Conformational effects on vibronic spectra and excited state dynamics of 3-fluorobenzoic acid dimer

Two conformational isomers of 3-fluorobenzoic acid dimer (3-FBA(2)) have been identified in a supersonic jet expansion by use of laser-induced fluorescence excitation (FE), UV-UV hole-burning, and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectroscopic methods. In the FE spectrum, the S(1) origins of the two isomeric species appear at a frequency gap of only 24 cm(-1), and the vibronic intensities of the redshifted dimer (dimer I) are about two times weaker than those of dimer II. However, ab initio quantum chemistry calculations at the MP2/6-31G(**) level of theory predict that all the isomeric species of 3-FBA(2) have almost the same binding energy (approximately 17 kcal/mol) in the ground state. Furthermore, unlike benzoic acid dimer, the present system shows intense activity for a low-frequency mode in both the FE and DF spectra. With the aid of DFT (B3LYP/6-311G(**)) predicted normal mode frequencies, we have assigned the mode to the in-plane gear (cogwheel) vibration of the cyclic hydrogen-bonded frame of the dimer. The Franck-Condon profiles for vibronic excitation of the mode indicate that the distortion of the cyclic hydrogen bond frame as a result of S(1)<--S(0) excitation is larger for dimer I than dimer II. Moreover, the fluorescence lifetime at the S(1) zero-point level of the former is also significantly smaller than the latter. Using the predictions of configuration interaction singles calculations, we have proposed that the spectral and dynamical differences between the two isomeric species observed in this study are manifestations of the different characteristics of their S(1) surfaces. By measuring FE, DF, and hole-burning spectra of a mixed dimer between 3-fluobenzoic acid and benzoic acid we have shown that the isomeric features in the homodimer spectra are due to two locally excited rotamers of the 3-fluorobenzoic acid moiety.     

Scaling of decay lengths for surface states in the gaps of one-dimensional semi-infinite superlattices

We look at some one-dimensional semi-infinite superlattices with an underlying Hamiltonian that is of the nearest neighbour, tight binding type. A real space rescaling procedure which is exact in one dimension is applied to obtain the location of the subbands. It has been found that these subbands never overlap in 1D, and we interpret this as a band repulsion effect. Relevance in the case of a disordered system where this band repulsion crosses over to the well-known level repulsion is discussed. Then with a proper matching at the boundary we solve for the sets of denumerably infinite number of decaying solutions (the surface states) in the gaps. These types of states have been proposed quite some time ago. We look at detail theirexact analytical solutions in 1D and find that their decay lengths near the band edges diverge as |E–E _b|^–v, wherev=1/2 andE _b is the nearest band edge. The decay lengths and their divergence exponent match extremely well with those obtained from transfer matrix method. Some recent experiments on quantum well structures seem to have observed such states.     

A periodic first principle study to design microporous crystal 12MO, 7Al2O3 for selective and active O radicals encaging

Periodic first principle calculation correlates the role of metal substitution (Sr and Ba in place of Ca) on selective encaging of active O⁻ radicals inside the microporous 12MO, 7Al₂O₃ crystal structure. We have exchanged Ca by Sr and Ba and as well extracted electron stepwise to monitor selectivity of different anion encaging inside the same structure type. Ca favors O²⁻ encaging and shows no electron transition when neutral, whereas Sr shows no transition in absence of unpaired electron and can successfully trap O⁻, Ba though less active than the other metal substituents shows oxygen encaging at its zero and mono-positive state.     

Convenient route to enantiopure aryl cyclopentanes via Diels-Alder reaction of asymmetric dienes. Total synthesis of (+)-herbertene and (+)-cuparene

A general route for the synthesis of highly substituted aryl cyclopentanes has been developed involving Diels-Alder reaction of asymmetric dienes prepared from (+)-camphoric acid followed by aromatization of the resulting cyclohexene derivatives. Employing this protocol enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-herbertene and (+)-cuparene has been accomplished.     

