Mechanisms of HNO and NO production from Angeli's salt: density functional and CBS-QB3 theory predictions

The mechanism of decomposition of Angeli's salt, Na(2)N(2)O(3), was explored with B3LYP and CBS-QB3 computational methods. Angeli's salt produces both nitroxyl (HNO) and nitric oxide (NO), depending upon the pH of the solution. These calculations show that protonation on N(2), while less favorable than O protonation, leads spontaneously to HNO production, while diprotonation at O(3) leads to NO generation. K(a) values for protonation at different centers and rate constants have been found which reproduce experimental data satisfactorily.     

Mechanism of pH-dependent decomposition of monoalkylamine diazeniumdiolates to form HNO and NO, deduced from the model compound methylamine diazeniumdiolate, density functional theory, and CBS-QB3 calculations

Isopropylamine diazeniumdiolate, IPA/NO, the product of the reaction of isopropylamine and nitric oxide, NO, decomposes in a pH-dependent manner to afford nitroxyl, HNO, in the pH range of 13 to above 5, and NO below pH 7. Theoretical studies using B3LYP/6-311+G(d) density functional theory, the polarizable continuum and conductor-like polarizable continuum solvation models, and the high-accuracy CBS-QB3 method on the simplified model compound methylamine diazeniumdiolate predict a mechanism involving HNO production via decomposition of the unstable tautomer MeNN+(O-)NHO-. The production of NO at lower pH is predicted to result from fragmentation of the amide/NO adduct upon protonation of the amine nitrogen.     

The mechanism of N2O formation via the (NO)2 dimer: a density functional theory study

Catalytic formation of N(2)O via a (NO)(2) intermediate was studied employing density functional theory with generalized gradient approximations. Dimer formation was not favored on Pt(111), in agreement with previous reports. On Pt(211) a variety of dimer structures were studied, including trans-(NO)(2) and cis-(NO)(2) configurations. A possible pathway involving (NO)(2) formation at the terrace near to a Pt step is identified as the possible mechanism for low-temperature N(2)O formation. The dimer is stabilized by bond formation between one O atom of the dimer and two Pt step atoms. The overall mechanism has a low barrier of approximately 0.32 eV. The mechanism is also put into the context of the overall NO + H(2) reaction. A consideration of the step-wise hydrogenation of O(ads) from the step is also presented. Removal of O(ads) from the step is significantly different from O(ads) hydrogenation on Pt(111). The energetically favored structure at the transition state for OH(ads) formation has an activation energy of 0.63 eV. Further hydrogenation of OH(ads) has an activation energy of 0.80 eV.     

Thermodynamics of symmetric dimers: lattice density functional theory predictions and simulations

A new lattice density functional theory (DFT) approach is proposed for symmetric dimers taking into account all possible configurations for molecules adjacent to a central dimer. Comparison with Monte Carlo simulations shows significant improvement of the proposed model compared to previously developed version of lattice DFT for dimers. It is shown that the new model gives accurate analytical solutions over a wide range of densities and temperatures. Phase transitions in dimers are analyzed and fundamental differences between dimers and monomers are discussed.     

Dynamical density functional theory and its application to spinodal decomposition

We present an alternative derivation of the dynamical density functional theory for the one-body density profile of a classical fluid developed by Marconi and Tarazona [J. Chem. Phys. 110, 8032 (1999)]. Our derivation elucidates further some of the physical assumptions inherent in the theory and shows that it is not restricted to fluids composed of particles interacting solely via pair potentials; rather it applies to general, multibody interactions. The starting point for our derivation is the Smoluchowski equation and the theory is therefore one for Brownian particles and as such is applicable to colloidal fluids. In the second part of this paper we use the dynamical density functional theory to derive a theory for spinodal decomposition that is applicable at both early and intermediate times. For early stages of spinodal decomposition our nonlinear theory is equivalent to the (generalized) linear Cahn-Hilliard theory, but for later times it incorporates coupling between different Fourier components of the density fluctuations (modes) and therefore goes beyond Cahn-Hilliard theory. We describe the results of calculations for a model (Yukawa) fluid which show that the coupling leads to the growth of a second maximum in the density fluctuations, at a wave number larger than that of the main peak.     

Excitation spectra of nitro-diphenylaniline: accurate time-dependent density functional theory predictions for charge-transfer dyes

Using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and the polarizable continuum model (PCM), we have computed the absorption spectra of nitro-diphenylamine dyes. It turns out that the 6-311+G(2d,p) and 6-311G(d,p) basis sets provide, respectively, almost perfectly converged excitation spectra and geometries. Using the PBE0 hybrid functional, we obtain a valuable correlation between PCM-TD-DFT and experimental lambdamax with mean signed/absolute deviations of -4 nm (0.03 eV)8 nm (0.06 eV) and relatively small extreme discrepancies, although the excitations responsible for the color of this class of dyes present a charge-transfer character. The changes in the electron density upon absorption are analyzed through an orbital picture. In addition, a relationship between the light fastness and a well-identified vibrational frequency is proposed.     

