Microsolvation pattern of the hydrated radical anion of uracil: U-(H2O)n (n = 3-5)

The microsolvation patterns of the uracil radical anion in water clusters U-(H2O)n with n ranging from 3 to 5 were investigated by the density functional theory approach. The electron detachment energies (VDE) of the stable anionic complexes with different numbers of hydration water are predicted. The linear dependence of the VDE value of the most stable anionic complexes with respect to the hydration number suggests the importance of the clustered waters in the microsolvation of the radical anion of the nucleobases. The formation of the water clusters is found to be necessary in the most stable conformers of the tri-, tetra-, and pentahydrated radical anion of uracil. The microsolvation pattern with three or more well-separated hydration water molecules in the first hydration layer is less stable than the arrangement with the waters in tight clusters. The charge transfer between the anionic uracil and the hydration water is high. Good agreement between the experimental and the theoretical vertical detachment energy yield in this study further demonstrates the practicability of the B3LYP/DZP++ approach in the study of radical anions of the DNA subunits.     

Photoionization and ab initio study of Ba(H2O)n (n = 1-4) clusters

An experimental and theoretical study of the photoionization energies (IE's) of Ba(H(2)O)(n) clusters containing up to n = 4 water molecules has been performed. The clusters were generated by a pick-up source combining laser vaporization with pulsed supersonic expansion, and then photoionized by radiation of 272.5-340 nm. The experimentally determined IE(e)'s for n = 1 to 4 are 4.56 ± 0.05, 4.26 ± 0.05, 3.90 ± 0.05 and 3.71 ± 0.05 eV. This cluster size dependence of IE is reproduced within ±0.06 eV employing the mPW1PW91 density-functional and CCSD(T, Full) quantum-chemical methods combined with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set for the H and O atoms and three different relativistic effective core potentials for Ba atoms. The calculations indicate that the lowest energy hydration structures represent the most relevant contributions to both the vertical and adiabatic ionization energies. Experimental and theoretical evidence correlates with the progressive surface-delocalization of the electron from the hydration cavity around the Ba atom and suggests that the intra-cluster electron transfer is possible even for small aggregates.     

Microhydration of cytosine and its radical anion: cytosine.(H2O)n (n=1-5)

Microhydration effects on cytosine and its radical anion have been investigated theoretically, by explicitly considering various structures of cytosine complexes with up to five water molecules. Each successive water molecule (through n=5) is bound by 7-10 kcal mol(-1) to the relevant cytosine complex. The hydration energies are uniformly higher for the analogous anion systems. While the predicted vertical detachment energy (VDE) of the isolated cytosine is only 0.48 eV, it is predicted to increase to 1.27 eV for the lowest-lying pentahydrate of cytosine. The adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) of cytosine was also found to increase from 0.03 to 0.61 eV for the pentahydrate, implying that the cytosine anion, while questionable in the gas phase, is bound in aqueous solution. Both the VDE and AEA values for cytosine are smaller than those of uracil and thymine for a given hydration number. These results are in qualitative agreement with available experimental results from photodetachment-photoelectron spectroscopy studies of Schiedt et al. [Chem. Phys. 239, 511 (1998)].     

Microsolvation effect, hydrogen-bonding pattern, and electron affinity of the uracil-water complexes U-(H2O)n (n = 1, 2, 3)

To achieve a systematic understanding of the influence of microsolvation on the electron accepting behaviors of nucleobases, the reliable theoretical method (B3LYP/DZP++) has been applied to a comprehensive conformational investigation on the uracil-water complexes U-(H(2)O)(n) (n = 1, 2, 3) in both neutral and anionic forms. For the neutral complexes, the conformers of hydration on the O2 of uracil are energetically favored. However, hydration on the O4 atom of uracil is more stable for the radical anions. The electron structure analysis for the H-bonding patterns reveal that the CH...OH(2) type H-bond exists only for di- and trihydrated uracil complexes in which a water dimer or trimer is involved. The electron density structure analysis and the atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analysis for U-(H(2)O)(n) suggest a threshold value of the bond critical point (BCP) density to justify the CH...OH(2) type H-bond; that is, CH...OH(2) could be considered to be a H-bond only when its BCP density value is equal to or larger than 0.010 au. The positive adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) and vertical detachment energy (VDE) values for the uracil-water complexes suggest that these hydrated uracil anions are stable. Moreover, the average AEA and VDE of U-(H(2)O)(n) increase as the number of the hydration waters increases.     

