Speciation of BCxNy films grown by PECVD with trimethylborazine precursor

Films of BC _x N _y were produced in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process using trimethylborazine as precursor and with H₂, He, N₂, and NH₃, respectively, as auxiliary gas. These films deposited on Si(100) wafers or fused quartz glass substrates were characterized chemically by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by synchrotron radiation-based total-reflection X-ray fluorescence combined with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure. Independent of the auxiliary gas, the B–N bonds are dominating. Furthermore, B–C and N–C bonds were identified. Oxygen, present in the bulk (in contrast to the surface layer of some nanometers, where molecular oxygen and/or water are absorbed) as an impurity, is bonded to boron or to carbon, respectively. The relation of boron and nitrogen changes with the character of the auxiliary gas: c _B/c _N ≈ 4:3 (for H₂ and He) and c _B/c _N ≈ 1 (for N₂ or NH₃). Furthermore, physical properties such as the refractive index and the optical band-gap energy were determined.     

Donor-acceptor interaction and intramolecular proton transfer in aminopolyenes

The influence of donor and acceptor substituents at chain termini on the geometry of the chain and charge distribution on atoms was studied for the ground and lower triplet electronically excited state of model ω-dimethylaminopolyene molecules (CH₃)₂N(CH=CH) _n CH=C(CN)₂, n = 1–3. Calculations were performed by the B3LYP/6-31+G** method. The influence of substituents on bond lengths and the amplitude of deviations from the equilibrium carbon-carbon bond length in unsubstituted polyenes increased as the conjugation chain grew longer. The deviations of the effects of both donor and acceptor groups from additivity, however, decreased. In the lower triplet electronically excited state of the molecule, the effect of substituents on changes in C-C bond lengths along the chain was not damped. The section of the potential energy surface for intramolecular proton shift from the donor amino to the acceptor nitrile group in “cyclic” (cis) conformers of the H₂N-CH=CH-CN and H₂N-CH=CH-CH=CH-CN molecules was analyzed. The structure of the reaction transition state and the height of the barrier to proton transfer were calculated.     

The bonding in hexagonal Ba2/3Pt3B2 and CeCo3B2 type ternary metal borides

Tight-binding calculations with an extended Hückel Hamiltonian were performed on Ba_2/3Pt₃B₂ and LuOs₃B₂. Hypothetical linear metal boride chains present in these materials are analyzed with a three-dimensional model that contains a trigonal bipyramidal T₃B₂ (T = transition metal) building unit for the compounds. The geometrical structure for the T₃B₂ trigonal bipyramids depends on the number of electrons. For systems that have greater than 36 electrons in its trigonal bipyramidal building unit, a structural distortion is expected. Electron back donation from the electron-rich M₃ fragment to the empty e′ set on B₂ creates boron–boron interaction along the z-axis. Boron–boron pairing then participates as an electron sink and causes a trigonal distortion of the platinum Kagome net. On the other hand, a system with <35 electrons should have an undistorted, CeCo₃B₂ type structure. The electronic factors that create the breathing motion are discussed and analyzed with the aid of molecular and solid-state models. The metal–metal bonding associated with the structural properties also has been examined.     

The molecular structure of N-methylsuccinimide studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum-chemical methods

The molecular structure of N-methylsuccinimide was studied by the GED method at a nozzle temperature of 69–73°C. Anharmonic vibrational corrections to thermal-average r _a bond lengths, Δ(r _a − r _e), were calculated using the quadratic and cubic force constants from B3LYP/6-31G(df, p) calculations. The molecular skeleton was found to be planar within measurement errors. Some structural effects were likely caused by the conjugation of the N atom with two C=O bonds. The equilibrium geometric parameters derived from the experimental data and those from MP2/cc-pVTZ(seg-opt) calculations were in close agreement.     

