Nonempirical statistical theory for molecular evaporation from nonrigid clusters

We propose a nonempirical statistical theory to give the reaction rate and the kinetic energy distribution of fragments for molecular evaporation from highly nonrigid atomic and van der Waals clusters. To quantify the theory, an efficient and accurate method to evaluate the absolute value of classical density of states (the Thomas-Fermi density in phase space) and the flux at the so-called dividing surface is critically important, and we have devised such an efficient method. The theory and associated methods are verified by numerical comparison with the corresponding molecular dynamics simulation through the study of Ar(2) evaporation from Ar(8) cluster, in which evaporation is strongly coupled with structural isomerization dynamics. It turns out that the nonempirical statistical theory gives quite an accurate reaction rate. We also study the kinetic energy release (KER) arising from these evaporations and its Boltzmann-like distribution both for atomic and diatomic evaporations. This provides a general relation between the KER and temperature of the fragments.     

Density functional theory calculations of hydrogen-bond-mediated NMR J coupling in the solid state

A recently developed method for calculating NMR J coupling in solid-state systems is applied to calculate hydrogen-bond-mediated (2h) J NN couplings across intra- or intermolecular N-H...N hydrogen bonds in two 6-aminofulvene-1-aldimine derivatives and the ribbon structure formed by a deoxyguanosine derivative. Excellent quantitative agreement is observed between the calculated solid-state J couplings and those previously determined experimentally in two recent spin-echo magic-angle-spinning NMR studies ( Brown, S. P. ; et al. Chem. Commun. 2002, 1852-1853 and Pham, T. N. ; et al. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2007, 9, 3416-3423 ). For the 6-aminofulvene-1-aldimines, the differences in (2h) J NN couplings in pyrrole and triazole derivatives are reproduced, while for the guanosine ribbons, an increase in (2h) J NN is correlated with a decrease in the N-H...N hydrogen-bond distance. J couplings are additionally calculated for isolated molecules of the 6-aminofulevene-1-aldimines extracted from the crystal with and without further geometry optimization. Importantly, it is shown that experimentally observed differences between J couplings determined by solution- and solid-state NMR are not solely due to differences in geometry; long-range electrostatic effects of the crystal lattice are shown to be significant also. J couplings that are yet to be experimentally measured are calculated. Notably, (2h) J NO couplings across N-H...O hydrogen bonds are found to be of a similar magnitude to (2h) J NN couplings, suggesting that their utilization and quantitative determination should be experimentally feasible.     

Solvent free reactions in the solid state: solid state metathesis

Transition Metal Chemistry -     

Kinetic studies in solid state reactions by sample-controlled methods and advanced analysis procedures

A comparative study of both conventional rising temperature and sample-controlled methods, like constant rate thermal analysis (CRTA), is carried out after analyzing a set of solid state reactions using both methods. It is shown that CRTA avoids the influence of heat and mass transfer phenomena for a wide range of sample sizes leading to reliable kinetic parameters. On the other hand, conventional rising temperature methods yield α–T plots dependent on experimental conditions, even when using samples sizes smaller than 2 mg. Moreover, it is shown that the discrimination of overlapping processes is dramatically improved using sample-controlled methods instead of conventional heating procedures. An advanced method for performing the kinetic analysis of complex processes from a single CRTA experiment is proposed.     

Ferroelectricity in solid state chemistry

This article discusses some state-of-the-art aspects of solid state chemistry within the context of ferroelectric materials such as oxides, fluorides and oxyfluorides, whose crystalline networks include octahedra. Structural considerations make it possible to determine the origin of the ferroelectricity and to predict the existence of polar properties in new families. Crystallographic distortions of different nature lead to highly variable transition sequences. Ferroelectricity is often associated with ferroelasticity. The Curie temperature is linked to the composition and to the chemical bond. In this respect, several factors are to be considered, e.g. size, coordination and configuration of the cations, covalence of bonds, order-disorder, etc. Physical studies are very useful: first, the dielectric characteristics and their variations with temperature, frequency and electric field are typical of ferroelectrics; second, the pyroelectric, piezoelectric, electro-optical and non-linear optical properties are among the most effective. Various types of materials (single crystals, ceramics, thin films) are used nowadays in a wide range of applications. © 2000 Académie des sciences / Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SASferroelectricity / solid state chemistry     

