Investigation of the low-frequency vibrations of crystalline tartaric acid using terahertz spectroscopy and solid-state density functional theory

The room temperature and cryogenic terahertz (THz) spectra (10-95 cm(-1)) of l-tartaric acid and dl-tartaric acid were investigated. At 293 K, the l-tartaric acid spectrum showed four absorption features at 36.4, 61.6, 78.7, and 87.3 cm(-1) in the experimental spectrum. Once cooled to 78 K, these features narrowed and shifted to 35.9, 63.4, 81.1, and 90.1 cm(-1). The THz spectrum of dl-tartaric acid is significantly different, containing only a single absorption at 79.9 cm(-1) at room temperature, which shifts to 82.9 cm(-1) at 78 K. Solid-state density functional theory calculations [B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p)] were performed to simulate the crystalline structure of both molecular solids and to assign the observed spectral features to specific atomic motions. The THz spectrum of l-tartaric acid is particularly interesting in that it contains a theoretically unaccounted for spectral feature that may arise from second-order phonon processes and also exhibits an anomalous red-shifting absorption feature with cooling that is shown to originate from negative thermal expansion of the crystal.     

Terahertz absorption spectra of some saccharides and their metal complexes

In this work, THz absorption spectra of some saccharides and their metal complexes were measured. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the M-O vibrations, intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds and other vibrations in the FIR region using powerful spectroscopic techniques adopting the metal-sugar complexes prepared in our laboratory. The M-O vibrations in the FIR spectra of metal-sugar complexes indicate the formation of metal complexes. The THz spectrum of glucose below 100cm(-1) was measured at first to confirm the THz experimental method. Characteristic absorption bands in the spectra of various samples are observed. THz spectra of saccharides below 100cm(-1) often have several absorption bands, and different saccharides have various absorption peaks in the THz region, which may be used to distinguish different saccharides. The differences in the number of bands observed are related to different structures of the samples, and these absorption bands are related to the collective motion of molecules. But the THz spectra of their metal complexes are different from the ligands, and no band appears in the region below 50cm(-1) at the present experimental condition, which indicates that THz spectroscopy may also be helpful to identify the formation of metal-sugar complexes, and the changes after complexation in the THz spectra below 100cm(-1) may be related to different metal ions. The metal-sugar complexes with similar crystal structures resemble mid-IR spectra, but their THz spectra may have some differences.     

Theoretical analysis of the terahertz spectrum of the high explosive PETN.

The experimental solid-state terahertz (THz) spectrum (3 to 120 cm(-1)) of the high explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, C(5)H(6)N(4)O(12)) has been modeled using solid-state density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Solid-state DFT, employing the BP density functional, is in best qualitative agreement with the features in the previously reported THz spectrum. The crystal environment of PETN includes numerous intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions that contribute to large (up to 80 cm(-1)) calculated shifts in molecular normal-mode positions in the solid state. Comparison of the isolated-molecule and solid-state normal-mode calculations for a series of density functionals reveals the extent to which the inclusion of crystal-packing interactions and the relative motions between molecules are required for correctly reproducing the vibrational structure of solid-state THz spectra. The THz structure below 120 cm(-1) is a combination of both intermolecular (relative rotations and translations) and intramolecular (torsions, large amplitude motions) vibrational motions. Vibrational-mode analyses indicate that the first major feature (67.2 cm(-1)) in the PETN THz spectrum contains all of the optical rotational and translational cell modes and no internal (molecular) vibrational modes.     

Atmospheric chemistry of 2,3-pentanedione: photolysis and reaction with OH radicals

The kinetics of the overall reaction between OH radicals and 2,3-pentanedione (1) were studied using both direct and relative kinetic methods at laboratory temperature. The low pressure fast discharge flow experiments coupled with resonance fluorescence detection of OH provided the direct rate coefficient of (2.25 ± 0.44) × 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The relative-rate experiments were carried out both in a collapsible Teflon chamber and a Pyrex reactor in two laboratories using different reference reactions to provide the rate coefficients of 1.95 ± 0.27, 1.95 ± 0.34, and 2.06 ± 0.34, all given in 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The recommended value is the nonweighted average of the four determinations: k(1) (300 K) = (2.09 ± 0.38) × 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), given with 2σ accuracy. Absorption cross sections for 2,3-pentanedione were determined: the spectrum is characterized by two wide absorption bands between 220 and 450 nm. Pulsed laser photolysis at 351 nm was used and the depletion of 2,3-pentanedione (2) was measured by GC to determine the photolysis quantum yield of Φ(2) = 0.11 ± 0.02(2σ) at 300 K and 1000 mbar synthetic air. An upper limit was estimated for the effective quantum yield of 2,3-pentanedione applying fluorescent lamps with peak wavelength of 312 nm. Relationships between molecular structure and OH reactivity, as well as the atmospheric fate of 2,3-pentanedione, have been discussed.     

