Structures and Properties of NbOF3 and TaOF3 — with a Remark to the O/F Ordering in the SnF4 Type Structure

Powder samples of NbOF₃ und TaOF₃ were prepared by heating mixtures of NbO₂F and NbF₅ or TaO₂F and TaF₅, respectively, in the corresponding stoichiometric ratio in platinum crucibles under argon atmosphere (180—220 °C). Both oxide fluorides are coulourless with a slight greyish tinge. They are sensitive to moisture and decompose in air at room temperature within hours. Both, NbOF₃ and TaOF₃ crystallize as a variant of the SnF₄ type structure, space group I4/mmm. The structures have been refined from X‐ray powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method (a = 3.9675(1) Å, c = 8.4033(1) Å, R_B = 3.60 %, R_p = 4.58 % for NbOF₃ and a = 3.9448(1) Å, c = 8.4860(1) Å, R_B = 2.07 %, R_p = 2.44 % for TaOF₃). Characteristic building units are sheets of corner sharing MX₆ octahedra which are stacked via van der Waals interactions to a three dimensional framework. The occupancy of the two crystallographic sites for the anions by O and F is discussed on the basis of structure refinements, bond order summations, IR and NMR data and calculations of the Madelung parts of the lattice energy.     

The Spectroscopic Characterization of Halogenated Pollutants through the Interplay between Theory and Experiment: Application to R1122

In the last decade, halogenated ethenes have seen an increasing interest for different applications; in particular, in refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumping. At the same time, their adverse effects as atmospheric pollutants require environmental monitoring, especially by remote sensing spectroscopic techniques. For this purpose, an accurate characterization of the spectroscopic fingerprint—in particular, those of relevance for rotational–vibrational spectroscopy—of the target molecules is strongly needed. This work provides an integrated computational–theoretical investigation on R1122 (2-Chloro-1,1-difluoro-ethylene, ClHC=CF2), a compound widely employed as a key intermediate in different chemical processes. State-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations relying on CCSD(T)-based composite schemes and hybrid CCSD(T)/DFT approaches are used to obtain an accurate prediction of the structural, rotational and vibrational spectroscopic properties. In addition, the equilibrium geometry is obtained by exploiting the semi-experimental method. The theoretical predictions are used to guide the analysis of the experimentally recorded gas-phase infrared spectrum, which is assigned in the 400–6500 cm−1 region. Furthermore, absorption cross sections are accurately determined over the same spectral range. Finally, by using the obtained spectroscopic data, a first estimate of the global warming potential of R1122 vibrational spectra is obtained.     

White CsPbBr3: Characterizing the One-Dimensional Cesium Lead Bromide Polymorph

Inorganic lead halide perovskites have gained immense scientific interest for optoelectronic applications. In this work, we present a one-dimensional polymorph of cesium lead bromide (δ-CsPbBr₃) synthesized through a simple anion-exchange reaction, wherein distorted edge-sharing PbBr₆ octahedra form 1D chains isolated by Cs ions. δ-CsPbBr₃ was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ²⁰⁷Pb and ¹³³Cs solid-state NMR, and by optical emission and absorption spectroscopies. This non-perovskite material irreversibly transforms into the well-known three-dimensional perovskite phase (γ-CsPbBr₃) upon heating to above 151 °C. The indirect bandgap was determined by absorption measurements and calculation to be 2.9 eV. δ-CsPbBr₃ exhibits broadband yellow photoluminescence with a quantum yield of 3.2 %±0.2 % at room temperature and 95 %±5 % at 77 K, and this emission is attributed to the recombination of self-trapped excitons. This study emphasizes that the metastable δ-CsPbBr₃ may be a persistent, concomitant phase in Cs−Pb-Br-containing materials systems, such as those used in solar cells and LEDs, and it showcases the characterization tools used for its detection.     

On the Nature of Fluoride Ion Hydration

Hydration of aqueous fluoride ions has been studied by theoretical ab initiocalculations in an attempt to understand the experimental Raman spectrum.Calculations for hydrated fluoride, F^– (H₂O)_n where n = 1–10, have been performedat the RHF/6-31 + G^* level. A relatively stable geometry exists for n = 6; abovethis number, additional waters hydrogen bond to water of the hydrated fluoride.On the long time scale of the ab initio calculation or experimental diffractionstudies, the average coordination of fluoride is 6. However, it has been possibleto interpret the low-frequency Raman spectrum on the basis of a singlehydrogen-bonded water molecule, F^– ... HOH. To rationalize these results, it is proposedthat the average coordination of fluoride is 6, but on the time scale of the Ramanexperiment the fluoride is symmetrically bonded to only one hydrogen of onewater molecule.Chairman and Organizer of the Symposium dedicated to Donald Irish. Unfortunately Murray died during the preparation of this special issue     

