FT-IR, NIR-FT-Raman and gas phase infrared spectra of 3-aminoacetophenone by density functional theory and ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations

The gas phase infrared spectrum of 3-aminoacetophenone (3AAP) was measured in the range 5000-500cm(-1) and with a resolution of 0.5cm(-1). The Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of 3AAP were recorded in the solid phase. Geometry optimizations were done without any constraint and several thermodynamic parameters were calculated for the minimum energy conformer at ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) levels invoking 6-311G(2df 2p) basis set and the results are compared with the experimental values. Harmonic-vibrational wavenumber was also calculated for the minimum energy conformer at ab initio and DFT levels using 6-31G(d,p) basis set and the results are compared with related molecules. With the help of specific scaling procedures, the observed vibrational wavenumbers in gas phase, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra were analyzed and assigned to different normal modes of the molecule. Most of the modes have wavenumbers in the expected range, the error obtained was in general very low. The appropriate theoretical spectrogram for the FT-IR spectra of the title molecule is also constructed.     

The molecular energy levels of the azoles: A study by photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio molecular orbital calculations

HeI photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations have been applied to the azoles, providing sets of energy levels that correlate well with each other in the upper valence shell region. Observed IPs are assigned to the three π- and to the five o-levels that involve (principally) valence shell p orbitals. The observed vibration structure is not particularly informative as an aid to assignment since both π-and σ-levels give some bands with vibration structure. The calculations provide in addition to eigenvalues (energy levels) a set of eigenvectors, permitting analysis of the bonding characteristics of the levels, and trends apparent within the series.     

Interaction of neutral and zwitterionic glycine with Zn2+ in gas phase: ab initio and SIBFA molecular mechanics calculations

The interaction of Zn²⁺ with glycine (Gly) in the gas phase is studied by a combination of ab initio and molecular mechanics techniques. The structures and energetics of the various isomers of the Gly–Zn²⁺ complex are first established via high‐level ab initio calculations. Two low‐energy isomers are characterized: one in which the metal ion interacts with the carboxylate end of zwitterionic glycine, and another in which it chelates the amino nitrogen and the carbonyl oygen of neutral glycine. These calculations lead to the first accurate value of the gas‐phase affinity of glycine for Zn²⁺. Ab initio calculations were also used to evaluate the performance of various implementations of the SIBFA force field. To assess the extent of transferability of the distributed multipoles and polarizabilities used in the SIBFA computations, two approaches are followed. In the first, approach (a), these quantities are extracted from the ab initio Hartree–Fock wave functions of glycine or its zwitterion in its entirety, and for each individual Zn²⁺‐binding conformation. In the second, approach (b), they are assembled from the appropriate constitutive fragments, namely methylamine and formic acid for neutral glycine, and protonated methylamine and formate for the zwitterion; they undergo the appropriate vector or matrix rotation to be assembled in the conformation studied. The values of the Zn²⁺–glycine interaction energies are compared to those resulting from ab initio SCF and MP2 computations using both the all‐electron 6‐311+G(2d,2p) basis set and an effective core potential together with the valence CEP 4‐31G(2d) basis set. Approach (a) values closely reproduce the ab initio ones, both in terms of the total interaction energies and of the individual components. Approach (b) can provide a similar match to ab initio interaction energies as does approach (a), provided that the two constitutive Gly building blocks are considered as separate entities having mutual interactions that are computed simultaneously with those occurring with Zn²⁺. Thus, the supermolecule is treated as a three‐body rather than a two‐body system. These results indicate that the current implementation of the SIBFA force field should be adequate to undertake accurate studies on zinc metallopeptides. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 963–973, 2000     

Rotational isomerism in divinylether studied by gas phase electron diffraction, microwave spectroscopy, infrared band profile simulation and ab initio calculations

The conformational behaviour of divinyl ether in the gas phase was explored by infrared band profile simulations and joint analysis of electron diffraction and microwave data. At 300 K the rotameric mixture contains 80% [sp, ac] and 20% [ap, ap] forms. Geometries have been studied using constraints taken from ab initio 4-21G gradient geometry and force field calculations. Differences between some unresolved bond distances and angles were constrained to the calculated values. Scale factors for the ab initio force field were refined from the diffraction data. In addition the transferability of scale factors from methyl vinyl ether to divinyl ether was tested. The investigation demonstrates that molecular orbital constrained models are consistent with and rationalize all experimental gas phase results. Subject to the ab initio constraints, the analysis yields the following model (r_g-distances, r-angles; numbers in parentheses are 6 times the least-squares ESDs): (C---H) = 1.103(12) A, (C---C) = 1.337(2) A, (C---O) = 1.389(2) A. Torsion angles for the [sp, ac] form are −13(6)° and 145(4)°.     

