Structure and bonding of Ag(I)-DNA base complexes and Ag(I)-adenine-cytosine mispairs: an ab initio study

High level ab initio calculations have been carried out to characterize the structure, bonding and energetics of Ag(I)-DNA base complexes, including adenine or cytosine, as well as Ag(I)-adenine-cytosine mispairs. The interactions of the Ag cation in all binding sites of all adenine and cytosine tautomers have been considered. The calculations show that in gas phase the canonical form of cytosine is stabilized upon metalation, whereas the lowest energy structure of Ag-adenine correspond to a rare tautomer. Interestingly, the theoretical inspection of metalated adenine-cytosine mispair reveals that the most stable structures are formed from the canonical cytosine and adenine tautomers. The lowest energy structure is planar with adenine and cytosine hydrogen-bonded. Within few kcal/mol nonplanar, conformationally very flexible structures are found, in which the Ag(I) crosslinks an endocyclic nitrogen of adenine and the oxygen of cytosine. Metalated reverse-Wobble type of structures, on the contrary, are predicted much higher in energy.     

Coupled transport of Ag(I) ions through triethanolamine–cyclohexanone-based supported liquid membranes

Facilitated transport of silver(I) ions in acidic medium, across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) by using triethanolamine (TEA) as carrier, dissolved in cyclohexanone, has been investigated. The parameters studied are HNO₃ concentration variation in the feed, pH of the feed solution, carrier concentration in the membrane phase, silver(I) ions concentration in the feed phase and KCN concentration in the stripping phase. Increase in H⁺ concentration by increasing HNO₃ concentration from 0.5 to 1 M results into an increase in silver ions flux but a decrease in flux has been found beyond 1 M HNO₃ concentration in the feed, providing a maximum flux of 3.21 × 10⁻⁷ mol/m² s at 1 M HNO₃. Increase in TEA concentration inside the membrane enhances flux with its maximum value at 2.25 M TEA. Further increase in the concentration of TEA leads to a decreased rate of transport due to the increase in viscosity of membrane liquid. The optimum conditions for Ag(I) ions transport are 1 M HNO₃ (feed), 2.25 M TEA (membrane) and 1.5 M KCN in the stripping phase. It has been observed that Ag(I) flux across the membrane tends to increase with increase in Ag(I) ions concentration in the feed phase. Applying the studied conditions to silver plating waste solutions, Ag ions have been removed up to 99% in a time interval of 5 h.     

A theoretical investigation of the excited states of OCLO radical, cation, and anion using the CASSCF/CASPT2 method

Using the complete active space self-consistent field method with a large atomic natural orbital basis set, 10, 13, and 9 electronic states of the OClO radical, OClO(+) cation, and OClO(-) anion were calculated, respectively. Taking the further correlation effects into account, the second-order perturbation (CASPT2) calculations were carried out for the energetic calibration. The photoelectron spectroscopy of the OClO radical and OClO(-) anion were extensively studied in the both case of the adiabatic and vertical ionization energies. The calculated results presented the relatively complete assignment of the photoelectron bands of the experiments for OClO and its anion. Furthermore, the Rydberg states of the OClO radical were investigated by using multiconfigurational CASPT2 (MS-CASPT2) theory under the basis set of large atomic natural orbital functions augmented with an adapted 1s1p1d Rydberg functions that have specially been built for this study. Sixteen Rydberg states were obtained and the results were consistent with the experimental results.     

Effects of the Au(I)–Au(I) closed‐shell attraction on the electronic and phosphorescent properties in a series of coordination compounds: A theoretical study

