Theoretical investigation on icosahedral C60(FeCp)12: A hybrid of C60 and ferrocene

A perfect hybrid complex C₆₀(FeCp)₁₂ is predicted using density functional theory method_. This fullerene derivative could be view as a C₆₀ cage of which each C₅ ring coordinates a (FeCp) ligand. Theoretical calculation reveals that it has a large lowest unoccupied molecular orbital–highest unoccupied molecular orbital gap (2.53 eV) and keeps the I_h symmetry of C₆₀. But the C? C bond length of its inner C₆₀ cage trends to be uniform, which is quite different from the bonding character of C₆₀ fullerene. Further investigation reveals that the chemical bonding, TDOS and the aromaticity of the (C₅FeCp) unit in C₆₀(FeCp)₁₂ are similar as those of ferrocene molecule, which indicates the similarity of their electronic properties. So, this compound could be viewed as the combination of ferrocene molecules. Thus, its unconventional formation process from 12 Fe(Cp)₂ is proposed and the reaction energy is calculated. As the C₆₀(FeCp)₁₂ compound has the geometry framework as C₆₀ and the electronic characters as ferrocene, it would inherit the outstanding properties from both two molecules and have wild potential applications in nanochemistry. We hope our study could give some references for the further investigation and experimental synthesis research of the C₆₀(FeCp)₁₂ compound. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structural and static electric response properties of highly symmetric lithiated silicon cages: Theoretical predictions

It is shown by density functional theory calculations that high symmetry silicon cages can be designed by coating with Li atoms. The resulting highly symmetric lithiated silicon cages (up to D_5d symmetry) are low‐lying true minima of the energy hypersurface with binding energies of the order of 4.6 eV per Si atom and moderate highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps. Moreover, relying on a systematic study of the electric response properties obtained by ab initio (Hartree–Fock, MP2, and configuration interaction singles (CIS)) and density functional (B3LYP, B2PLYP, and CAM‐B3LYP) methods, it is shown that lithium coating has a large impact on the magnitude of their second hyperpolarizabilities resulting to highly hyperpolarizable species. Such hyperpolarizable character is directly connected to the increase in the density of the low‐lying excited states triggered by the interaction between the Si cage and the surrounding Li atoms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Thioacetanilide at 120 K

The title compound, C₈H₉NS, has four symmetry‐independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. These molecules link into two independent infinite N—H...S hydrogen‐bonded chains in the a‐axis direction with graph‐set notation C₂²(8). The NH—CS group adopts a trans conformation and forms a dihedral angle of about 50° with the phenyl ring. The intermolecular hydrogen‐bond energy calculated by the density functional theory (DFT) method is −14.95 kJ mol⁻¹. The correlation between the IR spectrum of this compound and the hydrogen‐bond energy is also discussed. This molecular system is of interest because of its biological function.     

Giant motion of La atom inside C82 cage

An anomalous charge density distribution of La atom encapsulated in a C₈₂ cage has been revealed for La@C₈₂ by the maximum entropy method (MEM)/Rietveld analysis using synchrotron powder diffraction data. The obtained La atom charge density shows a feature almost like a bowl or a hemisphere, suggesting that the La atom has a giant motion (large amplitude motion) inside the C₈₂ cage at room temperature. From the obtained MEM charge density, the main results are (1) the cage structure of La@C₈₂ (I) has C_2V symmetry; (2) La atom locates at an off-centered position adjacent to a six-membered ring of the carbon cage; (3) the nearest La–C distance is 2.55(8) and (4) the amount of charge transfer from the La atom to the carbon cage is about 3.2 e, which corresponds to the nominal electronic structure, La³⁺@C₈₂³⁻.     

双环-HMX结构和性质的理论研究

在DFT-B3LYP/6-311G*水平上, 计算研究了高能化合物四硝基四氮杂双环辛烷(双环-HMX) α和β两种异构体的结构和性质. 比较分子对称性、分子内氢键和环张力等几何参数以及分子总能量和前线轨道能级等电子结构参数, 发现α比β稳定. 分子中N—N键较长, N—N键集居数较小, 预示该键为热解和起爆的引发键. 基于简谐振动分析求得IR谱频率和强度. 运用统计热力学方法求得200～1000 K温度的热力学性质. 以非限制性半经验PM3方法探讨其热解机理, 求得各反应通道的过渡态和活化能, 发现热解始于侧链N—NO₂键的均裂. 还从理论上预测了该化合物的密度、爆速和爆压, 有助于寻求高能量密度材料(HEDM).     

