Investigations of molecular interactions in propionic acid–N,N-dimethyl formamide binary system—FTIR study

FTIR spectra of propionic acid (PA), N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and its binary mixtures with varying molefractions of the PA were recorded in the region 500–3500 cm⁻¹, to investigate the formation of hydrogen bonded complexes in a mixed system. The observed features in ν(CO), δ(OC–N) and ν_as(CN) of DMF, ν(CO) and ν(CO) of PA have been explained in terms of the hydrogen bonding interactions between DMF and PA and dipole–dipole interaction. The intrinsic bandwidth for the vibrational modes ν_as(CN) and ν(CO) has been elucidated using Bondarev and Mardaeva model.     

A density functional theory study on boundary of “superreduced” transition metal carbonyl anions [M(CO)n](M=Cr, n=5, 4, 3, z=2, 4, 6; M=Mn, n=5, 4, 3, z=1, 3, 5; M=Fe, n=4, 3, 2, z=2, 4, 6; M=Co, n=4, 3, 2, z=1, 3, 5)

A nonlocal density functional theory (DFT) method has been applied to the calculations on optimized geometry, Mulliken atomic net charges and interatomic Mulliken bond orders as well as total bonding energies (E) in the binary transition metal carbonyl anions with different reduced states [M(CO)_n]^z− (M=Cr, n=5, 4, 3, z=2, 4, 6; M=Mn, n=5, 4, 3, z=1, 3, 5; M=Fe, n=4, 3, 2, z=2, 4, 6; M=Co, n=4, 3, 2, z=1, 3, 5). For comparison of relative stability, a relative stabilization energy D is defined as D=E([M(CO)_n]^z−)−nE(CO). The calculated C–O distances are lengthened monotonously with the increase of the anionic charge, but the M–C distances are significantly lengthened only in the higher reduced states. The relative stabilization energy calculated is a considerable negative value in the lower reduced states, but a larger positive value in the higher reduced states. The DFT calculations show that with the increase of the anionic charge, the Mulliken net charges on the M, C, and O atoms all increase, however, an excess of the anionic charge is mainly located at the central metal atom. The calculated C–O Mulliken bond orders decrease consistently with the increase of the anionic charge, but the M–C bond orders exhibit an irregular behavior. However, the total bond orders calculated clearly explain the higher reduced states to be considerably unstable. From analysis of the calculated results, it is deduced that the stability of the binary transition metal carbonyl anions [M(CO)_n]^z− studied are associated with the coordination number n and the anionic charge z, further, it is possible for the anions studied to be stable if n≥z, conversely, it is impossible when n<z.     

β-Lactam antibiotics. Spectroscopy and molecular orbital (MO) calculations: Part I: IR studies of complexation in penicillin-transition metal ion systems and semi-empirical PM3 calculations on simple model compounds

IR studies were preformed to determine possible transition metal ion binding sites of penicillin. the observed changes in spectral position and shape of characteristic IR bands of cloxacillin in the presence of transition metal ions (both in solutions and in the solid state) indicate formation of M–L complexes with engagement of –COO⁻ and/or –CONH– functional groups. The small shift of ν_C=O towards higher frequencies rules out direct M–L interaction via β-lactam carbonyl. PM3 calculations on simple model compounds (substituted formamide, cyclic ketones, lactams and substituted monocyclic β-lactams) have been performed. All structures were fully optimized and the calculated bond lengths, angles, heats of formation and C=O stretching frequencies were discussed to determine the β-lactam binding sites and to explain its susceptibility towards nucleophilic attack (hydrolysis in vitro) and biological activity. The relative changes of calculated values were critically compared with available experimental data and same correlation between structural parameters and in vivo activity was shown.     