Study of rhamnose radicals in the solid state adopting a density functional theory cluster approach

A theoretical study is performed on the radiation-induced radicals in crystalline alpha-l-rhamnose, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Irrespective of earlier structural assignments, a host of possible radical models is examined in search for a structure that accurately reproduces experimental electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) properties. A cluster approach is followed, incorporating all hydrogen bond interactions between radical and crystalline environment. Hyperfine coupling tensors as well as g tensors are determined and a comparison is made with available experimental data. Three carbon-centered hydroxyalkyl radicals are validated, in accordance with experimental suggestions for their structure. The occurrence of a carbon-centered oxygen anion radical for one of the radical species is rejected on theoretical grounds, and instead an altered hydroxyalkyl structure is suggested. Our cluster calculations are able to determine g and hyperfine tensors for the oxygen-centered alkoxy radical in rhamnose, in accordance with one of the two measurements for this species. For all radical models, quantitative agreement with experimental hyperfine tensors is obtained by performing full cluster DFT calculations. The inclusion of the molecular environment for the determination of this EPR property proved to be essential.     

Description of depolarization effects in double-quantum solid state nuclear magnetic resonance experiments using multipole-multimode Floquet theory

Using an analytical model based on multipole-multimode Floquet theory (MMFT), we describe the polarization loss (or depolarization) observed in double-quantum (DQ) dipolar recoupling magic angle spinning (MAS) experiments. Specifically, the factors responsible for depolarization are analyzed in terms of higher order corrections to the spin Hamiltonian in addition to the usual phenomenological decay rate constant. From the MMFT model and the effective Hamiltonians, we elucidate the rationale behind the inclusion of a phenomenological damping term in DQ recoupling experiments. As a test of this theoretical approach, the recoupling efficiency of one class of (13)C-(13)C and (13)C-(15)N resonance width dipolar recoupling experiments are investigated at different magnetic field strengths and compared with the more exact numerical simulations. In contrast to existing analytical treatments, the role of higher order corrections is clearly explained in the context of the MMFT approach leading to a better understanding of the underlying spin physics. Furthermore, the analytical model presented herein provides a general framework for describing coherent and incoherent effects in homonuclear and heteronuclear DQ MAS recoupling experiments.     

Retarded solid state reactions

Reconstructive phase transitions and formation or decomposition reactions in the solid state exhibit in DTA-measurements a more or less great hysteresis between the temperatures from heating and cooling curves; at worst the reaction can be suppressed completely. By e.m.f.vs. T-measurements in appropriate galvanic cells for solid electrolytes equilibrium temperatures in the case of such kinetic hindrance can be determined and additionally the existence of metastable states can be proved.

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Zusammenfassung Rekonstruktive Phasenumwandlungen sowie Bildungs- und Zersetzungsreaktionen im festen Zustand zeigen bei DTA-Messungen eine mehr oder minder große Hysteresis zwischen den aus Aufheiz- bzw. Abkühlkurven ermittelten Temperaturen; schlimmstenfalls kann die Festkörperreaktion völlig unterdrückt sein. Mißt man in geeigneten galvanischen Zellen für Festelektrolyte EMK-gegen-T-Kurven, so erhält man auch im Falle kinetischer Hemmungen Gleichgewichtstemperaturen und kann darüber hinaus das Vorliegen metastabiler Zustände nachweisen.

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We have to thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fonds der Chemischen Industry for supporting our work from the outset.     

Selective solid state photooxidant

Irradiation of biphenyl encapsulated in the cavities of a NaZSM-5 zeolite framework has been reported to result in the formation of an extremely long-lived radical cation. Here, we show that such zeolite encapsulated radical cations can act as irreversible one-electron oxidants for simple alkenes and dienes, in a solid-state analogue to solution-phase cosensitization. Compared to the well-known semiconductor photooxidizers, such as titanium dioxide, the NaZSM-5 zeolite-based solid photooxidants exhibit enhanced selectivity based on oxidation potential, molecular size and shape, and Lewis base character.     

