Inelastic neutron scattering study of methyl groups rotation in some methylxanthines

The three isomeric dimethylxanthines and trimethylxanthine are studied by neutron spectroscopy up to energy transfers of 100 meV at energy resolutions ranging from 0.7 microeV to some meV. The loss of elastic intensity with increasing temperature can be modeled by quasielastic methyl rotation. The number of inequivalent methyl groups is in agreement with those of the room temperature crystal structures. Activation energies are obtained. In the case of theophylline, a doublet tunneling band is observed at 15.1 and 17.5 microeV. In theobromine, a single tunneling band at 0.3 microeV is found. Orientational disorder in caffeine leads to a 2.7 microeV broad distribution of tunneling bands around the elastic line. At the same time, broad low energy phonon spectra characterize an orientational glassy state with weak methyl rotational potentials. Librational energies of the dimethylxanthines are clearly seen in the phonon densities of states. Rotational potentials can be derived which explain consistently all observables. While their symmetry in general is threefold, theophylline shows a close to sixfold potential reflecting a mirror symmetry.     

X-ray diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering study of 1:1 tetramethylpyrazine chloranilic acid complex: temperature, isotope, and pressure effects

The x-ray diffraction studies of the title complex were carried out at room temperature and 14 K for H/D (in hydrogen bridge) isotopomers. At 82 K a phase transition takes place leading to a doubling of unit cells and alternation of the hydrogen bond lengths linking tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and chloranilic acid molecules. A marked H/D isotope effect on these lengths was found at room temperature. The elongation is much smaller at 14 K. The infrared isotopic ratio for O-H(D)...N bands equals to 1.33. The four tunnel splittings of methyl librational ground states of the protonated complex required by the structure are determined at a temperature T=4.2 K up to pressures P=4.7 kbars by high resolution neutron spectroscopy. The tunnel mode at 20.6 microeV at ambient pressure shifts smoothly to 12.2 microeV at P=3.4 kbars. This is attributed to an increase of the strength of the rotational potential proportional to r(-5.6). The three other tunnel peaks show no or weak shifts only. The increasing interaction with diminishing intermolecular distances is assumed to be compensated by a charge transfer between the constituents of deltae/e approximately 0.02 kbar(-1). The phase transition observed between 3.4 and 4.7 kbars leads to increased symmetry with only two more intense tunneling bands. In the isotopomer with deuterated hydrogen bonds and P=1 bar all tunnel intensities become equal in consistency with the low temperature crystal structure. The effect of charge transfer is confirmed by a weakening of rotational potentials for those methyl groups whose tunnel splittings were independent of pressure. Density functional theory calculations for the model TMP.(HF)2 complex and fully ionized molecule TMP+ point out that the intramolecular rotational potential of methyl groups is weaker in the charged species. They do not allow for the unequivocal conclusions about the role of the intermolecular charge transfer effect on the torsional frequencies.     

Raman and X-ray scattering studies of high-pressure phases of urea

Single-crystal and polycrystalline urea samples were compressed to 12 GPa in a diamond-anvil cell. Raman-scattering measurements indicate a sequence of four structural phases occurring over this pressure range at room temperature. The transitions to the high-pressure phases take place at pressures near 0.5 GPa (phase I --> II), 5.0 GPa (II --> III), and 8.0 GPa (III --> IV). Lattice parameters in phase I (tetragonal, with 2 molecules per unit cell, space group P42(1)m (D3(2d))) and phase II (orthorhombic, 4 molecules per unit cell, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) (D2(4))) were determined using angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction experiments. For phases III and IV, the combined Raman and diffraction data indicate that the unit cells are likely orthorhombic with four molecules per unit cell. Spatially resolved Raman measurements on single-crystal samples in phases III and IV reveal the coexistence of two domains with distinct spectral features. Physical origins of the spatial domains in phases III and IV are examined and discussed.     

Molecular motions and λ phase transition: Raman and far-ir studies of neat and isotopic mixed hexamethylbenzene crystal

Raman and far-IR studies of hexamethylbenzene (HMB) low temperature crystalline phases (neat and isotopic mixed) are presented. The Raman phonon spectrum changes drastically during the λ-phase transition. Site splittings on two intramolecular modes of HMB-h₁₈ (but on only one corresponding HMB-d₁₈ mode) are observed in the room temperature phase (phase II) spectrum. These splittings disappear in the lower temperature phase (phase III). The methyl torsional bands are identified and a significant shift is observed for them during the phase transition. Also, while the λ-phase transition takes place at 113°K (± 2°K) for HMB-h₁₈ crystal, the transition temperature is 133°K (± 2°K) for HMB-d₁₈. Our results suggest that (for phonon interactions) the symmetry in phase Ill is close to D_3d and reduces to C_i in phase II. Furthermore, the results support the mechanism of phase transition which involves a tilting of the methyl groups out of the benzene ring.     

