Theoretical study on the [Si, C, N, O] potential energy surface

The structures, energetics, spectroscopies, and stabilities of the doublet [Si, C, N, O] radical are explored at the density functional theory and ab initio levels. Sixteen isomers are located, connected by 29 interconversion transition states. At the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2df)//QCISD/6-311G(d)+ZPVE level, the lowest lying isomer is a linear SiNCO 1 (0.0 kcal/mol) mainly featuring a cumulene | . Si = N = C = O. The second and third low-lying isomers are bent OSiCN 2 (8.8) and bent OSiNC 3 (11.1), respectively. All the three low-lying isomers 1, 2, 3, and another high-lying species 5 (75.4) with a linear SiCNO structure are shown to have considerable kinetic stability and may be experimentally observable. The predicted results of isomers 1 and 2 are consistent with the previous mass spectrometry experiments. Moreover, the fourth low-lying species SiOCN 4 (23.9) with bent structure is expected to be observable in low-temperature environments. The bonding nature of the five isomers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 is analyzed. The calculated results are compared with those of the analogous molecules C(2)NO and Si(2)NO. Implications in interstellar space and N,O-doped SiC vaporization processes are also discussed.     

Structures, relative stability and dissociation of [Si,N,C,O]2+isomers

Fifteen isomers of [Si,N,C,O]2+ system are obtained at UB3LYP/6-311G(d) and UCCSD(T)/6-311+G(2df) (single-point) levels. The analyses are made for predicting the structures of optimized isomers, while ionic fragments with lower energies are suggested. The calculatedresults indicate that linear isomer SiNCO2+(2П) is thermodynamically the most stable species in [Si,N,C,O]2+ system, followed by linear SiOCN2+ (2П), SiCNO2+ (2П), and SiC(NO) (2A") with NCO three-membered ring. The order of stability of several kinetically stable isomers is SiNCO2 >SiCNO2+ (2П)>SiOCN2+ >SiC(NO)2+>OSiNC2+ (2П). The obtained results by analyzing the isomerizations and ionic fragment patterns show that the signal peaks of [Si,N,C,O]2+ are attributed to the contribution of linear SiNCO2+ species, which is metastable and can dissociate to the ionic fragments in the mass spectrometry experiments.     

Structures, relative stability and dissociation of [Si,N,C,O]2+ isomers

Fifteen isomers of [Si,N,C,O]²⁺ system are obtained at UB3LYP/6-311G(d) and UCCSD(T)/6-311+G(2df) (single-point) levels. The analyses are made for predicting the structures of optimized isomers, while ionic fragments with lower energies are suggested. The calculated results indicate that linear isomer SiNCO²⁺(²Π) is thermodynamically the most stable species in [Si,N,C,O]²⁺ system, followed by linear SiOCN²⁺ (²Π), SiCNO²⁺ (²Π), and SiC(NO) (²A) with NCO three-membered ring. The order of stability of several kinetically stable isomers is SiNCO²> SiCNO²⁺ (²Π)>SiOCN²⁺>SiC(NO)²⁺>OSiNC²⁺ (²Π). The obtained results by analyzing the isomerizations and ionic fragment patterns show that the signal peaks of [Si,N,C,O]²⁺ are attributed to the contribution of linear SiNCO²⁺ species, which is metastable and can dissociate to the ionic fragments in the mass spectrometry experiments.     

Theoretical study of [Si,O,C,O] species: Prediction of new species on triplet potential energy surface

The intermediates [Si,O,C,O] of the Si + CO₂ reaction have been studied in detail using high level ab iniitio methods. Both singlet and triplet [Si,O,C,O] species are characterized structurally and energetically. On the singlet potential energy surface (PES), the vdw‐OSi–CO isomer and in the triplet PES, the bent‐SiOCO isomer is found to be thermodynamically as well as kinetically most stable species. All possible isomerization transition states (TS) are located on both singlet and triplet potential surfaces. On the triplet surface, the stability of the trans‐OSiCO isomer is comparable with that of the bent‐SiOCO isomer. A non‐planar cis‐SiOCO isomer is located on the triplet PES, which is predicted for the first time. Heats of formation at 0 K (Δ_fH°, 0 K) for all singlet and triplet species are computed using G3B3, G3MP2, and CBS‐Q theories. The discrepancy between G3B3 and the other two methods for the heat of formation value for triplet trans‐OSiCO is discussed. The PESs for singlet as well as triplet species with their dissociation asymptotes are explored at the CCSD(T)/6‐311G(d,p)//MP2/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Structures and stability of isomers of [Si,N,N,P] system