Molecular structure and conformation of triphenylsilane from gas-phase electron diffraction and theoretical calculations, and structural variations in H4?nSiPhn molecules (n?=?1–4)

The molecular structure of triphenylsilane has been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction and theoretical calculations. The electron diffraction intensities from a previous study (Rozsondai B, Hargittai I, J Organomet Chem 334:269, 1987) have been reanalyzed using geometrical constraints and initial values of vibrational amplitudes from calculations. The free molecule has a chiral, propeller-like equilibrium conformation of C ₃ symmetry, with a twist angle of the phenyl groups τ = 39° ± 3°; the two enantiomeric conformers easily interconvert via three possible pathways. The low-frequency vibrational modes indicate that the three phenyl groups undergo large-amplitude torsional and out-of-plane bending vibrations about their respective Si–C bonds. Least-squares refinement of a model accounting for the bending vibrations gives the following bond distances and angles with estimated total errors: r _g(Si–C) = 1.874 ± 0.004 ?, 〈r _g(C–C)〉 = 1.402 ± 0.003 ?, 〈r _g(C–H)〉 = 1.102 ± 0.003 ?, and ∠_aC–Si–H = 108.6° ± 0.4°. Electron diffraction studies and MO calculations show that the lengths of the Si–C bonds in H_4−n SiPh _n molecules (n = 1–4) increase gradually with n, due to π → σ*(Si–C) delocalization. They also show that the mean lengths of the ring C–C bonds are about 0.003 ? larger than in unsubstituted benzene, due to a one hundredth angstrom lengthening of the C_ipso–C_ortho bonds caused by silicon substitution. A small increase of r(Si–H) and decrease of the ipso angle with increasing number of phenyl groups is also revealed by the calculations.     

Crystal Structure and Conformation of a 10-Thiabilirubin

 A crystal structure determination of a bilirubin analog with a sulfur instead of a C(10)–CH₂ linking the two dipyrrinones is reported. Conformation-determining torsion angles and key hydrogen bond distances and angles are compared to those obtained from molecular dynamics calculations as well as to the corresponding data from X-ray determinations and molecular dynamics calculations of bilirubin. Like other bilirubins, the component dipyrrinones of the analog are present in the bis-lactam form with (Z)-configurated double bonds at C(4) and C(15). Despite the large differences in bond lengths and angles at –S–vs.–CH₂–, the crystal structure shows considerable similarity to bilirubin: both pigments adopt a folded, intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded ridge-tile conformation stabilized by six hydrogen bonds – although the interplanar angle of the ridge-tile conformation of the title compound is smaller (∼ 86°) than that of bilirubin (∼ 98°). The collective data indicate that even with long C–S bond lengths and a smaller C–S–C bond angle at the pivot point on the ridge-tile seam, intramolecular hydrogen bonding persists.     

Crystal Structure and Conformation of a 10-Thiabilirubin

Summary.  A crystal structure determination of a bilirubin analog with a sulfur instead of a C(10)–CH₂ linking the two dipyrrinones is reported. Conformation-determining torsion angles and key hydrogen bond distances and angles are compared to those obtained from molecular dynamics calculations as well as to the corresponding data from X-ray determinations and molecular dynamics calculations of bilirubin. Like other bilirubins, the component dipyrrinones of the analog are present in the bis-lactam form with (Z)-configurated double bonds at C(4) and C(15). Despite the large differences in bond lengths and angles at –S–vs.–CH₂–, the crystal structure shows considerable similarity to bilirubin: both pigments adopt a folded, intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded ridge-tile conformation stabilized by six hydrogen bonds – although the interplanar angle of the ridge-tile conformation of the title compound is smaller (∼ 86°) than that of bilirubin (∼ 98°). The collective data indicate that even with long C–S bond lengths and a smaller C–S–C bond angle at the pivot point on the ridge-tile seam, intramolecular hydrogen bonding persists. Received August 16, 2001. Accepted September 12, 2001     

Estimation of the upper limit of carbon concentration in boron carbide crystals

The existence of a boron carbide phase with ∼25 at % carbon was proven experimentally. To evaluate the maximum possible concentration of C atoms in boron carbide (B_{12 − x} C _x )(BC₂) crystals, we performed quantum-chemical calculations of (B_{12 − x} C _x )(BH₂)₆(CH₃)₆ model compounds (x = 0–4; the goal of calculations was to determine the upper limiting number of C atoms in the B_{12 − x} C _x icosahedron) by the density functional theory method (B3LYP, 6-31G** basis set, full geometry optimization). A comparison of the experimental and calculated data showed that the calculations of the model compounds reproduced the experimental dependences of the structural parameters of the icosahedron (mean bond length and volume) on the number of C atoms in it. The icosahedra were found to be stable at x ≤ 3. According to the results of the quantum-chemical calculations, the maximum carbon concentration in boron carbide was 33 at %, which corresponded to the composition B₁₀C₅ and the structural formula (B₉C₃)(BC₂).     

