Vibrational Dephasing in Ionic Liquids as a Signature of Hydrogen Bonding

Understanding both structure and dynamics is crucial for producing tailor‐made ionic liquids (ILs). We studied the vibrational and structural dynamics of medium versus weakly hydrogen‐bonded C?H groups of the imidazolium ring in ILs of the type [1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium][bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] ([C_nmim][NTf₂]), with n=1, 2, and 8, by time‐resolved coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and quantum‐classical hybrid (QCH) simulations. From the time series of the CARS spectra, dephasing times were extracted by modeling the full nonlinear response. From the QCH calculations, pure dephasing times were obtained by analyzing the distribution of transition frequencies. Experiments and calculations reveal larger dephasing rates for the vibrational stretching modes of C(2)?H compared with the more weakly hydrogen‐bonded C(4,5)?H. This finding can be understood in terms of different H‐bonding motifs and the fast interconversion between them. Differences in population relaxation rates are attributed to Fermi resonance interactions.     

Remarkable Size Effect on Photophysical and Nonlinear Optical Properties of All-Carboatomic Rings,Cyclo[18]carbon and Its Analogues

Inspired by recent experimental observation of molecular morphology and theoretical predictions of multiple properties of cyclo[18]carbon, we systematically studied the photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of cyclo[2N]carbons (N=3–15) allotropes through density functional theory. This work unveils the unusual optical properties of the sp-hybridized carbon rings with different sizes. The remarkable size dependence of the optical properties of these systems and their underlying nature are profoundly explored, and the relevance between aromaticity and optical properties are highlighted. The extrapolation curves fitted for energy level of frontier molecular orbitals, maximum absorption wavelength, and (hyper)polarizability of considered carbon rings are presented, which can be used to reliably predict corresponding properties for arbitrarily large carbon rings. The findings in this study will facilitate the exploration of potential application of cyclocarbons in the field of optical materials.     

Synthesis of [n]Cyclo‐5,15‐porphyrinylene‐4,4′‐biphenylenes Displaying Size‐Dependent Excitation‐Energy Hopping

A set of 5,15‐biphenylene‐bridged porphyrin wheels, namely, [n]cyclo‐5,15‐porphyrinylene‐4,4′‐biphenylenes [n]CPB , have been synthesized through the platination of 5,15‐bis(4‐(pinacolboranyl)phenyl) nickel(II) porphyrin and subsequent reductive elimination of Pt^II(cod)‐bridged cyclic porphyrin intermediates. The calculated strain energies for [3]CPB , [4]CPB , [5]CPB , and [6]CPB are 49.3, 32.9, 23.5, and 16.0 kcal mol^?1, respectively. UV/Vis absorption spectra and cyclic voltammetry indicated characteristic ring‐size‐dependent absorption‐peak shifts and redox‐potential shifts, which presumably reflect the degree of strain in the π‐systems. Excitation‐energy hopping (EEH) times were determined to be 5.1, 8.0, 8.0, and 9.6 ps for [3]CPB , [4]CPB , [5]CPB , and [6]CPB , respectively, in a pump‐power‐dependent TA experiment.     

Annulenoannulenes

Annulenoannulenes formally consist of two annulenes fused together. Hitherto, almost all the known representatives of this class of compounds were the strongly dehydrogenated forms, containing a few triple bonds and several cumulated double bonds. Besides ortho-annelated dehydroannulenoannulenes also such compounds containing bridges made up of two or four carbon atoms (“acetylene-cumulene” annulenoannulenes) were obtained by multistep syntheses. Most dehydroannulenoannulenes are stable and form colored crystals. In addition to dehydro[4n+2]annuleno[4n+2] annulenes with 14-, 18-, and 22-membered individual rings, two dehydro[4n]annuleno[4n+2]annulenes with 16- and 14-, and 16- and 18-membered rings have also been synthesized. Planar combinations of two [4n]-rings of this type and size are not known.—The dehydrogentated[14]annuleno[14]annulene containing a bridge of two carbon atoms has been studied in detail; however, the problem of the induction of a diamagnetic ring current in compounds of this type has still not been completely clarified.     

