Orthogonal natural atomic orbitals form an appropriate one-electron basis for expanding CASSCF wave functions into localized bonding schemes and their weights

Localized bonding schemes and their weights have been obtained for the pi-electron system of nitrone by expanding complete active space self-consistent field wave functions into a set of Slater determinants composed of orthogonal natural atomic orbitals (NAOs) of Weinhold and Landis (Valency and Bonding: A Natural Bond Orbital Donor-Acceptor Perspective, 2005). Thus, the derived bonding schemes are close to orthogonal valence bond structures. The calculated sequence of bonding scheme weights accords with the sequence of genuine resonance structure weights derived previously by Ohanessian and Hiberty (Chem Phys Lett 1987, 137, 437), who employed nonorthogonal atomic orbitals. This accord supports the notion that NAOs form an appropriate orthogonal one-electron basis for expanding complete active space self-consistent field wave functions into meaningful bonding schemes and their weights.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the non-isothermal decomposition: I. Some divalent cross-linked metal-alginate ionotropic gels

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of Sn(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) alginate gels have been studied using thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) in static air. The thermal dehydration of each gel complex was found to occur in one step, whereas the decomposition of the dehydrated complexes occurred in two steps. The kinetic parameters were computed by different models and a tentative decomposition mechanism consistent with the kinetic observations is discussed.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

新型单组份磷-氮膨胀型阻燃剂的热分解动力学

利用热重分析法研究了在不同升温速率下新型单组份磷-氮膨胀型阻燃剂六(4-(9,10-二氢-9-氧杂-10-磷杂菲-10-氧化物)-羟甲基苯氧基)环三磷腈(DOPOMPC)在氮气气氛和空气气氛中的热分解动力学.采用Kissinger和Flynn-Wall-Ozawa(FWO)法分别计算出DOPOMPC在相应气氛下的活化能和指前因子.     

Pairwise decomposition of an MMGBSA energy function for computational protein design

Computational protein design (CPD) aims at predicting new proteins or modifying existing ones. The computational challenge is huge as it requires exploring an enormous sequence and conformation space. The difficulty can be reduced by considering a fixed backbone and a discrete set of sidechain conformations. Another common strategy consists in precalculating a pairwise energy matrix, from which the energy of any sequence/conformation can be quickly obtained. In this work, we examine the pairwise decomposition of protein MMGBSA energy functions from a general theoretical perspective, and an implementation proposed earlier for CPD. It includes a Generalized Born term, whose many‐body character is overcome using an effective dielectric environment, and a Surface Area term, for which we present an improved pairwise decomposition. A detailed evaluation of the error introduced by the decomposition on the different energy components is performed. We show that the error remains reasonable, compared to other uncertainties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Force constant decomposition for penta‐coordinated XH3Cl2‐ (X = C,Si, Ge) structures

Based on the energy decomposition analysis of an interacting system, we propose a method for force constant decomposition analysis with respect to the specific normal coordinate. Using the presented method, we examined the penta‐coordinated system (X = C, Si, Ge), which possesses a three‐center four‐electron bond. The origin of the difference in the stability of the penta‐coordinated D_3h structures was clearly shown to be the effect of electron delocalization–polarization term. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anionic behavior and single-molecule crystal in fullerene confinements: A contribution from DFT energy decomposition and cooperativity analyses

The recently proposed systems of various anions (A) confined inside C₆₀ , A⁻ @ C₆₀ , which in turn behave as large and stable anions, (A @ C₆₀)⁻ , can find potential applications in various fields. On the other hand, it has earlier been shown that from the dihalogens (X₂ ) encapsulated C₆₀ , X₂ @ C₆₀ , only F₂ @ C₆₀ can be introduced as a system in which the cage acts as a cation C₆₀⁺ and interacts with an endohedral anion, F₂⁻ , forming the F₂⁻ @ C₆₀⁺ as a single-molecule crystal compound. In this work, two density functional theory energy decomposition analysis (EDA) schemes, where in one of them the noninteracting kinetic, electrostatic, and exchange-correlation energies come into play while another scheme, called as EDA-SBL, includes the steric, electrostatic, and quantum effects as essential ingredients (S. Liu, J. Chem. Phys. 2007 , 126, 244103), are utilized to find out what energetic components govern the unique characteristics of the (A @ C₆₀)⁻ and X₂ @ C₆₀ confinements. It is shown that the noninteracting kinetic energy and steric energies have important contributions to the total interaction energies for the considered systems. However, there are other confinements for which the electrostatic and exchange-correlation contributions play also imperative roles. Furthermore, we find reasonable correlations between interaction energies and their components as well as the energetic components themselves, leading to an alternative EDA scheme including the noninteracting kinetic, steric, and electrostatic energies for investigations on other endohedral fullerenes. Extending our analyses to large size confinements, Cl⁻ @ C_n with n up to 90 as illustrative examples, the quantitative cooperativity concept is also explored, where the positive and negative cooperativity profiles unveil a specific size of the anionic confinements to form the most stable large anion.     