The lowest triplet state of benzene: Differences in electronic structure in two crystalline modifications of a cyclohexane host

Microwave induced delayed phosphorescence (MIDP) measurements have been performed in the 00 bands of the phosphorescence spectrum of benzene dissolved in two phases of cyclohexane. From the relative radiative rates for decay of the three zero-field levels it is concluded that on the average the symmetry of the electronic structure is lower than D_2h. In the monoclinic low temperature stable phase of cyclohexane (phase II) the structure is approximately antiquinoidal, and in the metastable phase III it is approximately quinoidal.     

Raman spectra of high pressure phase and phase transition of polytetrafluoroethylene (teflon)

Raman spectra of phases II and III of crystalline polytetrafluoroethylene at room temperature and several pressures to 35 kbar are reported and discussed in terms of the information provided about molecular conformation, crystal structures, and the phase transition. A revised vibrational assignment is reported for phase II spectra which suggests that the 1215- and 1295-cm^?1 bands are not fundamentals but are combinations of overtones with A₁ symmetry of a cyclic group.     

Phase transitions and hindered rotation in dimethylacetylene at high pressures probed by Raman spectroscopy

We present Raman spectroscopy experiments in dimethylacetylene (DMA) using a sapphire anvil cell up to 4 GPa at room temperature. DMA presents phase transitions at 0.2 GPa (liquid to phase I) and 0.9 GPa, which have been characterized by changes in the Raman spectrum of the sample. At pressures above 2.6 GPa several bands split into two components, suggesting an additional phase transition. The Raman spectrum of the sample above 2.6 GPa is identical to that found for the monoclinic phase II (C2/m) at low temperatures, except for an additional splitting of the band assigned to the fourfold degenerated asymmetric methyl stretch. The global analysis of the Raman spectra suggests that the observed splitting is due to the loss of degeneracy of the methyl groups of the DMA molecule in phase II. According to the above interpretation, crystal phase II of DMA extends from 0.9 GPa to pressures close to 4 GPa. Between 0.9 and 2.6 GPa, the methyl groups of the DMA molecules rotate almost freely, but the rotation is hindered on further compression.     

Rotational dynamics of the methyl group in the 4-methyl pyridine crystal

Raman spectra below 150 cm⁻¹ of the 4-methyl pyridine crystal, and its deuterated derivative (d₇), at various temperatures from 276.8 K (melting point) to 5 K are presented and vibrational assignments proposed. Three crystal phases are observed between 5–100 K (III), 100–254 K (II) and 254–276.8 K (I). In phase III, where the site symmetry for the molecule is C₁, different potential shapes are compared and only a non-periodic function accounts satisfactorily for the five τCH₃ and two τCD₃ Raman bands. A molecular model is proposed where the methyl groups are correlated along infinite chains in the crystal.     

Computational and dynamic NMR investigation of 2,2-dimesityl-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyltrisilane

The structure and rotational barrier for the mesityl-silicon bond of 2,2-dimesityl-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyltrisilane have been investigated by ¹H- and ¹³C-variable temperature nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as by density functional theory structural calculations. The calculations show that the lowest energy structure has C₂ symmetry with nonequivalent ortho methyl groups, consistent with the crystal structure and solution NMR. The nonequivalent ortho methyl groups exchange through a C_s transition state with a calculated relative free energy of 11.0 kcal mol⁻¹. The barrier for this rotation found by dynamic NMR is 13.4 ± 0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at 298 K.     

D and Cs NMR study of the hydrogen bond network and antiferroelectric phase transition of cesium trihydrogen selenite

The ²D and ¹³³Cs NMR spectra of deuterated and protiated single crystals of antiferroelectric cesium trihydrogen selenite have been studied in the high- and low-temperature phases. The number of chemically nonequivalent hydrogen bonds, their lengths, and directions in the unit cell were determined from deuteron electric field gradient tensors. The deuterons of centered hydrogen bonds have been found disordered in the paraelectric phase over two equivalent sites on either side of a center of symmetry. The antiferroelectric phase transition is accompanied by order-disorder phenomena of the H system and displacive behavior of the heavy-ion system.     

