Simulation of the structure of some silicon carbide clusters by the MNDO method

Simulations of the geometric and electronic structure of C₄₄, C₄₅, Si₄₅, C₄₀Si₅, and C₄₄Si clusters were performed by the MNDO method. The geometries of the filled clusters, calculated by the MM2 method, were used as initial approximations. It was found that the filled clusters C₄₅ and C₄₄Si are transformed into endohedral clusters X@C₄₄ (X-C or Si, respectively) after energy optimization. The highest occupied energy level of the HOMO of the filled tetrahedral cluster Si₄₅ ofT symmetry is triply degenerate and is only occupied by four electrons. The structure of Si₄₅ ²⁻ dianion ofT symmetry was calculated. Two filled structures for the C₄₀Si₅ cluster were found. The coordination numbers of the central Si atom in these structures are 4 and 3, respectively. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 54–56, January, 1997.     

Stability of hollow spheroidal silicon clusters Sin and SinHn

The structures of Si_n and Si_nH_n fullerenes with 20 ≶n ≶60 are calculated in the MINDO/3 approximation using the Monte Carlo technique for geometry optimization. The calculations show that spheroidal silicon clusters consisting of more than 36 atoms are stable and the bond energy increases with their size. This increase is not noticed for compact clusters calculated as an alternative. For n ≥40-50, the latter have lower bond energies compared to fullerenes. The geometry optimization of the tetrahedral cluster Si₄₅ results in a structure close to spheroidal, which gains in bond energy. The addition of hydrogen atoms to small deformed fullerenes and their geometry optimization make it possible to obtain stable spheroidal structures Si_nH_n whose bond energy is greater than that of alternative compact silicon hydride clusters. When the size of spheroidal clusters Si_nH_n increases, i. e., when n > 36, the hydrogen elimination barriers decrease abruptly; the Si_nH_n diamond structure of the cluster is more advantageous when n ≥50.     

Theoretical Investigation of Binary and Ternary Metal Clusters derived from [Y10M]n— Zintl Ions

The pseudo element concept is applied to isolated Zintl anions [Y₁₀M]^n—, where M is Ni or Zn, and Y is a third group element, which is replaced by a fourth group element X. The aim of the theoretical study is to identify stable binary metal atom clusters and to test the robustness of the Zintl concept. DFT and RIMP2 methods are employed for this purpose. All low‐energy isomers of [X₁₀M]^m+ show structures known from corresponding Zintl anions. A partial replacement of only six third group elements, however, may lead to different low‐energy topologies. The cohesive energy of the clusters X₁₀Ni (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) is significantly higher than that of the bare X₁₀ species, binding energy of the Ni atom amounts to about 5 eV.     

Quantum-Chemical Estimation of the Stability and Reactivity of Diphosphonium Salts

For a series of diphosphonium salts containing two positively charged covalently bonded phosphorus atoms, X_{/sub> n} Y_3-n P⁺P⁺X _n Y_3-n (X = alkyl substituent, Y = amino group, n = 0-3), the stability, reactivity, and P-P bond strength were evaluated by various physicochemical methods. The P-P bond energy is appreciably influenced by both steric factors and donor properties of the substituents. The calculations confirmed that transformations of diphosphonium salts can involve cleavage of both P-P and P-N (or P-C) bonds.     

Force fields of halide-substituted methane derivatives

The paper describes methods for determining the force fields of large sets of molecules which share the common property that in their constituent groups of molecules the equivalent force constants always change monotonically with the properties of substituent atoms belonging to the same subgroup of the periodic table. The force fields of the CH_4−nX_n (n=0–4, X=F, Cl, Br, I) molecules of the methane series are obtained. The applications of these force fields are discussed. In particular, they can serve as a basis for a data bank of the force fields of fragments suitable for constructing the force fields of more complex molecules. Russian Scientific Center “Applied Chemistry”, St. Petersburg. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 250–256, March–April, 1996. Translated by I. Izvekova     

Semiempirical and ab-initio calculations of semiconductor clusters: variation of structure and symmetry with size for different compounds

Semiempirical (by extended Hückel method) and ab initio RHF SCF calculations are used for the wide range of cluster structures M_xX_y, where M = Cd,Ag; X = S,I: semiempirical - up to M₂₀X₃₅, and ab initio - for small clusters less than ten atoms. Variation of electronic structure with size for the fragments with tetrahedral coordination (bulklike sphalerite structures) and for some clusters of the lower symmetry allows to predict their possible geometries which are compared with experimental data. The chemical bonding factor (the chemical nature of bounded atoms, coordination number for metal and non-metal atoms, hybridization, etc) is of more importance in properties of the clusters than the familiar quantum confinement effect of semiconductor clusters (like CdS, CdSe, PbS, etc. ). The essential difference in regularities of small cluster formation is analysed for CdS- and AgI- based structures.     

