Determination of force fields for formaldehyde,acetaldehyde and acetone by the CNDO/force method

CNDO/Force calculations have been done for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, and the theoretical force fields evaluated. Experimental force fields are obtained from vibrational frequencies using the least-squares refinement method. The initial force fields considered are based on the bending and interaction force constants obtained from the CNDO/Force calculations and the stretching force constants transferred from chemically related molecules. Vibrational frequencies of H₂CO, D₂CO, HDCO, H₂¹³CO and D₂¹³CO for formaldehyde, CH₃CHO, CH₃CDO, CD₃CHO, CD₃CDO and CH₂DCHO for acetaldehyde, and CH₃COCH₃ CD₃COCH₃ and CD₃COCD₃ for acetone are employed in the force field refinements. The final force fields obtained are found to be reasonable with respect to the diagonal and interaction force constants.     

Vibrational frequencies of the ? (1A2) and ?(3a2) nπ1 states of formaldehyde. scaled ab initio force fields - A new application

A new method based on scaled ab initio force fields is introduced for calculating excited-state vibrational frequencies. Application to formaldehyde confirms the need to revise the value of v₃ (Ã, H₂ CO), but not the value of v₃ (ã, D₂CO).     

Quantum chemical rovibrational analysis of aminoborane and its isotopologues

Aminoborane, H₂NBH₂ and its isotopologues, H₂N¹⁰BH₂, D₂NBD₂, and D₂N¹⁰BD₂, have been studied by high-level ab initio methods. All calculations rely on multidimensional potential energy surfaces and dipole moment surfaces including high-order mode coupling terms, which have been obtained from electronic structure calculations at the level of explicitly correlated coupled-cluster theory, CCSD(T)-F12, or the distinguishable cluster approximation, DCSD. Subsequent vibrational structure calculations based on second-order vibrational perturbation theory, VPT2, and vibrational configuration interaction theory, VCI, were used to determine rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, vibrationally averaged geometrical parameters and (an)harmonic vibrational frequencies. The impact of core-correlation effects is discussed in detail. Rovibrational VCI calculations were used to simulate the gas phase spectra of these species and an in-depth analysis of the ν₇ band of aminoborane is provided. Color-coding is used to reveal the identity of the individual progressions of the rovibrational transitions for this particular mode.     

Variational calculation of vibrational energies of triatomic molecules using SCF optimized modes

A self-consistent field optimization of the vibrational coordinates for nonlinear triatomic molecules is presented. The optimal coordinates are obtained by making a three-dimensional rotational transformation of the normal modes and determining the rotation angles as those for which the SCF energy is stationary. The utility of the optimized coordinates in full variational calculations of vibrational energies is studied for the molecules of H₂O, O₃, H₂D⁺, H₂T⁺, and D₂T⁺. For H₂O and O₃, the optimization procedure leads to the local mode representation. It is shown that the use of the optimal coordinates in variational calculations allows a large reduction of the dimension of the Hamiltonian matrix to be diagonalized in order to reach convergence.     

Selectivity in resonant vibrational excitation by e− impact (0.3–4.5 eV) on formaldehyde,acetaldehyde and acetone

Vibrational excitation by e⁻ impact via low-energy resonances has been investigated in acetaldehyde and acetone and compared with similar results in formaldehyde. Despite the large number of vibrational modes involved, the three systems exhibit a selective excitation of only several modes. Besides an important excitation of the CO stretch modes (dominant in H₂CO), excitation of CH stretch, CH₃ stretch and CH₃ deformation are also observed in CH₃CHO and (CH₃)₂CO. Interpretation of the energy loss spectra is given in terms of recently developed symmetry considerations together with the character of the LUMO occupied by the extra electron to form the transitory negative ion (resonance). Differential cross sections versus electron energy are presented for elastic and several inelastic processes. Weak oscillations (of the “boomerang” type) are observed on the inelastic cross sections for acetaldehyde, whereas no structure appears for acetone. This is in contrast with the pronounced oscillations observed for H₂CO, and reveals a shorter lifetime for the CH₃CHO⁻ and (CH₃)₂CO⁻ resonant states, compared to H₂CO⁻.     

The adaptive hierarchical expansion of the kinetic energy operator

The hierarchical expansion of the kinetic energy (HEKE) operator in curvilinear coordinates presented recently (Strobusch and Scheurer, J. Chem. Phys. 2011a, 135, 124102; Strobusch and Scheurer, J. Chem. Phys. 2011b, 135, 144101) relies on a many‐body expansion of the metric tensor. It is shown how this expansion can be adapted to a specific system. An analytic formula is derived, which yields an estimate of the impact of a certain expansion term on the spectrum. In combination with the hierarchical structure of the many‐body expansion and interpolation techniques, the memory consumption and evaluation time of the HEKE operator as well as the computational costs for subsequent vibrational self‐consistent field and vibrational configuration interaction calculations are reduced significantly, which is demonstrated by studies on two small test systems H₂O₂ and formaldehyde (H₂CO). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Laser isotope separation of deuterium

Highly selective isotope separation of deuterium has been demonstrated in laser-irradiated formaldehyde mixtures of H₂CO and HDCO. Single step deuterium enrichment factors of 14 were achieved by photodissociation into HD and CO, using HeCd laser light at 325.03 nm. Initial deuterium concentration ranged from 0.015 mole percent (natural abundance) to 5 mole percent.     

