Pseudo Jahn-Teller origin of nonplanarity and rectangular-ring structure of tetrafluorocyclobutadiene

It is shown that the pseudo Jahn-Teller effect (PJTE) in combination with ab initio calculations explains the origin of instability of the planar configuration of tetrafluorocyclobutadiene, C(4)F(4), with respect to a puckered structure and square-to-rectangle distortion of the carbon ring, and rationalizes its difference from the planar-rectangular geometry of C(4)H(4) and nonplanar (puckered) structure of Si(4)H(4). The two types of instability and distortion of the high-symmetry D(4h) configuration in these systems emerge from the PJT coupling of the ground B(2g) state with the excited A(1g) term producing instability along the b(2g) coordinate (elongation of the carbon or silicon square ring), and with the excited E(g) term resulting in e(g) (puckering) distortion. A rhombic distortion b(1g) of the ring is also possible due to the coupling between excited A(1g) and B(1g) terms. For C(4)F(4), ab initio calculations of the energy profiles allowed us to evaluate the PJTE constants and to show that the two instabilities, square-to-tetragonal b(2g) and puckering e(g) coexist, thus explaining the origin of the observed geometry of this system in the ground state. The preferred cis-trans (e(g) type) puckering in C(4)F(4) versus trans-trans puckering (b(2u) distortion) in Si(4)H(4) follows from the differences in the energy gaps to their excited electronic E(g) and A(1u) terms causing different PJTE in these two cases.     

Theoretical study of isomerization and decomposition of propenal

We investigated the dynamics of isomerization and multi-channel dissociation of propenal (CH(2)CHCHO), methyl ketene (CH(3)CHCO), hydroxyl propadiene (CH(2)CH(2)CHOH), and hydroxyl cyclopropene (cyclic-C(3)H(3)-OH) in the ground potential-energy surface using quantum-chemical calculations. Optimized structures and vibrational frequencies of molecular species were computed with method B3LYP∕6-311G(d,p). Total energies of molecules at optimized structures were computed at the CCSD(T)∕6-311+G(3df,2p) level of theory. We established the potential-energy surface for decomposition to CH(2)CHCO + H, CH(2)CH + HCO, CH(2)CH(2)∕CH(3)CH + CO, CHCH∕CH(2)C + H(2)CO, CHCCHO∕CH(2)CCO + H(2), CHCH + CO + H(2), CH(3) + HCCO, CH(2)CCH + OH, and CH(2)CC∕cyclic-C(3)H(2) + H(2)O. Microcanonical rate coefficients of various reactions of trans-propenal with internal energies 148 and 182 kcal mol(-1) were calculated using Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus and Variational transition state theories. Product branching ratios were derivable using numerical integration of kinetic master equations and the steady-state approximation. The concerted three-body dissociation of trans-propenal to fragments C(2)H(2) + CO + H(2) is the prevailing channel in present calculations. In contrast, C(3)H(3)O + H, C(2)H(3) + HCO and C(2)H(4) + CO were identified as major channels in the photolysis of trans-propenal. The discrepancy between calculations and experiments in product branching ratios indicates that the three major photodissociation channels occur mainly on an excited potential-energy surface whereas the other channels occur mainly on the ground potential-energy surface. This work provides profound insight in the mechanisms of isomerization and multichannel dissociation of the system C(3)H(4)O.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy of LiNH3: first observation of the electronic spectrum

Electronic spectra of LiNH(3) and its partially and fully deuterated analogues are reported for the first time. The spectra have been recorded in the near-infrared and are consistent with two electronic transitions in close proximity, the ?(2)E-X(2)A(1) and B(2)A(1)-X(2)A(1) systems. Vibrational structure is seen in both systems, with the Li-N-H bending vibration (ν(6)) dominant in the ?(2)E-X(2)A(1) system and the Li-N stretch (ν(3)) in the B(2)A(1)-X(2)A(1) system. The prominence of the 6(0)(1) band in the ?(2)E-X(2)A(1) spectrum is attributed to Herzberg-Teller coupling. The proximity of the B(2)A(1) state, which lies a little more than 200 cm(-1) above the ?(2)E state, is likely to be the primary contributor to this strong vibronic coupling.     

