Wavelength-independent ultrafast dynamics and coherent oscillation of a metal–carbon stretch vibration in photodissociation of Cr(CO)6 in the region of 270–345 nm

In the group-6 metal hexacarbonyls a number of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and ligand-field (LF or d → d) states can be excited in the near UV. The latter are repulsive. In equilibrium geometry, most of them are higher than the MLCT states. We probed the dynamics of photodissociation of M(CO)₆ → M(CO)₅ + CO (M = Cr; some data also for M = Mo) with improved time resolution (10–40 fs), pumping at different wavelengths (mainly 270–345 nm) and probing by nonresonant photoionization. The initial relaxation (e.g. within 12.5 fs from T_1u excited at 270 nm) is assigned to direct crossing over to the repulsive surface, from where the subsequent dissociation is also remarkably fast (18 fs in this example). That is, there is no detour via the lowest excited singlet state, in contrast to the usual assumption. Also with 318 and 345 nm excitation a direct MLCT → LF relaxation seems to occur before dissociation. The product M(CO)₅ is generated in the S₁ state, also at pump wavelengths (345 nm) with barely sufficient energy. It relaxes to S₀ through a Jahn–Teller induced conical intersection along pseudorotation coordinates, which stimulates a coherent oscillation in S₀ in this vibration. A higher-frequency oscillation, assigned to totally symmetric MC stretch vibrations, is already found in the Franck–Condon region; it persists (with different wavenumbers) also during dissociation and over the subsequent product states. This vibration is transverse to the valley of dissociation, which is barrierless. The wavelength-independent mechanism also implies that there is no triplet contribution (which was previously supposed at long wavelengths) to photochemical dissociation of the hexacarbonyls.     

Solvent-mediated tautomerization of purine: single to quadruple proton transfer

We present calculations for the structures and the tautomerization reaction of purine and purine – (H₂O)_n (n=1–3) clusters. We find two pathways (via the carbene and the sp³-type intermediate) for the 9 ↔ 7 tautomerization of bare purine. The barrier heights for the 9 → 3 and 9 → 7 tautomerization of bare purine are calculated to be large (60–70 kcal/mol). Hydrogen bonding with the water molecule(s), however, dramatically lowers the 9 → 3 barrier by the concerted multiple proton transfer mechanism, favoring the formation of the conformer 3(H)- relative to the 7(H)-purine in the microsolvated environment, in contrast to the gas phase or the aqueous solution.     

Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) studies of 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxy diimides in terms of CASSCF method and FC theory

The electronic and geometrical structures of the low-energy states of 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride parent diimide (1) are studied in terms of the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method employed at different level with respect to the size and the quality of the active space. In the framework of the vibronic model based on the Franck–Condon (FC) effect the absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra are studied in the excitation region corresponding to two low-energy 1¹A_g → 1¹B_2u and 1¹A_g → 1¹B_3u electronic transitions in diimides. In that (visible) excitation region the CASSCF computations with the 5π[4n]5π active space (i.e., the naphthalene-like π orbitals enriched by the four lone pair orbitals of the oxygen atoms) were found to reproduce very well the empirical absorption and the MCD spectra measured for the dicyclohexyl-N,N^′-substituted diimide (2). At the same CASSCF/5π[4n]5π level, the electronic absorption of diimides in the near UV excitation region were attributed to the 1¹A_g → 2¹B_1u, 1¹A_g → 2¹B_3u and 1¹A_g → 2¹B_2u electronic transitions; the latter two are mostly localized on the “diimide chromophore”. For these transitions the calculated magneto-optical characteristics, such as sign pattern and intensity distribution in the MCD spectrum, were found to be consistent with that experimentally observed for the diimide 2 compound.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the electronic structure of methyl chloroformate and methyl cyanoformate

The HeI photoelectron spectra of methyl chloroformate (CH₃OC(O)Cl) and methyl cyanoformate (CH₃OC(O)CN) in the gas phase have been obtained for the first time. A complete theoretical study involving the calculation of the ionization energies using outer valence Green’s functional (OVGF) was performed, based on the calculated and previously reported energetically favorable cis-conformer (the carbonyl group eclipses the methyl group). Calculations of cationic-radical forms were carried out in order to interpret the main characters of the first six highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs). The first vertical ionization potentials are 11.36 eV for CH₃OC(O)Cl and 11.65 eV for CH₃OC(O)CN, each attributed to {19a′(n_O(CO), n_Cl)}⁻¹ and {18a′(n_O(CO))}⁻¹, respectively.     

