Vibrational relaxation in neat crystals of naphthalene by picosecond cars

Picosecond delayed CARS experiments on totally symmetric modes in naphthalene at 1.5 K are reported. The Raman lineshape of the vibrational excitons is lorentzian and vibrational relaxation can be surprisingly slow. The Raman lineshape of the A_g exciton level of the 766 cm^?1 vibrational mode reveals that the low-temperature lorentzian lineshape occurs by motional narrowing At higher temperature the exciton is trapped by interaction with lattice phonons.     

Poly-1-oxy-2-phenyltrimethylene as studied by 1H pulsed low resolution NMR: a possible oxygen scavenger

Aromatic polymers can adsorb a large amount of oxygen on their aromatic rings. In semicrystalline aromatic polymers, the amount of adsorbed oxygen is much larger in the amorphous phase than in the crystalline counterpart. As a consequence, fully amorphous aromatic polymers are more suitable as oxygen scavengers than semicrystalline polymers.A pulsed low resolution ¹H-NMR relaxation study on semicrystalline and fully amorphous poly-1-oxy-2-phenyltrimethylene (St–CO), deuteriated and not deuteriated on the backbone, is reported. T₁ relaxation values were measured at 30 and 57 MHz and compared with the values of two aromatic polymers previously studied, syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) and polyphenyleneoxide (PPO), both patented as oxygen scavengers. For all these polymers, using a set of equations, at each temperature, the amount of adsorbed oxygen was calculated.Very short T₁ values are observed at the low temperature point of PPO which is the best oxygen scavenger at low temperature, while St–CO adsorbs oxygen efficiently at room temperature. Thus, St–CO might be suitable to be used as an oxygen scavenger.In St–CO, a ¹H T_1ρ relaxation study on the rotating frame has also been performed. In the atactic copolymer, in the temperature range 150–160 K, a sharp transition was observed only in the presence of oxygen. In agreement with a previously given interpretation for analogous data, the observed transition might be related to low frequency motions present in low molecular weight components.     

NMR study of deuterium molybdenum bronze

The deuterium NMR lineshape and spin—lattice relaxation time, T₁, have been measured in deuterium molybdenum bronze, D_1.6MoO₃, over the temperature range 166–400 K. The ²D quadrupole coupling constant is 21 kHz at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the ²D T₁ has been interpreted in terms of two independent motional processes for deuterium. The data suggest that one of the processes corresponds to diffusion of the ²D nuclei whereas the other may arise from a 180° flipping of the OD₂ moieties. This specific interpretation agrees with the results obtained for proton T₁ and proton lineshape data reported earlier.     

Study of low frequency motions in C6H6M (CO)3 with M = Cr,Mo, W by Raman and quasielastic neutron scattering

We have investigated the low frequency region of h₆ and d₆ polycrystalline samples of C₆H₆M(CO)₃ by Raman and IR spectroscopies in the 5–300 K temperature range.A complete assignment of low frequency modes is reported. The torsional mode τ′_z is observed at 89 cm^?1 at 5 K. The intramolecular potential associated with the torsional motion has been found egal to 4.44 and 4.10 kcal.mole^?1 at 5 and 120 K respectively. The intermolecular librational potential barrier (16.1 Kcal.mole^?1) was deduced from the R′_z librational frequency (40 cm^?1). The temperature dependance of torsional mode suggests that a large amplitude motion occurs as soon as 150 K. Quasielastic neutron scattering experiments have shown that jumps of C₆H₆ ring take place and that the corresponding activation energy is equal to 3.9 Kcal.mole^?1 (between 260 and 330 K) in agreement with the above potential barrier. The E.I.S.F. seem to favor a 2π/₆ jump regime with a correlation time of 4.10^?11 s at 300 K.     

NMR Studies of Restricted Rotation in Aminatophosphorus(1+) Salts

Abstract

A series of aminatophosphorus(1+) salts were synthesized as potential fungicides. Proton NMR of a set of compounds 1 within this series were observed to show selective line broadening of the methylene protons indicating a dynamic process which is slow on the NMR time scale. X-ray crystal structures of two of the compounds in the series showed a relatively planar nitrogen eliminating nitrogen inversion as the source of the observed line broadening. The methylene protons appeared as a sharp doublet (³J_PH = 3.6 Hz) at room temperature when R=OCH₃, a broad singlet when R=OCF₃, and a sharp multiplet consistent with the AB portion of an ABX (X = ³¹P) spin system when R=SCH. Examination of the temperature dependence of the spectra revealed that the observed lineshape and temperature effects were consistent with slow rotation about the N-Ph bond and dependent primarily upon the size of the substituent R. Thus the slow rotation was thought to be due to steric factors and not the influence of electronic effects of the substituent R on the P-N bond. Rotation rates estimated from NMR lineshape analysis and plotted as a function of temperature for 1 when R = SCH₃ and R¹ = Ph gave an calculated energy barrier ΔG₂₉₈ ^? of 17 kcal/mol. Similar studies for a variety of substituents R might be useful as a means of measuring relative steric bulk. At low temperature (ca. -50°C) broadening of the PPh, resonances began to appear indicating a second independent dynamic process thought to be slow rotation about the N-PPh₃ bond on the NMR time scale at that temperature.     

