Far-infrared absorption by collisionally interacting nitrogen and methane molecules

Quantum line shape calculations of the rototranslational enhancement spectra of nitrogen-methane gaseous mixtures are reported. The calculations are based on a recent theoretical dipole function for interacting N(2) and CH(4) molecules, which accounts for the long-range induction mechanisms: multipolar inductions and dispersion force-induced dipoles. Multipolar induction alone was often found to approximate the actual dipole surfaces of pairs of interacting linear molecules reasonably well. However, in the case of the N(2)-CH(4) pair, the absorption spectra calculated with such a dipole function still show a substantial intensity defect at the high frequencies (>250 cm(-1)) when compared to existing measurements at temperatures from 126 to 297 K, much as was previously reported.     

New halide-centered discrete Ag(I)(8) cubic clusters containing diselenophosphate ligands, [Ag(8)(X)[Se(2)P(OR)(2)](6)](PF(6)) (X = Cl, Br; R = Et, Pr, (i)Pr): syntheses, structures, and DFT calculations

Six clusters Ag(8)(micro(8)-X)[Se(2)P(OR)(2)](6)(PF(6)) (R = Et, X = Cl, 1a, X = Br, 1b; R = Pr, X = Cl, 2a, X = Br, 2b; R = (i)Pr, X = Cl, 3a, X = Br, 3b) were isolated from the reaction of [Ag(CH(3)CN)(4)](PF(6)), NH(4)[Se(2)P(OR)(2)], and Bu(4)NX in a molar ratio of 4:3:1 in CH(2)X(2). Positive FAB mass spectra show m/z peaks at 2573.2 for 1a, 2617.3 for 1b, 2740.9 for 2a, 2786.9 for 2b, 2742.3 for 3a, and 2787.0 for 3b due to respective molecular cation, (M - PF(6))(+). (31)P NMR spectra of 1a-3b display a singlet at delta 82.3, 81.5, 82.9, 81.7, 76.3, and 75.8 ppm with a set of satellites (J(PSe) = 661, 664, 652, 652, 656, and 656 Hz, respectively). The X-ray structure (1a-2b) consists of a discrete cationic cluster in which eight silver ions are linked by six diselenophosphate ligands and a central micro(8)-Cl or micro(8)-Br ion with a noncoordinating PF(6)(-) anion. The shape of the molecule is a halide-centered distorted Ag(8) cubic cluster. The dsep ligand exhibits a tetrametallic tetraconnective (micro(2), micro(2)) coordination pattern, and each caps on a square face of the cube. Each silver atom of the cube is coordinated by three selenium atoms and the central chloride or bromide ion. Additionally, molecular orbital calculations at the B3LYP level of the density functional theory have been carried out to study the Ag-micro(8)-X (X = Cl, Br) interactions for cluster cations [Ag(8)(micro(8)-X)[Se(2)P(OR)(2)](6)](+). Calculations show very weak bonding interactions exist between micro(8)-X and Ag atoms of the cube.     

Measurement of the electronic transition dipole moment by Autler-Townes splitting: Comparison of three- and four-level excitation schemes for the Na2 A 1Sigma(u)+ - X 1Sigma(g)+ system