Nonempirical studies of the molecular properties and thermodynamic functions of urea in the ideal gas state

Quantum-chemical calculations were performed for the equilibrium structure of isolated urea molecules using the 6-311++G** basis set and second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory, density functional theory, and the coupled cluster method with the local inclusion of electron correlation. The results were used to perform statistical calculations of the standard thermodynamic functions of urea in the ideal gas state taking into account anharmonicity of normal vibrations. The contributions of dimerization and isomerization of urea molecules in the vapor phase were determined. The recommended values were compared with the available experimental data and the results of preceding calculations. Original Russian Text ? A.V. Kuznetsov, A.V. Stolyarov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 339–345.     

Heteronuclear NOE in the solid state

A series of small molecules and polymers was examined in order to investigate the heteronuclear NOE effect in solids. Contrary to a previously reported interpretation it was found that caution has to be used in interpreting NOE rates purely in terms of correlation times. The NOE rate of a methyl group was not solely dependent upon correlation times but also the distance (r⁻⁶) from the nearest methyl neighbour.     

Conformation-specific photochemistry in the solid state

The unsymmetrical ene-dione $\text{1b}$ exists in solution as a mixture of two conformational isomers, A and B, in rapid equilibrium. Irradiation of $\text{1b}$ in this medium leads to four products, two from each conformer. In the solid state, however, compound $\text{1b}$ adopts a single conformation (A), and photolysis of crystals of $\text{1b}$ leads to a single product. The formation of one rather than two photoproducts in this instance is attributed to a unique solid state steric effect, termed steric compression.     

Ionic conduction in the solid state

Solid state ionic conductors are important from an industrial viewpoint. A variety of such conductors have been found. In order to understand the reasons for high ionic conductivity in these solids, there have been a number of experimental, theoretical and computational studies in the literature. We provide here a survey of these investigations with focus on what is known and elaborate on issues that still remain unresolved. Conductivity depends on a number of factors such as presence of interstitial sites, ion size, temperature, crystal structure etc. We discuss the recent results from atomistic computer simulations on the dependence of conductivity in NASICONs as a function of composition, temperature, phase change and cation among others. A new potential for modelling of NASICON structure that has been proposed is also discussed. Dedicated to Prof J Gopalakrishnan on his 62nd birthday.     

Reaction selectivity in solid state photochemistry

Steric compression, arising from intermolecular or intermolecular H...H non-bonded repulsive interactions generated along the reaction pathway, is used to explain abnomal solid state photoreactivity. Computer simulations of the motions involved in each case, with calculations of the resulting non-bonded steric compression energies were performed. Three systems were studied: ($\text{A}$) Enone photorearrangements, where the observed changes in the solid state photoreactivity of eight closely related α,β-unsaturated cyclohexenones are correlated with their crystal and molecular structures as determined by X-ray diffraction methods. ($\text{B}$) Failure of [2+2] photocycloadditilon of an α,β-unsaturated ketone when irradiated in the solid state despite an almost perfect crystal lattice alignment of the potentially reactive double bonds. ($\text{C}$) An unsymmetrically substituted ene-dione for which solution photoreactlon results in four products and solid state photoreaction yields only one.     

A unified theory for the kinetic analysis of solid state reactions under any thermal pathway

The Ozawa concept of generalized time has been used for developing master plots for the different kinetic models describing solid state reactions. These plots can be indistinctly used for analysing isothermal or non-isothermal experimental data. It is demonstrated that it is not possible to discriminate the kinetic model from a single non-isothermal curve without a previous knowledge of the activation energy. However, it has been shown that the ln [(da/dt)/f(a)] data taken from a set of DTG curves obtained at different heating rates lie on a single straight line when represented as a function of 1/T only if the kinetic model really obeyed by the reaction is considered. Moreover, the true values of E and A are obtained from the slope and the intercept of this straight line. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparison of the crystallisation and solid state reaction methods for the preparation of rare-earth orthophosphates

Two easy laboratory methods for preparation of rare-earth orthophosphates (crystallisation from phosphoric acid solution and solid-state reaction with (NH₄)₂HPO₄) were compared on the basis of the products’ properties with a focus on their application as new inorganic pigments. The preparation method has a significant influence on optical properties. The samples prepared by crystallisation have lighter and less rich colour and also change colour more under sunlight irradiation. The surface properties analysed by SEM and presence of a greater amount of phosphoric acid in the crystallisation procedure influence the pH and resistivity of aqueous extract of products and thus their corrosion-inhibition properties. The optical properties of rare-earth orthophosphates and their preliminary corrosion tests show their potential application as highly efficient corrosion-inhibition pigments.