Theoretical analysis on phase behaviour of a liquid crystalline material – effect of molecular motions

Molecular structure, and phase behaviour of 2-Cyano-N-[4-(4-n-pentyloxybenzoyloxy)-benzylidene] aniline (CPBBA) has been reported with respect to translational and orientational motions. The atomic net charge and dipole moment components at each atomic centre have been evaluated using the complete neglect differential overlap (CNDO/2) method. The modified Rayleigh–Schrodinger perturbation theory along with multicentered–multipole expansion method has been employed to evaluate the long-range intermolecular interactions, while a ‘6-exp’ potential function has been assumed for short-range interactions. The interaction energy values obtained through these computations have been used as input to calculate the configurational probability at room temperature (300 K), and nematic–isotropic transition temperature (396.5 K). On the basis of stacking, in-plane, and terminal interaction energy calculations, all possible geometrical arrangements between the molecular pairs have been considered. Molecular arrangements inside a bulk of materials have been discussed in terms of their relative order. Further, translational rigidity parameter has been estimated as a function of temperature to understand the phase behaviour of the compound. The present model is helpful to understand the effect of molecular motions on ordering, and phase behaviour of the mesogenic compounds.     

Effect of substituent on UV–visible absorption and photostability of liquid crystals: DFT study

The electronic transitions in the ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) range of two nematogens, namely 4′-cyanophenyl-4-n-pentylbenzoate and 4′-cyanophenyl-4-n-pentoxybenzoate, have been studied. The UV–Vis and circular dichroism spectra of these molecules have been simulated using the TDDFT/B3LYP/6-31+G(d) method. Mulliken atomic charges for each molecule have been compared with Loewdin atomic charges to analyze the molecular charge distribution and phase stability. The highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies corresponding to the electronic transitions in the UV–Vis range have been reported. The excited states have been calculated via configuration interaction singles with semi-empirical Hamiltonian ZINDO (Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap method). Further, the effect of substituent on ultraviolet absorption and photostability of the molecules has been discussed. The photostability of the molecules has been investigated in order to understand the application and operation with ultraviolet and visible light regions.     

Characterization of aromatic-thiol π-type hydrogen bonding and phenylalanine-cysteine side chain interactions through ab initio calculations and protein database analyses

In this study, the aromatic-thiol π hydrogen bonding and phenylalanine-cysteine side chain interactions are characterized through both molecular orbital calculations on a C₆H₆-HSCH₃ model complex and database analyses of 609 X-ray protein structures. The aromatic-thiol π hydrogen bonding interaction can achieve a stabilization energy of 2.60 kcal mol^?1, and is stronger than the already documented aromatic-hydroxyl and aromatic-amino hydrogen bonds. However, the occurrence of the aromatic-thiol hydrogen bond is rather rare in proteins. This is because most of the thiol groups participate in the formation of either disulphide bonds or stronger S—H…O (or N) ‘normal’ hydrogen bonds in a protein environment. Interactions between the side chains of phenylalanine and cysteine residues are characterized as the phenyl(Phe)(HSCH₂-)(Cys) interaction. The bonding energy for such interactions is approximately 3.71 kcal mol-¹ and is achieved in a geometric arrangement with an optimal phenyl(Phe)-(HS-)(Cys) π-type hydrogen bonding interaction. The interaction is very sensitive to the orientation of the two lone electron pairs on the sulphur atom relative to the π electron cloud of the phenyl ring. Accordingly, the interaction configurations that can accomplish a significant bonding energy exist only within a narrow configurational space. The database analysis of 609 experimental X-ray protein structures demonstrates that only 268 of the 1620 cysteine residues involve such phenylalanine-cysteine side chain interactions. Most of these interactions occur in the form of π (aromatic)-lone pair(sulphur) attractions, and correspond to a bonding energy less than 1.5 kcal mol^?1. A few were identified as the aromatic-thiol hydrogen bond with a bonding energy of 2.0–3.6 kcal mol^?1.     