Quantifying the Bonding Strength of Gold‐Chalcogen Bonds in Block Copolymer Systems

Gold‐chalcogen interactions are ubiquitous in gold biological and medicinal systems. Understanding the nature of these interactions can provide the basis for regulating their structures and functionalities, and a reasonable way to interpret the differences in various properties. However, the relative strength of gold‐chalcogen bonds remains controversial, and the conclusions of many related works are inconsistent. Thus, in this work, we successfully quantified the relative strength of Au‐X (X=S, Se, and Te from chalcogenide‐containing A‐B‐A type block copolymers) interactions at the single‐molecule level through single‐molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) from a kinetic point of view and quantum chemical studies from a thermodynamic point of view. Both sets of results suggested that the strength of the Au‐X bonds decreases as Au‐Te>Au‐Se>Au‐S. Our findings unveiled the relative strength and nature of gold‐chalcogen interactions, which may help expand their application in electronics, catalysis, medicine and many other fields.     

Crystal Structure and Spectroscopic Studies of a New Organic Dihydrogenmonophosphate [2-NH2-6-CH3-C4H3N2O]2(H2PO4)2

Physicochemical properties of a new dihydrogenmonophosphate [2-NH ₂ -6-CH ₃ -C ₄ H ₃ N ₂ O] ₂ (H ₂ PO ₄ ) ₂ are described on the basis of X-ray crystal structure investigation. This compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1. The unit cell parameters are: a = 7.667(3) Å, b = 8.204(5) Å, c = 14.761(6) Å, α = 98.85(4)°, β = 99.23(3)°, γ = 90.50(4)°, V = 905.0 ų, and Z = 2. The crystal structure was solved and refined to R = 0.037, using 4351 independent reflections. The atomic arrangement of this compound is built up by (H ₂ PO ₄ ) _n ^{n ?} chains. Each chain aggregates with organic molecules to form an open framework architecture through hydrogen bond interactions. The structure includes four types of hydrogen bonds. The first one, O─H─O, links the H ₂ PO ₄ groups to form (H ₂ PO ₄ ) _n ^{n ?} infinite inorganic chains parallel to the a axis. The three other types, O─H─O(carbonylic), N─H─O(carbonylic), and N─H─O, assemble the inorganic chains so as to build up a three-dimensional arrangement. This compound has also been investigated by IR, and solid-state ¹³ C and ³¹ P MAS NMR spectroscopies combined to ab initio calculations.     

Ba3(BO3)(CO3)F: The First Borate Carbonate Fluoride Synthesized by the High-Temperature Solution Method

In contrast to the well-investigated halogen-containing borates and carbonates, very few halogen-containing borate carbonate compounds have been reported. Specifically, no example of borate carbonate fluoride has been synthesized successfully until now. Herein, the planar π-conjugated units [BO₃]³⁻ and [CO₃]²⁻ and the F⁻ ions are introduced simultaneously into one crystal structure resulting in the first borate carbonate fluoride, Ba₃(BO₃)(CO₃)F, by the high-temperature solution method in the atmosphere. Its structure features a hexagonal channel formed by the [BO₃]³⁻ and [CO₃]²⁻ units with the [F₃Ba₈]¹³⁺ trimers filled in the channel. Various characterizations including single crystal- and powder-XRD, EDX, IR, UV-vis-NIR, and TG-DSC, together with the first principles calculation have been carried out to verify the structure and fully understand the structure–property relationships.     

Unexpected conformational properties of 1-trifluoromethyl-1-silacyclohexane, C5H10SiHCF3: gas electron diffraction, low-temperature NMR spectropic studies, and quantum chemical calculations

The molecular structure of axial and equatorial conformers of 1-trifluoromethyl-1-silacyclohexane, (C5H10SiHCF3), as well as the thermodynamic equilibrium between these species was investigated by means of gas electron diffraction (GED), dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance (DNMR) spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP, MP2, and CBS-QB3). According to GED, the compound exists as a mixture of two Cs symmetry conformers possessing the chair conformation of the six-membered ring and differing in the axial or equatorial position of the CF3 group (axial=58(12) mol%/equatorial=42(12) mol%) at T=293 K. This result is in a good agreement with the theoretical prediction. This is, however, in sharp contrast to the conformational properties of the cyclohexane analogue. The main structural feature for both conformers is the unusually long exocyclic bond length Si--C 1.934(10) A. A low-temperature 19F NMR experiment results in an axial/equatorial ratio of 17(2) mol%:83(2) mol% at 113 K and a DeltaG (not equal) of 5.5(2) kcal mol-1. CBS-QB3 calculations in the gas-phase and solvation effect calculations using the PCM(B3LYP/6-311G*) and IPCM(B3LYP/6-311G*) models were applied to estimate the axial/equatorial ratio in the 100-300 K temperature range, which showed excellent agreement with the experimental results. The minimum energy pathways for the chair-to-chair inversion of trifluoromethylsilacyclohexane and methylsilacyclohexane were also calculated using the STQN(Path) method.     

