Nuclear‐Spin‐Induced Circular Dichroism in the Infrared Region for Liquids

Recently, the nuclear‐spin‐induced optical rotation (NSOR) and circular dichroism (NSCD) for liquids were discovered and extensively studied and developed. However, so far, nuclear‐spin‐induced magnetic circular dichroism in the IR region (IR‐NSCD) has not been explored, even though all polyatomic molecules exhibit extensive IR spectra. Herein, IR‐NSCD is proposed and discussed theoretically. The results indicate that in favorable conditions the IR‐NSCD angle may be much larger than the NSOR angle in the UV/Vis region due to a vibrational resonance effect and can be measurable by using the NSOR experiment scheme. IR‐NSCD can automatically combine and give NMR spectra and IRCD spectra of the nuclear spin prepolarized samples in liquids, which, in principle, could be developed to become a unique, novel analytical tool.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of the n‐Doped Successive Polyanions of Oligocruciform Molecular Wires: Up to Five Units of Charge

The electronic structure of polyanions of sterically encumbered triisopropylsilyl‐substituted linear and cyclic oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s ( M onomer, T rimer, P entamer, and Tr iangle) is investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), and UV/Vis–near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical calculations (DFT). Increasing anion orders are generated sequentially in vacuo at room temperature by chemical reaction with potassium metal up to the pentaanion. The relevance of these compounds acting as electron reservoirs is thus demonstrated. Even‐order anions are EPR silent, whereas the odd species exhibit different signatures, which are identified after comparison of the measured hyperfine couplings by ENDOR spectroscopy with those predicted by DFT calculations. With increasing size of the oligomers the electron spin density is first distributed over the backbone carbon atoms for the monoanions, and then further localized at the outer phenyl rings for the trianion species. Examination of the UV/Vis‐NIR spectra indicates that the monoanions ( T^.? , P^.? ) exhibit two transitions in the Vis‐NIR region, whereas a strong absorption in the IR region is solely observed for higher reduced states. Electronic transitions of the neutral monoanions and trianions are redshifted with increasing oligomer size, whereas for a given oligomer a blueshift is observed upon increasing the charge, which suggests a localization of the spin density.     

Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on nickel(II) complex of maleonitriledithiolate and 2,2'-bipyridine

The complete IR spectra of the title complex Ni(mnt)(bpy) (mnt=maleonitriledithiolate, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and a new method to analyze vibrational spectra for such a complicated metal complex are reported in this paper. The molecular geometry, binding, electronic structure and spectroscopic property of it have been studied in detail by theoretical calculations. The geometry optimization from PM3 calculations give that this molecule is of a planar structure with the symmetry point group C(2v) and its ground state is the spin triplet state. The vibrational and electronic spectra were calculated by PM3 and ZINDO/S methods, respectively. The scientific method of analyzing vibrational spectra is established herein by giving main fixed points and pivotal vibrational units. Besides the regular symbols, the new defined symbols eta and M play an important role in describing the vibration modes accurately and vividly.     

Mixed IR/Vis Two‐Dimensional Spectroscopy: Chemical Exchange beyond the Vibrational Lifetime and Sub‐ensemble Selective Photochemistry

Two‐dimensional exchange spectroscopy (2D EXSY) is a powerful method to study the interconversion (chemical exchange) of molecular species in equilibrium. This method has recently been realized in femtosecond 2D‐IR spectroscopy, dramatically increasing the time resolution. However, current implementations allow the EXSY signal (and therefore the chemical process of interest) only to be tracked during the lifetime (T₁) of the observed spectroscopic transition. This is a severe limitation, as typical vibrational T₁ are only a few ps. An IR/Vis pulse sequence is presented that overcomes this limit and makes the EXSY signal independent of T₁. The same pulse sequence allows to collect time‐resolved IR spectra after electronic excitation of a particular chemical species in a mixture of species with strongly overlapping UV/Vis spectra. Different photoreaction pathways and dynamics of coexisting isomers or of species involved in different intermolecular interactions can thus be revealed, even if the species cannot be isolated because they are in rapid equilibrium.     