The Au(I)–Au(I) closed‐shell or aurophilic attraction has been the subject of interest in the experimental and theoretical chemistry fields, due to the intriguing properties associated to it. The presence of phosphorescence in “aurophilic” compounds has been addressed to a wide range of applications, but it has not yet been fully understood. A theoretical study on the electronic and phosphorescent properties of the following series of dinuclear gold complexes has been performed: [Au₂(dmpm) (i‐mnt)] ( 1 ), [Au₂(μ‐Me‐TU) (μ‐dppm)] ( 2 ), and [Au₂(μ‐G)(μ‐dmpe)] ( 3 ). Full geometry optimizations at the second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) were carried out for each of the species. These calculations made evident that, at the ground‐state geometry, the Au(I) cations allocated at the center of the ring show a short Au–Au distance below the sum of the van der Waals radii, at the range of the aurophilic attraction. An intermolecular Au(I)–Au(I) closed‐shell attraction for a pair of the systems under study is found. This attraction is comparable to that of the hydrogen bonds. The phosphorescent properties experimentally observed for this series were also characterized through ab initio techniques. The obtained results allow to fit reasonably the excitation energies with the experimental data and to identify a correlation between the strength of the Au(I)–Au(I) interaction and the phosphorescent behavior. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A theoretical study of the electronic spectra of pyridine and phosphabenzene

The electronic excitation spectra of pyridine and phosphabenzene have been studied using theoretical methods. The electronic states are described by wave functions derived from second-order perturbation theory based on multiconfigurational reference functions. The study includes singlet and triplet valences excited states as well as a number of Rydberg states. For both molecules the transition energies to the two lowest * excited singlet states are known from experiment and reproduced with an accuracy of 0.15 eV or better, while then * transition energies are predicted with a somewhat uncertain error of about 0.2 eV. The calculations suggest the lowestn * transition detected experimentally in pyridine corresponds to an adiabatic transition. 43 electronic states have been determined in each of the molecules.     

Theoretical computation of low‐lying electronic states of HCNS: A CASPT2 study

Complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and complete active space second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations in conjunction with the aug‐cc‐pVTZ basis set have been used to investigate the low‐lying electronic states of thiofulminic acid (HCNS), HCNS⁺, and HCNS^?. The result of geometry optimization using CASPT2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ shows that theoretically determined geometric parameters and harmonic vibrational frequencies for the HCNS ground state X¹Σ⁺(X¹A′) are in agreement with previous studies. The ionization energies, the electron affinity energies, the adiabatic excitation energies, and vertical excitation energies have been calculated and the corresponding cation and anion states are identified. By calculating adiabatic electron affinity, the states of HCNS^? have been identified to contain both π orbital states (X²A′ and 1²A″) and dipole‐bond states (1⁴A′ and 1⁴A″). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A theoretical study on the low-lying excited states of 2,2':5',2'-terthiophene and 2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene.

The nature and properties of the low-lying singlet and triplet valence excited states of 2,2':5',2'-terthiophene (terthiophene) and 2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene (tetrathiophene) are discussed on the basis of high-level ab initio computations. The spectroscopic features determined experimentally for short alpha-oligothiophenes are rationalised on theoretical grounds. Special attention is devoted to the nonradiative decay process through intersystem crossing (ISC) from the singlet to the triplet manifold, which is known to be relatively less efficient in tetrathiophene. Along the geometry relaxation of the S1 state of terthiophene, the S1 and T2 states become degenerate, which leads to a favourable situation for the occurrence of ISC. The parallel process is expected to be less favoured in tetrathiophene because of the less efficient spin-orbit coupling and the increase of the S1-T2 energy gap.     

Change of molecular structure in the excited states: A (CNDO/2) hole-potential study on phosphine

Molecular structure of phosphine in a number of excited electronic states is studied using the method of hole-potential within the basic framework of CNDO/2 theory. Effects of including 3d-functions of phosphorus in the basis set on computed molecular geometries, transition energies and inversion barriers in the excited states have been investigated. An attempt is made to rationalise qualitatively the structural changes in the excitedstate in terms of Walsh-type correlation diagram constructed with the eigenvalues of the Fock operator in theV _N-1 potential model. A simple orbital model for predicting the nature of structural changes in the excited states is proposed.     

