Totally avoided surface crossings in amino radical-radical recombinations

Semi-empirically generated potential energy surfaces for NN bond rupture in hydrazine and NH bond rupture in ammonia show that ground-excited singlet state crossings or near crossings occur along certain geometrical pathways while other lower energy pathways exhibit no theoretical vestige of such a crossing. This latter observation is in agreement with experimental evidence indicating that NH₂ + NH₂ or NH₂ + H reactions occur without activation energies. Thus, while orbital or state symmetry arguments are useful qualitative guides as to the possible shape of surfaces along certain symmetry restricted pathways they provide no information for the non-symmetrical ones.     

A simple perturbational approach for the determination of favourable reaction pathways

A simple perturbational approach has been used to establish the symmetry conditions for energetically favourable nuclear motions on a potential energy surface. In particular, the operational rules of Orbital Correspondence Analysis in Maximum Symmetry (OCAMS) for specifying the symmetry species of the nuclear displacements, which make a symmetry forbidden pathway symmetry-allowed, have been derived. A general, symmetry-independent, procedure is then proposed for finding the energetically most favourable pathway by referring to the form of the overlap density function of non-correlating orbitals. The method is demonstrated by selecting from among the several symmetry-allowed nuclear motions on the potential energy surface for the H₂ + D₂ exchange reaction, that which is energetically most favourable.     

Valence bond theoretical study for chemical reactivity

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Real and complex intersections between potential energy surfaces of the same symmetry in polyatomic systems

Two different viewpoints of possible intersections between potential energy surfaces of the same symmetry for polyatomic systems are considered and extended to the general framework of complex nuclear coordinates. The results of ab initio calculations for complex nuclear coordinates yield a surface of n-1 complex dimensions, where n is the number of nuclear degrees of freedom. This supports the traditional viewpoint that intersections (real or complex) can exist between potential energy surfaces of the same symmetry.     

Quantum chemical and statistical rate study of the reaction of O(3P) with allene: O-addition and H-abstraction channels

The lowest-lying triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces for the O(3P) + CH2=C=CH2 reaction were theoretically characterized using the complete basis set model chemistry, CBS-QB3. The primary product distributions for the multistate multiwell reactions on the individual surfaces were then determined by RRKM statistical rate theory and weak-collision master equation analysis using the exact stochastic simulation method. The results predict that the electrophilic O-addition pathways on the central and terminal carbon atom are dominant up to combustion temperatures. Major predicted end-products for the addition routes include CO + C2H4, 3CH2 + H2CCO, and CH2=C*-CHO + H*, in agreement with experimental evidence. CO + C2H4 are mainly generated from the lowest-lying singlet surface after an intersystem crossing process from the initial triplet surface. Efficient H-abstraction pathways are newly identified and occur on two different electronic state surfaces, 3A' and 3A', resulting in OH + propargyl radicals; they are predicted to play an important role at higher temperatures in hydrocarbon combustion chemistry and flames, with estimated contributions of ca. 35% at 2000 K. The overall thermal rate coefficient k(O + C3H4) at 200-1000 K was computed using multistate transition state theory: k(T) = 1.60 x 10(-17) x T (2.05) x exp(-90 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), in good agreement with experimental data available for the 300-600 K range.     

Ab initio studies on photochemical reactions of Al atoms with H2 molecules

Potential energy surfaces are computed for the five lowest electronic states of the Al + H₂ system in its symmetric nuclear arrangement. Mechanisms of photochemical reactions of Al atoms with H₂ molecules are proposed, based on the calculated potential energy surfaces. The insertion reaction of the ground-state Al atom into the H₂ molecule is difficult under normal conditions. However, photoexcited Al atoms are capable of reacting with H₂ molecules along different pathways. The results obtained are consistent with experimental findings. The potential energy profiles of the dissociation reaction, AlH₂ → AlH + H, are traced by employing the UMP2 energy gradient method. Photocexcited Al atoms react with H₂ molecules along the 2 ²A₁ state pathway, and the AlH₂(²Σ_g⁺) formed dissociates easily into AlH(¹Σ) and H(²S). The dissociation reaction of ground-state AlH₂ is difficult.     

A density-functional theory based study on the 16O/18O-exchange reactions of the prototype iron-oxygen compounds FeO+ and FeOH+ with H2(18)O in the gas phase

The mechanism of the degenerate 16O/18O exchange in the reactions of FeO+ and FeOH+ with water is examined by density functional theory. Based on previous experimental work (Chem. Eur. J. 1999, 5, 1176), two possible reaction pathways are investigated for both systems. The first mechanism consists of one (for FeOH+ + H20) or two (for FeO+ + H20) 1,3-hydrogen migrations from one oxygen atom to the other; the iron atom is not directly involved in these OH bond activations. The second route comprises a series of two (for FeOH+ + H20) or four (for FeO+ + H20) 1,2-hydrogen migration steps which involve the intermediate formations of metal-hydrogen bonds. Both mechanisms are evaluated under consideration of the respective low- and high spin potential-energy surfaces. The computational results show a clear preference for the 1,3-routes occurring on the respective high-spin surfaces bypassing the intermediacy of high-valent iron compounds having FeH bonds.     