IR,Raman, and UV/Vis Spectra of Corannulene for Use in Possible Interstellar Identification

The spectroscopic characterization of corannulene (C₂₀H₁₀) is carried out by several techniques. The high purity of the material synthesized for this study was confirmed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). During a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) process, the absorption spectrum of corannulene in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible (vis) ranges is obtained. The infrared (IR) absorption spectrum is measured in CsI pellets, and the Raman scattering spectrum is recorded for pure crystal grains. In addition to room temperature measurements, absorption spectroscopy in an argon matrix at 12 K is also performed in the IR and UV/Vis ranges. The experimental spectra are compared with theoretical Raman and IR spectra and with calculated electronic transitions. All calculations are based on the density functional theory (DFT), either normal or time‐dependent (TDDFT). Our results are discussed in view of their possible application in the search for corannulene in the interstellar medium.     

Quinoidal Oligothiophenes: Towards Biradical Ground‐State Species

A family of quinoidal oligothiophenes, from the dimer to the hexamer, with fused bis(butoxymethyl)cyclopentane groups has been extensively investigated by means of electronic and vibrational spectroscopy, electrochemical measurements, and density functional calculations. The latter predict that the electronic ground state always corresponds to a singlet state and that, for the longest oligomers, this state has biradical character that increases with increasing oligomer length. The shortest oligomers display closed‐shell quinoidal structures. Calculations also predict the existence of very low energy excited triplet states that can be populated at room temperature. Aromatization of the conjugated carbon backbone is the driving force that determines the increasing biradical character of the ground state and the appearance of low‐lying triplet states. UV/Vis, Raman, IR, and electrochemical experiments support the aromatic biradical structures predicted for the ground state of the longest oligomers and reveal that population of the low‐lying triplet state accounts for the magnetic activity displayed by these compounds.     

From Ultrafast Structure Determination to Steering Reactions: Mixed IR/Non‐IR Multidimensional Vibrational Spectroscopies

Ultrafast multidimensional infrared spectroscopy is a powerful method for resolving features of molecular structure and dynamics that are difficult or impossible to address with linear spectroscopy. Augmenting the IR pulse sequences by resonant or nonresonant UV, Vis, or NIR pulses considerably extends the range of application and creates techniques with possibilities far beyond a pure multidimensional IR experiment. These include surface‐specific 2D‐IR spectroscopy with sub‐monolayer sensitivity, ultrafast structure determination in non‐equilibrium systems, triggered exchange spectroscopy to correlate reactant and product bands, exploring the interplay of electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom, investigation of interactions between Raman‐ and IR‐active modes, imaging with chemical contrast, sub‐ensemble‐selective photochemistry, and even steering a reaction by selective IR excitation. We give an overview of useful mixed IR/non‐IR pulse sequences, discuss their differences, and illustrate their application potential.     

1H NMR,IR and UV/VIS Spectroscopic Studies of Some Schiff Bases Derived from 2‐Aminobenzothiazole and 2‐Amino‐3‐Hydroxypyridine

By condensing 2‐aminobenzothiazole with 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde, 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4‐methoxybenzaldehyde, 4‐hydroxybenzal‐dehyde, benzaldehyde and 4‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, and five Schiff bases Ia‐Ie are prepared. Also, two Schiff bases IIa and IIb are prepared by condensation of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine with 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The ¹H NMR, IR and UV/Vis spectra of these seven Schiff bases are investigated. The signals of the ¹H NMR spectra as well as the important bands in the IR spectra are considered and discussed in relation to molecular structure. The UV/Vis absorption bands in ethanol are assigned to the corresponding electronic transitions and the electronic absorption spectra of Schiff bases Ib and IIb are studied in organic solvents of different polarities. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine Schiff bases IIa and IIb are investigated in buffer solutions of different pH values containing 5% (v/v) methanol, and the results are utilized for the determination of pK_a and ΔG^* of the ionization of the phenolic OH‐groups. The fluorescence spectra of IIa and IIb are studied in organic solvents of different polarities. The obtained spectral results are confirmed by some molecular calculations using the atom super position and electron delocalization molecular orbital theory for the Schiff base IIb.     