Experimental and quantum chemical study on the IR, UV and electrode potential of 6-(2,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2-phenyl-1H-inden-2-yl)-2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde

Electrode potential of 6-(2,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2-phenyl-1H-inden-2-yl)-2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (DPDB) in methanol have been calculated theoretically. For the achievement of this task, the density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) was employed with the inclusion of the entropic and thermochemical corrections to yield the free energies of the redox reactions. The electrode potential was also obtained experimentally by means of an electrochemical technique (cyclic voltammetry). The geometric parameters, the vibrational frequency values and the UV spectrum of DPDB and 2-(2,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2-phenyl-1H-inden-2-yl)-5,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,3-dienecarbaldehyde (DPDD is the oxidized form of DPDB), were computed using the same methods. The calculated IR spectrum of DPDB, used for the assignment of the IR frequencies, was observed in the experimental FT-IR spectrum. The correlation between the theoretical and experimental DPDB vibrational frequencies was 0.996. This agreement mutually verified the accuracy of the experimental method and the validity of the applied mathematical model.     

Substituent Effects on the Low-Frequency Vibrational Modes of Benzoic Acid and Related Compounds

Well-resolved absorption spectra of benzoic acid and its derivatives with one hydrogen atom replaced by a substituent group CH3, OH, NH2 or NO2 were reported in the frequency region between 6 and 67 cm^-1 at room temperature with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy （THz-TDS）. These substances can be distinguished easily based on the terahertz absorption spectra. The measurements suggested that even minor changes in the molecular configuration and chemical composition lead to distinct differences in THz spectrum. Density functional theory （DFT） method was used to assist the analysis and assignment of the individual THz absorption spectra of benzoic acid and its methyl derivatives. Observed THz responses of samples can be assigned to the collective vibrations associated with intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Investigation of (1R,2S)‐(−)‐Ephedrine by Cryogenic Terahertz Spectroscopy and Solid‐State Density Functional Theory

The terahertz (THz) spectrum of the pharmaceutical (1R,2S)‐(?)‐ephedrine from 8.0 to 100.0 cm^?1 is investigated at liquid‐nitrogen (78.4 K) temperature. The spectrum exhibits several distinct features in this range that are characteristic of the crystal form of the compound. A complete structural analysis and vibrational assignment of the experimental spectrum is performed using solid‐state density functional theory (DFT) and cryogenic single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Theoretical modeling of the compound includes an array of density functionals and basis sets with the final assignment of the THz spectrum performed at a PW91/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory, which provides excellent solid‐state simulation agreement with experiment. The solid‐state analysis indicates that the seven experimental spectral features observed at low temperature consist of 13 IR‐active vibrational modes. Of these modes, nine are external crystal vibrations and provide approximately 57 % of the predicted spectral intensity. This study demonstrates that the THz spectra of complex pharmaceuticals may be well reproduced by solid‐state DFT calculations and that inclusion of the crystalline environment is necessary for realistic and accurate simulations.     

Vibrational spectroscopy (FT-IR and FT-Raman) investigation, and hybrid computational (HF and DFT) analysis on the structure of 2,3-naphthalenediol

The FT-IR and FT-Raman vibrational spectra of 2,3-naphthalenediol (C(10)H(8)O(2)) have been recorded using Bruker IFS 66V spectrometer in the range of 4000-100 cm(-1) in solid phase. A detailed vibrational spectral analysis has been carried out and the assignments of the observed fundamental bands have been proposed on the basis of peak positions and relative intensities. The optimized molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies in the ground state are calculated by using the ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and DFT (LSDA and B3LYP) methods with 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets. There are three conformers, C1, C2 and C3 for this molecule. The computational results diagnose the most stable conformer of title molecule as the C1 form. The isotropic computational analysis showed good agreement with the experimental observations. Comparison of the fundamental vibrational frequencies with calculated results by HF and DFT methods. Comparison of the simulated spectra provides important information about the capability of computational method to describe the vibrational modes. A study on the electronic properties, such as absorption wavelengths, excitation energy, dipole moment and Frontier molecular orbital energies, are performed by time dependent DFT approach. The electronic structure and the assignment of the absorption bands in the electronic spectra of steady compounds are discussed. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. On the basis of the thermodynamic properties of the title compound at different temperatures have been calculated. The statistical thermodynamic properties (standard heat capacities, standard entropies, and standard enthalpy changes) and their correlations with temperature have been obtained from the theoretical vibrations.     