Thermal decomposition of zinc hydroxy azide

The isothermal decomposition of zinc hydroxy azides, Zn(OH)_2-x(N₃)_x: follows deceleratory kinetics throughout the temperature range studied. The initial part of the decomposition fits into unimolecular decay law, log (1-a) = -kt. The contracting volume law satisfactorily describes the data at higher degrees of decomposition. The maximum value ofa upto which the slow decomposition could be recorded was 0.75. The aged form of zinc hydroxy azide decomposes with much lower rates and slightly different topochemical characteristics. The decrease in the rate of decomposition on ageing has been attributed to the formation of carbonate on the surface of the compound during storage. The change in topochemical behaviour is traced to the reported layer structure of zinc hydroxy azide. The effect of pre-heating on subsequent thermal decomposition has also been discussed.     

Controlled Rate Thermogravimetry: New usefulness of controlled rate thermogravimetry revealed by decomposition of polyimide

Curves obtained by controlled rate TG of polyimide film in air are quite different from those obtained by conventional constant rate heating TG. A two step mass loss was observed during the constant rate heating TG, while mass loss proceeded as a single step process in the controlled rate TG. To elucidate the cause for this difference, kinetic analysis was made, and it was found that the reaction mechanism in a lower temperature range is different from those in a higher temperature range. The lower temperature decomposition is a single step process, and the higher temperature decomposition is a two-step process. The reason for the difference is that only the low temperature single step process is observed in the controlled rate TG, while both reactions are observed in the constant heating rate TG along with the temperature increase. This speculation was confirmed by isothermal TG. These facts show us another usefulness of controlled rate TG. To analyze the three types of TG data together, the Friedman—Ozawa method was used, and it is demonstrated to be the most appropriate and reliable.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microwave-assisted versus conventional decomposition procedures applied to a ceramic potsherd standard reference material by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is a powerful, sensitive analytical technique with numerous applications in chemical characterization including that of ancient pottery, mainly due to its multi-element character, and the relatively short time required for the analysis. A critical step in characterization studies of ancient pottery is the selection of a suitable decomposition procedure for the ceramic matrix. The current work presents the results of a comparative study of six decomposition procedures applied on a standard ceramic potsherd reference material, SARM 69. The investigated decomposition procedures included three microwave-assisted decomposition procedures, one wet decomposition (WD) procedure by conventional heating, one combined microwave-assisted and conventional heating WD procedure, and one fusion procedure. Chemical analysis was carried out by ICP-AES. Five major (Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg), three minor (Mn, Ba, Ti) and two trace (Cu, Co) elements were determined and compared with their certified values. Quantitation was performed at two different spectral lines for each element and multi-element matrix-matched calibration standards were used. The recovery values for the six decomposition procedures ranged between 75 and 110% with a few notable exceptions. Data were processed statistically in order to evaluate the investigated decomposition procedures in terms of recovery, accuracy and precision, and eventually select the most appropriate one for ancient pottery analysis.     

Energy decomposition in molecular complexes: implications for the treatment of polarization in molecular simulations

This study examines the contribution of electrostatic and polarization to the interaction energy in a variety of molecular complexes. The results obtained from the Kitaura-Morokuma (KM) energy decomposition analysis at the HF/6-31G(d) level indicate that, for intermolecular distances around the equilibrium geometries, the polarization energy can be determined as the addition of the polarization energies of interacting blocks, as the mixed polarization term is typically negligible. Comparison of KM and QM/MM results shows that the electrostatic energy determined in the KM method is underestimated (in absolute value) by QM/MM methods. The reason of such underestimation can be attributed to the simplified representation of treating the interaction between overlapping charge distribution by the interaction of a QM molecule with a set of point charges. Nevertheless, the polarization energies calculated by KM and QM/MM methods are in close agreement. Finally, a consistent, automated strategy to derive charge distributions that include implicitly polarization effects in pairwise, additive force fields is presented. The strategy relies in the simultaneous fitting of electrostatic and polarization energies computed by placing a suitable perturbing particle at selected points around the molecule. The suitability of these charges to describe molecular interactions is discussed.     

