Does a molecule have structure?

The classical model of the molecule assumes that it has a definite shape and structure like a mechanical object in the world of possible experience. This study deals with this assumption so as to shed some light on the foundations of the model. Arguments based on Kant’s theory of transcendental idealism suggest that neither shape nor structure are attributes of the molecule, but are rather contributions of the subject. This claim has great relevance to the questions of (1) whether or not a quantum treatment of the molecule can derive structure without recourse to any approximation, and (2) the possible existence of emergence and downward causation. The answer to the first question is in the negative, and to the second is that agnosticism is the only possible attitude to have toward this problem. We are creatures who can only imagine what is going on by observing phenomena. All that is accessible to us is the modal structure of the model. The causal structure of the real system is not. From the same point of view and taking the concept of the affordance into account, the adequacy of the concept of molecular structure will be argued. The point is to specify what objects the concept can legitimately be applied to. Also briefly discussed in relation to shape and structure is the idea that molecular chirality might be a probe to reveal the nature of space.     

CF3CH3 --> HF + CF2CH2: a non-RRKM reaction?

The experimental shock tube data recently reported by Kiefer et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 2443-2450] for the title reaction at temperatures between 1600 and 2400 K have been compared to master equation simulations using three models: (a) standard RRKM theory, (b) RRKM theory modified by local random matrix theory, which introduces dynamical corrections arising from slow intramolecular vibrational energy randomization, and (c) an ad hoc empirical non-RRKM model. Only the third model provides a good fit of the Kiefer et al. unimolecular reaction rate data. In separate simulations, all three models accurately reproduce the experimental 300 K chemical activation data of Marcoux and Setser [J. Phys. Chem. 1978, 82, 97-108] when the energy transfer parameters are freely varied to fit the data. When experimental energy transfer parameters for a geometrical isomer (1,1,2-trifluoroethane) are used, the standard RRKM model fits the chemical activation data better than the other models, but if energy transfer in the 1,1,1-trifluoroethane is significantly reduced in comparison to the 1,1,2 isomer, then the empirical ad hoc non-RRKM model also gives a good fit. While the ad hoc empirical non-RRKM model can be made to fit the data, it is not based on theory, and we argue that it is physically unrealistic. We also show that the master equation simulations can mimic the Kiefer et al. vibrational relaxation data, which was the first shock tube observation of double-exponential relaxation. We conclude that, until more data on the trifluoroethanes become available, the current evidence is insufficient to decide with confidence whether non-RRKM effects are important in this reaction, or whether the Kiefer et al. data can be explained in some other way.     

Why Does the Intramolecular Trimethylene‐Bridged Frustrated Lewis Pair Mes2PCH2CH2CH2B(C6F5)2 Not Activate Dihydrogen?

The methyl labelled C₃‐bridged frustrated phosphane borane Lewis pair (P/B FLP) 2 b was prepared by treatment of Mes₂PCl with a methallyl Grignard reagent followed by anti‐Markovnikov hydroboration with Piers’ borane [HB(C₆F₅)₂)]. The FLP 2 b is inactive toward dihydrogen under typical ambient conditions, in contrast to the C₂‐ and C₄‐bridged FLP analogues. Dynamic NMR spectroscopy showed that this was not due to kinetically hindered P???B dissociation of 2 b . DFT calculations showed that the hydrogen‐splitting reaction of the parent compound 2 a is markedly endergonic. The PH⁺/BH^? H₂‐splitting product of 2 b was indirectly synthesized by a sequence of H⁺/H^? addition. It lost H₂ at ambient conditions and confirmed the result of the DFT analysis.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of [MoH3(CCBut)(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)2], a trihydrido-alkynyl complex

Reaction of Bu^tCCH with trans-[Mo(N₂)₂(dppe)₂] (dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) gives [MoH₃(CCBu^t)(dppe)₂], whose X-ray structure is reported.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Cs2[(UO2)2(C2O4)3] and Cs2[UO2(C3H2O4)2] · H2O

Cs₂[(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₃] (I) and Cs₂[UO₂(C₃H₂O₄)₂] · H₂O (II) have been synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction. The crystals of complexes I and II are monoclinic: a = 8.1453(2) Å, b = 8.9831(2) Å, c = 11.3897(4) Å, β = 104.0950(10)°, V = 808.29(4) ų, space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, and R ₁ = 0.0255 for I and a = 9.6998(2) Å, b = 17.8686(3) Å, c = 8.2074(2) Å, β = 97.5780(10)°, V = 1410.10(5) ų, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0287 for II. The uranium-containing structural units of complexes I and II are [(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₃]^2? chains and [UO₂(C₃H₂O₄)₂] ₂ ^4? dimers, which belong to the AK _0.5 ⁰² T¹¹ and AT¹¹B⁰¹ crystallochemical groups (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , K⁰² and T¹¹ = C₂O ₄ ^2? , T¹¹ and B⁰¹ = C₃H₂O ₄ ^2? ) of uranyl complexes.     