Treanor pumping of CO initiated by CO laser excitation

An experiment is discussed in which CO can be excited up to energies of several electronvolts by the absorption of infrared radiation from a relatively low-power CO laser. Furthermore, experimental results are examined through kinetic modelling. In the experiment, the beam of an intracavity-chopped CO laser operating on all lines at 500 mW and containing a few milliwatts of the fundamental ν= 1→0 band component, is focused into an absorption cell containing a mixture of CO and Ar. The absorption of this infrared radiation is monitored by the optoacoustic effect. A second CO laser operating cw and capable of providing 8 W on all lines but not lasing on the ν= 1→0 band component, is then focused into the same volume in the absorption cell. With both lasers simultaneously focused into the absorption cell, strong fluorescence from the irradiated region is detected by a photomultiplier tube. Modulation of the signal intensity with time is observed, and indicates chemical destruction of the CO in the cell. An analysis and kinetic modelling calculation of this experiment shows that it is possible to excite CO up to high vibrational quantum numbers (ν40) at gas temperatures up to 800 K. by means of CO laser irradiation at the fundamental ν= 1→0 band component. One source responsible for the fluorescence signal observed in the experiment is identified as the 4th positive A ¹Π→X ¹Σ⁺ spontaneous emission. Although the present kinetic model does not incorporate the chemical processes that may lead to the production of additional fluorescing species such as C₂, good agreement is obtained with the observed fluorescence signal characteristics.     

In situ observation of the pressure-induced mesophase for 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid

In situ observation of the optical texture, and X-ray patterns of the pressure-induced mesophase seen for 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-16) was performed under hydrostatic pressures up to 100MPa using a polarizing optical microscope equipped with a high pressure hot stage and a wide angle X-ray diffractometer equipped with a high pressure vessel respectively. It was found that the pressure-induced mesophase (hereafter refered to as 'X') appeared at pressures above 60 MPa, and exhibits a birefringent broken-fan or a sand-like texture that remain unaltered in the SmC phase. The POM-transmitted light intensity curve measured on heating clearly showed the Cr₄ →Cr₁ →SmC →'X' →SmA →I transition sequence at 80 MPa. The optical texture and the POM-transmitted light intensity measured during a pressure cycle at 185°C showed a reversible change between the cubic and 'X' phases. The WAXD pattern of the 'X' phase showed a spot-like pattern, suggesting no layered structure for this phase, and also revealed a substantial decrease in the d-spacing of the low angle reflection at 80 and 100 MPa, compared with the d-spacings of the (0 0 1) reflection of the SmC phase and also the (2 1 1) reflection of the cubic phase. It is concluded from these data that the 'X' phase is a birefringent hexagonal columnar phase.     

Thermal study of the interaction of crystalline surfactant with water; The dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride-water system

Dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DOAC) was completely dehydrated under high vacuum and at a temperature above its transition temperature (96.7°C) which was first discovered by us. Thermoanalytical studies on DOAC-water systems indicate that two successive phase changes of coagel → gel and gel → liquid crystal appear due to the increasing structural disorders of polar head groups and hydrocarbon chains, respectively. Furthermore, it is revealed that three types of water exist, i.e., bound, intermediate and free. On the basis of a bilayer-lamellar structure model, a predominant role of the intermediate water in these transitions is pointed out.     

Influence of electronic and steric effects on stability constants and electrochemical reversibility of divalent ion complexes with glycine and sarcosine. A glass electrode potentiometric, sampled direct current polarographic, virtual potentiometric, and molecular modelling study

