Calculation of the fine structure and intensity of the singlet-triplet transitions in the imidogen radical

The singlet-triplet transition moments are calculated for the NH radical by multiconfiguration self-consistent field (MCSCF) method with a quadratic response (QR) technique. The band systems in the visible region (b(1)Sigma(+)-->X(3)Sigma(-) and a(1)Delta-->X(3)Sigma(-)) of the NH radical are analyzed in comparison with previous ab initio treatments and with the recent experimental data in attempt to solve some discrepancies. The b(1)Sigma(+)-->X(3)Sigma(Omega)(-) transition moments ratio for the two spin sublevels Omega = 1 and Omega=0 of the ground state is well reproduced and the radiative lifetime of the b(1)Sigma(+) state (tau(b)=58 ms) is obtained in a good agreement with the experimental value tau(b)=53((-13)(+17)) ms. The A(3)Pi<--a(1)Delta transition probability is calculated for the first time and found to be in an excellent agreement with the recent optical pumping measurements of the NH radical in a molecular beam, where population transfer from the metastable a(1)Delta state to the ground X(3)Sigma(-) state is achieved. For the a(1)Delta-->X(3)Sigma(-) transition some improvement is achieved in comparison with the previous ab initio results, but the calculated radiative lifetime (tau(a)=3.9 s) is still much lower than the recent measurement provides (tau(a)=12.5 s). The zero field splitting and spin-rotation coupling constants are calculated for the ground state by different methods and advantage of the density functional theory is stressed.     

Superbase-Promoted Acylation of Hindered Alcohols

The commercially available nonionic superbase P(MeNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (1a) is very useful for the acylation of unreactive hindered alcohols as well as acid-sensitive alcohols. The reactions proceed in high yields using an acid anhydride, and 1a can be regenerated in a single step. The relative rates for benzoylation of (+/-)-menthol in C(6)D(6) using conventional acylation reagents and strong nonionic bases are compared. In general, acetylation with 1a is accelerated in the polar solvent CH(3)CN whereas benzoylation is faster in the nonpolar solvent C(6)H(6). The benzoylation intermediate RC(O)P(MeNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N(+) was found to be in equilibrium with 1a, with lower temperatures favoring the intermediate. The relative stabilities of several known acylating intermediates are compared.     

Binding sites of nitrogenase: kinetic and theoretical studies of cyanide binding to extracted FeMo-cofactor derivatives

The first kinetic study of a substrate (CN(-)) binding to the isolated active site (extracted FeMo-cofactor) of nitrogenase is described. The kinetics of the reactions between CN(-) and various derivatives of extracted FeMo-cofactor [FeMoco-L; where L is bound to Mo, and is NMF, Bu(t)NC, or imidazole (ImH)] have been followed using a stopped-flow, sequential-mix method in which the course of the reaction is followed indirectly, by monitoring the change in the rate of the reaction of the cofactor with PhS(-). The kinetic results, together with DFT calculations, indicate that the initial site of CN(-) binding to FeMoco-L is controlled by a combination of the electron-richness of the cluster core and lability of the Mo-L bond. Ultimately, the reactions between FeMoco-L and CN(-) involve displacement of L and binding of CN(-) to Mo. These reactions occur with a variety of rates and rate laws dependent on the nature of L. For FeMoco-NMF, the reaction with CN(-) is complete within the dead-time of the apparatus (ca. 4 ms), while with FeMoco-CNBu(t) the reaction is much slower and exhibits first order dependences on the concentrations of both FeMoco-CNBu(t) and CN(-) (k = 2.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)). The reaction of FeMoco-ImH with CN(-) occurs at a rate which exhibits a first order dependence on FeMoco-ImH but is independent of the concentration of CN(-) (k = 50 +/- 10 s(-1)). The results are interpreted in terms of CN(-) binding directly to the Mo site for FeMoco-NMF and FeMoco-ImH, but with FeMoco-CNBu(t) initial binding at an Fe site is followed by movement of CN(-) to Mo. Complementary DFT calculations are consistent with this interpretation, indicating that, in FeMoco-L, the Mo-L bond is stronger for L = ImH than for L = CNBu(t) and the binding of CN(-) to Mo is stronger than to any Fe atom in the cofactor.     