Molecular Structure, Vibrational Spectrum and Ionization Energy of m-Dimethoxybenzene

The optimized molecular geometries of the three rotamers of m-dimethoxybenzene in the ground So and electronically excited Sl states were predicted by ab initio and density functional theory （DFF） calculations. Their vibrational spectra in the St state were studied by one color resonant two photon ionization （1C-R2PI） method, and their ionization energies were measured by two color resonant two photon ionization （2C-R2PI） experiment. The optimized molecular geometries showed that the total energy of conformer a was the lowest in the So state. Most of the active vibrations assigned from the 1C-R2PI spectrum were found to be of the in-plane ring modes. The ionization energies （IE） of conformers a, b and c were determined to be 63521, 64487 and 63755 cm^-1, respectively.     

Ring distortion effect on δ13C values of bicyclo[4.n.0] alkanes

The ¹³C NMR spectra of trans- and cis-fused bicyclo[4.n.0]alkanes, where n=4, 3 and 2, were determined. The distortion of the six membered ring, which is due to the strain arising from the 1,2 fusion of cyclohexane with a smaller ring, is apparent mainly for the chemical shifts of the ring junction carbons. Both for the trans-and for the cis-fused hydrocarbons the results support a cyclohexane in a chair conformation, distorted to a different degree according to the size of the other ring. The geometries of the different compounds in the series were calculated.     

Vibrational Spectra and Density Functional Theory Calculations of Metallotriphenylcorroles

The infrared absorption and Raman scattering spectra were measured for the metallotriph-enylcorroles (MTPCs, M=Cu, Co, Ni, Mn). The ground-state structures and vibrational spectra of MTPCs have been calculated with the density functional theory. The observedRaman and IR bands have been assigned based on the calculation results. Due to the symmetry lowering, the vibrational spectra of MTPCs are much more complex than metal-loporphyrins, and several skeletal modes are found strongly coupled to the phenyl vibrations.The relationship between the Raman/IR frequencies and the structures of TPC ring is in-vestigated. It is found that the vibrations involving the C^I_αC^I_α stretch and C_αC_mstretch are sensitive to the size of corrole core. In particular, the frequency of υ₅, which is assigned to C^I_αC^I_α stretch in coupling with the C_αC_m symmetric stretch, increases linearly with the decrease of the corrole core-sizes and may be used as a mark band to evaluate the structural change of the metallocorroles.     

Vibrational spectra of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium(III) double-decker complexes: Density functional theory calculations

The vibrational (IR and Raman) spectra of neutral and reduced mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) yttrium(III) double-decker complexes Y(Pc)(Por) and [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ [the simplified models of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) rare earth(III) complexes] are studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The simulated IR and Raman spectra of Y(Pc)(Por) are compared with the experimental IR spectrum of Tb(Pc)(TClPP) and Raman spectrum of Y(Pc)(TClPP), respectively, and many bands can acceptably fit in spite of the different species. On the basis of comparison with the simulated spectra of PbPc and PbPor together with the assistance of normal coordinate analysis, the calculated frequencies in their IR and Raman spectra are identified in terms of the vibrational mode of different ligand for the first time. The calculated frequency at 1048 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectrum of [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ with contribution from both Pc and Por vibrational modes is the characteristic IR vibrational mode of the reduced double-decker, while the characteristic IR vibrational mode of Y(Pc)(Por) attributed from the vibration of phthalocyanine monoanion radical Pc⁻ appears at 1257 cm⁻¹. In line with our previous experimental findings that the Raman spectra of M(Pc)(TPP) and M(Pc)(TClPP) are dominated by the Pc vibrational modes, theoretical calculations indicate that most of the Raman vibrational modes contributed from Por ring are covered up by those of Pc ring and thus are hard to be recognized in the Raman spectra of [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ and Y(Pc)(Por) due to their much weaker intensity in comparison with that of Pc ligand. Comparison in the IR and Raman spectra between [Y(Pc)(Por)]⁻ and Y(Pc)(Por) also suggests the localization of hole on the Pc ring in the neutral double-decker Y(Pc)(Por). The present work, representing the first detailed DFT study on the vibrational spectra of mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) rare earth(III) double-decker complexes, is useful in helping to understand the vibrational spectroscopic properties of this series of mixed tetrapyrrole ring complexes.     