We present a fundamentally new approach for measuring the transition dipole moment of molecular transitions, which combines the benefits of quantum interference effects, such as the Autler-Townes splitting, with the familiar R-centroid approximation. This method is superior to other experimental methods for determining the absolute value of the R-dependent electronic transition dipole moment function mu(e)(R), since it requires only an accurate measurement of the coupling laser electric field amplitude and the determination of the Rabi frequency from an Autler-Townes split fluorescence spectral line. We illustrate this method by measuring the transition dipole moment matrix element for the Na2 A 1Sigma(u)+ (v' = 25, J' = 20e)-X 1Sigma(g)+ (v" = 38, J" = 21e) rovibronic transition and compare our experimental results with our ab initio calculations. We have compared the three-level (cascade) and four-level (extended Lambda) excitation schemes and found that the latter is preferable in this case for two reasons. First, this excitation scheme takes advantage of the fact that the coupling field lower level is outside the thermal population range. As a result vibrational levels with larger wave function amplitudes at the outer turning point of vibration lead to larger transition dipole moment matrix elements and Rabi frequencies than those accessible from the equilibrium internuclear distance of the thermal population distribution. Second, the coupling laser can be "tuned" to different rovibronic transitions in order to determine the internuclear distance dependence of the electronic transition dipole moment function in the region of the R-centroid of each coupling laser transition. Thus the internuclear distance dependence of the transition moment function mu(e)(R) can be determined at several very different values of the R centroid. The measured transition dipole moment matrix element for the Na2 A 1Sigma(u)+ (v' = 25, J' = 20e)-X 1Sigma(g)+ (v" = 38, J" = 21e) transition is 5.5+/-0.2 D compared to our ab initio value of 5.9 D. By using the R-centroid approximation for this transition the corresponding experimental electronic transition dipole moment is 9.72 D at Rc = 4.81 A, in good agreement with our ab initio value of 10.55 D.     

One-photon mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy of CH2BrI: extensive bending progression, reduced steric effect, and spin-orbit effect in the cation

One-photon mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectrum of CH2BrI was obtained using coherent vacuum-ultraviolet radiation generated by four-wave difference-frequency mixing in Kr. Unlike CH2ClI investigated previously, a very extensive bending (Br-C-I) progression was observed. Vibrational frequencies of CH2BrI+ were measured from the spectra and the vibrational assignments were made by utilizing frequencies calculated by the density-functional-theory (DFT) method using relativistic effective core potentials with and without the spin-orbit terms. A noticeable spin-orbit effect on the vibrational frequencies was observed from the DFT calculations, even though its influence was not so dramatic as in CH2ClI+. A simple explanation based on the bonding characteristics of the molecular orbitals involved in the ionization is presented to account for the above differences between the MATI spectra of CH2BrI and CH2ClI. The 0-0 band of the CH2BrI spectrum could be identified through the use of combined data from calculations and experiments. The adiabatic ionization energy determined from the position of this band was 9.5944+/-0.0006 eV, which was significantly smaller than the vertical ionization energy reported previously.     

Mono,di, tri and tetraethylene glycol: Spectroscopic characterization using density functional method and experiment

We report infrared and electronic absorption spectra of mono, di, tri and tetra ethylene glycol (EG) in gas phase, their cation and anion and in water solvent using density functional theory calculations at B3LYP/TZVP level. Structural paramaters, rotational and centrifugal distortional constants and dipole moments are also reported. A siginificant shifts in vibrational frequencies and peaks in electronic absorption spectra have been observed upon ionization of mono, di, tri and tetra ethylene glycols. We have also obtained experimental vibrational spectrum of monoethylene glycol. Vibrational frequencies of mono ethylene glycol from theory and experiment are compared. We have used integral equation formalism polarizable continuum model (IEFPCM) model to study the influence of water solvent on vibrational frequencies of neutral mono, di, tri and tetra ethylene glycol. Electronic absorption spectra for these molecules have been obtained using Time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT).     

Excess electron in water at different thermodynamic conditions

A hydrated electron in water at different densities and temperatures is studied via a set of density functional based molecular dynamics simulations, showing that a localization of an excess electron is still present even at very low densities. Space variations of the molecular dipole moments are analyzed, proposing a simple algorithm to identify the region of localization of the wavefunction relative to the solvated electron in terms of orientation of the H2O molecular dipole moments. Finally, the effects of the self-interaction corrections on the optical absorption spectra are analyzed and compared with both available experimental data and path integral molecular dynamics calculations, showing that a weighted subtraction of the self-interaction yields a systematic improvement in the position of the absorption peak.     