[C5H4C(CH3)2CH2CH=CH2]Sm(OH)Cl·2MgCl2·4THF的晶体结构分析

用Ｘ－射线晶体结构衍射法测定了［Ｃ５Ｈ４Ｃ（ＣＨ３）２ＣＨ２ＣＨ＝ＣＨ２］Ｓｍ（ＯＨ）Ｃｌ·２ＭｇＣｌ２·４ＴＨＦ的晶体结构。它属三斜晶系,空间群为Ｐ＾－１,ａ＝１０．７７３（２）,ｂ＝１２．８３６（３）,ｃ＝１５．４７８（３）Ａ,ａ＝１１１．４６（３）,β＝１０７．７１（３）,γ＝９２．５４（３）°,Ｖ＝１８６８（１）Ａ＾３,Ｍｒ＝８２７．９１,Ｄｘ＝１．４７２ｇ／ｃｍ＾３,μ＝２．０００６ｍｍ     

Hydrothermal synthesis of a mixed-valence hexamolybdate cluster: crystal structure of [HN(CH2CH2)3N]2[HMoVMoVI5O19]·[N(CH2CH2)3N]

The hydrothermal reaction of MoO₃, V, Na₂WO₄· 2H₂O, [N(CH₂CH₂)₃N](1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] octane), and H₂O at 160°C for 90h gave dark-brown crystals of [HN(CH₂CH₂)₃N]₂[HMo^VMo^VI ₅O¹⁹]·[N(CH₂CH₂)₃N], (1), in 40% yield. Complex (1) is the first one-electron reduced mixed-valence hexamolybdate to be crystallized and structurally characterized. The crystal structure of (1) consists of discrete [HMo^VMo^VI ₅O₁₉]^2– anions, [HN-(CH₂CH₂)₃N]⁺ cations, and neutral [N(CH₂CH₂)₃N] molecules of crystallization.     

Which do endohedral Ti2C80 metallofullerenes prefer energetically: Ti2@C80 or Ti2C2@C78? A theoretical study

Four possible isomers of the Ti2C80 metallofullerene are discussed in detail at the B3LYP DFT level of theory: two isomers in Ti2@C80 formula with two Ti atoms encapsulated inside a C80 cage and the other two in Ti2C2@C78 formula with a Ti2C2 cluster involved inside a C78 cage. In the encaged Ti2C2 cluster, there are end-on and side-on C2 bridging modes into the two Ti atoms. The optimized end-on cluster has a linear Ti-C-C-Ti array, whereas the side-on cluster has a butterfly-like structure where the two Ti atoms and the C2 unit do not lie in a plane. DFT calculations show that the Ti2C2@C78 molecule with the end-on Ti2C2 cluster is energetically most favorable in the four isomers. Stabilities of the Ti2C80 molecules are essentially dominated by Ti binding sites inside fullerene cages. The Ti atoms bind over the hexagon rings in preference to a junction between hexagon and pentagon rings. In the Ti2C2@C78 molecules, orbital interactions between the Ti2C2 cluster and the outer cage play a significant role in determining the C2 bridging modes into the dititanium center and their relative stabilities.     

Crystal structure,DSC and Raman studies in CH3C6H4NH(CH3)2·SbCl4

The salt para methyl phenyl dimethyl ammonium tetrachloroantimonate (III) crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group Cc. The unit cell dimensions are: a=13.780(1) Å, b=14.943(2) Å, c=8.192(1) Å, β=113.39(1)°, with Z=4. The structure consists of ammonium cations and polynuclear anions in which distorted SbCl₅ square pyramids sharing a common Cl atom are held together in infinite chains parallel to the c axis. These chains are themselves interconnected by means of the NH⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. Differential scanning calorimetry study was carried out. The Raman of polycrystalline samples have been recorded at different temperatures between 77 and 300 K. A low-temperature phase transition at 230 K of order-disorder type was found.     

Intramolecular Rearrangements of >Si(O–C·=O)(CH2–CH3) and >Si(CH2–CH·–CH3)(CH2–CH3) Radicals

Using ESR and IR spectroscopy, the structures of >Si(O–C^·=O)(CH₂–CH₃) (1) and >Si(CH₂–CH^·–CH₃)(CH₂–CH₃) (2) radicals were deciphered. The directions and kinetic parameters of reactions of intramolecular rearrangements in these radicals were determined. The reactions of hydrogen atom abstraction in radical (1) from the CH₂ and CH₃ groups were studied. It was found that the endothermic reaction of hydrogen atom abstraction from the methyl group occurs at a higher rate than the exothermic reaction with the methylene group. The differences are determined by changes in the size of a cyclic transition state. Based on the experimental data, the strengths of separate C–H bonds in surface fragments are compared. The rearrangement >Si(CH₂–CH^·–CH₃)(CH₂–CH₃) >Si(C^·(CH₃)₂)(CH₂–CH₃) was discovered and its mechanism was determined. One of its steps is the skeletal isomerization Si- (2)- _. (1)Si- (1)- _. (2). Experimental data are analyzed using the results of quantum-chemical calculations of model systems.     