Numerical simulation of phase separation of immiscible polymer blends on a heterogeneously functionalized substrate

The spinodal phase decomposition of an immiscible binary polymer blend system is investigated with numerical models in two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D). The effect of the elastic energy is included. The mechanism of the evolution of the phase separation is studied and the characteristic length R(t) is shown to be proportional to t(13). In the case when the phase separation is directed by a heterogeneously functionalized substrate, the increase in the characteristic length is divided into two stages by a critical time. The R(t) approximately t(13) diagram can be fitted with a straight line in both the first and second stages. The slope of the fitting line significantly decreases after the critical time. The compatibility of the resulting pattern to the substrate pattern is also measured by a factor C(S). It is observed that there is also a critical time in the evolution of the compatibility for the cases with and without elastic energy. The critical time of C(S) is identical with the respective critical time of R(t). The lateral and vertical composition profiles functionalized substrate is observed with the 3D model. The difference mechanism of the cases with and without elastic energy is discussed.     

Products and kinetics of the heterogeneous reaction of suspended vinclozolin particles with ozone

Vinclozolin is a widely used fungicide that can be released into the atmosphere via application and volatilization. This paper reports an experimental investigation on the heterogeneous ozonation of vinclozolin particles. The ozonation of vinclozolin adsorbed on azelaic acid particles under pseudo-first-order conditions is investigated online with a vacuum ultraviolet photoionization aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (VUV-ATOFMS). The ozonation products are analyzed with a combination of VUV-ATOFMS and GC/MS. Two main ozonation products are observed. The formation of the ozonation products results from addition of O(3) on the C-C double bond of the vinyl group. The heterogeneous reactive rate constant of vinclozolin particles under room temperature is (2.4 ± 0.4) × 10(-17) cm(3) molecules(-1) s(-1), with a corresponding lifetime at 100 ppbv O(3) of 4.3 ± 0.7 h, which is almost comparable with the estimated lifetime due to the reaction with atmospheric OH radicals (～1.7 h). The reactive uptake coefficient for O(3) on vinclozolin particles is (6.1 ± 1.0) × 10(-4).     

Collective mechanical behavior of multilayer colloidal arrays of hollow nanoparticles

The collective mechanical behavior of multilayer colloidal arrays of hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNP) is explored under spherical nanoindentation through a combination of experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches. The effective indentation modulus E(ind) is found to decrease with an increasing number of layers in a nonlinear manner. The indentation force versus penetration depth behavior for multilayer hollow particle arrays is predicted by an approximate analytical model based on the spring stiffness of the individual particles and the multipoint, multiparticle interactions as well as force transmission between the layers. The model is in good agreement with experiments and with detailed finite element simulations. The ability to tune the effective indentation modulus, E(ind), of the multilayer arrays by manipulating particle geometry and layering is revealed through the model, where E(ind) = (0.725m(-3/2) + 0.275)E(mon) and E(mon) is the monolayer modulus and m is number of layers. E(ind) is seen to plateau with increasing m to E(ind_plateau) = 0.275E(mon) and E(mon) scales with (t/R)(2), t being the particle shell thickness and R being the particle radius. The scaling law governing the nonlinear decrease in indentation modulus with an increase in layer number (E(ind) scaling with m(-3/2)) is found to be similar to that governing the indentation modulus of thin solid films E(ind_solid) on a stiff substrate (where E(ind_solid) scales with h(-1.4) and also decreases until reaching a plateau value) which also decreases with an increase in film thickness h. However, the mechanisms underlying this trend for the colloidal array are clearly different, where discrete particle-to-particle interactions govern the colloidal array behavior in contrast to the substrate constraint on deformation, which governs the thickness dependence of the continuous thin film indentation modulus.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Dicationic Dihydrogen Complexes of Osmium

