Ab initio study of the HCO 3 − /H2O exchange in the (NH3)3 ZnII(HCO 3 − ) complex

Summary The displacement of bicarbonate anion in the (NH₃)₃Zn^II(HCO ₃ ^– ) complex with water has been studied throughab initio calculations. It has been found that H₂O binds to the (NH₃)₃Zn^II(HCO ₃ ^– ) species yielding a stable pentacoordinate (NH₃)₃Zn^II(HCO ₃ ^– )(H₂O) complex. The results also indicate that deprotonation of water in the pentacoordinate species facilitates the release of HCO ₃ ^– , although, the presence of HCO ₃ ^– in the coordination sphere of Zn^II makes such deprotonation more difficult. Environmental effects have been considered in the study of HCO ₃ ^– /H₂O exchange.A contribution from the Grup de Química Quàntica de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans     

Theoretical studies of the reactions of Cl atoms with CF3CH2OCH n F(3−n) (n = 1, 2, 3)

This paper presents the theoretical studies of the reactions of Cl atoms with CF₃CH₂OCH₃, CF₃CH₂OCH₂F and CF₃CH₂OCHF₂ using an ab initio direct dynamics theory. The geometries and vibrational frequencies of the reactants, complexes, transition states and products are calculated at the MP2/6-31+(d,p) level. The minimum energy path is also calculated at same level. The MC-QCISD method is carried out for further refining the energetic information. The rate constants are evaluated with the canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) and CVT with small curvature tunneling contributions in the temperature range 200–1,500 K. The results are in good agreement with experimental values.     

Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy of solvated electron cluster anions, (H2O) n − and (NH3) n −

The photodetachment spectra of (H₂O) _n ^=2?69/? and (NH₃) _n ^=41?1100/? have been recorded, and vertical detachment energies (VDEs) were obtained from the spectra. For both systems, the cluster anion VDEs increase smoothly with increasing sizes and most species plot linearly withn ^?1/3, extrapolating to a VDE (n=∞) value which is very close to the photoelectric threshold energy for the corresponding condensed phase solvated electron system. The linear extrapolation of this data to the analogous condensed phase property suggests that these cluster anions are gas phase counterparts to solvated electrons, i.e. they are embryonic forms of hydrated and ammoniated electrons which mature with increasing cluster size toward condensed phase solvated electrons.     

Pressure tuning spectroscopy of [Pt3(CO)6]2−n (n=3–5)

The pressure shifts of the first three bands appearing in the visible spectra of [Pt₃(CO)₆]²⁻_n (n = 3–5) have been measured in solution over the range 0–10 kbar. Previous electronic calculations performed on the dimer in conjunction with these results afford a possible set of assignments for the first three bands appearing in the visible spectrum for the dimer.     

Energetics and structure in I 2 − (CO2) n clusters

We have implemented a model of I ₂ ^? (CO₂) _n (2 ≤n ≤ 17) clusters and present an analysis of the minimum energy structures obtained from a quenching procedure. A discussion of the importance of various potential contributions to the energetics of the clusters is also presented. Given the current state of understanding of structural control of caging and the time scales of recombination and evaporation, this model has important implications for understanding the picosecond dynamics observed by the Lineberger group and for rigorous studies of evaporation rates.     

Inter-Alkali-Metal Dative Bond in the MMN3− (M=Alkali Metal) Cluster

Alkali metals are generally Lewis acids. On the contrary, Lewis basic character of alkali metals forming donor – acceptor complexes is a very rare phenomenon. In this contribution, I have theoretically designed an anionic cluster MMN₃⁻ (M=alkali metals) on the basis of experimentally known reagent, alkali salt of azide ion MN₃, which shows unprecedented M:⁻→M donor-acceptor interaction. To the best of author's knowledge, the characterization of such donor-acceptor interaction among alkali metals is unprecedented. Formation of the 2c–2e donor-acceptor bonds have been confirmed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules and electron localization function analyses. The calculated bond dissociation energies are significant suggesting their possible spectroscopic identification.     

