Potentiometric study of complex formation equilibria of alpha-oxooximes with copper(II) and nickel(II) and ions

Complex formation equilibria between copper(II) and nickel(II) with phenylglyoxal 2-oxime (HPGO) and 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione 2-oxime (HPPO) have been studied in 50% (v/v) ethanol-water solution containing 0.5M sodium nitrate as constant ionic medium at 25 degrees , using glass electrode potentiometry. The emf data obtained have been analysed with MINIGLASS and SUPERQUAD programs. Formation constants for the Cu(PGO)(+), Cu(2)(PGO)(OH)(2+), Cu(2)(PGO)(2)(OH)(+), Ni(PGO)(+), Ni(2)(PGO)(3)(+), Ni(2)(PGO)(4), Ni(2)(PGO)(2)(OH)(2), Cu(2)(PPO)(OH)(+) and Cu(2)(PPO)(2)(OH)(+) complexes are reported.     

Electronic Structure and Properties of Trihalogen Cations X(3)(+) and XY(2)(+) (X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I)

Electronic structures, charge distributions, geometries, valence force constants, and vibrational frequencies of the homoatomic clusters F(3)(+), Cl(3)(+), Br(3)(+), and I(3)(+) and of the heteroatomic clusters ClF(2)(+), BrF(2)(+), IF(2)(+), BrCl(2)(+), ICl(2)(+), and IBr(2)(+) were determined. The self-consistent field approach extended by MP2-correlation energy or density-functional corrections was applied using various basis sets. It was found that d- and f-type polarization functions play a crucial role as in some other halogen compounds. The MP2 approach yields the most satisfactory results. The effect of the crystalline environment surrounding the Cl(3)(+), Br(3)(+), and I(3)(+) species is successfully simulated by a Madelung potential. Frequencies calculated in the crystal field are in reasonable agreement with the more reliable ones among the experimental results. Coupling force constants were determined. They are not consistent with some empirical rules. Bonding and charge distributions of the formally mixed-valence systems X(+)Y(2)(0) are discussed. X(+) behaves like a divalent chalcogen with high electronegativity. Each of the X(+)-Y bonds in XY(2)(+) is very similar to the bond in X-Y. We predict the experimentally unknown F(3)(+) to be stable in vacuum but not in the solid state. Structures and frequencies of XY(2)(+) species, which are as yet unknown, are also predicted.     

The syntheses of carbocations by use of the noble-gas oxidant, [XeOTeF5][Sb(OTeF5)6]: the syntheses and characterization of the CX3+ (X = Cl, Br, OTeF5) and CBr(OTeF5)2+ cations and theoretical studies of CX3+ and BX3 (X = F, Cl, Br, I, OTeF5)

The CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) cations have been synthesized by oxidation of a halide ligand of CCl(4) and CBr(4) at -78 degrees C in SO(2)ClF solvent by use of [XeOTeF(5)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)]. The CBr(3)(+) cation reacts further with BrOTeF(5) to give CBr(OTeF(5))(2)(+), C(OTeF(5))(3)(+), and Br(2). The [XeOTeF(5)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)] salt was also found to react with BrOTeF(5) in SO(2)ClF solvent at -78 degrees C to give the Br(OTeF(5))(2)(+) cation. The CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), CBr(OTeF(5))(2)(+), C(OTeF(5))(3)(+), and Br(OTeF(5))(2)(+) cations and C(OTeF(5))(4) have been characterized in SO(2)ClF solution by (13)C and/or (19)F NMR spectroscopy at -78 degrees C. The X-ray crystal structures of the CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), and C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cations have been determined in [CCl(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)], [CBr(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)].SO(2)ClF, and [C(OTeF(5))(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)].3SO(2)ClF at -173 degrees C. The CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) salts were stable at room temperature, whereas the CBr(n)(OTeF(5))(3-n)(+) salts were stable at 0 degrees C for several hours. The cations were found to be trigonal planar about carbon, with the CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) cations showing no significant interactions between their carbon atoms and the fluorine atoms of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) anions. In contrast, the C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cation interacts with an oxygen of each of two SO(2)ClF molecules by coordination along the three-fold axis of the cation. The solid-state Raman spectra of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) salts of CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) have been obtained and assigned with the aid of electronic structure calculations. The CCl(3)(+) cation displays a well-resolved (35)Cl/(37)Cl isotopic pattern for the symmetric CCl(3) stretch. The energy-minimized geometries, natural charges, and natural bond orders of the CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), CI(3)(+), and C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cations and of the presently unknown CF(3)(+) cation have been calculated using HF and MP2 methods have been compared with those of the isoelectronic BX(3) molecules (X = F, Cl, Br, I, and OTeF(5)). The (13)C and (11)B chemical shifts for CX(3)(+) (X = Cl, Br, I) and BX(3) (X = F, Cl, Br, I) were calculated by the GIAO method, and their trends were assessed in terms of paramagnetic contributions and spin-orbit coupling.     