Electron scattering on OH-(H2O)n clusters (n = 0-4)

The cross sections for electron scattering on OH-(H2O)n for n = 0-4 were measured from threshold to approximately 50 eV. All detachment cross sections were found to follow the classical prediction given earlier [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 892 (1995)] with a threshold energy for electron-impact detachment that increased upon sequential hydration, yielding values in the range from 4.5 eV +/- 0.2 eV for OH- to 12.10 eV +/- 0.5 eV for OH-(H2O)4. For n > or = 1, we found that approximately 80% of the total reaction events lead to electron detachment plus total dissociation of the clusters into the constituent molecules of OH and H2O. Finally, we observed resonances in the cross sections for OH-(H2O)3 and for OH-(H2O)4. The resonances were located at approximately 15 eV and were ascribed to the formation of dianions in excited states.     

Photoelectron spectroscopic study of the hydrated nucleoside anions: Uridine(-)(H(2)O)(n=0-2), cytidine(-)(H(2)O)(n=0-2), and thymidine(-)(H(2)O)(n=0,1)

The hydrated nucleoside anions, uridine(-)(H(2)O)(n=0-2), cytidine(-)(H(2)O)(n=0-2), and thymidine(-)(H(2)O)(n=0,1), have been prepared in beams and studied by anion photoelectron spectroscopy in order to investigate the effects of a microhydrated environment on parent nucleoside anions. Vertical detachment energies (VDEs) were measured for all eight anions, and from these, estimates were made for five sequential anion hydration energies. Excellent agreement was found between our measured VDE value for thymidine(-)(H(2)O)(1) and its calculated value in the companion article by S. Kim and H. F. Schaefer III.     

Ba(SCN)2(H2O) complex of the cis-syn-cis isomer of 2,5,8,15,18,21-hexaoxatricyclo[20,4,0,09,14]hexacosane(dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6) [Ba(SCN)2(H2O)(C20H36O6)]

The structure of the title compound has been redetermined. Hydrogenation of dibenzo-18-crown-6 yields two conformational isomers which were proposed to be the cis-syn-cis and the cis-trans-cis isomers of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6. The previous study had established that the title complex contains the ligand which has the cis-syn-cis conformation but had resulted in some inaccurate bond lengths and also in an uncertainty regarding the presence of a water of hydration in the crystal. This study confirmed the report of the general conformation of the complex, resulted in more precise bond lengths and clearly established that a water of hydration was present at the crystal.     

Microsolvation of the dicyanamide anion: [N(CN)(2)(-)](H(2)O)n (n = 0-12)

Photoelectron spectroscopy is combined with ab initio calculations to study the microsolvation of the dicyanamide anion, N(CN)(2)(-). Photoelectron spectra of [N(CN)(2)(-)](H2O)n (n = 0-12) have been measured at room temperature and also at low temperature for n = 0-4. Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained for N(CN)(2)(-), allowing the electron affinity of the N(CN)2 radical to be determined accurately as 4.135 +/- 0.010 eV. The electron binding energies and the spectral width of the hydrated clusters are observed to increase with the number of water molecules. The first five waters are observed to provide significant stabilization to the solute, whereas the stabilization becomes weaker for n > 5. The spectral width, which carries information about the solvent reorganization upon electron detachment in [N(CN)(2)(-)](H2O)n, levels off for n > 6. Theoretical calculations reveal several close-lying isomers for n = 1 and 2 due to the fact that the N(CN)(2)(-) anion possesses three almost equivalent hydration sites. In all the hydrated clusters, the most stable structures consist of a water cluster solvating one end of the N(CN)(2)(-) anion.     

