A semi-continuum model for the solvated electron in methanol

The semi-continuum model for solvated electrons has been applied to methanol at 300°K. The configurational stability of the ground state was established and various physical properties of the solvated electron have been calculated and compared with experiment.     

Resonance Raman spectrum of the solvated electron in methanol: simulation within a cluster model

The microsolvation of the CH(3)OH(2) hypervalent radical in methanol clusters has been investigated by density functional theory. It is shown that the CH(3)OH(2) radical spontaneously decomposes within methanol clusters into protonated methanol and a localized solvated electron cloud. The geometric and electronic structures of these clusters as well as their vibrational frequencies have been characterized. Resonance Raman intensities, associated with the s --> p transition of the unpaired electron, have been estimated for CH(3)OH(2)M(n) (M = CH(3)OH, n = 1-3) clusters. It is shown that with increasing cluster size the simulated spectra converge toward the resonance Raman spectrum of the solvated electron in methanol measured recently by Tauber and Mathies (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3414). The results suggest that CH(3)OH(2)M(n) clusters are useful finite-size model systems for the computational investigation of the spectroscopic properties of the solvated electron in liquid methanol.     

Kinetics of the reaction of solvated electrons with fluorobenzene in liquid ammonia

The rate of disappearance of solvated electrons by reaction with fluorobenzene in ammonia is accelerated by small concentrations of methanol; it also has a “negative activation energy” depending on the methanol concentration. The kinetic data suggest an exothermic electron attachment-detachment equilibrium with the fluorobenzene followed by a slower reaction of the electron adduct with the proton donating methanol.     

Structure and dynamics of the solvated electron in alcohols from resonance Raman spectroscopy

Resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy is used to probe the structure and excited-state dynamics of the solvated electron in the primary liquid alcohols methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), n-propanol (n-PrOH), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). The strong resonance enhancements (>or=10(4) relative to pure solvent) of the libration, CO stretch, COH bend, CH3 bend, CH2 bend, and OH stretch reveal significant Franck-Condon coupling of the intermolecular and intramolecular vibrational modes of the solvent to the electronic excitation of the solvated electron. All enhanced bands are fully accounted for by a model of the solvated electron that is comprised of several nearby solvent molecules that are only perturbed by the presence of the electron; no new molecular species are required to explain our data. The 340 cm(-1) downshift observed for the OH stretch frequency of e-(MeOH), relative to pure solvent, strongly suggests that the methanol molecules in the first solvent shell have the hydroxyl group directed linearly toward the excess electron density. The smaller downshifts observed for e-(EtOH), e-(n-PrOH), and e-(n-BuOH) are explained in terms of a OH group that is bent 28-40 degrees from linear. The Raman cross sections and absorption spectra are modeled, lending quantitative support for the inhomogeneous origin of the broad absorption spectra, the necessity of OH local motion in all enhanced Raman modes of the alcohols, and the dominant librational response of the solvent upon photoexcitation of the electron.     

Resonance Raman spectra of electrons solvated in liquid alcohols

Resonance Raman spectra of electrons solvated in liquid methanol, ethanol, and n-propanol are presented. At least five distinct solvent modes exhibit resonantly enhanced scattering, including the OH torsion, CO/CC stretches, the OH in-plane bend, methyl deformations, and the OH stretch. The 200-350 cm-1 frequency downshift of the OH stretch indicates a strong H-bond interaction between the electron and the hydroxyl group. The multiple modes including alkyl vibrations that are coupled to the electronic transition of the solvated electron reveal the extension of the electron's wavefunction into the alkyl solvent environment.     

Shallow and deep trap states of solvated electrons in methanol and their formation,electronic excitation,and relaxation dynamics

We present condensed-phase first-principles molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the presence of different electron trapping sites in liquid methanol and their roles in the formation, electronic transitions, and relaxation of solvated electrons (e_met⁻) in methanol. Excess electrons injected into liquid methanol are most likely trapped by methyl groups, but rapidly diffuse to more stable trapping sites with dangling OH bonds. After localization at the sites with one free OH bond (1OH trapping sites), reorientation of other methanol molecules increases the OH coordination number and the trap depth, and ultimately four OH bonds become coordinated with the excess electrons under thermal conditions. The simulation identified four distinct trapping states with different OH coordination numbers. The simulation results also revealed that electronic transitions of e_met⁻ are primarily due to charge transfer between electron trapping sites (cavities) formed by OH and methyl groups, and that these transitions differ from hydrogenic electronic transitions involving aqueous solvated electrons (e_aq⁻). Such charge transfer also explains the alkyl-chain-length dependence of the photoabsorption peak wavelength and the excited-state lifetime of solvated electrons in primary alcohols.