2D and 133Cs NMR study of the hydrogen bond network and antiferroelectric phase transition of cesium trihydrogen selenite

The ²D and ¹³³Cs NMR spectra of deuterated and protiated single crystals of antiferroelectric cesium trihydrogen selenite have been studied in the high- and low-temperature phases. The number of chemically nonequivalent hydrogen bonds, their lengths, and directions in the unit cell were determined from deuteron electric field gradient tensors. The deuterons of centered hydrogen bonds have been found disordered in the paraelectric phase over two equivalent sites on either side of a center of symmetry. The antiferroelectric phase transition is accompanied by order-disorder phenomena of the H system and displacive behavior of the heavy-ion system.     

Phase transitions in the dimethyl thallium(III) halides, (CH3)2TIX(X = Cl,Br, I)

The dimethyl thallium(III) halides were investigated at low temperature and at high pressure by IR and Raman spectroscopy. These compounds have a tetragonal structure under ambient conditions, in which the methyl groups are disordered. Ordering transitions were observed at low temperature in all three halides. The low-temperature unit cells are monoclinic or triclinic with C_2h or C_i symmetry and Z = 1 and Z = 2 per primitive unit cell for the chloride and for the bromide and iodide, respectively.At high pressure, the iodide and bromide underwent phase transitions at just below 10 kbar to phases similar to those observed at low-temperature. A second transition was observed in both the iodide and bromide at 27 and 45 kbar, respectively, which involved a change in conformation of the (CH₃)₂Tl⁺ ion from linear to bent and a distortion of the (TlX)_nlayers. Significant spectral changes were also observed for the iodide and bromide at close to 65 kbar and 70 kbar, respectively, indicating the presence of another transition involving a change in methyl group orientation.The chloride underwent a transition at about 15 kbar at which the methyl groups become ordered. This phase appears to be related to that observed at low-temperature for the bromide and iodide. Further changes were observed at just below 25 kbar indicating that the (CH₃)₂Tl⁺ ions become bent. There is evidence for another transition above 35 kbar from changes in slope on plots of ν versus p.     

The Shape of the Simplest Non-proteinogenic Amino Acid α-Aminoisobutyric Acid (Aib)

The simplest non-proteinogenic amino acid α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), an analogue of glycine and alanine, has been vaporized by laser ablation and probed by high-resolution Fourier transform microwave spectroscopic techniques. Comparison of the experimental rotational and ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole constants with that predicted ab initio has allowed the identification of three conformers of Aib exhibiting three types of hydrogen-bond interactions I (NH⋅⋅⋅O=C, cis-COOH), II (OH⋅⋅⋅N, trans-COOH), and III (N−H⋅⋅⋅O−H, cis-COOH) within the amino acid backbone. The observation of conformer III, not detected previously for related proteinogenic amino acids with a nonpolar side chain in a supersonic expansion, indicates that the presence of the methyl groups should restrict the conformational relaxation from conformer Aib-III to Aib-I. For conformer Aib-II, the rotational spectra of the ¹³C isotopomers reveal a tunneling motion arising from the two equivalent methyl groups in the molecule. The observation of a single spectrum at the midpoint between those predicted for the two ¹³C of the methyl groups has been explained by considering a double-minimum potential function with a low-energy interconversion barrier for a large amplitude internal motion. This singular fact has been corroborated by the anomalous centrifugal distortion effects determined in conformer Aib-II.     

Structure and vibrational study of the trimethylammonium hexafluorosilicate [(CH3)3NH]2SiF6 compound

The X-ray powder diffraction pattern of [(CH(3))(3)NH](2)SiF(6) was obtained and indexed on the basis of a centred cubic unit cell with the P4(1)32 as the likely space group. The Infrared and Raman spectra of this compound have been recorded at room temperature and discussed in relation to the crystal structure. In this salt, the bands corresponding to the cation vibrational modes show that the symmetry of these cations is distorted from the free C(3v) one and that they are strongly hydrogen-bonded to the respective anions. However, the spectra of the anions can be interpreted in term of ordered groups as indicated by the splitting of the bands corresponding to some degenerate vibrational modes. The harmonic frequencies, corresponding to the (CH(3))(3)NH-SiF(6)-NH(CH(3))(3) optimised geometry, were calculated using the SCF semi-empirical MNDO-PM3 method.     