Solvent effects on the excited state properties of 2-aminopurine—a theoretical study by the ONIOM and Supramolecular method

In this paper, the micro-solvated effects on the lowest-energy vertical transition state and adiabatic excited states of 2-aminopurine (2Ap) were studied by Supramolecular method (B3LYP/6-31++G(d)) and ONIOM (B3LYP/6-31++G(d):PM3) method. The results are as follows: (1) In 2Ap molecule surrounded by six water molecules the pyramidalization of amino group in 2Ap almost disappears, and the hex-atomic ring is obviously buckled. The adiabatic lowest-energy valence excitation of gaseous 2Ap also causes the disappearance of amino pyramidalization. (2) The energy for lowest-energy singlet π→π^* vertical transition in water is predicted as 3.99 and 4.29 eV by Supramolecular and ONIOM method, respectively. Both values are in good agreement with the reported experimental result, 4.11 eV. The energy for the second lowest-energy n→π^* transition, 4.72 eV, by the Supramolecular method is obviously deviated from the reported experimental value 4.46 eV. The corresponding value given by the two-layer ONIOM method, 4.43 eV, is in good agreement with the experimental value. (3) The optimized energy of the fluorescent emission state (S₁ state) are 3.61 and 3.87 eV by Supramolecular and ONIOM methods, respectively. The calculated oscillator strengths, in both gas and water clusters, were compared with reported experimental and theoretical results. These results indicated that both Supramolecular and ONIOM methods, combined with TD DFT B3LYP/6311++G(d), can provide good results of calculating excited state and spectra properties of 2Ap in condensed phase. This fact encouraged us to extend our study to 2Ap-T base pair and its solvated model so as to obtain the spectra properties of 2Ap in real DNA environment.     

MX2(AsH3)2(M=Pd,Pt;X=Cl,Br,I)的含时密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函方法(B3LYP)优化了MX2(AsH3)2[M=Pd；X=Cl(1)，Br(2)，I(3)和M=Pt；X=Cl(4)，Br(5)，I(6)]的基态结构，得到的几何参数与实验结果符合．以基态几何为基础，将TD-DFT方法用于计算标题配合物的电子吸收光谱．研究结果表明，金属的dx2-y2与配体所组成的反键轨道为LUMO轨道，从而该类配合物具有d-d跃迁属性的吸收带；在多数跃迁过程中，配体也有较大的贡献．     

Theoretical studies on structures and electronic spectra of linear carbon chains C2nH+ (n = 1−5)

The density functional theory (DFT) and the complete active space self‐consistent‐field (CASSCF) method have been used for full geometry optimization of carbon chains C_2nH⁺ (n = 1–5) in their ground states and selected excited states, respectively. Calculations show that C_2nH⁺ (n = 1–5) have stable linear structures with the ground state of X³Π for C₂H⁺ or X³Σ^? for other species. The excited‐state properties of C_2nH⁺ have been investigated by the multiconfigurational second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2), and predicted vertical excitation energies show good agreement with the available experimental values. On the basis of our calculations, the unsolved observed bands in previous experiments have been interpreted. CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations also have been used to explore the vertical emission energy of selected low‐lying states in C_2nH⁺ (n = 1–5). Present results indicate that the predicted vertical excitation and emission energies of C_2nH⁺ have similar size dependences, and they gradually decrease as the chain size increases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Ag9I3(SeO4)2(IO3)2 – Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Ionic Conductivity

Ag₉I₃(SeO₄)₂(IO₃)₂ was obtained for the first time by reacting a stoichiometric mixture of Ag₂O, AgI and SeO₂ at elevated oxygen pressure (255 MPa) and at a temperature of 500 °C. Ag₉I₃(SeO₄)₂(IO₃)₂ was characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, impedance spectroscopy and single crystal structure analysis. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods (I23, Z = 8, a = 12.9584(6) Å, V = 2175.9(2) ų and R₁ = 2.70 %). The crystal structure consists of isolated SeO₄ tetrahedra and trigonal IO₃ pyramids separated by Ag⁺ and I^– ions. Each four of the SeO₄^2– and IO₃^– anions aggregate, forming a novel supramolecular building block, showing a hetero‐cubane like structure. According to the results of impedance measurements, Ag₉I₃(SeO₄)₂(IO₃)₂ is a good silver ion conductor. The compound shows an abrupt increase in the ionic conductivity in the temperature range of 115 to 147 °C, and has a silver ion conductivity of 7.1 × 10^–5 Ω^–1 cm^–1 at 25 °C. The activation energy for silver ion conduction is 0.45 eV, in the temperature range from 25 to 115°.     

Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to HCOOH and CO by a Phosphine-Bipyridine-Phosphine Ir(III) Catalyst: Photophysics,Nonadiabatic Effects,Mechanism, and Selectivity

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is one of the best solutions to solve the global energy crisis and to realize carbon neutralization. The tetradentate phosphine-bipyridine (bpy)-phosphine (PNNP)-type Ir(III) photocatalyst, Mes-IrPCY2, was reported with a high HCOOH selectivity but the photocatalytic mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we employ electronic structure methods in combination with radiative, nonradiative, and electron transfer rate calculations, to explore the entire photocatalytic cycle to either HCOOH or CO, based on which a new mechanistic scenario is proposed. The catalytic reduction reaction starts from the generation of the precursor metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MLCT) state. Subsequently, the divergence happens from the ³MLCT state, the single electron transfer (SET) and deprotonation process lead to the formation of one-electron-reduced species and Ir(I) species, which initiate the reduction reaction to HCOOH and CO, respectively. Interestingly, the efficient occurrence of proton or electron transfer reduces barriers of critical steps. In addition, nonadiabatic transitions play a nonnegligible role in the cycle. We suggest a lower free-energy barrier in the reaction-limiting step and the very efficient SET in ³MLCT are cooperatively responsible for a high HCOOH selectivity. The gained mechanistic insights could help chemists to understand, regulate, and design photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction of similar function-integrated molecular photocatalyst.     

Structures and excitation energies of Zn–tetraarylporphyrin analogues: A theoretical study

The photophysical properties of β-substituted Zn–tetraarylporphyrin (ZnTAP) analogues used as dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells were studied using density functional theory (DFT). Singlet-excitation energy calculations of ZnTAP analogues were performed using time-dependent DFT with B3LYP, B3PW91, PBE0 exchange–correlation functionals at 6-31G(d) and 6-31+G(d) basis sets using B3LYP/6-31G(d) geometries. The PBE0 functional at 6-31+G(d) basis set provided a better correlation with the experimental data for both B- and Q-bands. The inclusion of solvation effect in the calculations provided a good agreement in terms of B:Q_ave ratio of the oscillator strengths for both analogues with the experimental values. Analogue 2 has a higher and a more balanced charge-carrier transport rates than analogue 1. In general, the addition of an electron-donating group in the meso-substituent (analogue 2) resulted in a narrower band gap, higher oscillator strength, a more red-shifted absorption spectra, and better charge-transfer characteristics than analogue 1.     

Characteristic of the Ag(bipy) 2 2+ /Ag(bipy) 2 + and Ag(phen) 2 2+ /Ag(phen) 2 + systems in acetonitrile

The values of standard potentials of redox systems formed by the complexes of Ag(II) and Ag(I) with 2,2-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline in acetonitrile have been determined. The properties of the above systems in water and acetonitrile are compared. The possibility of application of these systems for the construction of electrodes with a constant potential in different solvents is discussed.

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Charakteristik der Systeme Ag(bipy) ₂ ²⁺ /Ag(bipy) ₂ ⁺ und Ag(phen) ₂ ²⁺ /Ag(phen) ₂ ⁺ in Acetonitril

Zusammenfassung Die Standardpotentialwerte der Redoxsysteme, die durch Komplexbildung von Ag(II)- und Ag(I)-Ionen mit 2,2-Bipyridin und 1,10-Phenantrolin gebildet werden, wurden in Acetonitril bestimmt. Die Eigenschaften dieser Redoxsysteme in Wasser und Acetonitril wurden verglichen.Es wurde weiterhin die Möglichkeit der Anwendung dieser Systeme zur Konstruktion einer Elektrode mit unveränderbarem Potential in verschiedenen Lösungsmitteln diskutiert.