Polyatomic,anharmonic, vibrational–rotational analysis. Application to accurate ab initio results for formaldehyde

A computer program SURVIB is described for calculating vibrational anharmonicity constants for polyatomic molecules. The program requires as input a grid of calculated energies in the vicinity of a stationary point. This grid is fit, in a least squares sense, to a polynomial function of the internal coordinates. This analytic representation of the energy surface is employed in a normal mode analysis, and the energy is reexpanded as a polynominal function of the normal mode coordinates (expressed as vectors in the mass-weighted atomic Cartesian coordinate space). The resulting coefficients are used in a second-order perturbation theory analysis to obtain the vibrational anharmonicity constants. Also reported is an application of this program to formaldehyde employing ab initio, RHF , MP 2, MP 3, and RHF -CI calculations. The spectroscopic constants obtained for H₂CO are in good agreement with experimentally derived values recently reported by Reisner.     

An ab initio CI investigation of structure and bonding in LiC2H2 complexes

The structures and energies of various LiC₂H₂ complexes have been investigated by means of ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Analytic SCF gradients were employed with a double-ζ basis set to locate and characterize stationary points on the energy surface. Single-point CI calculations using a double-ζ + diffuse and polarization basis set have been carried out at the DZ + P SCF stationary points. With the highest-level theory, the Li—vinylidene complex and the cis bridged adduct are found to be the most favorable arrangements, the former complex being slightly more stable by about 2 kcal mol⁻¹. These molecules are bound respectively by about 5 and 3 kcal mole⁻¹ relative to infinitely separated lithium plus acetylene. Harmonic vibrational frequencies are also reported and confirm the existence of the cis LiC₂H₂ species recently observed in a solid argon matrix.     

Equilibrium structure and vibrational frequencies of the O4 molecule

SCF closed shell calculations were performed to determine the equilibrium structure and vibrational frequencies of the O₄ molecule by means of Payne's method and with the help of the molecule's symmetry coordinates. The equilibrium geometry corresponds to symmetry group D_2d with R = 1.505 Å and h = 0.094 Å. The vibrational frequencies are: ν₅(E) = 885.5 cm^?1, ν₃(B₁) = 1051.9 cm^?1, ν₁(A₁) = 1018.3 cm^?1, ν₄(B₂) = 880.3 cm^?1. The second vibrational coordinate (A₁) corresponds to a double-well potential. The first vibrational levels were calculated by a variational method.     

An improved potential surface for formaldehyde

A potential energy surface for the ground X? ¹A₁ state of H₂CO has been derived, which reproduces the position of a recently calculated H₂ + CO transition state. The variational method for the determination of frequencies of potential energy surfaces has been extended to tetra-atomics, thus enabling the surface to be refined.     

A combined theoretical and experimental approach to the unimolecular loss of molecular hydrogen from protonated formaldehyde: Determination of the average internal energy of metastable [CH2OH]+ ions

Ab initio quantum chemical calculations (MP2/4–31G**) were performed for the dihydrogen elimination reaction from protonated formaldehyde. The energy difference between reactants and products and the activation energies were found to be in good agreement with the corresponding experimental quantities. Theoretical rate vs. energy curves were computed for a series of isotopic variants of the reaction using the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) method. The vibrational frequencies used in these calculations were taken from the 4–31G** geometry-optimized transition state and reactant structures. Quantum mechanical tunnelling was introduced to explain the existence of metastable CH₂OH ions, and a negative kinetic shift of about 0.1 eV was found. The intramolecular kinetic isotope effect for loss of HH/HD and DH/DD was calculated and compared with the experimental data. The result is consistent with the assumption that the average internal energy of metastable [CH₂OH]⁺ ions is very close to the critical energy for H₂ loss.     

Infrared spectrum of D2O vibrationally decoupled in H2O ice Ic

The study of D₂O isolated in amorphous H₂O (ice Iv) has been extended to the determination of the bending mode frequency (1230 cm^?1) and to the measurement of the vibrational spectrum of the cubic ice phase (ice Ic). The vibrationally decoupled stretching frequencies (ν₁ = 2367 cm^?1 and ν₃ = 2444 cm^?1) for D₂O in the H₂O (Ic) have been obtained and an estimate of the exchange activation energy is given.     

Vibrational analysis of phenol/(methanol)1

Ab initio calculations at the Hartree-Fock 4-31G* level were performed in order to calculate binding energies and vibrational frequencies of the phenol/CH₃OH-cluster and two deuterated isotopomers (d-phenol/CH₃OD,d-phenol-CD₃OD). The minimum energy structure is trans-linear, as for the phenol/H₂O-cluster. The calculated frequencies of phenol and methanol as well as the intramolecular frequencies of the phenol/CH₃OH-cluster are assigned to experimental values. The calculated intermolecular frequencies of the phenol/CH₃OH-cluster are compared with the available experimental frequencies of theS ₀ (andS ₁)-state of the phenol/methanol-cluster and the similarp-cresol/methanol-cluster. Assignments are suggested for the σ andp ₁-mode. In order to clarify the assignment of the low frequency vibration at 22 cm^?1 anharmonic corrections for the β₂-mode of the phenol/CH₃OH-cluster are calculated. These calculations show only slight anharmonicity compared with the β₂-mode calculations carried out for the phenol/H₂O-cluster.     