Solid-state density functional theory investigation of the terahertz spectra of the structural isomers 1,2-dicyanobenzene and 1,3-dicyanobenzene

The high-resolution waveguide terahertz (THz) time-domain spectra (20-100 cm(-1)) of the two structural isomers 1,2-dicyanobenzene (1,2-DCB) and 1,3-dicyanobenzene (1,3-DCB) have been modeled and assigned using solid-state density functional theory. The THz spectra of these similar molecules are distinctly different in the low-frequency region with the differences being driven by modifications of the crystal packing arrangement between the isomers. Simulations utilizing the hybrid density functionals B3LYP and PBE0 were performed to determine the origins of the observed vibrational features. External lattice vibrations (hindered translations and rotations) are found to dominate these spectra, reinforcing the need for proper solid-state models in the analysis of the THz spectra of organic molecular solids. These calculations were able to account for all of the observed spectral features exhibited by both isomers, even in the case of 1,2-DCB, where the spectrum was found to be the result of two coexisting crystalline polymorphs.     

Spectroscopic analysis of 2-(2,3-dihydro-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-ylimino)-2-(4-nitro-phenyl) acetonitrile

The optimized geometry and vibrational frequencies of 2-(2,3-dihydro-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-ylimino)-2-(4-nitro-phenyl) acetonitrile (DOPNA) were obtained by ab initio DFT/B3LYP level with complete relaxation in the potential energy surface using 6-31G and 6-311G basis sets. The Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum of DOPNA has been recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1). The harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated and the scaled values have been compared with experimental FT-IR spectrum. The calculated frequencies are in comparable agreement with the experimental frequencies. The calculated energy span between the HOMO and the LUMO of DOPNA is 2.94 and 2.87eV by B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP/6-311G, respectively.     

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of 2,3-difluorobenzoic acid and 2,4-difluorobenzoic acid with experimental techniques and quantum chemical calculations

In this study, the molecular conformation, vibrational and electronic transition analysis of 2,3-difluorobenzoic acid and 2,4-difluorobenzoic acid (C7H4F2O2) were presented using experimental techniques (FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV) and quantum chemical calculations. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra in solid state were recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) and 4000-5 cm(-1), respectively. The UV absorption spectra of the compounds that dissolved in ethanol were recorded in the range of 200-800 nm. The structural properties of the molecules in the ground state were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and second order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) employing 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Optimized structure of compounds was interpreted and compared with the earlier reported experimental values. The scaled vibrational wavenumbers were compared with experimental results. The complete assignments were performed on the basis of the experimental data and total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method. A study on the electronic properties, such as absorption wavelength, excitation energy, dipole moment and frontier molecular orbital energy, were performed by time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach. Based on the UV spectra and TD-DFT calculations, the electronic structure and the assignments of the absorption bands of steady compounds were discussed. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs within the molecules.     

振磨降解制备的低分子量聚氯乙烯形态结构的研究

本文首次通过ＦＴＩＲ和扫描电镜等手段研究了振磨作用对聚氯乙烯（ＰＶＣ）颗粒尺寸、微晶结构、表现密度和增塑剂吸收量的影响。结果表明，该聚合物位于６３５ｃｍ＾－１处结晶吸收谱带的强度随振磨时间的增加而降低，逐步趋于消失。随振磨时间的增加，ＰＶＣ的颗粒尺寸减小，比表面积增加，增塑剂的吸收量增加。通过振磨可以制得用一般化学方法难于制得的超细、低微量含量、易于加工的较低分子量ＰＶＣ。     

Spectroscopic (FTIR and FT Raman) analysis and vibrational study on 2,3-dimethyl naphthalene using ab-initio HF and DFT calculations

A combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular and vibrational structure of 2,3-dimethyl naphthalene (2,3-DMN) has been undertaken in the present work. The FTIR and FT Raman spectra of 2,3-DMN were recorded in the region 4000-100 cm(-1). The optimized geometries were calculated by HF and DFT (B3LYP) methods with 6-31++G (d, p), 6-311G (d, p) and 6-311++G (d, p) basis sets. The harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman activities of the 2,3-DMN were evaluated with these methods. After scaling the computational wave numbers are in very good agreement with the experimental values. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of 2,3-DMN is presented. The effects of substitution of methyl group on the molecule have also been discussed.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of ferruginous smectite and nontronite

