Nonadiabatic couplings from time-dependent density functional theory: formulation in the Casida formalism and practical scheme within modified linear response

We present an efficient method to compute nonadiabatic couplings (NACs) between the electronically ground and excited states of molecules, within the framework of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in frequency domain. Based on the comparison of dynamic polarizability formulated both in the many-body wave function form and the Casida formalism, a rigorous expression is established for NACs, which is similar to the calculation of oscillator strength in the Casida formalism. The adiabatic local density approximation (ALDA) gives results in reasonable accuracy as long as the conical intersection (ci) is not approached too closely, while its performance quickly degrades near the ci point. This behavior is consistent with the real-time TDDFT calculation. Through the use of modified linear response theory together with the ground-state-component separation scheme, the performance of ALDA can be greatly improved, not only in the vicinity of ci but also for Rydberg transitions and charge-transfer excitations. Several calculation examples, including the quantization of NACs from the Jahn-Teller effect in the H3 system, have been given to show that TDDFT can efficiently give NACs with an accuracy comparable to that of wave-function-based methods.     

Effects of metal cation coordination on fluorescence properties of a diethylenetriamine bearing two end pyrene fragments

Fluorescence properties of a diethylenetriamine bearing two end pyrene fragments (L) have been studied in water, where effects of adding metal cations (Zn2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ag+) on the emission properties of L have been studied. Without metal cations, L shows dual-mode fluorescence consisting of monomer and excimer emissions. The monomer emission intensity (I(M)) is strong at acidic pH but decreases with a pH increase because of an electron transfer (ET) from the unprotonated nitrogen atoms to the excited pyrene fragment. The excimer emission is due to the static excimer formed via a direct photoexcitation of the intramolecular ground-state dimer (GSD) of the end pyrene fragments. The excimer emission intensity (I(E)) is weak at acidic pH but increases with a pH increase because of the GSD stability increase associated with the deprotonation of the polyamine chain. Addition of metal cations leads to I(M) decrease, where chelation-driven I(M) enhancement does not occur even with diamagnetic Zn2+ and Cd2+ at any pH. This is because a pyrene-metal cation pi-complex, formed via a donation of pi-electron of the pyrene fragment to the adjacent metal center, suppresses the monomer photoexcitation. I(E) also decreases upon addition of metal cations because the pyrene-metal cation pi-complex weakens pi-stacking interaction of the end pyrene fragments, leading to GSD stability decrease. The emission properties of L-Zn2+ complexes were studied by means of time-resolved fluorescence decay measurements, and the effects of adding a less-polar organic solvent were also studied to clarify the detailed emission properties.     

Furopyridines. XXX. Synthesis and reaction of difuro[3,2-c:- 3′,2′-e]pyridine,a new tricyclic heterocycle

Difuro[3,2-c:3′,2′-e]pyridine 1 , a new tricyclic heteroaromatic, has been prepared for the first time. Bromination of 1 with molecular bromine gave 3-bromo 7 , 8-bromo 7′ and 3,8-dibromo derivative 8 ; nitration with fuming nitric acid yielded 2-nitro compound 9 , while nitration with a mixture of fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid gave 2,7-dinitro derivative 10 ; formylation with n-butyllithium and dimethylformamide gave 2-formyl 11 , 7-formyl 11′ , and 2,7-diformyl compound 12. The N-oxide 14 of 1 afforded 4-cyano compound 15 by cyanation with trimethylsilyl cyanide, 4-chloro compound 16 by chlorination with phosphorus oxychloride, and 4-acetoxyl compound 17 by acetoxylation with acetic anhydride.     

Calibration method for ESR signal intensity of calcitic shells

A practical method of calibrating intensities of ESR signals with a single crystal of copper pentahydrate (CuSO₄ · 5H₂O) has been developed for calcitic shells containing a large amount of manganese (Mn²⁺). A sample holder is designed to insert the crystal from the bottom of the cavity for use as a standard sample. The signal of Cu²⁺ in the standard does not interfere with the Mn²⁺ signals. The Cu²⁺ signal and dating signal of the shell are recorded simultaneously; the ratio of their intensities is the basis for calibration. It is shown that this calibration method reduces the errors attributed to both coupling and unloadedQ factors of the cavity resonator to within 2%.     

Preparation of hole transporting polymers by condensation polymerization of triphenylamine derivatives

Hole transporting polymers were prepared by condensation polymerization of triphenylamine and N,N,N',N'‐tetraphenylbenzidine (TPD) having alkyl group with aldehydes in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid. The obtained polymers had molecular weight higher than 10,000 and good film formation ability. It was found that the aromatic amine monomers were connected with aldehyde monomer at the p‐position of the phenyl group. TPD‐aldehyde polymers had almost the same UV absorption and redox potentials as those of TPD monomer indicating that the electronic structure of amine unit did not change by the polymerization. The hole transporting mobility was in the range of 10⁻³‐10⁻⁶cm²/Vs. The electroluminescent device consisting of ITO/TPD polymer/Alq/Mg‐Ag had a maximum luminance of 9000 cd/m².     

Bulk-sensitive spectroscopic studies on noncentrosymmetric superconducting system of Mg–Ir–B

We present the data from ultrahigh-resolution laser-excited photoemission spectroscopy on a newly discovered noncentrosymmetric superconductor Mg₁₀Ir₁₉B₁₆. We observed the evidences for the opening of superconducting gap where numerical fittings show that isotropic s-wave model can satisfactorily explain the behavior of spectra near the Fermi level. We also present the valence band photoemission spectrum and B K fluorescence spectrum to discuss the basic electronic structure of Mg₁₀Ir₁₉B₁₆.     

Tantalum(V) or niobium(V) catalyzed oxidation of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide

Tantalum(V) and niobium(V) are effective catalysts for the oxidation of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide. The reaction of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by tantalum(V) chloride or niobium(V) chloride in acetonitrile, i-propanol or t-butanol selectively provided the corresponding sulfoxides in high yields. The corresponding sulfones are efficiently obtained from the reaction of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide in methanol catalyzed by tantalum(V) or niobium(V).     

Synthesis of the DFGH ring system of Type B Physalins: Highly Oxygenated,Cage‐Shaped Molecules

Let the dominos fall : Synthesis of the complex DFGH ring system of the title compounds has been accomplished. The approach features simple treatment of the key intermediate with a Brønsted base to afford the tetracyclic cage‐shaped target in one pot through a four‐step domino transformation (see scheme; Mc= monochloromesylate, MOM=methoxymethyl).

     

Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with novel membrane design

This paper presents a novel membrane design for capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUTs). The proposed design is composed of a thick membrane with reinforcing beams supported by a circumferential thin membrane to improve transducer sensitivity without degrading the membrane resonance frequency. Analytical formulation of sensitivity for the proposed design was newly derived and its validity was verified by finite element analysis (FEA). From the analysis, we confirmed that this thick membrane structure achieved three times higher sensitivity compared to the conventional design by decreasing 70 % of the mass of the thick membrane part with keeping the resonance frequency same.