Partial reassignment of the fundamental modes of As(CCH)3 and Sb(CCH)3; valence force constants and mean amplitudes of vibration for As(CCH)3

The vibrational frequency assignments for As(CCH)₃ and Sb(CCH)₃ reported by Miller and Lemmoa are discussed. Partial reassignments are proposed based on simple and advanced force field calculations. For the As-compound, valence force constants and mean amplitudes of vibration have been calculated and compared with those of related compounds. Evidence is found for some d-orbital participation in the As-C bond.     

The Formation of OH*(<Superscript>2</Superscript>Σ<Superscript>+</Superscript>) Radical in the Reaction of Hydrogen with Oxygen behind a Shock Wave in Nonequilibrium Conditions

The mechanism of formation of the electronically excited radical OH*(A²Σ⁺) has been studied by analyzing calculations quantitatively describing the results of shock wave experiments carried out in order to determine the moment of maximum OH* radiation at temperatures T < 1500 K and pressures P ≤ 2 atm in the H₂ + O₂ mixtures diluted by argon when the vibrational nonequilibrium is a factor determining the mechanism and rate of the overall process. In kinetic calculations, the vibrational nonequilibrium of the initial H₂ and O₂ components, the HO₂, OH(X²Π), O₂*(¹Δ) intermediates, and the reaction product H₂O were taken into account. The analysis showed that under these conditions the main contribution to the overall process of OH* formation is caused by the reactions OH + Ar → OH* + Ar, H₂ + HO₂ → OH* + H₂O, H₂ + O*(¹D) → OH* + H, HO² + O → OH* + O² and H + H²O → OH* + H², which occur in the vibrational nonequilibrium mode (their activation barrier is overcome due to the vibrational excitation of reactants), and by H + O₃ → OH* + O₂ and H + H₂O₂ → OH* + H₂O, which are reverse to the reactions of chemical quenching.     

Ab initio studies of the structures and force fields of ketenimine and related molecules

Theoretical equilibrium geometries for ketenimine, aminoacetylene and ethynol have been obtained using the MP3/6-31G** ab initio method. Empirical scaling factors have been introduced to estimate the rotational constants A_o, B_o and C_o. In addition the complete harmonic force fields for ketenimine, ketene and diazomethane have been computed, normal coordinate analyses have been performed and the quartic centrifugal distortion constants estimated.     

Theoretical prediction of vibrational spectra. The a priori scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field and vibrational spectra of pyrimidine

The complete harmonic force field of pyrimidine has been computed at the ab initio Hartree—Fock level using a 4–21 Gaussian basis set. In order to compensate the systematic overestimations of the force constants at the aforementioned level of quantum mechanical approximation, the theoretical force constants were empirically scaled by using nine scale factors. (The values of all these scale factors were previously determined by fitting the theoretical force field of benzene to the observed vibrational spectra of benzene.) The resulting a priori scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field is regarded as the most accurate and physically the most correct harmonic force field for pyrimidine. This force field was then used to predict the vibrational spectra of pyrimidine-h₄ and pyrimidine-d₄. On the basis of these a priori vibrational spectra uncertain assignments have been confidently resolved. After a few reassignments, the mean deviations between the experimental and calculated frequencies are below 9 and 18 cm⁻¹ for the non-CH stretching in-plane and the out-of-plane vibrations, respectively. Computed IR intensities are generally in agreement with experiments at a qualitative level.     

Cleavage of the carbon-silicon bonds in trimethylsilylacetylenes by trans[(PR3)2PtX(R′OH)]PF6 cations and formation of cationic alkoxycarbene complexes of platinum(II)

Cationic alkoxycarbene complexes of platinum(II) have been isolated in the reactions of trans-[(PR₃)₂PtX(R′OH)]PF₆ (X  H or Me; R′  Me or Et) with Me₃SiCCR′′ (R′′  H, Me or SiMe₃). In these reactions cleavage of the carbon-silicon bond by the nucleophilic attack of alcohol has been observed. These carbene complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses and by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data. ¹³C NMR chemical shift data for carbene carbon atoms suggest that the carbene carbon may be very positively charged.     

