The influence of the proton affinity of molecules that form proton disolvates on disolvate hydrogen bridge parameters

The optimum structures of thirty three proton disolvates (B…H…B)⁺ and (B…H…S)⁺ containing O…H⁺…O, N…H⁺…N, and N…H⁺…O hydrogen bridges were calculated by the density functional theory method (B3LYP/6-31++G(d, p)). The bridge parameters are compared with the proton affinities (PAs) of B and S molecules. Several dependences between the PA or ΔPA = PA_B ? PA_S values and the R _OO, R _NN, and R _NO distances were established. It follows from these results that the proton affinity of oxygen-or nitrogen-containing molecules that form (B…H…B)⁺ and (B…H…S)⁺ ions is an important but not the only factor determining the geometric parameters of hydrogen bridges in them. The dependences obtained can be used to estimate the length of the central fragment of proton disolvates if the PA values of molecules in the disolvates are known. They also allow the degree of proton transfer (the R _N…H and R _H…O distances) to be estimated for N…H⁺…O bridges.     

Influence of the hydrogen bonding on the basicity of selected macrocyclic amines

The optimized minimum‐energy geometries of different macrocyclic amines and their protonated structures were determined by using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. All the gas phase optimizations and energy calculations were performed at the DFT/B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. The HF/6‐31 + G(d,p) level was used for all single point calculations in the solution phase. Geometry optimizations indicate that the most stable structures are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The proton affinity (PA) of macrocyclic amines is controlled by the strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonds of macrocyclic amines. These hydrogen bonds strongly influence the basicity of heteroatoms in macrocycles. The highest PA value among the studied macrocyclic amines was found to be 264.9 kcal mol^?1 for structure 7. This is comparable with PA of proton sponges such as 1,8‐bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene. The solution phase calculations were carried out in the dimethyl sulfoxide solution as a commonly used solvent in organic reactions. Natural bond orbital analysis was performed to calculate the charge transfers and the second‐order interaction energies (E⁽²⁾) between the donor and acceptor. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was also applied to determine the nature of hydrogen bonds. QTAIM studies showed that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in these structures are electrostatic (closed‐shell) interactions as well as partially covalent and partially electrostatic in nature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effects on the formation of sulfonyl cations from sulfonyl chlorides: comparisons of solvolysis kinetic data with calculated gas phase energies

Suitable theoretical methods are validated for organosulfur compounds using experimental data for gas phase enthalpies of formation, proton affinities (PA) and heterolytic bond dissociation enthalpies (HBDEs). From enthalpies of chloride anion transfers from neutral chlorides to acyl, sulfonyl or cumyl cations in the gas phase, it is calculated that (i) similar aromatic substituent effects are expected for heterolyses of acyl, sulfonyl and cumyl chlorides; (ii) HBDEs for loss of chloride increase by over 70 kcal mol^?1 from 4‐MeOC₆H₄COCl to SO₂Cl₂. Rate constants for solvolyses of 4‐Z‐substituted arenesulfonyl chlorides (Z = OMe, Me, H, Cl, NO₂) in 97% w/w 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE)–water are reported. Substituent effects are smaller than observed for identical solvolyses of acyl and cumyl chlorides, and are much smaller than those predicted theoretically for gas phase unimolecular heterolysis (explained by variable amounts of nucleophilic solvent assistance). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum-Chemical Calculations of the Affinity of Neutral Molecules for Protons

Quantum-chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)) of proton affinities were performed for molecules of various structures in the gas phase. The errors in calculation results were estimated. The data on the proton affinity of several molecules for which experimental proton affinity values are unavailable were obtained. The hypothesis according to which the structure of heteroassociates in the HF-aprotic organic solvent systems depended on the proton affinity of solvent molecules was substantiated.     