Towards the understanding of the spectroscopic behaviour of the C–H oscillator in C–HO hydrogen bonds: the effect of solvent polarity

The effect of solvent polarity versus specific C–HO contacts on the vibrational νC–H mode is studied using CHCl₃ as a model system. Ab initio SCI–PCM calculations show that the overall shift of the νC–H band, sometimes ascribed to the C–HO hydrogen bonding, can in fact be explained by the electrostatic interaction with a dielectric environment. The presence of a new νC–H band – assigned to the C–HO bonded forms – remains as the most reliable evidence of C–HO hydrogen bonding.     

Blue-shifted hydrogen-bonded complexes. II. CH3F(HF)1 n 3 and CH2F2(HF)1 n 3

The equilibrium structures, binding energies, and vibrational spectra of the clusters CH₃F(HF)_{1 n 3} and CH₂F₂(HF)_{1 n 3} have been investigated with the aid of large-scale ab initio calculations performed at the Møller–Plesset second-order level. In all complexes, a strong C–FH–F halogen–hydrogen bond is formed. For the cases n = 2 and n = 3, blue-shifting C–HF–H hydrogen bonds are formed additionally. Blue shifts are, however, encountered for all C–H stretching vibrations of the fluoromethanes in all complexes, whether they take part in a hydrogen bond or not, in particular also for n = 1. For the case n = 3, blue shifts of the ν(C–H) stretching vibrational modes larger than 50 cm⁻¹ are predicted. As with the previously treated case of CHF₃(HF)_{1 n 3} complexes (A. Karpfen, E. S. Kryachko, J. Phys. Chem. A 107 (2003) 9724), the typical blue-shifting properties are to a large degree determined by the presence of a strong C–FH–F halogen–hydrogen bond. Therefore, the term blue-shifted appears more appropriate for this class of complexes. Stretching the C–F bond of a fluoromethane by forming a halogen–hydrogen bond causes a shortening of all C–H bonds. The shortening of the C–H bonds is proportional to the stretching of the C–F bond.     

The Raman OH stretching bands of liquid water

In this work, from the discussion on water structure and clusters, it can be deduced that the OH stretching vibration is closely related to local hydrogen-bonded network for a water molecule, and different OH vibrations can be assigned to OH groups engaged in various hydrogen bonding. At ambient condition, the main local hydrogen bonding for a molecule can be classified as DDAA (double donor–double acceptor), DDA (double donor–single acceptor), DAA (single donor–double acceptor) and DA (single donor–single acceptor) and free OH vibrations. As for water at 290 K and 0.1 MPa pressure, the OH stretching region of the Raman spectrum can be deconvoluted into five sub-bands, which are located at 3014, 3226, 3432, 3572, and 3636 cm⁻¹, and can be assigned to ν_DAA-OH, ν_DDAA-OH, ν_DA-OH, ν_DDA-OH, and free OH₂ symmetric stretching vibrations, respectively.     

Negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry of some isocyanates

Summary Negative ion mass spectra for 3 aliphatic and 4 aromatic isocyanates have been obtained by low pressure chemical ionization, using CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O as reagent gases. All compounds furnished intense anions at m/z 42. With CH₄, quasi-molecular anions were observed at m/z M+1 for aliphatic and m/z M+1 and M–1 for aromatic isocyanates. With N₂O, anionic substitution products at m/z M+15 and M+30 were observed, and with CO₂ and N₂O, peaks at m/z M–12 could be detected for all aromatic isocyanates. Studies with ¹³CO₂ and C¹⁸O₂ as reagent gases showed that the anions at m/z M–12 and M+15 correspond to [M–CO+O]^– and [M–H+O]^–, respectively.

