Density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio investigations of the electronic and molecular structures of the monomer and the dimer of trimethylaluminium

The electronic and molecular structures of the monomer and dimer of trimethylalu-minium have been studied using density functional theory and ab initio MP2 method. The optimized geometry of the monomer Al(CH3)3 is of C3h symmetry, whereas that of the dimer [A1(CH3)3]2 contains a carbon-bridged four-membered ring structure with C2h symmetry. The hydrogen-bridged six-membered ring structure is found to be unstable. The calculated dimerization energy for the four-membered ring structure is 78 kJ/mol, in close proximity to the experimental value of 85.27 kJ/mol.     

A self-contained and portable density functional theory library for use in Ab Initio quantum chemistry programs

A major unresolved problem of density functional theory is the yet unknown exchange-correlation functional, which leads to a proliferation of its less or more successful approximations. A practical implementation of these numerous functionals can present a substantial challenge particularly if the higher order functional derivatives are required. We present a systematic method of functional implementation. The method allows a clean handling of a large number of functionals in a mutually independent way. We developed an extensive set of automatic test routines to facilitate functional and derivative testing with respect to the implementation correctness and numerical stability. An integral part of the presented solution is a program for automatic code generation from analytical formulas that uses only freely available tools. Code for evaluation of functionals and their first, second, third, and fourth derivatives can be generated, which accelerates the development, implementation, and testing of new functionals.     

The role of benzoic acid in proline‐catalyzed asymmetric michael addition: A density functional theory study

In asymmetric Michael addition between ketones and nitroolefins catalyzed by L ‐proline, we observed that it was benzoic acid or its derivatives rather than other proton acid that could accelerate the reaction greatly, and different benzoic acid derivatives brought different yields. To explain the experimental phenomena, a density functional theory study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of proline‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition with benzoic acid. The results of the theoretical calculation at the level of B3LYP/6‐311+G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6‐31G(d) demonstrated that benzoic acid played two major roles in the formation of nitroalkane: assisting proton transfer and activating the nitro group. In the stage of enamine formation from imine, the energy profiles of benzoic acid derivatives were also calculated to investigate the reasons why different benzoic acid derivatives caused different yields. The results demonstrated that the pK_a value was the major factor for p‐substituted benzoic acid derivatives to improve the yields, whereas for m/o‐substituted benzoic acid derivatives, both pK_a value and electronic and steric effects could significantly increase the yields. The calculated results would be very helpful for understanding the reaction mechanism of Michael addition and provide some insights into the selection of efficient additives for similar experiments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

用密度泛函理论预测酚类化合物的正辛醇/水分配系数

利用密度泛函理论(DFT),基于B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)和B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)两种水平计算了36种酚类化合物的分子结构参数和热力学参数,建立了两种水平的正辛醇/水分配系数(Kow)的定量结构-性质关系模型;确定相关系数(R)分别为0.988和0.988,交叉验证系数(q2)分别为0.94和0.96...     

Determination of spin-orbit coupling contributions in the framework of density functional theory

We present a noniterative method to calculate spin-orbit coupling by means of a theoretical approach that provides the use of the full Breit-Pauli operator. This method was applied to compute one and two-electron spin-orbit coupling contributions between singlet and triplet, and doublet and doublet states, respectively. These states have been represented by monodeterminantal wave functions and optimized using the PW91 gradient-corrected exchange-correlation functional and the hybrid B3LYP one. They have been supplied by the conventional density functional theory packages, and thus coupled by our spin-orbit coupling code. Different size basis sets have been employed and the obtained results have been compared with the corresponding ones provided by some of the already existing methods and with the experimental data. They have been found to be in good quantitative agreement.     