Design,Manufacture, and Experimental Serviceability Validation of ITER Blanket Components

In 2014, the Russian Federation and the ITER International Organization signed two Procurement Arrangements (PAs) for ITER blanket components: 1.6.P1ARF.01 “Blanket First Wall” of February 14, 2014, and 1.6.P3.RF.01 “Blanket Module Connections” of December 19, 2014. The first PA stipulates development, manufacture, testing, and delivery to the ITER site of 179 Enhanced Heat Flux (EHF) First Wall (FW) Panels intended for withstanding the heat flux from the plasma up to 4.7MW/m². Two Russian institutions, NIIEFA (Efremov Institute) and NIKIET, are responsible for the implementation of this PA. NIIEFA manufactures plasma-facing components (PFCs) of the EHF FW panels and performs the final assembly and testing of the panels, and NIKIET manufactures FW beam structures, load-bearing structures of PFCs, and all elements of the panel attachment system. As for the second PA, NIKIET is the sole official supplier of flexible blanket supports, electrical insulation key pads (EIKPs), and blanket module/vacuum vessel electrical connectors. Joint activities of NIKIET and NIIEFA for implementing PA 1.6.P1ARF.01 are briefly described, and information on implementation of PA 1.6.P3.RF.01 is given. Results of the engineering design and research efforts in the scope of the above PAs in 2015–2016 are reported, and results of developing the technology for manufacturing ITER blanket components are presented.     

Dilute gas viscosity of n-alkanes represented by rigid Lennard-Jones chains

ABSTRACT

The shear viscosity in the dilute gas limit has been calculated by means of the classical trajectory method for a gas consisting of chain-like molecules. The molecules were modelled as rigid chains made up of spherical segments that interact through a combination of site–site Lennard-Jones 12-6 potentials. Results are reported for chains consisting of 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 segments in the reduced temperature range of 0.3–50 for site–site separations of 0.25σ, 0.333σ, 0.40σ, 0.60σ and 0.80σ, where σ is the Lennard-Jones length scaling parameter. The results were used to determine the shear viscosity of n-alkanes in the zero-density limit by representing an n-alkane molecule as a rigid linear chain consisting of n_c ? 1?spherical segments, where n_c?is the number of carbon atoms. We show that for a given n-alkane molecule, the scaling parameters ? and σ are not unique and not transferable from one molecule to another. The commonly used site–site Lennard-Jones 12-6 potential in combination with a rigid-chain molecular representation can only accurately mimic the viscosity if the scaling parameters are fitted. If the scaling parameters are estimated from the scaling parameters of other n-alkanes, the predicted viscosity values have an unacceptably high uncertainty.     

Structural and vibrational analyses of 2‐(2‐benzofuranyl)‐2‐imidazoline

We have studied 2‐(2‐benzofuranyl)‐2‐imidazoline (BFI) and characterized it by using infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The density functional theory (DFT) method together with Pople's basis set shows that two conformers exist for the title molecule as have been theoretically determined in the gas phase and that, probably, an average of both conformations is present in the solid phase. The harmonic vibrational wavenumbers for the optimized geometry of the latter conformer were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level in the proximity of the isolated molecule. For a complete assignment of the IR and Raman spectra in the compound in the solid phase, DFT calculations were combined with Pulay's scaled quantum mechanics force field (SQMFF) methodology in order to fit the theoretical wavenumbers to the experimental ones. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study of keto–enol tautomerism by quantum mechanical calculations (the QM/MC/FEP method)

In this study, the tautomeric equilibrium between the keto and enol forms has been studied for five typical ketones and aldehydes: i‐butanal, acetaldehyde, acetone, acetylacetone, and dimedone. The level of theory used in the gas‐phase calculation was Becke, three‐parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr/6‐311G(d,p)//Becke, three‐parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr/6‐31G(d). The free energies of solvation were included in the calculation by using the free‐energy perturbation method based on Monte Carlo simulation, that is, the quantum mechanical/Monte Carlo/free‐energy perturbation method. Three different models, incorporating no‐water, one‐water, and two‐waters, were adopted. The results showed that in the gas phase the addition of water molecules to the reaction mechanism caused the activation barriers (ΔG^?_gas) to decrease by half relative to the water‐free mechanism, but there was no effect on the relative difference in free energy, ΔG_gas. The solvation effects (ΔG_sol), based on quantum mechanical/Monte Carlo/free‐energy perturbation calculations, were added to those of the gas‐phase results of the one‐water and two‐waters models. The two‐waters model produced values that were very consistent with the experimental data for all of the tautomers. The differences in the relative Gibbs free energy (ΔG_rxn) were less than 1.0 kcal mol^–1. In summary, the inclusion of solvent molecules in gas‐phase calculations plays a very important role in producing results consistent with experimental data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium‐catalyzed cyclization of 2‐alkynyl‐N‐ethanoyl anilines to indoles: synthesis,structural, spectroscopic,and mechanistic study