Bridge‐Localized HOMO‐Binding Character of Divinylanthracene‐Bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium Carbonyl Complexes: Spectroscopic,Spectroelectrochemical, and Computational Studies

The electronic properties of four divinylanthracene‐bridged diruthenium carbonyl complexes [{RuCl(CO)(PMe₃)₃}₂(μ? CH?CHArCH?CH)] (Ar=9,10‐anthracene ( 1 ), 1,5‐anthracene ( 2 ), 2,6‐anthracene ( 3 ), 1,8‐anthracene ( 4 )) obtained by molecular spectroscopic methods (IR, UV/Vis/near‐IR, and EPR spectroscopy) and DFT calculations are reported. IR spectroelectrochemical studies have revealed that these complexes are first oxidized at the noninnocent bridging ligand, which is in line with the very small ν(C?O) wavenumber shift that accompanies this process and also supported by DFT calculations. Because of poor conjugation in complex 1 , except oxidized 1⁺ , the electronic absorption spectra of complexes 2⁺ , 3⁺ , and 4⁺ all display the characteristic near‐IR band envelopes that have been deconvoluted into three Gaussian sub‐bands. Two of the sub‐bands belong mainly to metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MLCT) transitions according to results from time‐dependent DFT calculations. EPR spectroscopy of chemically generated 1⁺ – 4⁺ proves largely ligand‐centered spin density, again in accordance with IR spectra and DFT calculations results.     

Targeting the hemozoin synthesis pathway for new antimalarial drug discovery: technologies for in vitro beta-hematin formation assay

Clinical manifestations of malaria primarily result from proliferation of the parasite within the hosts' erythrocytes. During this process, hemoglobin is utilized as the predominant source of nutrition. The malaria parasite digests hemoglobin within the digestive vacuole through a sequential metabolic process involving multiple proteases. Massive degradation of hemoglobin generates large amount of toxic heme. Malaria parasite, however, has evolved a distinct mechanism for detoxification of heme through its conversion into an insoluble crystalline pigment, known as hemozoin. Hemozoin is identical to beta-hematin, which is constituted of cyclic heme dimers arranged in an ordered crystalline structure through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The exact mechanism of biogenesis of hemozoin in malaria is still obscure and is the subject of intense debate. Hemozoin synthesis is an indispensable process for the parasite and is the target for action of several known antimalarials. The pathway has therefore attracted significant interest for new antimalarial drug discovery research. Formation of beta-hematin may be achieved in vitro under specific chemical and physiochemical conditions through a biocrystallization process. Based on these methods several experimental approaches have been described for the assay of formation of beta-hematin in vitro and screening of compounds as inhibitors of hemozoin synthesis. These assays are primarily based on differential solubility and spectral characteristics of monomeric heme and beta-hematin. Different factors viz., the malaria parasite lysate, lipids extracts, preformed beta-hematin, malarial histidine rich protein II and some unsaturated lipids have been employed for promoting beta-hematin formation in these assays. The assays based on spectrophotometric quantification of beta-hematin or incorporation of (14)C-heme yield reproducible results and have been applied to high throughput screening. Several novel antimalarial pharmacophores have been discovered through these assays.     

An Octanuclear Metallosupramolecular Cage Designed To Exhibit Spin‐Crossover Behavior

By employing the subcomponent self‐assembly approach utilizing 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐aminophenyl)porphyrin or its zinc(II) complex, 1H ‐4‐imidazolecarbaldehyde, and either zinc(II) or iron(II) salts, we were able to prepare O‐symmetric cages having a confined volume of ca. 1300 ų. The use of iron(II) salts yielded coordination cages in the high‐spin state at room temperature, manifesting spin‐crossover in solution at low temperatures, whereas corresponding zinc(II) salts led to the corresponding diamagnetic analogues. The new cages were characterized by synchrotron X‐ray crystallography, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and NMR, Mössbauer, IR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The cage structures and UV/Vis spectra were independently confirmed by state‐of‐the‐art DFT calculations. A remarkably high‐spin‐stabilizing effect through encapsulation of C₇₀ was observed. The spin‐transition temperature T _1/2 is lowered by 20 K in the host–guest complex.     

Spectroscopic and theoretical study of the molecular and electronic structures of a terthiophene-based quinodimethane.

The UV/Vis, infrared absorption, and Raman scattering spectra of 3',4'-dibutyl-5,5"-bis(dicyanomethylene)-5,5"-dihydro-2,2':5',2"-terthiophene have been analyzed with the aid of density functional theory calculations. The compound exhibits a quinoid structure in its ground electronic state and presents an intramolecular charge transfer from the terthiophene moiety to the C(CN)2 groups. The molecular system therefore consists of an electron-deficient terthiophene backbone end-capped with electron-rich C(CN)2 groups. The molecule is characterized by a strong absorption in the red, due to the HOMO-->LUMO pi-pi* electronic transition of the terthiophene backbone that shifts hypsochromically on passing from the solid state to solution and with the polarity of the solvent. The analysis of the vibrational spectra confirms the structural conclusions and supports the existence of an intramolecular charge transfer. Vibrational spectra in several solvents and as a function of temperature have also been studied. Significant frequency upshifts of the vibrations involved in the pi-electron-conjugated pathway have been noticed upon solution in polar solvents and with the lowering of the temperature. Finally, we propose a quinoid molecule as a reliable structural and electronic model for dication species in doped oligothiophenes or for bipolaron charged defects in doped polythiophene.     