Small clusters made up of three kinds of neutral alkali atoms

Small clusters made up of three kinds of neutral alkali atoms, i.e. clusters of the form X _? Y _m Z _n , are theoretically studied. These clusters exhibit three series of magic numbers, one for each kind of atoms. That is,?,m, andn independently can be magic numbers rather than their cumulative number?+m+n or, in other words, magic numbers in alkali clusters composed of neutral atoms are due to atoms rather than to delocalized electrons as in jellium model. Of course, if conditions favor delocalization of electrons,?+m+n can be magic but then we have no neutral atoms which are prerequisite for an application of the present model.     

Modeling of self-organization of silicate systems: Precursor nanoclusters and self-assembly of Na<Subscript>3</Subscript>MSi<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> (M = Y,Eu-Lu; oP256) crystal structures producing two interpenetrating diamond-type frameworks

In the M-T-O model system (M is a polyvalent metal with CN ≥ 4; T is Si), cyclic clusters have been deduced as graphs in the T/M range from one to three. The case is considered when monocyclic cluster M₂T₂ is modified by T-tetrahedra that form diortho groups T₂. The M sites of the cluster have either topologically different local MT structures (four types) or identical local MT structures (two types). The cluster types for T/M = 3 obtained by modeling were used in analysis of one of the most complicated types of silicate crystal structures Na₃MSi₃O₉ (M = Y; Eu-Lu; T/M = 3) with the Pearson index oP256 and 64 independent atoms. The TOPOS program package was used to carry out the complete 3D reconstruction of the self-assembly of the crystal structure: suprapolyhedral precursor nanocluster → primary chain → microlayer → microframework (supraprecursor) → ... three-dimensional framework. The calculation of the coordination sequences of site atoms in the 3D network of the MT framework MT₃O₉ revealed topological symmetry related to a three-dimensional separation of the framework into two interpenetrating frameworks. Each framework structure is generated by topologically equivalent cyclic precursor clusters Na₂M₂T₆ consisting of two YO₆ octahedra comprising three diortho groups Si₂O₇ and two Na atoms located above and below the ring center. The 3D graphs characterizing the connectivity of the centers of crystallographically equivalent clusters in the frameworks correspond to diamond-type networks.     

Radical addition reactions: factors determining the transition-state geometry

Interatomic distances in the reaction centers of the addition reactions of (i) H^· to the C=C, C=O, N≡C, and C≡C bonds, (ii) ^·CH₃ radical to the C=C, C=O, and C≡C bonds, and (iii) alkyl, aminyl, and alkoxyl radicals to olefin C=C bonds were determined using a new semiempirical method for calculating transition-state geometries of radical reactions. For all reactions of the type X^· + Y=Z → X— Y—Z^· the r ^# _X...Y distance in the transition state is a linear function of the enthalpy of reaction. Parameters of this dependence were determined for seventeen classes of radical addition reactions. The bond elongation, Δr ^# _X...Y, in the transition state decreases as the triplet repulsion, electronegativity difference between the atoms X and Y in the reaction center, and the force constant of the attacked multiple bond increase. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 894–902, April, 2005.     

Ternäre Verbindungen von Lithium mit Yttrium,Lanthan bzw. Neodym und 5b-Elementen im „aufgefüllten”︁ CaAl2Si2-Typ

Ternary Compounds of Lithium with Yttrium, Lanthanum, or Neodymium and Elements of the Fifth Main Group in a “Filled” CaAl₂Si₂-type Structure Formation and crystal structure of ternary compounds with lithium and yttrium, lanthanum or neodymium and elements of the fifth main group of the composition ALi₃X₂^v (A = Y, La, Nd; X^v = P, As, Sb, Bi) are reported. Crystal structure determination by X-ray and neutron diffraction methods show that the compounds crystallize in a ?filled”? CaAl₂Si₂ structure. Two Li atoms of the formula occupy the Al sites in distorted tetrahedral X^v holes of the lattice, the slightly distorted octahedral holes of the X^v atoms are filled with A and the third Li atom.     