Multireference calculations on low-lying states and the X~3 Π_u -~3 Π_g absorption spectra of indium dimers

Multireference configuration interaction calculations are carried out on 11 Λ-S low-lying electronic states of indium dimers. The states are investigated with spin-orbit pseudopotentials via the state-interacting method, and characterized by fitted spectroscopic constants based on computed potential energy curves. The vibrational structures of the double-potential well 0+g (I) ( 3 Σ g ) state are also analyzed. The experimentally observed absorption spectrum centred at ～ 13000cm-1 is simulated and assigned to X 3 Πu (v=0)-3Πg transition according to the present ab initio calculations on transition energies and dipole moment functions.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy and DFT calculations on all protonation states of the 2Fe-2S cluster of the Rieske protein

The Thermus thermophilus Rieske protein (TtRP) contains a 2Fe-2S cluster with one iron (Fe-Cys) coordinated by four sulfur atoms (2xS^2? and 2xCys) and one iron (Fe-His) by two sulfur and two nitrogen atoms (2xS^2?, His134 and His154). Here, the protein is investigated at three pH values (6.0, 8.5 and 10.5) in order to elucidate the protonation states of the His-ligands. Examination of the effect of protonation on the electronic structure of the cluster via Mössbauer spectroscopy gives a deeper understanding of the coupling of electron transfer to the protonation state of the His-ligands. Two components (1 referring to Fe-Cys and 2 to Fe-His) with parameters typical for a diamagnetic [2Fe-2S]²⁺ cluster are detected. The Mössbauer parameters and the protonation state clearly correlate: while δ remains almost pH-independent with δ ₁ (pH6.0) =?0.23 (±?0.01) mms^??1 and δ ₁ (pH10.5) =?0.24 (±?0.01) mms^??1 for Fe-Cys, it decreases for Fe-His from δ ₂ (pH6.0) =?0.34 (±?0.01) mms^??1 to δ ₂ (pH10.5) =?0.28 (±?0.01) mms^??1. ΔE _Q changes from ΔE _Q1 (pH6.0) =?0.57 (±?0.01) mms^??1 to ΔE _Q1 (pH10.5) =?0.45 (±?0.01) mms^??1 and from ΔE _Q2 (pH6.0) =?1.05 (±?0.01) mms^??1 to ΔE _Q2 (pH10.5) =?0.71 (±?0.01) mms^??1. Density functional theory (DFT)-calculations based on the crystal structure (pdb 1NYK) (Hunsicker-Wang et al. Biochemistry 42, 7303, 2003) have been performed for the Rieske-cluster with different His-ligand protonation states, reproducing the experimentally observed trend.     

Effects of linking chain length and magnetic field on the kinetics of photoprocesses in covalently bonded porphyrin—viologen dyads

The formation and decay kinetics of chain linked triplet radical pairs derived from photo-induced electron transfer reactions in a series of 21 zinc porphyrin-flexible spacer-viologen (ZnP-Sp _n -Vi²⁺) dyads containing 2–138 atoms (n) in the spacer, have been examined by nanosecond laser flash photolysis techniques in an external magnetic field. In non-viscous polar solvents (acetone and CHCl₃ plus CH₃OH = 1:1 v/v), the effect of the spacer length on the rate constant of forward electron transfer can be described by the equation: k _et = k ⁰ _et(n + 6)^?1.5, with k ⁰ _et = 3 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 and 1.2 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for electron transfer from the singlet and triplet states of ZnP, respectively. In zero magnetic field, the value of the triplet radical pair recombination rate constant, k _r(0) = 0.7 × 10⁶-8 × 10⁶ s^?1, is significantly smaller than k _et. The dependence of k _r(0) on n has an extremum with the maximum near n = 20. In a strong magnetic field (B = 0.21 T), significant retardation of triplet radical pair recombination is observed. In strong magnetic fields the effect of the chain length on triplet radical pair recombination rates is rather small and k _r(B) may vary in the range 0.3 × 10⁶-1 × 10⁷ s^?1. The phenomena observed are discussed in terms of the interplay of molecular and spin dynamics in the limits of slow and fast encounters, taking into account the exchange-interaction.     

