Does symmetry of branching affect the properties of dendrimers?

Statistical properties of second- to sixth- generation dendrimers with symmetric and asymmetric branching were investigated via Langevin dynamics in dilute solutions with the use of a coarse-grained model. The cases of charged and neutral terminal groups are discussed. Steric interactions were controlled by repulsive forces, a circumstance that corresponded to an athermal solvent. Electrostatic interactions were taken into account via the Ewald method. The size and shape of macromolecules; the density profiles for monomer units and, separately, for terminal groups; and the effective charge of a dendrimer as a function of the generation number were determined. It is shown that the equilibrium characteristics of dendrimers with symmetric and asymmetric branching are similar if the average lengths of their spacers coincide. Branching asymmetry appeared itself only in increased “turning back” of short spacers relative to their longer neighbors’ arising from the same branching point.     

Features of charge carrier concentration and mobility in π-conjugated polymers

We show the possibilities of experimental investigation of charge carrier mobility and concentration features by extraction methods of equilibrium, photoexcited and injected charge carriers in π-conjugated polymers, where, due to relatively high conductivity, the classic time-of-flight method is inappropriate.     

Computational and spectroscopic studies of organic mixed-valence compounds: where is the charge?

This article discusses recent progress by a combination of spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations in classifying and characterizing organic mixed-valence systems in terms of their localized vs. delocalized character. A recently developed quantum-chemical protocol based on non-standard hybrid functionals and continuum solvent models is evaluated for an extended set of mixed-valence bis-triarylamine radical cations, augmented by unsymmetrical neutral triarylamine-perchlorotriphenylmethyl radicals. It turns out that the protocol is able to provide a successful assignment to class II or class III Robin-Day behavior and gives quite accurate ground- and excited-state properties for the radical cations. The limits of the protocol are probed by the anthracene-bridged system 8, where it is suspected that specific solute-solvent interactions are important and not covered by the continuum solvent model. Intervalence charge-transfer excitation energies for the neutral unsymmetrical radicals are systematically overestimated, but dipole moments and a number of other properties are obtained accurately by the protocol.     

Microscopic simulations of molecular cluster decay: Does the carrier gas affect evaporation?

We develop a kinetic theory of cluster decay by considering the stochastic motion of molecules within an effective potential of mean force (PMF) due to the cluster. We perform molecular dynamics simulations on a 50-atom argon cluster to determine the mean radial force on a component atom and hence the confining potential of mean force. Comparisons between isolated clusters and clusters thermostatted through the presence of a 100-atom helium carrier gas show that the heat bath has only a slight effect upon the PMF. This confirms the validity of calculations of cluster properties using isolated cluster simulations. The PMF is used to calculate the atomic evaporation rate from these clusters, and results are compared with the predictions of the capillarity approximation together with detailed balance, both components of the classical theory of aerosol nucleation.     

Conductivities of 1∶1 salts in 2-cyanopyridine

Electrolytic conductivities of eight simple 11 electrolytes have been measured in dilute solutions of 2-cyanopyridine (2CNP) at 30°. Infinite dilution mobilities and association constants were calculated using the Fuoss-Hsia equation. With the exception of LiCF₃SO₃ all salts show very little association, consistent with the very high dielectric constant of 2CNP. The weak association which does occur is attributed to weak ion-solvent interactions. No evidence was found for triple ion formation. Conductivities of concentrated solutions of LiAsF₆ in 2CNP increase slowly with concentration reaching a maximum at a concentration of around 0.65 mol-dm^–3. These conductances are slightly lower than those in propylene carbonate which has a lower dielectric constant and a higher viscosity. Conductivities of concentrated LiAsF₆ solutions in 2CNP mixtures with acetonitrile vary monotonically, consistent with solution viscosities, and show no sign of the maximum commonly observed in mixed organic solvents.     

Synthesis of cyclobuteniminium salts derived from aldo-keteniminium salts and study of their reactivity in Diels–Alder reaction

The synthesis of broad scope of novel monosubstituted cyclobuteniminium salts derived from aldo-keteniminium salts and acetylene or 1-propyne is described. The reactivity of cyclobuteniminium salts in Diels–Alder reactions has been studied in detail by DFT calculations and by performing competition reaction with cyclobutenone derivatives.     

Is charge reduction in ESI really necessary?

The technique of charge reduction electrospray mass spectrometry (CREMS), which can reduce the charge state complexity produced in electrospray ionization (ESI), is discussed.     

Cathodic reactivity of platinum interface in the presence of tetramethylammonium salts. A pro-base cathode material?

The cathodic charging of platinum and platinized platinum surfaces has been shown to occur to the great extent in the presence of a large palette of tetramethylammonium salts (TMAX) dissolved in dry dimethylformamide (DMF). The role of residual moisture and that of OH⁻ generated at low potential were underlined. Thus, the electrical charging stoichiometry can reach one electron per platinum atom according to a process which appeared to be quasi reversible (X=BF₄ or ClO₄). The paper stresses on dramatic surface structural changes acquired progressively during several reduction/oxidation cycles or in the course of macroelectrolyses.     