Biproton transfer in associates of the formic acid molecule with H2O...YH systems (YH=H2O,HOF and HOOH)

An ab initio (STO-3G basis set) method is used to calculate the pathways and activation barriers of cooperative biproton migrations in the associates of the formic acid molecule with water and YH (YH=H₂O, HOF, and HOOH). The associate with YH=H₂O exhibits a cooperative triproton transfer with an activation barrier of 4.46 (C_s symmetry) or 3.08 kcal/mole (C₂ symmetry); in the systems with Y=HOF and HOOH, the biproton transfer is accompanied by synchronous shifts of two hydroxyl groups and has the activation barriers of 75.03 (C₂, Y=HOF), 75.74 (C_s, Y=HOF), and 89.62 kcal/mole (Y=HOOH). The hypothesis of stereochemical similarity for low-barrier cooperative processes in molecular associates is proposed. Scientific Research Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry, Rostov State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 834–844, September–October, 1996. Translated by I. Izvekova     

1H and13C NMR spectrum-structure correlations for a series of polyene compounds

Based on the results of NMR studies of series of polyene compounds Ph(CH=CH)_nCH=CXY (X, Y are acceptor substituents), it is suggested that the ratio of vicinal spin-spin coupling constants of protons at the neighboring CH=CH and CH-CH bonds of the same chain be used as a criterion for the degree of charge transfer (equalization of bonds). Conditions (n, X, Y) have been determined under which the ratio is minimal. Institute of Nutrition Substances, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhumal Struktumoi Khimii, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 703–708, July–August, 1995. Translated by L. Smolina     

Triangle contraction in six-membered-ring silicon clusters

We propose the “triangle contraction” as an important reconstruction mechanism of six-membered-ring silicon clusters on the basis of the force and virial analysis for Si₆, Si₁₀, Si₁₄, Si₁₈, Si₂₂, and Si₂₆ clusters. Forces acting on atoms have been calculated using the local-density-functional scheme with linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals-Xα method. Calculated forces show that most of the (111)-surface equilateral triangles have tendency to contract, indicating the generality of the triangle-contraction mechanism.     

Algorithm for variational calculations of molecular symmetry in solving anharmonic vibrational problems

A universal program for variational calculations of molecular symmetry in solving anharmonic vibrational problems, realized by the author, is described. The program uses the group-theoretical method. Symmetrized basis wave functions are constructed with the aid of the generalized KJebsch-Gordan series suggested by the author. The method of constructing symmetrized basis wave functions and the program for adequate calculations of molecular symmetry were verified for many molecules of different symmetry groups: O_h, O, T_d, T_h, T, D_∞h, C_t8v, D_nd, D_nh, D_n, C_nv, C_nh, S_2n, C_n, C_i, C_s, and C₁ where 2 ≤n ≤6. It was confirmed that the program provides correct results and high-speed operation. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 1146–1153, November–December, 1997.     

Carbon-13 chemical shifts of 3-substituted thietanes,thietane 1-oxides and thietane 1,1-dioxides

Carbon-13 chemical shifts of the α- and β-carbon atoms for 12 thietane 1,1-dixides, 9 thietane 1-oxides and 7 thietanes with a variety of 3-substituents [H, CH(CO₂Et)₂, SEt, Br, SPh, Ph, Cl, NMe₂, OH, OSiMe₃, OAc, OEt] are correlated according to the nature of the sulfur atom (Y=sulfone, sulfoxide, sulfide) and the nature of the 3-substituent (X) by the equations δ_α= a_Y+b_X and δ_β=a_X+b_Y, where a and b are parameters characteristic of X and Y. One-bond coupling constants [J(CH)] are reported for 21 compounds. The chemical shifts for the α- and the β-carbon atoms of the sulfones show the ‘fore-membered ring sulfone effect’ (α-carbon unusually deshielded, β-carbon unusually shielded), but the α-carbon-hydrogen coupling constants are similar to those of the sulfoxides and sulfides; the β-carbon-hydrogen coupling constants are sensitive to the nature of the substituent (X) but no special β-effect is observed. Comparison of the chemical shifts of the α-methylene carbon atoms of 3-phenyl-, 3-(β-naphthyl)- and 3-(α-thienyl)-thietes with those of the coresponding sulfones also reveals the ‘four-membered ring sulfone effect’ cis- and trans-3-Substituted thietane 1-oxides may be distinguished by the greater downfield shift for the β-carbon atom in the trans-isomer.     