Are Conical Intersections Responsible for the Ultrafast Processes of Adenine,Protonated Adenine,and the Corresponding Nucleosides?

Excited-state potential energy surfaces of adenine, protonated adenine, and their N9-methylated analogs are explored by means of a complete active space (CAS) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) study to understand the dynamics associated with internal conversion. After photoexcitation of the ground-state molecules to the S(1) state, the nuclear motions that are responsible for taking the wavepacket out of the Franck-Condon region are either an H--N9/C--N9 stretch or a ring-puckering motion that leads to pyramidalization. These motions lead to accessible conical intersections with the ground-state surface. The results are used to successfully interpret previous measurements on the photodissociation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate nucleotide anions and cations, where the latter react in a highly nonstatistical manner.     

Ab Initio Calculations of Structure and Energetics of the Hypermetalated Hydrogen Oxide Molecules: Li2NaOH and LiNa2OH

We made ab initio electronic calculations of the structure and energetics of mixed hypermetalated hydrogen oxides, Li₂NaOH and LiNa₂OH. There exist five equilibrium geometries for each complex. In all levels of calculation the global minimum structure for Li₂NaOH has C_2v symmetry and a large distance between sodium and oxygen, 4.24 Å (MP2/6-31G*). The dissociation energies to all possible products were also calculated. Li₂NaOH → Na + Li₂OH δH = +25.33 kcal/mol (at MP4/6-311++G**//6-31G* + ZPE scaled by 0.9). All other dissociation processes are highly endothermic. Similar procedures were applied to LiNa₂OH. The global minimum structure for LiNa₂OH belongs to point group C_s. It is also endothermic to all possible dissociation paths. LiNa₂OH →Na + LiNaOH δH = +12.72 kcal/mol (at MP4/6-311++G*//6-31G* + ZPE scaled by 0.9). The nuclear repulsion energy is crucial in energetics of the structures. The distribution of electron density and bonding properties for these equilibrium structures were analyzed.     

Ab initio calculation of the potential surfaces and the electronic transition moments for the valence and Rydberg doublet electronic states of BH2

The bending and symmetric stretching potential curves for the low-lying doublet electronic states of the BH₂ radical are calculated by means of the configuration interaction method. Special attention is paid to consideration of the interaction between valence and Rydberg-type species. The dissociation of BH₂ in its various electronic states into H + B + H is studied. The results of calculations predict a complicated structure of both, the absorption and emission spectra caused by a number of avoided crossings between the excited states of the same symmetry in the geometry region close to the equilibrium geometry of the ground state.     

Collisional activation spectra of the adduct ions of 1,2,3-triarylpropenones under ammonia chemical ionization conditions

Under ammonia chemical ionization (CI) conditions triarylpropenones undergo hydrogen radical-induced olefinic bond reduction on metal surfaces, resulting in [M + 2H + NH₄]⁺ ions corresponding to the ammonium adduct of the saturated ketone. The decomposition of the adduct ions, [MNH₄]⁺ and [M + 2H + NH₄]⁺, was studied by collision-induced dissociation mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (CID-MIKE) spectroscopy in a reverse geometry instrument. From the CID-MIKE spectra of the [MNH₄]⁺, [M + 2H + NH₄]⁺, [MND₄]⁺ and [M + 2D + ND₄]⁺ ions it is clear that the fragmentation of the adduct ions involves loss of NH₃ followed by various cyclization reactions resulting in stable condensed ring systems. Elimination of ArH and ArCHO subsequent to the loss of NH₃ and formation of aroyl ion are characteristic decomposition pathways of the [MNH₄]⁺ ions, whereas elimination of ArCH₃ and formation of [ArCH₂]⁺ are characteristic of the [M + 2H + NH₄]⁺ ions of these propenones.     

Theoretical reinvestigation of the O(3P) + C6H6 reaction: quantum chemical and statistical rate calculations

The lowest-lying triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces for the O(3P) + C6H6 reaction were theoretically characterized using the "complete basis set" CBS-QB3 model chemistry. The primary product distributions for the multistate multiwell reactions on the individual surfaces were then determined by RRKM statistical rate theory and weak-collision master equation analysis using the exact stochastic simulation method. It is newly found that electrophilic O-addition onto a carbon atom in benzene can occur in parallel on two triplet surfaces, 3A' and 3A' '; the results predict O-addition to be dominant up to combustion temperatures. Major expected end-products of the addition routes include phenoxy radical + H*, phenol and/or benzene oxide/oxepin, in agreement with the experimental evidence. While c-C6H5O* + H* are nearly exclusively formed via a spin-conservation mechanism on the lowest-lying triplet surface, phenol and/or benzene oxide/oxepin are mainly generated from the lowest-lying singlet surface after inter-system crossing from the initial triplet surface. CO + c-C5H6 are predicted to be minor products in flame conditions, with a yield < or = 5%. The O + C6H6 --> c-C5H5* + *CHO channel is found to be unimportant under all relevant combustion conditions, in contrast with previous theoretical conclusions (J. Phys. Chem. A 2001, 105, 4316). Efficient H-abstraction pathways are newly identified, occurring on two different electronic state surfaces, 3B1 and 3B2, resulting in hydroxyl plus phenyl radicals; they are predicted to play an important role at higher temperatures in hydrocarbon combustion, with estimated contributions of ca. 50% at 2000 K. The overall thermal rate coefficient k(O + C6H6) at 300-800 K was computed using multistate transition state theory: k(T) = 3.7 x 10-16 x T 1.66 x exp(-1830 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), in good agreement with the experimental data available.     

