Study of the An–Cl bond contraction in actinide trichlorides

The variation of the An–Cl bond distance in ground-state actinide trichloride (AnCl₃) molecules has been studied by density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP exchange–correlation functional in conjunction with small-core relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials for the actinides. The ground electronic states and the ground-state molecular properties of the trichlorides of heavy actinides (An = Bk–Lr) are reported in this paper the first time. Extending the present results with literature data on the light actinide trichlorides (AnCl₃, An = Th–Cm), the trend in the bond distance has been evaluated for the whole actinide row. The contraction is well manifested in the major part of the actinide row (An = U–Fm). The deviations at the beginning (Th, Pa) and end of the row (Md, No) have been explained by minor differences in the bonding interactions.     

An efficient and economical high order method for the numerical approximation of the Schrödinger equation

A new scheme is developed in this paper, for the first time in the literature. The new scheme: (1) is a symmetric two-step method, (2) is of three-stages scheme, (3) is a high order method (i.e of eight-algebraic order), (4) the approximations of the layers are taken place as follows: first layer on the point \(x_{n-1}\), second layer on the point \(x_{n}\), third layer on the point \(x_{n+1}\), (5) has vanished the phase-lag and its derivatives up to order four, (6) has good interval of periodicity properties [i.e. interval of periodicity equal to (0, 9.8)]. A detailed theoretical analysis is also presented. More specifically we present: (1) the development of the new method, (2) comparative error analysis (3) stability analysis. The effectiveness of the new scheme is tested via the solution of systems of coupled differential equations of the Schrödinger type.     

An improved version of Junmeng–Fang–Weiming–Fusheng approximation for the temperature integral

An improved version of Junmeng–Fang–Weiming–Fusheng approximation for the temperature integral has been developed. The accuracy of the improved approximation for the temperature integral has been tested by some numerical analyses. The systematic analysis of the relative errors involved in the kinetic parameters obtained from Junmeng–Fang–Weiming–Fusheng integral method and its improved version has been also carried out. The results have shown that the improved approximation is more accurate than Junmeng–Fang–Weiming–Fusheng approximation as the solution of the temperature integral, and that more accurate kinetic parameters can be determined from the integral method based on the improved temperature integral approximation.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative alkynylation of arene C–H bond using the chelation-assisted strategy

Palladium-catalyzed alkynylation of arene C–H bonds with (triisopropylsilyl)acetylene was developed for the first time under oxidative conditions in the present study. Among various type of directing groups examined, the N-phenyl-2-aminopyridine skeleton was shown to be most effective and selective for the Pd-catalyzed direct alkynylation reaction, and the desired alkynylated products were obtained in moderate to good yields.     

An approach to reaction path branching using valley–ridge inflection points of potential-energy surfaces

Valley–ridge inflection (VRI) points of a potential-energy surface (PES) may have a strong relation to the occurrence of bifurcations along reaction pathways of molecular rearrangements. We discuss two different definitions of VRI points in the literature. The calculation of symmetric VRI points has already been reported [W. Quapp et al. (1998) Theor. Chem. Acc. 100: 285–299]. Here, we in addition calculate special asymmetric VRI points which are placed on gradient extremals (GE). Following a GE opens the possibility to find the VRI point on it. An application is presented to search for asymmetric VRI points near the isomerization valley of the PES of the HCN molecule. A new method for GE-following is based on a mathematical connection between the following of a reduced gradient and the calculation of GEs. The tangent search method to follow a GE to the smallest eigenvalue [W. Quapp et al. (2000) Theor. Chem. Acc. 105: 145–155] is extended to follow also GEs to higher eigenvalues in order to find a VRI point. The new method needs gradient and second derivatives of the PES only.     

An integrated approach to improve the performance of lean–electrolyte lithium–sulfur batteries

While the sulfur conversion reaction kinetics in Li–S batteries is nowadays improved by the use of appropriate electrocatalysts,it remains a challenge for the batteries to perform well under the lean electrolyte condition where polysulfide shuttle,electrode passivation and the loss of electrolyte due to side reactions,are aggravated.These challenges are addressed in this study by the tandem use of a polysulfide conversion catalyst and a redox–targeting mediator in a gel sulfur cathode.Specifical...     