Role of surface crossings in the photochemistry of nitromethane

The photodissociation dynamics of nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) starting at the S(3) excited state has been studied at the complete active space self-consistent field level of theory in conjunction with atomic natural orbital type basis sets. In addition, the energies of all the critical points and the energy profiles connecting them have been recomputed with the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation method. It is found that the key step in the reaction mechanism is a radiationless decay through an S(3)S(2) conical intersection. The branching space spanned by the gradient difference and nonadiabatic coupling vectors of this crossing point comprises dissociation into excited nitromethane plus singlet atomic oxygen [CH(3)NO(1A")+O((1)D)] and S(3)-->S(2) deactivation, respectively. Furthermore, deactivated nitromethane S(n (n<3)) can decompose in subsequent steps into CH(3)+NO(2), where NO(2) is generated at least in two different electronic states (1 (2)B(2) and 1 (2)A(1)). It is shown that formation of excited nitric oxide NO(A (2)Sigma) arises from CH(3)NO(1A") generated in the previous step. In addition, four crossings between singlet and triplet states are localized; however, no evidence is found for a relevant role of such crossings in the photochemistry of CH(3)NO(2) initiated at S(3) state in the gas phase.     

Rhenium oxo complexes of a chelating diyne ligand. Synthesis and study of the kinetics of protonation

A series of oxo complexes, Re(O)X(diyne) (X = I, Me, Et), have been prepared from 2,7-nonadiyne and Re(O)I(3)(PPh(3))(2). Addition of B(C(6)F(5))(3) to Re(O)I(2,7-nonadiyne) (5) results in coordination of the oxo ligand to the boron. The protonation of Re(O)(X)(2-butyne)(2) and Re(O)(X)(2,7-nonadiyne)(2) with a variety of acids has been examined. With 5 and HBF(4)/Et(2)O, the ultimate product was [Re(CH(3)CN)(3)(I)(2,7-nonadiyne)](2+) (7). The conversion of 5 to 7 changes the conformation of the diyne ligand from a "chair" to a "boat" and shifts its propargylic protons considerably downfield in the (1)H NMR. The kinetics of the protonation of Re(O)I(2,7-nonadiyne) (5) by CF(3)SO(3)H in CH(3)CN have been monitored by visible spectroscopy, in a stopped-flow apparatus, and by low temperature (1)H NMR. Two second-order rate constants, presumably successive protonations, were observed in the stopped-flow, k(1) = 11.9 M(-)(1) s(-)(1) and k(2) = 3.8 M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Low temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy indicated that the resulting solution contained a mixture of two doubly protonated intermediates X and Y, each of which slowly formed the product 7 via an acid-independent process.     

Effect of hydrocarbon structure of the headgroup on the thermodynamic properties of micellization of cationic gemini surfactants: an electrical conductivity study

A series of cationic gemini surfactants butanediyl-1,4-bis(dodecyldialkylammonium bromide), C(12)H(25)N(+)(C(m)H(2)(m)(+1))(2)C(4)H(8)N(+)(C(m)H(2)(m)(+1))(2)C(12)H(25)·2Br(-), where m=1, 2, 3, 4, referred to as C(12)C(4)C(12)(Me), C(12)C(4)C(12)(Et), C(12)C(4)C(12)(Pr), and C(12)C(4)C(12)(Bu), respectively, were synthesized, and their thermodynamic properties of micellization were studied by electrical conductivity measurements. There existed a minimum critical micelle concentration (cmc) in the curve of cmc versus temperature, and the temperature of the minimum of cmc (T(min)) increased with increasing the headgroup alkyl chain length. The values of log (cmc) depended linearly on carbon number of the alkyl chains, but that was not true for the carbon number of the headgroup substituents. The temperature dependence of cmc and degree of counterion association (β) were used to calculate the Gibbs free energy (Δ(mic)G°), enthalpies (Δ(mic)H°) and entropies (Δ(mic)S°) of micelle formation for these gemini surfactants, and well correlated enthalpy-entropy compensation was observed. The analyses showed C(12)C(4)C(12)(Me) and C(12)C(4)C(12)(Et) behaved similarly in terms of thermodynamics of micellization, but they behaved differently from C(12)C(4)C(12)(Pr) and C(12)C(4)C(12)(Bu), which could be ascribed to the hydrophobicity and the location of the headgroup alkyl chains in the aggregates. These initial results indicate the headgroup alkyl chain plays an important role in influencing the thermodynamic properties of gemini surfactants.     