On the performance of DFT/MRCI-R and MR-MP2 in spin–orbit coupling calculations on diatomics and polyatomic organic molecules

ABSTRACT

We have investigated the performance of different multi-reference quantum chemical methods with regard to electronic excitation energies and spin–orbit matrix elements (SOMES). Among these methods are two variants of the combined density functional theory and multi-reference configuration interaction method (DFT/MRCI and DFT/MRCI-R) and a multi-reference second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MR-MP2) approach. Two variants of MR-MP2 have been tested based on either Hartree–Fock orbitals or Kohn–Sham orbitals of the BH-LYP density functional. In connection with the MR-MP2 approaches, the first-order perturbed wave functions have been employed in the evaluation of spin–orbit coupling. To validate our results, we assembled experimental excitation energies and SOMES of eight diatomic and fifteen polyatomic molecules. For some of the smaller molecules, we carried out calculations at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level to obtain SOMEs to compare with. Excitation energies of the experimentally unknown states were assessed with respect to second-order perturbation theory corrected (CASPT2) values where available. Overall, we find a very satisfactory agreement between the excitation energies and the SOMEs obtained with the four approaches. For a few states, outliers with regard to the excitation energies and/or SOMEs are observed. These outliers are carefully analysed and traced back to the wave function composition.     

Effect of chain length and donor–acceptor substitution on the electrical responsive properties of conjugated biphenyls: a DFT-based computational study

The effect of donor–acceptor (D-A) substituent and chain length on the electrical polarisabilities and first hyper polarisability of cis and trans biphenyl oligomeric compounds have been investigated using density functional theory-based hybrid functional CAM-B3LYP with 6-311G (2d,2p) basis set. Our extensive computational study reveals that both average polarisability and first hyper polarisability of the studied compounds increase with the increasing ethylene spacer chain length. Again the substitution of donor (NMe₂) and acceptor (C≡N) at the para position of the phenyl rings to each oligomer shows order of magnitude increase of both α_av and β_av value compared to the unsubstituted one. This increased α_av and β_av values have been explained due to increasing charge transfer contribution resulting from decreasing optical energy gap (ΔE?=?S₁???S₀) upon D-A substitution. It is also observed that the charge transfer contribution to first hyperpolarisability (β_CT) is more than the polarisability (α_CT) for the studied molecules. The electronic spatial extent (<R²>) which is a measure of electron density volume around the molecule is found to play a major role along with the intramolecular charge transfer character to explain the non-linear variation of first hyperpolarisability (β_av) as a function of ethylene spacer chain length (n) and D-A substitution.     

DFT study on the effect of relative positions of methyl-, nitro- and N→oxide groups on the molecular structure,thermal/kinetic stability,crystal density,heat of decomposition and performance characteristics of triazolones

Methyl-, nitro- and N→oxide substituted triazolones are of interest in the contest of high-energy density compounds and have been found to have true local energy minima at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level. The optimised structures, harmonic frequencies and thermodynamic values for all the model molecules have been obtained in their ground state. The velocity of detonation (D) and detonation pressure (P) have been evaluated by the Kamlet–Jacob equations using the crystal density and the heat of explosion. The estimated performance properties are higher (D = 9.92–10.27 km/s, P = 48.10–52.52 GPa) compared with 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (D = 9.20 km/s, P = 42.0 Gpa). The higher densities are possibly due to the intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the layered structures in the crystal lattice. We speculate that the calculated heat of explosion and the density are for the gas phase compounds and in the reality they should be for the solid phase which would diminish the magnitude of the calculated values. The –N→O and –NO₂ group leads to the desirable consequences of higher heat of explosion and diminished sensitivities. The substituting of N–H hydrogen atom(s) of triazolones for a –CH₃ group decreases melting point, heat of formation and density; however, the methyl group increases the thermal stability.     

Effect of acoustic frequency and power density on the aqueous ultrasonic-assisted extraction of grape pomace (Vitis vinifera L.) – A response surface approach

Aqueous ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of grape pomace was investigated by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to evaluate the effect of acoustic frequency (40, 80, 120 kHz), ultrasonic power density (50, 100, 150 W/L) and extraction time (5, 15, 25 min) on total phenolics, total flavonols and antioxidant capacity. All the process variables showed a significant effect on the aqueous UAE of grape pomace (p < 0.05). The Box–Behnken Design (BBD) generated satisfactory mathematical models which accurately explain the behavior of the system; allowing to predict both the extraction yield of phenolic and flavonol compounds, and also the antioxidant capacity of the grape pomace extracts. The optimal UAE conditions for all response factors were a frequency of 40 kHz, a power density of 150 W/L and 25 min of extraction time. Under these conditions, the aqueous UAE would achieve a maximum of 32.31 mg GA/100 g fw for total phenolics and 2.04 mg quercetin/100 g fw for total flavonols. Regarding the antioxidant capacity, the maximum predicted values were 53.47 and 43.66 mg Trolox/100 g fw for CUPRAC and FRAP assays, respectively. When comparing with organic UAE, in the present research, from 12% to 38% of total phenolic bibliographic values were obtained, but using only water as the extraction solvent, and applying lower temperatures and shorter extraction times. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no studies specifically addressing the optimization of both acoustic frequency and power density during aqueous-UAE of plant materials have been previously published.     

