Geometry optimization and conformational analysis of (C60)N clusters using a dynamic lattice-searching method.

A newly developed unbiased global optimization method, named dynamic lattice searching (DLS), is used to locate putative global minima for all (C6O)N clusters with Girifalco potential up to N=150. A simple greedy strategy is adopted for the basic frame, so DLS has a very high convergence speed and may converge at various configurations. As most structures are packed by basic tetrahedra, some sequences are defined by both configurations and the size of the basic tetrahedra. A sequence-based conformational analysis is carried out with the defined sequences by counting the hit number over 10,000 independent DLS runs for all the cases up to N = 5. It was found that the hit rate of a sequence is related to the size of the basic tetrahedra. U.e of this method proved that the Leary tetrahedral sequence is dominant in a certain range of cluster sizes, although the sequence has no potential energy advantage. The calculation results are also consistent with those of annealing experiments at high temperature, both in magic numbers and height of the peaks in the mass spectrum.     

Global optimization of atomic and molecular clusters using the space-fixed modified genetic algorithm method

A modified genetic algorithm approach has been applied to atomic Ar clusters and molecular water clusters up to (H₂O)₁₃. Several genetic operators are discussed which are suitable for real-valued space-fixed atomic coordinates and Euler angles. The performance of these operators has been systematically investigated. For atomic systems, it is found that a mix of operators containing a coordinate-averaging operator is optimal. For angular coordinates, the situation is less clear. It appears that inversion and two-point crossover operators are the best choice. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18: 1233–1244     

A conformational analysis method for understanding the energy landscapes of clusters.

A newly developed unbiased structural optimization method, named dynamic lattice searching (DLS), is proposed as an approach for conformational analysis of atomic/molecular clusters and used in understanding the energy landscape of large clusters. The structures of clusters are described in terms of the number of basic tetrahedron (BT) units they contain. We found that the hit numbers of different structural motifs in DLS runs is proportional to the number of BTs. A parameter T(max) is defined to limit the maximal number of atoms moved in a structural transition. Results show that T(max) is a key parameter for modulating the efficiency of the DLS method and has a great influence on the hit number of different motifs in DLS runs. Finally, the effect of potential range on the conformational distribution of the (Morse)(98) cluster is also discussed with different potential-range parameters.     

Global minimum geometries of acetylene clusters (HCCH)n with n ≤ 55 obtained by a heuristic method combined with geometrical perturbations

Geometry optimization of acetylene clusters (HCCH)_n in the range of n ≤ 55 was carried out with a recently proposed intermolecular potential consisting of Morse potentials, damped dispersion terms, and damped Coulomb terms. The heuristic method developed by the present author was used in the optimization: optimal geometries were searched by using geometry perturbations and subsequent local optimizations. The calculations were repeated until the global minimum was found for each cluster at least three times. The obtained results were analyzed to examine structural evolution of the clusters. The geometries of the clusters with n ≥ 25 were similar to the geometry in the cubic crystal of acetylene whereas smaller clusters take icosahedron‐based geometries. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Conformational search using a molecular dynamics–minimization procedure: Applications to clusters of coulombic charges,Lennard–Jones particles,and waters

A new conformational search method, molecular dynamics–minimization (MDM), is proposed, which combines a molecular dynamics sampling strategy with energy minimizations in the search for low-energy molecular structures. This new method is applied to the search for low energy configurations of clusters of coulombic charges on a unit sphere, Lennard–Jones clusters, and water clusters. The MDM method is shown to be efficient in finding the lowest energy configurations of these clusters. A closer comparison of MDM with alternative conformational search methods on Lennard–Jones clusters shows that, although MDM is not as efficient as the Monte Carlo–minimization method in locating the global energy minima, it is more efficient than the diffusion equation method and the method of minimization from randomly generated structures. Given the versatility of the molecular dynamics sampling strategy in comparison to Monte Carlo in treating molecular complexes or molecules in explicit solution, one anticipates that the MDM method could be profitably applied to conformational search problems where the number of degrees of freedom is much greater. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 60–70, 1998     

Crystallization and morphology of polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate

The crystallization behavior and morphology of polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate (pCBT) were investigated by thermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The spherulite growth rate was analyzed based on the Hoffman and Lauritzen theory to better understand the crystallization behavior. We found four typical morphologic features of pCBT corresponding to the crystallization temperature spectrum: usual negative spherulite, unusual spherulite, mixed birefringence spherulite coexisting with boundary crystals, and highly disordered spherulitic crystallites. The Avrami crystallization kinetics confirmed the occurrence of combined heterogeneous nucleation accompanied by a change in the spherulitic shape of pCBT, which also agreed with the PLM results. The equilibrium melting temperature and glass transition temperature of pCBT were 257.8 °C and 41.1 °C, respectively. A regime II–III transition occurred at 200.9 °C, which was 10 °C lower than that reported for poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Coinciding with and attributed to the regime transition, the boundary crystal disappeared at temperatures above 200 °C and the morphology changed from the mixed type to highly disordered spherulitic crystallites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1127–1134, 2010     