The dicationic Os(II) complex [Os(bpy)(PPh(3))(2)(CO)(H(2))](2+) has been prepared as the triflate salt. The presence of a bound dihydrogen ligand is indicated by a short T(1) minimum value consistent with an H-H distance of 1.05 ?. In the partially deuterated derivative J(HD) = 25.5 Hz was observed. By comparison to other structurally characterized complexes, the observed H-D coupling is most consistent with a H-H distance greater than 1 ?, which requires that the bound H(2) ligand be in the slow rotation regime. The dicationic complex is a strong acid, indicating that the bound H(2) is substantially activated toward heterolytic cleavage. The H(2) ligand is tightly bound to the metal center, and does not undergo exchange with D(2) over the course of several weeks at room temperature. A related dicationic Os(II) complex, [Os(bpy)(2)(CO)(H(2))](2+), has also been prepared. A short T(1) minimum value and a J(HD) value of 29.0 Hz in the partially deuterated derivative is most consistent with a H-H distance of 0.99 ?. The bound H(2) ligand of this complex is significantly less activated toward heterolytic cleavage and is stable in solution for less than a day at room temperature.     

Photolysis of NSAIDs. I. photodegradation products of carprofen determined by LC-ESI-MS

A solution of carprofen in methanol at a concentration of 2.74 x 10(-2) mg/mL is subjected to photoirradiation using a Hanovia 200-W high-pressure Hg lamp for 9 h. In total, seven photodegradation products are separated, and their quasimolecular ions are subsequently determined online using a liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) method. The high-performance LC consists of an Inertsil 5 ODS-80A (2.1- x 150-mm) column. The mobile phase is initially CH(3)CN. NH(4)OAc (20mM in de-ionized H(2)O) is 43:57 (v/v), and after 14 min it is CH(3)CN. NH(4)OAc (20mM in de-ionized H2O) is 54: 46 (v/v). The UV detector was set at 260 nm. The parameters of LC-MS for mass determination involves an atmospheric pressure ionization electron spray interface with a negative mode of polarity (ESI(-)). The chemical structures of the degradants are elucidated based on the mass-to-charge ratio of the quasimolecular ions and the molecular weight changes by comparison with the parent drug (carprofen). The degradation proceeds via an initial dechlorination. A dechlorination or esterification reaction is competed with decarboxylation. This finding is in accordance with our previously reported result of first order photodecomposition kinetics for carprofen.     

An experimental and computational investigation of the enantioselective deprotonation of Boc-piperidine

The asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc-piperidine (3) by the 1:1 complex of a sec-alkyllithium and (-)-sparteine has been investigated both experimentally and computationally. The lithiation of 3 with sec-BuL-(-)-sparteine at -78 degrees C, which is a much slower process than is the analogous deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine (1) and a minor reaction relative to the competing addition of sec-BuLi to the carbamate, proceeds with a moderate degree of selectivity (er = 87:13) for removal of the pro-S hydrogen of 3. The related deprotonation of N-Boc-4-tosyloxypiperidine (6) with two molar equiv of sec-BuL-(-)-sparteine also involves preferential transfer of the pro-S hydrogen. The computational study of the deprotonation of (3) by i-PrL-(-)-sparteine found that the proton that is preferentially transferred within three-component intermediate complex is the thermodynamically least acidic alpha-hydrogen of 3. The asymmetric deprotonation of 3 is calculated to proceed with poor enantioselectivity and to have an activation energy considerably higher than that calculated for deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine (1). The experimental and computational results are in good agreement.     

A collaborative study of four methods of assay of benzylpenicillin

The assay of benzylpenicillin by iodimetric titration, spectrophotometry with a mercury(II) chloride—imidazole reagent, titration with mercury(II) nitrate in acetate buffer solution, and titration with mercury(II) perchlorate in aqueous pyridine solution, was examined in four laboratories. The first two methods were applied to two samples (the third one being the reference sample), the mercury(II) nitrate titration to three, and the mercury(II) perchlorate method to two samples. The four methods gave very similar results, but the purity obtained with the mercury(II) perchlorate method was slightly lower, and this procedure is less desirable because pyridine is used as solvent. There were no great differences in the relative standard deviations of the four methods. The titration with mercury(II) nitrate is preferred because it is an absolute method.     

