Computational study of singlet and triplet sulfonylnitrenes insertion into 1,3‐butadienes: 1,2‐ or 1,4‐cycloaddition?

The formation of N‐trifluoromethylsulfonyl‐2‐vinylaziridine and N‐trifluoromethylsulfonyl‐3‐pyrroline by the reaction of the singlet and triplet trifluoromethanesulfonylnitrenes with s‐cis‐ and s‐trans‐1,3‐butadienes was studied theoretically at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) and M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) levels of theory. The singlet trifluoromethanesulfonylnitrene adds to s‐cis‐ and s‐trans‐1,3‐butadiene exothermally in one step to give the product of 1,2‐cycloaddition, N‐trifluoromethylsulfonyl‐2‐vinylaziridine, the energy decreasing by 88.5 and 86.2 kcal/mol at the B3LYP level and by 105.2 and 103.0 kcal/mol at the M06‐2X level, respectively. The formed 2‐vinylaziridine can undergo rotation about the C(2)–C_sp2 bond with the barrier not exceeding 3.5 kcal/mol and to rearrange into N‐trifluoromethylsulfonyl‐3‐pyrroline. The triplet trifluoromethanesulfonylnitrene reacts with s‐cis‐ and s‐trans‐1,3‐butadiene in two steps. The first exothermic step is the formation of the triplet diradical adducts. The second step is the spin inversion with the energy raising by 5.8 and 17.8 kcal/mol at the B3LYP level and by 11.0 and 20.8 kcal/mol at the M06‐2X level for the adducts to s‐cis‐ and s‐trans‐1,3‐butadiene, respectively. Recombination of the radical centers occurs selectively to give N‐trifluoromethylsulfonyl‐2‐vinylaziridine that is exothermally rearranged into N‐trifluoromethylsulfonyl‐3‐pyrroline with the energy barrier of 40 kcal/mol at the B3LYP level and of 50 kcal/mol at the M06‐2X level. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Is 4‐nitrobenzenethiol converted to p,p′‐dimercaptoazobenzene or 4‐aminothiophenol by surface photochemistry reaction?

For the first time, the experimental and theoretical evidence for the conversion of 4‐nitrobenzenethiol (4‐NBT) to p,p′‐dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) in Ag and Cu sols by surface photochemistry reaction is obtained with surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The SERS spectrum of 4‐NBT in Cu sol is identical to that of DMAB produced from 4‐aminothiophenol in Ag sol as reported in recent literature, thereby providing direct spectral evidence. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ionized physical vapor deposited Al2O3 films: Does subplantation favor formation of α‐Al2O3?

The broad energy distributions of the condensing particles typically encountered in ion assisted vapor deposition techniques are often a drawback when attempting to understand the effect of the energetic bombardment on the film properties. In the current study, a monoenergetic Al⁺ beam generated by a filtered cathodic arc discharge is employed for the deposition of alumina (Al₂O₃) films at well defined Al⁺ ion energies between 4 eV and 200 eV at a substrate temperature of 720 °C. Structural analysis shows that Al⁺ energies of 40 eV or larger favor the formation of the thermodynamically stable α‐Al₂O₃ phase at the expense of other metastable Al₂O₃ polymorphs. The well defined ion energies are used as input for Monte‐Carlo based simulations of the ion–surface interactions. The results of these simulations reveal that the increase of the Al⁺ ion energy leads to an increase in the fraction of ions subplanted into the growing film. These findings underline the previously not considered role of subsurface processes on the phase formation of ionized physical vapor deposited Al₂O₃ films. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Theoretical study on the reaction of CH3CHCl + NO2

The detailed reaction mechanism of 1-chloroethyl radical with NO₂ is investigated theoretically. The results show that the title reaction is more favourable on the singlet potential energy surface than on the triplet one. For the singlet PES of CH₃CHCl?+?NO₂, it is shown that the CH₃CHCl radical can react with NO₂ to barrierlessly generate adduct a (H₃CHClCNO₂), b₁ (H₃CHClCONO-trans), and b₂ (H₃CHClCONO-cis), respectively. A total of six energetically reaction pathways and ten products are found. However, the most competitive path way is P₁ (CH₃CHO?+?ClNO), which can further dissociate to give P₆ (CH₃CHO?+?Cl?+?NO) and P₂ (CH₃CClO?+?HNO). The present results can lead to a deep understanding of the mechanism of the title reaction and may be helpful for understanding the halogenated ethyl chemistry.     