Luminescence of ion-pair states of halogens in liquid perfluorocarbons

The I(2)(D'-A') luminescence in liquid C(7)F(16), C(8)F(18), C(9)F(20), and C(12)F(26) has been observed following irradiation with visible (within the I(2) X → B band region) and UV (λ < 300 nm) lasers. The band is shifted by ~2000 cm(-1) to the red relative to the gas phase and is significantly broader (fwhm ≈ 3000 cm(-1) vs 500 cm(-1) in the gas phase). Two-color excitation of other halogens in C(n)F(2n+2) solvents revealed similarly shifted and strongly broadened D'-A' bands of Br(2), IBr, and BrCl. The stability of the ion-pair states of halogens in room temperature liquids opens new experimental opportunities for condensed phase studies and may be of applied interest considering the increasing industrial applications of perfluorocarbons.     

Kinetics of Dissociation of Iron(III) Complexes of Tiron in Aqueous Acid

The kinetics of dissociation of the mono, bis, and tris complexes of Tiron (1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-benzenedisulfonate) have been studied in acidic aqueous solutions in 1.0 M HClO(4)/NaClO(4), as a function of [H(+)] and temperature. In general, the kinetics can be explained by two reactions, (H(2)O)Fe(L)(n)(-1) + H(2)L right arrow over left arrow (H(2)O)Fe(L(n)H) + H(+) (k(n), k(-n)) and (HO)Fe(L)(n)(-1) + H(2)L right arrow over left arrow (H(2)O)Fe(L(n)H) (k(n)', k(-n)'), a rapid equilibrium, (H(2)O)Fe(L(n)H) right arrow over left arrow (H(2)O)Fe(L)(n) + H(+) (K(cn)), and the formation constant (H(2)O)Fe(L)(n)(-1) + H(2)L right arrow over left arrow (H(2)O)Fe(L)(n) + 2H(+). For n = 1, the reaction was observed at 670 nm, and at [H(+)] of 0.05-0.5 M at temperatures of 2.0, 14.0, 25.0, and 36.7 degrees C. For n = 2, the analogous conditions are 562 nm, at [H(+)] of 1.5 x 10(-3) to 1.4 x 10(-2) M at temperatures of 2.0, 9.0, and 14.0 degrees C. For n = 3, the conditions are 482 nm, at pH 4.5-5.7 in 0.02 M acetate buffer at temperatures of 1.8, 8.0, and 14.5 degrees C. The rate or equilibrium constants (25 degrees C) with DeltaH or DeltaH degrees (kcal mol(-1)) and DeltaS or DeltaS degrees (cal mol(-1) K(-1)) in brackets are as follows: for n = 1, k(1) = 2.3 M(-1) s(-1) (8.9, -27.1), k(-1) = 1.18 M(-1) s(-1) (4.04, -44.8), K(c1) = 0.96 M (-9.99, -33.6), K(f1) = 2.01 M (-5.14, -15.85); for n = 2, k(-2)/K(c2) = 1.9 x 10(7) (19.9, 41.5) and k(-2)'/K(c2) = 1.85 x 10(3) (1.4, -38.8) and a lower limit of K(c2) > 0.015 M; for n = 3, k(3) = 7.7 x 10(3) (15.8, 12.3), k(-3) = 1.7 x 10(7) (16.2, 28.9), K(c3) = 7.4 x 10(-5) M (4.1, -5.1), and K(f3) = 3.35 x 10(-8) (3.7, -21.7). From the variations in rate constants and activation parameters, it is suggested that the Fe(L)(2) and Fe(L)(3) complexes undergo substitution by dissociative activation, promoted by the catecholate ligands.     