Atmospheric oxidation mechanism of p-xylene: a density functional theory study

We report an investigation of the mechanistic features of OH-initiated oxidation reactions of p-xylene using density function theory (DFT). Reaction energies for the formation of the aromatic intermediate radicals have been obtained to determine their relative stability and reversibility, and their activation barriers have been analyzed to assess the energetically favorable pathways to propagate the p-xylene oxidation. OH addition is predicted to occur dominantly at the ortho position, with branching ratios of 0.8 and 0.2 for ortho and ipso additions, respectively, and the calculated overall rate constant is in agreement with available experimental studies. Under atmospheric conditions, the p-xylene peroxy radicals arising from initial OH and subsequent O(2) additions to the ring are shown to cyclize to form bicyclic radicals, rather than to react with NO to lead to ozone formation. With relatively low barriers, isomerization of the p-xylene bicyclic radicals to more stable epoxide radicals likely occurs, competing with O(2) addition to form bicyclic peroxy radicals. The study provides thermochemical and kinetic data for assessment of the photochemical production potential of ozone and formation of toxic products and secondary organic aerosol from p-xylene oxidation.     

Aqueous acidities of primary benzenesulfonamides: Quantum chemical predictions based on density functional theory and SMD

Aqueous of selected primary benzenesulfonamides are predicted in a systematic manner using density functional theory methods and the SMD solvent model together with direct and proton exchange thermodynamic cycles. Some test calculations were also performed using high‐level composite CBS‐QB3 approach. The direct scheme generally does not yield a satisfactory agreement between calculated and measured acidities due to a severe overestimation of the Gibbs free energy changes of the gas‐phase deprotonation reaction by the used exchange‐correlation functionals. The relative values calculated using proton exchange method compare to experimental data very well in both qualitative and quantitative terms, with a mean absolute error of about 0.4 units. To achieve this accuracy, we find it mandatory to perform geometry optimization of the neutral and anionic species in the gas and solution phases separately, because different conformations are stabilized in these two cases. We have attempted to evaluate the effect of the conformer‐averaged free energies in the predictions, and the general conclusion is that this procedure is highly too costly as compared with the very small improvement we have gained. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A density functional theory study on the binding of NO onto FePc films

To develop an atomistic understanding of the binding of NO with iron phthalocyanine (FePc), the interaction between NO (an electron withdrawing gas) and NH3 (an electron donating gas) with an isolated FePc molecule (monomer) was compared with density functional theory. The simulations show that NO strongly chemisorbs to the Fe metal and physisorbs to all the nonmetal sites. Additionally, when NO physisorbs to the inner ring nitrogens, NO subsequently undergoes a barrierless migration to the deep chemisorption well on the Fe metal. Conversely, NH3 only weakly chemisorbs to the Fe metal and does not bind to any other sites. Projected density of states simulations and analysis of the atomic charges show that the binding of NO to the FePc metal results in a charge transfer from the Fe metal to the NO chemisorbate; the opposite effect is observed for the binding of NH3 to the Fe metal. Simulations of NO binding to the Fe metal of a monolayer FePc film and FePc trimer were also performed to show that intermolecular FePc-FePc interactions have a negligible effect on the FePc electronic structure and NO binding.     

The formation mechanism of Mo-methylidene species over Mo/HBeta catalysts for heterogeneous olefin metathesis: A density functional theory study

Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to optimize the Mo active sites in HBeta zeolite catalysts as well as to locate the reaction pathways to form the Mo-methylidene species. Two different Mo active sites, i.e., the oxidized Mo^VIO₂ and its reduced form Mo^VO(OH), were developed and incorporated into HBeta zeolites by replacing a pair of Brønsted acidic sites. The Mo-methylidene species were found to be produced through two elementary reaction steps, and the Mo-oxametallacyclobutanes were identified as the intermediates. The activation barriers of the decompositions of the oxametallacyclobutane intermediates (Step 2) were estimated to be higher than those of the ethene addition on the Mo active sites (Step 1). The oxidation states of the Mo centers exerted marked influences on the stabilities of the intermediates as well as on the activation barriers and reaction heats of Steps 1 and 2, which were elucidated by the electronic properties of the O_b-ligands directly bonded to the Mo centers. Both free energy barriers and reaction heats have indicated that the whole processes of generating the Mo-methylidene species were preferred over the Mo(VI) rather than Mo(V) active site. Accordingly, the Mo(VI) active site was more efficient in catalyzing the formation of Mo-methylidene species in the heterogeneous Mo/HBeta catalytic systems.     