Can tetra‐tert‐butylethylene be formed by ion–ion recombination or ion–molecule reaction of two di‐tert‐butylcarbene units?—a DFT study

The reaction channels of di‐tert‐butylcarbene ( 2 ), its radical anion, ( 3 ) and its radical cation ( 4 ) were investigated theoretically by using DFT/B3LYP with 6‐31+G(d) basis set and 6‐311+G(2d,p) for single point energy calculations. Conversion of the neutral carbene 2 to the charged species 3 and 4 results in significant geometric changes. In cation 4 two different types of C? (CH₃)₃ bonds are observed: one elongated sigma bond called “axial” with 1.61 Å and two normal sigma bonds with a bond length of 1.55 Å. Species 2 and 4 have an electron deficient carbon center; therefore, migration of CH₃ and H is observed from adjacent tert‐butyl groups with low activation energies in the range of 6–9 kcal/mol like similar Wagner–Meerwein rearrangements in the neopentyl‐cation system. Neutral carbene 2 shows C? H insertion to give a cyclopropane derivative with an activation energy of 6.1 kcal/mol in agreement with former calculations. Contrary to species 2 and 4 , the radical anion 3 has an electron rich carbon center which results in much higher calculated activation energies of 26.3 and 42.1 kcal/mol for H and CH₃ migrations, respectively. NBO charge distribution indicates that the hydrogen migrates as a proton. The central issue of this work is the question: how can tetra‐tert‐butylethylene ( 1 ) be prepared from reaction of either species 2 , 3 , or 4 as precursors? The ion–ion reaction between 3 and 4 to give alkene 1 with a calculated reaction enthalpy of 203.5 kcal/mol is extremely exothermic. This high energy decomposes alkene 1 after its formation into two molecules of carbene 2 spontaneously. Ion–molecule reaction of radical anion 3 with the neutral carbene 2 is a much better choice: via a proper oriented charge–transfer complex the radical anion of tetra‐tert‐butylethylene (11) is formed. The electron affinity of 1 was calculated to be negligible. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental study on the 1.94-μm laser performance of c-Cut Tm:YAP crystal with various doping concentration

The influence of the thulium ion concentration on the 1.94-??m laser performance of c-cut Tm:YAP crystal was investigated in this paper. Three crystals with 3, 4, and 5% Tm³⁺ (atom concentration) were examined at 18°C. Our experimental results showed that, the best power performance was obtained with the 4% Tm:YAP crystal. By using 24.8 W of incident pump power at 795 nm, a maximum of 7.5 W of output power was obtained. The slope efficiency was 48.8%, corresponding to diode-to-Tm conversion efficiency of 30.2%.     

Theoretical study of the aqueous medium effect on the reaction CO2+ OH− ⇄ HCO−3

A method for the theoretical study of chemical reaction mechanisms in aqueous solutions has been developed. Approximate reaction pathways are determined with the aid of a model Hamiltonian in which medium is described by a set of Langevin point dipoles. Solvation of stationary points on the potential energy surface so obtained is performed by a more exact calculation of the medium contribution using the method of minimization of the solvation shell potential energy. Usefulness of our approach is exemplified by the calculation of the reaction CO₂ + OH⁻ ⇄ HCO⁻₃. Method MIND0/13 has been employed in constructing the model Hamiltonian. A good agreement with experiment has been achieved.     

