.3) x 10(-19) cm(2) molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(100 K)< or =5.7(+/-0.5) x 10(-21) cm(2) molecule(-1) s(-1) and the Arrhenius activation energy, E(a)> or =9.8 kJ mol(-1). Addition of HCl on the film to provide excess protons greatly accelerated the isotopic exchange reaction such that it went to completion very quickly at the surface. The rapid reaction, however, was confined within the first bilayer (BL) of the surface and did not readily propagate to the underlying sublayer. The isotopic exchange in the vertical direction was almost completely blocked at 95 K, and it slowly occurred only to a depth of 3 BLs from the surface at 140 K. Thus, the proton transfer was highly directional. The lateral proton transfer at the surface was attributed to the increased mobility of protonic defects at the molecularly disordered and activated surface. The slow, vertical proton transfer was probably assisted by self-diffusion of water molecules.     

On the gas-phase reactivity of complexed OH+ with halogenated alkanes

OH(+) is an extraordinarily strong oxidant. Complexed forms (L--OH(+)), such as H(2)OOH(+), H(3)NOH(+), or iron-porphyrin-OH(+) are the anticipated oxidants in many chemical reactions. While these molecules are typically not stable in solution, their isolation can be achieved in the gas phase. We report a systematic survey of the influence on L on the reactivity of L--OH(+) towards alkanes and halogenated alkanes, showing the tremendous influence of L on the reactivity of L--OH(+). With the help of with quantum chemical calculations, detailed mechanistic insights on these very general reactions are gained. The gas-phase pseudo-first-order reaction rates of H(2)OOH(+), H(3)NOH(+), and protonated 4-picoline-N-oxide towards isobutane and different halogenated alkanes C(n)H(2n+1)Cl (n=1-4), HCF(3), CF(4), and CF(2)Cl(2) have been determined by means of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance measurements. Reaction rates for H(2)OOH(+) are generally fast (7.2x10(-10)-3.0x10(-9) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) and only in the cases HCF(3) and CF(4) no reactivity is observed. In contrast to this H(3)NOH(+) only reacts with tC(4)H(9)Cl (k(obs)=9.2x10(-10)), while 4-CH(3)-C(5)H(4)N-OH(+) is completely unreactive. While H(2)OOH(+) oxidizes alkanes by an initial hydride abstraction upon formation of a carbocation, it reacts with halogenated alkanes at the chlorine atom. Two mechanistic scenarios, namely oxidation at the halogen atom or proton transfer are found. Accurate proton affinities for HOOH, NH(2)OH, a series of alkanes C(n)H(2n+2) (n=1-4), and halogenated alkanes C(n)H(2n+1)Cl (n=1-4), HCF(3), CF(4), and CF(2)Cl(2), were calculated by using the G3 method and are in excellent agreement with experimental values, where available. The G3 enthalpies of reaction are also consistent with the observed products. The tendency for oxidation of alkanes by hydride abstraction is expressed in terms of G3 hydride affinities of the corresponding cationic products C(n)H(2n+1) (+) (n=1-4) and C(n)H(2n)Cl(+) (n=1-4). The hypersurface for the reaction of H(2)OOH(+) with CH(3)Cl and C(2)H(5)Cl was calculated at the B3 LYP, MP2, and G3(m*) level, underlining the three mechanistic scenarios in which the reaction is either induced by oxidation at the hydrogen or the halogen atom, or by proton transfer.     

Spectral signatures and molecular origin of acid dissociation intermediates

The existence of a broad, mid-infrared absorption ranging from 1000 to 3000 cm(-1) is usually interpreted as a signature for the existence of protonated water networks. Herein, we use cryogenic mixtures of water and hydrogen fluoride (HF) and show experimental and computational evidence that similarly wide absorptions can be generated by a broad distribution of proton-shared and ion pair complexes. In the present case, we demonstrate that the broadening is mainly inhomogeneous, reflecting the fact that the topology of the first solvation shell determines the local degree of ionization and the shared-proton asymmetric stretching frequency within H2O x HF complexes. The extreme sensitivity of the proton transfer potential energy hypersurface to local hydrogen bonding topologies modulates its vibrational frequency from 2800 down to approximately 1300 cm(-1), the latter value being characteristic of solvation geometries that yield similar condensed-phase proton affinities for H2O and fluoride. By linking the local degree of ionization to the solvation pattern, we are able to propose a mechanism of ionization for HF in aqueous solutions and to explain some of their unusual properties at large concentrations. However, an important conclusion of broad scientific interest is our prediction that spectral signatures that are normally attributed to protonated water networks could also reveal the presence of strong hydrogen bonds between un-ionized acids and water molecules, with important consequences to spectroscopic investigations of biologically relevant proton channels and pumps.     

Synthesis and study of plasmon-induced carrier behavior at Ag/TiO2 nanowires

Nanocomposites of Ag/TiO(2) nanowires with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance have been prepared by a facile solvothermal synthesis of TiO(2) nanowires and subsequent photoreduction of Ag(+) ions to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the TiO(2) nanowires. The as-prepared nanocomposites exhibited significantly improved cathodic photocurrent responses under visible-light illumination, which is attributed to the local electric field enhancement of plasmon resonance effect near the TiO(2) surface rather than by the direct transfer of charge between the two materials. The visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of these nanocomposites in the degradation of methylene blue dye was also studied, and the observed improvement in photocatalytic activity is associated with the extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation due to surface plasmon resonance effect of AgNPs.