This study reports a facial regio‐selective synthesis of 2‐alkyl‐N‐ethanoyl indoles from substituted‐N‐ethanoyl anilines employing palladium (II) chloride, which acts as a cyclization catalyst. The mechanistic trait of palladium‐based cyclization is also explored by employing density functional theory. In a two‐step mechanism, the palladium, which attaches to the ethylene carbons, promotes the proton transfer and cyclization. The gas‐phase barrier height of the first transition state is 37 kcal/mol, indicating the rate‐determining step of this reaction. Incorporating acetonitrile through the solvation model on density solvation model reduces the barrier height to 31 kcal/mol. In the presence of solvent, the electron‐releasing (–CH₃) group has a greater influence on the reduction of the barrier height compared with the electron‐withdrawing group (–Cl). These results further confirm that solvent plays an important role on palladium‐catalyzed proton transfer and cyclization. For unveiling structural, spectroscopic, and photophysical properties, experimental and computational studies are also performed. Thermodynamic analysis discloses that these reactions are exothermic. The highest occupied molecular orbital?lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap (4.9–5.0 eV) confirms that these compounds are more chemically reactive than indole. The calculated UV–Vis spectra by time‐dependent density functional theory exhibit strong peaks at 290, 246, and 232 nm, in good agreement with the experimental results. Moreover, experimental and computed ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the indole derivatives are well correlated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rotational parity and separation of water molecules into spin isomers

A theoretical explanation is proposed for the effect of variations in concentration of water molecule spin isomers in the gas phase during the interaction of molecules with a solid adsorbent surface. The explanation is based on antisymmetric (AS) correlation between proton spin moments and molecule rotation. A new AS correlation occurs during the interaction of the molecule with a dc electric field near the surface. Due to the new (external) AS correlation, ortho-and parawater molecules are formed; separation into spin modifications occurs over degenerate states of each rotational level of the molecule. Water molecule separation into spin modifications at the previous (internal) AS correlation occurs over rotational levels of molecules. The ratio of ortho-and parawater concentrations in the gas phase at the external AS correlation is compared with experimental data on chromatographic separation of water spin isomers. Quantitative agreement is observed between the calculated ratio and the ratio measured for water molecules at the final separation stage.     

Computational study of the proton affinity and basicity of structurally diverse α1‐adrenoceptor ligands

The α₁‐adrenoceptor is a target for the treatment of several conditions from hypertension to benign prostatic hyperplasia. In this paper, we describe a new analysis approach to explore the conformational space of several ligands of the α₁‐adrenoceptor and we also present the calculation of their proton affinity and basicity. For each compound a conformational search followed by a semi‐empirical optimisation was performed and a selection of conformations for each ligand was subjected to further optimisation using density functional theory methods. Different positions were explored to determine the favoured site of protonation, and then, the proton affinity (in the gas phase) and basicity (using the polarisable continuum model for the aqueous solution) were calculated for each of them. In addition, an alternative method using one explicit water molecule in combination with the polarisable continuum model for aqueous solvent was explored. Moreover, the acid dissociation constant (pK_a) in water of these 26 compounds was calculated because this is an important parameter for a ligand when binding to its receptor. The experimental pK_a values of six of these ligands and those of two compounds with a very low and a very large pK_a were used to validate the theoretical methodology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear dipole-dipole interactions and spectroscopic properties of van der waals complexes in the gas phase

We suggest a semiempirical approach to describing the influence of local nonlinear dipole-dipole interactions on the formation of van der Waals complexes of 1: 1 composition in the gas phase. Based on this approach, we quantitatively interpret the experimental data on the patterns of the shift in the electronic (complexes of a 3-aminophthalimide molecule with water and methanol molecules) and vibrational (complexes of a HCl molecule with acetone and acetonitrile molecules) absorption spectra attributable to the processes of complex formation. We confirm the conclusion that a nonlinear dipole-dipole interaction should be considered as one of the most important physical mechanisms that result in the association of molecules both in the gas phase and, under certain conditions, in the condensed state.     