Nitroxide decomposition: Implications toward nitroxide design for applications in living free‐radical polymerization

Nitroxides bearing an α‐hydrogen decompose upon heating in a bimolecular reaction. A new mechanism is proposed for the decomposition of t‐butylisopropylphenyl nitroxide (TIPNO) involving the formation of a head‐to‐tail dimer, single electron transfer to form an oxammonium salt, epimerization to the corresponding nitrone, and elimination to form a conjugated oxime. This mechanism may provide insights into designing new nitroxides for use in controlled polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 697–717, 2006     

The thermal decomposition of zirconium oxyhydroxide

The thermal decomposition of zirconium oxyhydroxides prepared by the mixture of aqueous zirconium oxychloride solutions and aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide under various conditions has been examined by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction study and infrared spectrophotometry. As a result, it is seen that the thermal decomposition of zirconium oxyhydroxide, in which the composition is ZrO_2-x(OH)_2xyH₂O where x2 and 1y<2, proceeds according to the following process:

Direct estimate of the strength of conjugation and hyperconjugation by the energy decomposition analysis method

The intrinsic strength of pi interactions in conjugated and hyperconjugated molecules has been calculated using density functional theory by energy decomposition analysis (EDA) of the interaction energy between the conjugating fragments. The results of the EDA of the trans-polyenes H2C=CH-(HC=CH)n-CH=CH2 (n = 1-3) show that the strength of pi conjugation for each C=C moiety is higher than in trans-1,3-butadiene. The absolute values for the conjugation between Si=Si pi bonds are around two-thirds of the conjugation between C=C bonds but the relative contributions of DeltaE pi to DeltaE orb in the all-silicon systems are higher than in the carbon compounds. The pi conjugation between C=C and C=O or C=NH bonds in H2C=CH--C(H)=O and H2C=CH-C(H)=NH is comparable to the strength of the conjugation between C=C bonds. The pi conjugation in H2C=CH-C(R)=O decreases when R = Me, OH, and NH2 while it increases when R = halogen. The hyperconjugation in ethane is around a quarter as strong as the pi conjugation in ethyne. Very strong hyperconjugation is found in the central C-C bonds in cubylcubane and tetrahedranyltetrahedrane. The hyperconjugation in substituted ethanes X3C-CY3 (X,Y = Me, SiH3, F, Cl) is stronger than in the parent compound particularly when X,Y = SiH3 and Cl. The hyperconjugation in donor-acceptor-substituted ethanes may be very strong; the largest DeltaE pi value was calculated for (SiH3)3C-CCl3 in which the hyperconjugation is stronger than the conjugation in ethene. The breakdown of the hyperconjugation in X3C-CY3 shows that donation of the donor-substituted moiety to the acceptor group is as expected the most important contribution but the reverse interaction is not negligible. The relative strengths of the pi interactions between two C=C double bonds, one C=C double bond and CH3 or CMe3 substituents, and between two CH3 or CMe3 groups, which are separated by one C-C single bond, are in a ratio of 4:2:1. Very strong hyperconjugation is found in HC[triple bond]C-C(SiH3)3 and HC[triple bond]C-CCl3. The extra stabilization of alkenes and alkynes with central multiple bonds over their terminal isomers coming from hyperconjugation is bigger than the total energy difference between the isomeric species. The hyperconjugation in Me-C(R)=O is half as strong as the conjugation in H2C=CH-C(R)=O and shows the same trend for different substituents R. Bond energies and lengths should not be used as indicators of the strength of hyperconjugation because the effect of sigma interactions and electrostatic forces may compensate for the hyperconjugative effect.     

Theoretical study of the unimolecular decomposition mechanisms of energetic TNAD and TNAZ explosives

Calculation methods based on hybrid Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the basis sets of the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d)//B3LYP/4‐31G(d) method and the differential overlap (INDO) program were used to derive reasonable decomposition mechanisms of 1,4,5,8‐tetranitro‐1,4,5,8‐tetraazadecalin (TNAD) and 1,3,3‐trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) explosives. All possible decomposition species and transition states, including intermediates and products, were identified and their corresponding enthalpy of formation and Gibbs free energy of formation were obtained using polyparametric modification equations. INDO bond energy calculation results reveal the weakest bonding site for reference and determine where cleavage can occur easily. This work is concerned mainly with eliminating HONO (cis or trans form). The activation energy for trans‐form HONO elimination is lower than that of cis‐form HONO elimination in the initial steps of both TNAD and TNAZ decomposition, being 18.5 kJ/mol and 33.3 kJ/mol, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Lifetime prediction for polymers via the temperature of initial decomposition