Determination of the stability and magnetic properties of Fe–Pd nitride using the generalised gradient approximation (GGA)

In this study, an electronic structure calculation of the substituted nitride PdFe₃N was conducted, and a posterior understanding of its structural and magnetic properties was obtained. A first principle method was applied to study the lattice parameter variation in relation to the energy of solid formation. After the equilibrium parameter was found, some properties of the ground state, such as the magnetic moment and the bulk modulus, were calculated. Preliminary observations show that the material properties of γ′-Fe₄N vary significantly with the insertion of the palladium atom in the matrix as well as when the material is subjected to applied pressure. The density of states shows a strong interaction between the s states of nitrogen and, primarily, the s and p states of iron, presenting a weak interaction with the palladium atoms. The analysis of such properties illustrates why these nitrides have a promising future for use in technological applications.     

An economical eighth-order method for the approximation of the solution of the Schrödinger equation

In this paper we introduce, for the first time in the literature, a three-stages two-step method. The new algorithm has the following characteristics: (1) it is a two-step algorithm, (2) it is a symmetric method, (3) it is an eight-algebraic order method (i.e of high algebraic order), (4) it is a three-stages method, (5) the approximation of its first layer is done on the point \(x_{n-1}\) and not on the usual point \(x_{n}\), (6) it has eliminated the phase–lag and its derivatives up to order two, (7) it has good stability properties (i.e. interval of periodicity equal to \(\left( 0, 22 \right) \). For this method we present a detailed analysis : development, errorand stability analysis. The new proposed algorithm is applied to systems of differential equations of the Schrödinger type in order to examine its efficiency.     

Does the topological approach characterize the hydrogen bond?

 The topological analysis of the electron localization function has been applied to complexes representative of the weak, medium and strong hydrogen bond. For both the weak and the medium hydrogen bonds, the number of basins in the complexes is the sum of those of the moieties. In this case, the formation of a weak or a medium hydrogen-bonded complex does not involve a chemical reaction. In the weak hydrogen bond case, the reduction of the localization domain yields two domains in the first step, which can be partitioned afterwards into valence and core domains. In contrast, for medium complexes the core–valence separation is the first event which occurs during the reduction process and therefore the complex should be considered as a single molecular species. Moreover, the analysis of the basin population variance indicates in this case a noticeable delocalization between the V(A, H) and V(B) basins. Finally, the symmetrical strong hydrogen bond has a protonated basin V(H) at the bond midpoint. Such a topology corresponds to an incomplete proton transfer and to a rather covalent bond. Received: 19 April 1999 / Accepted: 22 July 1999 / Published online: 17 January 2000     

Bound state solutions of the Deng–Fan molecular potential with the Pekeris-type approximation using the Nikiforov–Uvarov (N–U) method

By employing the Pekeris-type approximation to deal with the centrifugal term, we solve the Schrödinger equation with the Deng–Fan molecular potential for all values of $l$ (orbital angular momentum quantum number). Using the Nikiforov–Uvarov (N–U) method, the approximate analytical bound state energy eigenvalues and the corresponding wave functions are obtained. The results obtained are in good agreement with those ones found in the literature. The bound state energy eigenvalues for a set of diatomic molecules (HCl, LiH, H $_{2}$ , ScH, TiH, VH, CrH, CuLi, TiC, NiC, ScN and ScF) corresponding to the Deng–Fan molecular potential for arbitrary values of n and $l$ quantum numbers are reported.     

An approach to the synthesis of 1,2λ-azaphosphinines

A novel approach to 1,2λ⁵-azaphosphinines has been elaborated. Aminophosphonium chlorides bearing a β-dialkylaminocrotonic nitrile residue react with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal to afford 1,2λ⁵-azaphosphinines.     

An Ireland–Claisen rearrangement/RCM based approach for the construction of the EF-ring of ciguatoxin 3C

The EF-ring of ciguatoxin 3C, a marine toxin from the dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus, was stereoselectively synthesized by iterative use of a cyclic ether formation process based on chirality-transferring Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing olefin metathesis.     