Theoretical structure and vibrational analysis of ethyl methanesulfonate, CH3SO2OCH2CH3

Ethyl methanesulfonate, CH3SO2OCH2CH3, is well-known as an alkylating agent in mutagenic and carcinogenic processes. Its electronic structure and that of the methanesulfonate anion (CH3SO3-) were determined using optimization methods based on density functional theory and Moller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory. For CH3SO2OCH2CH3, two conformations with symmetries C(s) and C1 are obtained, the former being more stable than the latter. Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations show the C(s) conformation provides a more favorable geometry of the lone pairs of the oxygen atom linking the ethyl group. The NBO technique also reveals the characteristics of the methanesulfonate anion as a leaving group due to the rearrangement of the excess electronic charge after alkylation. Furthermore, the infrared spectra of CH3SO2OCH2CH3 are reported for the liquid and solid states as well as the Raman spectrum of the liquid. Comparison to experiment of the conformationally averaged IR spectrum of C(s) and C1 provides evidence of the predicted conformations in the solid IR spectrum. These experimental data along with the calculated theoretical force constants are used to define a scaled quantum mechanical force field for the target molecule, which allowed the measured frequencies to be reproduced with a final root-mean-square deviation of 9 cm(-1) and, thus, a reliable assignment of the vibrational spectrum.     

Molecular and electronic structure, magnetotropicity and absorption spectra of benzene-trinuclear copper(I) and silver(I) trihalide columnar binary stacks

The molecular and electronic structures, stabilities, bonding features, magnetotropicity and absorption spectra of benzene-trinuclear Cu(I) and Ag(I) trihalide columnar binary stacks with the general formula [c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3)](n)(C(6)H(6))(m) (M = Cu, Ag; X = halide; n, m ≤ 2) have been investigated by means of electronic structure calculation methods. The interaction of c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3) clusters with one and two benzene molecules yields 1:1 and 1:2 binary stacks, while benzene sandwiched 2:1 stacks are formed upon interaction of two c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3) clusters with one benzene molecule. In all binary stacks the plane of the alternating c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3) and benzene components adopts an almost parallel orientation. The separation distance between the centroids of the benzene and the proximal c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3) metallic cluster found in the range 2.97-3.33 ? at the B97D/Def2-TZVP level is indicative of a π···π stacking interaction mode, for the centroid separation distance is very close to the sum of the van der Waals radii of Cu···C (3.10 ?) and Ag···C (3.44 ?). Energy decomposition analysis (EDA) at the SSB-D/TZP level revealed that the dominant term in the c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3)···C(6)H(6) interaction arises from dispersion and electrostatic forces while the covalent interactions are predicted to be negligible. On the other hand, charge decomposition analysis (CDA) illustrated very small charge transfer from C(6)H(6) toward the c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3) clusters, thus reflecting weak π-base/π-acid interactions which are further corroborated by the respective electrostatic potentials and the fact that the total dipole moment vector points to the center of the metallic ring of the c-M(3)(μ(2)-X)(3) cluster. The absorption spectra of all aromatic columnar binary stacks simulated by means of TD-DFT calculations showed strong absorptions in the UV region. The main features of the simulated absorption spectra are thoroughly analyzed, and assignments of the contributing electronic transitions are given. The magnetotropicity of the binary stacks evaluated by the NICS(zz)-scan curves indicated an enhancement of the diatropicity of the inorganic ring upon interaction with the aromatic benzene molecule. Noteworthy is the slight enhancement of the diatropicity of the benzene ring, particularly in the region between the interacting rings, probably due to the superposition (coupling) of the diamagnetic ring currents of the interacting aromatic ring systems.     