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study of the hydrolysis of boron dioxide in solid argon

The reaction of boron dioxide with water molecule has been studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. The boron dioxide molecules produced by codeposition of laser-evaporated boron atoms with dioxygen react spontaneously with water molecules to form OB(OH)2, which is characterized to have a doublet ground-state with two OH groups in the cis-trans form. Isotopic substitution results indicate that the hydrolysis process proceeds via a concerted two hydrogen atom transfer mechanism. The cis-trans-OB(OH)2 molecule is photosensitive; it decomposes to the OH x OB(OH) complex upon broadband UV-visible irradiation. The OH x OB(OH) complex is determined to have a (2)A' ground-state with a bent C(s) symmetry, in which the terminal oxygen atom of the OB(OH) fragment is hydrogen bonded with the hydroxyl radical. The OH x OB(OH) complex recombines to the cis-trans-OB(OH)2 molecule upon sample annealing.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of methyl 4-nitrophenyl,methyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl,and phenyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl carbonates

The reactions of methyl 4-nitrophenyl carbonate (MNPC) with a series of secondary alicyclic amines (SAA) and quinuclidines (QUIN), methyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl carbonate (MDNPC) with QUIN and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazinium ion (HPA), and phenyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl carbonate (PDNPC) with SAA are subjected to a kinetic investigation in aqueous solution, at 25.0 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M. By following spectrophotometrically the nucleofuge release (330-400 nm) under amine excess, pseudo-first-order rate coefficients (k(obsd)) are obtained. Plots of k(obsd) vs [amine] at constant pH are linear, with the slope (k(N)) being pH independent. The Br?nsted-type plot (log k(N) vs amine pK(a)) for the reactions of SAA with MNPC is biphasic with slopes beta(1) = 0.3 (high pK(a) region) and beta(2) = 1.0 (low pK(a) region) and a curvature center at pK(a)(0) = 9.3. This plot is consistent with a stepwise mechanism through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T(+/-)) and a change in the rate-determining step with SAA basicity. The Br?nsted plot for the quinuclidinolysis of MNPC is linear with slope beta(N) = 0.86, in line with a stepwise process where breakdown of T(+/-) to products is rate limiting. A previous work on the reactions of SAA with MDNPC was revised by including the reaction of HPA. The Br?nsted plots for the reactions of QUIN and SAA with MDNPC and SAA with PDNPC are linear with slopes beta = 0.51, 0.48, and 0.39, respectively, consistent with concerted mechanisms. Since quinuclidines are better leaving groups from T(+/-) than isobasic SAA, yielding a less stable T(+/-), it seems doubtful that the quinuclidinolysis of PDNPC is stepwise, as reported.     

Characterization of Lewis acid sites on the (100) surface of beta-AlF3: Ab initio calculations of NH3 adsorption

The current study employs hybrid-exchange density functional theory to show that the Lewis base, NH(3), binds to the beta-AlF(3) (100) surface with a binding energy (BE) of up to -1.96 eV per molecule. This is characteristic of a strong Lewis acid. The binding of NH(3) to the surface is predominately due to electrostatic interactions. There is only a small charge transfer from the NH(3) molecule to the surface. The BE as a function of coverage is computed and used to develop a lattice Monte Carlo model which is used to predict the temperature programed desorption (TPD) spectrum. Comparison with experimental TPD studies of NH(3) from beta-AlF(3) strongly suggests that these structural models and binding mechanisms are good approximations to those that occur on real AlF(3) surfaces.     

Acid-Catalyzed Amine-Borane Reduction of Nitrite

The rate of reduction of nitrite by trimethylamine-borane was followed by observing the decrease in nitrite absorbance under pseudo-first-order conditions. The reaction is acid-catalyzed and exhibits a first-order dependence on both amine-borane and total nitrite concentration. The molar equivalence of NaNO(2) to (CH(3))(3)NBH(3) = 2:1. Equimolar amounts of hydrogen and nitrous oxide are formed, and the molar ratio of nitrite reacted to N(2)O produced is 2:1. In concentrated HCl or H(2)SO(4), a correlation of rate with the Hammett acidity function, h(o), is observed. The reaction is subject to a pronounced inversesolvent isotope effect (k(D)()2(O)/k(H)()2(O) approximately 2.7) and a modest normal substrate effect (k((CH)()3())()3(N.BH)()3/k((CH)()3())()3(N.BD)()3 approximately 1.4). The reaction is first-order in H(3)O(+) in the region pH 0.7-2.7, but a second-order dependence is observed above pH 4 with the transition occurring at pH approximately pK(a) for HNO(2). Results are consistent with a mechanistic model involving preequilibration protonation of molecular nitrous acid followed by rate-limiting hydride attack on H(2)ONO(+) or free NO(+) to produce nitrosyl hydride as a reactive intermediate.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the pyridinolysis of aryl furan-2-carbodithioates in acetonitrile