Quantum‐chemical study of the spin transition complex [Fe(bt)2(NCS)2] (bt=2,2′‐bithiazoline)

The spin crossover compound [Fe(bt)₂(NCS)₂] has been studied by several density functionals and basis sets. In the calculation, optimized geometries of the compound in the low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐spin states, the vibrational modes and IR spectra, spin splittings energies, excited states, and UV/vis absorption spectra were obtained. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Conformational Structures of a Decapeptide Validated by First Principles Calculations and Cold Ion Spectroscopy

Calculated structures of the two most stable conformers of a protonated decapeptide gramicidin S in the gas phase have been validated by comparing the vibrational spectra, calculated from first‐ principles and measured in a wide spectral range using infrared (IR)–UV double resonance cold ion spectroscopy. All the 522 vibrational modes of each conformer were calculated quantum mechanically and compared with the experiment without any recourse to an empirical scaling. The study demonstrates that first‐principles calculations, when accounting for vibrational anharmonicity, can reproduce high‐resolution experimental spectra well enough for validating structures of molecules as large as of 200 atoms. The validated accurate structures of the peptide may serve as templates for in silico drug design and absolute calibration of ion mobility measurements.     

Spectroscopic investigation of heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts: Ti and Mg chloride tetrahydrofuranates, their interaction compound, and the role of the activator

X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Infrared, Raman, and UV/Vis spectroscopy have been used to investigate the structural, vibrational, and optical properties of Ti and Mg chloride tetrahydrofuranates as precursors of heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts for polyethylene production; as well as their interaction compound (pro-catalyst) and the final catalyst obtained after interaction with the AlR(3) activator. Although the structure of the precursors and of the pro-catalyst were well known, that of the catalyst (obtained by reaction of the pro-catalyst with AlR(3)) was not easily obtainable from XRPD data. IR and Raman spectroscopy provided important information on tetrahydrofuran (thf) coordination and on the ν(M-Cl) region; whereas UV/Vis spectroscopy gave the direct proof on both the formal oxidation state and the coordination environment of the active Ti sites. Those presented herein are among the first direct experimental data on the structure of the active Ti sites in Ziegler-Natta catalysts, and can be used to validate the many computational studies that have been increasing exponentially in the last few decades.     

二氰基二硫纶和4,4-二甲基2,2-联吡啶镍(Ⅱ)配合物的光谱和理论研究

报道了标题配合物Ni(mnt)(dmbpy)溶液的电子光谱、粉末样品部分IR光谱及量子化学理论研究结果.PM3方法的几何优化表明,该配合物分子为平面结构,其对称性属于C2v点群,基态为自旋三重态.结合ZINDO方法的CI计算,解释了实测电子光谱,发现该配合物在可见区450～550nm存在本质上属于配体dmbpy到配体mnt2-的荷移跃迁(LL′CT).建立了解析复杂分子振动光谱的一种新方法:根据理论计算所得三维动态图象,对于每一个正则模,先给出固定不动的点,再给出关键性的振动类型.在本方法中,用符号η(X)定义了一种新的沿给定方向起伏或跳动式的振动类型.     