Multiconfigurational second-order perturbation study of the decomposition of the radical anion of nitromethane

The doublet potential energy surfaces involved in the decomposition of the nitromethane radical anion (CH(3)NO(2) (-)) have been studied by using the multistate extension of the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation method (MS-CASPT2) in conjunction with large atomic natural orbital-type basis sets. A very low energy barrier is found for the decomposition reaction: CH(3)NO(2) (-)-->[CH(3)NO(2)](-)-->CH(3)+NO(2) (-). No evidence has been obtained on the existence of an isomerization channel leading to the initial formation of the methylnitrite anion (CH(3)ONO(-)) which, in a subsequent reaction, would yield nitric oxide (NO). In contrast, it is suggested that NO is formed through the bimolecular reaction: CH(3)+NO(2) (-)-->[CH(3)O-N-O](-)-->CH(3)O(-)+NO. In particular, the CASSCF/MS-CASPT2 results indicate that the methylnitrite radical anion CH(3)ONO(-) does not represent a minimum energy structure, as concluded by using density functional theory (DFT) methodologies. The inverse symmetry breaking effect present in DFT is demonstrated to be responsible for such erroneous prediction.     

A comparative study of the structures and reactivity of cyclometallated platinum compounds of N-benzylidenebenzylamines and cycloplatination of a primary amine

The reaction of cis-[PtCl(2)(dmso)2] with ligands 4-ClC(6)H(4)CHNCH(2)C(6)H(5) (1a) and 4-ClC(6)H(4)CHNCH(2)(4-ClC(6)H(4)) (1b) in the presence of sodium acetate and using either methanol or toluene as solvent produced the corresponding five-membered endo-metallacycles [PtCl{(4-ClC(6)H(3))CHNCH(2)C(6)H(5)}{SOMe(2)}] (2a) and [PtCl{(4-ClC(6)H(3))CHNCH(2)(4'-ClC(6)H(4))}{SOMe(2)}] (2b). An analogous reaction for ligands 2,6-Cl(2)C(6)H(3)CHNCH(2)C(6)H(5) (1c) and 2,6-Cl(2)C(6)H(3)CHNCH(2)(4-ClC(6)H(4)) (1d) produced five-membered exo-metallacycles [PtCl{(2,6-Cl(2)C(6)H(3))CHNCH(2)C(6)H(4)}{SOMe(2)}] (2c) and [PtCl{(2,6-Cl(2)C(6)H(3))CHNCH(2)(4'-ClC(6)H(3))}{SOMe(2)}] (2d) when the reaction was carried out in methanol and seven-membered endo-platinacycles [PtCl{(MeC(6)H(3))ClC(6)H(3)CHNCH(2)C(6)H(4)}{SOMe(2)}] (3c) and [PtCl{(MeC(6)H(3))ClC(6)H(3)CHNCH(2)(4'-ClC(6)H(3))}{SOMe(2)}] (3d) when toluene was used as a solvent. The reaction of 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2)CHNCH(2)(4-ClC(6)H(4)) (1e) produced in both solvents an exo-platinacycle [PtCl{(2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2))CHNCH(2)(4'-ClC(6)H(3))}{SO(CH(3))(2)}] (2e). Cyclometallation of 4-chlorobenzylamine was also achieved to produce compound [PtCl{(4-ClC(6)H(3))CH(2)NH(2)}{SOMe(2)}] (2g). The reactions of endo- and exo-metallacycles with phosphines evidenced the higher lability of the Pt-N bond in exo-metallacycles while a comparative analysis of the crystal structures points out a certain degree of aromaticity in the endo-metallacycle.     