Long-lived charge carrier generation in ordered films of a covalent perylenediimide–diketopyrrolopyrrole–perylenediimide molecule

The photophysics of a covalently linked perylenediimide–diketopyrrolopyrrole–perylenediimide acceptor–donor–acceptor molecule (PDI–DPP–PDI, 1) were investigated and found to be markedly different in solution versus in unannealed and solvent annealed films. Photoexcitation of 1 in toluene results in quantitative charge separation in τ = 3.1 ± 0.2 ps, with charge recombination in τ = 340 ± 10 ps, while in unannealed/disordered films of 1, charge separation occurs in τ < 250 fs, while charge recombination displays a multiexponential decay in ∼6 ns. The absence of long-lived, charge separation in the disordered film suggests that few free charge carriers are generated. In contrast, upon CH₂Cl₂ vapor annealing films of 1, grazing-incidence X-ray scattering shows that the molecules form a more ordered structure. Photoexcitation of the ordered films results in initial formation of a spin-correlated radical ion pair (electron–hole pair) as indicated by magnetic field effects on the formation of free charge carriers which live for ∼4 μs. This result has significant implications for the design of organic solar cells based on covalent donor–acceptor systems and shows that long-lived, charge-separated states can be achieved by controlling intramolecular charge separation dynamics in well-ordered systems.     

Does bimolecular charge recombination in highly exergonic electron transfer afford the triplet excited state or the ground state of a photosensitizer?

The investigations were made on photoinduced electron transfer (ET) from the singlet excited state of rubrene (1RU*) to p-benzoquinone derivatives (duroquinone, 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone, p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, and p-chloranil) in benzonitrile (PhCN) by using the steady state and time-resolved spectroscopies. The photoinduced ET produces solvent-separated type charge-separated (CS) species and the charge-recombination (CR) process between RU radical cation and semiquinone radical anions obeys second-order kinetics. Not only the CS species but also the triplet excited state of RU (3RU*) is seen in the transient absorption spectra upon laser excitation of a PhCN solution of RU and p-benzoquinone derivatives. The comparison of their time profiles clearly suggests that the CR process between RU radical cation and semiquinone radical anions to the ground state is independent from the deactivation of 3RU*. This indicates that the CR in a highly exergonic ET occurs at a longer distance with a large solvent reorganization energy, which results in faster ET to the ground state than to the triplet excited state that is lower in energy than the CS state. Photoinduced ET from 3RU* in addition from 1RU* also occurs when p-benzoquinone derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents were employed as electron acceptors.     

An assessment of alkyl chain length effect of symmetric İmidazolium salts as a carrier for selective separation of Cr(VI)

Selective solvent extraction (SSX) of Cr(VI) and recovery was evaluated by using a homologous series of symmetric imidazolium bromide salts (SIMs) having various alkyl chain length. Therefore, propyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, and decyl substituted SIMs were used as an ion carrier. The executive parameters affecting both extraction and stripping conditions were investigated for optimization. Finally, a direct correlation was observed a between increasing alkyl chain length and selective Cr(VI) extraction from acidic solutions containing Cr(VI), Fe(III), Co(II), Cd(II), Ni(II). This relationship was reversed in the stripping conditions. Optimal extraction and stripping were obtained for SIM5 and SIM2 as 97.49% and 70.00%, respectively.     

Determination of the state of charge of TCNQ0/− mixed-valence complexes based on a spectroscopic model. Application to thin films of electrocrystallised tetraethylammonium complexes

A simple and inexpensive method is proposed as a powerful and rapid tool for the determination of the state of charge of mixed-valence compounds. Based on UV-spectrometry and integration of voltammetric peaks, the stoichiometric ratio between both oxidation states of TCNQ (that is TCNQ^0/−) has been determined for thin films obtained by electrocrystallisation on a glassy carbon electrode. This method permits such determination, regardless of the experimental conditions and, thus, it can be used to establish the reproducibility of the methods of synthesis of mixed-valence compounds by using simple spectroscopic measurements. The method has been validated with the well-known Cs₂TCNQ₃ system and applied to ethylammonium salts of unknown structure.     

New π-conjugated thieno[3,2-b]indole derivatives and charge carrier mobility in their thin films

New push-pull chromophores based on thieno[3,2-b]indole were synthesized. The energy levels of the outer molecular orbitals and the mobility of electrons and holes in thin films prepared from solutions of these compounds were determined experimentally.

     

Delocalization of positive charge in π-stacked multi-benzene rings in multilayered cyclophanes

In the present study, delocalization of a positive charge in π-stacked multi-benzene rings in multilayered para- and meta-cyclophanes, in which benzene rings are connected by propyl chains to form a chromophore array with the face-to-face structure, was investigated by means of transient absorption spectroscopy during the pulse radiolysis using dichloroethane as a solvent. The local excitation and charge resonance (CR) bands were successfully observed. It was revealed that the CR band shifted to the longer wavelength side with the number of the benzene rings. The stabilization energy estimated from the peak position of the CR band showed the efficient charge delocalization over the cyclophanes. Furthermore, the CR bands showed the slight spectral change attributable to the change in distribution of the conformers. The substantially long lifetime of the CR band can be explained on the basis of the smaller charge distribution on the outer layers of the multilayered cyclophanes.     