Vibrational rate enhancement in the reaction OH + H2(ν = 1) → H2O + H

The rate constant for the reaction between OH and vibrationally excited H₂, OH + H₂(ν = 1)→H₂O + H, has been measured directly at 298 K. k₀₁ is found to be (7.5±3)×10^?13 cm³/molecules, corresponding to a vibrational rate enhancement of k₀₁/k₀₀ = (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10².     

Theoretical study of the force field and vibrational assignments of acetamide and deuterated analogues

The complete harmonic force constants of acetamide have been evaluated by ab initio calculations at the Hartree-Fock level with the 4–31G(d) basis set. The force field was scaled to compensate for the systematic overestimations of the Hartree-Fock-level force constants by empirical factors using the matrix isolation IR spectra of CH₃CONH₂ and CD₃CONH₂. A normal coordinate treatment has been carried out with the scaled force field to analyze the vibrational spectra of CH₃CONH₂. A normal coordinate treatment has been carried out with the scaled force field to analyze the vibrational spectra of CH₃COND₂, cis-CH₃CONHD and trans-CH₃CONHD. The effect of cis/trans isomerism of CH₃CONHD on the fundamental bands was well reproduced by the calculations. The fundamental vibrations were also predicted for CD₃COND₂, cis-CD₃CONHD and trans-CD₃CONHD.     

Intramolecular rearrangement of the bridging σ,π-acetylide ligand in the Os3H(CO)9(L)(μ-η2-CCPh) (L = CO,PMe2Ph) clusters and crystal structure of Os3H(CO)9(PMe2Ph)(μ-η2-CCPh)

Clusters Os₃H(Cl)(CO)₉(L) (L= CO, PMe₂Ph) react with lithium phenyl-acetylide to yield Os₃H(CO)₉(L)(μ-η²-CCPh),which has a bridging acetylide ligand. The Os₃H(CO)₁₀(μ-η²-CCPh) complex (II) is fluxional owing to rapid π → σ, σ → π interchange of acetylide ligand between the bridged osmium atoms, whereas the phosphine-substituted derivative, Os₃H(CO)₉(PM₂Ph)(μ-η²-CCPh) (III), is stereochemically rigid and exists at room temperature in two isomeric forms. These isomers have been isolated as solids and have been characterized by ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. According to the spectroscopic data, in the major (IIIa) and minor (IIIb) isomers the phosphine ligand is coordinated to the metal atom which is σ- or π-bonded to the bridging acetylide group, respectively. The isomerization of IIIb into IIIa occurs only at 80°C. The structure of IIIa has been confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study.     

Normal coordinates and potential energy distributions of methyl acetylene and some halogen substituted analogues

The normal coordinates and potential energy distributions of methyl acetylene, methyl-d₃ acetylene and some halogen substituted analogues (CH₃CCX; X = H, D, Cl, Br, I) have been calculated using previously determined force fields. For methyl chloro-acetylene, the chlorine-35,37 isotope frequency splitting has been calculated. In addition, for methyl acetylene, the harmonic frequencies were obtained and plotted for hypothetical molecules in which the mass of X varied from 1 to 1000 a.m.u. The frequencies for these molecules are compared and discussed.     

Solvation of Calcium–Phosphate Headgroup Complexes at the DPPC/Aqueous Interface

The effects of sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) cations on model zwitterionic dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayers spread on metal chloride salt solutions are investigated by means of vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) and heterodyne‐detected (HD)‐VSFG spectroscopy. VSFG and HD‐VSFG spectra in the OH stretching region reveal cation‐specific effects on the interfacial water′s H‐bonding network, knowledge of which has been limited to date. It is found that low‐concentrated Ca²⁺ more strongly perturbs interfacial water organization relative to highly concentrated Na⁺. At higher Ca²⁺ concentrations, the water H‐bonding network at the DPPC/CaCl₂ interface reorganizes and the resulting spectrum closely follows that of the bare air/CaCl₂ interface up to ～3400 cm^?1. Most interesting is the appearance of a negative band at ～3450 cm^?1 in the DPPC/CaCl₂ Im χ_s⁽²⁾ spectra, likely arising from an asymmetric solvation of Ca²⁺–phosphate headgroup complexes. This gives rise to an electric field that orients the net OH transition moments of a subset of OH dipoles toward the bulk solution.     