Structures and electronic properties of C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) fullerene compounds.

Stimulated by the recent observation of the first C(56)Cl(10) chlorofullerene (Science, 2004, 304, 699), we performed a systematic density functional study of the structures and properties of C(56)Cl(10) and related compounds. The fullerene derivatives C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) based on the parent fullerene C(56)(C(2v):011), rather than those from the most stable C(56) isomer with D(2) symmetry, are predicted to possess the lowest energies, and they are highly aromatic. Further investigations show that the heats of formation of the C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) fullerene derivatives are highly exothermic, that is, -48.59 and -48.89 kcal mol(-1) per Cl(2) (approaching that of C(50)Cl(10)), suggesting that adding eight (or ten) Cl atoms releases much of the strain of pure C(56)(C(2v):011) fullerene and leads to highly stable derivatives. In addition, C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) possess large vertical electron affinities, especially for C(56)Cl(8) with value of 3.20 eV, which is even larger than that (3.04 eV) of C(50)Cl(10), indicating that they are potential good electron acceptors with possible photonic/photovoltaic applications. Finally, the (13)C NMR chemical shifts and infrared spectra of C(56)Cl(8) and C(56)Cl(10) are simulated to facilitate future experimental identification.     

The Crystal Structure of α-F2: Solving a 50 Year Old Puzzle Computationally

The cohesive energy of α-fluorine, with C2/c space group symmetry, was calculated at benchmark quality by applying the method of increments. The known experimental X-ray structure data needed to be refined, since the reported intramolecular bond length was unrealistically large. At the CCSD(T) level, including corrections for zero-point energy, the basis set superposition error, and extrapolated to the complete basis set limit, a cohesive energy of −8.72 kJ mol⁻¹ was calculated, which agrees well with the 0 K-extrapolated experimental value of −8.35 kJ mol⁻¹. 1 Comparison of the C2/c structure with a Cmca structure, isotypic to that of chlorine, bromine, and iodine reveals that the origin of the different structure of solid fluorine, compared to the heavier halogens, is the lack of significantly stabilizing σ-hole interactions. In addition, the wave numbers of the stretching mode in solid fluorine were calculated at coupled cluster level and compared to newly recorded Raman spectra of condensed fluorine. Both experiment and calculation indicate a slight up-shift for the stretching mode by 2 or 5 cm⁻¹, respectively, with respect to a free F₂ molecule in the gas phase.     

Ab initio and semiempirical computational studies on 1‐{(2E)‐2‐[(aminocarbonothioyl)hydrazono]‐2‐(3‐mesityl‐3‐methylcyclobutyl)ethyl}‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐dione

The molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies, and gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) ¹H‐ and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values of the title compound in the ground state have been calculated using the Hartree‐Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods with 6‐31G(d) basis sets, and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that the optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters and the theoretical vibrational frequencies, and ¹H‐ and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values show good agreement with experimental data. To determine conformational flexibility, the molecular energy profile of the title compound was obtained by semiempirical (AM1) calculations with respect to the selected torsion angle, which was varied from ?180° to +180° in steps of 10°. The energetic behavior of the title compound in solvent media was examined using the B3LYP method with the 6‐31G(d) basis set by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results obtained with these methods reveal that the PCM method provided more stable structure than Qnsager's method. By using TD‐DFT method, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with the TD‐DFT method and the experimental one is determined. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than ones of urea. In addition, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis, NBO analysis and thermodynamic properties of the title compound were investigated using theoretical calculations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Triple Bonds Between Iron and Heavier Group 15 Elements in AFe(CO)3− (A=As,Sb, Bi) Complexes

Heteronuclear transition‐metal–main‐group‐element carbonyl complexes of AsFe(CO)₃^?, SbFe(CO)₃^?, and BiFe(CO)₃^? were produced by a laser vaporization supersonic ion source in the gas phase, and were studied by mass‐selected IR photodissociation spectroscopy and advanced quantum chemistry methods. These complexes have C_3v structures with all of the carbonyl ligands bonded on the iron center, and feature covalent triple bonds between bare Group 15 elements and Fe(CO)₃^?. Chemical bonding analyses on the whole series of AFe(CO)₃^? (A=N, P, As, Sb, Bi, Mc) complexes indicate that the valence orbitals involved in the triple bonds are hybridized 3d and 4p atomic orbitals of iron, leading to an unusual (dp–p) type of transition‐metal–main‐group‐element multiple bonding. The σ‐type three‐orbital interaction between Fe 3d/4p and Group 15 np valence orbitals plays an important role in the bonding and stability of the heavier AFe(CO)₃^? (A=As, Sb, Bi) complexes.     