Electronic structure and chemical bonding of δ-Bi2O3

The band structure of the fluorite-type δ-Bi₂O₃ was calculated by the linear LMTO methods in the approximation of overlapping atomic spheres using the basis set of orthogonal orbitals (LMTO-ASA) and by the full-potential LMTO method (LMTO-FP) for two vacancy orientations over a wide range of oxygen concentrations. The calculated parameters of chemical bonds—the binding energy E_bin and the pressure of the electron-nuclear system—show that the most stable compound is that with two vacancies per unit cell, oriented predominantly along the (111) direction. The hybrid Bi−O bonds are weak, and mostly the Bi−Bi bonds are responsible for the structural stabilization of δ-Bi₂O₃. The mechanism of the formation of a semiconductor gap in the band structure of δ-Bi₂O₃ is discussed. Institute of Solid State Chemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 48–58, January–February, 1996. Translated by I. Izvekova     

Structural and electronic properties of aln and bn wide-gap semiconductors and their B<Subscript>x</Subscript>Al<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>N solid solutions

The structural and electronic properties of B_xAl_1−x N solid solutions (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) were examined by calculating the electronic energy structure by the local coherent potential method within the framework of multiple scattering theory. The charge is transferred from aluminum to nitrogen atoms and increases with the content of boron atoms. The concentration dependences of the structural and electronic properties of these solutions are discussed. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 822–829, September–October, 2005.     

Tin(II) Phthalocyaninate and Tin(IV) bis-Phthaloc Yaninate: A Quantum Chemical Study

The structural parameters of tin(II) phthalocyaninate PcSn and tin(IV) bis-phthalocyaninate Pc₂Sn as well as of their cations are determined by B3LYP/SDD and PBE0/SDD quantum chemical methods. The PcSn molecule is characterized by C_4v symmetry, and SnN bond lengths are 2.307/2.299 ? (B3LYP/PBE0). The Sn nucleus is by 1.11 ? (B3LYP, PBE0, single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis) higher than the plane of four neighboring nitrogen nuclei. The “hindered” configuration (D _4d symmetry) with a high (27–30 kcal/mole) internal rotation barrier corresponds to the Pc₂Sn energy minimum. The calculated equilibrium lengths of eight equivalent SnN bonds of 2.366/2.347 (B3LYP/PBE0) are similar to the average SnN bond length of 2.347 ? (single crystal X-ray diffraction). Vertical and adiabatic ionization potentials are calculated: I^v 6.40/6.48 eV, I^A 6.38/6.45 eV for PcSn and I^v 5.63/5.66 eV, I^A 5.60/5.63 eV for Pc₂Sn.     

Theoretical study on the CH3NgF species

Geometrical parameters, harmonic vibrational frequencies, atomic charge distributions, bonding character, and relative stability of the CH₃NgF (Ng = He, Ar, Kr, or Xe) species were investigated at the MP2 level of theory. CH₃HeF was also predicted stable at the CCSD(T) level. All the four CH₃NgF species have C _3v symmetry. Ng–F bond lengths of the CH₃NgF species are all longer than those of the corresponding HNgF species. The calculated infrared intensities of the C–Ng and Ng–F stretching vibrations are much larger than those of the other vibrations, which is advantageous for the experimental spectroscopic identification of the species. The atoms in molecules (AIM) topological analysis indicated that the three Ng–F (Ng = He, Ar, or Kr) bonds are dominated by electrostatic interaction whereas the two C–Ng (Ng = Ar or Kr) bonds are dominated by covalent interaction. In contrast, the bond length analysis seems to indicate that both the Ng–F and C–Ng bonds are dominated by covalent interaction. According to the MP2 calculations, CH₃HeF and CH₃ArF are higher in energy than the dissociation limits CH₃ + He + F and CH₃ + Ar + F by 15.10 and 2.64 kcal/mol whereas CH₃KrF and CH₃XeF are lower in energy than CH₃ + Kr + F and CH₃ + Xe + F by 16.80 and 38.44 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Analysis of Why Boron Avoids sp2 Hybridization and Classical Structures in the BnHn+2 Series

We performed global minimum searches for the B_nH_n+2 (n=2‐5) series and found that classical structures composed of 2c–2e B? H and B? B bonds become progressively less stable along the series. Relative energies increase from 2.9 kcal mol^?1 in B₂H₄ to 62.3 kcal mol^?1 in B₅H₇. We believe this occurs because boron atoms in the studied molecules are trying to avoid sp² hybridization and trigonal structure at the boron atoms, as in that case one 2p‐AO is empty, which is highly unfavorable. This affinity of boron to have some electron density on all 2p‐AOs and avoiding having one 2p‐AO empty is a main reason why classical structures are not the most stable configurations and why multicenter bonding is so important for the studied boron–hydride clusters as well as for pure boron clusters and boron compounds in general.     