3‐Hydro­xy­benz­aldehyde

The title compound, C₇H₆O₂, forms infinite chains where the mol­ecules are hydrogen bonded via the hydroxyl and aldehyde groups, with an O?O distance of 2.719 (3) Å. Interchain interactions are weak. The geometry of the ring differs from the ideal form due to the effect of the substituents. Abinitio (Hartree–Fock self‐consistent field–molecular orbital and density functional theory) calculations for the free mol­ecule reproduce well the observed small distortions of the ring. In the crystal, the geometry deviates from the ideal C_s symmetry of the free mol­ecule, as given by the ab initio calculations. The aldehyde and hydroxyl groups are twisted around the single bonds which join them to the ring as a result of the intermolecular hydrogen‐bond interactions. These are also responsible for an elongation of the hydroxy C—OH bond compared with that calculated for the free mol­ecule.     

Energetic analysis of 24 C20 isomers

Twenty-four individual geometric structures of the 20-carbon system are investigated using hybrid Hartree–Fock/density functional theory (DFT-B3LYP) in combination with the 6-31G and 6-311G* basis sets. These computations are carried out in order to evaluate the relative energies of the various C₂₀ isomers utilizing both geometry optimization and single-point energy calculations. The relative energies of the three most widely studied C₂₀ isomers (ring, bowl, and cage) are compared to the energies of other cyclic, bowl-like, and miscellaneous isomers. Although the ring and the bowl isomers are predicted to be the two most stable species, we have identified three to four additional cyclic structures that are predicted to be energetically competitive with the fullerene structure.     

Th@C76. Computational characterization of larger actinide endohedral fullerenes

The actinide endohedral fullerene Th@C₇₆ was successfully prepared in a very recent experiment (Wang et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017 , 139, 5110) yet without any structural information. In this work, density functional theory calculations revealed that this novel molecule bears a T_d(19151)‐C₇₆ cage obeying the isolated pentagon rule. The internal Th atom is off‐centered and resides under a sumanene‐type hexagonal ring, formally donating 4e to the carbon cage. The metal position was rationalized by the structure and charge distribution of the negatively charged cage. Interestingly, an octahedron‐like dynamic trajectory of metal inside the C₇₆ cage at high temperature was found based on the cage symmetry and located transition state structures. Furthermore, the infrared, NMR, and UV/vis spectra of Th@C₇₆ were simulated to assist future experimental characterization.     

A Conformational Study on Silacyclohexane. Comparison of ab initio (HF,MP2), DFT,and Molecular Mechanics Calculations. Conformational Energy Surface of Silacyclohexane

The structures and relative energies for the basic conformations of silacyclohexane 1 have been calculated using HF, RI‐MP2, RI‐DFT and MM3 methods. All methods predict the chair form to be the dominant conformation and all of them predict structures which are in good agreement with experimental data. The conformational energy surface of 1 has been calculated using MM3. It is found that there are two symmetric lowest energy pathways for the chair‐to‐chair inversion. Each of them consists of two sofa‐like transition states, two twist forms with C₁ symmetry (twist‐C₁), two boat forms with Si in a gunnel position (C₁ symmetry), and one twist form with C₂ symmetry (twist‐C₂). All methods calculate the relative energy to increase in the order chair < twist‐C₂ < twist‐C₁ < boat. At the MP2 level of theory and using TZVP and TZVPP (Si atoms) basis sets the relative energies are calculated to be 3.76, 4.80, and 5.47 kcal mol^–1 for the twist‐C₂, twist‐C₁, and boat conformations, respectively. The energy barrier from the chair to the twisted conformations of 1 is found to be 6.6 and 5.7 kcal mol^–1 from MM3 and RI‐DFT calculations, respectively. The boat form with Si at the prow (C_s symmetry) does not correspond to a local minimum nor a saddle point on the MM3 energy surface, whereas a RI‐DFT optimization under C_s symmetry constraint resulted in a local minimum. In both cases its energy is above that of the chair‐to‐twist‐C₁ transition state, however, and it is clearly not a part of the chair‐to‐chair inversion.     