Determination of the rate constant for the radical-radical reaction NCO(X2Pi) + CH3(X2A2 ') at 293 K and an estimate of possible product channels

The rate constant for the reaction of the cyanato radical, NCO(X2Pi), with the methyl radical, CH3(X2A2' '), has been measured to be (2.1 +/- 1.3(-0.80)) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), where the uncertainty includes both random and systematic errors at the 68% confidence level. The measurements were conducted over a pressure range of 2.8-4.3 Torr of CH4 and at a temperature of 293 +/- 2 K. The radicals were generated by the 248-nm photolysis of ClNCO in a large excess of CH4. The subsequent rapid reaction, Cl + CH4, generated the CH3 radical. The rate constant for the Cl + CH4 reaction was measured to be (9.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), where the uncertainty is the scatter of one standard deviation in the data. The progress of the reaction was followed by time-resolved infrared absorption spectroscopy on single rovibrational transitions from the ground vibrational level. Multiple species were detected in these experiments, including NCO, CH3, HCl, C2H6, HCN, HNC, NH, and HNCO. Temporal concentration profiles of the observed species were simulated using a kinetic model, and rate constants were determined by minimizing the sum of the squares of the residuals between experimental observations and model calculations. Both HCN and HNC seem to be minor products (<0.3% each) of the NCO + CH3 reaction. The peak concentrations of NH and HNCO were small, accounting for <1% of the initial NCO concentration; however, their temporal profiles could not be fit by the model kinetics. The observed C2H6 temporal profile always peaked at significantly higher concentrations than the model predictions, and several reaction models were constructed to help explain these observations. The most likely product channel seems to be the recombination channels, producing CH3NCO and CH3OCN.     

The C-H activation of methane by laser-ablated zirconium atoms: CH2=ZrH2, the simplest carbene hydride complex, agostic bonding, and (CH3)2ZrH2

Reaction of laser-ablated Zr with CH(4) ((13)CH(4), CD(4), and CH(2)D(2)) in excess neon during condensation at 5 K forms CH(2)=ZrH(2), the simplest alkylidene hydride complex, which is identified by infrared absorptions at 1581.0, 1546.2, 757.0, and 634.5 cm(-)(1). Density functional theory electronic structure calculations using a large basis set with polarization functions predict a C(1) symmetry structure with agostic C-H- - -Zr bonding and distance of 2.300 A. Identification of the agostic CH(2)=ZrH(2) methylidene complex is confirmed by an excellent match of calculated and observed isotopic frequencies particularly for the four unique CHD=ZrHD isotopic modifications. The analogous reactions in excess argon give two persistent photoreversible matrix configurations for CH(2)=ZrH(2). Finally, methane activation by CH(2)=ZrH(2) gives the new (CH(3))(2)ZrH(2) molecule.     

Fenchone, camphor, 2-methylenefenchone and 2-methylenecamphor: a vibrational circular dichroism study

We report and discuss the infrared (IR) vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the enantiomeric pairs of the olefin derivatives of fenchone (1,3,3-trimethyl-2-methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane) and camphor (1,7,7-trimethyl-2-methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane), respectively, together with those of the parent molecules. The VCD spectra were taken in three spectral regions: the mid-IR region, encompassing the fundamental deformation modes, the region of CH-stretching fundamental modes and the NIR-region between 1100 and 1300 nm, which corresponds to the second CH-stretching overtone. The VCD and absorption spectra in the first two regions are analyzed by use of current density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The NIR region is analyzed by a protocol that consists of the use of DFT-based calculations and in assuming local mode behavior: the local mode approach is found appropriate for interpreting the absorption spectra and, for the moment, acceptable for calculating NIR-VCD spectra. The analysis of the first region allows us to track the contribution of the C=O group in the vibrational optical activity of C-C stretching modes; notable differences are indeed found in olefins and ketones. On the contrary, in the other two regions the VCD spectra of olefins and ketones are more similar: in the normal mode region of CH stretching fundamentals the spectra are determined by the mutual orientation of the CH bonds; in the second overtone local mode region olefins and ketones signals show some differences.     