Theoretical studies of UO2(H2O)n(2+), NpO2(H2O)n(+), and PuO2(H2O)n(2+) complexes (n=4-6) in aqueous solution and gas phase

Extensive ab initio calculations both in gas phase and solution have been carried out to study the equilibrium structure, vibrational frequencies, and bonding characteristics of various actinyl (UO2(2+), NpO2(+), and PuO2(2+)) and their hydrated forms, AnO2(H2O)n(z+) (n=4, 5, and 6). Bulk solvent effects were studied using a continuum method. The geometries were fully optimized at the coupled-cluster singles + doubles (CCSD), density-functional theory (DFT), and M?ller-Plesset (MP2) level of theories. In addition vibrational frequencies have been obtained at the CCSD as well as MP2/DFT levels. The results show that both the short-range and long-range solvent effects are important. The combined discrete-continuum model, in which the ionic solute and the solvent molecules in the first and second solvation shells are treated quantum mechanically while the solvent is simulated by a continuum model, can predict accurately the bonding characteristics. Moreover, our values of solvation free energies suggest that five- and six-coordinations are equally preferred for UO2(2+), and five-coordinated species are preferred for NpO2(+) and PuO2(2+). On the basis of combined quantum-chemical and continuum treatments of the hydrated complexes, we are able to determine the optimal cavity radii for the solvation models. The coupled-cluster computations with large basis sets were employed for the vibrational spectra and equilibrium geometries both of which compare quite favorably with experiment. Our most accurate computations reveal that both five- and six-coordination complexes are important for these species.     

Theoretical Modeling of Water Exchange on [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+), [Pt(H(2)O)(4)](2+), and trans-[PtCl(2)(H(2)O)(2)

Density functional theory is applied to modeling the exchange in aqueous solution of H(2)O on [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+), [Pt(H(2)O)(4)](2+), and trans-[PtCl(2)(H(2)O)(2)]. Optimized structures for the starting molecules are reported together with trigonal bipyramidal (tbp) systems relevant to an associative mechanism. While a rigorous tbp geometry cannot by symmetry be the actual transition state, it appears that the energy differences between model tbp structures and the actual transition states are small. Ground state geometries calculated via the local density approximation (LDA) for [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+) and relativistically corrected LDA for the Pt complexes are in good agreement with available experimental data. Nonlocal gradient corrections to the LDA lead to relatively inferior structures. The computed structures for analogous Pd and Pt species are very similar. The equatorial M-OH(2) bonds of all the LDA-optimized tbp structures are predicted to expand by 0.25-0.30 ?, while the axial bonds change little relative to the planar precursors. This bond stretching in the transition state counteracts the decrease in partial molar volume caused by coordination of the entering water molecule and can explain qualitatively the small and closely similar volumes of activation observed. The relatively higher activation enthalpies of the Pt species can be traced to the relativistic correction of the total energies while the absolute DeltaH() values for exchange on [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+) and [Pt(H(2)O)(4)](2+) are reproduced using relativistically corrected LDA energies and a simple Born model for hydration. The validity of the latter is confirmed via some simple atomistic molecular mechanics estimates of the relative hydration enthalpies of [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+) and [Pd(H(2)O)(5)](2+). The computed DeltaH() values are 57, 92, and 103 kJ/mol compared to experimental values of 50(2), 90(2), and 100(2) kJ/mol for [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+), [Pt(H(2)O)(4)](2+), and trans-[PtCl(2)(H(2)O)(2)], respectively. The calculated activation enthalpy for a hypothetical dissociative water exchange at [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+) is 199 kJ/mol. A qualitative analysis of the modeling procedure, the relative hydration enthalpies, and the zero-point and finite temperature corrections yields an estimated uncertainty for the theoretical activation enthalpies of about 15 kJ/mol.     