Magnetic nanoparticles based on iron coated carbon produced from the reaction of Fe2O3 with CH4: a Mössbauer study

In this work, it was investigated the production of magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated with carbon by the reaction of hematite and methane by Temperature Programmed Reaction up to 950°C. XRD and Mössbauer analyses showed that the materials prepared at 600°C and 700°C are mainly composed of magnetite and small amounts of hematite α -Fe₂O₃ with particle size of 30–40 nm. At higher temperatures, the spectra also display two central doublets corresponding to wüstite phase (Fe_1???x O). The materials were also characterized by magnetization measurements, BET surface area, thermal analysis (TG) and SEM. These materials can be prepared by a simple and low cost process and show great potential to be used as adsorbents and catalyst support.     

Electron transfer within 1,3‐dinitrobenzene radical anions: electron hopping or superexchange?

The intramolecular electron transfer on several 1,3‐dinitrobenzene radical anions with different substituents on position 5 was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopies in MeCN. The radical anions are all charge‐localized mixed valence species, as is common for meta‐substituted dinitrobenzenes. Rate constants for the electron transfer reaction were obtained by the Marcus–Hush analysis of the intervalence optical bands assuming quartic‐augmented energy surfaces and solvent‐controlled dynamics. These calculated rate constants match quite well the experimental ones obtained by simulation of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, which rules out bridge‐reduced states as intermediates in the reaction path and confirms the superexchange mechanism. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental investigation of ρ<Superscript>0</Superscript> photoproduction on the pion in the H1 experiment

Experimental results on quasielastic photoproduction of the ρ⁰ meson in association with a neutron, obtained at the HERA collider, are presented. The total and differential cross sections of the γp → ρ⁰ nπ⁺ reaction at the positron–proton center-of-mass energy of √s =319 GeV are measured. The data collected with the H1 detector in 2006 and 2007 correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.16 pb^?1. The kinematic region of the photon–proton cms energy of 20 < W _γp <100 GeV, photon virtuality of Q ² < 2 GeV², and the ρ⁰ transverse momentum below 1 GeV/c is analyzed. Secondary neutrons with energies x _L > 0.35 (in proton-energy units) and emission angles below 0.75 mrad are selected. The model of double peripheral exchange, in which the ρ⁰ is elastically produced via the photon interaction with the virtual pion from the proton–neutron vertex, is employed for interpreting the results. The cross section for the ρ⁰ elastic photoproduction on the pion, γπ⁺→ ρ⁰π⁺, is extracted in the one-pion-exchange approximation. The magnitude of the cross section suggests that the γp → ρ⁰ nπ⁺ reaction is significantly affected by absorption.     

Magnetic behavior in the incommensurate phase ∼LaCrS3:: effect of the partial substitution of Cr by Ti on the magnetic properties

Dilution of the magnetic interactions between Cr³⁺ ions by Ti³⁺ ions was observed in the CrS₂ layer of the misfit-layer compound ∼LaCrS₃. Pure ∼LaCrS₃ has complex magnetic properties which are reminiscent of spin glass behavior. This magnetic behavior comes from both the modulated character of the structure and the magnetic frustration of the planar-antiferromagnetic-triangular network of Cr³⁺ ions. Thus, there is a large hysteresis between the zero field cooled and the field cooled magnetic susceptibility curves below the transition temperature (≈75 K). Formation of a solid solution ∼LaCr_1−xTi_xS₃ by the addition of Ti³⁺ ions results in the decrease of transition temperature up to a doping level of x≈0.5, where the transition is no longer observed. The magnetic behavior of the phase with x≈0.5 is similar to that of several random exchange antiferromagnetic compounds.     

Theoretical study on keto–enol tautomerisation of glutarimide for exploration of the isomerisation reaction pathway of glutamic acid in proteins using density functional theory

ABSTRACT

In order to elucidate the reason why glutamic acid residues have lesser racemisation reactivity than asparaginic acid, we investigated the racemisation energy barrier of piperidinedione, which is the presumed intermediate of the isomerisation reaction of L-Glu to D-Glu, by density functional theory calculations. In two-water-molecule-assisted racemisation, the activation barrier for keto–enol isomerisation was 28.1 kcal/mol. The result showed that the activation barrier for the racemisation of glutamic acid residues was not different from that for the racemisation of aspartic acid residues. Thus, glutamic acid residues can possibly cause the racemisation reaction if the cyclic intermediate stably exists.     