Polyaniline doped by a new class of dopants,benzoic acid and substituted benzoic acid: synthesis and characterization

This work reports on a new class of dopants, benzoic acid and substituted benzoic acids such as 2‐hydroxybenzoic acid, 2‐chlorobenzoic acid, 4‐nitrobenzoic acid, 2‐methoxybenzoic acid, 3‐methylbenzoic acid, 4‐methylbenzoic acid, 3‐aminobenzoic acid and 4‐aminobenzoic acid, for polyaniline. Benzoic acids can be used to dope polyaniline by mixing benzoic acid (or a substituted benzoic acid) with polyaniline in the common solvent 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. Properties of benzoic acid doped polyaniline salts are studied using Fourier transform infra‐red, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and conductivity measurements. The conductivity of polyaniline‐benzoic acid salt was found to be high (10⁻² S/cm) when compared to polyaniline‐substituted benzoic acid salts (10⁻³–10⁻⁵ S/cm). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ab initio and density functional theory studies of the structure,gas-phase acidity and aromaticity of tetraselenosquaric acid

Results of ab initio self-consistent-field (SCF) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the gas-phase structure,acidity (free energy of deprotonation,G0) and aro-maticity of tetraselenosquaric acid (3,4-diselenyl-3-cy-dobutene-1,2-diselenone,H2C4Se4) are reported.The global minimum found on the potential energy surface of tetraselenosquaric acid presents a planar conformation.The ZZ iso-mer was found to have the lowest energy among the three planar conformers and the ZZ and ZE isomers are very dose in energy.The optimized geometric parameters exhibit a bond length equalization relative to reference compounds,cyclobu-tanediselenone,and cydobutenediselenol.The computed aromatic stabilization energy (ASE) by homodesmotic reaction is -77.4 (MP2(fu)/6 - 311 G //RHF/6 - 311 G) and - 54.8 kJ/mol (B3LYP/6 - 311 G //B3LYP/6 -311 G).The aromaticity of tetraselenosquaric add is indicated by the calculated diamagnetic susceptibility exaltation (A) - 19.13 (CSGT(IGAEM) - RHF/6 - 311 G// RHF/6-     

甲烷部分氧化制合成气在Ni,Cu及Ni-Cu合金上的DFT研究

基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的DMol3量子力学计算程序模块应用于合金体系,通过与N i(111)和Cu(111)的比较,研究了N iCu(111)上甲烷部分氧化制合成气的活性.计算结果显示,Cu的加入导致H2在N iCu(111)的脱附能垒低于H2在N i(111)上的脱附能垒,CO的吸附热变化不大.此外,还考察了甲烷解离的过程,发现Cu的加入对速控步骤的活化能影响不大.     

Structural and solvent effects on the spectroscopic properties of 1, 8‐naphthalimide derivatives: A density functional study

The molecular structures of 1, 8‐naphthalimide derivatives were investigated at density functional theory level within framework of PBE1PBE/6‐31G*. The vertical ionization potential and their delocalization energy of the X‐ray solid structure and gas‐phase optimized structure were explored. The configuration difference between them was attributed to the π‐π interaction of the solid effect, which has negligible effect on their absorption spectra. Solid effect also weakens the intramolecular interaction. Their absorption and luminescent spectra in gas and solvent phase were calculated by time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and conductor polarizable continuum models (CPCM)‐TDDFT approaches. Obvious red shifts from the solvent effect were found. Substituents on the imides will not improve their spectra properties a lot, whereas substituents on the naphthalene of naphthalimide would modify their properties to emit different spectra. Systematical deviation of vertical excitation energy from absorption and emission spectra, obtained by CPCM‐PBEPBE/6‐31G* and CIS‐CPCM‐PBEPBE/6‐31G* models, were about 0.05 eV and 0.02 eV compared with the experimental values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Prediction of spectroscopic constants for diatomic molecules in the ground and excited states using time-dependent density functional theory

Spectroscopic constants of the ground and next seven low-lying excited states of diatomic molecules CO, N2, P2, and ScF were computed using the density functional theory SAOP/ATZP model, in conjunction with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and a recently developed Slater type basis set, ATZP. Spectroscopic constants, including the equilibrium distances r(e), harmonic vibrational frequency omega(e), vibrational anharmonicity omega(e)x(e), rotational constant B(e), centrifugal distortion constant D(e), the vibration-rotation interaction constant alpha(e), and the vibrational zero-point energy E(n)0 were generated in an effort to establish a reliable database for electron spectroscopy. By comparison with experimental values and a similar model with an established larger Slater-type basis set, et-QZ3P-xD, it was found that this model provides reliably accurate results at reduced computational costs, for both the ground and excited states of the molecules. The over all errors of all eight lowest lying electronic states of the molecules under study using the effective basis set are r(e)(+/-4%), omega(e)(+/-5% mostly without exceeding +/-20%), omega(e)x(e)(+/-5% mostly without exceeding 20%, much more accurate than a previous study on this constant of +/-30%), B(e)(+/-8%), D(e)(+/-10%), alpha(e)(+/-10%), and E(n)0(+/-10%). The accuracy obtained using the ATZP basis set is very competitive to the larger et-QZ3P-xD basis set in particular in the ground electronic states. The overall errors in r(e), omega(e)x(e), and alpha(e) in the ground states were given by +/-0.7, +/-10.1, and +/-8.4%, respectively, using the efficient ATZP basis set, which is competitive to the errors of +/-0.5, +/-9.2, and +/-9.1%, respectively for those constants using the larger et-QZ3P-xD basis set. The latter basis set, however, needs approximately four times of the CPU time on the National Supercomputing Facilities (Australia). Due to the efficiency of the model (TD-DFT, SAOP and ATZP), it will be readily applied to study larger molecular systems.     