Investigation of the hydration process in 3CaO.Al(2)O(3)-CaSO(4) . 2H(2)O-plasticizer-H(2)O systems by X-ray diffraction

The development of the hydration process in 3CaO.Al(2)O(3)-CaSO(4) . 2H(2)O-H(2)O system is studied by X-ray diffraction in the presence of varying contents of new plasticizer admixtures belonging to the lignosulphonates class (calcium lignosuphonate-LSC) and condensates melamine formaldehyde sulfonated class-MSF (VIMC-11). The plasticizer admixtures were added in proportion of 0.1-1% solid substance. The influence of the plasticizer admixtures on the hydration process with increasing time is observed and it is shown to depend on the nature and content of the admixtures and the reaction time. The strong adsorption of admixtures on the surfaces on the anhydrous or partially hydrated particles of the system can explain the influence of the admixtures upon the kinetics of the hydration process retardation or acceleration. These plasticizer admixtures influence also the evolution of the hydrated compounds and forming of the hardening structure in the 3CaO.Al(2)O(3)-CaSO(4) . 2H(2)O-H(2)O system; their proportion in the system and the considered length of hardening are correlated. In the 3CaO.Al(2)O(3)-CaSO(4) . 2H(2)O-H(2)O system there are two different influences of the plasticizer admixtures upon the hydration process. One is a delaying action, as a result of plasticizer adsorption on the surface of the anhydrous and hydrated compound particles and another one is the intensifying action due to the stronger dispersion of the particles in aqueous medium.     

On the preparation and thermal stability of (NH4)3 VOF6.1.5H2O and (NH4)3NbOF6.1.5H2O

(NH₄)₃VOF₆ and (NH₄)₃NbOF₆ were prepared by a simple solid state route and their thermolysis studied. It is concluded that both these compounds have water of hydration, their structures are different and they show first order phase transitions.     

Theoretical study of [Li(H2O)n]+ and [K(H2O)n]+ (n = 1−4) complexes

The geometries, successive binding energies, vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities are calculated for the [Li(H₂O)_n]⁺ and [K(H₂O)_n]⁺ (n = 1?4) complexes. The basis sets used are 6-31G* and LANL 1DZ (Los Alamos ECP +DZ ) at the SCF and MP 2 levels. There is an agreement for calculated structures and frequencies between the MP 2/6-31G* and MP 2/LANL 1DZ basis sets, which indicates that the latter can be used for calculations of water complexes with heavier ions. Our results are in a reasonable agreement with available experimental data and facilitate experimental study of these complexes. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Infinite Three-Dimensional Coordination Polymers: Synthesis and Structures of [Cd (4,4'-bpy)2 (H2O)2]n (pic)2n, [Zn (4,4'-bpy)2 (H2O)2 ]n-(pic)2n (H2O)2n, and [Zn (4,4'-bpy)2 (H2O)2]n (4,4'-bpy)n (H2O)n (pic)2n

Recently, a new research realm in crystal engineering of supramolecular architecturesassembled by means of coordinate covalent bonding', hydrogen bonding', or other weakintermolecular interactions= has been rapidly expanding in order to rationally developnew classes of functional materials with cavities or pores. These types of compoundsmay exhibit interesting topological structures and the clathrations of the cavity structuresmay have many potential properties such as catalysis', electrical co…     

Ab initio studies of F−(H2O)n and Cl−(H2O)n clusters for n = 1, 2

Ab initio Hartree–Fock calculations are performed on hydrates of the F^? and Cl^? ions using 6-31G, 6-31G**, and 6-21G basis sets. Geometries and binding energies are obtained. An estimate of the correlation energy is provided by an MP2/6-31G (Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation) calculation. Comparisons are made between the Cl^?(SO₂) and the Cl^?(H₂O) complexes.     

Density functional study of intradimer proton transfers in hydrated adenine dimer ions, A2(+)(H2O)n (n = 0-2)