Time-dependent quantum simulations of FH2 photoelectron spectra on new ab initio potential energy surfaces for the anionic and the neutral species

The photoelectron spectra (`transition state spectra') of FH₂⁻ generated experimentally from para- and normal-H₂ are simulated on new ab initio potential energy surfaces using standard quantum time-dependent wavepacket techniques, and compared directly to experimental spectra. Agreement between theory and experiment is improved compared to earlier simulations. Two factors are shown to contribute to this success: (1) the anharmonicity of the exact vibrational wavefunctions on a new ab initio surface for the anion and (2) a new spin–orbit correction applied to the ab initio surface for neutral FH₂. Possible reasons for the small remaining discrepancies are investigated and discussed. Finally, predictions are given for spectra obtainable in future high-resolution experiments of this system.     

The molecular structure of S-triazine in the gas phase determined from electron diffraction, infrared/raman data and ab initio force field calculations

The gas phase molecular structure of s-triazine has been determined from electron diffraction data. Experimental vibrational parameters proved consistent with those from the 4-21G force field after scaling onto infrared/Raman frequencies, as well as after direct scaling on electron diffraction data. The analysis resulted in the following r_g/r^°-parameters CN = 1.338(1) Å, CH = 1.106(8) Å, CNC = 113.9(1), NCN = 126.1, HCN = 116.9. The (new) r_g – r_e (4-21G) correction for aromatic CN is 0.006(1) Å.     

Molecular structure of the azidoalane [Me2N(CH2)3]AltBu(N3). X-ray structural determination and ab initio calculations

A single crystal of the azidoalane [Me₂N(CH₂)₃]AltBu(N₃) (1a), grown in a capillary using a miniature zone melting procedure, was investigated by X-ray analysis. Compound 1a (C₉H₂₁AlN₄) is a monomeric species in the solid state, which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ with a=6.8560(14) Å, b=12.251(3) Å, c=7.786(2) Å, β=108.51(3)° and Z=2. The results of the X-ray structural determination are compared with the calculated structure of 1a (HF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory). Whereas the overall agreement between the measured and calculated structure is good, the Al–N donor-bond length differs by 11 and 12 pm at the HF and B3LYP level, respectively. To evaluate the effects of a polar environment on the molecular structure of 1a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) calculations at the HF and B3LYP level with the 6-31G(d) basis set were performed.     

Final-state effects in the 3d and 4d X-Ray photoelectron spectra of CeO2

The complex 3d and 4d X-ray photoelectron spectra of CeO₂ arc re-interpreted with the aid of multiple scattering Xα and intermediate coupling calculations. Features in the 3d spectrum are identified with Ce 3d⁹4f⁰, 3d⁹4f¹VB^?1, and 3d⁹5p⁵np final-state configurations. Multiplet coupling in the 3d⁹4f¹ system is found to be significant.     

The infrared and Raman spectra, ab initio calculations and spectral assignments of cyclopropylmethyl dichlorosilane (c-C3H5)SiCl2CH3

Raman spectra of cyclopropylmethyl dichlorosilane (c-C₃H₅)SiCl₂CH₃ as a liquid were recorded at 293 K and polarization data were obtained. Additional Raman spectra were recorded at various temperatures between 293 and 163 K, and intensity changes of certain bands with temperature were detected. No crystallization was ever obtained in the Raman cryostat in spite of extensive annealing. The infrared spectra have been studied as a vapour, as an amorphous solid at 78 K and as a liquid in the range 600-100 cm⁻¹. No infrared bands present in the vapour or liquid seemed to vanish upon cooling, and the sample never formed crystals on the CsI window of an infrared cryostat.The compound exists a priori in two conformers, syn and gauche, and the experimental results suggest an equilibrium in which the gauche conformer has 1.64 kJ mol⁻¹ lower enthalpy than syn in the liquid, leading to 20% syn at ambient temperature. Most of the syn bands were situated close to the corresponding gauche bands and it was difficult to obtain reliable ΔH values.B3LYP calculations with various basis sets and the CBS-QB3 and G2 and G3 models were employed, yielding the conformational enthalpy difference ΔH (syn-gauche) between 2.6 and 3.4 kJ mol⁻¹. Infrared and Raman intensities, polarization ratios and vibrational frequencies for the syn and gauche conformers were calculated. Instead of scaling the calculated wavenumbers in the harmonic approximation, calculations from B3LYP/cc-pVTZ were derived in the anharmonic approximation. In most cases these values were in good agreement with the experimental results for 38 observed modes of the gauche and 8 modes of the syn conformer with a deviation of ca. 1%.     

