Can triorganoboroxins exist in a “monomeric” R---B=O form? MNDO calculations and ebulliometric molecular weight determination

MNDO calculations were made for triethylboroxin (EtBO)₃ and triphenylboroxin (PhBO)₃ using both X-ray determined and optimized geometry of these molecules. The results were compared with hypothetical “monomeric” molecules R---B=O. Calculated energies of trimerization are about −200 kJ mol⁻¹ for both compounds and confirm the much higher stability of the “trimer”. Ebulliometric determination of molecular weight of triphenylboroxin in 2-pentanone confirms its trimeric character.     

Proton transfer in nafion membrane by quantum chemistry calculation

We estimated the energy barriers of proton transfers in the systems of (CF₃SO₃/H/SO₃CF₃)⁻ and (CF₃SO₃/H/H₂O/SO₃CF₃)⁻ as models of a water-swollen Nafion membrane by an ab initio density functional quantum calculation method with consideration of the hydration effect. As a result, the proton transfer between the SO sites, which is accompanied by one water molecule, was found to be one of the proton-transfer mechanisms in the water-swollen Nafion membrane; that is, the surface diffusion mechanism was found to be important for the proton transfer in that membrane. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1905–1914, 2004     

The steric and electronic effects of aliphatic fluoroalkyl groups

Ab initio calculations were performed on 18 fluorinated and unfluorinated alcohols at the B3LYP and HF levels with the 6-311G^∗∗ basis set. Molar volumes of the alcohols were computed at each level and averaged to produce a scale of relative size. From this, various isosteric replacements of potential use in drug design were suggested: ethyl by FCH₂CH₂ or HCF₂CH₂, propyl by CF₃CH₂, isopropyl by CF₃(CH₃)CH or (FCH₂)₂CH, isobutyl or t-butyl by (CF₃)₂CH, and 3-methyl-2-butyl by CF₃(CH₃)₂C. Calculation of the charge on oxygen and the Wiberg index of the CO bond allowed an electronegativity scale to be constructed for the fluoroalkyl groups. Electronegativity decreased in the order: (CF₃)₃C>(CF₃)₂CH>C₂F₅CH₂>CF₃CH₂>CH₃(CF₃)₂C>HCF₂CH₂>CF₃(CH₃)CH>(FCH₂)₂CH>FCH₂CH₂>CF₃(CH₃)₂C. This ranking agreed with literature acid dissociation data for the alcohols studied.     

2‐Iminoimidazoline — starke Stickstoffbasen als Koordinationspartner in der Anorganischen Chemie

2‐Iminoimidazolines — Strong Nitrogen Bases als Ligands in Inorganic Chemistry Due to the tendency of the 5‐membered cyclic fragment to accept a positive charge which yields an ylide type bonding situation, 2‐iminoimidazolines are strong nitrogen bases. They can serve as neutral ligands being 2+2 electron donors. Deprotonation leads to the anions which are potential 2+4 electron donors. We describe first the synthesis and characterization of the title compound 2‐imino‐1, 3‐dimethylimidazoline (ImNH, 8 ) and its anion 9 . Next we demonstrate their properties as ligands in complexes of main group elements and transition metals. In a third chapter we describe attempts to functionalize iminoimidazolines with the goal to create neutral ligands that coordinate in a semistable fashion. On this way we want to make a contribution to the chemistry of complex compounds directed towards catalysis.     

Energies of Charge Transfer for the Supramolecular Complexes of [60]- and [70]Fullerenes with a Series of meso-Tetraphenylporphyrins in the Solution State