The spectroscopic characterization of the methoxy radical. III. Rotationally resolved Ã2A1-X̃2E electronic and X̃2E submillimeter wave spectra of partially deuterated CH2DO and CHD2O radicals

Rotationally resolved laser induced fluorescence and stimulated emission pumping A?(2)A(1)-X?(2)E spectra, along with pure rotational spectra in the 153-263 GHz region within the E(3/2) component of the ground state in asymmetrically deuterated methoxy radicals CH(2)DO and CHD(2)O have been observed. The combined data set allows for the direct measurement with high precision of the energy separation between the E(1/2) and E(3/2) components of the ground state and the energy separation between the parity stacks in the E(3/2) component of the ground state. The experimentally observed frequencies in both isotopologues are fit to an effective rotational Hamiltonian accounting for rotational and spin-rotational effects arising in a near-prolate asymmetric top molecule with dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion. Isotopic dependencies for the molecular parameters have been successfully implemented to aid the analysis of these very complex spectra. The analysis of the first and second order contributions to the effective values of molecular parameters has been extended to elucidate the physical significance of resulting molecular parameters. Comparisons of measured parameters, e.g., spin-orbit coupling, rotational and spin-rotation constants, are made among the 5 methoxy isotopologues for which data is now available. Comparisons of experimental results, including the derived geometric structure at both the C(3v) conical intersection and at the Jahn-Teller distorted minima, are made with quantum chemistry calculations.     

Quasielastic electron scattering from methane, methane-d4, methane-d2, ethylene, and 2-methylpropane

Quasielastic electron scattering from gaseous species at high momentum transfer was recently reported for the first time [Cooper et al., J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom. 155, 28 (2007)]. The first results for CH(4) and CD(4) were well explained by a classical electron Compton scattering picture in which the electron scatters independently from each atom rather than the molecule as a whole. However, an alternative possible interpretation in terms of nondipole molecular vibrational excitation is suggested by previously published quantum mechanical calculations on high momentum transfer electron scattering from diatomic molecules [Bonham and de Souza, J. Chem. Phys. 79, 134 (1983)]. In order to determine which of these two interpretations best fits the experimental results, we have measured the quasielastic spectra of gaseous 2-methylpropane, ethylene, methane, and two isotopically substituted methanes, CH(2)D(2) and CD(4), at a momentum transfer of approximately 20 a.u. (2.25 keV impact energy and 100 degrees scattering angle). The experimental spectra are found to be composed of as many peaks as there are different atomic isotopes in the molecule (two for CH(4), C(2)H(4), 2-methylpropane, and CD(4) and three for CH(2)D(2)). The peak positions are predicted accurately by the independent atom electron Compton scattering model, and the relative intensities are in reasonable agreement. The experimental results thus support classical electron Compton scattering as the origin of the signal.     

A concerted three-body formation X+Y+C2H4 in the photodissociation of CH2XCH2Y (X,Y=Br,Cl) at 193 nm

The photodissociation of CH2XCH2Y (X,Y=Br,Cl) through absorption of 193 nm photons was investigated using product translational spectroscopy. No stable CH2BrCH2 or CH2ClCH2 was detected. The recorded time-of-flight spectra indicate that these internally excited radicals dissociated into Y+C2H4 in a concerted reaction with the first C-X bond rupture. Product anisotropy implies that the overall reaction time for three-body formation is in a fraction of rotational period. According to an asynchronous concerted reaction model, the measured spectra were simulated with product translational energy distributions coupled by asymmetric angular distributions. For the mixed halide, CH2BrCH2Cl, triple products Br+Cl+C2H4 can be originated from the cleavage of either the C-Br bond or the C-Cl bond. The results are discussed and where appropriate, comparisons with previous investigations of the related molecules are included.     