Kinetic studies on the pyridinolysis of aryl furan-2-carbodithioates 1 are carried out at 60.0 degrees C in acetonitrile. The biphasic rate dependence on the pyridine basicity with a breakpoint at pK(a) degrees = 5.2 is interpreted to indicate a change of the rate-limiting step from breakdown (beta(X) = 0.7-0.8) to formation (beta(X) = 0.2) of the tetrahedral intermediate, T(+/-), at the breakpoint as the basicity of the pyridine nucleophile is increased. Observation of the breakpoint is possible with pyridines since the expulsion rate of the pyridine (k(-)(a)) from T(+/-) is sufficiently low, with the low k(-)(a)/k(b) ratio leading to a low breakpoint, pK(a) degrees. The clear-cut change in the cross-interaction constants, rho(XZ), from a positive (rho(XZ) = +0.86) to a small negative (rho(XZ) = -0.11) value at the breakpoint supports the mechanistic change proposed. The magnitudes of rho(Z) and activation parameters are also consistent with the proposed mechanism.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of selenium with 4,5,6-triaminopyrimidine

4,5,6-Triaminopyrimidine reacts in acidic aqueous media with selenium (IV) to give a piazselenol which has an absorption maximum at 362 nm with a molar absorptivity of 1.72 x 10(4) 1.mole(-1).cm(-1). The compound is stable but not extractable into non-polar solvents. The calibration graph is linear up to 10 ppm of selenium, with a detection limit of 0.1 ppm in the sample solutions. Of the many different ions tested only iron (III) (in the presence of chloride) and tin (II) interfere. The method has good reproducibility, with a relative standard deviation of 1.5% for pure solutions. The application of this method to analysis of water and electrolytic copper is described.     

Theoretical analysis of the three-dimensional structure of tetrathiolato iron complexes

The three-dimensional structures of a number of [M(SR)(4)](n-) complexes, where M is a 3d transition metal and R is an alkyl or aryl group, have been analyzed using density functional theory (DFT). Special attention is paid to the Fe(II)/Fe(III) mimics of rubredoxin. The Fe(II) model complex [Fe(SCH(3))(4)](2-) has an equilibrium conformation with D2d symmetry. The DFT energy has been decomposed into contributions for ligand-ligand and metal-ligand interactions. The latter contribution is analyzed with the angular overlap model (AOM) and constitutes the dominant stereospecific interaction in the Fe(II) complex. The sulfur lone-pair electrons exert anisotropic pi interactions on the 3d(6) shell of Fe(II), which are controlled by the torsion angles, omega(i), for the rotations of the S(i)-C(beta) bonds around the Fe-S(i) axes. In contrast, the pi interactions acting on the high-spin 3d(5) shell of Fe(III) are isotropic. As a consequence, the stereochemistry of the Fe(III) complexes is determined by the Coulomb repulsions between the ligands and has S(4) symmetry. The electrostatic repulsions between the lone pairs of the sulfurs are an essential component of the ligand-ligand interaction. The lone-pair repulsions distort the 90 degree angle SFeS' angles (delta + delta(t)) and give rise to a correlation between delta and omega, which is confirmed by crystallographic data. Both the Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes exhibit structural bistability due to the presence of low-lying equilibrium conformations with S(4) symmetry in which the complex can be trapped by the crystalline host.     