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Negativionen-Massenspektrometrie mit chemischer Ionisierung von einigen Isocyanaten

Zusammenfassung Die Negativionen-Massenspektren von 3 aliphatischen und 4 aromatischen Isocyanaten wurden mittels chemischer Ionisation bei tiefem Quellendruck aufgenommen, und zwar mit den Reagensgasen CH₄, CO₄ und N₂O. Alle Verbindungen lieferten intensive Anionen mit m/z 42. Mit CH₄ erhielten wir die quasi-molekularen Anionen M+1 für aliphatische sowie M+1 und M–1 für aromatische Isocyanate. Das Reagens N₂O ergab die anionischen Substitutionsprodukte M+15 und M+30. Sowohl CO₂ als auch N₂O führten mit aromatischen Isocyanaten zur Bildung von M–12 Anionen. Versuche mit ¹³CO₂ und mit C¹⁸O₂ als Reagensgase zeigten, daß die Anionen M–12 und M+15 den Ionen [M–CO+O]^– und [M–H+O]^– entsprechen.

     

Copper-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed aqueous medium by palladium complexes of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes

Highly convenient copper-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with terminal acetylenes under amenable conditions in air and in a mixed aqueous medium are reported using several new, user friendly and robust palladium precatalysts (1–5) of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). In particular, the precatalysts, 1 and 2, were synthesized from the imidazolium chloride salts by the treatment with PdCl₂ in pyridine in presence of K₂CO₃ as a base while the precatalysts, 3–5, were synthesized from the respective silver complexes by the treatment with (COD)PdCl₂. The DFT studies carried out on the 1–5 complexes suggest the presence of strong NHC–Pd σ-interactions arising out of deeply buried NHC–Pd σ-bonding molecular orbitals (MOs) that account for the inert nature of the metal–carbene bonds and also provide insights into the exceptional stability of these precatalysts.     

Au3-to-Ag3 coordinate-covalent bonding and other supramolecular interactions with covalent bonding strength

An efficient strategy for designing charge-transfer complexes using coinage metal cyclic trinuclear complexes (CTCs) is described herein. Due to opposite quadrupolar electrostatic contributions from metal ions and ligand substituents, [Au(μ-Pz-(i-C₃H₇)₂)]₃·[Ag(μ-Tz-(n-C₃F₇)₂)]₃ (Pz = pyrazolate, Tz = triazolate) has been obtained and its structure verified by single crystal X-ray diffraction – representing the 1^st crystallographically-verified stacked adduct of monovalent coinage metal CTCs. Abundant supramolecular interactions with aggregate covalent bonding strength arise from a combination of M–M′ (Au → Ag), metal–π, π–π interactions and hydrogen bonding in this charge-transfer complex, according to density functional theory analyses, yielding a computed binding energy of 66 kcal mol⁻¹ between the two trimer moieties – a large value for intermolecular interactions between adjacent d¹⁰ centres (nearly doubling the value for a recently-claimed Au(i) → Cu(i) polar-covalent bond: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2017, 114, E5042) – which becomes 87 kcal mol⁻¹ with benzene stacking. Surprisingly, DFT analysis suggests that: (a) some other literature precedents should have attained a stacked product akin to the one herein, with similar or even higher binding energy; and (b) a high overall intertrimer bonding energy by inferior electrostatic assistance, underscoring genuine orbital overlap between M and M′ frontier molecular orbitals in such polar-covalent M–M′ bonds in this family of molecules. The Au → Ag bonding is reminiscent of classical Werner-type coordinate-covalent bonds such as H₃N: → Ag in [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺, as demonstrated herein quantitatively. Solid-state and molecular modeling illustrate electron flow from the π-basic gold trimer to the π-acidic silver trimer with augmented contributions from ligand-to-ligand’ (LL′CT) and metal-to-ligand (MLCT) charge transfer.

A stacked Ag₃–Au₃ bonded (66 kcal mol⁻¹) complex obtained crystallographically exhibits charge-transfer characteristics arising from multiple cooperative supramolecular interactions.     