On the nature of the multiple ground states of the MMX mixed-valence chain compound, [Pt(II/III)2(n-PenCS2)4I]∞

We present a comprehensive study of the temperature dependence of the crystal structure using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and diffuse scattering, and electrical transport and magnetic properties as well as some optical properties at room temperature to elucidate the origin and the form of multiple ground states demonstrated in a previous study of the heat-capacity of the MMX chain compound, [Pt(II/III)(2)(n-PenCS(2))(4)I](∞). The present results confirm the presence of the two phase transitions, one reversible of first order at 207 K and the other nonreversible monotropic at 324 K, separating the low temperature (LT), room temperature (RT), and high temperature (HT) phases. The unit cell displays a 3-fold periodicity of -Pt-Pt-I- in the RT and HT phases because of the structural disorder which is exhibited by the dithiocarboxylato groups and the n-pentyl groups belonging to the central diplatinum unit. In addition, for the HT-phase all the dimers show this disorder. This compound undergoes a metal-semiconductor transition at T(M-S) = 235 K. The presence of diffuse streaks corresponding to 2-fold -Pt-Pt-I- periodicity in the HT and RT phases indicates dynamic valence ordering of the type -Pt(2+)-Pt(2+)-I(-)-Pt(3+)-Pt(3+)-I(-)-or-Pt(2+)-Pt(3+)-I(-)-Pt(3+)-Pt(2+)-I(-)-. For the LT-phase the diffuse scattering is condensed into clear Bragg diffraction peaks while keeping the 3-fold periodicity. This fact suggests further localization through dimerization of charges and spins confirming the diamagnetic state in the magnetic susceptibility and the low electrical conduction below 207 K. The present results are further discussed in relation to those of previous studies on the homologues, [Pt(II/III)(2)(RCS(2))(4)I](∞), R = methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl.     

Direct dynamics study of the hydrogen-abstraction reaction of 1,1,2,2,3-fluorinated propane with the hydroxyl radical

The hydrogen abstraction reactions by a hydroxyl radical from 1,1,2,2,3-fluorinated propane (CF2HCF2CFH2) have been investigated by the dual-level direct dynamics method. Three equilibrium conformers (I, II, III) of CF2HCF2CFH2, one with Cs and two with C1 symmetries, are identified by the rotations of -CFH2 and -CF2H groups. Two transition states are located for the conformer I (Cs symmetry) + OH --> products (R1) reaction, and three distinct transition states are identified for conformers II and III (C1 symmetry) + OH --> products (R2 and R3). The optimized geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of all reactants, complexes, transition states, and products are calculated at the BB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. The single-point energy calculations are performed at the G3(MP2) level using the BB1K geometries. Using improved canonical variational transition-state theory (ICVT) with the small-curvature tunneling correction (SCT), the rate constants for each channel are calculated over a wide temperature range of 200-2000 K. It is found that the H-abstraction reaction from the -CFH2 group is the predominant product channel for three reactions. The total rate constant is evaluated by the Boltzmann distribution function, and the agreement between theoretical and experimental values is good.     

[CuCl3(H2O)]− complexes aggregated to form hydrate columns in methyl‐substituted pyridinium or piperidinium salts

1,2,3‐Trimethylpyridinium aquatrichloridocuprate(II), (C₈H₁₂N)[CuCl₃(H₂O)], (I), 3,4‐dimethylpyridinium aquatrichloridocuprate(II), (C₇H₁₀N)[CuCl₃(H₂O)], (II), and 2,3‐dimethylpyridinium aquatrichloridocuprate(II), (C₇H₁₀N)[CuCl₃(H₂O)], (III), exhibit the same fundamental structure, with (I) and (II) isomorphous and with the unit‐cell constants of (III) similar to the reduced unit‐cell constants of (I) and (II). The distorted square‐planar [CuCl₃(H₂O)]⁻ complex [mirror symmetric in (I) and (II)] forms two semicoordinate Cu...Cl bonds to a neighboring complex to produce a dimer with 2/m symmetry [only inversion symmetry in (III)]. The semicoordinate Cu...Cl bond length of the dimer shows significant elongation at 295 K compared with that at 100 K, while the coordinate Cu—Cl bond lengths are slightly contracted at 295 K compared with those at 100 K. The inorganic dimers are linked by eight hydrogen bonds to four neighboring dimers to establish a checkerboard network layer in the ab plane, with voids between the dimers that accommodate, on both sides, inversion‐related organic cation pairs. The organic cations are required by mirror‐plane symmetry to be disordered in (I) and (II). The organic cations and [CuCl₃(H₂O)]⁻ complexes are nearly coplanar and tilted out of the layer plane to establish a hybrid organic–inorganic layer structure parallel to (202) [(11) in (III)], with hydrate columns (defined by water molecules) and hydrophobic columns (defined by methyl groups) parallel to each other [and along the 2₁ axes in (I) and (II)]. In 1,1‐dimethylpiperidinium aquatrichloridocuprate(II), (C₇H₁₆N)[CuCl₃(H₂O)], (IV), the bulkier organic cation prevents semicoordinate bonding between complexes, which are hydrogen bonded side‐to‐side in zigzag chains that place water molecules in columns along half of the 2₁ axes.     