Vibrational spectra and normal coordinate analysis of plant growth regulator 1-naphthalene acetamide

FT Raman and IR spectra of the biologically active molecule, 1-naphthalene acetamide (NA) have been recorded and analyzed. The equilibrium geometry, bonding features and harmonic vibrational wavenumbers of NA have been calculated with the help of B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) method. The assignments of the vibrational spectra have been carried out with the help of normal coordinate analysis (NCA) following the scaled quantum mechanical force field methodology (SQMFF). The downshifting of NH₂ stretching wavenumber indicates the formation of intermolecular N–H?O hydrogen bonding. The NBO analysis confirms the occurrence of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the molecule.     

EPR kinetic study of the reactions of CF3Br with H atoms and OH radicals

Reactions of CF₃Br with H atoms and OH radicals have been studied at room temperature at 1–2 torr pressures in a discharge flow reactor coupled to an EPR spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction H + CF₃Br → CF₃ + HBr (1) was found to be k₁ = (3.27 ± 0.34) × 10^?14 cm³/molec·sec. For the reaction of OH with CF₃Br (8) an upper limit of 1 × 10^?15 cm³/molec·sec was determined for k₈. When H atoms were in excess compared to NO₂, used to produce OH radicals, a noticeable reactivity of OH was observed as a result of the reaction OH + HBr → H₂O + Br, HBr being produced from reaction (1).     

Reactions of alkynes with bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum-ethylene: A 31P-{1H} NMR study

Internally consistent assignments of the ³¹P-{¹H} NMR parameters of the complexes [Pt(RCCR′)(PPh₃)₂] are proposed, based on the premise that the magnitude of ¹J(PtP) depends mainly on the nature of the moiety CR trans to P. For a given R, ²J(PP) correlates with ¹J(PtP) for thebond trans to CR. The alkynes PhCCSnEt₃, PhCCSnPh₃, Me₃SiCCCl, Me₃SiCCBr, Et₃SiCCI and MeCCI undergo oxidative addition reactions with [Pt(C₂H₄)(PPh₃)₂]; the intermediate alkyne complex was detected for PhCCSnEt₃, Me₃SiCCCl and Me₃CCBr. The triyne Me(CC)₃Me forms platinum(0) complexes by coordination with the central or terminal CC bond and appears also to give a platinum(II) complex by oxidative addition.     

Dissociative excitation of water by metastable argon

The reaction Ar(²P_2,0) + H₂O → Ar + H + OH(A²Σ⁺)was studied in crossed molecular beams by observing the luminescence from OH(A²Σ⁺). No significant dependence of the spectrum on collision energy was found over the 22–52 meV region. Spectral simulation was used to obtain the OH(A) vibrational distribution and rotational temperature, assuming a Boltzmann rotational distribution. Since predissociation is known to strongly affect the rovibrational distribution, the individual rotational state lifetimes were included in the simulation program and were used to obtain the average vibrational state lifetimes. Excellent agreement with experiment was obtained for vibrational population ratios N₀/N₁/N₂ of 1.00/ 0.40/0.013 and a rotational temperature of 4000 K. Correction for the different average vibrational lifetimes gave formation rate ratios P₀/P₁/P₂ of 1.00/0.49/0.25. The differences between these results and those from flowing afterglow studies on the same system are discussed. Three reaction mechanisms are considered, and the vibrational prior distributions are calculated from a simple density-of-states model. Only fair agreement with experiment is obtained. The best agreement for the mechanisms giving OH(A) in two 2-body dissociation steps is obtained by assuming 1.0 eV of internal energy remains in the second step. The OH(A) vibrational population distribution of the present work is similar to that found in the photolysis of H₂O at 122 nm, where there is 1.10 eV of excess internal energy.     