Dielectric and Thermodynamic Studies on the Hydrogen Bonded Binary System of Isopropyl Alcohol and Aniline

The molecular interactions between the polar systems isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and aniline for various mole fractions at different temperatures were studied by determining the dielectric permittivity using an HP-LF impedance analyzer at radio frequencies, the plunger method in the microwave frequency range and Abbe’s refractometer in optical region. Kirkwood effective correlation factors, corrective Kirkwood correlation factors, excess permittivities, Bruggeman parameters, excess Helmholtz free energy, relaxation time, dipole moment and excessive dipole moment were calculated using the experimental data. Optimized geometries were calculated using Spartan Modeling software for both pure and equimolar systems of isopropyl alcohol and aniline for Hamiltonian quantum mechanical calculations. Conformational analysis of the formation of hydrogen bond between the two systems is supported by the FT-IR spectra.     

Reduced dipole pseudospectra for the accurate tabulation of C6 dispersion coefficients

The possibility of tabulating accurate reduced dipole pseudospectra of single molecules is of great importance for obtaining reliable dipole dispersion constants from which C₆ dispersion coefficients can be derived for all possible interacting pairs. Use of an efficient interpolation procedure allows to obtain dispersion constants from analytical integration of the Casimir–Polder integral over the product of frequency-dependent polarizabilities (FDPs) at imaginary frequencies. FDP calculations can then be done at a few selected frequencies, so overcoming at a time the difficulties arising from numerical quadratures and sensibly reducing the computational demand. In the static case, appropriately reduced n-term pseudospectra are obtained by forcing in an optimal way large N-term extended pseudospectra to be converted to FDPs using the same interpolation technique. Calculations performed at the eight frequencies arising by choosing n = 4 (four-term approximation) in the optimized interpolation procedure, give reduced dipole pseudospectra from which isotropic C₆ dispersion coefficients and γ₆ anisotropy coefficients are obtained in almost perfect agreement with the result of the most accurate data available from the literature and of recently proposed variational techniques.     

A challenge for density functional theory: the XONO and XNO2 (X=F, Cl, and Br) molecules

The equilibrium geometries, harmonic frequencies, dipole moments, infrared intensities, and relative energies of the cis-XONO, trans-XONO, and XNO₂ (X=F, Cl, and Br) have been investigated using four functionals in common use in Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two of the functionals include non-local or gradient correction terms, while the other two also incorporate some exact Hartree-Fock exchange and are labeled hybrid functionals. The quality of the results obtained from the functionals is determined by comparison to previously published high-level coupled-cluster calculations. The hybrid functionals perform better for prediction of the equilibrium geometries, where the two gradient corrected functionals yield qualitatively incorrect molecular structures for cis-FONO and cis-ClONO. None of the functionals perform well in predicting all six harmonic frequencies, showing that the correlation between equilibrium geometries and harmonic frequencies is not as strong for these DFT methods as it is for conventional wavefunction ab initio methods, such as coupled-cluster theory. Results from the various functionals generally come into better agreement with each other and also with the coupled-cluster results moving down the periodic table. Received: 12 February 1997 / Accepted: 25 March 1997     

Absolute intensities of CH stretching overtones in alkenes

We have measured the CH stretching vibrational spectrum of ethene gas in the regions corresponding to 1-5 quanta in the CH stretching vibration with Fourier transform infrared and conventional absorption spectroscopy and have determined the corresponding oscillator strengths. We have calculated the CH stretching vibrational oscillator strengths for a series of alkenes: ethene, propene, 1,3-butadiene, cis-2-butene, and trans-2-butene. The CH stretching intensities are calculated with a simple Morse oscillator local mode model for CH groups and with the harmonically coupled anharmonic oscillator local mode model for CH2 and CH3 groups. The local mode parameters, frequencies, and anharmonicities are obtained from experiments. The harmonic coupling coefficients and the dipole moment functions are calculated with a range of ab initio methods. These include self-consistent-field Hartree-Fock, density functional, correlated, and multireference theories, combined with basis sets ranging from double- to quadruple-zeta quality augmented with polarization and diffuse functions. Variation in calculated oscillator strengths with the choice of ab initio method is systematically studied and compared with observed intensities. From this comparison between the calculated and observed values, we can quantitatively understand the relative usefulness of various ab initio dipole moment functions in calculations of vibrational oscillator strength for alkenes.