Raman spectra of the double-anion salts M3ZnCl4NO3 (M+ = K+, Rb+, NH4)

Recently characterized K3ZnCl4NO3 and (NH4)3ZnCl4NO3, and newly prepared Rb3ZnCl4NO3 constitute a limited series of isomorphous double-anion salts (space group Pnma, Z = 4). Room-temperature (295 K) Raman spectra from polycrystalline samples of the compounds are reported and interpreted on the basis of the Cs site symmetry of the ZnCl4(2-) and NO3- ions with reference to the D2h factor group of the unit cell. The spectra are compared with Raman spectra of the corresponding M2ZnCl4 and MNO3 single-anion salts. Relative positions and frequencies of the ZnCl4(2-) modes vary considerably among the M3ZnCl4NO3 compounds, despite the isomorphism. The NO3- modes are more similar in all three compounds. The NO3- doubly degenerate v3 and V4 modes are split into two distinct bands as a result of the decent in symmetry from D3h for the free ion to Cs at the crystallographic site. The unequal intensities of the v3 bands observed for K3ZnCl4NO3 and Rb3ZnCl4NO3 and the equal intensities of the v4 bands observed for all three compounds suggest the same factor-group assignments as the high-temperature phase NH4NO3(III). The free-ion Raman-inactive planar deformation mode, v2, is evident in all three compounds, but with lesser intensity than its overtone 2v2. In K3ZnCl4NO3 and Rb3ZnCl4NO3, the symmetric stretching band, in addition to the very strong component for v1, shows a weak, low-frequency band found in many ionic nitrates, which has been attributed to thermally disordered nitrate ions or hot bands. This feature is not found in the spectrum of (NH4)3ZnCl4NO3. The 12 NH4+ ions in the unit cell of (NH4)3ZnCl4NO3, which occupy C1 and Cs sites in a 2:1 ratio, give rise to extremely broad bands that show no evidence of the individual symmetry distinctions of the cations. The broad band from NH4+ v4 obscures the region in which NO3- v3 bands are expected, but the NO3- overtone 2v2 is evident as a sharp peak above a similarly broad band from NH4+ v2.     

Thermo-infrared-spectroscopy analysis of dimethylsulfoxide-kaolinite intercalation complexes

Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) kaolinite complexes of low-and high-defect kaolinites were studied by thermo-IR-spectroscopy analysis. Samples were gradually heated up to 170°C, three hours at each temperature. After cooling to room temperature, they were pressed into KBr disks and their spectra were recorded. From the spectra two types of complexes were identified. In the spectrum of type I complex two bands were attributed to asymmetric and symmetric H-O-H stretching vibrations of intercalated water, bridging between DMSO and the clay-O-planes. As a result of H-bonds between intercalated water molecules and the O-planes, Si-O vibrations of the clay framework were perturbed, in the low-defect kaolinite more than in the high-defect. Type II complex was obtained by the thermal escape of the intercalated water. Consequently, the H-O-H bands were absent from the spectrum of type II complex and the Si-O bands were not perturbed. Type I complex was present up to 120°C whereas type II between 130 and 150°C. The presence of intercalated DMSO was proved from the appearance of methyl bands. These bands decreased with temperature due to the thermal evolution of DMSO but disappeared only in spectra of samples heated at 160°C. Intercalated DMSO was H-bonded to the inner-surface hydroxyls and vibrations associated with this group were perturbed. Due to the thermal evolution of DMSO the intensities of the perturbed bands decreased with the temperature. They disappeared at 160°C together with the methyl bands.