左旋葡聚糖热解机理的密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函理论B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)方法,对纤维素热解的主要产物左旋葡聚糖的热解反应机理进行了理论计算分析,设计了四种可能的热解反应途径, 对各种反应的反应物、产物和过渡态的结构进行了能量梯度全优化。计算结果表明,左旋葡聚糖开环成链状中间体时,首先,左旋葡聚糖中的两个半缩醛键C(1)-O(7)和C(6)-O(8)断裂,经过渡态TS₁形成中间体IM₁,同时,C(6)-O(7)结合成键使C(5)-C(6)-O(7)形成环状结构,该反应的能垒较高,为296.53 kJ/mol,然后IM₁经过渡态TS₂转变为中间体IM₂,该反应的能垒为234.09 kJ/mol;对IM₂设计了四条可能的反应路径,反应路径2和3能垒较低,是IM₂最可能的热解反应途径;在反应路径1和4中都包含了脱羰基反应,其反应能垒较高,不易发生。     

A density functional theory investigation on the mechanism and kinetics of dimethyl carbonate formation on Cu2O catalyst

A theoretical analysis about the mechanism and kinetics of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) formation via oxidative carbonylation of methanol on Cu₂O catalyst is explored using periodic density functional calculations, both in gas phase and in solvent. The effect of solvent is taken into account using the conductor‐like screening model. The calculated results show that CO insertion to methoxide species to produce monomethyl carbonate species is the rate‐determining step, the corresponding activation barrier is 161.9 kJ mol^?1. Then, monomethyl carbonate species reacts with additional methoxide to form DMC with an activation barrier of 98.8 kJ mol^?1, above reaction pathway mainly contributes to the formation of DMC. CO insertion to dimethoxide species to form DMC is also considered and analyzed, the corresponding activation barrier is 308.5 kJ mol^?1, suggesting that CO insertion to dimethoxide species is not competitive in dynamics in comparison with CO insertion to methoxide species. The solvent effects on CO insertion to methoxide species involving the activation barriers suggest that the rate‐determining step can be significantly affected by the solvent, 70.2 kJ mol^?1 in methanol and 63.9 kJ mol^?1 in water, which means that solvent effect can reduce the activation barrier of CO insertion to methoxide species and make the reaction of CO insertion to methoxide in solvents much easier than that in gas phase. Above calculated results can provide good theoretical guidance for the mechanism and kinetics of DMC formation and suggest that solvent effect can well improve the performance of DMC formation on Cu₂O catalyst in a liquid‐phase slurry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An atomic scale mechanism for the antimalarial action of chloroquine from density functional theory calculations

The X-ray crystal structures of complexes between the antimalarial drugs quinine, quinidine and halofantrine and their biological target, iron(III) ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FePPIX), have been reported in the literature (de Villiers et al. in ACS Chem Biol 7:666, 2012; J Inorg Biochem 102:1660, 2008) and show that all three drugs utilize their zwitterionic alkoxide forms to coordinate to the iron atom via Fe–O bonds. In this work, density functional theory calculations with implicit solvent corrections have been used to model the energetics of formation of these complexes. It is found that the cost of formation of the active zwitterionic form of each drug is more than offset by the energy of its binding to FePPIX, such that the overall energies for complexation of all three drugs with FePPIX are moderately favourable in water, and rather more favourable in n-octanol as solvent. The calculations have been extended to develop an analogous model for the complex between FePPIX and chloroquine, whose structure is not presently known from experiment.     

NO adsorption on MoS(x) clusters: a density functional theory study

The density functional theory (DFT) method has been used to investigate NO probe molecule adsorption on the stoichiometric (Mo(16)S(32)) and nonstoichiometric (Mo(16)S(34) and Mo(16)S(29)) clusters. The calculated adsorption energies indicate that the stoichiometric cluster has stronger NO affinity than the nonstoichiometric surfaces. It is also found that mononitrosyl adsorption is favored at low NO coverage, while dinitrosyl (germinal) and (NO)(2) dimer adsorption at high NO coverage are possible. Strong repulsive interaction has been found for the adsorbed dinitrosyl and (NO)(2) dimer species. In addition, the computed NO stretching frequencies for the mononitrosyl and dinitrosyl species agree well with the experimental data, while those of the dimer species are much lower than the suggested experimental data.     