Quantum chemistry of quantum size‐effects in semiconductors: Small clusters electronic structure calculations

Ab initio RHF SCF calculations are used for some small clusters M_xX_y, where M=Cd, Ag; X=S, I; and x, y≤7. Variation of electronic structure with size for some clusters with the bulklike tetrahedral coordination and with the lower symmetry allows one to predict their possible geometries which are compared with experimental data on the existence of the clusters. The chemical‐bonding factor (the chemical nature of bounded atoms, coordination number for metal and nonmetal atoms, hybridization, etc.) is of more importance for properties of the clusters than is the familiar quantum confinement effect of semiconductor clusters. The essential difference in regularities of small cluster formation is analyzed for CdS‐ and AgI‐based structures. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 71: 337–341, 1999     

Structure of hydrogenated silicon clusters. Medium-sized clusters

The structures of the Si_nH_m clusters containing 10 to 70 silicon atoms and different numbers of hydrogen atoms are calculated in the MINDO/3 approximation using the Monte Carlo technique. The geometry optimization of the clusters showed the existence of several structural varieties that determine the optimal geometry of the clusters differing in size and hydrogen content. Small clusters (n < 20) with various geometrical configurations often have a hollow structure if the number of silicon atoms in the cluster is more than 12. For 20 ≤ n < 60 and the hydrogen content m ≤ n, hollow spheroidal geometry is most favorable. Staring from n ≈ 56−60, diamond structures are more favorable. The ratio c = m/n < 1, at which the spheroidal structure remains optimal, decreases with further increase in n.     

A method for phenomenological calculations in series of substituted benzenes

The methodology of calculations of the physicochemical properties of substituted benzenes C₆H_{6 − p} X _p , C₆H_{6 − p − q} X _p Y _q , ... (X and Y are univalent substituents) and C₆H₅A, where A = OH (phenol), NH₂ (aniline), etc. by the phenomenological methods of chemical structure theory is discussed.     

Thermodynamische analyse der reaktionsgleichgewichte im hochtemperaturbereich der systeme kohlenstoff-fluor-chlor/brom und wolfram-kohlenstoff-fluor-chlor/brom

The gas-phase composition of the systems C/F₂/Y₂ and W/C/F₂/Y₂(Y = Cl, Br) has been calculated using a digital computer on the basis that thermodynamic equilibrium is attained at the gas/solid interface with tungsten and that the rate of reaction is not kinetically controlled.The partial pressures of the various components, i.e. CX, CX₂, CX₃, CX₄, C₂X₂, C₂X₄, C₂X₆ and WX, WX₂, WX₄, WX₅, WX₆, together with those of W, X₂ and X (where X = F, Cl, Br) have been evaluated as a function of the temperature and of the halogen concentration in the input gas. While compounds of the type C_nX_m are quite stable in C/F₂/Y₂ systems, they are relatively unstable in the presence of solid tungsten where the corresponding tungsten compounds are formed.From the temperature dependence of the mass balance of tungsten, the direction of the chemical transport reactions in these systems may be predicted. In W/C/F₂/Y₂ systems, two points of inversion exist as in the tungsten-fluorine system. At low temperatures, transport proceeds down the temperature gradient, reversing its direction at moderate temperatures and proceding down the temperature gradient once more at high temperatures.     

Nitrile Cluster Compounds [(M6X12)X2(RCN)4] (M=Nb, Ta; X=Cl, Br; R=Et, n-Pr, n-Bu)

Three new series of mixed-ligand clusters of the [(M₆X₁₂)X₂(RCN)₄] (M=Nb, Ta; X=Cl, Br; R=Et, n-Pr, n-Bu) composition have been prepared. It is supposed that four nitrile molecules and two halogen atoms are coordinated to the terminal octahedral coordination sites of the [M₆X₁₂]²⁺ unit.