Einkristall-Raman-Spektren von Alaunen. II. [1]. Raman-aktive Gitterschwingungen und FIR-Spektren

Single-Crystal Raman Spectra of Alums. II. Raman-active Lattice Vibrations and F.I.R. Spectra FIR and single crystal Raman spectra of seven different alums have been measured. All observed peaks are assigned to the symmetry species of the factor group T_h. A part of the lattice modes could be assigned to translational and rotational motions of the sulfate (selenate) sublattice and to motions of the crystal water – [Me^I(H₂O)₆]⁺ and [Me^III(H₂O)₆]³⁺ respectively. Comparison of spectra taken at 295 K and 80 K shows no frequency shifts significant for phase transition but a remarkable sharpening of especially those bands which are connected with water motions.     

Substituent effects on the photophysical properties of 2,9-substituted phenanthroline copper(I) complexes: a theoretical investigation

The electronic and nuclear structures of a series of [Cu(2,9-(X)₂-phen)₂]⁺ copper(I) complexes (phen=1,10-phenanthroline; X=H, F, Cl, Br, I, Me, CN) in their ground and excited states are investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD-DFT) methods. Subsequent Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is used for exploring the T₁ potential energy surface (PES). The T₁ and S₁ energy profiles, which connect the degenerate minima induced by ligand flattening and Cu−N bond symmetry breaking when exciting the molecule are calculated as well as transition state (TS) structures and related energy barriers. Three nuclear motions drive the photophysics, namely the coordination sphere asymmetric breathing, the well-documented pseudo Jahn-Teller (PJT) distortion and the bending of the phen ligands. This theoretical study reveals the limit of the static picture based on potential energy surfaces minima and transition states for interpreting the luminescent and TADF properties of this class of molecules. Whereas minor asymmetric Cu−N bonds breathing accompanies the metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer re-localization over one or the other phen ligand, the three nuclear movements participate to the flattening of the electronically excited complexes. This leads to negligible energy barriers whatever the ligand X for the first process and significant ligand dependent energy barriers for the formation of the flattened conformers. Born-Oppenheimer (BO) dynamics simulation of the structural evolution on the T₁ PES over 11 ps at 300 K confirms the fast backwards and forwards motion of the phenanthroline within 200–300 fs period and corroborates the presence of metastable C₂ structures.     

A density functional investigation of the reaction mechanism of H2O + HCNO

A theoretical investigation of the H₂O + HCNO reaction, which is carried out by means of CCSD(T)/6‐311G(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p)+ZPVE computational method to determine a set of reasonable pathways, there are seven product pathways, P _i with i = 1 , 2 , …, 7 are involved. It is shown that P ₁ (H₂O + NCOH), P ₂ (CO + NH₂ + OH), P ₄ (HCN + HO₂ + H), and P ₆ (CO + NH₂OH) are the major product channels; and P ₇ (HOC + H₂ + NO) is the minor product channels, whereas the other channels for P ₃ (HNO + HCOH) and P ₅ (HNO + H₂CO) are very minor, the minor product channels. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

The orientation-averaged rotation-decoupled vibration model for product state distributions in light+heavy-heavy reactions

A new 1D-to-3D transformation scheme for product state distributions applicable to light+heavy-heavy reactions is developed making use of specific dynamical and kinematical properties of such reactions. For the H(D) + F₂ and H(D) + Cl₂ reactions, its results are in full accord with 3D trajectory calculations obtained on the same potential surfaces that were used to generate the input to the 1D-to-3D transformation.     

13C spin relaxation studies of the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor

The longitudinal ¹³C spin relaxation times T₁ and the ¹³C{¹H} nuclear Overhauser enhancement were measured in a concentrated aqueous solution of the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. The correlation time for overall rotational motions of the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor molecules was found to be τ_R ≈ 2 × 10^?8 s. In connection with previous ¹H n.m.r. studies of intramolecular motions of the aromatics, we were particularly interested in the correlation times τ_G for intramolecular segmental motions of the aromatic rings. The present experiments revealed no manifestation of intramolecular motions of the aromatics, indicating that τ_G ? 2 × 10^?8 s for the aromatic ring carbon atoms. On the other hand, rapid segmental motions were evidenced for the peripheral carbon atoms of aliphatic amino acid sidechains. Comparison of the ¹H and ¹³C n.m.r. data on the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor indicates that the time scale of high resolution ¹H n.m.r. at high fields may in many instances be more appropriate for studies of the molecular dynamics in globular proteins than the time scale of spin relaxation measurements.