Model calculations of the vibrations of bonded water molecules

Model calculations have been made of the vibrational frequencies and normal modes of a water molecule vibrating in a combined internal and external field. A constant internal force field has been used together with an external central force field from four or three nearest-neighbour atoms to the water molecule. These neighbour atoms have been arranged either tetrahedrally or trigonally around the water molecule. The external force field has been further restricted by the use of five possible site symmetries for the water molecule, C_2v, C₂, C_s(σ_xz, C_s(σ_yz) and C₁. A series of calculations have been made where the external force constants have been varied within the range 1—80 Nm^?1.The nine calculated normal modes can be divided into three groups: intra-molecular, rotational and translational vibrations. Among the rotational vibrations it is found that, in the tetrahedral environment, the rocking mode occurs at lower frequencies than the twisting and wagging modes, whereas the opposite occurs for the trigonal environment. Frequency ratios have been calculated using the isotopic species H₂O, D₂O, HDO and H,¹⁸O. The twisting and wagging modes have the vH₂O/vD₂O ratio in the range 1.35-3-1.41 and the rocking mode in the range 1.26—1.41.     

Lifetimes in the B2Πi state and the heat of formation of NCO

Using laser-induced fluorescence in a low-pressure flow system, the lifetimes of the 00¹0 and 10¹0 vibrational levels of the B²Π_i state of NCO have been measured. The results, 63 and ≤10 ns respectively, indicate that the dissociation limit to N(²D) + CO lies between these levels. This corresponds to a dissociation energy D₀⁰ ≤ 1.68 eV and an enthalpy of formation ΔH_f,298⁰ ? 48 kcal/mole for NCO, and ΔH_f,298⁰ (HNCO) ? ?14 kcal/mole.     

Vibrational analysis of chlorinated methylphosphonic acid and its anions

The vibrational spectra (IR and Raman) of CH₂ClPO₃H₂ and of its anions in solutions of H₂O and D₂O are reported. The IR spectra of the solid dibasic sodium and potassium salts, the solid normal and O-deuterated monobasic sodium and potassium salts and of the solid normal and O-deuterated acid are discussed. Symmetry and internal stretching force constants, stretch-stretch interactions and potential energy distributions are obtained from normal coordinate analysis of CH₂C1PO₃H₂, CH₂ClPO₃H^? and CH₂C1PO₃^2?, and the calculated and observed frequencies for O-deuterated acid and monobasic anion are compared.     

Time-dependent close coupling for vibrational excitation in three dimensions: Application to H+ - H2

Impact parameter calculations for the non-reactive H⁺ + H₂ (n_i = 0) → H⁺ + H₂ (n_f) collision are reported for energies 10 eV ? E_cm ? 200 eV describing the rotational motion of the molecule in the sudden limit. The time-dependent Schrödinger equation for the vibrational motion has been solved by close coupling techniques expanding the vibrational wavefunction into both harmonic and numerically exact H₂ bound states. The convergence in vibrational basis sets, where up to six vibrational levels are considered, becomes worse with decreasing energy and increasing inelasticity. Furthermore, the harmonic wavefunctions are not suitable over a large range of energies to calculate proper cross sections. The various integral and differential cross sections have been compared with the classical results of Giese and Gentry.     

Reactions of Group V Metal Atoms with Hydrogen Sulfide:Argon Matrix Infrared Spectra and Theoretical Calculations

The reaction of laser-ablated vanadium, niobium and tantalum atoms with hydrogen sulfide has been investigated using matrix isolation FTIR and theoretical calculations. The metal atoms inserted into the H-S bond of H₂S to form the HMSH molecules (M=V, Nb, Ta), which rearranged to H₂MS molecules on annealing for Nb and Ta. The HMSH molecule can also further react with another H₂S to form the H₂M(SH)₂ molecules. These new molecules were identified on the basis of the D₂S and H₂³⁴S isotopic substitutions. DFT (B3LYP and BPW91) theoretical calculations are used to predict energies, geometries, and vibrational frequencies for these novel metal dihydrido complexes and molecules. Reaction mechanism for formation of group V dihydrido complex was investigated by DFT internal reaction coordinate calculations. The dissociation of HVSH gave VS+H₂ on broad band irradiation and reverse reaction happened on annealing. Based on B3LYP calculation releasing hydrogen from HVSH is endothermic only by 13.5 kcal/mol with lower energy barrier of 16.9 kcal/mol.     

Vibration intervals for tritiated H+3 and D+3

Ab initio calculated values of fundamental vibrational frequencies and zero-point energies are presented for HTD⁺, D₂T⁺, T₂D⁺, H₂T⁺, T₂H⁺ and T⁺₃.