Quantum mechanical modeling of Zn-based spinel oxides: Assessing the structural,vibrational, and electronic properties

The structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of two leading representatives of the Zn-based spinel oxides class, normal ZnX₂O₄ (X = Al, Ga, In) and inverse Zn₂MO₄ (M = Si, Ge, Sn) crystals, were investigated. In particular, density functional theory (DFT) was combined with different exchange-correlation functionals: B3LYP, HSE06, PBE0, and PBESol. Our calculations showed good agreement with the available experimental data, showing a mean percentage error close to 3% for structural parameters. For the electronic structure, the obtained HSE06 band-gap values overcome previous theoretical results, exhibiting a mean percentage error smaller than 10.0%. In particular, the vibrational properties identify the significant differences between normal and inverse spinel configurations, offering compelling evidence of a structure-property relationship for the investigated materials. Therefore, the combined results confirm that the range-separated HSE06 hybrid functional performs the best in spinel oxides. Despite some points that cannot be directly compared to experimental results, we expect that future experimental work can confirm our predictions, thus opening a new avenue for understanding the structural, electronic, and vibrational properties in spinel oxides.     

HTMoL: full-stack solution for remote access,visualization, and analysis of molecular dynamics trajectory data

Research on biology has seen significant advances with the use of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The MD methodology enables explanation and discovery of molecular mechanisms in a wide range of natural processes and biological systems. The need to readily share the ever-increasing amount of MD data has been hindered by the lack of specialized bioinformatic tools. The difficulty lies in the efficient management of the data, i.e., in sending and processing 3D information for its visualization. In this work, we present HTMoL, a plug-in-free, secure GPU-accelerated web application specifically designed to stream and visualize MD trajectory data on a web browser. Now, individual research labs can publish MD data on the Internet, or use HTMoL to profoundly improve scientific reports by including supplemental MD data in a journal publication. HTMoL can also be used as a visualization interface to access MD trajectories generated on a high-performance computer center directly. Furthermore, the HTMoL architecture can be leveraged with educational efforts to improve learning in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics.     

Theoretical and electrochemical studies on organometallic symmetrical schiff base complexes of Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II)

The electronic communication between two redox centres through a Schiff base complex has been investigated in a series of ethylenediimine-bis(1-ferrocenyl-1,3-butanedionate) complexes of Zn(II) 1, Cu(II) 2, Ni(II) 3 and Co(II) 4. Cyclic voltammetry experiments of 1 and 2 exhibit a unique two-electron reversible oxidation wave, whereas in the case of 3 and 4 two and three one-electron oxidation processes are, respectively, observed. These results suggest some electronic interaction between the iron atoms of the ferrocenyl groups. DFT calculations carried out on model complexes show that for all the studied compounds the removal of the first two electrons corresponds to the oxidation processes of the iron centres in the weakly coupled ferrocenyl termini. The electronic communication between the two iron centres increases on going from 1 to 4. Finally, a re-indexation of the bands observed in the UV-Visible spectra has been carried out using TDDFT calculations.     

He I photoelectron spectra and valence synchrotron photoionization for XC(O)SCl (X = F, Cl) compounds

Small penta-atomic molecules like FC(O)SCl and ClC(O)SCl have been analyzed by using both photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and results derived from the use of synchrotron radiation in the same energy range. For this second experiment total ion yield (TIY), photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO), and partial ion yield (PIY) spectra have been recorded. This set of data together with results obtained by computational chemistry allow us to study electronic properties and the ionization channels of both species. Thus, whereas the photodissociation behavior of FC(O)SCl can be divided into three well-defined energy regions, the fragmentation dynamics of ClC(O)SCl seems to be more complex. Nevertheless, simultaneous evaluation of the PES and valence synchrotron photoionization studies helps to clarify the molecular ionization processes.     

Modeling intercalation through the sandwich‐type interactions between benzene and 14 polyaromatic molecules: DFT and ab initio results

We use second order Moller Plesset perturbation theory and several density functional theory methods to calculate the counterpoise corrected electronic interaction energies between benzene and a series of polyaromatic molecules. These systems serve as a simple model for DNA intercalation. We show that addition of nitrogen atoms to the polyaromatic molecules always increases sandwich‐type interactions, and that, of the density functional theory methods studied, only SVWN can mimic the interaction energies and optimal separations obtained with perturbation theory. SVWN reproduces the optimal molecular distances obtained with perturbation theory very well, and often comes within less than 10% of the interaction energy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Oxidative degradations of the side chain of unsaturated ent-labdanes. Part II

A route for the degradation of the side chain of ent-labdane derivatives has been devised, giving the useful synthon 2beta,12-dihydroxy-13,14,15,16,17-pentanor-ent-labdane-8-one (8). The use of this compound in the preparation of terpenylquinone derivatives shall be reported elsewhere. In addition we have synthesized the compound 2beta,12-diacetoxy-8beta,17-epoxy-13,14,15,16-tetranor-ent-labdane (10), which upon catalytic epoxide ring opening in alkaline or acid media gave rise in all cases to the formation of tricyclicc ompounds.