Theoretical study of hydrogenated tetrahedral aluminum clusters

We report on the structures of aluminum hydrides derived from a tetrahedral aluminum (Al₄) cluster using ab initio quantum chemical calculation. Our calculation of binding energies of the aluminum hydrides reveals that stability of these hydrides increases as more hydrogen atoms are adsorbed, while stability of Al – H bonds decreases. We also analyze and discuss the chemical bonds of those clusters by using recently developed method based on the electronic stress tensor. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Configurational and Conformational Properties of 1,3,7,9-Tetraphospha-Cyclododeca-1,2,7,8-tetraene: An Ab Initio Study and NBO Analysis

An investigation employing the ab initio molecular orbital (MO) and density functional theory (DFT) methods to calculate structural optimization and conformational interconversion pathways for the two diastereoisomeric forms, (±) and meso configurations of 1,3,7,9-tetraphospha-cyclododeca-1,2,7,8-tetraene (1) was undertaken. Two axial symmetrical conformations are found for (±)-1 configuration. (±)-1-TB axial symmetrical form is found to be about 0.35 and 0.99 kcal mol^?1 more stable than (±)-1-Crown axial symmetrical conformation, as calculated by HF/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* levels of theory, respectively. The unsymmetrical meso-1-TBCC form is found to be the most stable geometry, among the various conformations of meso-1 configuration. HF/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* results showed that between the two most stable conformations of (±) and meso configurations, (±)-1-TB is more stable than meso-1-TBCC by about 3.35 and 2.43 kcal mol^?1, respectively. In addition, MP2/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311+G** results showed that the (±)-1-TB form is about 1.10 and 2.36 kcal mol^?1 more stable than the meso-1-TBCC form. Further, NBO results revealed that in the most stable form of meso configuration (meso-1-TBCC), the sum of the π* allenic antibonding orbital occupancies (Σ π *_occupancy) is greater than dl configuration ((±)-1-TB). Also, NBO results indicated that in the (±)-1-TB conformer, the sum of σ and π allenic moieties bonding orbital deviations (Σ σ _dev+Σ π _dev) from their normal values, is lower than in the meso-1-TBCC form.     

Theoretical study of the structures and properties of cyclic nitramines: Tetranitrotetraazadecalin (TNAD) and its isomers

Density Functional Theory (DFT) was employed to study the geometries, electronic structures, infrared vibrational spectra, and thermodynamic properties of seven isomeric cyclic nitramines of C₆H₁₀N₈O₈ (i.e., TNAD and its six isomers) at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level of theory. The experimental results available for TNAD were used to determine the reliability of the DFT method for generating structural and IR spectroscopic values for these molecular systems. The relative stabilities of the conformers were evaluated from the energy differences of the structures. Detonation properties of various conformers were evaluated using the Kamlet‐Jacobs equations, and it was found that all the calculated results are comparable to the available experimental data. In addition, the calculated results demonstrate that all title compounds can be used as excellent propellant ingredients. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

A theoretical study of electronic and vibrational properties of neutral,cationic, and anionic B24 clusters

The equilibrium geometries, electronic and vibrational properties, and static polarizability of B₂₄, B, and B clusters are reported here. First‐principles calculations based on density functional theory predict the staggered double‐ring configuration to be the ground state for B₂₄, B, and B, in contrast to the quasi‐planar structure observed in small neutral and ionized B_n clusters with n ≤ 15. Furthermore, the (4 × B₆) tubular structure is found to be relatively stable in comparison to the 3D cage structure. The presence of delocalized π and multicentered σ bonds appears to be the cause of the stability of the double‐ring and tubular isomers. For the ground state of B₂₄, the lower and upper bound of the electron affinity is 2.67 and 2.81 eV, respectively, and the vertical ionization potential is 6.88 eV. Analysis of the frequency spectrum of the double‐ring and tubular isomers reveals the characteristic vibrational modes typically observed in carbon nanotubes. The corresponding IR spectrum also reflects the presence of some of these characteristic modes in the neutral and ionized B₂₄, suggesting that double‐ring and tubular structures can be considered as the building blocks of boron nanotubes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Theoretical study of fullerene derivatives: C40H4 and C40X4 cluster molecules

