Molecular dynamics and quantum chemical approaches in the study of the hydration of protonated cyclohexyldiamines

Explicit hydration of the neutral and charged cyclohexylamine and of the cyclohexyldiamine isomers in their mono- or diprotonated forms is investigated through classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in aqueous solutions combined with DFT calculations in amine–water complexes. The MD studies performed in the monoamines reveal that the structure of the hydration shell around the neutral amino group (NH₂) is quite distinct from that around the charged one (NH₃⁺). On average, the number of water molecules surrounding the two groups is calculated to be ～2 and 3–4, respectively. The variation of the hydration structure prompted by the groups’ proximity is discussed based on the data found for the mono- and diprotonated diamines. To have a more detailed picture of the water molecules’ arrangement around the amino groups and of the amine–water hydrogen bonds, geometry optimisations in hydrates with up to six water molecules are carried out at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level. Complexation energies are also computed. The main findings emerging from these calculations are found to be very helpful to rationalise the mutual influence of the amino groups and therefore to better elucidate the MD findings. The complementary nature of the two research methods is emphasised as an excellent tool in order to closely examine the hydration of polyamines, as exemplified for the cyclohexyldiamines.     

A molecular dynamics study of uranyl hydration

Molecular dynamics calculations were carried out in order to investigate the hydration structure of uranyl in aqueous solution. The CF1 model of flexible water molecules is used. This model allows one to investigate a hydrolysis reaction for water molecules in the first uranyl hydration shell. Charge redistribution effects on hydrolysis products are also taken into account. We found five ligands in uranyl hydration shell, which is of bipyramidal pentacoordinated structure. The charge redistribution effects resulted in ligands of four water molecules and one hydroxyl, which was found closer to uranium than the other ligands.     

Effects of metal ion on the water structure studied by the Raman O?H stretching spectrum

Raman spectra in the O H stretching region of aqueous salt solutions were measured and compared, and the effects of metal ions on water structure deduced. The effects of alkali ions, alkaline ions or the first‐row transition metals on water structure were found to be similar. Differences of metal ionic effects on water structure exist among Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺, and between Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ and Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺. The factors that influence the metal ionic effects on the water structure are the ionic charge, the outmost electronic structure and ionic size, the ionic charge being the most important. With a five‐component Gaussian deconvolution of the Raman spectra of the aqueous solutions of NaCl, MgCl₂, AlCl₃ and FeCl₃ with concentrations of 0 to ∼1mol/l, the ionic effects were found to be similar on the bands at 3233, 3393, 3511 and 3628 cm⁻¹, but different on the band at 3051 cm⁻¹. With increasing polarization of the metal ion, the band at 3051 cm⁻¹, due to strong hydrogen bonding, increases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of the lifetime of an ion-molecular hydrogen bond from vibrational spectroscopy data

The mutual influence of the orientational relaxation of polyatomic anions of different types of symmetry in aqueous solutions and the rupture of H bonds is examined. It is demonstrated that the experimentally measured correlation times of the dipole moment and Raman polarizability tensor of linear anions can be interpreted as the time of the interaction of the anion with water molecules. The reorientation of perchlorate ion in water is accompanied by the rupture of the ion-molecular bond, being associated with the reorientation of the hydration shell. The reorientation of sulfite, nitrate, and carbonate ions does not result in the rupture of the ion-molecular bond, and hence, the orientational relaxation of these anions can be considered as a lower limit of its lifetime.     

Electronic Spectra and the Mechanism of Complexing of Uranyl Nitrate in Water–Acetone Solutions

Based on the analysis of electronic absorption and luminescence spectra, the processes of complexing in an aqueous solution of uranyl nitrate hexahydrate (UO₂(NO₃)₂·6H₂O) on gradual addition of small amounts of acetone have been investigated. In a pure aqueous solution, uranyl exists as the UO₂·5H₂O complex. It is shown that addition of acetone to the solution leads to displacement of some water molecules from the first coordination sphere of uranyl and formation of uranyl nitrate dihydrate complexes, UO₂(NO₃)₂·2H₂O. It has been established that the stability of these complexes is determined by the decrease in both the water activity and the degree of hydration of uranyl and nitrate. This is the result of the local increase in the concentration of the molecules of acetone (due to its hydrophobicity) in those regions of the solution in which there are uranyl and nitrate ions. The experimental facts supporting the proposed mechanism are given.     