Recently, silicon- and nitrogen-containing small molecules, such as SiN, SiC, SiC2, and NP, which have been identified in interstellar medium[1—3] and well characterized for the formation, structures, spec-tra, and reactivity using theoretical and experimental methods[4—8], have attracted more attentions because of their potential importance in chemical kinetics, in-terstellar chemistry, astrophysics, and material science. The systems with three, four, and five atoms, for ex-ample, Si2N, …     

Theoretical study on structures and stabilities of [H,Ge,C,N

Theoretical investigations are performed for the first time on the simplest hydrogenated germanium cyanide [H,Ge,C,N], whose analogs [H,C(2),N] and [H,Si,C,N] have been detected in space and laboratory, respectively. The detailed potential energy surfaces in both singlet and triplet states are constructed at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)+ZPVE level, including 18 minimum isomers and 26 interconversion transition states. The former three low-lying and kinetically stabilized isomers are HGeCN (1)1 (0.0 kcal/mol), HGeNC (1)2 (5.1 kcal/mol), and cyclic cCHNGe(1)7 (11.1 kcal/mol). In addition, five isomers HCNGe (1)3 (33.8), HNCGe (1)5 (29.8), cNHCGe (1)8 (37.9), HGeCN (3)1 (30.1), and HNCGe (3)5 (26.5) each have considerable barriers, despite their high energies. Future laboratory characterization and astrophysical detection of the eight [H,Ge,C,N] isomers, especially the former three low-lying species (1)1, (1)2, and (1)7, are highly recommended. The accurate spectroscopic data at the QCISD/6-311G(d,p) level are provided. For some species, the CBS-QB3 calculations are also performed. Wherever possible, comparisons with the analogous [H,C(2),N] and [H,Si,C,N] are made on the structural, energetic, and bonding properties.     

Structures and stability of isomers of [C,N,N,P] system

Interstellar species have been of interest to chemists because of their unusual structures and reactivities, such as CN, NP, CP, and SiN, which have been identi-fied in interstellar medium[1―4] and well characterized for the formation, structures, spectr…     

Toward subchemical accuracy in computational thermochemistry: focal point analysis of the heat of formation of NCO and [H,N,C,O] isomers

In continuing pursuit of thermochemical accuracy to the level of 0.1 kcal mol(-1), the heats of formation of NCO, HNCO, HOCN, HCNO, and HONC have been rigorously determined using state-of-the-art ab initio electronic structure theory, including conventional coupled cluster methods [coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD), CCSD with perturbative triples (CCSD(T)), and full coupled cluster through triple excitations (CCSDT)] with large basis sets, conjoined in cases with explicitly correlated MP2-R12/A computations. Limits of valence and all-electron correlation energies were extrapolated via focal point analysis using correlation consistent basis sets of the form cc-pVXZ (X=2-6) and cc-pCVXZ (X=2-5), respectively. In order to reach subchemical accuracy targets, core correlation, spin-orbit coupling, special relativity, the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction, and anharmonicity in zero-point vibrational energies were accounted for. Various coupled cluster schemes for partially including connected quadruple excitations were also explored, although none of these approaches gave reliable improvements over CCSDT theory. Based on numerous, independent thermochemical paths, each designed to balance residual ab initio errors, our final proposals are DeltaH(f,0) ( composite function )(NCO)=+30.5, DeltaH(f,0) ( composite function )(HNCO)=-27.6, DeltaH(f,0) ( composite function )(HOCN)=-3.1, DeltaH(f,0) ( composite function )(HCNO)=+40.9, and DeltaH(f,0) ( composite function )(HONC)=+56.3 kcal mol(-1). The internal consistency and convergence behavior of the data suggests accuracies of +/-0.2 kcal mol(-1) in these predictions, except perhaps in the HCNO case. However, the possibility of somewhat larger systematic errors cannot be excluded, and the need for CCSDTQ [full coupled cluster through quadruple excitations] computations to eliminate remaining uncertainties is apparent.     

Neutralization-reionization study of C6H6O isomers

Neutralization-reionization (⁺NR⁺) mass spectrometry is employed to examine the behavior of C₆H₆O isomers in the gas phase. Phenol and cyclohexa-2,4-dienone are found not to interconvert following neutralization with mercury of their corresponding cation radicals at 9.9 keV kinetic energy. A very low extent of isomerization is observed following collisional activation of fast C₆H₆O neutrals with helium. The ⁺NR⁺ and collisionally activated dissociation spectra, the latter obtained at unit mass resolution, are used to identify these [C₆H₆O]^{+ ˙} isomers. Hexa-1,3,5-trienal is found to cyclize spontaneously to cyclohexa-2,4-dienone during attempted pyrolytic preparation. The thermochemistry of these C₆H₆O molecules and cation radicals is discussed on the basis of experimental data and MNDO calculations.     