Isomeric effects in the gas-phase reactions of dichloroethene, C2H2CL2, with a series of cations

A study of the reactions of a series of gas-phase cations (NH(4)(+), H(3)O(+), SF(3)(+), CF(3)(+), CF(+), SF(5)(+), SF(2)(+), SF(+), CF(2)(+), SF(4)(+), O(2)(+), Xe(+), N(2)O(+), CO(2)(+), Kr(+), CO(+), N(+), N(2)(+), Ar(+), F(+), and Ne(+)) with the three structural isomers of dichloroethene, i.e., 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2), cis-1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2), and trans-1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) is reported. The recombination energy (RE) of these ions spans the range of 4.7-21.6 eV. Reaction rate coefficients and product branching ratios have been measured at 298 K in a selected ion flow tube (SIFT). Collisional rate coefficients are calculated by modified average dipole orientation (MADO) theory and compared with experimental data. Thermochemistry and mass balance have been used to predict the most feasible neutral products. Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectra have also been obtained for the three isomers of C(2)H(2)Cl(2) with photon energies in the range of 10-23 eV. The fragment ion branching ratios have been compared with those of the flow tube study to determine the importance of long-range charge transfer. A strong influence of the isomeric structure of dichloroethene on the products of ion-molecule reactions has been observed for H(3)O(+), CF(3)(+), and CF(+). For 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) the reaction with H(3)O(+) proceeds at the collisional rate with the only ionic product being 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2)H(+). However, the same reaction yields two more ionic products in the case of cis-1,2- and trans-1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2), but only proceeds with 14% and 18% efficiency, respectively. The CF(3)(+) reaction proceeds with 56-80% efficiency, the only ionic product for 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) being C(2)H(2)Cl(+) formed via Cl(-) abstraction, whereas the only ionic product for both 1,2-isomers is CHCl(2)(+) corresponding to a breaking of the C=C double bond. Less profound isomeric effects, but still resulting in different products for 1,1- and 1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) isomers, have been found in the reactions of SF(+), CO(2)(+), CO(+), N(2)(+), and Ar(+). Although these five ions have REs above the ionization energy (IE) of any of the C(2)H(2)Cl(2) isomers, and hence the threshold for long-range charge transfer, the results suggest that the formation of a collision complex at short range between these ions and C(2)H(2)Cl(2) is responsible for the observed effects.     

Gas-phase uranyl, neptunyl, and plutonyl: hydration and oxidation studied by experiment and theory

The following monopositive actinyl ions were produced by electrospray ionization of aqueous solutions of An(VI)O(2)(ClO(4))(2) (An = U, Np, Pu): U(V)O(2)(+), Np(V)O(2)(+), Pu(V)O(2)(+), U(VI)O(2)(OH)(+), and Pu(VI)O(2)(OH)(+); abundances of the actinyl ions reflect the relative stabilities of the An(VI) and An(V) oxidation states. Gas-phase reactions with water in an ion trap revealed that water addition terminates at AnO(2)(+)·(H(2)O)(4) (An = U, Np, Pu) and AnO(2)(OH)(+)·(H(2)O)(3) (An = U, Pu), each with four equatorial ligands. These terminal hydrates evidently correspond to the maximum inner-sphere water coordination in the gas phase, as substantiated by density functional theory (DFT) computations of the hydrate structures and energetics. Measured hydration rates for the AnO(2)(OH)(+) were substantially faster than for the AnO(2)(+), reflecting additional vibrational degrees of freedom in the hydroxide ions for stabilization of hot adducts. Dioxygen addition resulted in UO(2)(+)(O(2))(H(2)O)(n) (n = 2, 3), whereas O(2) addition was not observed for NpO(2)(+) or PuO(2)(+) hydrates. DFT suggests that two-electron three-centered bonds form between UO(2)(+) and O(2), but not between NpO(2)(+) and O(2). As formation of the UO(2)(+)-O(2) bonds formally corresponds to the oxidation of U(V) to U(VI), the absence of this bonding with NpO(2)(+) can be considered a manifestation of the lower relative stability of Np(VI).     