Structures of mono- and dihydrated adenine dimers and their cations were calculated using B3LYP density functional theory with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set, in order to help understand photofragmentation experiments of hydrated adenine dimers from the energetics point of view. Several important pathways leading to the major fragmentation product, protonated adenine ion (AH(+)), thermodynamically at minimum costs were investigated at the ground-state electronic potential surface of hydrated adenine dimer cations. Our calculations suggest that the proton transfer from one adenine moiety to the other in hydrated dimer ions readily occurs with negligible barriers in normal hydration conditions. In asymmetrically hydrated ions, however, the proton transfer to more hydrated adenine moieties is kinetically hindered due to heightened transition-state barriers, while the other way is still barrierless. Such directional preference in proton transfer may be characterized as a unique dimer ion property, stemming from the difference in basicity of the two nitrogen atoms involved in the double hydrogen bond that would be equivalent without hydration. We also found that dimer cleavage requires about 4 times larger energy than evaporation of individual water molecules, so it is likely that most solvent molecules evaporate before the eventual dimer cleavage when available internal energy is limited.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Two Complexes [Mn2(L)2(H2bta)2(H2O)]n and[Cu2(L)(H2bta)0.5(H2O)]n

Two new complexes, [Mn₂(L)₂(H₂bta)₂(H₂O)]_n ( 1 ) and [Cu₂(L)(H₂bta)_0.5(H₂O)]_n ( 2 ) (H₄bta=1,2,4,5‐benzene‐tetracarboxylic acid, L=imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenathroline) were prepared under hydrothermal conditions and their structures determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffration. The X‐ray diffraction reveals that complex 1 , consisting of two crystallographically independent fragments A1 and A2, displays an interesting 3D supramolecular network constructed with ABAB sequence through hydrogen bonding interactions. In complex 2 , the copper atoms connected by the H₂bta^2? ligands, the chains also are assembled into a 3D honeycomb configuration network formed by moleculars and aromatic π‐π stacking interactions.     

51V NMR of inclusion compounds H2V12O31-y ·n H2O

The parameters of hyperfine interactions on⁵¹V nuclei were determined on films of the inclusion compound H₂V₁₂O_31-y ·n H₂O at different stages of hydration. It was established that the axial symmetry plane of the magnetic interaction tensor coincides with the film plane. The most probable direction (40° of the film plane) and the magnitude of the electric field gradient (EFG) on⁵¹V nuclei (egQ/h = 0.233 MHz) were found for a completely dehydrated sample. An analysis of the line width angular dependences of satellites has shown the existence of a disorientation of the main EFG direction with a distribution width of about 50° in the film plane. The absence of satellites and the presence of an angular dependence of the⁵¹V NMR central signal of hydrated samples allowed the conclusion that the interaction of the V-O layer with molecules of water led to an increase in the disorientation of the film plane.     

Hydration of ion-biomolecule complexes: ab initio calculations and gas-phase vibrational spectroscopy of K+ (indole)m(H2O)n

In recent years neutral indole(H2O)n clusters have been used to model the hydration of biomolecules containing an indole moiety. Both experimental and theoretical studies of the binary indole...OH2 system show NH...OH sigma hydrogen-bonding. By introducing a cation to the indole...OH2 model, cation...pi and ion...dipole electrostatic interactions are placed in direct competition with conventional indole...OH2 hydrogen-bonding. The effects, arising from a monovalent potassium cation on (indole)m(H2O)n clusters, were investigated using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the OH and NH stretching regions. In K+ (indole)1(H2O)(n < or = 4) and K+ (indole)2(H2O)(m < or = 3) clusters, the electrostatic ion...ligand interaction inhibits the formation of an indole NH...OH2 sigma hydrogen-bond. However, indole...H2O pi hydrogen-bonding via the five-membered indole ring is observed with three or more ligands around the ion.     

Electronic basis of the comparable hydrogen bond properties of small H2CO/(H2O)n and H2NO/(H2O)n systems (n = 1, 2)

The electronic and structural properties of dihydronitroxide/water clusters are investigated and compared to the properties of formaldehyde/water clusters. Exploring the stationary points of their potential energy surfaces (structurally, vibrationally, and energetically) and characterizing their hydrogen bonds (by both atoms in molecules and natural bond orbitals methods) clearly reveal the strong similarity between these two kind of molecular systems. The main difference involves the nature of the hydrogen bond taking place between the X-H bond and the oxygen atom of a water molecule. All the properties of the hydrogen bonds occurring in both kind of clusters can be easily interpreted in terms of competition between intermolecular and intramolecular hyperconjugative interactions.