A threshold for charge transfer in aromatic interactions? A quantitative study of pi-stacking interactions

[structure: see text] Attractive interactions between substituted arenes in the parallel displaced configuration have been quantitatively studied using triptycene-derived molecular conformational reporters. Charge-transfer bands are observed for models where the interactions are between strong donor and acceptors. Substituent effects on the strength of the aromatic interaction follow opposite trends for strongly electron-deficient arenes and mildly perturbed arenes. The free energy of interactions for models with strong electron donors and acceptors does not follow a linear correlation in the Hammett plot. Electrostatic models alone do not account for the nonlinearity of the free energy-substituents plot.     

What governs the charge transfer in DNA? The role of DNA conformation and environment

Charge transfer in DNA has received much attention in the last few years due to its role in oxidative damage and repair in DNA and also due to possible applications of DNA in nanoelectronics. Despite intense experimental and theoretical efforts, the mechanism underlying long-range hole transport is still unresolved. This is in particular due to the sensitive dependence of charge transfer on the complex structure and dynamics of DNA and the interaction with the solvent, which could not be addressed adequately in the modeling approaches up to now. In this work, we study the factors governing hole transfer in detail, using a DFT-based fragment-orbital method, which allows to compute the charge transfer parameters along multinanosecond molecular dynamics simulations. Environmental effects are captured using a hybrid quantum mechanics-molecular mechanics (QM/MM) coupling scheme. This methodology allows to analyze several factors responsible for charge transfer in DNA in detail. The fluctuation of counterions, strongly counterbalanced by the surrounding water, leads to large oscillations of onsite energies, which govern the energetics of hole propagation along the DNA strand. In contrast, the electronic couplings depend only on DNA conformation and are not affected by the solvent. In particular, the onsite energies are strongly correlated between neighboring nucleobases, indicating that a conformational-gating type of mechanism may be induced by the collective environmental degrees of freedom.     

Does water condense in carbon pores?

Using grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations of molecular models, we investigate the nature of water adsorption and desorption in slit pores with graphitelike surfaces. Special emphasis is placed on the question of whether water exhibits capillary condensation (i.e., condensation when the external pressure is below the bulk vapor pressure). Three models of water have been considered. These are the SPC and SPC/E models and a model where the hydrogen bonding is described by tetrahedrally coordinated square-well association sites. The water-carbon interaction was described by the Steele 10-4-3 potential. In addition to determining adsorption/desorption isotherms, we also locate the states where vapor-liquid equilibrium occurs for both the bulk and confined states of the models. We find that for wider pores (widths >1 nm), condensation does not occur in the GCMC simulations until the pressure is higher than the bulk vapor pressure, P0. This is consistent with a physical picture where a lack of hydrogen bonding with the graphite surface destabilizes dense water phases relative to the bulk. For narrow pores where the slit width is comparable to the molecular diameter, strong dispersion interactions with both carbon surfaces can stabilize dense water phases relative to the bulk so that pore condensation can occur for P < P0 in some cases. For the narrowest pores studied--a pore width of 0.6 nm--pore condensation is again shifted to P > P0. The phase-equilibrium calculations indicate vapor-liquid coexistence in the slit pores for P < P0 for all but the narrowest pores. We discuss the implications of our results for interpreting water adsorption/desorption isotherms in porous carbons.     

Does Fluorine Participate in Halogen Bonding?

When R is sufficiently electron withdrawing, the fluorine in the R?F molecules could interact with electron donors (e.g., ammonia) and form a noncovalent bond (F ??? N). Although these interactions are usually categorized as halogen bonding, our studies show that there are fundamental differences between these interactions and halogen bonds. Although the anisotropic distribution of electronic charge around a halogen is responsible for halogen bond formations, the electronic charge around the fluorine in these molecules is spherical. According to source function analysis, F is the sink of electron density at the F ??? N BCP, whereas other halogens are the source. In contrast to halogen bonds, the F ??? N interactions cannot be regarded as lump–hole interactions; there is no hole in the valence shell charge concentration (VSCC) of fluorine. Although the quadruple moment of Cl and Br is mainly responsible for the existence of σ‐holes, it is negligibly small in the fluorine. Here, the atomic dipole moment of F plays a stabilizing role in the formation of F ??? N bonds. Interacting quantum atoms (IQA) analysis indicates that the interaction between halogen and nitrogen in the halogen bonds is attractive, whereas it is repulsive in the F ??? N interactions. Virial‐based atomic energies show that the fluorine, in contrast to Cl and Br, stabilize upon complex formation. According to these differences, it seems that the F ??? N interactions should be referred to as “fluorine bond” instead of halogen bond.