IR Studies of Coordinatively Unsaturated Surface Compounds on Silica Gel. IV. CO Complexes of Chromium(II) and Chromium(III)

Three different chromium(II) surface compounds have been identified by their IR spectra of adsorbed CO. Especially important in the interpretation of the experiments are the bands between 2050 and 2035 cm^?1 and the relative intensities of the CO bands at 2100 and 2120 cm^?1. The bands between 2192 and 2179 cm^?1 show also a different pattern for each of the different chromium(II) surface compounds. Two chromium(III) surface compounds could be identified by the presence of either one CO band near 2200 cm^?1 or two bands near 2206 and 2196 cm^?1. Three models are proposed for the chromium(II) title compounds, all related to dinuclear chromium(II) surface complexes: Models one and two have chromium(II) ions with trans and cis configuration in different combinations, respectively, and the third model has a bridging oxygen ion from a siloxan group as a distorting ligand. The three models explain the CO absorptions sufficiently and one is nearly quantitatively in agreement with previous volumetric adsorption studies of CO on chromium(II), which showed the surprising effect of decreasing CO adsorption with decreasing temperature. Two models for the chromium(III) surface compounds are proposed with either an oxygen double bridge or only one bridging oxygen.     

Vibrational dephasing and hydrodynamic effects on vibrational relaxation rates in acetophenone: Raman bandshape analysis

The isotropic component of Raman band for C=O stretching mode of acetophenone in solution was analyzed by estimating the correlation coefficient with reference to Lorentzian lineshape. In the intermediate region of solute/solvent concentration there is a sharp decrease in the correlation coefficient and there appears to be a transition from non-Lorentzian to Lorentzian lineshape. The vibrational relaxation rates have been estimated from the isotropic component of Raman band in different solvents. The rate is shown to be dependent on several macroscopic as well as microscopic properties of the solute-solvent system and intermolecular interactions. The hydrodynamic and dispersion forces appear to play a major role in determining the vibrational relaxation rate and the broadening of the bands.     

Iterative Least-Squares Lineshape Fitting of 1H-decoupled 13C-DNMR.Spectra

Iterative least-squares lineshape fitting of ¹H-decoupled ¹³C-DNMR. spectra is advantageously used for the investigation of symmetrical or asymmetrical intramolecular (two-structure) exchange processes. The least-squares procedure adopted allows the following parameters to be either optimized by computer or kept constant (according to experimental conditions): the nuclei populations (taking into account line intensity effects resulting from differences in spin-lattice relaxation times and/or Overhauser enhancements), the corresponding chemical shifts and natural linewidths (characterizing the sites undergoing exchange), the fractional population of one structure (in the case of asymmetrical exchange), one of the chemical rates, the base-line position, and the base-line tilt. The relative sensitivity of the lineshape with respect to the fitted parameters as well as the importance of correlations among these parameters have been investigated and tested with examples. The reliability of the kinetic parameters as obtained by the iterative least-squares lineshape fitting procedure is discussed.     

Structural relaxation in the hydrogen-bonding liquids N-methylacetamide and water studied by optical Kerr effect spectroscopy

Structural relaxation in the peptide model N-methylacetamide (NMA) is studied experimentally by ultrafast optical Kerr effect spectroscopy over the normal-liquid temperature range and compared to the relaxation measured in water at room temperature. It is seen that in both hydrogen-bonding liquids, beta relaxation is present, and in each case, it is found that this can be described by the Cole-Cole function. For NMA in this temperature range, the alpha and beta relaxations are each found to have an Arrhenius temperature dependence with indistinguishable activation energies. It is known that the variations on the Debye function, including the Cole-Cole function, are unphysical, and we introduce two general modifications: One allows for the initial rise of the function, determined by the librational frequencies, and the second allows the function to be terminated in the alpha relaxation.     

