Efficient method to perform CAP/CI calculations for temporary anions

Electronically metastable states can efficiently be investigted using ??² techniques, such as the complex absorbing potential (CAP) or the stabilization method; but, the study of autodetaching systems is nonetheless far more expensive than the investigation of comparable bound states. The costly step of the ??² methods for resonances involves the repeated diagonalization of a parameterized Hamilton operator, and in this communication we investigate representations of the needed operators in very small basis set consisting of a few eigenstates of the physical Hamiltonian. It is shown that CAP calculations can indeed be performed using a very small eigenstate basis set, whereas basis sets of comparable size are unsuitable for stabilization calculations. Our results allow us to study the frequently employed energy selection procedure in the context of Siegert energies. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 82: 218–226, 2001     

Wavefunction-based electron correlation methods for solids

In this article we provide an overview of the most common ways of treating electron correlation effects in 3D-periodic systems with some emphasize on wavefunction-based correlation methods such as the method of increments and the local MP2 method implemented in the Cryscor program. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches and give examples for their application. Additionally, for the method of increments we discuss recent developments for its application to open shell systems and problems related to the treatment of graphene sheets.     

Modeling temporary anions in density functional theory: calculation of the Fukui function

Two approaches are investigated for modeling electron densities of temporary anions in density functional theory (DFT). Both rely on an artificial binding of the excess electron, in one case by a compact basis set and in the other by a potential wall. The key feature of the calculations is that the degree of binding is controlled in both cases by knowledge of the negative electron affinity of the corresponding neutral, approximated in terms of DFT local functional frontier orbital eigenvalues and vertical ionization potential, A=-(epsilon(LUMO)+epsilon(HOMO))-I. To illustrate the two approaches, Fukui functions for nucleophilic attack are determined in four molecules with increasingly negative electron affinities. They yield very similar results, which are notably different to those determined without artificial electron binding. The use of a potential wall has the attractive feature that large, diffuse basis sets can be used, avoiding the need for a compact basis, tailored to a particular molecule.     

Rigorous integral screening for electron correlation methods

We derive rigorous multipole-based integral estimates (MBIE) in order to account for the distance dependence occurring in atomic-orbital (AO) formulations of electron correlation theory, where our focus is on AO-MP2 theory within a Laplace scheme. We find for the exact transformed integral products an extremely early onset of a linear-scaling behavior and a very small number of significant products. To preselect the significant integral products we adapt our MBIE method as rigorous upper bound. In this way it is possible to exploit the favorable scaling behavior observed and to reduce the scaling of estimated products asymptotically to linear, without sacrificing accuracy or reliability. By separating Coulomb- and exchange-type contractions only half-transformed integrals need to be computed. Furthermore, our scheme of rigorously preselecting transformed integral products via MBIE seems to offer particularly interesting perspectives for a direct formation of half- or fully transformed integrals by using multipole expansions and auxiliary basis sets.     

Forward-backward semiclassical and quantum trajectory methods for time correlation functions

Forward-backward trajectory formulations of time correlation functions are reviewed. Combination of the forward and reverse time evolution operators within the time-dependent semiclassical approximation minimizes phase cancellation, giving rise to an efficient methodology for simulating the dynamics of low-temperature fluids. A quantum mechanical version of the forward-backward formulation, based on the hydrodynamic formulation of time-dependent quantum mechanics, is also available but is practical only for small systems.     

Improved methods for 1H-3H heteronuclear shift correlation

A better understanding of the structure of complex 3H-labeled molecules can be obtained by complete assignment of their 1H and 3H solution-state NMR spectra. The assignment process is aided by the detection of heteronuclear chemical shift correlations between 1H and 3H nuclei. Heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) experiments previously applied to this task exhibit several drawbacks caused by the nature of both the pulse sequences and 1H-3H spin systems. The range of J-couplings involved in 1H-3H coupling networks make it challenging to perform correlation experiments using methods that rely on coherences created during free precession periods and interrupted by transfer pulses. Two alternative HETCOR experiments are demonstrated for 1H-3H systems in the present work and are shown to have advantages over earlier methods. The first experiment is known as hetero-TOCSY and correlates heteronuclear chemical shifts using J-cross polarization. This experiment achieves both homonuclear and heteronuclear mixing and connects the chemical shifts of all 1H and 3H nuclei in a coupling network. A second HETCOR experiment uses the heteronuclear Overhauser effect to obtain through-space correlations between nearby nuclei. The 1H-3H HETCOR experiments are phase sensitive and typically contain more correlations than other methods, which is beneficial for assignment purposes, while being sensitive enough to be applicable to routine analytical samples. The experiments were used to analyze 3H incorporation in sub-milligram quantities of 3H-labeled pharmaceutical derivatives with complex labeling schemes.     

Investigation of the dimerization of acridine radical anions by electrochemical methods

The electrochemical reduction of acridine (dimethylformamide (DMF) and Bu₄NClO₄) was investigated by differential cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis. The experimental data (dimerization rate constant and yield of the 9,9 dimer) agreed with the theoretically calculated ones.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1284–1286, June, 1990.     

An empirical correlation of two methods for phenols in cigarette smoke

A specific gas-chromatographic and a non-specific colorimetric method for the deterrmination of phenols in cigarette smoke are described. The rapid, non-specific method has been correlated with the specific procedure so that the amount of phenol in smoke can be predicted with ± 15% at the 95% confidence level. The trapping effficiency of phenols by Cambridge filter pads is also presented.     

Amide based receptors for anions

This review article illustrates the contribution of amide based receptors to the development of anion complexing agents. Amides are incorporated into a wide variety of systems that can be divided into two broad categories; organic and inorganic. The first section is separated into cyclic and acyclic systems built on a solely organic framework. The second section is comprised of metal containing systems such as metallocenes, [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ based complexes, porphyrins and other metallo-based receptors. Where appropriate, the results of solution binding studies and sensing outputs are summarized.     

Ferrocene-based imidazolium receptors for anions

Cyclic and acyclic ferrocene derivatives bearing two imidazolium rings have been synthesized and characterized by NMR, elemental analysis, mass spectra, and X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical measurements revealed that all the receptors displayed a significant anodic shift response for F⁻. In addition, for receptors 1, 2, and 4, addition of HSO₄⁻ induced quite different electrochemical behavior with dramatic cathodic peak current increase on CV. ¹H NMR titrations demonstrated that receptors 1, 2, and 4 showed selectivity for AcO⁻ while receptor 3 exhibited high affinity toward Cl⁻ among the anions investigated.     

Empirical correlation between the stretching force constant and the bond order for nitrogen-oxygen systems

The stretching force constant correlates satisfactorily with theWiberg's bond order,K(N-O)=11.791 [p(N-O)]–9.565, with a correlation coefficient of 0.958, for nitrogen—oxygen systems.

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Empirische Korrelation zwischen der Kraftkonstante der Streckschwingung und der Bindungsordnung in Stickstoff-Sauerstoff-Systemen (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung Die KraftkonstanteK der Streckschwingung läßt sich in befriedigender Weise mit derWibergschen Bindungsordnungp korrelieren:K(N-O)=11.791 [p(N-O)]-9.565. Für Stickstoff-Sauerstoff-Systeme beträgt der Korrelationskoeffizient 0.958.

     

Electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry of carboxylate anions: ion mobilities and a mass-mobility correlation

A number of carboxylate anions spanning a mass range of 87-253 amu (pyruvate, oxalate, malonate, maleate, succinate, malate, tartarate, glutarate, adipate, phthalate, citrate, gluconate, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate, and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate) were investigated using electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry. Measured ion mobilities demonstrated a high correlation between mass and mobility in both N2 and CO2 drift gases. Such a strong mass-mobility correlation among structurally dissimilar ions suggests that the carboxylate functional group that these ions have in common is the source of the correlation. Computational analysis was performed to determine the most stable conformation of the studied carboxylate anions in the gas phase under the current experimental conditions. This analysis indicated that the most stable conformations for multicarboxylate anions included intramolecular hydrogen-bonded ring structures formed between the carboxylate group and the neutral carboxyl group. The carboxylate anions that form ring confirmations generally show higher ion mobility values than those that form extended conformations. This is the first observation of intramolecular hydrogen-bonded ring conformation of carboxylate anions in the gas phase at atmospheric pressure.     

Nonorthogonal ultralocalized functions and fitted Wannier functions for local electron correlation methods for solids

Despite the formal exponential decay behavior of Wannier functions (WFs), their spatial extent, which is a key parameter determining the computational cost of local correlation calculations for solids, is still rather large. The problems with the localization of the WFs can partly be attributed to their mutual orthogonality. Possibilities of reduction of the spatial extent of the WFs without losing the accuracy of the calculations are investigated. A method for generation of nonorthogonal ultralocalized functions based on maximization of their Löwdin populations is developed. A scheme for fitting of the WFs and nonorthogonal localized functions with a limited support is proposed. The calculations show that by combining both techniques one can obtain quite compact linearly independent localized functions, which may significantly decrease the computational cost in post-HF calculations.     

Potential energy surface discontinuities in local correlation methods

We have examined the occurrence of discontinuities in bond-breaking potential energy surfaces given by local correlation methods based on the Pulay-Saeb? orbital domain approach. Our analysis focuses on three prototypical dissociating systems: the C-F bond in fluoromethane, the C-C bond in singlet, ketene, and the central C-C bond in propadienone. We find that such discontinuities do not occur in cases of homolytic bond cleavage due to the inability of the Pipek-Mezey orbital localization method to separate singlet-coupled charges on distant fragments. However, for heterolytic bond cleavage, such as that observed in singlet ketene and propadienone, discontinuities occur both at stretched geometries and near equilibrium. These discontinuities are usually small, but may be of the same order of magnitude as the localization error in some cases.     

Approaches to enhancing the sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis methods for the determination of inorganic and small organic anions

One of the major problems facing the development of capillary electrophoresis (CE) is the relatively high limits of detection when compared to traditional high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. While the use of an alternative detector can offer better sensitivity, a more universal approach is sample preconcentration. Numerous on-line methods have been developed to improve the sensitivity of CE, and are based on electrophoretic principles, chromatographic principles, or a combination of both. This review will discuss all forms of on-line preconcentration methods for CE, with emphasis given to those that have shown particular merit when applied to inorganic and small organic anions.