An effective method for the synthesis of carboxylic esters and lactones using substituted benzoic anhydrides with Lewis acid catalysts

An efficient mixed-anhydride method for the synthesis of carboxylic esters and lactones using benzoic anhydride having electron withdrawing substituent(s) is developed by the promotion of Lewis acid catalysts. In the presence of a catalytic amount of TiCl₂(ClO₄)₂, various carboxylic esters are prepared in high yields through the formation of the corresponding mixed-anhydrides from 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride and carboxylic acids. The combined catalyst consisting of TiCl₂(ClO₄)₂ together with chlorotrimethylsilane functions as an effective catalyst for the synthesis of carboxylic esters from free carboxylic acids and alcohols with 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride. Various macrolactones are prepared from the free ω-hydroxycarboxylic acids by the combined use of 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride and titanium(IV) catalysts together with chlorotrimethylsilane under mild reaction conditions. The lactonization of trimethylsilyl ω-(trimethylsiloxy)carboxylates using 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride is also promoted at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of TiCl₂(ClO₄)₂. An 8-membered ring lactone, a synthetic intermediate of cephalosporolide D, is successfully synthesized according to this mixed-anhydride method using 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride by the promotion of a catalytic amount of Hf(OTf)₄.     

Incorporation of solvent effects into density functional predictions of molecular polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities

A study of the effect of the field, the basis set, the functional, and the cavity size on molecular polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities of substituted benzenes in liquid or solution is reported. The calculations have been performed using the density functional theory (DFT) within the conductor‐like screening model (COSMO). The optimized computational parameters are adopted to calculate molecular polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities of substituted benzenes in liquid or solution. The results show good agreement with the experimental values. From comparison of the different theoretical results, it is found that at the same theoretical level, the selection of the different solvation models may play an important role in the calculations of molecular solvation polarizability, and using the same solvation model, the effects of the different theoretical methods are relatively small. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

气态二聚体[C1~6mim]2[BF4]2纳米微观结构的理论研究

在B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)的水平上采用密度泛函理论研究了[C_nmim]+(n=1~6)与[BF_4]~ˉ形成二聚体[C_nmim]_2[BF_4]_2(n=1~6)的微观纳米结构。通过理论计算二聚体的相互作用能量发现,阴阳离子之间存在较强的氢键作用,且随着咪唑鎓烷基链的增加相互作用能也随之增加,另外,烷基侧链的长度会影响氢键强度。当咪唑鎓烷基侧链中C的个数大于4时,烷基尾部能够发生聚合,从而形成类胶束纳米结构。通过对自然布居分析、自然键轨道以及弱相互作用的分析和计算,同样证明了二聚体中存在较强的氢键作用,烷基侧链中碳的个数影响了离子液体的微观结构。     

SiO2·(CO)n(n=1～2)结构和属性的理论研究

用密度泛函理论详细地研究了SiO2·(CO)n(n=1～2)的结构和属性.研究表明,SiO2·CO是一个T形的具有C2v对称性的分子,SiO2·(CO)2具有C2对称性的分子;频率计算结果与实验值一致,CO在与SiO2成键过程中,C-O伸缩振动频率有所增加,说明静电势在复合过程中起了重要作用;基组重叠误差(BSSE)修正在计算相互作用能时不可忽视,相互作用能和解离能的计算以及NBO分析表明,SiO2·(CO)2中的SiO2与CO之间的作用相对SiO2·CO来说较弱;SiO2和CO2与CO的成键特点不同,主要是缘于SiO2与CO2的能隙不同.     