Laser Spectroscopic Study of Cold Gas‐Phase Host‐Guest Complexes of Crown Ethers

The structure, molecular recognition, and inclusion effect on the photophysics of guest species are investigated for neutral and ionic cold host‐guest complexes of crown ethers (CEs) in the gas phase. Here, the cold neutral host‐guest complexes are produced by a supersonic expansion technique and the cold ionic complexes are generated by the combination of electrospray ionization (ESI) and a cryogenically cooled ion trap. The host species are 3n‐crown‐n (3nCn; n = 4, 5, 6, 8) and (di)benzo‐3n‐crown‐n ((D)B3nCn; n = 4, 5, 6, 8). For neutral guests, we have chosen water and aromatic molecules, such as phenol and benzenediols, and as ionic species we have chosen alkali‐metal ions (M⁺). The electronic spectra and isomer‐specific vibrational spectra for the complexes are observed with various laser spectroscopic methods: laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF); ultraviolet‐ultraviolet hole‐burning (UV‐UV HB); and IR‐UV double resonance (IR‐UV DR) spectroscopy. The obtained spectra are analyzed with the aid of quantum chemical calculations. We will discuss how the host and guest species change their flexible structures for forming best‐fit stable complexes (induced fitting) and what kinds of interactions are operating for the stabilization of the complexes. For the alkali metal ion?CE complexes, we investigate the solvation effect by attaching water molecules. In addition to the ground‐state stabilization problem, we will show that the complexation leads to a drastic effect on the excited‐state electronic structure and dynamics of the guest species, which we call a “cage‐like effect”.     

Ultrafast Heme Dynamics of Ferric Cytochrome c in Different Environments: Electronic,Vibrational, and Conformational Relaxation

The excited‐state dynamics of ferric cytochrome c (Cyt c), an important electron‐transfer heme protein, in acidic to alkaline medium and in its unfolded form are investigated by using femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy, exciting the heme and Tryptophan (Trp) to understand the electronic, vibrational, and conformational relaxation of the heme. At 390 nm excitation, the electronic relaxation of heme is found to be ≈150 fs at different pH values, increasing to 480 fs in the unfolded form. Multistep vibrational relaxation dynamics of the heme, including fast and slow processes, are observed at pH 7. However, in the unfolded form and at pH 2 and 11, fast phases of vibrational relaxation dominate, revealing the energy dissipation occurring through the covalent bond interaction between the heme and the nearest amino acids. A significant shortening of the excited‐state lifetime of Trp is observed at various pH values at 280 nm excitation due to resonance energy transfer to the heme. The longer time constant (25 ps) observed in the unfolded form is attributed to a complete global conformational relaxation of Cyt c.     

Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopy of 1‐Methylthymine and its Water Clusters: The Dark State Survives Hydration

Electronic and vibrational gas phase spectra of 1‐methylthymine (1MT) and 1‐methyluracil (1MU) and their clusters with water are presented. Mass selective IR/UV double resonance spectra confirm the formation of pyrimidine‐water clusters and are compared to calculated vibrational spectra obtained from ab initio calculations. In contrast to Y. He, C. Wu, W. Kong; J. Phys. Chem. A, 2004 , 108, 94 we are able to detect 1MT/1MU and their water clusters via resonant two‐photon delayed ionization under careful control of the applied water‐vapor pressure. The long‐living dark electronic state of 1MT and 1MU detected by delayed ionization, survives hydration and the photostability of 1MT/1MU cannot be attributed solely to hydration. Oxygen coexpansions and crossed‐beam experiments indicate that the triplet state population is probably small compared to the ¹nπ* and/or hot electronic ground state population. Ab initio theory shows that solvation of 1MT by water does not lead to a substantial modification of the electronic relaxation and quenching of the ¹nπ* state. Relaxation pathways via ¹ππ*¹–nπ*¹ and ¹ππ *–S₀ conical intersections and barriers have been identified, but are not significantly altered by hydration.     

Generation and Spectroscopic Identification of ClCNS,ClNCS and NCCNS

The photolysis of four chloro‐substituted thiadiazoles (3,4‐dichloro‐, 3‐chloro‐ and 3‐chloro‐4‐fluoro‐1,2,5‐thiadiazole; 3,5‐dichloro‐1,2,4‐thiadiazole) and 3,4‐dicyano‐1,2,5‐thiadiazole was investigated in inert solid‐argon matrices at cryogenic temperatures by means of UV irradiation at selected wavelengths of 254 and 280 nm. The photolysis products were identified by mid‐IR and UV spectroscopy. Evidence for the existence of three novel pseudohalides, namely, chloronitrile sulfide (ClCNS), chlorine isothiocyanate (ClNCS) and cyanogen N‐sulfide (NCCNS), was provided by direct spectroscopic methods supported by quantum chemical calculations. Ground‐state geometries, vibrational frequencies, IR intensities, and UV excitation energies of ClCNS, ClNCS and NCCNS were obtained from calculations using the B3LYP, CCSD(T) and SAC‐CI methods and the aug‐cc‐pV(T+d)Z basis set.