Chemical bonding in representative astrophysically relevant neutral,cation, and anion HCnH chains

Most existing studies assign a polyynic and cumulenic character of chemical bonding in carbon-based chains relying on values of the bond lengths. Building on our recent work, in this paper we add further evidence on the limitations of such an analysis and demonstrate the significant insight gained via natural bond analysis. Presently reported results include atomic charges, natural bond order and valence indices obtained from ab initio computations for representative members of the astrophysically relevant neutral and charged HC_2k/2k+1H chain family. They unravel a series of counter-intuitive aspects and/or help naive intuition in properly understanding microscopic processes, e.g., electron removal from or electron attachment to a neutral chain. Demonstrating that the Wiberg indices adequately quantify the chemical bonding structure of the HC_2k/2k+1H chains—while the often heavily advertised Mayer indices do not—represents an important message conveyed by the present study.     

Periodicity of Two-Dimensional Bonding of Main Group Elements

In the periodic table the position of each atom follows the ‘aufbau’ principle of the individual electron shells. The resulting intrinsic periodicity of atomic properties determines the overall behavior of atoms in two-dimensional (2D) bonding and structure formation. Insight into the type and strength of bonding is the key in the discovery of innovative 2D materials. The primary features of 2D bonding and the ensuing monolayer structures of the main-group II–VI elements result from the number of valence electrons and the change of atom size, which determine the type of hybridization. The results reveal the tight connection between strength of bonding and bond length in 2D networks. The predictive power of the periodic table reveals general rules of bonding, the bonding-structure relationship, and allows an assessment of published data of 2D materials.     

Reactivity of a N-Coordinated Germylene-Borane Complex: From Ge→B to Ge→Ga Coordination

Reactivity studies of the Ge^II→B complex L(Cl)Ge⋅BH₃ ( 1 ; L=2-Et₂NCH₂-4,6-tBu₂-C₆H₂) were performed to determine the effect on the Ge^II→B donation. N-coordinated compounds L(OtBu)Ge⋅BH₃ ( 2 ) and [LGe⋅BH₃]₂ ( 3 ) were prepared. The possible tuning of the Ge^II→B interaction was proved experimentally, yielding compounds 1-PPh₂-8-(LGe)-C₁₀H₆ ( 4 ) and L(Cl)Ge⋅GaCl₃ ( 5 ) without a Ge^II→B interaction. In 5 , an unprecedented Ge^II→Ga coordination was revealed. The experimental results were complemented by a theoretical study focusing on the bonding in 1 − 5 . The different strength of the Ge^II→E (E=B, Ga) donation was evaluated by using energy decomposition analysis. The basicity of different L(X)Ge groups through proton affinity is also assessed.     

A convenient synthesis of 3-aryl-5-methylidene-2-thiohydantoins

3-Aryl-5-methylidene-2-thiohydantoins were constructed in one-pot reaction of aryl isothiocyanates and 3-morpholino- alanine in alkaline medium with the subsequent treatment with boiling hydrochloric acid.     

Two-dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks: Intrinsic Synergy Promoting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Covalent organic frameworks(COFs) are emerging photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution in water splitting in recent years. They offer a pre-designable platform to design tailor-made structures and chemically adjustable functionality in terms of photocatalysis. In this review, we summarize the recent striking progress of COF-based photocatalysts in design and synthesis. Firstly, different approaches to functionalizing building blocks, diversifying linkages, extending π-conjugation and establishing D-A conjugation are illustrated for enhancing photocatalytic activity. Next, post-modification of backbones and pores is detailed for emphasizing the synergistic catalytic uniqueness of COFs. Besides, the strategy of preparing COF-related composites with various semiconductors is outlined for optimizing the electronic properties. Finally, we conclude with the current challenges and promising opportunities for the exploration of new COF-based photocatalysts.     

Electrochemical dehydrogenative N–H/N–H coupling reactions

The N–N bond is present in many important organic compounds, such as hydrazines, pyrazoles, azos, etc. Many methods based on transition metal catalyzed N–N coupling or functionalization of hydrazine have been reported for the synthesis of N–N containing organic compounds. In recent years, electrochemical dehydrogenative N–H/N–H coupling has become a powerful tool for the construction of N–N bearing organic compounds. The electrochemical methods employ electrons as traceless redox reagents instead of chemicals and produce hydrogen as the only byproduct. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the electrochemical dehydrogenative N–H/N–H coupling reactions with focus on the mechanistic insights and synthetic applications of these transformations.     