Experimental and calculated vibrational spectra and structure of Ziegler-Natta catalyst precursor: 50/1 comilled MgCl2-TiCl4

The vibrational Infrared and Raman Spectra of a MgCl₂-TiCl₄ Ziegler-Natta catalyst precursor with a 50/1 MgCl₂/TiCl₄ ratio have been recorded. The Raman spectrum of this catalyst precursor, in the range 50-500 cm⁻¹, shows clear scattering lines which can be assigned to the complex MgCl₂-TiCl₄, well separated from those of the initial species. Analogous, but less clear signals can be found in the infrared spectrum. Vibrational symmetry analysis and quantum chemical calculations of suitable models of MgCl₂-TiCl₄ complex have been made for the interpretation of the experimentally recorded spectra. The observed spectroscopic signals can be explained in terms of the existence of only one type of MgCl₂-TiCl₄ complex where the TiCl₄ molecules are complexed on the MgCl₂ along the (110) lateral cuts in a local C_2v symmetry with the Ti atoms in an octahedral coordination.     

Vibrational spectra and structure of cesium salts of icosahedral monocarba-closo-dodecarborate anion, [CB11H12]–, and its nido-derivative, [CB100H13]–

The Raman and IR spectra of the cesium salts of monocarbon carboranes, [closo-CB₁₁H₁₂]^– and [nido-CB₁₀H₁₃]^–, are reported and the assignment of the normal modes is given. Quantum-chemical calculations of the geometry of undistorted closo-anions B₁₂H₁₂ ^2– and CB₁₁H₁₂ ^– were carried out and normal coordinate analysis for the latter was performed. Structural parameters and spectral characteristics of isoelectronic closo-polyhedra [B₁₂H₁₂]^2–, [CB₁₁H₁₂]^–, and p-C₂B₁₀H₁₂ and those of the closo- and nido-structures were compared.     

Understanding the Aldo‐Enediolate Tautomerism of Glycolaldehyde in Basic Aqueous Solutions

The biochemically important interconversion process between aldoses and ketoses is assumed to take place via 1,2‐enediol or 1,2‐enediolate intermediates, but such intermediates have never been isolated. The current work was undertaken in an attempt to detect the presence of the 1,2‐enediol structure of glycolaldehyde in alkaline medium, actually a 1,2‐enediolate, and to try to clarify the scarce data existing about both the formation of deprotonated enediol and the aldo‐enediolate equilibrium. The Raman spectra of neutral and basic solutions were recorded as a function of time for eleven days. Several bands associated with the presence of the enediolate were observed in alkaline medium. Glycolaldehyde exists as three different structures in aqueous solution at neutral pH, that is, hydrated aldehydes, aldehydes and dimers, with a respective ratio of approximately 4:0.25:1. Additionally, the formation of Z‐enediolate forms takes place at basic pH, together with an increase in the concentration of aldehyde species, such as 2‐oxoethan‐1‐olate, and a decrease in the concentrations of the hydrated aldehyde and dimeric forms. The theoretical ratio of ≈1.5:1 for aldehyde:Z‐enediolate reproduces the experimental Raman spectrum in basic medium, with an additional contribution of the previously mentioned ratio between the hydrated aldehyde and dimeric forms. Finally, Raman spectroscopy allowed us to monitor the enolization of this carbohydrate model and conclude that aldo‐enediol tautomerism—formally aldo‐enediolate—happens when a suitable amount of basic species is added.     

Spectroscopic evidence for a dinitrogen complex of gallium and estimation of the Ga-N2 bond strength

Matrix-isolation experiments were performed to study the interaction between Ga atoms and N2 by using Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopies for detection and analysis. It was revealed that a weak complex is formed, for which resonance Raman spectra were obtained. Several overtones were sighted, allowing a rough estimate of the Ga-N2 fragmentation energy to be made (approximately 19 kJ mol(-1)). The excitation profile obtained from the spectra at different laser wavelengths agrees with the UV/Vis spectrum and shows that the complex exhibits an electronic transition at around 410 nm. At the Ga atom, this transition can be described as a 2S<--2P or 2D<--2P excitation, which is red-shifted from its position for free Ga atoms (approximately 340 nm and 270 nm for 2S<--2P and 2D<--2P, respectively) as a result of N2 complexation. The effect of complexation involves, therefore, only slight stabilization of the 2P ground state but relatively strong stabilization of the excited (2)S state. Accordingly, for the Ga atom in its excited 2S state, the Ga-N2 bond energy can be estimated to be around 79 kJ mol(-1).