     

A CASSCF/CASPT2 study on the low‐lying electronic states of the CH3SS and its cation

Complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations with contracted ANO‐RCC basis set were performed for low‐lying electronic states of CH₃SS and its cation in C_s symmetry. For the ground state X²A″ of CH₃SS, the calculated S‐S stretching mode is in good agreement with experimental reports. The electron transitions of CH₃SS⁺, X¹A′ → 1¹A″, X¹A′ → 2¹A′, and X¹A′ → 2¹A″, are predicted at 1.055, 3.247, and 3.841 eV. Moreover, the calculated adiabatic and vertical ionization potential and adiabatic affinity are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The CASSCF/CASPT2 potential energy curves (PECs) were calculated for S₂‐loss dissociation from the X²A″, 1²A′, and 2²A″ states. The electronic states of the CH₃ radical and S₂ molecule as the dissociation products were carefully determined by checking energies and geometries of the asymptote products. The S₂‐loss PEC for CH₃SS indicate that S₂‐loss dissociation occurs from the X²A″ state leading to CH₃ (1²A″) + S₂ (X³Σ), the 1²A′ and 2²A″ leading to CH₃ (1²A″) + S₂ (¹Δ_g). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012.     

Ag5Te2Cl1−xBrx (x = 0 – 0.65) and Ag5Te2−ySyCl (y = 0 – 0.3): Variation of Physical Properties in Silver(I) Chalcogenide Halides

The structures, thermal and physical properties of ion conducting polymorphic Ag₅Te₂Cl_1?xBr_x and Ag₅Te_2?ySyCl have been investigated. A maximum substitution degree of x = 0.65 and y = 0.3 was derived from X‐ray powder diffraction. Mixtures of silver halides, silver chalcogenides and Ag₃TeBr were observed for higher substitution degrees. Both silver chalcogenide halide systems show a Vegard type behaviour. Single crystal structure determinations of selected materials were performed at different temperatures to analyse the silver distribution in the tetragonal high temperature α‐ and the monoclinic room temperature β‐phases. After non‐harmonic refinement of the silver positions detailed joint probability density function analysis (jpdf) and determination of one particle potentials (opp) were carried out to investigate the diffusion pathways and bottlenecks of ion transport for those materials. A preferred anisotropic ion transport along the diffusion pathways for the α‐ and 1D zig‐zag diffusion pathways for the β‐phases were found. α–β and β‐γ phase transitions were determined by DSC and DTA methods and conductivities were measured using temperature dependent impedance spectroscopy. The substitution of tellurium by sulphur lowered the α–β phase transition from 334 K (Ag₅Te₂Cl) to 270 K (Ag₅Te_1.8S_0.2Cl) while the opposite trend was found for the Ag₅Te₂Cl_1?xBrx phases. The α–β phase transition of Ag₅Te₂Cl_0.35Br_0.65 at 343 K represents the highest transition observed for the silver chalcogenide halides under discussion. Total conductivities of approx. 1 Ω^?1 cm^?1 (α‐Ag₅Te₂Cl_0.5Br_0.5) and 0.24 Ω^?1 cm^?1 (α‐Ag₅Te_1.8S_0.2Cl) at 473 K were found being slightly higher (Br) and lower (S) than the conductivity observed for α‐Ag₅Te₂Cl. A conductivity jump of more than two orders of magnitude, related to the α–β phase transitions, within the temperature range from 270 to 343 K is adjustable by simple variation of the composition and is therefore an extraordinary feature of these materials. The total conductivity is linearly correlated to the volume of the anion substructure and can be varied within more than half an order of magnitude.     

Selective and sensitive optical chemosensor for detection of Ag(I) ions based on 2(4-hydroxy pent-3-en-2-ylideneamine) phenol in aqueous samples

A selective and sensitive chemosensor, based on the 2(4-hydroxy pent-3-en-2-ylideneamine) phenol (HPYAP) as chromophore, has been developed for colorimetric and visual detection of Ag(I) ions. HPYAP shows a considerable chromogenic behavior toward Ag(I) ions by changing the color of the solution from pale-yellow to very chromatic-yellow, which can be easily detected with the naked-eye. The chemosensor exhibited selective absorbance enhancement to Ag(I) ions in water samples over other metal ions at 438 nm, with a linear range of 0.4–500 μM (r² = 0.999) and a limit of detection 0.07 μM of Ag(I) ions with UV–vis spectrophotometer detection. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 100 μM Ag(I) ions was 2.05% (n = 7). The proposed method was applied for the determination Ag(I) ions in water and waste water samples.