A comparison is made between the Raman and infrared spectra of ferruginous smectite and a nontronite using both absorption and emission techniques. Raman spectra show hydroxyl stretching bands at 3572, 3434, 3362, 3220 and 3102 cm(-1). The infrared emission spectra of the hydroxyl stretching region are significantly different to the absorption spectrum. These differences are attributed to the loss of water, absent in the emission spectrum, the reduction of the samples in the spectrometer and possible phase changes. Dehydroxylation of the two minerals may be followed by the loss of intensity of the hydroxyl stretching and hydroxyl deformation frequencies. Hydroxyl deformation modes are observed at 873 and 801 cm(-1) for the ferruginous smectite, and at 776 and 792 cm(-1) for the nontronite. Raman hydroxyl deformation vibrations are found at 879 cm(-1). Other Raman bands are observed at 1092 and 1032 cm(-1), assigned to the SiO stretching vibrations, at 675 and 587 cm(-1), assigned to the hydroxyl translation vibrations, at 487 and 450 cm(-1), attributed to OSiO bending type vibrations, and at 363, 287 and 239 cm(-1). The differences in the molecular structure of the two minerals are attributed to the Al/Fe ratio in the minerals.     

Solid-state modeling of the terahertz spectrum of the high explosive HMX

The experimental solid-state terahertz (THz) spectrum (3-120 cm(-1)) of the beta-crystal form of the high explosive octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) has been analyzed using solid-state density functional theory calculations. Various density functionals (both generalized gradient approximation and local density approximation) are compared in terms of their abilities to reproduce the experimentally observed solid-state structure and low-frequency vibrational motions. Good-to-excellent agreement between solid-state theory and experiment can be achieved in the THz region where isolated-molecule calculations fail to reproduce the observed spectral features, demonstrating a clear limitation of using isolated-molecule calculations for the assignment of THz frequency motions in molecular solids. The deficiency of isolated-molecule calculations is traced to modification of the molecular structure in the solid state through crystal packing effects and the formation of weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Semi-Empirical Model to Retrieve Finite Temperature Terahertz Absorption Spectra using Morse Potential

Terahertz (THz) absorption is a fingerprint property of materials, due to the underlying low-frequency vibration/phonon modes being strongly dependent on the chemical constitutions and microscopic structures. The low excitation energies (0.414-41.4 meV) are related to two intrinsic properties of THz vibrations: the potential energy surfaces (PESs) are shallow, and the vibrationally excited states are usually populated via thermal fluctuations. The shallow PESs make the vibrations usually anharmonic, leading to redshifted vibrational excited state absorption; combined with considerable vibrational excited states population, characteristic THz signals are usually redshifted and congested with varying degrees at different temperatures. Combining existing experimental THz spectra at low temperatures, first principles vibration analysis, and the Morse potential, we developed a semi-empirical model to evaluate the anharmonicity of the low-frequency modes. The model was benchmarked with purine molecular crystal to generate THz spectra at different temperatures, the results were consistent with experiments. The good agreement suggests this model would facilitate the application of THz spectroscopy in molecular crystal characterization.     

Spectroscopic characterization of chromite from the Moa-Baracoa Ophiolitic Massif, Cuba

The Cuban chromites with a spinel structure, FeCr2O4 have been studied using optical absorption and EPR spectroscopy. The spectral features in the electronic spectra are used to map the octahedral and tetrahedral co-ordinated cations. Bands due Cr3+ and Fe3+ ions could be distinguished from UV-vis spectrum. Chromite spectrum shows two spin allowed bands at 17,390 and 23,810 cm(-1) due to Cr3+ in octahedral field and they are assigned to 4A2g(F) --> 4T2g(F) and 4A2g(F) --> 4T1g(F) transitions. This is in conformity with the broad resonance of Cr3+ observed from EPR spectrum at g = 1.903 and a weak signal at g = 3.861 confirms Fe3+ impurity in the mineral. Bands of Fe3+ ion in the optical spectrum at 13,700, 18,870 and 28,570 cm(-1) are attributed to 6A1g(S) --> 4T1g(G), 6A1g(S) --> 4T2g(G) and 6A1g(S) --> 4T2g(P) transitions, respectively. Near-IR reflectance spectroscopy has been used effectively to show intense absorption bands caused by electronic spin allowed d-d transitions of Fe2+ in tetrahedral symmetry, in the region 5000-4000 cm(-1). The high frequency region (7500-6500 cm(-1)) is attributed to the overtones of hydroxyl stretching modes. Correlation between Raman spectral features and mineral chemistry are used to interpret the Raman data. The Raman spectrum of chromite shows three bands in the CrO stretching region at 730, 560 and 445 cm(-1). The most intense peak at 730 cm(-1) is identified as symmetric stretching vibrational mode, A1g(nu1) and the other two minor peaks at 560 and 445 cm(-1) are assigned to F2g(nu4) and E(g)(nu2) modes, respectively. Cation substitution in chromite results various changes both in Raman and IR spectra. In the low-wavenumber region of Raman spectrum a significant band at 250 cm(-1) with a component at 218 cm(-1) is attributed F2g(nu3) mode. The minor peaks at 195, 175, 160 cm(-1) might be due to E(g) and F2g symmetries. Broadening of the peak of A1g mode and shifting of the peak to higher wavenumber observed as a result of increasing the proportion of Al3+O6. The presence of water in the mineral shows bands in the IR spectrum at 3550, 3425, 3295, 1630 and 1455 cm(-1). The vibrational spectrum of chromite gives raise to four frequencies at 985, 770, 710 and 650 cm(-1). The first two frequencies nu1 and nu2 are related to the lattice vibrations of octahedral groups. Due to the influence of tetrahedral bivalent cation, vibrational interactions occur between nu3 and nu4 and hence the low frequency bands, nu3 and nu4 correspond to complex vibrations involving both octahedral and tetrahedral cations simultaneously. Cr3+ in Cuban natural chromites has highest CFSE (20,868 cm(-1)) when compared to other oxide minerals.     

