Semiempirical molecular dynamics studies of C60/C70 fullerene oxides: C60O, C60O2 and C70O

The spectral analysis indicates that all isomers of C₆₀O, C₇₀O and C₆₀O₂ have an epoxide-like structure (an oxygen atom bridging across a C–C bond). According to the geometrical structure analysis, there are two isomers of fullerene monoxide C₆₀O (the 5,6 bond and the 6,6 bond), eight isomers of fullerene monoxide C₇₀O and eight isomers of fullerene dioxide C₆₀O₂. In order to simulate the real reaction conditions at 300 K, the calculation of the different isomers of C₆₀O, C₆₀O₂ and C₇₀O fullerene oxides was carried out using the semiempirical molecular dynamics method with two different approaches: (a) consideration of the geometries and thermodynamic stabilities, and (b) consideration of the ozonolysis mechanism. According to the semiempirical molecular dynamic calculation analysis, the probable product of this ozonolysis reaction is C₆₀O with oxygen bridging over the 6–6 bond (C_2v). The most probable product in this reaction contains oxygen bridging across in the upper part of C₇₀ (6–6 bond in C₇₀O-2 or C₇₀O-4) an epoxide-like structure. C₆₀O₂-1, C₆₀O₂-3 and C₆₀O₂-5 are the most probable products for the fullerene dioxides. All of these reaction products are consistent with the experimental results. It is confirmed that the calculation results with the semiempirical molecular dynamics method are close to the experimental work. The semiempirical molecular dynamics method can offer both the reaction temperature effect by molecular dynamics and electronic structure, dipole moment by quantum chemistry calculation.     

Global minima of (C60)nCa, (C60)nF and (C60)nI clusters

Likely candidates for the lowest potential energy minima of (C₆₀)_nCa²⁺, (C₆₀)_nF⁻ and (C₆₀)_nI⁻ clusters are located using basin-hopping global optimisation. In each case, the potential energy surface is constructed using the Girifalco form for the C₆₀ intermolecular interaction, an averaged Lennard–Jones C₆₀–ion interaction, and a polarisation potential, which depends on the first few non-vanishing C₆₀ multipole polarisabilities. We find that the ions generally occupy the interstitial sites of a (C₆₀)_n cluster, the coordination shell being tetrahedral for Ca²⁺ and F⁻. The I⁻ ion has an octahedral coordination shell in the global minimum for (C₆₀)₆I⁻, however for 12  n  8 the preferred coordination geometry is trigonal prismatic.     

The interaction between C28 (Td) and X (X=H and F)

Hydrogen and fluorine addition reactions with C₂₈(T_d) have been investigated by the density function theory method at B3LYP/6-31G level. The interaction potential between C₂₈(T_d) and atom X (X=H and F) shows that there are three possible stable isomers of C₂₈(T_d)X (X=H and F) and the average binding energy calculations suggest that C₂₈(T_d)H₄ is the most stable hydrogen adduct among C₂₈(T_d)H_n (n=1–28). Furthermore, by comparisons of the energy between C₂₈(T_d)H and C₂₈(C_s)H we found that the former are more stable than the later, and the structural and energy analysis further indicate that C₂₈(C_s)H is only with a small distortion of C₂₈(T_d)H symmetry. In addition, the transition states, as well as reaction pathways of X transfer reactions between different key points on C₂₈(T_d) representative patch are given to explore the possible reaction mechanism.     

Structure and redox properties of CexPr1−xO2−δ mixed oxides and their catalytic activities for CO, CH3OH and CH4 combustion