Raman‐induced Kerr effect spectroscopy of single‐wall carbon nanotubes aqueous suspensions in the range 0.1–10 and 100–250 cm−1

Here, we study a low (less than 0.1 µg/ml) concentration aqueous suspension of single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by Raman‐induced Kerr effect spectroscopy (RIKES) in the spectral bands 0.1–10 and 100–250 cm⁻¹. This method is capable of carrying out direct investigation of SWNT hydration layers. A comparison of RIKES spectra of SWNT aqueous suspension and that of milli‐Q water shows a considerable growth in the intensity of low wavenumber Raman modes. These modes in the 0.1–10 cm⁻¹ range are attributed to the rotational transitions of H₂O₂ and H₂O molecules. We explain the observed intensity increase as due to the production of hydrogen peroxide and the formation of a low‐density depletion layer on the water–nanotube interface. A few SWNT radial breathing modes (RBM)are observed (ω_RBM = 118.5, 164.7 and 233.5 cm⁻¹) in aqueous suspension, which allows us to estimate the SWNT diameters (∼2.0, 1.5, and 1 nm, respectively). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Raman spectroscopic characterisation of hydrotalcite with CO32− and (MoO4)2− anions in the interlayer

Raman spectroscopy has been used to characterise synthetic mixed carbonate and molybdate hydrotalcites of formula Mg₆Al₂(OH)₁₆((CO₃)²⁻,(MoO₄)²⁻)·4H₂O. The spectra have been used to assess the molecular assembly of the cations and anions in the hydrotalcite structure. The spectra may be conveniently subdivided into spectral features on the basis of the carbonate anion, the molybdate anion, the hydroxyl units and water units. Bands are assigned to the hydroxyl stretching vibrations of water. Three types of carbonate anions are identified: (1) carbonate hydrogen‐bonded to water in the interlayer, (2) carbonate hydrogen‐bonded to the hydrotalcite hydroxyl surface, (3) free carbonate anions. It is proposed that the water is highly structured in the hydrotalcite, as it is hydrogen bonded to both the carbonate and the hydroxyl surface. The spectra have been used to assess the contamination of carbonate in an open reaction vessel in the synthesis of a molybdate hydrotalcite of formula Mg₆Al₂(OH)₁₆((CO₃)²⁻, (MoO₄)²⁻)·4H₂O. Bands are assigned to carbonate and molybdate anions in the Raman spectra. Importantly, the synthesis of hydrotalcites from solutions containing molybdate provides a mechanism for the removal of this oxy‐anion. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Raman spectroscopic characterisation of hydrotalcite with CO32− and VO3− anions in the interlayer

Infrared and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterise synthetic mixed carbonate and vanadate hydrotalcites of formula Mg₆Al₂(OH)₁₆(CO₃)²⁻, (VO₄)³⁻·4H₂ O. The spectra were used to assess the molecular assembly of the cations and anions in the hydrotalcite structure. The spectra may be conveniently subdivided into spectral features based on (1) the carbonate anion (2) the hydroxyl units and (3) water units. Bands were assigned to the hydroxyl stretching vibrations of water. Three types of carbonate anions were identified: (1) carbonate hydrogen‐bonded to water in the interlayer, (2) carbonate hydrogen‐bonded to the hydrotalcite hydroxyl surface and (3) free carbonate anions. It is proposed that the water is highly structured in the hydrotalcite, as it is hydrogen‐bonded to both the carbonate and the hydroxyl surface. The spectra were used to assess the contamination of carbonate in an open reacting vessel in the synthesis of vanadate hydrotalcites of formula Mg₆Al₂(OH)₁₆(CO₃)²⁻, (VO₄)³⁻·4H₂ O. Bands have been assigned to vanadate anions in the infrared and Raman spectra associated with V O bonds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Infrared intensities of ion-water interactions in aqueous electrolyte solutions