Existence of an exceptional reaction pathway for H3(+) formation observed in collision-induced dissociation of methane ions at 1000 eV

Dissociation of CH(4)(+) ions at 1000 eV induced by collision with Ar atoms was investigated by measuring the kinetic energies of the ionized fragments. At small scattering angles, including zero, H(+), H(2)(+), H(3)(+), CH(3)(+), CH(2)(+), CH(+), and C(+) fragments were observed. The attractive part of the potential in the CH(4)(+)-Ar collision system played an important role in the formation of the ionized fragments. Rainbow scattering, leading to a large scattering cross section, was shown to be responsible for the increased formation of H(3)(+). It is proposed that on collision-induced dissociation of CH(4)(+), its three hydrogen atoms, which form a triangle, simultaneously react and move together to form H(3)(+).     

Theoretical investigation of rare gas hydride cations: HRgN2+ (Rg=He, Ar, Kr, and Xe)

Rare gas containing protonated nitrogen cations, HRgN(2)(+) (Rg=He, Ar, Kr, and Xe), have been predicted using quantum computational methods. HRgN(2)(+) ions exhibit linear structure (C(∞v) symmetry) at the minima and show planar structure (C(s) symmetry) at the transition state. The stability is determined by computing the energy differences between the predicted ions and its various unimolecular dissociation products. Analysis of energy diagram indicates that HXeN(2)(+) is thermodynamically stable with respect to dissociated products while HHeN(2)(+), HArN(2)(+), and HKrN(2)(+) ions are metastable with small barrier heights. Moreover, the computed intrinsic reaction coordinate analysis also confirms that the minima and the 2-body global dissociation products are connected through transition states for the metastable ions. The coupled-cluster theory computed dissociation energies corresponding to the 2-body dissociation (HN(2)(+) + Rg) is -288.4, -98.3, -21.5, and 41.4 kJ mol(-1) for HHeN(2)(+), HArN(2)(+), HKrN(2)(+), and HXeN(2)(+) ions, respectively. The dissociation energies are positive for all the other channels implying that the predicted ions are stable with respect to other 2- and 3-body dissociation channels. Atoms-in-molecules analysis indicates that predicted ions may be best described as HRg(+)N(2). It should be noted that the energetic of HXeN(2)(+) ion is comparable to that of the experimentally observed stable mixed cations, viz. (RgHRg')(+). Therefore, it may be possible to prepare and characterize HXeN(2)(+) ions in an electron bombardment matrix isolation technique.     

Unraveling anharmonic effects in the vibrational predissociation spectra of H5O2(+) and its deuterated analogues

The nature of anharmonic couplings in the H(5)O(2)(+) "Zundel" ion and its deuterated isotopologues is investigated through comparison of their measured and calculated vibrational spectra. This follows a recent study in which we reported spectra for H(5)O(2)(+), D(5)O(2)(+), and D(4)HO(2)(+) from ～600 to 4000 cm(-1), as well as H(4)DO(2)(+) in the OH and OD stretching regions [ J. Phys. Chem. B 2008 , 112 , 321 ]. While the assignments of the higher-energy transitions associated with the fundamentals of the exterior OH and OD motions are relatively straightforward, difficulties arise in the assignment of the lower-frequency regions that involve displacement of the bridging proton, especially for the isotopically mixed species. Here we revisit the Ar-tagged isotopomers, and report the low energy action spectrum of H(4)DO(2)(+) for the first time, as well as present significantly improved spectra for the D(4)HO(2)(+) and D(5)O(2)(+) systems. Band assignments are clarified in several cases using IR-IR hole-burning. We then investigate the physical origin of the anharmonic effects encoded in these spectra using a recently developed technique in which the anharmonic frequencies and intensities of transitions (involving up to two quanta of excitation) are evaluated using the ground state probability amplitudes [ J. Phys. Chem. A 2009 , 113 , 7346 ] obtained from diffusion Monte Carlo simulations. This approach has the advantage that it is applicable to low-symmetry systems [such as (HDO)H(+)(OH(2))] that are not readily addressed using highly accurate methods such as the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) approach. Moreover, it naturally accommodates an intuitive evaluation of the types of motion that contribute oscillator strength in the various regions of the spectrum, even when the wave function is intrinsically not separable as a product of low-dimensional approximate solutions. Spectra for H(5)O(2)(+), D(5)O(2)(+), H(4)DO(2)(+), and D(4)HO(2)(+) that are calculated by this approach are shown to be in excellent agreement with the measured spectra for these species, leading to reassignments of two of the bands in the intramolecular bending region of D(4)HO(2)(+).     

Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of metal-carbide cations MCn+ (M=Y and La; n=2, 4, and 6) with benzene and cyclohexane investigated by FTICR mass spectrometry and DFT calculations

Yttrium- and lanthanum-carbide cluster cations YC(n)(+) and LaC(n)(+) (n = 2, 4, and 6) are generated by laser ablation of carbonaceous material containing Y(2)O(3) or La(2)O(3). YC(2)(+), YC(4)(+), LaC(2)(+), LaC(4)(+), and LaC(6)(+) are selected to undergo gas-phase ion-molecule reactions with benzene and cyclohexane. The FTICR mass spectrometry study shows that the reactions of YC(2)(+) and LaC(2)(+) with benzene produce three main series of cluster ions. They are in the form of M(C(6)H(4))(C(6)H(6))(n)(+), M(C(8)H(4))(C(6)H(6))(n)(+), and M(C(8)H(6))(C(6)H(6))(m)(+) (M = Y and La; n = 0-3; m = 0-2). For YC(4)(+), LaC(4)(+), and LaC(6)(+), benzene addition products in the form of MC(n)(C(6)H(6))(m)(+) (M = Y and La; n = 4, 6; m = 1, 2) are observed. In the reaction with cyclohexane, all the metal-carbide cluster ions are observed to form metal-benzene complexes M(C(6)H(6))(n)(+) (M = Y and La; n= 1-3). Collision-induced-dissociation experiments were performed on the major reaction product ions, and the different levels of energy required for the fragmentation suggest that both covalent bonding and weak electrostatic interaction exist in these organometallic complexes. Several major product ions were calculated using DFT theory, and their ground-state geometries and energies were obtained.     

Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometric study of ethylenediamine

The photoionization and dissociative photoionizations of ethylenediamine have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. In experiments, photoionization efficiency spectra for ions NH(2)CHCH(3)(+), NH(2)CH=CH(2)(+), CH(2)NH(2)(+), NH(3)(+), NH(2)CH(2)CHNH(2)(+) and NH(2)CH(2)CH(2)NH(2)(+) have been obtained. In addition, the energetics of the dissociative photoionization is investigated with ab initio Gaussian-3 (G3) calculations. The computational results are useful in analyzing the dissociation channels near the ionization thresholds. With the help of the G3 results, the dissociation channels for the formation of the aforementioned fragment ions have been established.     

Dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene: experimental and theoretical insights

The vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization and dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene in a region ～8.5-17 eV have been investigated with time-of-flight photoionization mass spectrometry using tunable synchrotron radiation. The adiabatic ionization energy of 1,3-butadiene and appearance energies for its fragment ions, C(4)H(5)(+), C(4)H(4)(+), C(4)H(3)(+), C(3)H(3)(+), C(2)H(4)(+), C(2)H(3)(+), and C(2)H(2)(+), are determined to be 9.09, 11.72, 13.11, 15.20, 11.50, 12.44, 15.15, and 15.14 eV, respectively, by measurements of photoionization efficiency spectra. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene. On the basis of experimental and theoretical results, seven dissociative photoionization channels are proposed: C(4)H(5)(+) + H, C(4)H(4)(+) + H(2), C(4)H(3)(+) + H(2) + H, C(3)H(3)(+) + CH(3), C(2)H(4)(+) + C(2)H(2), C(2)H(3)(+) + C(2)H(2) + H, and C(2)H(2)(+) + C(2)H(2) + H(2). Channel C(3)H(3)(+) + CH(3) is found to be the dominant one, followed by C(4)H(5)(+) + H and C(2)H(4)(+) + C(2)H(2). The majority of these channels occur via isomerization prior to dissociation. Transition structures and intermediates for those isomerization processes were also determined.     