Definitive evidence for monoanionic binding of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl to 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase from UV resonance Raman spectroscopy, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, and crystallography

Ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy (UVRRS), electronic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography were used to probe the nature of the binding of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (DHB) to the extradiol ring-cleavage enzyme, 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (DHBD; EC 1.13.11.39). The lowest lying transitions in the electronic absorption spectrum of DHBD-bound DHB occurred at 299 nm, compared to 305 nm for the monoanionic DHB species in buffer. In contrast, the corresponding transitions in neutral and dianionic DHB occurred at 283 and 348 nm, respectively, indicating that DHBD-bound DHB is monoanionic. These binding-induced spectral changes, and the use of custom-designed optical fiber probes, facilitated UVRR experiments. The strongest feature of the UVRR spectrum of DHB was a Y8a-like mode around 1600 cm(-1), whose position depended strongly on the protonation state of the DHB. In the spectrum of the DHBD-bound species, this feature occurred at 1603 cm(-1), as observed in the spectrum of monoanionic DHB. Raman band shifts were observed in deuterated solvent, ruling out dianionic binding of the substrate. Thus, the electronic absorption and UVRRS data demonstrate that DHBD binds its catecholic substrate as a monoanion, definitively establishing this feature of the proposed mechanism of extradiol dioxygenases. This conclusion is supported by a crystal structure of the DHBD:DHB complex at 2.0 A resolution, which suggests that the substrate's 2-hydroxyl substituent, and not the 3-hydroxyl group, deprotonates upon binding. The structural data also show that the aromatic rings of the enzyme-bound DHB are essentially orthogonal to each other. Thus, the 6 nm blue shift of the transition for bound DHB relative to the monoanion in solution could indicate a conformational change upon binding. Catalytic roles of active site residues are proposed based on the structural data and previously proposed mechanistic schemes.     

Vibrational spectra of copper sulfate hydrates investigated with low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and terahertz time domain spectroscopy

In this paper, the vibrational spectra of copper sulfate hydrates (CuSO(4)·xH(2)O, x = 5, 3, 1, 0) have been investigated with low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). It is found that the four groups of Raman bands between 90 and 4000 cm(-1) can be assigned to lattice vibration as well as intramolecular vibrations of a copper complex, sulfate group, and water molecules. The variation of vibrational spectra during the dehydrated process are discussed in detail considering the transformation of the crystal structure, especially the bands between 3000 and 3500 cm(-1), which are attributed to the ν(1) and ν(3) modes of water molecules. In addition, as a complement of Raman spectra, the THz spectra at 0.1-3 THz indicate the absorption due to the low-frequency lattice vibration and hydrogen bond.     

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopic investigation on quinones

Well resolved far-infrared spectra of 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and 9, 10-anthraquinonme in polycrystalline form have been measured with terahertz time domain spectroscopy at room tem- perature. The characterizations of power absorption and index of refraction in the frequency range 0.3 -2.0 THz are presented. Theoretical calculation is applied to assist the analysis and assignment of individual THz absorption spectra of the p-quinones with semiempirical AM1, Hartree-Fock (HF), and density functional theory (DFT) method. Observed THz responses are assigned to the translational and torsional vibrations of p-quinone dimer held together by weak hydrogen bonds.