Assignment of pre‐edge peaks in K‐edge x‐ray absorption spectra of 3d transition metal compounds: electric dipole or quadrupole?

The characteristics of pre‐edge peaks in K‐edge x‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of 3d transition metals were reviewed from viewpoints of the selection rule, coordination number, number of d‐electrons, and symmetry of the coordination sphere. The contribution of the electric dipole and quadrupole transition to the peaks was discussed on the basis of the group theory, polarized spectra, and theoretical calculations. The pre‐edge peak intensity for T_d symmetry is larger than those for O_h symmetry for all 3d elements. The intense pre‐edge peak for tetrahedral species of 3d transition metals is not due to 1s–3d transition, but transition to the p component in d–p hybridized orbital. The mixing of metal 4p orbitals with the 3d orbitals depends strongly on the coordination symmetry, and the possibility is predictable by group theory. The transition of 1s electron to d orbitals is electric quadrupole component in any of the symmetries. The d–p hybridization does not occur with regular octahedral symmetry, and the weak pre‐edge peak consists of 1s–3d electric quadrupole transition. The pre‐edge peak intensity for a compound with a tetrahedral center changes as a function of the number of 3d electrons regardless of the kind of element; it is maximized at d⁰ and gradually decreases to zero at d¹⁰. The features of pre‐edge peaks in K‐edge XANES spectra for 4d elements and the L₁‐edge for 5d elements are analogous with those for 3d elements, but the pre‐edge peak is broadened due to the wide natural width of the core level. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental study on the system of Cl/Cl_2/He/HN_3/I_2

Using a microwave generator, chlorine diluted by helium was dissociated to chlorine atoms that subsequently reacted with hydrogen azide to produce the excited states of NCl(a1△). Meanwhile, molecular iodine with carrier gas of helium reacted with atomic chlorine to produce atomic iodine which then was pumped to excited state of I(2P1/2) by an energy transfer reaction from NCl(a1△). In this paper, the changes of NCl(a1△) and NCl(b1∑) emission intensity is presented when I2/He is introduced into the stream of Cl/Cl2/He/HN3/NCl(a1△)/NCl(b1∑). The dependences of atomic iodine I(2P1/2) on flow rates of gases were also investigated. The optimum parameters for I(2P1/2) production are given.     

Theoretical study of hydrazine adsorption on Pt(111): Anti or cis?

Hydrazine (N₂H₄) adsorption on metal surface is important due to its application in the direct hydrazine fuel cell technology. First principles DFT calculations have been carried out to understand the structure and mechanism of hydrazine adsorption on Pt(111). Calculations revealed that configuration with hydrazine adsorbed on its anti-conformation yields the largest adsorption energy suggesting it to be the most stable structure on Pt(111). This result was found to be in disagreement with available XPS results which favor the adsorption on cis-conformation as the most stable configuration. However, by taking into account the energy cost for orbital re-hybridization and internal rotation involves in the adsorption, it was found that the interaction strength between adsorbate and substrate is comparably equal for adsorption on both anti and cis-conformations that indicates the feasibility of the adsorption in cis-conformation to occur. Charge transfers from lone-pair orbitals belong to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and second highest occupied molecular orbital (S-HOMO) were found to be important in the formation of the bonding. The π-anti-bonding HOMO lone-pair transfers its charge to the surface which stabilizes the internal structure of the molecule and responsible for the stable anti-conformation adsorption structure. The interaction of the π-bonding S-HOMO lone pair with the surface was found to be dative type and plays an important role in the stabilization of cis-conformation adsorption structure.     