Theoretical investigation on the protonation reactions and products of the stable [N,C,C,S] isomers

A theoretical study on the protonation system of [N,C,C,S], [H,N,C,C,S]+, was performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2p) (single point) levels of theory. On the doublet [H,N,C,C,S]+ surface, 24 species were located as energy minima and 10 of them were considered as kinetically stable species. The species HNCCS+ with 2A' state and a shallow W-shaped skeleton was predicted to be the global minimum and kinetically the most stable species, being in good agreement with previous experimental findings. Furthermore, the protonation reactions of the stable [N,C,C,S] isomers were investigated in detail. The calculation results indicated that the [N,C,C,S] isomers may be significantly stabilized upon protonation. Finally, the possible covalent structures of the [H,N,C,C,S]+ isomers with considerable stability were briefly discussed.     

Comparison of [C6H6]2+ ion structures: Application of electron capture induced decomposition to the study of isomers

Structures of [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions formed by electron impact from benzene, 2,4-hexadiyne and 1,5-hexadiyne have been investigated by the recently developed electron capture induced decomposition method, by charge-separation reactions and by ion abundances in electron impact mass spectra. Significant differences were found among the isomers indicating the structural integrity of these [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions. The observed differences indicate that the most likely atomic configuration of [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions produced from benzene and 2,4-hexadiyne is the same as in the corresponding neutral species. A new method is suggested by which the structure (atomic configuration) of doubly charged ions may be determined.     

C3H4: Theoretical study of structures and stabilities of isomers

The various isomers including stable structures, carbenes, and diradicals on the C₃H₄ surface have been investigated. The two carbenes propenylidene and cyclopropylidene have been found to have singlet ground states. Vinylmethylene is predicted to have a triplet ground state with a planar diradical type of structure. The syn and anti forms of this state are degenerate. This is in agreement with the observation of two triplet states in the electron spin resonance (ESR ) spectra. The π electrons are found to be delocalized over the three carbons. The singlet diradical structures are found to be more stable than the carbene structures, which retain the CH₂ (DOUBLE BOND) CH allylic structures. The orbital compositions of the frontier orbitals of all systems have been determined to examine the nature of these orbitals. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Crystal Structures of Two No–Metal Tricyanomelaminates: Diammonium Tricyanomelaminate Dihydrate [NH4]2[C6N9H] · 2 H2O and Dimelaminium Tricyanomelaminate Melamine Dihydrate [C3N6H7]2[C6N9H] · C3N6H6 · 2 H2O

Diammonium tricyanomelaminate dihydrate [NH₄]₂[C₆N₉H] · 2 H₂O ( 1 ) and dimelaminium tricyanomelaminate melamine dihydrate [C₃N₆H₇]₂[C₆N₉H] · C₃N₆H₆ · 2 H₂O ( 2 ) were obtained by metathesis reactions from Na₃[C₆N₉] in aqueous solution and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and ¹⁵N solid‐state NMR spectroscopy ( 1 ). Both salts contain mono‐protonated tricyanomelaminate (TCM) anions and crystallize as dihydrates. Considering charge balance requirements, the crystal structure of 1 (C2/c, a = 3181.8(6) pm, b = 360.01(7) pm, c = 2190.4(4) pm, β = 112.39(3)°, V = 2319.9(8) 10⁶ · pm³) can best be described by assuming a random distribution of an ammonium ion – crystal water pair over two energetically similar sites. Apart from two melaminium cations, 2 (P2₁/c, a = 674.7(5) pm, b = 1123.6(5) pm, c = 3400.2(5) pm, β = 95.398(5), V = 2566(2) 10⁶ · pm³) contains one neutral melamine per formula unit acting as an additional “solvent” molecule and yielding a donor‐acceptor type of π–stacking interaction.     

The first organically templated thorium compounds, [C4N2H12]0.5[ThF5] and [C5N2H14][ThF6].0.5H2O

Organically templated thorium compounds were synthesized for the first time under hydrothermal conditions; the piperazine containing compound consists of 2-D layers, while the 2-methylpiperazine phase contains unprecedented 1-D chains of face-sharing ThF9 polyhedra.     

The structures of [C5H5O]+ ions formed from isomers of nitrophenol in the gaseous phase

Translational energy release measurments on metastable ions are used in the comparison of the structures of isomeric ions. Metastable ions, m₂⁺, formed from m₁⁺ ions as the result of a high energy process in the ion source are compared with isomeric metastable ions formed as daughters from fragmentation of metastable m₁⁺ ions in a field. In the case of o-, m- and p-nitrophenol the structure of the [C₅H₅O]⁺ ions formed from [C₆H₅O]⁺ ions by these two independent methods is different as verified by comparison of the behaviour of [C₅H₅O]⁺ ions formed from several other compounds.