A series of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides were synthesized by a sol–gel method and characterized by Raman, XRD and TPR techniques. The oxidation activity for CO, CH₃OH and CH₄ on these mixed oxides was investigated. When the value x was changed from 1.0 to 0.8, only a cubic phase CeO₂ was observed. The samples were greatly crystallized in the range of the value x from 0.99 to 0.80, which is due to the formation of solid solutions caused by the complete insertion of Pr into the CeO₂ crystal lattices. Raman bands at 465 and 1150 cm⁻¹ in Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ samples are attributed to the Raman active F_2g mode of CeO₂. The broad band at around 570 cm⁻¹ in the region of 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.99 can be linked to oxygen vacancies. The new band at 195 cm⁻¹ may be ascribed to the asymmetric vibration caused by the formation of oxygen vacancies. The TPR profile of Pr₆O₁₁ shows two reduction peaks and the reduction process is followed: . The reduction temperature of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides is lower than those of Pr₆O₁₁ or CeO₂. TPR results indicate that Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides have higher redox properties because of the formation of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ solid solutions. The presence of the oxygen vacancies favors CO and CH₃OH oxidation, while the activity of CH₄ oxidation is mostly related to reduction temperatures and redox properties.     

Mixed-metal cluster chemistry VI: Phosphine substitution at CpMoIr3(μ-CO)3(CO)8; X-ray crystal structure of CpMoIr3(μ-CO)3(CO)7(PPh3)

Reactions of CpMoIr₃(μ-CO)₃(CO)₈ (1) with stoichiometric amounts of phosphines afford the substitution products CpMoIr₃(μ-CO)₃(CO)_8−x (L)_x (L = PPh₃, x = 1 (2), 2 (3); L = PMe₃, x = 1 (4), 2 (5), 3 (6)) in fair to good yields (23–54%); the yields of both 3 and 6 are increased on reacting 1 with excess phosphine. Products 2–5 are fluxional in solution, with the interconverting isomers resolvable at low temperatures. A structural study of one isomer of 2 reveals that the three edges of an MoIr₂ face of the tetrahedral core are spanned by bridging carbonyls, and that the iridium-bound triphenyiphosphine ligates radially and the molybdenum-bound cyclopentadienyl coordinates axially with respect to this Molr₂ face. Information from this crystal structure, ³¹P NMR data (both solution and solid-state), and results with analogous tungsten—triiridium and tetrairidium clusters have been employed to suggest coordination geometries for the isomeric derivatives.     

Phase equilibria and crystal structure of the solid solution LaFe1−xNixO3−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Phase equilibria in the LaFeO₃–“LaNiO₃” were studied at 1100 °C in air. The samples were synthesized by standard ceramic and/or solution route via nitrate or citrate precursors. According to the results of XRD it was found that the homogeneity ranges of LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ solid solution lay within 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 (sp.gr. Pbnm) and 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 (sp.gr. ). The structural parameters (bond lengths, atom coordinates) for the single-phase samples were refined using Rietveld analysis. The unit cell parameters versus LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ composition are presented.     

Studies of sorption-desorption processes in the CexLa1−xNi5H2 system by DSC

The dependence of the integral enthalpy of hydrogenation (or dehydrogenation) of the intermetallic compounds (IMCs) Ce_xLa_1−xNi₅ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.3) on pressure in the range 0.5–6 MPa was studied by the method of differential scanning calorimetry. It has been shown that at x = 0 and x = 0.05 the absorption (or desorption) proceeds via the formation of a stable intermediate hydride phase.     

Synthesis and low temperature fluorination of the alkaline-earth palladates Ba2−xSrxPdO3 (x = 0–2)

Since the discovery of superconductivity in Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ there has been an increased interest in ternary oxide-fluorides. Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ is prepared via low temperature (T = 220 °C) reaction routes. Low temperature fluorination induces an interesting structural rearrangement in the parent compound Sr₂CuO₃, which is a one-dimensional material containing linear chains of vertex sharing CuO₄ squares along the crystallographic b axis. Upon fluorination, one oxide is substituted by two fluorides and Cu²⁺ becomes octahedrally coordinated by four oxides and two fluorides. The fluorinated compound Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ displays the T-type structure (La₂CuO₄). Insertion of excess fluorine, δ, also takes place and this fluorine occupies interstitial sites in the T structure. Although the starting material Ca₂CuO₃ is isostructural to Sr₂CuO₃, Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ displays the T′ (Nd₂CuO₄) structure due to the smaller radius of Ca²⁺ compared to that of Sr²⁺.