Polymeric (NO)3(N2O) n , (NO)3(N2O) n + , and (NO)3(N2O) n − : an interpretation of experimental observations

Semi-empirical and ab initio calculations are reported which provide a possible explanation for reported experimental results on 2-photon ionization of NO containing a few percent of N₂O, which found (NO)₃(N₂O) _n ^+or? clusters to be significantly more abundant than other (NO) _m (N₂O) _n products. It is found that the observed abundances of (NO)₃(N₂O) _n ionic clusters may be accounted for by the existence of covalent cyclic trimers of nitric oxide attached to oligomers of nitrous oxide. The extra stability of NO trimers in the observed clusters appears to arise from (NO) ₃ ⁺ rather than (NO)₃. Attachment of an (N₂O) _n side chain to (NO) ₃ ⁺ occurs exothermically. It is suggested that the addition of N₂O to cyclic-(NO) ₃ ⁺ might provide a means of making a polymer of nitrous oxide, which could have useful properties.     

Halide substitutions in the [Rh2(O f2 p− )(OH)2(H2O) n ]3+ complex

Summary Transition metal complexes containing activated dioxygen continue to attract considerable attention and are widely used as models, either as oxygen carriers or as catalysts in biological and industrial oxidations ^(1,2).Cobalt complexes containing the coordinated O₂ molecule are well known^(3,4), but the rhodium analogues are rare^(5–8). The known complexes with coordinated O₂ are rhodium(III) compounds containing strong nitrogen donor ligands.Our recent studies have focused on a synthesis of dioxygen rhodium derivatives in which a superoxide anion (O _f2 ^p– ) is bound to the [Rh^III—Rh^III] core surrounded by other donor molecules, e.g. H₂O, RCO _f2 ^p– (7,8), to investigate the effect of a coordination sphere of the metal centre on the redox properties of the O _f2 ^p– radical combined to it⁽⁹⁾.The [Rh₂(O _f2 ^p– )(OH)₂(H₂O) _n ]³⁺ cation, the product of oxidative addition of dioxygen to the [Rh₂(H₂O)₁₀]⁴⁺ dimer, was isolated by us and examined in aqueous HC1O₄ ^(7,9). So far we have been unable to isolate its solid but the water molecules coordinated to the [Rh₂(O _f2 ^p– )-(OH)₂] ³⁺ moiety were found to undergo substitution relatively easily⁽⁸⁾.     

Study of the oxygen distribution in YBa2Cu3O7−x ceramics by (n, α) radiography technique

A technique to determine the oxygen distribution in high T_c superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x ceramics has been developed which is based on the (n, ) radiography method. The technique enables the non-destructive study of superconducting ceramics as well as monocrystal samples with spatial resolution not worse than 1 m at a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. This technique is used to study the influence of radiation-stimulated diffussion of oxygen on the formation of the superconducting phase in an yttrium ceramic. The oxygen distribution in the samples with a narrow transition (T1 K) and with a transition widened (T10 K) by thermal and thermo-radiative treatment is compared in the experiment. The oxygen distribution radiographs of irradiated and unirradiated samples provide strong evidence for the influence of irradiation on the ordering of superconducting ceramics structure.     

Gaussian binning of the vibrational distributions for the Cl + CH4(v(4/2) = 0, 1) → H + CH3Cl(n(1)n(2)n(3)n(4)n(5)n(6)) reactions