The Flipping of CO Ligand Groups in Metal Carbonyl Compounds and its Frequency in Fe(CO)5

It has been proven qualitatively by a number of authors using variable temperature NMR experiments that most metal carbonyl complexes are nonrigid. A quantitative determination of the ligand exchange frequency v_e is often achieved by a line shape analysis or by measurement of the transverse relaxation time T₂ using the Carr-Purcell method. In the case of a “very fast” exchange, however, both methods prove unsuccessful. It is shown in this study that a simultaneous fit of IR or Raman spectra on the one hand and NMR spectra on the other can make possible the determination of v_e for the “very fast” exchange and can also facilitate the determination of v_e in “slow” and “medium” exchange cases considerably. The ligand exchange frequency thus found for Fe(CO)₅, 1.1 × 10¹⁰s^?1, is unexpectedly high; comparison with variable temperature measurements on solid Fe(CO)₅, yields similar energy barriers. A mechanism of exchange closely related to the “Berry mechanism” is proposed. Finally the consequences of this surprisingly large ligand exchange rate are discussed with respect to IR band assignments for molecular “fragments” M(CO)^x (where x=coordination number, and M is a transition metal, typically lanthanoid or actinoid).     

Laser Linewidth and Spectral Resolution in Infrared Scanning Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy System

Sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) is a robust technique for interfacial investigation at molecular level. The performance of SFG-VS mostly depends on the spectral resolution of the SFG system. In this research, a simplified function was deduced to calculate the spectral resolution of picosecond SFG system and the lineshape of SFG spectra based on the Guassian shaped functions of IR beam and visible beam. The function indicates that the lineshpe of SFG spectra from nonresonant samples can be calculated by the Guassian widths of both IR beam and visible beam. And the Voigt lineshape of SFG spectra from vibrational resonant samples can be calculated by the Homogeneous broadening (Lorentzian width) and Inhomogeneous broadening (Guassian width) of vibrational modes, as well as the Guassian widths of both IR beam and visible beam. Such functions were also applied to verify the spectral resolution of the polarization-resolved and frequency-resolved picosecond SFG-VS system which was developed by our group recently. It is shown that the linewidths of IR beams that generated from current laser system are about 1.5 cm^-1. The calculated spectral resolution of current picosecond IR scanning SFG-VS system is about 4.6 cm^-1, which is consist with he spctral resolution shown in the spectra of cholesterol monolayer (3.5-5 cm^-1).     

Low density spectrum of transverse NMR in molecular gases. Application to hydrogen

The low density behaviour of the spectral lineshape function associated with the relaxation of the transverse components of the nuclear magnetization of a homonuclear diatomic gas of spin $\text{1}\text{2}$ nuclei is studied from the point of view of a recent kinetic theory approach to NMR in molecular gases. It is shown that as a critical density is approached (from above), the relaxation (in time-domain) passes over from exponential to non-exponential behaviour. For the special case in which the spin—rotation relaxation mechanism predominates, an analytic solution to the problem has been given, while for molecular hydrogen which has, in addition to the aforementioned mechanism, dipolar relaxation, the behaviour of the lineshape function has been obtained numerically. The critical density at which the relaxation passes from exponential to nonexponential in H₂ is found to be of the order of 3 × 10^?3 amagats which lies, at present, still outside experimental accessibility. One important consequence of this result is that the traditional Abragam formula for the transverse relaxation time T₂ is clearly seen to be invalid below ≈ 5 × 10^?3 amagats.     

Investigation of the excimer dynamics in 9,10-dichloroanthracene crystals using picosecond spectroscopy

The dynamics of excimer formation, excimer migration, and excimer dissociation in β-9,10-dichloroanthracene crystals were investigated by means of picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In the temperature range from T = 20 K to T = 40 K we were able to temporally resolve the relaxation into the excimer state. The excimer formation rates were determined to be k ≈ 1.8 × 10¹¹ s^?1 at T = 40 K and k ≈ 2.0 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 at T<30 K. The excimer migration was investigated by measuring the excimer annihilation rate as a function of temperature. At room temperature 20% of the excimers are dissociated. The excimer binding energy is estimated to be B = 1360 cm^?1. The experimental results are explained in terms of a kinetic scheme comprising the population and depopulation of exciton, trap, and excimer states. The nature of the trap state is identified and it is shown that thermal activation of a 25 cm^?1 librational mode induces the relaxation of the trap into the excimer state.     

Theoretical description of photochemical hole burning in soft glasses

The temperature dependence of the photochemical hole widths of molecules in soft glasses (T^α, α ≈ 1.3–1.5) is explained by a combination of two dephasing mechanisms. The narrow distribution of two-level systems in such glasses gives rise to one contribution, and the dephasing of localized librational modes by long-wavelength phonons provides a second contribution. We show that in the range T ? 25 K, the theoretical temperature dependence agrees with the experiment.     