The alkaline-earth palladates with the general formula A₂PdO₃ (A = Ba, Sr) are isostructural with the A₂CuO₃(A = Ca, Sr) materials. We prepared the Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₃ (x = 0–2) series and performed low temperature fluorination, which led to the synthesis of the series Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₂F_2+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5). All the compounds in the Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₂F_2+δ series show T′ structure (Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ). Similarities and differences with Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ and Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ will be discussed.     

The crystal structure of (η-C6Me6)Ti[(μ-Cl)2(AlClEt)]2 and the catalytic activity of the (C6Me6)TiAl2Cl8−xEtx(x = 0---4) complexes towards butadiene

The composition of (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl_8−xEt_x complexes in (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl₈ + n Et₃Al (n = 0.5-6) systems was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the X-ray crystal structure of one of them, (η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ti[(μ-Cl)₂(AlClEt)]₂ (IIa-2), has been determined. The complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ with Z = 4 and lattice parameters a 15.634(3), b 11.355(2), c 14.417(2) Å. The ethyl groups of IIa-2 reside in outer positions of aluminate ligands farther away from the C₆Me₆ ligand. The other part of the complex does not differ remarkably from structures of other (arene)Ti^II complexes. Negligible activity of (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl₈ towards the butadiene cyclotrimerization is considerably increased by addition of 2.5–3.0 equivalents of Et₃Al. As follows from UV-Vis spectra, such systems contain mainly the (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl₅Et₃ complex. It is suggested that the introduction of three Et substituents destabilizes the Ti-(η⁶-C₆Me₆) bond so that the replacement of hexamethylbenzene by butadiene in the first step of a catalytic cycle becomes more feasible.     

I NQR and spectroscopic investigation of impurity-doped and mixed lithium iodate Li1−xHxIO3 crystals

The ¹²⁷I NQR, IR absorption and Raman spectra of impurity-doped and mixed lithium iodate Li_1−xH_xIO₃ crystals grown from water solutions with different LiIO₃/HIO₃ ratios were investigated depending on the content of the impurity hydrogen x. The NQR results suggested that, at small concentration of doping iodic acid x<0.22, the lattice dynamics of the crystal grown from water solution changes significantly though the crystal retains hexagonal symmetry. Spectroscopic studies are compatible with average hexagonal symmetry of the grown doped crystals. From the results of Raman studies at room temperature and 100 K, the concentration range of hydrogen dopant 0.22<x<0.36 was found where disordered solid solution crystals Li_1−xH_xIO₃ are formed.     

Observation of difluorinated higher fullerene anions by Knudsen cell mass spectrometry and determination of electron affinities of C60F2 and C70F2

Difluorinated higher fullerenes have been studied by Knudsen cell mass spectrometry. Thermal negative ions C_nF₂⁻ (n=60, 70, 72, 74, 76 and 78) were produced inside the effusion cell as well as the neutral molecules C₆₀F₂ and C₇₀F₂. From the equilibrium constants for the electron exchange reactions between difluorinated fullerenes and their parents electron affinity values were derived for C₆₀F₂ (2.74 eV) and C₇₀F₂ (2.80 eV).     

Structure and stability of closo-BnHn−2(CO)2 (n = 5–12)

Closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ (n = 5–12), isolobal analogues of closo-C₂B_n−2H_n, have been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G^**density functional level of theory. The most stable isomers of closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ are similar to those of closo-C₂B_n−2H_n in geometric patterns apart from closo-B₆H₄(CO)₂, and closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ is much less strained than closo-C₂B_n−2H_n. Energetic analysis identifies closo-B₆H₄(CO)₂, closo-B₁₂H₁₀(CO)₂ and closo-B₁₀H₈(CO)₂ to be most stable, of which the latter two cages have been prepared experimentally. On the basis of the negative and rather large nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS), closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ are aromatic. To aid further experimental study, the CO stretching frequencies have been computed.     