The i.r. absorption intensities have been measured of the fundamental vibrations of water molecules in metal halide aqueous solutions. Pseudo-isosbestic points were observed in the regions of both the stretching and bending vibrations and interpreted in terms of two states of water molecules in the solutions. The intensities of the stretching vibrations of water molecules coordinated to the dissolved ions have been estimated. The intensities become stronger in the order, Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ for the cations and F^- > Cl^- > Br^- > I^- for the anions. These orders are consistent with the strengths of the ion-water interactions, which are related to the dynamical behavior of the water molecules in the primary hydration shell.     

Hydration and carbonation of monoclinic C2S and C3S studied by Raman spectroscopy

We present a micro‐Raman study on the hydration and carbonation of the main silicate phases of Portland cement, i.e. monoclinic dicalcium silicate (C₂S) and monoclinic tricalcium silicate (C₃S). We investigate the reaction products and the loss of crystallinity induced by hydration on these two compounds. In the CO₂‐contaminated pastes we find that calcite, aragonite, and vaterite are inhomogeneously formed. We study sample cross sections to evaluate the maximum depth at which CaCO₃ is formed. We find that carbonation is limited to the first 500–1000 µm from the surface in the C₃S pastes, while in C₂S pastes CaCO₃ is formed well beyond this depth. Our results show the great potential of Raman spectroscopy in the study of the chemistry of cements. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of micro‐Raman spectroscopy to study reaction kinetics in blended white cement pastes containing metakaolin

Curing temperature is known to play an important role in the formation, development, and stability of the hydrated phases appearing during pozzolanic reactions (chemical reaction between puzzolanic addition, metakaolin (MK), and calcium hydroxide from cement hydration). A typical example of this important reaction is to be found in metakaolin‐bearing cement pastes, characterized by hexagonal phases whose thermodynamic stability declines with rising temperature. These phases cannot be exhaustively researched with traditional techniques (such as X‐ray diffraction) due to their poor crystallinity. Consequently, micro‐Raman spectroscopy was used in the present study to explore the behavior of white cement paste blends containing 0, 10, and 25% MK at two curing temperatures (20 and 60 °C). This led to the identification, for the first time using Raman spectroscopy, of phases C₂ASH₈¹ (stratlingite) and C₃ASH₆, which appear in the MK–white cement reaction. The C S H gel formed was characterized by Q¹ dimers and a C/S ratio of 1.3–1.5. Raising the curing temperature favored the formation of C₄AH₁₃. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman study of cation effect on sulfate vibration modes in solid state and in aqueous solutions

Raman spectra of potassium, sodium, and ammonium sulfates (K₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄, and (NH₄)₂SO₄) are reported and analyzed. These sulfates have been investigated under two states: solid (anhydrous and hydrated) salts and aqueous solutions. The effects of monovalent ions (K⁺, Na⁺, and NH₄⁺) and hydration on the position of Raman lines assigned to internal vibrations of sulfate anion SO₄²⁻ are discussed. In solid salts, the line position of each Raman peak is shown to decrease with increasing radius of the cation. The main ν₁ mode of sulfate molecule is particularly affected. It is emphasized that this sensitivity in solid sulfates vanishes in aqueous solutions. As a consequence, this mode can be probed by Raman spectroscopy as the main signature of SO₄²⁻ to determine its concentration within a single calibration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydration characteristics of Ca2+ and Mg2+: a density functional theory,polarized continuum model and molecular dynamics investigation