Herein we demonstrate that the C₄₀ cluster molecule is easily formed to T_d symmetry structure and its ground state is ⁵A₂ open shell with four unpaired electrons. These four unpaired electrons are located at the tip points of the T_d symmetry structure. This work also indicates that these four unpaired electrons can easily react with a single valence atom, such as hydrogen or halogen atoms, to form a stable carbon hydrogen cluster molecule, C₄₀H₄, and carbon halogen cluster molecules, C₄₀X₄ (X=F, Cl, Br, I), respectively. The PM3 semiempirical molecular orbital method from Gaussian 94W computer program package was applied very well to these cluster molecules. According to the results in this study, the structures of geometrical optimization, ionization potential, energy gap, heat of formation, atomization energy, vibration frequency, and the remaining data of C₄₀H₄ and C₄₀X₄ cluster molecules. The above-calculated data prove that these unknown cluster molecules are stable and have a stable capacity similar to 1,3,5,7-tetrahaloadamantane molecules. They can be possibly synthesized experimentally in the near future. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 68: 273–284, 1998     

Theoretical study of the conformational states of triosmium clusters with a chiral pinane ligand

A theoretical study of the conformational state of triosmium clusters with a chiral pinane ligand (μ-H)Os₃(CO)₁₀(μ-ONC₁₀H₁₄) has been performed. The potential curves of internal rotation of organic ligands around the N-C bond in cluster complexes in the crystalline state and in various solvents with continual consideration for the parameters of the latter have been determined. The structures of conceivable conformers and isomers are considered; the factors responsible for their formation and stability are examined. The relations between the conformational and crystalline structures of the cluster and the effect of intra-and intermolecular interactions on its structure are revealed.     

Highly accurate equilibrium structure of the C2h symmetric N1‐to‐O2 hydrogen‐bonded uracil‐dimer

The highly accurate ab initio equilibrium geometry of the hydrogen‐bonded uracil dimer is derived using a composite geometry extrapolation scheme based on all‐electron, complete basis set extrapolated Møller–Plesset perturbation theory using the jun‐pwCV[T,Q]Z basis sets combined with a valence CCSD(T)/cc‐pVTZ high‐level correction. Geometrical changes on dimerization are discussed and the performance of the several density functional approximations (among others SCAN, ωB97M‐V, DSD‐PBEP86‐D3(BJ), and DSD‐PBEP86‐NL) is evaluated. Orbital‐optimized MP2.5 is discussed as a reduced‐cost alternative to the CCSD(T) gradient in the composite scheme. A new reference interaction energy is calculated with explicitly correlated F12‐CCSD(T).     

Conformational analysis of cyclic phosphates derived from 5-C′ substituted 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose derivatives

Twelve 2-phenoxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes fused with a 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose moiety in cis orientation and substituted at the C′5 position were prepared in two steps from commercially available diacetone-α-d-glucose. Their conformations, and configurations were determined by ¹H and ³¹P NMR and X-ray crystallographic techniques. Both, chair-twisted-chair and chair-boat equilibria were observed in solution. We observed that the strong anisotropic shielding effect of the benzene ring in the phenoxy group generates an upfield shift of the H¹ hydrogen atom, when the cyclic phosphates adopt a boat conformation. This is due to a relative cis-orientation of the P-phenoxy group and the H¹ proton of the 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose moiety. Therefore, the configuration of the phosphorus center (S_P or R_P) can be determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Interestingly, the crystal structure of one of the cyclic phosphates exhibits two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, one with a chair and the other one with a boat conformation.     

Comparative theoretical study of small Rhn nanoparticles (2 ≤ n ≤ 8) using DFT methods

This work is aimed at identifying some key characteristics (energy, geometry, and spin) concerning Rh_n particles (2 = n ≤ 8) to perform further studies on adsorption and coadsorption sites of pollutants (CO and NO). The DFT methods of the Gaussian 03 program with the LANL2DZ basis set and the LANL2 potential are used. With the purpose to obtain a better nanoparticles definition, five different functionals were tested: B3LYP, O3LYP, BPW91, BP86, and HCTH; and the corresponding results are used to determine which of them best describes distances, spin, and gives acceptable highest vibration frequency and binding energy values, by comparing these results with values measured or calculated by many other authors. For the structure optimization process of the particles, the initial geometric shape was taken mainly from the literature, using the Rh–Rh distance: 2.67 Å, known for the bulk; and doing a complete optimization. We also considered flat nanoparticles structures, which most of them display three‐dimensional structures after the optimization process. The few flat shapes are mainly higher in energy than those of three‐dimensional structure. For some Rh_n particles for different n values, the spin of the ground state present degeneration. In some cases, the optimization process changes the initial geometry, but in most cases, there are only minor changes in bonds and geometry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010