Single crystal growth of Bi1−xSrxMnO3—Thermodynamics and experiment

The primary crystallization field of a perovskite solid solution Bi_1−xSr_xMnO_3−δ was delimited by calculating the respective phase equilibria in the quaternary Bi–Sr–Mn–O system. The calculations are based on the recent assessment involving all three ternary subsystems, a quaternary liquid approximated as a mixture of Mn, MnO, Mn₂O₃, SrO and Bi₂O₃ species with binary Redlich–Kister coefficients and the perovskite phase described in terms of a point defect model allowing Sr²⁺ for Bi³⁺ substitution, oxygen vacancy formation and the related Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ mixing on Mn-sublattice. The crystallization path and the composition of the crystallized solid solution are compared with single crystal growth experiments performed by self-flux method from a Bi-rich melt. The crystallization path obtained for a selected feed composition for which the largest and high quality single crystal have been grown, turns out to end very close to the global eutectic point.     

Surface-enhanced vibrational Raman spectroscopy of C60 and C70 on rough silver surfaces

The observation of the surface-enhanced vibrational Raman spectra of vapor-deposited C₆₀ and C₇₀ on rough silver films is reported. Both near-monolayer and multilayer films of pure C₆₀ and of C₆₀/C₇₀ mixtures are studied. The films are obtained by evaporating fullerene samples at temperatures of 683–875 K in ultra-high vacuum. Mixed fullerene samples were greatly enriched in C₇₀ by making use of the slightly different vapor pressures of the two major components at the low end of this temperature range. The spectra contain all the lines of the normal Raman spectra as well as several additional lines caused by a reduction in the stringency of the normal Raman selection rules. These results demonstrate the potential of this technique for detecting small quantities of fullerenes and obtaining their vibrational spectra.     

Homo- and hetero-bridged mixed-valence dinuclear complexes which contain the fragment ‘Rh(C6F5)3’

The reaction of the anionic mononuclear rhodium complex [Rh(C₆F₅)₃Cl(Hpz)]^t- (Hpz = pyrazole, C₃H₄N₂) with methoxo or acetylacetonate complexes of Rh or Ir led to the heterodinuclear anionic compounds [(C₆F₅)₃Rh(μ-Cl)(μ-pz)M(L₂)] [M = Rh, L₂ = cyclo-octa-1,5-diene, COD (1), tetrafluorobenzobarrelene, TFB (2) or (CO)₂ (4); M = Ir, L₂ = COD (3)]. The complex [Rh(C₆F₅)₃(Hbim)]⁻ (5) has been prepared by treating [Rh(C₆F₅)₃(acac)]⁻ with H₂bim (acac = acetylacetonate; H₂bim = 2,2′-biimidazole). Complex 5 also reacts with Rh or Ir methoxo, or with Pd acetylacetonate, complexes affording the heterodinuclear complexes [(C₆F₅)₃Rh(μ-bim)M(L₂)]⁻ [M = Rh, L₂ = COD (6) or TFB (7); M = Ir, L₂ = COD (8); M = Pd, L₂ = η³-C₃H₅ (9)]. With [Rh(acac)(CO)₂], complex 5 yields the tetranuclear complex [{(C₆F₅)₃Rh(μ-bim)Rh(CO)₂}₂]₂₋. Homodinuclear Rh^III derivatives [{Rh(C₆F₅)₃}₂(μ-L)₂]^·- [L₂ = OH, pz (11); OH, S^tBu (12); OH, SPh (13); bim (14)] have been obtained by substitution of one or both hydroxo groups of the dianion [{Rh(C₆F₅)₃(μ-OH)}₂]²⁻ by the corresponding ligands. The reaction of [Rh(C₆F₅)₃(Et₂O)_x] with [PdX₂(COD)] produces neutral heterodinuclear compounds [(C₆F₅)₃Rh(μ-X)₂Pd(COD)] [X = Cl (15); Br (16)]. The anionic complexes 1–14 have been isolated as the benzyltriphenylphosphonium (PBzPh₃⁺) salts.     

Formation of [C60C5H5] adduct cations and theoretical study of the isomers

We study here the reactions between C₆₀ and planar C₅H₅⁺ cations that lead to the formation of [C₆₀C₅H₅]⁺ adduct cations in the chemical ionization source of the mass spectrometer. The structures, stabilities and charge locations of some possible isomers of [C₆₀C₅H₅]⁺: σ-adduct, π-complex, [1,4]- and [l,2]-addition cations, are studied by AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. We find that the most stable is the σ-addition cation. Another interesting and stable structure is the π-complex cation which is bonded by the electrostatic interaction at the inter-ring distance of 1.589 Å with the C_5v symmetry. The C₅H₅⁺ cyclopentadienium cation seems to be an “inverted umbrella” sitting on a five-membered ring of the C₆₀ cage.     