Density functional theory studies on structures and absorption spectra of [Au(tpy)Cl]2+ and its derivatives: Role of basis set,functional, solvent effect,and spin orbit effect

The geometries of [Au(tpy)Cl]²⁺ (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine) and its derivatives ( 1 – 4 ) were optimized using relativistic density functional theory (DFT) at both scalar and two‐component spin orbit coupling (SOC) level of theory via zero order regular approximation (ZORA). The combination of OPTX exchange, PW91c correlation functional (denoted as OP91), all‐electron ZORA TZ2P basis set was found to be the optimal combination for geometry. The results reveal that both SOC and substituents have little effect on the geometry of complexes 1 – 4 . Then, their absorption spectra were investigated by scalar relativistic time dependent DFT (TDDFT)/SAOP/TZ2P in vacuum, in CH₂Cl₂, CH₃CN solvents by means of conductor like screening model. The calculations indicate that the nature of the low‐lying spin‐allowed excited states is gold‐perturbed intraligand transition, namely charge reorganization. This fact also demonstrates that the influence of the polarity of solvent on absorption spectra of 1 – 4 is negligible. The spin orbit TDDFT was also performed to get further insight into the effect of SOC on the absorption spectra. It is found that the SOC has little influence on the simulation of electronic spectrum of complexes 1 – 4 due to no significant involvement of d‐orbitals during electronic transition. Our conclusions are reliable and are in good agreement with the previous experimental results and theoretical investigations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Determination of pKa values for (E)-2-hydroxy-5-(aryldiazenyl) benzaldehydes in dimethyl sulfoxide: Cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculations

The (E)-2-hydroxy-5-(aryldiazenyl) benzaldehydes (azo dyes 1–4 ) were synthesized in high purity. As they are insoluble in water, the usual analytical methods cannot be utilized to determine their pK_a values. Cyclic voltammetry was experimentally used to determine their pKa values in DMSO solvent. In addition, computational methods and a conductor-like screening model (COSMO) were used to calculate the solvent effect. , , K_exchange, and pK_a values were estimated for the azo dyes being studied using the BP86, TPSS, B3LYP, PBE0, TPSSh, and PW6B95 density functionals in def2-TZVP basis sets. The obtained mean absolute deviations (MADs) indicate that the results of BP86, PBE0, and PW6B95 functionals are in good agreement with experimental values.     

Experimental and theoretical electronic absorption spectra of 2,4‐diphenyl‐1,5‐benzothiazepine and its derivatives: Solvatochromic effect and time dependent density functional theory approach

Electronic spectra of 2,4‐diphenyl‐1,5‐benzothiazepine and some of its derivatives in 1,2‐dichloromethane and ethanol are investigated experimentally and theoretically using the time dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) method at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of the theory. The origin of the spectrum of the parent compound is found to be an additive one. The observed ultra violet (UV) spectra in both solvents show two bands S1 in the range between 312–334 nm and S2 in the range between 248–272 nm. The solvent effect is investigated experimentally and theoretically and a blue shift is observed, which is explained in terms of a hydrogen bond model between the solvent and the most negative site of the solute (N atom). This theoretical model is robust in reproducing the experimental blue shift and calculating the hydrogen bond energy and hydrogen bond length. The extent of delocalization and charge transfer processes of the studied compounds is estimated and discussed in terms of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and second order perturbation interactions (E²) between donors and acceptors. The effect of substituents of the studied compounds in both solvents shows a noticeable red shift attributed to hyperconjugation effects of the π electron systems of the different moieties.     

FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra, vibrational assignments and density functional studies of 5-bromo-2-nitropyridine

The Fourier transform Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra of 5-bromo-2-nitropyridine were recorded in the solid phase. The equilibrium geometry, natural atomic charges, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman scattering activities were calculated by density functional B3LYP method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The scaled theoretical wavenumbers showed very good agreement with the experimental values. A detailed interpretations of the infrared and Raman spectra of 5-bromo-2-nitropyridine is reported on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution (PED). The theoretical spectrograms for the Raman and IR spectra of the title molecule have been constructed.