The temperature of initial decompositionT _id was determined from TG and DTG curves of mass loss during thermooxidative polymer decomposition in an environmental air atmosphere. The values ofT _id were applied for comparison of the thermal stabilities of several polymers, e.g. PC-A, PBT, PET, PPO and PVC. Both the activation energies of initial decompositionE _id and the preexponential termsA _id of the Arrhenius equation were calculated by using the Kissinger approach. The initial mass loss is proposed as a criterion for calculation of the time to failuret _f from the known values ofE _id andA _id, and hence for a prediction of the lifetime of polymer materials.The following thermal stability sequence was found for the investigated polymer materials: PC-A (st)>PC-A (nst)>PBT>PET>PPO>PVC (e)>PVC (c). The activation energy of initial decomposition had a mean value ofE _id=83 kJ mol^–1 for PC-A, PBT, PET and PPO, andE _id=73 kJ mol^–1 for the PVC samples.The calculated time to failure,t _f, for PC-A, PET and PVC under specified conditions was in reasonable agreement with published experimental data.The proposed parameters of thermal decompositionT _id,E _id andt _f, can be applied for the characterization and comparison of various polymer materials, and for a prediction of their lifetime.Financial support from the Polish Scientific Research Committee, the grant No. 7 761791 02, is gratefully acknowledged.     

Synthesis and thermal decomposition of ditetrazol-5-ylamine

Ditetrazol-5-ylamine (DTA) was synthesized from cyanuric chloride in four steps. The thermal decomposition of DTA in the solid state was studied by thermogravimetry, volumetry, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and calorimetry. Under isothermal conditions at 200–242 °C, thermal decomposition obeys the first order autocatalytic kinetics. The kinetic and activation parameters of DTA decomposition were determined. The composition of gaseous reaction products and the structure of condensed residue were studied. The thermal effect of thermal DTA decomposition is 281.4 kJ mol⁻¹. The nitrogen content in a mixture of gaseous products formed by the reaction in a temperature interval of 200–242 °C exceeds 97 vol.%. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1660–1664, July, 2005.     

Optimized microwave-assisted decomposition method for multi-element analysis of glass standard reference material and ancient glass specimens by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A novel microwave-assisted wet-acid decomposition method for the multi-element analysis of glass samples using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was developed and optimized. The SRM 621 standard reference glass material was used for this purpose, because it has similar composition with either archaeological glass specimens or common modern glasses. For the main constituents of SRM 621 (Ca, Na, Al, Fe, Mg, Ba and Ti), quality control data are given for all the examined procedures. The chemical and instrumental parameters of the method were thoroughly optimized. Thirteen acid mixtures of hydrochloric, nitric, and hydrofluoric acids in relation to two different microwave programs were examined in order to establish the most efficient protocol for the determination of metals in glass matrix. For both microwave programs, an intermediate step was employed with addition of H₃BO₃ in order to compensate the effect of HF, which was used in all protocols. The suitability of the investigated protocols was evaluated for major (Ca, Na, Al), and minor (Fe, Mg, Ba, Ti, Mn, Cu, Sb, Co, Pb) glass constituents. The analytes were determined using multi-element matrix matched standard solutions. The analytical data matrix was processed chemometrically in order to evaluate the examined protocols in terms of their accuracy, precision and sensitivity, and eventually select the most efficient method for ancient glass. ICP-AES parameters such as spectral line, RF power and sample flow rate were optimized using the proposed protocol. Finally, the optimum method was successfully applied to the analysis of a number of ancient glass fragments.     

Theoretical investigation of the decomposition of monofluoromethanol

Ab initio calculations have been used to study the decomposition pathways of monofluo-roinethanol. Equilibrium geometries and transition state structures were optimized at the HF/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-31G(d) levels. Single point energies were obtained at different levels of theory. The most favorable reaction to dissociation is the 1,2-HF elimination which is consistent with the experimental results.     

Model-free kinetics analysis of decomposition of polypropylene over Al-MCM-41

Both thermal and catalytic decomposition of PP sample is studied to understand the effect of catalyst (Al-MCM-41) on the decomposition behaviour. Mesoporous catalyst (Al-MCM-41) is synthesized by sol–gel methods and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and nitrogen adsorption study. The optimum catalyst composition is found to be around 18.5 wt%, where the reduction in maximum decomposition temperature is around 103 °C. The nonlinear Vyazovkin model-free technique is applied to evaluate the quantitative information on variation of E with for PP sample under both catalytic and noncatalytic nonisothermal conditions.

The constant pattern behaviour of the TG curves and the similar trend on variation of E with for both catalytic and noncatalytic decomposition of PP indicates similar mechanism involved during decomposition. The only effect of catalyst is observed in the form of reduction of the temperature and the activation energy. The literature reported data on such variation are compared with the results of the present study. Results show that Al-MCM-41 is superior to the ZSM-5 catalyst in terms of catalyst loading due to the existence of larger external macropore and mesopore surface in it.