Synthesis of phthalide derivatives using nickel-catalyzed cyclization of o-haloesters with aldehydes

The reaction of o-bromobenzoate (1 b) with benzaldehyde (2 a) in the presence of [NiBr(2)(dppe)] (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) and zinc powder in THF (24 hours, reflux temperature), afforded 3-phenyl-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one (3 a) in an 86 % yield. Similarly, o-iodobenzoate reacts with 2 a to give 3 a, but in a lower yield (50 %). A series of substituted aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes (2 b, 4-MeC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 c, 4-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 d, 3-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 e, 2-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 f, 4-CNC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 g, 4-(Me)(3)CC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 h, 4-C(6)H(5)C(6)H(4)CHO; 2 i, 4-ClC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 j, 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4)CHO; 2 k, CH(3)(CH(2))(5)CHO; 2 l, CH(3)(CH(2))(2)CHO) also underwent cyclization with o-bromobenzoate (1 b) producing the corresponding phthalide derivatives in moderate to excellent yields and with high chemoselectivity. Like 1 b, methyl 2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxybenzoate (1 c) reacts with tolualdehyde (2 b) to give the corresponding substituted phthalide 3 m in a 71 % yield. The methodology can be further applied to the synthesis of six-membered lactones. The reaction of methyl 2-(2-bromophenyl)acetate (1 d) with benzaldehyde under similar reaction conditions afforded six-membered lactone 3 o in a 68 % yield. A possible catalytic mechanism for this cyclization is also proposed.     

Improvement of durability of an organic photocatalyst in p-xylene oxygenation by addition of a Cu(II) complex

The catalytic durability of an organic photocatalyst, 9-mesityl-10-methyl acridinium ion (Acr(+)-Mes), has been dramatically improved by the addition of [{tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine}Cu(II)](ClO(4))(2) ([(tmpa)Cu(II)](2+)) in the photocatalytic oxygenation of p-xylene by molecular oxygen in acetonitrile. Such an improvement is not observed by the addition of Cu(ClO(4))(2) in the absence of organic ligands. The addition of [(tmpa)Cu](2+) in the reaction solution resulted in more than an 11 times higher turnover number (TON) compared with the TON obtained without [(tmpa)Cu(II)](2+). In the photocatalytic oxygenation, a stoichiometric amount of H(2)O(2) formation was observed in the absence of [(tmpa)Cu(II)](2+), however, much less H(2)O(2) formation was observed in the presence of [(tmpa)Cu(II)](2+). The photocatalytic mechanism was investigated by laser flash photolysis measurements in order to detect intermediates. The reaction of O(2)˙(-) with [(tmpa)Cu(II)](2+) monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy in propionitrile at 203 K suggested formation of [{(tmpa)Cu(II)}(2)O(2)](2+), a transformation which is crucial for the overall 4-electron reduction of molecular O(2) to water, and a key in the observed improvement in the catalytic durability of Acr(+)-Mes.     

Synthetic and structural studies of donor-functionalized alkoxy derivatives of gallium

The synthesis of a range of alkyl/chloro-gallium alkoxide and amido/alkoxide compounds was achieved via a series of protonolysis and alcoholysis steps. The initial reaction involved the synthesis of [Me(Cl)Ga{N(SiMe(3))(2)}](2) (1) via methyl group transfer from the reaction of GaCl(3) with two equivalents of LiN(SiMe(3))(2). Reaction of 1 with varying amounts of ROH resulted in the formation of [Me(Cl)Ga(OR)](2) (2, R = CH(2)CH(2)OMe; 3, CH(CH(3))CH(2)NMe(2)), [Me(Cl)Ga{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(μ(2)-OR)Ga(Cl)Me] (4, R = CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)), or [MeGa(OR)(2)] (5, R = CH(CH(3))CH(2)NMe(2)). Compound 4 represents an intermediate in the formation of dimeric complexes, of the type [Me(Cl)Ga(OR)](2), when formed from compound [Me(Cl)Ga{N(SiMe(3))(2)}](2). A methylgallium amido/alkoxide complex [MeGa{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(OCH(2)CH(2)OMe)](2) (6) was isolated when 2 was further reacted with LiN(SiMe(3))(2). In addition, reaction of 2 with HO(t)Bu resulted in a simple alcohol/alkoxide exchange and formation of [Me(Cl)Ga(O(t)Bu)](2) (7). In contrast to the formation of 1, the in situ reaction of GaCl(3) with one equivalent of LiN(SiMe(3))(2) yielded [Cl(2)Ga{N(SiMe(3))(2)}](2) in low yield, where no methyl group transfer has occurred. Reaction of alcohol with [Cl(2)Ga{N(SiMe(3))(2)}](2) was then found to yield [Cl(2)Ga(OR)](2) (8, R = CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)), and further reaction of 8 with LiN(SiMe(3))(2) yielded the gallium amido alkoxide complex, [ClGa{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(OR)](2) (9, R = CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)), similar to 6. The structures of compounds 4, 5, 7, and 8 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of monomeric Fe(II) and Ru(II) complexes of tetradentate phosphines