In this work, density functional theory, Møller–Plesset second-order perturbation theory, and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) were used to investigate hydrated characteristics of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ as a function of coordination number in the first hydration shell (CN) and cluster size. It is generally accepted that the CNs of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ are both six. Calculations show that the hydration of Mg²⁺ generally prefers six-coordinated structures, whereas the CN value of Ca²⁺ varies from 6 to 8 as the hydration proceeds. Moreover, the first hydration of Ca²⁺ is found to be more flexible than that of Mg²⁺, as indicated by the results of transition state calculations and AIMD simulations. In addition, the constraint of Mg²⁺ on the first hydration shell is obviously stronger than that of Ca²⁺, while the constraint on the inner hydration shells fades slightly faster for Mg²⁺ than Ca²⁺. It is also found that the charge transfer from central cation to water molecules is affected only by the first hydration shell for Mg²⁺, whereas by the first and second hydration shells for Ca²⁺. Based on hydration characteristics, approximatively saturated ion hydration shells for the hydration of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were proposed.     

The structural independence of Raman scattering cross sections of ν1(NO3−) and ν(H2O)

The Raman scattering cross section (RSCS) is an important parameter in the applications of Raman spectroscopy to make quantitative analysis. To date, the dependence of the RSCS on concentration has remained unclear. Nitrate aerosols can easily achieve a supersaturated state, which provides a way to obtain the RSCS especially under this state. In this study, Raman spectra of NaNO₃ and Mg(NO₃)₂ solutions are obtained with molar water‐to‐solute ratios (WSRs) ranging from 84.2 to 2.30 and 93.8 to 7.32, respectively. With decreasing WSR, a shift to higher wavenumbers of the symmetric stretching band of nitrate ion, i.e. ν₁(NO₃⁻), is observed, indicating the formation of various ion pairs. Meanwhile, the area ratio between the strongly and weakly hydrogen‐bonded components of water O H stretching envelope, i.e. ν(H₂O), reduces as the WSR decreases, implying the transformation of water molecules from strong hydrogen‐bonding structures to the weak ones. However, a good linear relationship is revealed between the integrated intensity ratio of the ν(H₂O) band to ν₁(NO₃⁻) band and WSR. The results suggest that the RSCSs of NO₃⁻ and H₂O are insensitive to the structures of both ion pairs and hydrogen‐bonding structures. This observation points to the possibility of conducting quantitative analysis through the area ratio of the ν(H₂O) band to the ν₁(NO₃⁻) band with Raman spectra without considering the formation of ion pairs and the variation of the hydrogen‐bonding structure. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiscaling wavelet analysis of infrared and Raman data on polyethylene glycol 1000 aqueous solutions

Infrared and Raman scattering spectra of aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol) with nominal weight 1000 Da have been collected and analyzed as a function of the water content both in terms of a two-state physical model and in terms of an innovative multiscale wavelet cross-correlation approach. Both the analysis procedures allow to highlight the spectral shape changes occurring when water is added to pure polymer, showing the effectiveness of the wavelet analysis. It is shown that, provided that the pure polymer spectral contribution is subtracted from the aqueous solutions spectra, the shape of the intramolecular O–H stretching band can be reproduced by a superposition of the spectrum of bulk water and of the spectrum of hydration water, i.e., the spectrum relative to the water molecules bonded to the polymer chain. The weight of the bonded-water spectrum changes with concentration furnishing a polymer hydration number value which well agrees with hydration number data, reported in literature, obtained with other techniques. On the other hand, the intramolecular infrared O–H stretching band and the low-frequency Raman spectra, for all the investigated polymeric aqueous solutions, when analyzed through a multiscale wavelet cross-correlation approach reveal that significant spectral changes are registered in the 0.00–0.46 water weight fraction range. Such complementary experimental and analytic findings suggest the picture that when the water content increases, the water molecules saturate the two lone pairs of each oxygen atom of the polymer furnishing a hydration number which agrees with previous determinations and hence supporting the validity of the wavelet approach.     