A virtual screening study of the acetylcholine binding protein using a relaxed–complex approach

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a member of the ligand-gated ion channel family and is implicated in many neurological events. Yet, the receptor is difficult to target without high-resolution structures. In contrast, the structure of the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) has been solved to high resolution, and it serves as a surrogate structure of the extra-cellular domain in nAChR. Here we conduct a virtual screening study of the AChBP using the relaxed–complex method, which involves a combination of molecular dynamics simulations (to achieve receptor structures) and ligand docking. The library screened through comes from the National Cancer Institute, and its ligands show great potential for binding AChBP in various manners. These ligands mimic the known binders of AChBP; a significant subset docks well against all species of the protein and some distinguish between the various structures. These novel ligands could serve as potential pharmaceuticals in the AChBP/nAChR systems.     

HOMA parameters for the boron–boron bond: How the introduction of a BB bond influences the aromaticity of selected hydrocarbons

An extension of the harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) model for systems with boron–boron bonds is presented. For the first time, the parameters of the HOMA model are estimated using only theoretically calculated bond lengths. The HOMA parameters obtained make geometric aromaticity studies possible for a large number of compounds containing the boron–boron bond. The derived HOMA parameters have been used to investigate how the introduction of the boron–boron moiety in the structure of selected hydrocarbons modifies their aromaticity. The conclusion is that the insertion of a boron–boron bond usually strongly decreases the aromaticity of the boron-containing compounds in comparison to their parent hydrocarbons.     

An approach towards the formation of an ester bond between the primary hydroxyl of a β-D-galactopyranoside and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid and N-methyl substituted derivatives

An expeditious method for the preparation of the phosphonylating reagent 2-bromoethylphosphonic acid is presented. The latter compound as well as salicylchlorophosphite proved to be suitable for the synthesis of methyl 0-6-(2′-aminoethylphosphonyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside and N-mono- or dimethylated derivatives thereof.     

An approach to the Paal–Knorr pyrroles synthesis in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous media

An efficient and facile method for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields by the Paal–Knorr reaction of γ-diketones with amines in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous media has been developed.Moreover,this process tolerated diamines(e.g.,para-,meta- or orthophenylenediamine)to construct bis-pyrrole or mono-pyrrole derivates.β-Cyclodextrin can be recovered easily after the reactions and reused without evident loss in activity.     

An investigation of the microstructure,optical and electrical properties of ZITO thin film using the sol–gel method

The multi-compound ZITO transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin films were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The ZITO thin films with various volume ratios of ZnO to ITO (1:1, 2:1 and 9:1) were crystallized at different temperatures (600–700 °C). The results showed that the crystalline characteristics and optical transmittance were mainly dependent on ITO content and crystallization. Notably, the 650 °C Z₉ITO film not only had better conductivity but also possessed excellent optical transmittance. In addition, the surface roughness of the ZITO films and optoelectric properties of IZO (indium doped ZnO) films were analyzed to confirm the contribution of indium dopants on the optical transmittance. Also, the ZITO films were subjected to the effects of indium and tin dopants and this improved the related characteristics of ZnO films.     

Carbon–sulfur bond formation via photochemical strategies: An efficient method for the synthesis of sulfur-containing compounds

The development of green and convenient methods for C–S bond formation has received significant attention because C–S bond widely occurs in many important pharmaceutical and biological compounds.Recently, visible-light photoredox catalysis has been established as an efficient and general tool for the construction of C–C and C-heteroatom bonds. In this review, we have focused on the research on recent advances in C–S bond formation via visible-light photoredox catalysis, and the growing opportuni...     

Point group symmetries of the molecular orbitals of HD+ beyond the Born–Oppenheimer approximation

The isotope shifts of the electronic states of HD⁺ are calculated, for the first time, within an adiabatic MO-LCAO theory. A typical heteronuclear C_∞v correlation diagram comes out, obeying conservation of point group orbital symmetries and noncrossing rule.     

Infinite order sudden approximation treatment of the H + D2 → HD + D reaction

Results of a study of the H + D₂ → HD + D reaction within the quantum infinite order sudden approximation (RIOS) are reported here for the total energy range 1.0317 ⩽ E_t ⩽ 2.1417 eV. We present the vibrationally selected integral and total integral cross sections, and the latter are compared with both classical and experimental results. The RIOS results are in excellent agreement with the experimental results at 1.0317 eV and in reasonable agreement (≈ 20% high) at 2.1417 eV.