Ab Initio Equilibrium Geometry and Vibrational Spectroscopic Study of 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene

The aim of this work was to present a comprehensive vibrational spectroscopic study of 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene. For this purpose, quantum chemical calculations were carried out at the ab initio HF/4-31G* level, as a consequence of the great size of the molecule. In the frame of these calculations, the symmetry of the molecule was investigated. Trying C 4v , C 2v , and C s symmetries as input, the geometry optimization, however, pointed to the C 2 configuration. In the latter case, all the calculated vibrational frequencies were greater than zero, and therefore the equilibrium geometry could be identified. Medium and far infrared as well as Raman spectra of the compound were measured. On the basis of the calculated force constants and geometric parameters, normal coordinate analysis was applied for the interpretation of the experimental vibrational spectra. Problems arose with the choice of the internal coordinates of the molecule, which are important from the point of view of the internal macrocycle ("lower rim") of the molecule. On the basis of the theory of redundant coordinates, a program was written for choosing the coordinates of this 16-membered cycle. Full interpretation of the vibrational fundamentals of the compound is presented. Several force constant matrix elements have surprisingly high values. As a result of the normal coordinate analysis, the relative rigidity of the lower rim was concluded. Ab initio calculations and assignment of the vibrational spectra of 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene based on the calculations are presented.     

Vibrational interactions in dimethylgold(III) halides and carboxylates

The far-infrared and Raman spectra of binuclear molecules [Me₂AuX]₂ (X = Cl, Br, I) and [Me₂Au(OOCR)]₂ (R = Me, CF₃, Bu^t, Ph) in the 600–70 cm⁻¹ region are reported. The experimentally measured vibrational frequencies of [Me₂AuX]₂ are in a good agreement with density functional theory predictions. The Au…Au vibrational interactions predicted to be in the 270–60 cm⁻¹ region of [Me₂AuX]₂ far-IR and Raman spectra have been observed. The Raman-active Au…Au vibrations of the [Me₂Au(OOCR)]₂ molecules were found to be in the same region as those of [Me₂AuX]₂. The Au–X stretching modes were observed between 100 and 250 cm⁻¹ in accordance with the DFT predictions. Their frequencies in the IR spectra of [Me₂AuX]₂ increase in the sequence I < Br < Cl while the AuC₂ stretching frequencies decrease in the same order. This fact might be an evidence of the decreasing covalent character of the gold-halogen bridges. The Au–O stretching bands of dimethylgold(III) carboxylates have been observed in the 500–250 cm⁻¹ region, and Au–C stretching frequencies of both [Me₂AuX]₂ and [Me₂Au(OOCR)]₂ compounds have been found between 600 and 500 cm⁻¹.     

Strain‐Induced Double Carbon–Carbon Bond Activations of Cycloparaphenylenes by a Platinum Complex: Application to the Synthesis of Cyclic Diketones

The carbon–carbon (C?C) bond activation of [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs) by a transition‐metal complex is herein reported. The Pt⁰ complex Pt(PPh₃)₄ regioselectively cleaves two C?C σ bonds of [5] CPP and [6]CPP to give cyclic dinuclear platinum complexes in high yields. Theoretical calculations reveal that the relief of ring strain drives the reaction. The cyclic complex was further transformed into a cyclic diketone by using a CO insertion reaction.     

1H- und 13C-NMR-untersuchungen an dibromoxabicyclo[n.2.1]alkanen

The ¹H n.m.r. spectra of some dibromooxabicyclo[n.2.1]alkanes are discussed for the determination of the configuration and conformation. The ¹³C n.m.r. spectra confirm the observed stereochemistry. With increasing ring size the ¹³C n.m.r. chemical shifts of the hetero atom substituted C-atoms C-1 and C-2 move steadily to lower fields.     