rac-Bis[{(diphenylphosphino)ethyl}-phenylphosphino]methane (DPPEPM) reacts with iron(II) and ruthenium(II) halides to generate complexes with folded DPPEPM coordination. The paramagnetic, five-coordinate Fe(DPPEPM)Cl(2) (1) in CD(2)Cl(2) features a tridentate binding mode as established by (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structure analysis of the analogous bromo complex, Fe(DPPEPM)Br(2) (2) revealed a pseudo-octahedral, cis-α geometry at iron with DPPEPM coordinated in a tetradentate fashion. However, in CD(2)Cl(2) solution, the coordination of DPPEPM in 2 is similar to that of 1 in that one of the external phosphorus atoms is dissociated resulting in a mixture of three tridentate complexes. The chloro ruthenium complex cis-Ru(κ(4)-DPPEPM)Cl(2) (3) is obtained from rac-DPPEPM and either [RuCl(2)(COD)](2) [COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene] or RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(4). The structure of 3 in both the solid state and in CD(2)Cl(2) solution features a folded κ(4)-DPPEPM. This binding mode was also observed in cis-[Fe(κ(4)-DPPEPM)(CH(3)CN)(2)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (4). Addition of an excess of CO to a methanolic solution of 1 results in the replacement of one of the chloride ions by CO to yield cis-[Fe(κ(4)-DPPEPM)Cl(CO)](Cl) (5). The same reaction in CH(2)Cl(2) produces a mixture of 5 and [Fe(κ(3)-DPPEPM)Cl(2)(CO)] (6) in which one of the internal phosphines has been substituted by CO. Complexes 2, 3, 4, and 5 appear to be the first structurally characterized monometallic complexes of κ(4)-DPPEPM.     

Protonation of gas-phase aromatic molecules: IR spectrum of the fluoronium isomer of protonated fluorobenzene

The IR spectrum of the fluoronium isomer of protonated fluorobenzene (F-C(6)H(6)F(+), phenylfluoronium) is recorded in the vicinity of the C-H and F-H stretch fundamentals to obtain the first structured spectrum of an isolated protonated aromatic molecule in the gas phase. Stable F-C(6)H(6)F(+) ions are produced via proton transfer from CH(5)(+) to fluorobenzene (C(6)H(5)F) in a supersonic plasma expansion. The F-C(6)H(6)F(+) spectrum recorded between 2,540 and 4,050 cm(-1) is consistent with a weakly bound ion-dipole complex composed of HF and the phenyl cation, HF-C(6)H(5)(+). The strongest transition occurs at 3,645 cm(-1) and is assigned to the F-H stretch (sigma(FH)). The antisymmetric C-H stretch of the two ortho hydrogen atoms, sigma(CH) = 3,125 cm(-1), is nearly unshifted from bare C(6)H(5)(+), indicating that HF complexation has little influence on the C-H bond strength of C(6)H(5)(+). Despite the simultaneous production of the more stable ring protonated carbenium isomers of C(6)H(6)F(+) (fluorobenzenium) in the electron ionization source, F-C(6)H(6)F(+) can selectively be photodissociated into C(6)H(5)(+) and HF under the present experimental conditions, because it has a much lower dissociation energy than all carbenium isomers. Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory using the 6-311G(2df,2pd) basis support the interpretation of the experimental data and provide further details on structural, energetic, and vibrational properties of F-C(6)H(6)F(+), the carbenium isomers of C(6)H(6)F(+), and other weakly bound HF-C(6)H(5)(+) ion-dipole complexes. The dissociation energy of F-C(6)H(6)F(+) with respect to dehydrofluorination is calculated as D(0) = 4521 cm(-1) (approximately 54 kJ/mol). Analysis of the charge distribution in F-C(6)H(6)F(+) supports the notation of a HF-C(6)H(5)(+) ion-dipole complex, with nearly the whole positive charge of the added proton distributed over the C(6)H(5)(+) ring. As a result, protonation at the F atom strongly destabilizes the C-F bond in C(6)H(5)F.     