Study on new magnetization property and its micro‐mechanism that occurred in anti‐ferromagnetic NiO nanoflowers with nearly uniform size

Temperature‐dependent magnetization and magnon Raman spectra were measured for anti‐ferromagnetic NiO‐nanoflowers. The results show several new magnetic behaviors, including the appearance of a ferromagnetic phase, a reduced Néel temperature (T_N) and a reduced Curie temperature (T_C). The temperature dependencies of the double magnon (2M) Raman wavenumber and intensity are similar to those of magnetization. A magnetic granules model (MGM) consisted of a crystalline core enclosed by a shell is proposed. The model suggests that the large quantity of spins induced by specific surface effect in the shell plays a key role in nano‐magnetism. Based on the MGM, the micro‐mechanism of the observed new magnetic behavior is understood by the magnon Raman spectra. The MGM is based on the general features of magnetic nano‐particles, and thus it should be generally applicable to common magnetic nano‐particles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristic Raman lines of phenylalanine analyzed by a multiconformational approach

Thanks to a considerable modulation of electronic polarizability, six phenylalanine (Phe) vibration modes located at ca. 1606, 1586, 1207, 1031, 1004 and 622 cm⁻¹ appear as intense or medium bands in the Raman spectra of peptides and proteins, as confirmed by the Raman data collected from free amino acid, somatostatin and bovine serum albumin (BSA). To get information on the nature and location of these lines, we resorted to a multiconformational analysis which consists in a systematic investigation of the structural and vibrational features of hydrated Phe in a conformational space depending on four angular variables: φ, ψ, χ₁ and χ₂. The first two variables correspond to the Phe backbone torsion angles, whereas the latter two refer to its side chain. Based on a protocol described in an accompanying report on glycine and its protonated and deprotonated species, we have prepared an initial set of 123 initial clusters of Phe + 5H₂O, including all plausible values of the above mentioned conformational angles. The results of their geometry optimization, by means of the density functional theory using the B3LYP hybrid functional, were first analyzed through the comparison between the E(χ₁, χ₂) energy maps obtained either by an explicit or by an implicit hydration model. Then, a set of nine doubly minimized clusters corresponding to the deepest local minima were used for further structural and vibrational analysis. Beyond providing a reliable assignment for the above mentioned characteristic Raman lines, the theoretical spectrum allowed us to carry out an overview of the whole observed data of Phe in aqueous solution. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl carbonate rutherfordine

The molecular structure of the uranyl mineral rutherfordine has been investigated by the measurement of its Raman spectra at 298 and 77 K and complemented with infrared spectra. The infrared spectra of the (CO₃)²⁻ units in the anti‐symmetric stretching region show complexity with three sets of carbonate bands observed. This, combined with the observation of multiple bands in the (CO₃)²⁻ bending region in both Raman and IR spectra, suggests that both monodentate and bidentate (CO₃)²⁻ units are present in the structure in accordance with the X‐ray crystallographic studies. Complexity is also observed in the IR spectra of (UO₂)²⁺ anti‐symmetric stretching region and is attributed to non‐identical UO bonds. Both Raman and infrared spectra of the rutherfordine show the presence of both water and hydroxyl units in the structure, as evidenced by IR bands at 3562 and 3465 cm⁻¹ (OH) and 3343, 3185 and 2980 cm⁻¹ (H₂O). Raman spectra show the presence of four sharp bands at 3511, 3460, 3329 and 3151 cm⁻¹. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bimodal dependence of light scattering/fluctuations on the concentration of aqueous solutions

Two concentration ranges (from 10^?5 to 10^?9 and from 10^?13 to 10^?18 M) corresponding to enhanced fluctuations of Rayleigh and Raman scattering of second-harmonic (527 nm) pulses of YVO₄:Nd³⁺ laser are found for aqueous solutions of antioxidant potassium phenosan. A correlation is revealed between the rise in elastic Rayleigh scattering intensity and its fluctuations and the shift of the center of OH Raman band of water toward the ice component characteristic frequency (3200 cm^?1). The development of phase-equilibrium instabilities is analyzed based on the model of fluctuations of the number of hydrogen bonds on the assumption of formation/destruction of ordered hydration layer of phenosan molecules in water.