Geometries and properties of bimetallic phosphido-bridged complex Cp(CO)2W(μ-PPh2)W(CO)5 and Cp(CO)3W(μ-PPh2)W(CO)5

Complete geometry optimizations were carried out by HF and DFT methods to study the molecular structure of binuclear transition-metal compounds (Cp(CO)₃W(μ-PPh₂)W(CO)₅) (I) and (Cp(CO)₂W(μ-PPh₂)W(CO)₅) (II). A comparison of the experimental data and calculated structural parameters demonstrates that the most accurate geometry parameters are predicted by the MPW1PW91/LANL2DZ among the three DFT methods. Topological properties of molecular charge distributions were analyzed with the theory of atoms in molecules. (3, −1) critical points, namely bond critical point, were found between the two tungsten atoms, and between W1 and C10 in complex II, which confirms the existence of the metal–metal bond and a semi-bridging CO between the two tungsten atoms. The result provided a theoretical guidance of detailed study on the binuclear phosphido-bridged complex containing transition metal–metal bond, which could be useful in the further study of the heterobimetallic phosphido-bridged complexes.     

Electrophilic attacks on μ3-bridging acetyl in a triiron carbonyl cluster; C---O bond cleavage to give μ3-ethylidyne and μ-methoxo groups

The triiron carbonyl cluster anion, [Fe₃(CO)₉(μ₃-CH₃CO)]⁻ react with fluoroboric acid to give the neutral cluster Fe₃(CO)₉(μ-H)(μ₃-CH₃CO). Methylfluorosulphate reacts to give the compound Fe₃(CO)₉(μ₃-CCH₃) (μ₃-OCH₃) in which the μ₃-acetyl group has undergone stoichiometric C---O bond cleavage.     

N NQR in the tetrazole family

¹⁴N NQR frequencies and spin–lattice relaxation times were measured in technologically important 5-aminotetrazole and 5-aminotetrazole monohydrate at different temperatures between 77 K and 300 K. Five NQR triplets ν₊, ν₋ and ν₀ were found for the five inequivalent nitrogen atoms in each compound between 0.7 MHz and 4 MHz. Carr-Purcell based multipulse sequences were used to accumulate quadrupole echo signals before the FFT analysis. Assignment of the frequencies to atomic positions was made and the results are analysed in relation to the molecular chemical bonds and possible H-bonds in the crystal structures. The new NQR frequencies are reasonably related to the previously published NQR spectrum of the third family member, 1H-tetrazole.     

Why heterogeneous single-atom catalysts preferentially produce CO in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction

Formate and CO are competing products in the two-electron CO₂ reduction reaction (2e CO₂RR), and they are produced via *OCHO and *COOH intermediates, respectively. However, the factors governing CO/formate selectivity remain elusive, especially for metal–carbon–nitrogen (M–N–C) single-atom catalysts (SACs), most of which produce CO as their main product. Herein, we show computationally that the selectivity of M–N–C SACs is intrinsically associated with the CO₂ adsorption mode by using bismuth (Bi) nanosheets and the Bi–N–C SAC as model catalysts. According to our results, the Bi–N–C SAC exhibits a strong thermodynamic preference toward *OCHO, but under working potentials, CO₂ is preferentially chemisorbed first due to a charge accumulation effect, and subsequent protonation of chemisorbed CO₂ to *COOH is kinetically much more favorable than formation of *OCHO. Consequently, the Bi–N–C SAC preferentially produces CO rather than formate. In contrast, the physisorption preference of CO₂ on Bi nanosheets contributes to high formate selectivity. Remarkably, this CO₂ adsorption-based mechanism also applies to other typical M–N–C SACs. This work not only resolves a long-standing puzzle in M–N–C SACs, but also presents simple, solid criteria (i.e., CO₂ adsorption modes) for indicating CO/formate selectivity, which help strategic development of high-performance CO₂RR catalysts.

This report discloses a nontrivial role of the CO₂ adsorption mode in governing the CO/formate selectivity of single-atom catalysts towards two-electron CO₂ reduction.     