We test several binning techniques to obtain mode-specific final-state distributions for polyatomic reactions. Normal mode analysis is done after an exact transformation to the Eckart frame. Standard histogram binning (HB) and three different variants of the energy-based Gaussian binning (1GB) are employed to obtain the probabilities of the vibrational states. We consider the two major issues of the polyatomic quasiclassical product analysis, i.e., (1) rounding the classical action to the nearest integer can result in unphysical states and (2) the normal-mode analysis can break down for highly distorted geometries. We show that 1GB can handle issue 1 when the total vibrational energy is evaluated in the normal mode space using the harmonic approximation and both issues 1 and 2 can be solved when the total vibrational energy is calculated exactly in the Cartesian space. We found that anharmonicity in the quantized energy levels does not have a significant effect on the final-state distributions. Quasiclassical trajectory calculations are performed for the reactant ground-state and bending-excited Cl((2)P(3/2)) + CH(4)(v(4/2) = 0, 1) → H + CH(3)Cl reactions using an ab initio potential energy surface. The product analysis techniques are successfully applied to the CH(3)Cl product molecules and some qualitative features of the results are discussed.     

Silphos [PCl3− n (SiO2) n ]: A Heterogeneous Phosphine Reagent for the Regioselective Synthesis of vic-Haloalcohols

Silphos as a silica-based phosphine [PCl_3?n (SiO₂) _n ] provides a practical method for the conversion of epoxides to vic-haloalcohols in the presence of molecular bromine, iodine, or N-halosuccinimides (NXS, X = Cl, Br, I) in CH₃CN or under solvent-free conditions at r.t. The simple filtration of heterogeneous Silphos oxide from the reaction mixture affords the pure vic-haloalcohols with excellent yields.     

Magnetic properties of quasi-two-dimensional La1−xSr1+xMnO4 and the evolution of itinerant electron ferromagnetism in the SrO · (La1−xSrxMnO3)n system

Quasi-two-dimensional oxides of the La_1−xSr_1+xMnO₄ system, possessing the K₂NiF₄ structure, show no evidence for ferromagnetic ordering in contrast to the corresponding three-dimensional La_1−xSr_xMnO₃ perovskites. Instead, there is an increasing tendency toward antiferromagnetic ordering with increasingx in La_1−xSr_1+xMnO₄. Furthermore, these oxides are relatively high-resistivity materials over the entire compositional range. Substitution of Ba for Sr in La_0.5Sr_1.5MnO₄ decreases the ferromagnetic interaction. Increasing the number of perovskite layers in SrO · (La_1−xSr_xMnO₃)_n causes an increase in electrical conductivity as well as ferromagnetic interaction. The oxide becomes a highly conducting ferromagnet whenn ≥ 2.     

Determination of biogenic halogenated methyl-phenyl ethers (halogenated anisoles) in the picogram m−3 range in air

Halogenated anisoles (methyl-phenyl ethers) appear to be ubiquitous organic trace compounds in the environment. An analytical method is presented for analyzing the altogether 134 congeners of chloro-, bromo- and mixed bromochloro-anisoles on an isomer-specific basis in air. High volume sampling (20 m(3) per hour) is carried out by adsorption, using a mixture of silica gel 60 and ENVI-Carb. The preseparation of the anisoles is achieved by NP-LC on Florisil (a magnesium silicate). The interference by volatile n-alkyl nitrates in the electron-capture detection can be avoided by a LC-preseparation on a carboneous phase. The isomer-specific separation and detection is performed by HRGC-ECD and HRGC-MS-SIM. A structure-specific systematic numbering of the 134 congeners of the chloro-, bromo- and bromochloro-anisoles is suggested. The retention data are given of 16 chloroanisoles, 10 bromoanisoles and 27 bromo-chloroanisoles on three stationary phases with different polarity.     

Nonstoichiometry and structural intergrowth in the CaFexMn1−xO3−y (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) system

An electron diffraction and microscopy study of the CaFe_xMn_1−xO_3−y system treated at 1100°C in air has been performed. An increase of y is accompanied by an increase of the cubic perovskite substructure parameter, the nonstoichiometry being accommodated in several ways. The system contains two solid solutions of the perovskite-type (P) and of the brownmillerite-type (B) and also an intermediate phase (x = 0.6) which makes disordered intergrowth with the B-type solid solution. These results are discussed in terms of multitwinning, randomly dispersed oxygen deficiency, and ordered and disordered intergrowth formation.     