A family of vanadate esters of monoionized and diionized aromatic 1,2-diols: synthesis,structure, and redox activity

The concerned diols (general abbreviation, H(2)L) are catechol (H(2)L(1)) and its 3,5-Bu(t)(2) derivative (H(2)L(2)). Esters of the type VO(xsal)(HL), 2, are obtained by reacting H(2)L with VO(xsal)(H(2)O) or VO(xsal)(OMe)(HOMe), where xsal(2-) is the diionized salicylaldimine of glycine (x = g), L-alanine (x = a), or L-valine (x = v). The reaction of VO(acac)(2) with H(2)L and the salicylaldimine (Hpsal) of 2-picolylamine has furnished VO(psal)(L), 3. In the structures of VO(gsal)(HL(1)), 2a, and VO(vsal)(HL(2)), 2f, the HL(-) ligand is O,O-chelated, the phenolic oxygen lying trans to the oxo oxygen atom. The xsal(2-) coligand has a folded structure and the conformation of 2f is exclusively endo. In both 2a and 2f the phenolic oxygen atom is strongly hydrogen bonded (O...O, 2.60 A) to a carboxylic oxygen atom of a neighboring molecule. In VO(psal)(L(2)).H(2)O, 3b, the diionized diol is O,O-chelated to the metal and the water molecule is hydrogen bonded to a phenoxidic oxygen atom (O.O, 2.84 A). The C-O and C-C distances in the V(diol) fragment reveal that 2 is a pure catecholate and 3 is a catecholate-semiquinonate hybrid. In solution each ester gives rise to a single (51)V NMR signal (no diastereoisomers), which generally shifts downfield with a decrease in the ester LMCT band energy. The V(V)/V(IV) and catecholate-semiquinonate reduction potentials lie near -0.75 and 0.35, and 1.10 and 0.70 V vs SCE for 2 and 3, respectively. Molecular oxygen reacts smoothly with 2 quantitatively furnishing the corresponding o-quinone, and in the presence of H(2)L the reaction becomes catalytic. In contrast, type 3 esters are inert to oxygen. The initial binding of O(2) to 2 is proposed to occur via hydrogen bonding with chelated HL(-).     

Aggregation and reactivity of the cesium enolate of 6-phenyl-alpha-tetralone: comparison with the lithium enolate

The cesium enolate of 6-phenyl-alpha-tetralone (CsPAT) has a lambda(max) in THF at about 387 nm, but the variation with concentration is too small for application of singular value decomposition. Proton-transfer studies with several indicators show that CsPAT forms monomer-tetramer mixtures with a tetramerization equilibrium constant, K(1,4) = 2.3 x 10(11) M(-3). The pK of the monomer is 23.39 on a scale where fluorene is assigned 22.9 (per hydrogen). For comparison, the lithium enolate, LiPAT, is also a monomer-tetramer with K(1,4) = 4.7 x 10(10) M(-3) and a monomer pK = 14.22. HMPA in large amounts promotes dissociation to monomer with both enolates. Ion-pair S(N)2 initial rates were measured for CsPAT with several alkyl halides and with methyl tosylate and compared with other rates with LiPAT. In all cases, the enolate monomers are much more reactive than the aggregates. Reaction of CsPAT with alkyl halides is generally C-alkylation but HMPA promotes increasing amounts of O-alkylation. A new indicator, 11-methyl-11H-benzo[b]fluorene, has a pK on the cesium scale of 23.39.     

Efficient quantum calculations of vibrational states of vinylidene in full dimensionality: a scheme with combination of methods

Full-dimensional quantum calculations of vibrational states of C(2)H(2) and C(2)D(2) are performed in the high-energy region (above 20,400 cm(-1) relative to the acetylene minimum). The theoretical scheme is a combination of several methods. To exploit the full parity and permutation symmetry, the CC-HH diatom-diatom Jacobi coordinates are chosen; phase space optimization in combination with physical considerations is used to obtain an efficient radial discrete variable representation, whereas a basis contraction scheme is applied for angular coordinates. The preconditioned inexact spectral transform method combined with an efficient preconditioner is employed to compute eigenstates within a desired spectral window. The computation is efficient. More definite assignments on vinylidene states than previous studies are acquired using the normal mode projection; in particular, a consistent analysis of the nu(1) (symmetric CH stretch) state is provided. The computed vinylidene vibrational energy levels are in general good agreement with experiment, and several vinylidene states are reported for the first time.