Condensed-phase first-principles molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the presence of different electron trapping sites in liquid methanol and their roles in the formation, electronic transitions, and relaxation of solvated electrons.     

Crystal structure of three solvated Alpinumisoflavones

Single crystals of alpinumisoflavone, C₂₀H₁₆O₅, {systematic name: 5-hydroxy-7-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-2, 2-dimethyl-2H, 6H-benzo [1, 2-b: 5, 4-b′]-dipyran-6-one}, solvated with water, methanol, and ethanol, have been obtained. The incorporation of the solvent molecules into the crystal structure creates a new short inter-molecular O–H···O and C–H···O contacts between the alpinumisoflavone moiety and its solvate molecule. The temperatures at which the solvated molecules lose their solvent molecules are 53, 54, and 65 °C for water, methanol, and ethanol, respectively. The observed temperatures at which the solvates efflorescence are reflective of the progressive increase in mass of the solvates from water to ethanol in the series. The benzopyrone moiety shows the usual planar conformation with the pyran ring deformed into a half-chair conformer as seen previously in the other analogous compounds with puckering parameters [Å], 0.2656(8), 0.3703(8), and 0.3957(9), respectively, for the water, ethanol, and methanol solvates. These are higher than the non-solvated alpinumisoflavone compound previously studied. The size of a substituent group proximal to the keto group has a more pronounced effect on the degree of puckering than substitution on the terminal phenyl ring. The attached phenyl ring shows consistent out-of-plane twist from the mean plane of the benzopyrone system as observed previously for this class of compounds. The observed dihedral angles are 30.26(3), 37.75(3), and 34.00(3)°, respectively, for the water, methanol, and ethanol solvates.     

Photo-detrapping of solvated electrons in an ionic liquid

We studied the dynamics of photo-detrapped solvated electrons in the ionic liquid trimethyl-N-propylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TMPA-TFSI) using laser flash photolysis. The solvated electrons were produced by the electron photodetachment from iodide via a 248 nm KrF excimer laser. The solvated electron decayed by first-order kinetics with a lifetime of about 240 ns. The spectrum of the solvated electron in the ionic liquid TMPA-TFSI is very broad with a peak around 1100 nm. After the 248 nm pulse, a 532 nm pulse was used to subsequently detrap the solvated electrons. After the detrapping pulse, quasi-permanent bleaching was observed. The relative magnitude of the bleaching in the solvated electron absorbance was measured from 500 to 1000 nm. The amount of bleaching depends on the probe wavelength. The fraction of bleached absorbance was larger at 500 nm than that at 1000 nm, suggesting that there are at least two species that absorb 532 nm light. We discuss the present results from viewpoint of the heterogeneity of ionic liquids.     

Computational study of TNT synthesis in solvated nitration reaction systems

Mononitrotoluene (MNT) was incorporated into solvated reaction systems and was subjected to subsequent nitration (electrophilic and free radical substitution) to obtain corresponding dinitrotoluene (DNT) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) products. In the electrophilic nitration system, the energy barrier of the reaction to produce o,p‐dinitrotoluene from p‐nitrotoluene was found to decrease from 62.7 to 14.7 kJ/mol to 9.2 kJ/mol in solventless, hydrated, and methanol‐solvated molecular reaction systems, respectively. Further nitration to produce TNT in related solventless and solvated systems also led to a stepwise decreasing trend in the required energy, from 297.6 to 118.6 kJ/mol to 42.8 kJ/mol. Comparative synthesis using ·NO₂ as the nitrating reagent to obtain o,p‐DNT or TNT in the hydrated system shows a lower reaction energy barrier than that of the same reaction in the solventless system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Stability of InP oxide versus solvated electrons in liquid ammonia

In alkaline aqueous medium (pH 9), potassium ferricyanide was used as an oxidizing agent on InP. This electroless process was successfully controlled by capacity measurements, AFM and XPS analyses. For the first time, the chemical stability of the oxide has been studied against the strongest reducing agent in liquid ammonia (?50 °C): the solvated electron. It was obtained in two ways; an electroless process which involved the addition of metallic potassium and by cathodic galvanostatic treatment on InP in neutral medium. As a first result, the electroless process required a strong rinsing step of the surface by pure liquid ammonia. As a second result, the galvanostatic process gave also promising results. A significant decrease of the amount of oxide was evidenced by capacity measurements, AFM and XPS analyses.     