Ab initio study of complexes with two cations as N-H donors to F-: structures and spin-spin coupling constants across N-H-F hydrogen bonds

A systematic ab initio study has been carried out to determine the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) structures and EOM-CCSD coupling constants across N-H-F-H-N hydrogen bonds for a series of complexes F(H(3)NH)(2)(+), F(HNNH(2))(2)(+), F(H(2)CNH(2))(2)(+), F(HCNH)(2)(+), and F(FCNH)(2)(+). These complexes have hydrogen bonds with two equivalent N-H donors to F(-). As the basicity of the nitrogen donor decreases, the N-H distance increases and the N-H-F-H-N arrangement changes from linear to bent. As these changes occur and the hydrogen bonds between the ion pairs acquire increased proton-shared character, (2h)J(F)(-)(N) increases in absolute value and (1h)J(H)(-)(F) changes sign. F(H(3)NH)(2)(+) complexes were also optimized as a function of the N-H distance. As this distance increases and the N-H...F hydrogen bonds change from ion-pair to proton-shared to traditional F-H...N hydrogen bonds, (2h)J(F)(-)(N) initially increases and then decreases in absolute value, (1)J(N)(-)(H) decreases in absolute value, and (1h)J(H)(-)(F) changes sign. The signs and magnitudes of these coupling constants computed for F(H(3)NH)(2)(+) at short N-H distances are in agreement with the experimental signs and magnitudes determined for the F(collidineH)(2)(+) complex in solution. However, even when the N-H and F-H distances are taken from the optimized structure of F(collidineH)(2)(+), (2h)J(F)(-)(N) and (1h)J(H)(-)(F) are still too large relative to experiment. When the distances extracted from the experimental NMR data are used, there is excellent agreement between computed and experimental coupling constants. This suggests that the N-H-F hydrogen bonds in the isolated gas-phase F(collidineH)(2)(+) complex have too much proton-shared character relative to those that exist in solution.     

Tetrachloro- and Tetrabromostibonium(V) Cations: Raman and (19)F, (121)Sb, and (123)Sb NMR Spectroscopic Characterization and X-ray Crystal Structures of SbCl(4)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) and SbBr(4)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-)

The stable salts, SbCl(4)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) and SbBr(4)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-), have been prepared by oxidation of Sb(OTeF(5))(3) with Cl(2) and Br(2), respectively. The SbBr(4)(+) cation is reported for the first time and is only the second example of a tetrahalostibonium(V) cation. The SbCl(4)(+) cation had been previously characterized as the Sb(2)F(11)(-), Sb(2)Cl(2)F(9)(-), and Sb(2)Cl(0.5)F(10.5)(-) salts. Both Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) salts have been characterized in the solid state by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Owing to the weakly coordinating nature of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) anion, both salts are readily soluble in SO(2)ClF and have been characterized in solution by (121)Sb, (123)Sb, and (19)F NMR spectroscopy. The tetrahedral environments around the Sb atoms of the cations result in low electric field gradients at the quadrupolar (121)Sb and (123)Sb nuclei and correspondingly long relaxation times, allowing the first solution NMR characterization of a tetrahalocation of the heavy pnicogens. The following crystal structures are reported: SbCl(4)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-), trigonal system, space group P&thremacr;, a = 10.022(1) ?, c = 18.995(4) ?, V = 1652.3(6) ?(3), D(calc) = 3.652 g cm(-)(3), Z = 2, R(1) = 0.0461; SbBr(4)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-), trigonal system, space group P&thremacr;, a = 10.206(1) ?, c = 19.297(3) ?, V = 1740.9(5) ?(3), D(calc) = 3.806 g cm(-)(3), Z = 2, R(1) = 0.0425. The crystal structures of both Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) salts are similar and reveal considerably weaker interactions between anion and cation than in previously known SbCl(4)(+) salts. Both cations are undistorted tetrahedra with bond lengths of 2.221(3) ? for SbCl(4)(+) and 2.385(2) ? for SbBr(4)(+). The Raman spectra are consistent with undistorted SbX(4)(+) tetrahedra and have been assigned under T(d)() point symmetry. Trends within groups 15 and 17 are noted among the general valence force constants of the PI(4)(+), AsF(4)(+), AsBr(4)(+), AsI(4)(+), SbCl(4)(+) and SbBr(4)(+) cations, which have been calculated for the first time, and the previously determined force constants for NF(4)(+), NCl(4)(+), PF(4)(+), PCl(4)(+), PBr(4)(+), and AsCl(4)(+), which have been recalculated for the P and As cations in the present study. The SbCl(4)(+) salt is stable in SO(2)ClF solution, whereas the SbBr(4)(+) salt decomposes slowly in SO(2)ClF at room temperature and rapidly in the presence of Br(-) ion and in CH(3)CN solution at low temperatures. The major products of the decompositions are SbBr(2)(+)Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-), as an adduct with CH(3)CN in CH(3)CN solvent, and Br(2).     