Modeling a halogen dance reaction mechanism: A density functional theory study

Since the discovery of the halogen dance (HD) reaction more than 60 years ago, numerous insights into the mechanism have been unveiled. To date however, the reaction has not been investigated from a theoretical perspective. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to model the potential energy surface linking the starting reagents to the lithiated products for each step in the mechanism using a thiophene substrate. It was found that the lithium‐halogen exchange mechanism is critical to understand the HD mechanism in detail and yielded the knowledge that S_N2 transition states (TS) are favored over the four‐center type for the lithium‐bromine exchange steps. The overall driving force for the HD is thermodynamics, while the kinetic factors tightly control the reaction path through temperature. The S_N2 lithium‐bromide TS are barrierless, except the second, which is the limiting step. Finally, the model for the HD is discovered to be a pseudo‐clock type, due to a highly favorable bromide catalysis step and the reformation of 2‐bromothiophene. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Energy decomposition analysis based on a block-localized wavefunction and multistate density functional theory

An interaction energy decomposition analysis method based on the block-localized wavefunction (BLW-ED) approach is described. The first main feature of the BLW-ED method is that it combines concepts of valence bond and molecular orbital theories such that the intermediate and physically intuitive electron-localized states are variationally optimized by self-consistent field calculations. Furthermore, the block-localization scheme can be used both in wave function theory and in density functional theory, providing a useful tool to gain insights on intermolecular interactions that would otherwise be difficult to obtain using the delocalized Kohn-Sham DFT. These features allow broad applications of the BLW method to energy decomposition (BLW-ED) analysis for intermolecular interactions. In this perspective, we outline theoretical aspects of the BLW-ED method, and illustrate its applications in hydrogen-bonding and π-cation intermolecular interactions as well as metal-carbonyl complexes. Future prospects on the development of a multistate density functional theory (MSDFT) are presented, making use of block-localized electronic states as the basis configurations.     

Mechanism(s) of thermal decomposition of N-Nitrosoamides: A density functional theory study

The thermal decomposition of N-nitrosoamides has experimentally been demonstrated to depend on several factors, such as temperature, solvent and the substituents on the substrate. Consequently, a number of reaction mechanisms have been proposed for this process in the literature. In this work, we present a comprehensive computational investigation in which we examine the detailed reaction mechanisms for two N-nitrosoamides (with aliphatic and aromatic substituents) in two different solvents (mesitylene and methanol). It is shown that the reaction mechanism can change dramatically with the nature of the substrate and the choice of solvent. Importantly, it is found that the polar solvent stabilizes ion-pairs that are unstable in the non-polar solvent, which can play a key role in the mechanism.     

Structure and magnetism of [M3](6/7+) metal chain complexes from density functional theory: analysis for copper and predictions for silver

The ground-state electronic structure of the trinuclear complex Cu3(dpa)4Cl2 (1), where dpa is the anion of di(2-pyridyl)amine, has been investigated within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and compared with that obtained for other known M3(dpa)4Cl2 complexes (M = Cr, Co, Ni) and for the still hypothetical Ag3(dpa)4Cl2 compound. Both coinage metal compounds display three singly occupied x2-y2-like (delta) orbitals oriented toward the nitrogen environment of each metal atom, generating antibonding M-(N4) interactions. All other metal orbital combinations are doubly occupied, resulting in no delocalized metal-metal bonding. This is at variance with the other known symmetric M3(dpa)4Cl2 complexes of the first transition series, which all display some delocalized bonding through the metal backbone, with formal bond multiplicity decreasing in the order Cr > Co > Ni. An antiferromagnetic coupling develops between the singly occupied MOs via a superexchange mechanism involving the bridging dpa ligands. This magnetic interaction can be considered as an extension to the three aligned Cu(II) atoms of the well-documented exchange coupling observed in carboxylato-bridged dinuclear copper compounds. Broken-symmetry calculations with approximate spin projection adequately reproduce the coupling constant observed for 1. Oxidation of 1 removes an electron from the magnetic orbital located on the central Cu atom and its ligand environment; 1+ displays a much weaker antiferromagnetic interaction coupling the terminal Cu-N4 moieties via four ligand pathways converging through the x2-y2 orbital of the central metal. The silver homologues of 1 and 1+ display similar electronic ground states, but the calculated magnetic couplings are stronger by factors of about 3 and 4, respectively, resulting from a better overlap between the metal centers and their equatorial ligand environment within the magnetic orbitals.     

Formation mechanism of methane during coal evolution:A density functional theory study

The formation mechanism of methane （CH4） during coal evolution has been investigated by density functional theory （DFT） of quantum chemistry. Thermogenic gas, which is generated during the thermal evolution of medium rank coal, is the main source of coalbed methane （CBM）. Ethylbenzene （A） and 6,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-hydroxynaphthalene （B） have been used as model compounds to study the pyrolysis mechanism of highly volatile bituminous coal （R）, according to the similarity of bond orders and bond lengths. All possible paths are designed for each model. It can be concluded that the activation energies for H-assisted paths are lower than others in the process of methane formation; an H radical attacking on β-C to yield CH4 is the dominant path for the formation of CH4 from highly volatile bituminous coal. In addition, the calculated results also reveal that the positions on which H radical attacks and to which intramolecular H migrates have effects on methyl cleavage.