Ab initio studies of peroxynitrite anion-water complexes

Quantum mechanical methods have been applied to thecis-ONOO^–-H₂O,cis-ONOO^–-(H₂O)₂ andtrans- ONOO^–-H₂O complexes. Equilibrium geometries, binding energies, net atomic charges and vibrational frequencies are presented for several different arrangements. The MØller-Plessett second-order perturbation (MP2) method predicted shorter hydrogen bonds than the SCF method, but the computed Hartree-Fock (HF) binding energies are similar to counterpoise corrected MP2 values. The geometry changes of ONOO^– and water after solvation are examined. The ONOO^– and H₂O bond length changes follow typical hydrogen bond structural trends, whereas bond angles in ONOO^– are unaffected when the hydrogen bond is formed, similar to the conclusions from NO ₂ ^– -(H₂O) _n HF/6-31G studies and Monte Carlo simulations. Thecis-ONOO^–-(H₂O) _n frequencies are compared with the solution Raman spectrum and with calculations on isolated ONOO^–.     

Theoretical investigation of the structure and vibrational spectrum of the Li2CO2 molecule

The special features of the potential-energy surface (PES) and the paths for the intramolecular rearrangements of the Li₂CO₂ molecule have been investigated by the SCF method in the double-zeta Huzinaga—Dunning basis supplemented by d-type polarization functions in the carbon and oxygen atoms (DZ + P). It has been shown that there are two minima, which correspond to C_s and C₂ structures, on the PES of the molcule. All the remaining structures of the molecule considered either correspond to saddle points or do not represent special points on the PES at all. The force constants, vibrational frequencies, and intensities of the vibrational transitions in the IR spectra have been calculated for both isomers in the DZ basis. The theoretical values of the vibrational frequencies and the isotope shifts are in good agreement with the experimental data obtained with matrix isolation: the mean deviation of the scaled theoretical frequencies for the C_s isomer amounts to 13 cm^–1 or 1.6%. An analysis of the Mulliken populations, as well as a comparison of the geometric parameters and force constants of the isomers of Li₂CO₂ with the corresponding parameters of the Li₂O and CO molecules and of the CO₂ ^2– ion, have shown that the chemical bonds in both isomers may be represented by the scheme (Li⁺)₂CO₂ ^2–. The similarity between the PES's of the Li₂CO₂ and Li₂CO₃ molecules has been demonstrated and explained in the framework of the Gillespie—Nyholm model.Ivanovo Chemical-Engineering Institute. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 30–38, March–April, 1991.     

DFT study on the intermolecular interactions between Aun (n = 2–4) and thymine

Density functional B3LYP method with 6-31++G** basis set is applied to optimize the geometries of the luteolin, water and luteolin–(H₂O)_n complexes. The vibrational frequencies are also studied at the same level to analyze these complexes. We obtained four steady luteolin–H₂O, nine steady luteolin–(H₂O)₂ and ten steady luteolin–(H₂O)₃, respectively. Theories of atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) are used to investigate the hydrogen bonds involved in all the systems. The interaction energies of all the complexes corrected by basis set superposition error, are within −13.7 to −82.5 kJ/mol. The strong hydrogen bonding mainly contribute to the interaction energies, Natural bond orbital analysis is performed to reveal the origin of the interaction. All calculations also indicate that there are strong hydrogen bonding interactions in luteolin–(H₂O)_n complexes. The OH stretching modes of complexes are red-shifted relative to those of the monomer.     

A screened hybrid density functional study on energetic complexes: Alkaline-earth metal carbohydrazide perchlorates

The molecular geometries, electronic structures and stabilities of a series of alkaline-earth metal carbohydrazide perchlorates were investigated using the Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof (HSE) screened hybrid density functional. The results show that Be and Mg complexes have six-coordinated octahedron features, as previously reported for the transition metal complexes. However, Ca, Sr and Ba complexes have additional coordinated oxygen atoms from the perchlorate ion. Detailed NBO analyses indicate that the metal–ligand interactions are essentially ionic and play an important role in the stabilities of these energetic complexes. The donor–acceptor interactions result in a reduction of occupancies of σ_C=O and σ_N–H bond orbitals, and also their subsequent impact on bond length and bond order.     