Cd^II complexes with glycine (gly) and sarcosine (sar) were studied by glass electrode potentiometry, direct current polarography, virtual potentiometry, and molecular modelling. The electrochemically reversible Cd^II–glycine–OH labile system was best described by a model consisting of M(HL), ML, ML₂, ML₃, ML(OH) and ML₂(OH) (M = Cd^II, L = gly) with the overall stability constants, as log β, determined to be 10.30 ± 0.05, 4.21 ± 0.03, 7.30 ± 0.05, 9.84 ± 0.04, 8.9 ± 0.1, and 10.75 ± 0.10, respectively. In case of the electrochemically quasi-reversible Cd^II–sarcosine–OH labile system, only ML, ML₂ and ML₃ (M = Cd^II, L = sar) were found and their stability constants, as log β, were determined to be 3.80 ± 0.03, 6.91 ± 0.07, and 8.9 ± 0.4, respectively. Stability constants for the ML complexes, the prime focus of this work, were thus established with an uncertainty smaller than 0.05 log units. The observed departure from electrochemical reversibility for the Cd–sarcosine–OH system was attributed mainly to the decrease in the transfer coefficient . The MM2 force field, supplemented by additional parameters, reproduced the reported crystal structures of diaqua-bis(glycinato-O,N)nickel(II) and fac-tri(glycinato)-nickelate(II) very well. These parameters were used to predict structures of all possible isomers of (i) [Ni(H₂O)₄(gly)]⁺ and [Ni(H₂O)₄(sar)]⁺; and (ii) [Ni(H₂O)₃(IDA)] and [Ni(H₂O)₃(MIDA)] (IDA = iminodiacetic acid, MIDA = N-methyl iminodiacetic acid) by molecular mechanics/simulated annealing methods. The change in strain energy, ΔU_str, that accompanies the substitution of one ligand by another (ML + L′ → ML′ + L), was computed and a strain energy ΔU_str = +0.28 kcal mol⁻¹ for the reaction [Ni(H₂O)₄(gly)]⁺ + sar → [Ni(H₂O)₄(sar)]⁺ + gly was found. This predicts the monoglycine complex to be marginally more stable. By contrast, for the reaction [Ni(H₂O)₃IDA] + MIDA → [Ni(H₂O)₃MIDA] + IDA, ΔU_str = −0.64 kcal mol⁻¹, and the monoMIDA complex is predicted to be more stable. This correlates well with (i) stability constants for Cd–gly and Cd–sar reported here; and (ii) known stability constants of ML complex for glycine, sarcosine, IDA, and MIDA.     

Time-dependent density functional study of the electronic spectra of oligoacenes in the charge states −1, 0, +1, and +2

We present a systematic theoretical study of the five smallest oligoacenes (naphthalene, anthracene, tetracene, pentacene, and hexacene) in their anionic, neutral, cationic, and dicationic charge states. We used density functional theory (DFT) to obtain the ground-state optimised geometries, and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) to evaluate the electronic absorption spectra. Total-energy differences enabled us to evaluate the electron affinities and first and second ionisation energies, the quasiparticle correction to the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and an estimate of the excitonic effects in the neutral molecules. Electronic absorption spectra have been computed by combining two different implementations of TD-DFT: the frequency–space method to study general trends as a function of charge-state and molecular size for the lowest-lying in-plane long-polarised and short-polarised π → π^* electronic transitions, and the real-time propagation scheme to obtain the whole photo-absorption cross-section up to the far-UV. Doubly ionised PAHs are found to display strong electronic transitions of π → π^* character in the near-IR, visible, and near-UV spectral ranges, like their singly charged counterparts. While, as expected, the broad plasmon-like structure with its maximum at about 17–18 eV is relatively insensitive to the charge-state of the molecule, a systematic decrease with increasing positive charge of the absorption cross-section between 6 and 12 eV is observed for each member of the class.     

Low energy charge-transfer collisions of rare gas dications: Ne + Ne and Kr + Kr

We report measurements of the double charge transfer reactions Ne²⁺ + Ne → Ne + Ne²⁺ and Kr²⁺ + Kr → Kr + Kr²⁺ at hyperthermal energies. At collision energies below 0.8 eV, the experimental results are well reproduced by the capture (Langevin) cross section multiplied by the factor 1/2. For the single charge transfer channel, Ne²⁺ + Ne → Ne⁺ + Ne⁺, our experiment suggests that the process has a very small cross section.     

Polymorphism of 2-nitroaniline studied by calorimetric (DSC), structural (X-ray diffraction) and spectroscopic (FT-IR, Raman, UV–Vis) methods

The separation and growth methods of three ortho-nitroaniline (o-NA) polymorphs were found. The irreversible character of the  → β and β → γ phase transitions was revealed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements and microscopic hot stage observations. The X-ray structure of the β-form was determined and compared with the γ phase structure solved by Daneshwar et al. [N.N. Daneshwar et al. Acta Crystallogr., Sect. B 34 (1978) 2507]. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding (intra H-bond) interactions are dominant in both structures. The IR and Raman spectral features of the solutions and of three polycrystalline o-NA polymorphs are specific for intramolecular resonance assisted H-bonds (RAHB’s). The DFT calculations facilitated the almost complete assignments of bands to normal vibrations and the analysis of the measured spectra. The manifestations of weak inter H-bonds in the β and γ crystals and in the vibrational spectra of all polymorphs are observed as well; the strongest inter H-bonds occur in the γ polymorph. The differences in lowest electronic transition energies of three , β and γ layers explain their different colours: the yellowish-green of the form and the orange ones of the β- and γ- phases. The least stable form is probably an amorphous one with the weakest inter H-bonds. The differences in relative orientations of the –NH₂, –NO₂ groups and phenyl rings in the β- and γ-phases indicate that the o-NA polymorphism has conformational character.     