A DFT study on the structure and radical scavenging activity of newly synthesized hydroxychalcones

Quantum‐chemical computations based on the density functional theory have been employed to study the relation between the structure and the radical scavenging activity of six newly synthesized hydroxychalcones. The three main working mechanisms, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), stepwise electron‐transfer‐proton‐transfer, and sequential‐proton‐loss‐electron‐transfer (SPLET), were investigated, and the O–H bond dissociation enthalpy, ionization potential, proton dissociation enthalpy, and electron transfer energy parameters were computed in the gas phase and in solvents using PCM model. The geometry structure, radical, electron character, and the frontier molecular orbital were analyzed to explore the key factors that influence the radical scavenging activity of the hydroxychalcones. Results indicated that 3,4‐dihydroxychalcone (6) possessing the catechol functionality is expected to be more efficient hydrogen atom and proton donor than others. The theoretical results confirm the important role of the B‐ring and shed light on the role of the o‐dihydroxy (catechol) moiety in the antioxidant properties of hydroxychalcones. In addition, the calculated results are in good agreement with experimental values. It was found that HAT is the most favored mechanism for explaining the radical‐scavenger activity of hydroxychalcone in the gas phase, whereas SPLET mechanism is thermodynamically preferred pathway in aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of cation complexation behavior of azacrown ether substituted benzochromene

The study of the complex formation of 3,3‐diphenyl‐3H‐benzo[f]chromenes containing aza‐18‐crown‐6‐ether, diaza‐18‐crown‐6‐ether or morpholine units with alkali, alkaline earth, heavy and transition metal cations in acetonitrile is reported. The spectroscopic and kinetic behavior of the photomerocyanine isomers of these chromenes is strongly affected by complexation with a metal cation. In order to interpret some of experimental data, an ab initio theoretical analysis of photochromic‐crown ether and its cation complexes was conducted. The different site of coordination of mono‐ and divalent cations to determine the minimum‐energy structure of benzochromene complexes in gas phase as well as in acetonitrile as solvent was explored. The coordination of both carbonyl oxygen and crown‐ether macrocyle with divalent cations in carbonyl‐capped structure is found to be the most stable isomer in gas as well as in condensed media. The crown‐containing benzochromenes were studied in liquid‐liquid extraction experiments toward there capacity to transfer metallic salts from water into an organic phase.The high selectivity to extraction of Ag⁺ was found. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Rotational Diffusion and Intermolecular Interactions In Acetonitrile

Several recent reviews^1–3 have emphasised the current interest in the study of infrared band shapes in condensed phases. Potentially such data can provide very valuable information^4–7 about the nature of the rotational and translational motions of individual molecules and about the intermolecular forces between them.⁷ However, because of the possible ambiguities arising in the interpretation of such data, (for example, there may be several contributions to the overall band shape^7c,d) it is clear that detailed studies on simple, symmetrical molecules are required before studies on more complex systems are attempted. This has been generally recognised and a number of simple (mostly linear and symmetric top) molecules have now been studied^4–10 in the compressed gas, liquid and solution phases. We have started a systematic study of simple nitriles and their weak molecular complexes. We report here some interesting data for the symmetric top molecule acetonitrile in the pure liquid and in solution in the “inert” solvent carbon tetrachloride. As far as we are aware the only previous work published on rotational diffusion in acetonitrile is the magnetic resonance work of Bopp.¹¹     

The antioxidant activity of 4‐hydroxycoumarin derivatives and some sulfured analogs

In this work, the relationship between the structure and the radical scavenging activity of seven hydroxycoumarins and their sulfured analogs was investigated for the first time by density functional theory calculation in the gas phase, benzene, and water. Our investigation includes hydrogen atom transfer, single‐electron transfer–proton transfer, and sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanisms. The results revealed that the bond dissociation enthalpy values of sulfured coumarins were lower than those of hydroxylated analogs. The obtained results were in a good agreement with the experimental results. The hydrogen atom transfer mechanism is dominant in both benzene and vacuum. The sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanism represents the most thermodynamically preferred reaction pathway in water. However, single‐electron transfer–proton transfer mechanism is not the most preferred one in all media. Finally, this work contributes to the understanding of the pharmacological activity of the compounds studied. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular modeling study on inhibition performance of imidazolines for mild steel in CO2 corrosion

Corrosion inhibiting performance of 1-hydroxyethyl-2-heptadecylimidazoline (A) and 1-aminoethyl-2-heptadecylimidazoline (B) for mild steel was evaluated by combination of quantum chemistry calculation, molecular mechanics, and molecular dynamics simulation. The calculated results by quantum chemistry method demonstrated that frontier orbitals of A and B molecules are mainly located on imidazoline rings, and molecule B possesses higher reactivity than molecule A. The calculated results by molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics simulation presented that these two inhibitor molecules could form dense and high-coverage membranes to prevent diffusion of reactive corrosive species to metal surface. Furthermore, the adsorption energy, cohesive energy, and adsorption angle demonstrated that the binding affinity and stability of B membrane was remarkably greater than that of A, which indicated that B had better inhibition performance in CO₂ corrosion. The calculated results were well accorded with previous reported experimental results. These researches implied that molecular modeling might be an effective approach to assess inhibition performance, which has potential application in design of new inhibitors.     