Supramolecular complexes of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with various meso-tetraphenylporphyrins in toluene solutions have been studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy. Charge transfer (CT) absorption bands are observed in the visible region. Vertical ionization potentials (I _D ^V) of the meso-tetraphenylporphyrins are reported from a study of EDA interaction of these porphyrins with a number of electron acceptors like o-chloranil, p-chloranil, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) and vitamin K. The dependence of the CT transition energy on the donor ionization potential has been utilized to estimate the vertical electron affinities (E _A ^V) of [60]- and [70]fullerenes in solution. The value of E _A ^V for [60]fullerene is found to be 0.10 eV lower in magnitude than that of [70]fullerene. We have extracted degrees of CT, and oscillator and transition dipole strengths of the fullerenes/meso-tetraphenylporphyrins complexes. The experimental results show that the CT complexes studied here have a neutral character in their ground states. Electronic coupling elements have been determined for fullerene/meso-tetraphenylporphyrin complexes. Values of the solvent reorganization energy indicate that the electron transfer process takes place at a faster rate in the case of [70]fullerene/meso-tetraphenylporphyrin complexes.     

Structure and Electronic Properties of Fullerenes C52q+: Is C522+ an Exception to the Pentagon Adjacency Penalty Rule?

The structure, vibrational spectra and electronic properties of the neutral, singly and doubly charged C52 fullerenes were studied by means of the Hartree-Fock method and density functional theory. Different isomers were considered, in particular those with the lowest possible number (five or six) of adjacent pentagons, and an isomer with a four-atom ring. For neutral and singly charged species, the most stable isomer is that with the lowest number of adjacent pentagons, namely five. However, for C(52)2+, the most stable structure has six adjacent pentagons. This finding, which contradicts the pentagon adjacency penalty rule, is a consequence of complete filling of the HOMO pi shell and the near-perfect sphericity of the most stable isomer. The simulated vibrational spectra show important differences in the positions and intensities of the vibrations for the different isomers.     

Theoretical insights into the mechanism of acetylcholinesterase-catalyzed acylation of acetylcholine

Acylation of acetylcholine (ACh) catalyzed by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been studied using high-level theoretical calculations on a model system that mimics the reaction center of the enzyme, and compared with uncatalyzed acylation reaction. The geometries of all the intermediates and transition states, activation energies, and solvent effects have been calculated. The calculations predict simultaneous formation of two short-strong hydrogen bonds (SSHB) in the rate-determining transition state structures [the first SSHB involves the hydrogen atom of Ser-200 (H(s)) and another involves the hydrogen atom of His-440 (H(h))]. In the intermediate states, the H-bond corresponding to H(h) involves SSHB, whereas the one corresponding to H(s) does not.     

Er3Pd7P4 — Kristallstrukturbestimmung und Extended Hückel Rechnungen

Er₃Pd₇P₄ — Crystal Structure Determination and Extended Hückel Calculations Er₃Pd₇P₄ was prepared by heating the elements (1050°C) and investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray methods. The compound crystallizes in a new structure (C2/m; a = 15.180(3) Å, b = 3.955(1) Å, c = 9.320(1) Å, β = 125,65(1)°; Z = 2) with a three-dimensional framework of Pd and P atoms and with Er atoms in the holes. The Pd atoms are surrounded tetrahedrally, trigonally or linearly by P atoms, which are coordinated by nine metal atoms in the form of a tricapped trigonal prism. Therefore the atomic arrangement of Er₃Pd₇P₄ is related to the structures of ternary transition metal phosphides with a metal: phosphorus ratio of 2:1. Band calculations using the Extended Hückel method show strong covalent Pd? P bonds and weak bonding interactions between Pd atoms with Pd? Pd distances shorter than 2.9 Å.     

Internal dynamics of the LaI3 molecule. II. Thermal average structure of the molecule and mean square vibration amplitudes

The structural parameters of the effective r _g configuration of the LaI₃ molecule were calculated using the DFT/B3LYP method. The difference between the calculated values of r _e (La-I) and r _g (La-I) is mostly due to the anharmonicity of the ν₁ and ν₂ vibrations and does not exceed the error in determining the distance r _g (La-I) in the electron diffraction experiment. Inclusion of the anharmonicity of the ν₂ and ν₄ deformation vibrations in calculations leads to decreased amplitudes l(I…I) and shrinking effect δ(I…I) compared to the respective values obtained in the harmonic approximation. The LaI₃ molecule proved to be more rigid than predicted by B3LYP calculations.