Resonance Raman investigation and semiempirical calculations of the bis(dicyanomethylene)croconate ion

The assignments of the optical and vibrational spectra of bis(dicyano)croconate are proposed on the basis of the resonance Raman excitation profiles as well as semi-empirical calculations at the AM1 and PM3 levels. The absorption band at 532 nm is assigned to a π→π* transition, involving a molecular orbital delocalized over the pseudo-oxocarbon ring, whereas the one at 442 nm is assigned to a transition localized at the CN moieties. The calculation of the excitation profiles was performed using the transform method with a simple model of displaced harmonic oscillators, and in addition, the same model was used to reproduce the π→π* absorption bandshape within the time-dependent formalism.     

Kossel diagrams of blue phases

CB15/E9 mixtures submitted to an electric field exhibit a tetragonal phase BPX, having a D¹⁰₄(I4₁22) symmetry and two hexagonal phases BPH^3d and BPH^2d The Kossel diagram technique allows us (a) to confirm the hexagonal symmetry of BPH^3d and to determine precisely its space group D²₆ (P6₂22) and (b) to study the field-induced phase transitions between BP II, BPX and BPH^3d. We show that the BP II → BPH^3d transition is a continuous deformation involving a dilatation in the field direction and a shear perpendicular to this direction. The BP II → BPX and BPX → BPH^3d transitions are discontinuous.     

Synthesis and properties of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers containing a cholesteryl moiety

A series of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers having cholesteryl and 4-trans-(4-n-alkylcyclohexyl)phenoxy groups were synthesized by condensation of cholesteryl ω-bromoalkanoates with appropriate 4-trans-(4-n-alkylcyclohexyl)phenols. The structures and thermal phase behaviour of the dimers were characterized using IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Their thermal phase behaviour is significantly different to that of other cholesterol-based liquid crystal dimers. All of these liquid crystal dimers exhibit low phase transition temperatures. The relationships between their properties and chemical structures of these new dimers are discussed.     

The structure of intermediate products of ‘fragmentation’ of 10-bromodihydrocinchonine

10-Bromodihydrocinchonine 1d, similarly to analogical derivatives of other main cinchona alkaloids, transforms into nicinquine and isonicinquine 2d formally loosing its C2 carbon atom in a form of formaldehyde. This reaction was found to proceed via the so-far unstudied intermediate compounds (5a) 4-S-(Z-propenyl)- and (5 4-S-(E-propenyl)-6-R-7-S-(quinolyl-4)-8-oxa-1-R-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane which at the same time are products of a novel rearrangement of the parent cinchonine. The stereostructure of these compounds was determined using, mainly, NMR techniques. The energy minima of conformers 5 and 5a were supported by molecular mechanics calculations. The mechanisms for the 1d → 5 → 2d sequence have been discussed. The alkaloid 5 is sterically preferred to its Z-isomer. The accompanying nucleophilic substitution (1d → 6) and elimination (1d → 7) are also stereospecific.     

Hydrogen-atom production channels of acetaldehyde photodissociation: Direct DFT molecular dynamics study

Direct density-functional (DFT) molecular dynamics (MD) calculations have been carried out for the following two hydrogen-atom production channels in acetaldehyde photodissociation on the lowest triplet-state (T₁) potential energy surface (PES): CD₃CHO → CD₂CHO + D (1) and CD₃CHO → CD₃CO + H (2). The employed DFT method was B3LYP with the cc-pVDZ basis set. The average product hydrogen kinetic energies estimated from the results of the direct DFT MD calculations were 18.3 and 16.6 kcal mol⁻¹ for reactions 1 and 2, respectively, and these were half – two thirds of the previously measured values [T.Y. Kang, S.W. Kang, H.L. Kim, Chem. Phys. Lett. 434 (2007) 6]. This is because of the low reverse barrier heights predicted at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level. The present results for the product hydrogen kinetic energies, however, agree qualitatively with the experimental measurements and strongly supports the mechanisms taking place on the T₁ PES.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure determination of zinc (II) and mercury (II) complexes with 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole

The 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole ligand (1), (dm4bt), and its Zn and Hg complexes have been prepared. A conformational property calculation at the DFT level for the ligand shows the anti conformation is energetically more stable by about 22.83 kJ/mol and the rotational barrier is about 32.01 kJ/mol for the anti → syn conversion, a phenomena happening during complex formation. The complexes [Zn(dm4bt)Cl₂] (2) and [Hg(dm4bt)Cl₂] (3) have spectral properties typical for d¹⁰ metal diimine systems. The structures of the ligand and the two complexes have been determined by the single crystal diffraction method. The X-ray structure determinations show that both complexes are four coordinated by two chloride atoms and one bidentate dm4bt. In the Hg complex one of the two chlorides is set at a semi-bridging position.     