Strong Pancake 2e/12c Bond in π-Stacking Phenalenyl Derivatives Avoiding Bond Conversion

The nature of the 2e/12c bond and its conversion to a carbon-carbon single bond in phenalenyl dimers have prompted a great deal of interests recently. In this work, we theoretically investigated a series of π-stacking phenalenyl derivatives with 2e/12c bonding character by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate origin of this unusual bond conversion. Results show that bond-conversion of the phenalenyl dimer easily occurs at room-temperature both dynamically and thermodynamically. However, bond-conversion of hetero π-stacking adducts, in which the two center carbon atoms were substituted by boron and nitrogen atoms, respectively, is much more difficult, because the 2e/12c bond is stabilized by its charge transfer character. Consequently, the bond-conversion is an endothermic process, albeit with a low conversion barrier. Interestingly, Lewis acid-base interactions would be induced by substitution of the center nitrogen atom to phosphorus atom. The 2e/12c bond is further stabilized by 5.9 kcal mol⁻¹ and its conversion is also thermodynamically unfavorable.     

Halogen bond between hypervalent halogens YF3/YF5 (Y=Cl,Br, I) and H2X (X= O,S, Se)

ABSTRACT

The complexes of H₂X (X?=?O, S, Se) with hypervalent halogens YF₃ and YF₅ (Y?=?Cl, Br, I) have been studied. The σ-hole on the Y atom participates in a halogen bond with the lone pair on the chalcogen atom. In addition, some secondary interactions coexist with the halogen bond in most complexes. The interaction energy correlates with the nature of both X and Y atoms. In most cases, the complex is more stable for the heavier Y atom and the lighter X atom. Of course, there are some exceptions in H₂X···YF₃. YF₃ forms a more stable complex with H₂X than does YF₅. These complexes are dominated by electrostatic interaction and the halogen bond involving H₂S and H₂Se exhibits some covalent character.

Halogen bond plays an important role in chemical reactions and multivalent halogens can regulate chemical reactions by participating in a halogen bond. Thus we compare the effect of the chalcogen electron donor on the strength and nature of halogen bonding involving multivalent halogens.     

A new database and benchmark of the bond energies of noble-gas-containing molecules

We have developed a new database of structures and bond energies of 59 noble-gas-containing molecules. The structures were calculated by CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ methods and the bond energies were obtained using the CCSD(T)/complete basis set method. Many wavefunction-based and density functional theory methods have been benchmarked against the 59 accurate bond energies. Our results show that the MPW1B95, B2GP-PLYP, and DSD-BLYP functionals with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set excel in predicting the bond energies of noble-gas molecules with mean unsigned errors (MUEs) of 2.0 to 2.1 kcal/mol. When combinations of Dunning's basis sets are used, the MPW1B95, B2GP-PLYP, DSD-BLYP, and BMK functionals give significantly lower MUEs of 1.6 to 1.9 kcal/mol. Doubly hybrid methods using B2GP-PLYP and DSD-BLYP functionals and MP2 calculation also provide satisfactory accuracy with MUEs of 1.4 to 1.5 kcal/mol. If the Ng bond energies and the total atomization energies of a group of 109 main-group molecules are considered at the same time, the MPW1B95/aug-cc-pVTZ single-level method (MUE = 2.7 kcal/mol) and the B2GP-PLYP and DSD-PLYP functionals with combinations of basis sets or using the doubly hybrid method (MUEs = 1.9-2.2 kcal/mol) give the overall best result.     

Asymptotics in percolation on high‐girth expanders

We consider supercritical bond percolation on a family of high‐girth ‐regular expanders. The previous study of Alon, Benjamini and Stacey established that its critical probability for the appearance of a linear‐sized (“giant”) component is . Our main result recovers the sharp asymptotics of the size and degree distribution of the vertices in the giant and its 2‐core at any . It was further shown in the previous study that the second largest component, at any , has size at most for some . We show that, unlike the situation in the classical Erd?s‐Rényi random graph, the second largest component in bond percolation on a regular expander, even with an arbitrarily large girth, can have size for arbitrarily close to 1. Moreover, as a by‐product of that construction, we answer negatively a question of Benjamini on the relation between the diameter of a component in percolation on expanders and the existence of a giant component. Finally, we establish other typical features of the giant component, for example, the existence of a linear path.