Intermolecular interaction characteristics of the Boron-nitrogen rings,and with hexagonal boron nitride: A special molecular adsorption and weak interaction

With the discovery of cyclo[18]carbon, related theoretical research has become a very hot topic. Due to its unique molecular structure, many derivatives have been derived, especially its isoelectronic molecule cyclo B₉N₉. This work focused on the interaction between cyclo B₉N₉ molecules and explored the nature of their interaction. The interaction of the dimer of cyclo B₉N₉ was studied, quantum chemical calculation and wave function analysis were carried out, and compared with cyclo[18]carbon to find its commonness. It showed that the interaction between the cyclo B₉N₉ dimers is a weak electron generating stacking interaction. In addition, the adsorption of cyclo B₉N₉ was studied, and the interaction of graphene analogues hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Through calculation and analysis, it was found that the adsorption of cyclo B₉N₉ was much stronger than that of cyclo[18]carbon. In another sense, the π–π stacking interaction of boron nitrogen structure is stronger than that of carbon. To further validate this commonality, B₆N₆ was selected for the same calculation, and similar conclusions were obtained. It was also found that the more Boron nitrogen (BN), the stronger the stacking interaction.     

Vibrational Excitons in CH-Stretching Fundamental and Overtone Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectra

Summary. A set of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra in the CH-stretching fundamental region for about twenty compounds belonging to the class of essential oils was empirically analyzed by the use of a sort of vibrational exciton mechanism, involving three centers. Through a general formula applicable to many coupled dipole oscillators, the rotational strengths of the previously identified vibrational excitons are evaluated. The results are then critically reviewed by the use of recent ab initio methodology, as applied to selected molecules of the original set. Further insight is gained by model calculations adding up the contribution of the coupling between electric dipole moments associated with normal mode behavior and that of the polarizability from polarizable groups. The former part is responsible for the excitonic behavior of the VCD spectra. For the same selected molecules we have also investigated whether some excitonic behavior is taking place in the second overtone region, and have concluded that this is not the case.     

Vibrational spectra and structural features of noble gas fluorides in cryogenic and nonaqueous solutions

Data on the vibrational spectra of noble gas fluorides in the gas phase and in cryogenic and nonaqueous solutions are considered in detail. Based on analysis of the IR spectra of xenon fluorides dissolved in liquid Kr and Xe, it is concluded that the XeF₆ molecule possesses the geometry of a distorted octahedron withC _3v symmetry. The contours of spectral lines of totally symmetric stretching modes in the Raman spectra of noble gas fluorides in nonaqueous solutions are considered; the mechanisms of formation contours of these lines, the dynamic parameters of XeF _n (n=2, 4, 6) and KrF₂, and the characteristic times of intramolecular rearrangements in the nonrigid XeF₆ molecule are analyzed. It is concluded that in the XeF₂-HF and XeF₆-HF systems, a number of associates and ionic clusters are formed due to the donor-acceptor interaction of the Lewis bases and acids. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 560–582, April, 1998.     

Study of the Geometrical Structure and the Vibrational Spectra of P4O8, P4O6S2, and P4O6Se2

In the present work the bonding situation within the P₄O₆X₂ (X = O, S and Se) series is analysed by means of the geometrical structures and the IR spectra of those molecules. The experimental data are obtained from pure P₄O₈ and P₄O₆Se₂ crystals which could be synthesized for the first time. The theoretical geometrical structures were obtained by employing the Hartree-Fock method in combination with a basis set of double ζ quality plus polarization functions. Theoretical vibrational spectra calculated with the same method were refined by using the Scaled Quantum Mechanical method proposed by Pulay. Our study shows that the doubly substituted compounds behave very similar to the monosubstituted molecules, e. g. shifts of the vibrational frequencies result mainly from the differences in the bond strengths of the P = X units and the different masses of the substituents, while the bonding situation within the P₄O₆ frame remains nearly unchanged within this series.     