Synthesis, structures and reactivity of triosmium clusters containing terminal pyrazines, bridging hydroxy and methoxycarbonyl ligands

Four triosmium carbonyl clusters bearing terminal pyrazines, bridging hydroxy and methoxycarbonyl ligands of general formula [Os₃(CO)₉(μ-OH)(μ-OMeCO)L] (1, L = pyrazine; 2, L = 2-methylpyrazine; 3, L = 2,3-dimethylpyrazine; 4, L = 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine) were synthesized by the reactions of [Os₃(CO)₁₂] with the corresponding pyrazine derivatives and water in the presence of a methanolic solution of Me₃NO in moderate yields. Compounds [Os₃(CO)₉(μ-OH)(μ-OMeCO)L] react with a series of two electron donor ligands, L′ at ambient temperature to give [Os₃(CO)₉(μ-OH)(μ-OMeCO)L′] (5, L′ = PPh₃; 6, L′ = P(OMe)₃; 7, L′ = ^tBuNC; 8, L′ = C₅H₅N) in good yields by the displacement of the pyrazine ligands. This implies that the pyrazine ligands in 1–4 are relatively labile. Compounds 2, 3, 4, and 8 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. All the four compounds possess two metal–metal bonds and a non-bonded separation of two osmium atoms defined by Os(1)Os(3), which are simultaneously bridged by OH and MeOCO ligands and a heterocyclic ligand is terminally coordinated to one of the two non-bonded osmium atoms.     

Solvent effects on the excited state properties of 2-aminopurine—a theoretical study by the ONIOM and Supramolecular method

In this paper, the micro-solvated effects on the lowest-energy vertical transition state and adiabatic excited states of 2-aminopurine (2Ap) were studied by Supramolecular method (B3LYP/6-31++G(d)) and ONIOM (B3LYP/6-31++G(d):PM3) method. The results are as follows: (1) In 2Ap molecule surrounded by six water molecules the pyramidalization of amino group in 2Ap almost disappears, and the hex-atomic ring is obviously buckled. The adiabatic lowest-energy valence excitation of gaseous 2Ap also causes the disappearance of amino pyramidalization. (2) The energy for lowest-energy singlet π→π^* vertical transition in water is predicted as 3.99 and 4.29 eV by Supramolecular and ONIOM method, respectively. Both values are in good agreement with the reported experimental result, 4.11 eV. The energy for the second lowest-energy n→π^* transition, 4.72 eV, by the Supramolecular method is obviously deviated from the reported experimental value 4.46 eV. The corresponding value given by the two-layer ONIOM method, 4.43 eV, is in good agreement with the experimental value. (3) The optimized energy of the fluorescent emission state (S₁ state) are 3.61 and 3.87 eV by Supramolecular and ONIOM methods, respectively. The calculated oscillator strengths, in both gas and water clusters, were compared with reported experimental and theoretical results. These results indicated that both Supramolecular and ONIOM methods, combined with TD DFT B3LYP/6311++G(d), can provide good results of calculating excited state and spectra properties of 2Ap in condensed phase. This fact encouraged us to extend our study to 2Ap-T base pair and its solvated model so as to obtain the spectra properties of 2Ap in real DNA environment.     

First-principles study of the adsorption of formaldehyde on the clean and atomic oxygen covered Cu(1 1 1) surface

The interaction of formaldehyde with the clean and atomic oxygen-covered Cu(1 1 1) surfaces has been studied by means of cluster model density functional calculations in which Cu₂₂(14,8) is used to represent the perfect Cu(1 1 1) surface. The calculations point towards a η¹-H₂CO---O orientation with the oxygen atom almost on top of a copper surface atom. The formaldehyde adsorption energy is of 22–25 kJ/mol and the internal geometry of adsorbed formaldehyde is almost identical to that of the molecule in the gas-phase. The C---O bond is almost parallel to the surface and the conformation with the molecular plane normal to the surface is slightly preferred to the conformation with the molecular plane nearly parallel to the surface. A Cu₂₂---O model where atomic oxygen is adsorbed on a fcc hollow site was used to study the co-adsorption and reaction of formaldehyde with atomic oxygen. Oxygen co-adsorption has a dramatic effect on the formaldehyde adsorption energy which is increased by 50%. The calculated energy barrier for the formation of the dioxymethylene intermediate species through the H₂CO+O→H₂CO₂ reaction is of 36 kJ/mol.