Vibrational and rotational relaxation of 1-hexyne in solution

The IR and isotropic Raman bandwidths of the ν(CH) and ν(CC) stretching modes of 1-hexyne have been measured in dilute solutions in n C₇H₁₆ and CCl₄ as a function of T. The deduced vibrational and rotational bandwidths are interpreted in terms of different models.     

Vibrational excitation of OH(X2Π) produced in the reaction of O(1D) with H2

A lower limit to the OH(X²Π) vibrational excitation produced by the reaction O(¹D) + H₂ has been observed using a low-pressure infrared chemiluminescence apparatus. The O(¹D) was generated by laser photolysis of O₃. The measured OH(v') vibrational distribution is inverted; it peaks at v' = 2.     

The rotational barrier in dimethyl acetylene and related molecules

The rotational barriers in dimethyl acetylene (CH₃CCCH₃), diamino acetylene (H₂NCCNH₂), dihydroxy acetylene (HOCCOH), methyl trifluoro methyl acetylene (CF₃CCCH₃), silyl methyl acetylene (SiH₃CCH₃), propene, cis and trans 2-butene and ethane were studied by ab initio molecular orbital methods using various basis sets. The eclipsed structure for dimethyl acetylene and its CF₃ and SiH₃ analogs was found to be the most stable, as has been inferred from experimental work, and the barrier height for these compounds has been predicted. The barriers in the OH and NH₂ substituted acetylenes, propene, butene and ethane were studied in order to more clearly understand the important influences in determining the barrier mechanism; specifically, the delocalized molecular orbital and Pauling VB model have been compared.     

Ab initio quantum chemical studies of the electronic properties of the hydrogen bonded N2HF,N2HCl, (HCN)2 and NH3HCN complexes

The results of ab initio self-consistent field (SCF) and configuration interaction (CI) calculations on the hydrogen bonded N₂HF, N₂HCl, (HCN)₂ and NH₃HCN complexes, using basis sets that range from double-zeta plus polarization to triple-zeta plus double polarization, are reported. The primary objective of this work has been to calculate the changes in the dipole moments and the electric field gradients (EFGs) at the quadrupolar ¹⁴N, ²H and ³⁵Cl nuclei that are induced by H-bonding. Since the interpretation of the H-bond induced shifts requires a knowledge of the molecular dynamics in weakly H-bonded molecular complexes such as those studied in the present work, we have taken into account the effects of vibrational averaging on both the EFGs and dipole moments utilizing harmonic intermolecular force fields that were generated using ab initio SCF methods. The results of these calculations are compared with the corresponding experimental quantities that are obtained from the microwave spectra of these complexes.     

A classification of 200 isomerizations among 51 isotopomers of C8 (D2d)

The set of all 51 possible¹²C/¹³C isotopomers of a C₈ cluster of D_2d symmetry has been studied by means of the harmonic vibration analysis based on the force field resulting from the second order Møller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation treatment with the 6-31G^* basis set. The isotopomers can undergo 200 isomerizations which can be classified into 5 distinct groups using the properties of sums of the squares of harmonic vibrational frequencies.     

Time-dependent close coupling for vibrational excitation in three dimensions: Application to H+ - H2

Impact parameter calculations for the non-reactive H⁺ + H₂ (n_i = 0) → H⁺ + H₂ (n_f) collision are reported for energies 10 eV ? E_cm ? 200 eV describing the rotational motion of the molecule in the sudden limit. The time-dependent Schrödinger equation for the vibrational motion has been solved by close coupling techniques expanding the vibrational wavefunction into both harmonic and numerically exact H₂ bound states. The convergence in vibrational basis sets, where up to six vibrational levels are considered, becomes worse with decreasing energy and increasing inelasticity. Furthermore, the harmonic wavefunctions are not suitable over a large range of energies to calculate proper cross sections. The various integral and differential cross sections have been compared with the classical results of Giese and Gentry.