A G2(MP2) theoretical study of substituent effects on H3BNHnCl3−n (n= 3-0) donor-acceptor complexes

The complexation energies of H₃BNH_nCl_3−n (n= 3-0) complexes and the proton affinities of NH_nCl_3−n compounds have been computed at the G2(MP2) level of theory. G2(MP2) results show that the successive chlorine substitution on the ammonia decreases both the basicity of the NH_nCl_3−n ligands and the stability of H₃BNH_nCl_3−n complexes. The findings are interpreted in terms of the rehybridisation of the nitrogen lone-pair orbital. The NBO partitioning scheme shows that the variation of the N-H and N-Cl bond lengths, upon complexation, is due to variation of “s” character in these bonds.      

On the stability of (MX6)3− complexes in halide melts of three-valent metals

ABSTRACT

The effects of volume change at dissociation equilibrium of possible anion complexes of the (MX₆)^3? type in halide melts of trivalent metals MX3 within the statistical thermodynamics based on the MSA approximation were analysed. With the help of a simplified Akdeniz–Tosi model of a mixture of charged hard spheres of different diameters and valencies, we obtained the full system of equilibrium equations including the mass action law (MAL) and the equation of state (EoS). It was shown that the simplest approximation of the complex diameter as a tripled diameter of simple ions leads to a significant overestimation of the effects of volume changes at dissociation. It was found that the complex dissociation should be accompanied by a significant increase in density in a narrow temperature interval. It can be associated with the specific manifestation of electrolytic dissociation in the case of the trivalent metal halides’ auto-complexation.     

Behavior of Mn3+ ions in four-layered hexagonal (Sr1−x−yLaxBay)MnO3

Stoichiometric four-layered hexagonal (4H) (Sr_1?x?yBa_xLa_y)MnO₃ was synthesized using a standard ceramic technique. Rietveld analysis at room temperature indicated that the Mn–O(1) distance increased and the Mn–O(2) distance decreased with the increase in x. The samples were n-type semiconductors and exhibited hopping conductivity in a small-polaron model below 533 K. The Mn³⁺ ion acted as a donor and the electron transfer became active through the Mn³⁺–O–Mn⁴⁺ path. The samples were antiferromagnetic and the Néel temperature (T_N) was constant regardless of y when x was fixed to 0.3, whereas T_N shifted to a high temperature when y was fixed to 0.02. The face-sharing Mn³⁺–O(2)–Mn⁴⁺ interaction strengthened as the Mn–O(2) distance decreased, and T_N shifted to a high temperature as a result.     

New methods of preparation of hydroxy-closo-decaborates [B10H10 − n (OH) n ]2− (n = 1, 2)

New methods of preparation of hydroxy-closo-decaborates [B₁₀H_{10 ? n} (OH) _n ]^2? (n = 1, 2) that are based on the reaction of anions [B₁₀H_{10 ? n} (OAc) _n ]^2? and alkoxyethylidenoxonio-closo-decaborates [2-B₁₀H₉OC(OR)CH₃]^? with aqueous solution of hydrazine are proposed. The obtained compounds were characterized by IR, ESI/MS, and NMR (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C) spectroscopy.     

The formation of the Ba(CuOx)1−y(CO3)y

Carbocuprate compounds are generally described as multiple perovskites with CO ₃ ² - and Cu-O alternating layers containing Ba and/or Sr; they have gained an unexpected importance in the high temperature superconductivity field, because many compounds with transition temperature above 100 K belong to this class of materials.We have started a systematic study on phase formation and stabilisation in the Ba-Cu-C-O system in the temperature range 20-600°C, by using thermal analysis techniques. Starting from a BaCO₃-BaO₂-CuO mixture (311 mol), a new phase isomorphic with BaCO₃ formed after heat treatment above 390°C in air. TG, DSC, EGA and high temperature XRD were employed to follow the complex interaction of the reactants with the atmosphere and the formation of the new phase.