Fluoroalkyl Radical Generation by Homolytic Bond Dissociation in Pentacarbonylmanganese Derivatives

Thermal decarbonylation of the acyl compounds [Mn(CO)₅(COR_F)] (R_F=CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂CF₃, CF₂CH₃) yielded the corresponding alkyl derivatives [Mn(CO)₅(R_F)], some of which have not been previously reported. The compounds were fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods and by several single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The solution-phase IR characterization in the CO stretching region, with the assistance of DFT calculations, has allowed the assignment of several weak bands to vibrations of the [Mn(¹²CO)₄(eq-¹³CO)(R_F)] and [Mn(¹²CO)₄(ax-¹³CO)(R_F)] isotopomers and a ranking of the R_F donor power in the order CF₃<CHF₂<CH₂CF₃≈CF₂CH₃. The homolytic Mn−R_F bond cleavage in [Mn(CO)₅(R_F)] at various temperatures under saturation conditions with trapping of the generated R_F radicals by excess tris(trimethylsilyl)silane yielded activation parameters ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠ that are believed to represent close estimates of the homolytic bond dissociation thermodynamic parameters. These values are in close agreement with those calculated in a recent DFT study (J. Organomet. Chem. 2018 , 864, 12–18). The ability of these complexes to undergo homolytic Mn−R_F bond cleavage was further demonstrated by the observation that [Mn(CO)₅(CF₃)] (the compound with the strongest Mn−R_F bond) initiated the radical polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (CH₂=CF₂) to produce poly(vinylidene fluoride) in good yields by either thermal (100 °C) or photochemical (UV or visible light) activation.     

Interaction of iron carbonyls with Lewis bases

The interaction of iron carbonyls Fe _n (CO) _m (wheren = 1,m = 5;n = 2,m = 9;n = 3,m = 12) with anionic Lewis bases (H^–, F^–, Cl^–, Br^– , I^–, CN^–, SCN^–, N₃ ^–, MeSO₃ ^–, MeCO₂ ^–, CF₃CO₂ ^–, S₂ ^–, CO₃ ^2–, and SO₄ ^2–) passes through two-stage redox-disproportionation. The first stage is the formation of an iron carbonyl-base complex, [Fe _n (CO) _m–1C(O)L]^–, and the second is a single-electron reduction of this complex by another molecule of the initial iron carbonyl, giving rise to Fe(l) and Fe(–l) derivatives.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 248–249, January, 1996.     

Vibrational spectra and harmonic force fields of pyrrolidine derivatives: comparison between HF, MP2 and DFT force fields

Infrared and Raman spectra are reported for the isotopic species of pyrrolidine-d₀ (PY) and -d₁ and for N-methylpyrrolidine-d₀ (NMP), -d₂, -d₃ and -d₈. A complete assignment of the experimentally observed bands to normal modes is presented and discussed in particular in the CH/CD stretching region. The molecular structures and harmonic force fields were calculated ab initio at the Hartree–Fock (HF), the second order Møller–Plesset (MP2) and the density functional theory (DFT) level with the 6-31G* basis set. The force fields were fitted by use of 7 (PY) and 4 (NMP) independent scale factors. The spectra calculated with the DFT force fields are in better agreement with the experiment than those calculated by the MP2 and HF force fields. Though some scaled fundamental frequencies show larger deviations from the experimental ones, the mean percentage deviations of calculated frequencies from experimental fundamentals are less than 2.6% for all isotopic species of PY and NMP under study. The results indicate that density functional theory is a reliable tool to get a deeper insight in the assignment of vibrational spectra and the nature of normal modes of pyrrolidine derivatives.