High resolution photoelectron studies: Electric field gradient splittings of Cd and Sn 4d energy levels in organometallic compounds

High resolution photoelectron spectra of Me₂Cd (Me = CH₃) in the gas phase, and organotin compounds in the solid state show that the 4d⁹ final state produced in the photoelectron experiment splits in the presence of ligand fields. Only the C₂⁰ crystal field term (the term that transforms like the electric field gradient) contributes to the splitting. The 4d_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} splitting in Me₂Cd and trans-Me₂Sn(BzBz)₂ (BzBz = anion of dibenzoylmethane) are 0.21 ± 0.01 eV and 0.35 ± 0.1 eV respectively. The observed 4d_{$\text{5}\text{2}$} linewidth for Ph₄Sn (Ph = C₆H₅) of 0.67 eV indicates that very narrow linewidths can be obtained on molecular nonconducting solids. The constant spin-orbit splitting values, combined with nuclear field gradients from Mössbauer and NQR measurements, strongly indicate that a previously proposed explanation for the increase in apparent spin-orbit coupling in Cd metal is untenable.     

Probing the low-barrier hydrogen bond in hydrogen maleate in the gas phase: a photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio study

The strength of the low-barrier hydrogen bond in hydrogen maleate in the gas phase was investigated by low-temperature photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Photoelectron spectra of maleic and fumaric acid monoanions (cis-/trans-HO(2)CCH=CHCO(2)(-)) were obtained at low temperatures and at 193 nm photon energy. Vibrational structure was observed for trans-HO(2)CCH=CHCO(2)(-) due to the OCO bending modes; however, cis-HO(2)CCH=CHCO(2)(-) yielded a broad and featureless spectrum. The electron binding energy of cis-HO(2)CCH=CHCO(2)(-) is about 1 eV blue-shifted relative to trans-HO(2)CCH=CHCO(2)(-) due to the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bond in the cis-isomer. Theoretical calculations (CCSD(T)/ aug-cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ) were carried out to estimate the strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in cis-HO(2)CCH=CHCO(2)(-). Combining experimental and theoretical calculations yields an estimate of 21.5 +/- 2.0 kcal/mol for the intramolecular hydrogen bond strength in hydrogen maleate.     

An ab initio and density functional theory study of the dimethylzinc-hydrogen selenide adduct: (CH3)2Zn:SeH2

The molecular structure (equilibrium geometry) and binding energy of the dimethylzinc (DMZn)-hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) adduct, (CH₃)₂Zn:SeH₂, have been computed with ab initio molecular orbital and density functional theory (DFT) methods and, where possible, compared with experimental results. The structure of the precursors DMZn and H₂Se are perturbed to only a small extent upon adduct formation. (CH₃)₂Zn:SeH₂ was found to be 3 kcal mol⁻¹ less stable than the precursors at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p) level of computation, indicating that the (CH₃)₂Zn:SeH₂ adduct is unlikely to be a stable gas-phase species under chemical vapour deposition conditions. Further calculations at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p) level of computation suggest that the 1:2 adduct species, (CH₃)₂Zn:(SeH₂)₂, is much less stable than the 1:1 adduct and consequently the precursors by 19 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Beryllocene, (C5H5)2Be. The He(I) photoelectron spectrum and ab initio molecular orbital calculations

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations with a double-ζ basis have been carrried out on five models of beryllocene, Cp₂Be, with fixed geometries. The lowest energies are obtained for the π-Cp, σ-Cp and D_5d models.