Intra‐ and intermolecular N?H···O hydrogen bonds in pyrrolyl derivatives of indane‐1,3‐dione – experimental and theoretical study

2‐(Pyrrol‐2‐ylmethylene)‐1,3‐indandione ( 4 ) and 2‐(pyrrol‐2‐ylmethylene)‐3‐dicyanomethylidene‐1‐indanone ( 5 ) were synthesized. Multinuclear and 2D‐NMR, IR, UV spectroscopic investigations as well as quantum chemical calculations showed the presence of strong hydrogen bonding in these molecules. For both molecules, the presence of two conformers, with and without H‐bond, was experimentally detected in the basic solvents (DMSO, acetone, pyridine) and the solvate complexes were theoretically calculated. Specific behavior of the intramolecular H‐bonded complexes different from that of the intermolecular H‐complexes is discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of OH radical with α-pinene: an experimental and computational study

The rate coefficient for the gas-phase reaction of OH radical with α-pinene was measured at 298 K using relative rate methods, with propylene as a reference compound. The ratio of the rate coefficient for the reaction of OH radicals with α-pinene to that of with OH radicals with propylene was measured to be 1.77 ± 0.21. Considering the absolute value of the rate coefficient of the reaction of OH radicals with propylene as (3.01 ± 0.42)×10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, the rate coefficient for the reaction of OH radicals with α-pinene was determined to be (5.33 ± 0.79)×10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. To gain a deeper insight into the reaction mechanism, theoretical calculations were also carried out on this reaction. The rate coefficient of OH radical with α-pinene was calculated using canonical variational transition state theory with small-curvature tunnelling. The kinetics data obtained over the temperature range of 200–400 K were used to derive the Arrhenius expression: k(T) = 3.8×10^?28 T^5.2 exp[2897/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The OH-driven atmospheric lifetime (τ) and ozone formation potential of α-pinene were calculated and reported in this work.     

A refined structural analysis of the PTCDA monolayer on the reconstructed Au(1 1 1) surface—“Rigid or distorted carpet?”

The superstructures (H1 and H2) of perylenetetracarboxylicacid-dianhydride (PTCDA) monolayers on the reconstructed Au(1 1 1) surface reported by Mannsfeld et al. [S. Mannsfeld, M. Toerker, T. Schmitz-Hübsch, F. Sellam, T. Fritz, K. Leo, Org. Electron. 2 (2001) 121] are reinvestigated by high resolution low energy electron diffraction (SPALEED). The purpose of this investigation is to elucidate in detail the point-on-line (p-o-l) structural relation of the homogeneous adsorbate layer with respect to the three reconstruction domains of the Au(1 1 1) surface. For the H2 (non-equilibrium) structure, diffraction patterns without a spot splitting are found, indicating an almost perfect undisturbed overgrowth of the domain boundaries of the reconstruction. As a consequence, the superstructure does not follow strictly the p-o-l relation, but only in an averaged manner. Contrary for the H1 phase (equilibrium structure), a spot splitting is observed, which indicates that superstructure domains on different Au(1 1 1) reconstruction domains exhibit slightly different angular orientations, thus adopting p-o-l relations on all Au(1 1 1) reconstruction domains. The PTCDA layer on Au(1 1 1) may be thus considered as a rigid or distorted carpet, depending on the preparation conditions.     

The local adsorption site of methylthiolate on Au(1 1 1): Bridge or atop?

Measurements of the local adsorption geometry of the S head-group atom in the Au(1 1 1)(√3 × √3)R30°-CH₃S surface have been made using normal incidence X-ray standing waves (NIXSW) and S 1s scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction on the same surface preparations. The results confirm that the local adsorption site is atop an Au atom in a bulk-continuation site with a S-Au bondlength of 2.42 ± 0.02 Å, and that there can be no significant fraction of coadsorbed bridging species as recently proposed in a combined molecular dynamics/experimental study by Mazzarello et al. [R. Mazzarello, A. Cossaro, A. Verdini, R. Rousseau, L. Casalis, M.F. Danisman, L. Floreano, S. Scandolo, A. Morgante, G. Scoles, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 (2007) 016102]. The results do not, however, clearly distinguish the different local reconstruction (adatom) models proposed for this surface.