On the Importance of H-Bonding Interactions in Organic Ammonium Tetrathiotungstates

Summary. Four new organic ammonium tetrathiotungstates (N–Me–enH₂)[WS₄] (1), (N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂)[WS₄] (2), (1,4-bnH₂)[WS₄] (3), and (mipaH)₂[WS₄] (4), (N–Me–enH₂ = N-methylethylenediammonium, N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂ = N,N′-dimethyl-1,3-propanediammonium, 1,4-bnH₂ = 1,4-butanediammonium, and mipaH = monoisopropylammonium) were synthesized by the base promoted cation exchange reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, Raman, UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1–4 consist of [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedra which are linked to the organic ammonium cations via N–H⋯S hydrogen bonding. The strength and number of the S⋯H interactions affect the W–S bond lengths as evidenced by distinct short and long W–S bonds. The IR spectra exhibit splitting of the W–S vibrations, which can be attributed to the distortion of the [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedron. From a comparative study of several known tetrathiotungstates it is observed that a difference of more than 0.033 ? between the longest and shortest W–S bonds in a tetrathiotungstate will result in the splitting of the asymmetric stretching vibration of the W–S bond.     

On the Importance of H-Bonding Interactions in Organic Ammonium Tetrathiotungstates

Four new organic ammonium tetrathiotungstates (N–Me–enH₂)[WS₄] (1), (N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂)[WS₄] (2), (1,4-bnH₂)[WS₄] (3), and (mipaH)₂[WS₄] (4), (N–Me–enH₂ = N-methylethylenediammonium, N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂ = N,N′-dimethyl-1,3-propanediammonium, 1,4-bnH₂ = 1,4-butanediammonium, and mipaH = monoisopropylammonium) were synthesized by the base promoted cation exchange reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, Raman, UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1–4 consist of [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedra which are linked to the organic ammonium cations via N–H⋯S hydrogen bonding. The strength and number of the S⋯H interactions affect the W–S bond lengths as evidenced by distinct short and long W–S bonds. The IR spectra exhibit splitting of the W–S vibrations, which can be attributed to the distortion of the [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedron. From a comparative study of several known tetrathiotungstates it is observed that a difference of more than 0.033 ? between the longest and shortest W–S bonds in a tetrathiotungstate will result in the splitting of the asymmetric stretching vibration of the W–S bond.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of total lead, copper and selenium in whole blood and blood serum

A two-step procedure including appropriate wet-digestions, separation of selenium from interfering ions such as heavy metal ions with pentyl alcohol and anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) determination of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and SeO₃ ^2– is developed. The elements in digested whole blood and serum sample solutions were determined by using a standard addition method. 1 × 10^–9 mol/L SeO^2– ₃, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were successfully determined with relative standard deviations of approximately 1–2% (n = 6–8). Received: 19 August 1996 / Revised: 24 February 1997 / Accepted: 28 February 1997     

Syntheses and Structure of Er6Co2.19(1)In0.81(1)

Summary. The erbium–cobalt–indide Er₆Co_2.19(1)In_0.81(1) was prepared by arc-melting of the pure elements. Single crystals were obtained through a special annealing procedure. Er₆Co_2.19(1)In_0.81(1) crystallizes with the orthorhombic Ho₆Co₂Ga structure: Immm, a = 934.3(1), b = 936.4(1), c = 985.4(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0557, 892 F ² values, and 35 variable parameters. The structure contains two gama;crystallographically independent Co₂ dumb-bells at Co–Co distances of 223 and 236 pm, respectively. Further structural motifs are distorted octahedral Er₆ clusters (336–401 pm Er–Er) which are condensed to a three-dimensional network via all corners. The In2 atoms have a distorted icosahedral erbium coordination (329–355 pm In2–Er). These icosahedra show an orthorhombically distorted bcc packing.     