Thermochemistry and kinetics of the 2-butanone-4-yl CH3C(=O)CH2CH2• + O2 reaction system

Thermochemistry and kinetic pathways on the 2-butanone-4-yl (CH₃C(=O)CH₂CH₂•) + O₂ reaction system are determined. Standard enthalpies, entropies, and heat capacities are evaluated using the G3MP2B3, G3, G3MP3, CBS-QB3 ab initio methods, and the B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) density functional calculation method. The CH₃C(=O)CH₂CH₂• radical + O₂ association reaction forms a chemically activated peroxy radical with 35 kcal mol⁻¹ excess of energy. The chemically activated adduct can undergo RO−O bond dissociation, rearrangement via intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions to form hydroperoxide-alkyl radicals, or eliminate HO₂ and OH. The hydroperoxide-alkyl radical intermediates can undergo further reactions forming ketones, cyclic ethers, OH radicals, ketene, formaldehyde, or oxiranes. A relatively new path showing a low barrier and resulting in reactive product sets involves peroxy radical attack on a carbonyl carbon atom in a cyclic transition state structure. It is shown to be important in ketones when the cyclic transition state has five or more central atoms.     

加成产物HC60[CH2C(CH3)=CH2]的电子结构和UV谱

用INDO方法研究C60与2-甲基烯丙基氯化镁的加成产物HC60[CH2C(CH3)=CH2]的两种异构体的结构和UV谱, 表明1,2-加成产物具有Cs对称性, 1,4-加成产物具有C1对称性, 且前者比后者总能量低, 因而更易于形成。产物中2-甲基烯丙基与C60之间靠极性共价键连接, 并发生前者向后者的电子转移。以此优化构型为基础, 计算两种产物异构体的UV谱, 与实验值一致。同时对电子跃迁进行理论指认, 讨论了产物UV谱带红移的原因。     

C2v对称性簇Ru2N2的理论计算

采用密度泛函(B3LYP)方法计算了Ru2的部分低能电子组态，得到Ru2基态的电子谱项为7Δu，平衡核间距re=0.228 nm，振动频率ωe=338 cm－1，离解能De=1.92 eV. 同时计算了具有C2v对称性的Ru2N2簇中氮的活化情况，得到了各个优化几何构型下的键参数和体系能量.计算结果表明，氮氮键的活化程度由Ru2对氮起反馈作用的轨道数目决定.一般来说，氮氮键活化越强，体系能量越高，在相同的活化程度下，自旋多重度高的体系较稳定.     

Are 1,5-disubstituted semibullvalenes that have C2v equilibrium geometries necessarily bishomoaromatic?

Unrestricted density functional theory (UB3LYP), CASSCF, and CASPT2 calculations have been employed to compute the relative energies of the C(s) and C(2v) geometries of several 1,5-disubstituted semibullvalenes. Substitution at these positions with R = F, -CH(2)-, or -O- affords semibullvalenes that are predicted to have C(2v) equilibrium geometries. Calculated singlet-triplet energy splittings and the energies of isodesmic reactions are used to assess the amount of bishomoaromatic character at these geometries. The results of these calculations show that employing strain to destabilize the C(s) geometries of semibullvalenes can lead to a significant decrease in the amount of bishomoaromatic stabilization of the C(2v) geometries, due to reduced through-space interaction between the two allyl groups. However, the C(2v) equilibrium geometries of the 1,5-disubstituted semibullvalenes with R = F and -RR- = -O- do benefit from stabilizing through-bond interactions between the two allyl groups. These interactions involve mixing of the bisallyl HOMO with the low-lying C-F or C-O sigma orbital combinations of the same symmetry. In contrast, for -RR- = -CH(2)-, through-bond interactions destabilize the bisallyl HOMO and are predicted to make the ground state of this semibullvalene a triplet.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Cs7[BW12O40][Rh2(CH3COO)4Cl]2 · 8H2O

The binary salt Cs₇[BW₁₂O₄₀][Rh₂(CH₃COO)₄Cl]₂ · 8H₂O was obtained by heating of K₈[HBW₁₁O₃₉] · 13H₂O with [Rh₂(CH₃COO)₄(H₂O)₂] in water followed by crystallization in the presence of CsCl. The crystal structure of the salt was determined by X-ray diffraction. Its ionic structure consists of the Cs⁺ cations, the Keggin-type heteropoly anions [BW₁₂O₄₀]^5?, and the polymeric chain anions catena-[Rh₂(CH₃COO)₄Cl] _n ^n? .     

A structural chemistry practitioner: a fox rather than a hedgehog. Reversibility of Friedel–Crafts acyl rearrangements

Structural Chemistry - A retrospective review of reversibility revealed in Friedel–Crafts acyl rearrangements of polycyclic aromatic ketones derived from the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons...