Cluster molecular orbitals and an orbital symmetry view of solid phase transitions in perovskites

The molecular orbitals, normalization constants and energies of the M₈(O_h), M₄(T_d) and M₆(O_h) clusters are derived and tabulated through the d-atomic orbitals. A vector method, adapted to computer application, is devised to compute s, p and d overlap between variously oriented orbitals at atoms that do not have co-directional local axes. Mixing of σ, π and δ orbitals to give the same irreducible representation is also included. As illustrations, the orbitals of Sr₈, La₈, TiO₆ and AlO₆ clusters are computed by the Mulliken—Wolfsberg and Helmholz approximations. During solid phase transitions in the perovskite structures of SrTiO₃ and LaAlO₃, the TiO₆ octahedron rotates about the C₄ axis whereas the AlO₆ octahedron rotates about the C₃ axis. This difference is explained qualitatively in terms of the relative symmetries of the cluster HOMOs and LUMOs using the second-order Jahn—Teller effect. Allusions are made to the application of this cluster symmetry approach to other systems.     

The electronic structure of borabenzene: Combination of an aromatic π-sextet and a reactive σ-framework

The electronic structure of borabenzene (C₅H₅B, known also as borinane, borinine, borine) is studied using modern valence bond theory in its spin-coupled (SC) form. Three different types of SC wave functions—with six active π orbitals and with four and eight active σ orbitals—are used to describe the π system of the molecule and the σ-bond framework around the boron atom. It is demonstrated that the SC picture of the π space in borabenzene is very similar to that in benzene: The spins of six distorted nonorthogonal 2p_π orbitals are combined in a spin-coupling pattern involving two dominating Kekulétype and three less important Dewar-type Rumer spin functions. This indicates that it is appropriate to consider the π-electron sextet in borabenzene as aromatic and that the reason for the reactivity of this molecule should lie with its σ framework. The two SC models of the σ bonding around B show that the boron-carbon σ bonds in borabenzene involve orbitals are “bent” to the outer side of the six-membered ring. This creates an orbital “hole” at the boron, which should represent the preferred attachment site for Lewis acids. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electronic structure of some penta-atomic heterocyclic molecules studied by gas-phase HeI and HeII photoelectron spectroscopy

Implications on the electronic structure of changing substituents in a series of four penta-atomic heterocyclic compounds, 2,4-thiazolidinedione, rhodanine, pseudothiohydantoin, thiohydantoin, are investigated by gas-phase u.v. photoelectron spectroscopy. Both HeI and HeII spectra are reported and discussed also on the basis of CNDO/2 calculations. The most important interactions occurring in these molecules are the through-space ones between the π orbitals of functional groups in β position. The HOMO in all the molecules has significant contribution from S 3p orbitals.     

Tuning Electron-Withdrawing Strength on Phenothiazine Derivatives: Achieving 100 % Photoluminescence Quantum Yield by NO2 Substitution

The weak fluorescence (quantum yield <1 % in cyclohexane) of phenothiazine ( PTZ ) impedes its further application. In addition, the nitro group (NO₂) is a well-known fluorescence quencher. Interestingly, we obtained a highly fluorescent chromophore by combining these two moieties, forming 3-nitrophenothiazine ( PTZ-NO₂ ). For comparison, a series of PTZ derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs; CN and CHO) or electron-donating groups (EDGs; OMe) at the 3-position have been designed and synthesized. The phenothiazines bearing EWGs exhibited enhanced emission compared with the parent PTZ or EDG derivatives. Computational approaches unveiled that for PTZ and PTZ-OMe , the transitions are from HOMOs dominated by π orbitals to LUMOs of mixed sulfur nonbonding–π* orbitals, and hence are partially forbidden. In contrast, the EWGs lower the energy level of the lone-pair electrons on the sulfur atom, thereby suppressing the mixing of the nonbonding orbital with the π* orbital in the LUMO, such that the allowed ππ* transition becomes dominant. This work thus demonstrates a judicious chemical design to fine-tune the transition character in PTZ analogues, with PTZ-NO₂ attaining 100 % emission quantum yields in nonpolar solvent.     

A “double-zeta” type wavefunction for an organometallic: Bis-(π-allyl)nickel

A wavefunction which is of double-zeta quality at the level of the valence orbitals [based on a (11, 7, 5/8, 4/4) gaussian basis set contracted to (4, 3, 2/3, 2/2)] is reported for thebis-(π-allyl)nickel molecule. Independant SCF calculations for two ionized states substantiate the conclusion reached previously for a number of organometallics with a minimal basis set that Koopmans' theorem is not valid for these molecules, namely that the highest occupied orbital from the ground state calculation for the neutral molecule is mostly a ligand π orbital whereas the lowest ionization potential corresponds to the removal of an electron from a molecular orbital which is mostly a metal 3d orbital. The nature of the bonding inbis-(π-allyl)nickel is discussed on the basis of the possible interactions between the metal orbitals and the π orbitals of the allyl group. The interaction between the filled nonbonding π orbital of the allyl group and the empty 3d _xz orbital of the Ni atom appears responsible for most of the bonding, together with some backbonding through an interaction between the 3d x ²?y ²and 3d xyorbitals and the σ and π orbitals of the ligands. The computed value for the rotation barrier about the C-C allyl bond, 90 kcal/mole, rules out this rotation as one of the possible mechanisms which account for the equivalence of the terminal hydrogens in the proton magnetic resonance spectra of π-allyl complexes.     

Canonical orbital contributions to the magnetic fields induced by global and local diatropic and paratropic ring currents

The induced magnetic field (IMF) of naphthalene, biphenyl, biphenylene, benzocyclobutadiene, and pentalene is dissected to contributions from the total π system, canonical π‐molecular orbitals (CMO), and HOMO→π* excitations, to evaluate and interpret relative global and local diatropicity and paratropicity. Maps of the IMF of the total π system reveal its relative strength and topology that corresponds to global and local diatropic and paratropic ring currents. The total π magnetic response is determined by this of canonical HOMOs and particularly by paratropic contributions of rotational excitations from HOMOs to unoccupied π * orbitals. Low energy excitations and similar nodal structure of HOMO and π * induce strong paratropic fields that dominate on antiaromatic rings. High energy excitations and different nodal structures lead to weak paratropic contributions of canonical HOMOs, which are overwhelmed by diatropic response of lower energy canonical orbitals in aromatic rings. CMO‐IMF analysis is found in agreement with ring current analysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Orbital mechanism of upright CO activation on Fe(100)

The knowledge of bond activation forms a cornerstone for modern chemistry, wherein symmetry rules of electronic activation lie in the heart of bond activation. However, the question as to how a chemical bond is activated remains elusive. By taking CO activated on Fe(100), herein, we have resolved the long-standing fundamental question; we have found that excitations in the adsorbate feature the bond activation. We essentially have discovered contrasting electronic processes in respective σ and π electron systems of the adsorbed CO molecule. The σ electron system is involved in reversible hidden excitations/deexcitations between two occupied σ orbitals, whereas the π electron system is subject to irreversible π to π* excitations dispersed along the d-band region, which is coupled to the rotational 2π electron couplings depending on the strength of molecule-metal interactions. The σ excitations pertain to the Pauli repulsion mediated quantum nature with energy and entropy marked by the two energy levels, whereas the π to π* excitations fall into a new category of electronic excitations contributing to energy and entropy exchanges in a wide and continuous d-band region. The findings that the internal states of the adsorbate are excited and that fundamental connections between the frontier orbitals and low-lying orbitals are established as the molecule comes to the surface may open up new channels to realize more efficient bond activation and renew our thinking on probing the quantum mechanical nature of bond activation at surfaces with further possible impact on manipulation of orbital activation in femtochemistry and attochemistry.     

Electronic structure of functionalized thia- and calix[4]arenes

The electronic structure of calix[4]arene phosphine oxides (CPO) and thiacalix[4]arene phosphine oxides (TCPO) is studied by X-ray photoelectron and emission spectroscopy and quantum chemical methods. The electron density distribution over atoms contained in CPO and TCPO is analyzed. The structure of higher occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) is examined. It is shown that HOMOs of these compounds mainly consist of contributions of oxygen 2p atomic orbitals (AOs) of phosphoryl and hydroxyl moieties and also bridging sulfur 3p AOs, which indicates the bifunctionality of the considered extractant molecules. The mutual effect of the lower and upper rims of CPOs and TCPOs as well as the effect of their structures on the electron density distribution over calixarene molecules is investigated.     

A STUDY ON MULTIPLE CENTER d-p π BOND IN OXO-CENTERED TRINUCLEAR TRANSITION METAL CARBOXYLATE COMPLEXES

<正> The self-empirical SCC-EHMO calculation has been carried out for a series of oxo-centered trinuclear metal carboxylate complexes. The results indicated that the four-center d-p ?π bonds, formed by combination of centered oxygen atom 2p2 orbital with metal atom dxz,dyz orbitals in core M3O or M2M1O (simplified as M3O in the following) ,are of importance for this class complexes. In the opinion of isolobal contrast, these bonds would be similar to four-center p-p π bonds in C(CH2)3 and can be used for explaining some characteristics of these complexes, such as stability, planar configuration of M3O core, chemical reactivity and so on .     

Frontier density pattern of dioxins

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations are performed to estimate the electron densities of the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) of 75 congeners of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and a nonchlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin. Electron densities of HOMO on out of plane π orbitals of 12 carbons and two oxygens in the dioxin structure are used as variables in multivariate statistical analysis. Principal component analysis can classify 76 congeners of dioxins according to the principal component scores. All of the most toxic dioxins are involved in the group that has large negative values for both the first and the third principal component scores.     

One-center two electron repulsion parameters in the π and all-valence semi-empirical theories

To examine the applicability of the γ = I_p — EA approximation to all-valence semi-empirical CI calculations, two simple models are studied. One is the model for π theory and the other is for all-valence theory. It is demonstrated that we cannot use the same two electron repulsion integrals in the γ only CI and in the all valence CI. The true effective parameters for π orbitals are evaluated within the second model from first principles by using a method recently proposed by Iwata and Freed.     

Effect of CO on the Oxidative Addition of Arene C?H Bonds by Cationic Rhodium Complexes

Sequential addition of CO molecules to cationic aryl–hydrido Rh^III complexes of phosphine‐based (PCP) pincer ligands was found to lead first to C? H reductive elimination and then to C? H oxidative addition, thereby demonstrating a dual role of CO. DFT calculations indicate that the oxidative addition reaction is directly promoted by CO, in contrast to the commonly accepted view that CO hinders such reactions. This intriguing effect was traced to repulsive π interactions along the aryl‐Rh‐CO axis, which are augmented by the initially added CO ligand (due to antibonding interactions between occupied Rh d_π orbitals and occupied π orbitals of both CO and the arene moiety), but counteracted by the second CO ligand (due to significant π back‐donation). These repulsive interactions were themselves linked to significant weakening of the π‐acceptor character of CO in the positively charged rhodium complexes, which is concurrent with an enhanced σ‐donating capability. Replacement of the phosphine ligands by an analogous phosphinite‐based (POCOP) pincer ligand led to significant changes in reactivity, whereby addition of CO did not result in C? H reductive elimination, but yielded relatively stable mono‐ and dicarbonyl aryl–hydrido POCOP–Rh^III complexes. DFT calculations showed that the stability of these complexes arises from the higher electrophilicity of the POCOP ligand, relative to PCP, which leads to partial reduction of the excessive π‐electron density along the aryl‐Rh‐CO axis. Finally, comparison between the effects of CO and acetonitrile on C? H oxidative addition revealed that they exhibit similar reactivity, despite their markedly different electronic properties. However, DFT calculations indicate that the two ligands operate by different mechanisms.     

Effets micellaires sur la basicité et la réactivité de nucléophiles α aromatiques

The oximation of p-nitrophenylacetate by benzaldoximates in aqueous solution is catalyzed by CTAB micelles. The catalysis is more effective when the base strength of the oximate decreases; the reactivity of benzaldoximates is not dependent on their basicity. Our data may be interpreted in terms of orbital-controlled reactions, with interactions between both the n and π occupied orbitals of the oximates and the LUMO of the acetate.     

Frontier Orbital Control of Molecular Conductance and its Switching

For transmission of electrons through a π system, when the Landauer theory of molecular conductance is viewed from a molecular orbital (MO) perspective, there obtains a simple perturbation theoretic dependence, due to Yoshizawa and Tada, on a) the product of the orbital coefficients at the sites of electrode attachment, and b) the MO energies. The frontier orbitals consistently and simply indicate high or low transmission, even if other orbitals may contribute. This formalism, with its consequent reinforcement and/or interference of conductance, accounts for the (previously explained) difference in direct vs. cross conjugated transmission across an ethylene, as well as the comparative ON/OFF ratios in the experimentally investigated dimethyldihydropyrene and dithienylethene‐type single‐molecule switches. A strong dependence of the conductance on the site of attachment of the electrodes in a π system is an immediate extrapolation; the theory then predicts that for some specified sites the switching behavior will be inverted; i.e. the “open” molecular form of the switch will be more conductive.     

Consequences of a through-bond interaction in tetracyclo-[5.3.0.0.0]-deca-4,8-diene (“Hypostrophene”)

Photoelectron spectroscopy is used to demonstrate the mechanistic consequences of the level ordering in a given molecule on its reactivity, using the recently synthesized hypostrophene, which contains two CC double bonds in a rigid, cisoid conformation, as an example. The inability of this molecule to close photochemically to the saturated analog is traced to the presence of an exceptionally high-lying σ level which is ideally oriented for an effective through-bond coupling of the two π orbitals. Contrary to the norbornadiene case, this through-bond coupling overrides the direct through-space interaction, placing the in-phase combination of the two π orbitals above the out-of-phase combination, and thus converts the _π2_s+_π2_s photocycloaddition from a symmetry-allowed to a symmetry-forbidden reaction.     

Electron affinities of double bond π* orbitals determined by means of electron transmission spectroscopy

The electron transmission spectra of small molecules containing C=C, C=N, C=O, C=S and N=N double bonds are reported. The electron affinities of these functional groups, associated with electron capture into their empty π^* orbitals, are discussed in terms of heteroatom electronegativities, geometrical variations and localization properties of the π^* orbitals. The largest electron acceptor properties were observed in the thioketone derivative, which generates a stable π anion state. The ionization energy values relating to the heteroatom lone pair and the filled π orbitals are also reported.     

Substituent effects on the photoelectron spectra of benzene derivatives

Systematics in the ionization energies corresponding to the different π orbitals of para, meta and ortho-disubstituted benzenes obtained from PES have been investigated. The data have been discussed in terms of correlations with substituents constants and such correlations are shown to provide the basis to differentiate steric from electronic effects in the case of ortho derivatives. Ionization energies from PES corresponding to the lone pair orbitals of substituents in related series of p-disubstituted benzenes are shown to vary systematically with the substituent constants.     

Effect of the e2u near degeneracy on the initialization of indo spin density calculations in symmetrically ortho disubstituted benzenes

Erroneous results in earlier INDO spin density calculations for hydroaromatic radicals containing ortho disubstituted benzene rings are shown to be due to the wrong order of the e_2u near degenerate π molecular orbitals of the benzene ring after the extended Hückel initialization. Agreement with experiment is obtained by interchanging these orbitals.     

Solute-Solvent Interactions : Vol. 2. Editors J.F. Coetzee and C.D. Ritchie. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1976, xii + 459 pages,Sfr. 125.

The photoelectron spectra of eight 4 π-electron hydrocarbons and their tricarbonyl complexes have been measured. From these spectra the perturbation energies of the π orbitals introduced by the tricarbonyliron moiety have been determined. These perturbation energies are 0.89 ± 0.07 and 0.22 ± 0.06 eV for the first and second π orbitals, respectively. Given these perturbation energies and the photoelectron spectra of the tricarbonyliron complexes of cyclobutadiene and trimethylenemethane, π-ionization energies for the two transients, cyclobutadiene (8.29 and 11.95 eV) and trimethylenemethane (8.36 and 11.79 eV), have been predicted.     

Theoretical studies on molecular and structures of mono- and binuclear chromium carbazole derivatives for optoelectronics

Studies on the molecular geometries, electronic properties and second-order nonlinearities of a series of mono- and binuclear chromium carbazole complexes: (N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(3) (M1), (N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(2)PPh(3) (M2), (CO)(3)Cr(N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(3) (B1), and (CO)(3)Cr(N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(2)PPh(3) (B2) were carried out, using the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP//LanL2DZ/6-31G(d) level. The experimental singlet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ((1)MLCT) spectra of these complexes can also be well simulated and discussed by the time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) at the B3LYP//LanL2DZ/6-311+G(d) level associated with the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The computational results show that an unusual characteristic of chromium carbazole structures is explained in terms of interaction between frontier molecular orbitals of the metal and its ligands. The highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) of these complexes are composed of a set of distorted degenerated Cr 3d orbitals, whereas the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) are predominantly the N-vinylcarbazole ligand π* orbitals. The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps decrease in the order NVC > M1 > B1 > M2 > B2. The considerable coupling between the carbazole and (CO)(3) in M1 creates an asymmetric environment about the chromium atom, leading to modest second-order responses. The PPh(3) ligand is acting as a donor which increases the donating strength of the d(π) orbitals in chromium carbazole species, resulting in the large electronic asymmetry in M2. As for the binuclear chromium carbazole chromophores, a wide-range (1)MLCT band and large oscillator strength are found, allowing for the electronic interactions between two metal centers which can be modified by altering the ligand bound to the metals to induce peculiar asymmetry. Essentially, Cr(CO)(3) acceptor and Cr(CO)(2)PPh(3) donor units in B2 make significant contribution to the charge-transfer process or NLO responses via conventional push-pull chromophoric architecture.