The He(I) photoelectron spectrum of Cp₂Be was recorded and the ionization potentials of the first bands were compared with the orbital energies obtained from the molecular orbital calculations. A satisfactory fit between experiment and calculations was obtained for a slip sandwich model of C_s symmetry. A model of C_5v symmetry is only compatible with the PE spectrum if the Jahn—Teller splitting of the lowest ²E₁ state of the molecular ion is exceptionally large, 1.0 eV.     

Correlation of crystal structures with electric field gradients in the fluorite- and pyrochlore-type compounds in the Gd2O3-ZrO2 system

Correlation of crystal structure with electric field gradient (EFG) in the fluorite- and pyrochlore-type compounds in the Gd₂O₃-ZrO₂ system Gd_xZr_1−xO_2−x/2 with 0.18?x?0.62 were investigated by ¹⁵⁵Gd Mössbauer spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and point-charge model (PCM) calculation. An intermediate ordered pyrochlore phase forms for 0.45?x?0.55, sandwiched with a disordered fluorite phase for 0.18?x<0.45 and 0.55<x?0.62. Some ¹⁵⁵Gd Mössbauer parameters, especially the quadrupole coupling constant (e²qQ), were found to exhibit a characteristic maximum around the ideal-pyrochlore Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (x=0.50) composition. The validity of the proposed pyrochlore-based structural model was examined by comparing the experimental values of EFG at the Gd sites with those calculated by the PCM calculations.     

Electronic spectra of adenine and 2-aminopurine: an ab initio study of energy level diagrams of different tautomers in gas phase and aqueous solution

Ground and lowest two singlet excited state geometries of four tautomeric forms (N9H, N7H, N3H and N1H) of each of adenine and 2-aminopurine (2AP) were optimized using an ab initio approach employing a mixed basis set (6-311 + G* on the nitrogen atom of the amino group and 4-31G basis set on the other atoms). Excited states were generated employing configuration interaction involving single electron excitations (CIS). Subsequently, the different species were solvated in water employing the self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) approach along with the corresponding gas phase optimized geometries. Thus the observed absorption and fluorescence spectra of adenine and 2AP have been explained successfully. It is concluded that both the N9H and N7H forms of 2AP would contribute to absorption and fluorescence spectra. Further, the fluorescence of 2AP would be absorbed by its cation in which both the N9 and N7 atoms are protonated, the fluorescence of which can have an anti-Stokes component. Among the different tautomers of adenine, the N9H form would be present dominantly in the ground state in aqueous solutions but the N7H form would be produced by energy transfer and subsequent fluorescence. The N3H form of adenine appears to be responsible for the observed absorption near 300 nm by its solutions intermittently exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The rings of the different species related to 2AP and adenine remain almost planar in the pi-pi* and n-pi* singlet excited states as in the ground state. The pyramidal character of the amino group is usually less in the pi-pi* excited states than that in the corresponding ground or n-pi* excited states. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps of the molecules provide useful clues regarding phototautomerism.     

An exploration of conformational search of leucine molecule and their vibrational spectra in gas phase using ab initio methods

An extensive exploration of the conformational space has been carried out to characterize all possible gas phase structures of leucine. A total of 324 unique trial structures for canonical leucine were generated by considering all possible combinations of single bond rotamers. All trial structures were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311G* level of the DFT method. A total of 77 unique and stationary canonical conformers were found. Further, 15 most stable conformers were reoptimized at B3LYP/6-311++G** level and their respective relative energies, vertical ionization energies, hydrogen bonding patterns, rotational constants and dipole moments were calculated. A single point energy calculations for leucine conformers have also been done at both B3LYP/6-311++G(2df, p) and MP2/6-311++G(2df, p) levels. The good agreement between our estimates of rotational constants for two most stable conformers and available experimental measurements supports the reliability of the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory for describing the conformational behavior of leucine molecule. The proton affinity and gas phase basicity were also determined. Using the statistical approach, conformational distributions at various temperatures have also been performed and analyzed. Vibrational spectra were also calculated. It is also observed that zwitterions of leucine are not stable in gas phase.     