The aromaticity of pyracylene: an experimental and computational study of the energetics of the hydrogenation of acenaphthylene and pyracylene

In this work, the aromaticity of pyracylene (2) was investigated from an energetic point of view. The standard enthalpy of hydrogenation of acenaphthylene (1) to acenaphthene (3) at 298.15 K was determined to be minus sign(114.5 +/- 4.2) kJ x mol(-1) in toluene solution and minus sign(107.9 +/- 4.2) kJ x mol(-1) in the gas phase, by combining results of combustion and reaction-solution calorimetry. A direct calorimetric measurement of the standard enthalpy of hydrogenation of pyracylene (2) to pyracene (4) in toluene at 298.15 K gave -(249.9 plus minus 4.6) kJ x mol(-1). The corresponding enthalpy of hydrogenation in the gas phase, computed from the Delta(f)H(o)m(cr) and DeltaH(o)m(sub) values obtained in this work for 2 and 4, was -(236.0 +/- 7.0) kJ x mol(-1). Molecular mechanics calculations (MM3) led to Delta(hyd)H(o)m(1,g) = -110.9 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(hyd)H(o)m(2,g) = -249.3 kJ x mol(-1) at 298.15 K. Density functional theory calculations [B3LYP/6-311+G(3d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)] provided Delta(hyd)H(o)m(2,g) = -(244.6 +/- 8.9) kJ x mol(-1) at 298.15 K. The results are put in perspective with discussions concerning the "aromaticity" of pyracylene. It is concluded that, on energetic grounds, pyracylene is a borderline case in terms of aromaticity/antiaromaticity character.     

Modulation of the pK(a) of metal-bound water via oxidation of thiolato sulfur in model complexes of Co(III) containing nitrile hydratase: insight into possible effect of cysteine oxidation in Co-nitrile hydratase

The Co(III) complexes of N,N'-bis(2-mercaptophenyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (PyPSH(4)), a designed pentadentate ligand with built-in carboxamide and thiolate groups, have been synthesized and studied to gain insight into the role of Cys-S oxidation in Co-containing nitrile hydratase (Co-NHase). Reaction of [Co(NH(3))(5)Cl]Cl(2) with PyPS(4)(-) in DMF affords the thiolato-bridged dimeric Co(III) complex (Et(4)N)(2)[Co(2)(PyPS)(2)] (1). Although the bridged structure is quite robust, reaction of (Et(4)N)(CN) with 1 in acetonitrile affords the monomeric species (Et(4)N)(2)[Co(PyPS)(CN)] (2). Oxidation of 2 with H(2)O(2) in acetonitrile gives rise to a mixture which, upon chromatographic purification, yields K(2)[Co(PyPSO(2)(OSO(2))(CN] (3), a species containing asymmetrically oxidized thiolates. The Co(III) metal center in 3 is coordinated to a S-bound sulfinate and an O-bound sulfonate (OSO(2)) group. Upon oxidation with H(2)O(2), 1 affords an asymmetrically oxidized dimer (Et(4)N)(2)[Co(2)(PyPS(SO(2)))(2)] (4) in which only the terminal thiolates are oxidized to form S-bound sulfinate groups while the bridging thiolates remain unchanged. The thiolato-bridge in 4 is also cleaved upon reaction with (Et(4)N)(CN) in acetonitrile, and one obtains (Et(4)N)(2)[Co(PyPS(SO(2)))(CN)] (5), a species that contains both coordinated thiolate and S-bound sulfinate around Co(III). The structures of 1-4 have been determined. The spectroscopic properties and reactivity of all the complexes have been studied to understand the behavior of the Co(III) site in Co-NHase. Unlike typical Co(III) complexes with bound CN(-) ligands, the Co(III) centers in 2 and 5 are labile and rapidly lose CN(-) in aqueous solutions. Since 3 does not show this lability, it appears that at least one thiolato sulfur donor is required in the first coordination sphere for the Co(III) center in such species to exhibit lability. Both 2 and 5 are converted to the aqua complexes [Co(PyPS)(H(2)O)](-) and [Co(PyPS(SO(2))(H(2)O)](-) in aqueous solutions. The pK(a) values of the bound water in these two species, determined by spectrophotometry, are 8.3 +/- 0.03 and 7.2 +/- 0.06, respectively. Oxidation of the thiolato sulfur (to sulfinate) therefore increases the acidity of the bound water. Since 2 and 5 promote hydrolysis of acetonitrile at pH values above their corresponding pK(a) values, it is also evident that a metal-bound hydroxide is a key player in the mechanism of hydrolysis by these model complexes of Co-NHase. The required presence of a Cys-sulfinic residue and one water molecule at the Co(III) site of Co-NHase as well as the optimal pH of the enzyme near 7 suggests that (i) modulation of the pK(a) of the bound water molecule at the active site of the enzyme could be one role of the oxidized Cys-S residue(s) and (ii) a cobalt-bound hydroxide could be responsible for the hydrolysis of nitriles by Co-NHase.     