Crystal structure of cholesteryl 4-[4-(4-n-hexylphenylethynyl)-phenoxy]butanoate – a liquid-crystalline unsymmetric dimer

Cholesteryl 4-[4-(4-n-hexylphenylethynyl)-phenoxy]butanoate, which exhibits the phase sequence: Cr 119.3°C (42.4?J?g^?1) SmA 196.4°C (1.1?J?g^?1) TGB–N* 202.4°C (5.4?J?g^?1) I, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with unit cell parameters: a?=?10.527(1), b?=?13.151(2), c?=?16.991(2)?Å, α?=?86.13(1)°, β?=?98.96(1), γ?=?105.43(1)°, Z?=?2. The crystal structure has been solved by direct methods using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and refined to R?=?0.0618. There are two crystallographically independent molecules, I and II, in the asymmetric unit. In both the molecules the phenyl rings are planar. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 12.16° and 18.14° for molecules I and II, respectively. In both the molecules, the six-membered rings of the cholesterol moiety are conformationally very similar. However, pronounced differences are observed in the conformation of the five-membered ring, which is intermediate between half-chair and envelope in molecule I, and half-chair in molecule II. The packing of molecules in the crystalline state is found to be a precursor to the Smectic A phase structure. The molecules in the crystal are held together by van der Waal's interactions.     

Two‐phase flow electrosynthesis: Comparing N‐octyl‐2‐pyrrolidone–aqueous and acetonitrile–aqueous three‐phase boundary reactions

A microfluidic double channel device is employed to study reactions at flowing liquid–liquid junctions in contact with a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) working electrode. The rectangular flow cell is calibrated for both single‐phase liquid flow and biphasic liquid–liquid flow for the case of (i) the immiscible N‐octyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NOP)–aqueous electrolyte system and (ii) the immiscible acetonitrile–aqueous electrolyte system. The influence of flow speed and liquid viscosity on the position of the phase boundary and mass transport‐controlled limiting currents are examined. In contrast to the NOP–aqueous electrolyte case, the acetonitrile–aqueous electrolyte system is shown to behave close to ideal without ‘undercutting’ of the organic phase under the aqueous phase. The limiting current for three‐phase boundary reactions is only weakly dependent on flow rate but directly proportional to the concentration and the diffusion coefficient in the organic phase. Acetonitrile as a commonly employed synthetic solvent is shown here to allow effective three‐phase boundary processes to occur due to a lower viscosity enabling faster diffusion. N‐butylferrocene is shown to be oxidised at the acetonitrile–aqueous electrolyte interface about 12 times faster when compared with the same process at the NOP–aqueous electrolyte interface. Conditions suitable for clean two‐phase electrosynthetic processes without intentionally added supporting electrolyte in the organic phase are proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanisms of electron-stimulated desorption of protons from water: Gas,chemisorbed and ice phases

The stimulated desorption of ions from gas phase and condensed phase H₂O on Ni(111) has been examined theoretically and experimentally for the near threshold excitation region, 15 to 40 eV. The excited state potential energy curves have been calculated using configuration interaction for H₂O and a restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) approach for a variety of small clusters including (H₂O)₅ and NiH₂O. Both proton yield and kinetic energy distributions have been measured for chemisorbed, ice phase, and gas phase water and are discussed in terms of specific electronic excitations corresponding to possible desorption pathways. For condensed phase water, the major proton desorption threshold occurs at 20–21 eV and is due to surface predissociation. The final state potential energy curves reached in this process are, in general, described by two electron excitations from the ground state and are thus not dipole allowed. At threshold, these potential energy curves correspond to the excited states of the neutral rather than the ionized molecule. Above 28–29 eV, predissociation or shake-up involving excitations from the O 2s orbital contributes to the ion yield and can give rise to protons of high (7–8 eV) kinetic energy.