Encapsulation of transition metals in aluminum nitride fullerene: TM@(AlN)12 (TM = Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)

The structure and stability of endohedral TM@(AlN)₁₂ (TM = Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) complexes are studied at the level of density functional theory. It is found that complexes with TM = Mn, Fe, and Ni are energy minimum structures with TM at the cage center in T _h symmetry, while those with TM = Ti and Co have more negative inclusion energies and the off-centered structures with TM placed towards one hexagon face in C ₁ symmetry. The calculations predict that the HOMO and LUMO energy gap of TM@(AlN)₁₂ differs from those of the (AlN)₁₂ cage and a free TM atom. The amount of charge that is transferred from the encapsulated guests to the cage increases with the atomic radius. The electronic and magnetic properties of TM@(AlN)₁₂ are discussed.     

On the chemical bonding features in palladium containing compounds: A combined QTAIM/DFT topological analysis

Topological analyses of the electron density on N-benzoyl-L-pheylalanine and its palladium(II) complexes are carried out using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) at the M06/6-31G(d) theoretical level. The topological parameters derived from the Bader theory are also analyzed; these are characteristics of Pd bond critical points and ring critical points. The calculated structural parameters are the highest occupied molecular orbital energy (E _HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E _LUMO), the hardness (η), the softness (S), the absolute electronegativity (χ), the electrophilicity index (ω), and the fractions of electrons transferred (ΔN) from ethylenediamine, 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline complexes to N-benzoyl-L-pheylalanine. The numerous correlations and dependences between the energy terms of the symmetry adapted perturbation theory approach, geometrical, topological, and energy parameters are detected and described.     

Theoretical and experimental study on metal(II) halide complexes of 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane

We report the results of detailed experimental and theoretical studies on the molecular structure and vibrational spectra of metal(II) halide complexes of 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane [M(N₂C₁₃H₁₄)X₂, where M represents Zn or Hg, and X represents Cl, Br, or I]. The FT–infrared spectra (FT-IR) and FT-Raman spectra of the metal complexes of the 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane molecule in the powder form were recorded between the 400–4000 and 5–3500 cm^?1 regions, respectively. The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of the metal complexes of 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane in the ground state were calculated using density functional theory (B3LYP functional) with LANL2DZ and SDD as basis sets. The total energy distributions (TED) among the symmetry coordinates of the normal modes were computed for the low-energy structure of the molecules. Complete vibrational assignments based on the calculated TED values are given.     

Boron‐Double‐Ring Sheet,Fullerene, and Nanotubes: Potential Hydrogen Storage Materials

Similar to carbon‐based graphene, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, boron atoms can form sheets, fullerenes, and nanotubes. Here we investigate several of these novel boron structures all based on the boron double ring within the framework of density functional theory. The boron sheet is found to be metallic and flat in its ground state. The spherical boron cage containing 180 atoms is also stable and has I symmetry. Stable nanotubes are obtained by rolling up the boron sheet, and all are metallic. The hydrogen storage capacity of boron nanostructures is also explored, and it is found that Li‐decorated boron sheets and nanotubes are potential candidates for hydrogen storage. For Li‐decorated boron sheets, each Li atom can adsorb a maximum of 4 H₂ molecules with g_d=7.892 wt %. The hydrogen gravimetric density increases to g_d=12.309 wt % for the Li‐decorated (0,6) boron nanotube.     

Cucurbit[7]uril Inclusion Complexes with Benzimidazole Derivatives: A Computational Study

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study the host–guest complexation in aqueous solution between cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and the neutral and protonated forms of benzimidazole derivatives. Complexation occurs via encapsulation of the hydrophobic part (benzene ring) of the guest within the CB7 hydrophobic cavity, and the interactions of the amine group(s) of the imidazole ring of the guest with the CB7 carbonyl portals. The molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method is used to estimate the host–guest Gibbs energy of binding. The results indicate that CB7 binds the protonated form more strongly than the neutral one, and that the dominant contribution to the Gibbs energy of complexation for the neutral and protonated guests is associated, respectively, with the host–guest van der Waals and electrostatic interactions. Quantum chemical calculations using dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) are used to calculate the binding affinities and to predict the pK_a values of the free and complexed guests. The calculated pK_a values for the free guests reveal excellent agreement with the experimental values, while for the complexed guests, general trends are obtained.     