Imaging studies of the photodissociation of H2S+ cations. I. Illustrations of the role of nuclear spin

Ion imaging methods have been used to study the dynamics of H(2)(D(2)) molecular elimination from H(2)S(+)(D(2)S(+)) cations following photoexcitation to the A(2)A(1) state in the wavelength range 300相似文献   

Density-functional-theory studies of the infrared spectra of titanium carbide nanocrystals

The infrared (IR) spectra of cuboidic titanium carbide (TiC) nanocrystals have been studied at the density-functional-theory (DFT) level using the Becke-Perdew (BP) functional and triple-zeta quality basis sets augmented by one set of polarization functions (TZVP). The accuracy of the calculations was checked by DFT calculations using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof hybrid functional (PBE0) and up to quadruple-zeta quality basis sets augmented by one set of polarization functions (QZVP). The calculated IR spectrum for Ti(14)C(13) (3 x 3 x 3) is found to be in fair agreement with the experimental IR spectrum obtained by infrared resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (IR-REMPI) measurements, whereas, for Ti(18)C(18) (4 x 3 x 3) and Ti(32)C(32) (4 x 4 x 4), the calculated IR spectra differ significantly from the experimental ones. The smallest TiC cluster (Ti(4)C(4), 2 x 2 x 2) considered has not been reported in any mass-spectrometer studies. The present DFT calculations show that the vibrational modes related to the in-plane vibrations of solid TiC are not observed in the IR-REMPI spectra of nanocrystals larger than Ti(14)C(13). Contrary to solid TiC, the studied TiC nanocrystals are nonmetallic with optical gaps of 0.62 eV (0.55 eV) and 0.028 eV (0.027 eV) for Ti(32)C(32) and Ti(108)C(108) (6 x 6 x 6), calculated at the time-dependent density-functional-theory (TDDFT) level using the BP functional. The HOMO-LUMO gaps obtained in the BP DFT calculations are given within parentheses. At the PBE0 DFT level, the HOMO-LUMO gaps for Ti(32)C(32) and Ti(108)C(108) are 1.74 and 0.32 eV, respectively.     

Activation of

Reversible C(6)F(5) transfer takes place between the boron centers in the anion formed by methide abstraction from [MeZr{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(3)] or [Cp(2)ZrMe(2)] (L(n)M-CH(3) in the reaction scheme) by the perfluorinated diborane 1. The solution chemistry of the metallocenium ion pairs formed from 1 and [Cp(2)ZrMe(2)] is correlated with the observed ethylene polymerization behavior of 1 in comparison to the monoborane B(C(6)F(5))(3), the related diborane 1,2-C(6)H(4)[B(C(6)F(5))(2)](2), and the 9,10-diboraanthracene compound 9,10-(C(6)F(5))(2)C(12)B(2)F(8).