Comment on “Role of the velocity frame of reference in thermodiffusion in liquid mixtures” by M. Eslamian,C.G. Jiang and M.Z. Saghir

We analyze the material transport equations (MTE) derived by Eslamian and co-authors and address the criticism expressed regarding the approach formulated in our previous work. In doing so, we show that the MTE formulated by Eslamian and co-authors are valid only in closed stationary non-isothermal systems in combination with the restrictions on the Onsager coefficients formulated in our work which is criticized, and that for non-stationary systems the approach we took can be used.     

Sum frequency generation (SFG) – surface vibrational spectroscopy studies of buried interfaces: catalytic reaction intermediates on transition metal crystal surfaces at high reactant pressures; polymer surface structures at the solid–gas and solid–liquid interfaces

SFG spectra of polyethylene and polypropylene show monolayer sensitivity and reveal temperature-dependent changes of surface structure. For polymer blends, the hydrophobic component segregates to the solid–air interface, and the hydrophilic component segregates at the solid–water interface. Changes in SFG spectra of polymer blends as a function of bulk concentration correlate with changes of contact angle. SFG is an excellent probe of surface-structure and surface-composition changes as the polymer interface is altered. Received: 20 September 1998     

Reply to a comment by S.N. Semenov and M.E. Schimpf on ‘Role of the velocity frame of reference in thermodiffusion in liquid mixtures’, Philosophical Magazine vol. 92, 705 (2012), by M. Eslamian,C.G. Jian and M.Z. Saghir.

A small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) study of nanovoids in 99.988 and 99.995?at.% aluminium is presented. Absolute intensity calibration using a glassy carbon standard is used to extract the weak SAXS signature from nanovoids introduced by thermal quenching. SAXS analysis methods, including Guinier, Porod and Indirect Transform, are used to obtain values for the void–size, number distribution and volume fraction, as well as measures of the void-metal matrix interface structure in quenched aluminium samples. The SAXS analysis has identified a residual impurity effect on void formation and has been used to characterize trends in nanovoid size, number distribution and interface structure as a function of ageing time at elevated temperatures (artificial ageing). The work presented here, including identification of experimental tools that can be readily improved, demonstrates that SAXS studies are capable of providing precise characterization of nanovoid structure in aluminium. This level of information will be useful in developing phenomenological models of void nucleation and growth capable of linking atomic scale phenomena to macroscopic material properties.     

Effect of atomic silicon and germanium beams on the growth kinetics of Si<Subscript>1 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ge<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> layers in Si–GeH<Subscript>4</Subscript> molecular beam epitaxy

The steady-state kinetics of growth of Si_{1 – x} Ge _x layers in one version of hybrid molecular beam epitaxy with a molecular germane source and a sublimating silicon bar has been studied. It has been demonstrated that the processes of capture of hydride molecule radicals by the epitaxial surface and their subsequent decomposition must be taken into account in the analysis of growth kinetics. The comparison of experimental data with the results of kinetic analysis has revealed a close match between them. At low germane pressures \({P_{Ge{H_4}}}\) < 0.5 mTorr, the nature of the growth process is defined exclusively by the specifics of interaction between the molecular beam of Ge monohydride with the growth surface. The influence of the atomic Ge beam from the Si source only manifests at germane pressures exceeding 1 mTorr. Under these conditions, the fluxes of Ge and Si atoms from the sublimating Si source become equal, and the concentration of germyl molecules on the surface reaches saturation. The observed increase in the \({V_{Ge{H_3}}}\) parameter is associated with the activating influence of the flux of silicon atoms from the sublimating source on the decomposition of molecules.