Probing mechanistic photochemistry of glyoxal in the gas phase by ab initio calculations of potential-energy surfaces and adiabatic and nonadiabatic rates

In the present work, the wavelength-dependent mechanistic photochemistry of glyoxal in the gas phase has been explored by ab initio calculations of potential-energy surfaces, surface crossing points, and adiabatic and nonadiabatic rates. The CHOCHO molecules in S1 by photoexcitation at 393-440 nm mainly decay to the ground state via internal conversion, which is followed by molecular eliminations to form CO, H2CO,H2, and HCOH. Upon photodissociation of CHOCHO at 350-390 nm, intersystem crossing to T1 followed by the C-C bond cleavage is the dominant process in this wavelength range, which is responsible for the formation of the CHO radicals. The C-C and C-H bond cleavages along the S1 pathway are energetically accessible upon photodissociation of CHOCHO at 290-310 nm, which can compete with the S1-->T1 intersystem crossing process. The present study predicts that the C-H bond cleavage on the S1 surface is probably a new photolysis pathway at high excitation energy, which has not been observed experimentally. In addition, the trans-cis isomerization is predicted to occur more easily in the ground state than in the excited states.     

Theoretical study of electric field gradients at nitrogen nuclei in HNO,CH3NO and C2H3NO

Electric field gradients (EFGs) at the nitrogen nuclei of nitroxyl, nitrosomethane and nitrosoethylene were calculated by employing the complete-active-space self-consistent field (CASSCF), internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (icMRCI) and single-configuration coupled-cluster (CC) methods with correlation-consistent basis sets at the levels of attainable accuracy. Changes in the pσ and pπ atomic orbital populations were used to rationalize the differences between the N EFG tensor components related to the nitroso compound and separate nitric oxide. Calculated ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants were found in reasonable accord with experimental values. Comparison of electric dipole moments and potential energy characteristics with external values served to testify to good overall quality of the wave functions used in our calculations.     

Study of HCl clusters in helium nanodroplets: experiments and ab initio calculations as stepping stones from gas phase to bulk

Presented here are the results of the joint theoretical and infrared laser spectroscopic study of the hydrogen chloride monomer and clusters, (HCl)n (n=1-6), isolated in helium nanodroplets. The H-Cl stretching bands of the dimers and trimers show a large increase in the band intensity as well as low frequency shift with respect to that in a single HCl molecule. The average frequency of the bands for clusters larger than trimers remains approximately constant, which correlates well with the onset of the folded cyclic structure and the full development of the hydrogen bonding in larger clusters. The structure of the clusters was found to be cyclic planar for trimers, slightly twisted square planar for tetramers, envelope-like for pentamers, and folded pseudobipyramidal for hexamers. This change in structure upon an increase of the cluster size can be seen as an early stage of the structural transition to the HCl solid, which consists of zigzag chains of HCl molecules. Spectra of large clusters of about 500 molecules consist of a single band, which encompasses the same frequency range of trimers through hexamers.     

High-resolution HeI and HeII photoelectron spectra of the Zn 3d and Cd 4d orbitals in the zinc and cadmium dihalides: Ligand field splittings and intensity variations

We have recorded the high-resolution HeI and HeII photoelectron spectra of the Zn 3d and Cd 4d levels in gas-phase MX₂ molecules (M = Zn, Cd; X = Cl, Br, I). The d level spectra split into five peaks due to the combined effect of spin-orbit splitting and ligand field splitting on the d⁹ hole state, and the spectra have been fitted to a crystal field hamiltonian involving the cubic (C₄⁰) and non-cubic (C₂⁰) parts of the field from the halide ligands. Additional peaks in some spectra are due to vibrational splitting and configuration interaction. The ¦C₂⁰¦ value increases substantially from the chloride to the iodide for both Zn and Cd. Calculations of both the crystal field (C_{2 CF}⁰) and valence (C_{2 val}⁰) parts of C₂⁰ show that the increase in observed C₂⁰ is due to the C_{2 val}⁰ term attributed to the increase in covalency from the chlorides to the iodides. Shifts in the peak position due to the 2Σ_{$\text{1}\text{2 g}$} and 1Π_{$\text{3}\text{2 g}$} states from those expected on the ligand field basis. are attributed to slight bonding effects. These effecs cause a large discrepancy between calculated and observed C₄⁰ values. The intensities of the five Zn 3d peaks change markedly from HeI- to HeII-excited spectra. The Xα SW method has been used to calculate the intensities of the σ, π and δ 3d orbitals as a function of photon energy. These calculations show dramatic changes in intensity due. for example. to shape resonances. There is usually qualitative agreement between calculated and observed intensities.