Local order and dynamics in supercooled water: a study by IR spectroscopy and molecular dynamic simulations

Micron-sized water droplets in a cryogenic flow tube were probed by IR spectroscopy. The analysis of the IR spectra suggests that there is a relative increase of about 30% in the fraction, f(L), of low density domains in water on cooling over the temperature range between 300 and 240 K. The results derived from the experiments agree qualitatively with those of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in terms of the increase in the f(L) values. The MD simulations show that the intensities of the mode at about 100 cm(-1) for the molecules in the low density domains are reduced in comparison to the average, while the intensities and frequencies of the librational mode at 600 cm(-1) are increased. Furthermore, the reorientations (dielectric relaxation times) in these domains are found to be somewhat slower, pointing to the fact that these low density "cages" live longer than the average local molecular environments in supercooled water.     

Computational study of carbon monooxide absorption by ultradisperse systems. Emission spectra

Molecular dynamics was used to study absorption of carbon monoxide molecules by water clusters combined into two groups (2–10 and 11–20 water molecules) on the basis of their statistical weights. Spectral characteristics of the clusters in the frequency range 0 ≤ ω ≤ 1000 cm^?1 were established. Within this range, the integral IR adsorption intensity of both systems increases with addition of CO molecules. The IR emission power increases significantly after a cluster has absorbed one CO molecule but decreases with the absorption of a further CO molecule. A similar situation is observed with the number of electrons “active” toward external electromagnetic radiation. As the smallest clusters containing two CO molecules grow by adding water molecules, the IR emission power decreases. In other cases, these changes are of a periodical character.     

Observation of Main‐Group Tricarbonyls [B(CO)3] and [C(CO)3]+ Featuring a Tilted One‐Electron Donor Carbonyl Ligand

A combined experimental and theoretical study on the main‐group tricarbonyls [B(CO)₃] in solid noble‐gas matrices and [C(CO)₃]⁺ in the gas phase is presented. The molecules are identified by comparing the experimental and theoretical IR spectra and the vibrational shifts of nuclear isotopes. Quantum chemical ab initio studies suggest that the two isoelectronic species possess a tilted η¹(μ₁‐CO)‐bonded carbonyl ligand, which serves as an unprecedented one‐electron donor ligand. Thus, the central atoms in both complexes still retain an 8‐electron configuration. A thorough analysis of the bonding situation gives quantitative information about the donor and acceptor properties of the different carbonyl ligands. The linearly bonded CO ligands are classical two‐electron donors that display classical σ‐donation and π‐back‐donation following the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model. The tilted CO ligand is a formal one‐electron donor that is bonded by σ‐donation and π‐back‐donation that involves the singly occupied orbital of the radical fragments [B(CO)₂] and [C(CO)₂]⁺.     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation of α-13C nuclei of helical poly(γ-hexyl-L-glutamate) and poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

Spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁), spin-spin relaxation times (T₂), and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE), at 75.5 MHz are reported for α-¹³C nuclei of poly (γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) in deuterated dimethylformamide at 60°C and of poly(γ-hexyl-L -glutamate) in cyclohexanone at 48 and 79°C. It is shown that for molecular weights above 10⁵, the polypeptides cannot be considered as essentially rigid helices with internal librational motions; additional backbone flexing motions contribute to the relaxation behavior.     

Solid State NMR Studies of the Bromocyclohexane/Thiourea Inclusion Compound

Solid state ¹³C-MAS and ²H-NMR investigationshave been performed on the bromo-cyclohexane/thiourea inclusion compound.The main objective of this study was the evaluation of the molecularfeatures of the guest molecules and their changes over a large temperaturerange (100 K < T < 350 K). Particular emphasis was placed on themolecular behaviour in the vicinity of a solid–solid phase transitionat T = 237 K and in the low temperature phase, which was hitherto unknown.The ²H-NMR lineshape and relaxation studies reveal that, inthe low temperature phase, restricted but fast overall motions (MHz to GHzregion) of the guest molecules are dominant and reflect the distortedsymmetry of the thiourea channels. On heating above the solid–solidphase transition almost unrestricted overall motions appear, together with alarge degree of orientational disorder at higher temperature. Furthermore,the ring interconversion process presents a major relaxation process in theMHz region. The conformational order is unusual in the sense that the axialconformational state of the guest molecules is stabilized in the thioureachannels. It turns out that this unique property is also preserved in thelow temperature phase.