Evidence for laser-induced formation of solvated electrons in room temperature ionic liquids

The photolytic generation of solvated electrons was observed for the first time in two room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL) and 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL). A 70 fs UV-pulse was used to excite the RTILs, while the transient response was monitored in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions. Immediately after excitation, a pulse duration limited rise of the induced absorption indicated the formation of solvated electrons suggesting the existence of pre-formed traps in RTILs. A broad transient absorption spectrum with a full width at half maximum of about 0.9 eV, typical for solvated electrons, was reconstructed from the transient profiles. Wavelength-independent relaxation dynamics at longer delay times suggest a lifetime of solvated electrons in the ns regime in agreement with results from pulse radiolysis studies. Adding 1,1-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide to IL led to an increase of the UV absorbance and consequently, to an increase of the yield of solvated electrons. Furthermore, this solute is an efficient electron scavenger causing the transients to decay within about 40 ps.     

A quantum model of the solvated electron in simple media

The interaction of a slow electron with a medium is modeled by the Fermi pseudopotential and image force potential. A quantum model of the solvated electron in simple media is constructed. The model can be used to analyze the lifetime of the solvated electron, its mobility in an electric field, and its absorption spectrum depending on pressure and temperature.     

The nature of the transitions comprising the optical absorption spectra of solvated electrons

The theory of photoejection spectra of molecular anions is adapted for application to analyses of optical absorption data of solvated electrons in a number of different solvents. The results obtained generally support the identification of solvated electron optical absorption spectra entirely as bands of bound-to-continuum transitions and not as bound-to-bound transitions. Analyses of the absorbance behavior near the threshold for absorption lead to the conclusion that the solvated electron ground state deviates appreciably from spherical symmetry. Alternatively, the solvated electron ground state in ND₃ may be nearly spherically symmetric with a thermally accessible excited state of lower symmetry.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence with solvated electrons in hexamethylphosphoroamide (HMPA)

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence of N-toluenesulfonyl carbazole, 9-chlorofluorene derivatives and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) with solvated electrons in HMPA are discussed. The fairly bright emissions occurred simultaneously when solvated electrons were generated electrochemically. In the case of N-toluenesulfonyl carbazole and 9-chlorofluorene derivatives, the respective carbanions formed by “dissociative electron transfer reactions” are the fluorescents. The singlet state of TMPD seems to be directly formed by the electron transfer reactions between radical cations of TMPD and solvated electrons.     

Configuration diagram of the solvated electron

The absorption line shape of the solvated electron is considered in terms of interaction of the electron with lattice vibration. Based upon this consideration, the configuration diagram of the solvated electron in liquid ammonia is constructed from the absorption spectrum of it, which was obtained experimentally. The physical meaning of the constructed diagram is discussed briefly.     

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of solvated electrons in aqueous NaI solution

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the energetics and dynamics of solvated electrons in aqueous solution. Solvated electrons are generated by ultrafast photodetachment in a 100 mM aqueous NaI solution. Initially, an ensemble of strongly bound ("cold") solvated electrons and an ensemble of weakly bound ("hot") electrons in an unequilibrated solvent environment are observed. We report an ultrafast recombination channel for the "hot" electrons with a rate of (800 fs)(-1) which is in competition with thermalization occurring with a rate of (1.1 ps)(-1). The thermalized electrons recombine with the iodide radical with a rate of (22 ps)(-1). About 35% of the thermalized electrons escape geminate recombination and form free, solvated electrons. The vertical detachment energy for the solvated electron is determined to be 3.40 eV. No indication for a surface-bound electron at lower binding energies was observed.     

Formation of solvated ions in the atmospheric interface of an electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer

A simple method capable of generating and investigating various solvent clusters and solvated ions was developed. The technique opens a door to studying these complexes on commercially available instruments. Formation of the desired solvated ion in the gas phase was achieved by introducing the appropriate volatile solvent vapour into the curtain gas stream. Capabilities of the technique are illustrated by generating alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal cations solvated by various volatile compounds such as water, methanol and acetonitrile. Depending on the ligands and on the experimental conditions, clusters of 2-100 molecules may be observed. Isotope labelling suggests that these are formed by a re-solvation process in the curtain gas region.     

Studies in mixed solvents: Comparison between solvated electron reactions and quenching of excited states

The rate constants for the reaction of electron pulse produced solvated electrons and a number of solutes in water-isopropanol mixtures have been measured. The quenching of the singlet excited state of naphthalene has also been studied in the same mixtures, using triethylamine and acrylamide as quenchers. The variation of the bimolecular solvated electron reaction rate constants with the composition of the solvent has been compared with the variation in the quenching constants with the composition of the solvent. Both these variations are surprisingly similar, with acrylamide behaving in a reverse manner (to the other solutes) in both the cases. It has been possible to quantitatively correlate both sets of data using dielectric constant (?) as a measure of polarity and the viscosity (η) as an index of the microstructure. The curves obtained provide insights with respect to the nature of charge transfer processes involved. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.