Ultrastrong Regulation Effect of the Electric Field on the All-Carboatomic Ring Cyclo[18]Carbon**

Cyclo[18]carbon has a very unique geometry and electronic structure. We found that an external electric field (EEF) has an ultrastrong regulation effect on various aspects of the cyclo[18]carbon: (1) The EEF makes the shape of the cyclo[18]carbon change from a circle to an oval, the elongation is particularly striking at a large EEF magnitude. (2) The EEF causes a huge polarization of distribution of in-plane π electrons, and strong EEF can even make some of the electrons detached from the carbon ring (3) EEF significantly lowers LUMO energy and reduces HOMO-LUMO gap (4) Large EEF leads to absorption band in the visible light range and thus makes the cyclo[18]carbon display color (5) Strong EEF causes a large number of new absorption peaks in IR spectrum. We also carefully analyzed how EEF deforms structure of the cyclo[18]carbon from the perspective of atomic forces and decomposition of energy variation, and the reason why the in-plane π electrons are much more polarizable by EEF than the out-of-plane π electrons is discussed. Moreover, we demonstrated that it is feasible to equivalently apply a strong EEF on the cyclo[18]carbon via a purely chemical and thus a more easily achieve way, namely introducing divalent alkaline earth metal cation.     

Theoretical prediction on vibrational spectra of [Ar...Ar-H]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

Centrosymmetric linear [Ar-H-Ar]⁺ and asymmetric linear [Ar---Ar-H]⁺ are two stable configurations of [Ar₂H]⁺. Based on the global potential energy surface of [Ar₂H]⁺ provided by our group recently, we calculated the vibrational spectra of [Ar---Ar-H]⁺ with total angular momentum J = 0 by time-dependent quantum mechanical method, and the influence of quantum tunneling effect on vibrational spectra was found. With the help of the observation on the eigenstate functions and the modified potential energy surface, assignments were made to the spectra. The strong coupling between the excited bending mode of [Ar-H-Ar]⁺ and the vibrational states of [Ar---Ar-H]⁺ was discussed.     

Bifunctional Initiators as Tools to Track Chain Transfer during the CROP of 2‐Oxazolines

Detailed kinetic studies during the cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) are conducted using four bifunctional bromo‐type initiators in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) at 140 °C. Serving as models to quantify chain transfer to monomer occurring during the CROP initiated by monofunctional initiators, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) resolves a second molar mass distribution with lower molar mass at initial [monomer] to [initiation site] ratios ([M]₀/[I]₀) of 25, while the resolution is insufficient at [M]₀/[I]₀ of 10. Slightly slow initiation is revealed at [M]₀/[I]₀ = 25, which prohibits the derivation of chain transfer rates by fitting of the size exclusion chromatography (SEC) data. Although conventional kinetic plots give no indication of significant amounts of chain transfer, the molar mass distributions resolved by SEC can unambiguously be identified as such by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) in both the high as well as the low m /z regions of the mass spectra.     

Vibrational center-ligand couplings in transition metal complexes

The mode-tracking principle [J. Chem. Phys. 2003, 118, 1634] for the direct quantum chemical calculation of preselected, characteristic molecular vibrations makes vibrational analyses of very large molecules feasible. This is demonstrated here for the [(Ph(3)PAu)(6)C](2+) complex, in which 18 phenyl groups in the ligand sphere are explicitly taken into account. We are aiming at the motion of the endohedral carbon atom, which is in an extraordinary bonding situation because it is surrounded by an octahedral core of gold atoms in this cluster. Secondary effects of the full ligand sphere on the vibrations of the [Au(6)C] core embedded in [(R(3)PAu)(6)C](2+) clusters are investigated. For this purpose, local vibrations of the octahedral core are generated, and their long-range couplings with the phosphine ligand sphere become visible in the mode-tracking iterations. The exact normal modes of these characteristic vibrations of the cluster are then obtained after convergence of the mode-tracking refinement. This protocol allows us to assess the coupling of the outer ligand sphere with the inner core of the cluster in terms of changes of the vibrational frequencies and of the collective motions of the atomic nuclei. The vibrational frequencies of the octahedral [Au(6)C] core split due to symmetry breaking in the C(1)-symmetric [(Ph(3)PAu)(6)C](2+) cluster. Our study demonstrates how effects of the periphery of a large molecule on local vibrations can be quantified. Furthermore, we predict the first set of characteristic vibrational frequencies obtained with first-principles methods for this gold cluster, whose vibrational spectra have not yet been recorded experimentally.