Theoretical investigation on the structural and electronic properties of complexes formed by thymine and 2′-deoxythymidine with different anions

Hydrogen bonding interactions between thymine nucleobase and 2′-deoxythymidine nucleoside (dT) with some biological anions such as F⁻ (fluoride), Cl⁻ (chloride), OH⁻ (hydroxide), and NO₃ ⁻ (nitrate) have been explored theoretically. In this study, complexes have been studied by density functional theory (B3LYP method and 6-311++G (d,p) basis set). The relevant geometries, energies, and characteristics of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) have been systematically investigated. There is a correlation between interaction energy and proton affinity for complexes of thymine nucleobase. The nature of all the interactions has been analyzed by means of the natural bonding orbital (NBO) and quantum theory atoms in molecules (QTAIM) approaches. Donors, acceptors, and orbital interaction energies were also calculated for the hydrogen bonds. Excellent correlations between structural parameter (δR) and electron density topological parameter (ρ _b) as well as between E(2) and ρ _b have been found. It is interesting that hydrogen bonds with anions can affect the geometry of thymine and 2′-deoxythymidine molecules. For example, these interactions can change the bond lengths in thymine nucleobase, the orientation of base unit with respect to sugar ring, the furanose ring puckering, and the C1′–N1 glycosidic linkage in dT nucleoside. Thus, it is necessary to obtain a fundamental understanding of chemical behavior of nucleobases and nucleosides in presence of anions.     

Aromaticity in heterocycles: new HOMA index parametrization

Abstract  

A new parametrization for the Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity (HOMA) index to determine aromaticity of heterocycles is introduced. The new HOMA for Heterocycle Electron Delocalization (HOMHED) is based on the experimental data from electron diffraction X-ray for the reference molecules used to estimate the simple, double, and optimal bond lengths. Bond length of “pure” single and double bonds of non-conjugated systems or systems without π-electrons and/or n-electron delocalization were considered. The HOMHED index was determined for a series of five and six heterocycles with C–C, C–N, C–O, C–S, N–N, N–O, and N–S bonds. The π-electron delocalization of these heterocycles was determined by Krygowski-reformulated HOMA and HOMHED and it was proved that HOMHED worked in line with HOMA for all heterocycles, except those containing oxygen, which were found to be weak aromatic from Krygowski rHOMA calculations.     

Conformational Analysis, Infrared, and Fluorescence Spectra of 1-Phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and Related Tautomers: Experimental and Theoretical Study

Conformational analysis and frequency calculation were achieved for 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and its four tautomers: 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol, 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone, 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime, and 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol. Calculations were carried out at the Hartree–Fock (HF), Density Functional Theory (B3LYP), and the second-order M?ller–Plesset perturbation (MP2) levels of theory using 6-31G^* and 6-311G^** basis sets. Five conformers with no imaginary vibrational frequency were obtained by free rotations around three single bonds of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione-1-oxime: Ph–C(NOH)C(O)CH₃, PhC(NOH)–C(O)CH₃, and PhC(N–OH)C(O)CH₃. Similarly, eight structures with no imaginary vibrational frequency were encountered upon rotations around three single bonds of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol: Ph–C(NO)C(OH)CH₃, PhC(N–O)C(OH)CH₃, and PhC(NO)C(–OH)CH₃. In the same manner, six minima were found through rotations around three single bonds of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone: Ph–CH(NO)C(O)CH₃, PhCH(–NO)C(O)CH₃, and PhCH(NO)–C(O)CH₃. Also, two minima were found through rotations around four single bonds of 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime: Ph–C(NOH)C(OH)CH₂, PhC(N–OH)C(OH)CH₂, PhC(NOH)–C(OH)CH₂, and Ph-C(NOH)C(–OH)CH₂. Finally, two minima were found through rotations around four single bonds of 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol: Ph–CH(NO)C(OH)CH₂, PhCH(–NO)C(OH)CH₂, PhCH(NO)–C(OH)CH₂, and PhCH(NO)C(–OH)CH₂. Interconversions within the above sets of conformers were probed through scanning (one and/or two dimensional), and/or QST3 techniques. The order of the stability of global minima encountered was: 1,2-propandione-1-oxime > 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone > 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol > 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime > 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol. Hydrogen bonding appears significant in tautomers of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol and 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime. The CIS simulated λ_max for the first excited singlet state (S₁) of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime is 300.4 nm, which was comparable to its experimental λ_max of 312.0 nm. The calculated IR spectra of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and its tautomers were compared to the experimental spectra.