DFT Study for a Series of Less-Symmetrical Crown Ethers and Their Complexes with Alkali Metal Cations

A series of ring‐contracted (14‐crown‐5, 17‐crown‐6) and ring‐enlarged (16‐crown‐5, 17‐crown‐5, 19‐crown‐6, 20‐crown‐6) crown ethers and their complexes with alkali‐metal cations Na⁺ and K⁺ had been explored using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6‐31G* level in order to reveal the effects of the methylene‐chain length in a crown ether. The nucleophilicity of all crown ethers had been investigated by the Fukui functions. The quantum chemistry parameters, such as the energy gap (ΔE), the highest occupied molecular orbital energy (E_HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E_LUMO) for less‐symmetrical crown ethers and symmetrical frameworks (15‐crown‐5, 18‐crown‐6) had been calculated. In addition, the thermodynamic energies of complexation reactions had also been studied. The results of the DFT calculations show that the methylene‐chain length plays an important role in determining the structure characters of the crown ethers and also strongly influences the properties of the ethers. Some of the calculated results are in a good agreement with the experimental values.     

Ionic organoboranes. Part 7. Molecular orbital study of electron distribution in the [7.10]hemiousenide ion; explanation for the anomalous B NMR spectrum

The ¹¹B NMR spectrum of the [7.10²]hemiousenide ion (C₇H₆B₁₀H₉⁻) demonstrates ground state +T cage to ring electron donation from the region of the two apical borons. The chemically non-equivalent apical borons give an apparent singlet NMR absorption and thus appear to be in very similar electronic environments, even though they are unsymmetrically arranged relative to the cationic ring. Ab initio 3-21G(∗) and semi-empirical PM3 calculations suggest that the π-system of the ring only interacts with cage molecular orbitals that are symmetrical relative to both apical borons in B₁₀H₁₀²− and that the electron density about the two apical borons is essentially identical in the [7.10²]hemiousenide ion. Significant ground state electron donation from cage to ring is observed, consonant with conclusions from previous polarographic studies.     

Ab initio and density functional studies on the structure and vibrational spectra of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone-1-oxime derivatives

Structure and vibrational frequencies of lawsoneoxime and its C₃-substituted (R=CH₃, NH₂, Cl, NO₂) derivatives in keto and nitrosophenol forms have been obtained employing the Hartree–Fock and density functional methods. Charge distributions in different conformers have been studied using the molecular electrostatic potential topography as a tool. For all these derivatives except for nitrolawsoneoxime the amphi conformer in the keto form is predicted to be of lowest energy, which can partly be attributed to hydrogen bonding through the oximino nitrogen. In the nitro derivative, however, the preference to form a six membered ring owing to O–H–O hydrogen-bonded interactions makes the anti conformer (keto) the stablest. Further one of the nitrosophenol conformers of nitrolawsoneoxime turns out to be very close in energy (0.21 kJ mol^–1 higher) to this anti conformer. The consequences of hydrogen bonding on charge distribution and vibrational spectra are discussed.     

Creating Coordination‐Based Cavities in a Multiresponsive Supramolecular Gel

Creating cavities in varying levels, from molecular containers to macroscopic materials of porosity, have long been motivated for biomimetic or practical applications. Herein, we report an assembly approach to multiresponsive supramolecular gels by integrating photochromic metal–organic cages as predefined building units into the supramolecular gel skeleton, providing a new approach to create cavities in gels. Formation of discrete O‐Pd₂L₄ cages is driven by coordination between Pd²⁺ and a photochromic dithienylethene bispyridine ligand (O‐PyFDTE). In the presence of suitable solvents (DMSO or MeCN/DMSO), the O‐Pd₂L₄ cage molecules aggregate to form nanoparticles, which are further interconnected through supramolecular interactions to form a three‐dimensional (3D) gel matrix to trap a large amount of solvent molecules. Light‐induced phase and structural transformations readily occur owing to the reversible photochromic open‐ring/closed‐ring isomeric conversion of the cage units upon UV/visible light radiation. Furthermore, such Pd₂L₄ cage‐based gels show multiple reversible gel–solution transitions when thermal‐, photo‐, or mechanical stimuli are applied. Such supramolecular gels consisting of porous molecules may be developed as a new type of porous materials with different features from porous solids.