Stereochemical patterns in bromofullerenes C60Br2 to C60Br12

The stabilities of different isomers of C₆₀Br_n have been calculated for n = 2 to 12. A general stereochemical pattern which emerges is the tendency to form strings created by the edge sharing of C₆Br₂ hexagonal faces. Stable structures are formed if these strings form loops, thereby eliminating string ends, which may involve the creation of C₆Br₃ hexagonal faces. A particularly stable structure is formed at C₆₀Br₆ in which the loop forms a C₁₀Br₆ fragment with a pentagonal pyramidal arrangement of six bromine atoms. Two isomers of C₆₀Br₁₂ are also particularly stable. One isomer contains two of these Br₆ pentagonal pyramids on opposite sides of the molecule, and the other isomer contains a single large loop wrapped around the middle of the molecule.     

C94 IPR isomeric set: large-scale computations of relative stabilities based on the Gibbs function

At present C₉₄ is one of the highest sets of isomeric fullerenes that has been characterized by ¹³C NMR spectra. This contribution reports quantum-chemical computations on the C₉₄ system. The complete set of 134 isolated-pentagon-rule isomers of C₉₄ is described by four semiempirical quantum-chemical methods (MNDO, AM1, PM3, and SAM1). The C₉₄ energetics is also checked with Hartree–Fock SCF calculations in the standard 4-31G basis set (HF/4-31G). The calculations point out a C₂ structure as the system ground state. As energetics itself cannot produce reliable relative stabilities at high temperatures, entropy terms are also computed and the relative-stability problem is entirely treated in terms of the Gibbs function. The lowest-energy structure remains the most populated isomer at higher temperatures. However, several other structures show significant populations at higher temperatures. The six most populated species at the AM1 computational level read: C₂, C₂, C₁, C₁, C_s, and C₂. This selected six-membered isomeric set indeed contains the four symmetries observed in the available experiment (C₂, C_s, C₂, and C₂). This incidence represents a good agreement with the experiment and can be viewed as another evidence that the supposed inter-isomeric thermodynamic equilibrium does exist in experiments.     

Co-aggregation of fullerene C60 and thiophene in the non-aromatic solvent cyclohexene

Co-aggregation of fullerene C₆₀ and thiophene has been studied calorimetrically in cyclohexene at 25 °C. The total aggregation heat is found to depend on initial concentration of thiophene and fall between −1.9 and −5.8 kJ mol⁻¹. The corresponding thiophene/fullerene molar ratio (“co-aggregation number”) ranges from 7 to 12. The data are rationalized by formation of heteromolecular nanoaggregates with intermolecular contacts of both fullerene–thiophene and fullerene–fullerene types. A physical model describing interaction between fullerenes and π-donors in solution is substantiated and used to explain heterogeneity of composites containing fullerenes.     

Sandwich-type transition metal complexes [(CBO)n]2M with carbon boronyl ligands (CBO)n (n=4–6)

A density functional theory investigation on a series of sandwich-type transition metal complexes [(CBO)_n]₂M (n=4–6; M=transition metals) with carbon boronyls (CBO)_n as effective aromatic ligands has been presented in this work at B3LYP level. The ground-states of these complexes possess staggered D_nd symmetries, while the corresponding eclipsed D_nh structures exist as transition states with slightly higher energies (within 5.8 kJ/mol). Carbon boronyl complexes [(CBO)_n]₂M are confirmed to be much more stable than their boron carbonyl isomers [(BCO)_n]₂M, which, on the other hand, take eclipsed ground-states with D_nh symmetries. The carbon boronyl complexes [(BCO)_n]₂M proposed in this work parallelize the well-known sandwich-type hydrocarbon complexes [C_nH_n]₂M in coordination chemistry with boronyl groups –BO isolobal to –H atoms in corresponding ligands.