Vibronic coupling in the excited cationic states of ethylene: simulation of the photoelectron spectrum between 12 and 18 eV

The effect of vibronic coupling on structure and spectroscopy is investigated in the excited cationic states of ethylene. It is found from equation of motion coupled cluster singles and doubles method for ionization potential electronic structure calculations in a triple-zeta plus double polarization basis set that ethylene in its third (B (2)A(g)) and fourth (C (2)B(2u)) ionized states does not have a stable minimum-energy geometry. The potential-energy surfaces of these states are energetically distinct and well separated at the ground-state geometry of ethylene, but in a geometry optimization as the structure of the ion relaxes, these surfaces end up in conical intersections and finally in the stable equilibrium geometry of the second ionized state (A (2)B(3g)). The topology of the potential-energy surfaces can be clearly understood using a vibronic model Hamiltonian. Furthermore, by diagonalizing this model Hamiltonian, the photoelectron spectrum of ethylene corresponding to the second, third, and fourth ionized states (12-18 eV) is simulated. Spectra from vibronic simulations including up to quartic coupling constants and using various normal-mode basis sets are compared to those from vertical Franck-Condon simulations to understand the importance of vibronic coupling and nonadiabatic effects and to examine the influence of individual normal modes on the spectrum.     

Liquid chromatographic separation of derivatives of diospyrin, a bioactive bisnaphthoquinonoid plant-product, and analogous naphthyl compounds

Isocratic reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) method was developed using acetonitrile and water for the determination of diospyrin, a pharmacologically important bisnaphthoquinonoid plant-product. The method was validated for precision, accuracy and reproducibility, and was found to be linear over the concentration range of 1-1000 microg/ml; the limits of detection and quantitation were 8 and 20 ng, respectively. The technique was used to determine the amount of diospyrin in plant extracts from four climatic regions in India. It was also applied for differentiation and separation of 27 naphthyl compounds. While a composition of 50:50 was preferable for dimeric compounds, the composition 40:60 was a better choice for the monomers. Also, the isomeric alpha- and beta-naphthols and their dimers could be distinguished by conversion into the respective methyl ethers.     

Oxomolybdenum(VI) and (IV) complexes of pyrazole derived ONO donor ligands – synthesis,crystal structure studies and spectroelectrochemical correlation

Four cis-dioxomolybdenum complexes of general formula [MoO₂(Lⁿ)EtOH] (n = 1–4) and one oxomolybdenum(IV) complex [MoO(L⁴)EtOH], with potentially tridentate Schiff bases derived from 5-methyl pyrazole-3-carbohydrazide and salicylaldehyde/substituted salicylaldehyde/o-hydroxy acetophenone have been prepared. The Mo(IV) complex is derived from the Mo(VI) dioxo complex by oxotransfer reaction with PPh₃. The complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, electronic spectra, IR, ¹H NMR, and by cyclic voltammetry. All the Mo(VI) species are crystallographically characterized. The complexes have a distorted octahedral structure in which the ligand behaves as a binegative donor one, leaving the pyrazole –N uncoordinated towards the metal center. It is also revealed from the crystal structure that the Mo(VI) center enjoys an NO₅ donor environment.     

Influence of an Oxidising Impurity on Preparation of 2-Lithio-1,3-dithiane: Isolation of bis[2-d,3-Dithianyl)]methanol

Bis-dithianylalkanols and dimers are formed in preparation of 2-lithio-1,3-dithianes due to the presence of oxidising impurity in n-BuLi (perhaps n-BuOOLi).     

The k-essence scalar field in the context of Supernova Ia observations

We study a framework where the hypothesis of a minimum length in space-time is complemented with the notion of reference frame invariance. It turns out natural to interpret the action of the obtained reference frame transformations in the context of doubly special relativity. As a consequence of this formalism we find interesting connections between the minimum length properties and the modified velocity-energy relation for ultra-relativistic particles. For example, we can predict the ratio between the minimum lengths in space and time using the results from OPERA on superluminal neutrinos.