Ab initio investigation on a new class of binuclear superalkali cations M2Li(2k+1)+ (F2Li3+, O2Li5+, N2Li7+, and C2Li9+)

Superalkalies with low ionization potentials (IPs) can exhibit behaviors reminiscent of alkali atoms and hence be considered as potential building blocks for the assembly of novel nanostructured materials. A new series of binuclear superalkali cations M(2)Li(2k+1)(+) (M = F, O, N, C) has been studied using ab initio methods. The structural features of such cations are found to be related to the central atoms. In the preferred structures of F(2)Li(3)(+), O(2)Li(5)(+), and N(2)Li(7)(+), two central atoms are bridged by lithium atoms. While in the global minima of C(2)Li(9)(+), two central carbon atoms directly link each other and the C-C unit extends to the surface of the whole system. These M(2)Li(2k+1)(+) species exhibit very low vertical electron affinities of 2.74-4.61 eV at the OVGF/6-311+G(3df) level and hence should be classified as superalkali cations.     

Quadratically convergent algorithm for orbital optimization in the orbital-optimized coupled-cluster doubles method and in orbital-optimized second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory

Using a Lagrangian-based approach, we present a more elegant derivation of the equations necessary for the variational optimization of the molecular orbitals (MOs) for the coupled-cluster doubles (CCD) method and second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). These orbital-optimized theories are referred to as OO-CCD and OO-MP2 (or simply "OD" and "OMP2" for short), respectively. We also present an improved algorithm for orbital optimization in these methods. Explicit equations for response density matrices, the MO gradient, and the MO Hessian are reported both in spin-orbital and closed-shell spin-adapted forms. The Newton-Raphson algorithm is used for the optimization procedure using the MO gradient and Hessian. Further, orbital stability analyses are also carried out at correlated levels. The OD and OMP2 approaches are compared with the standard MP2, CCD, CCSD, and CCSD(T) methods. All these methods are applied to H(2)O, three diatomics, and the O(4)(+) molecule. Results demonstrate that the CCSD and OD methods give nearly identical results for H(2)O and diatomics; however, in symmetry-breaking problems as exemplified by O(4)(+), the OD method provides better results for vibrational frequencies. The OD method has further advantages over CCSD: its analytic gradients are easier to compute since there is no need to solve the coupled-perturbed equations for the orbital response, the computation of one-electron properties are easier because there is no response contribution to the particle density matrices, the variational optimized orbitals can be readily extended to allow inactive orbitals, it avoids spurious second-order poles in its response function, and its transition dipole moments are gauge invariant. The OMP2 has these same advantages over canonical MP2, making it promising for excited state properties via linear response theory. The quadratically convergent orbital-optimization procedure converges quickly for OMP2, and provides molecular properties that are somewhat different than those of MP2 for most of the test cases considered (although they are similar for H(2)O). Bond lengths are somewhat longer, and vibrational frequencies somewhat smaller, for OMP2 compared to MP2. In the difficult case of O(4)(+), results for several vibrational frequencies are significantly improved in going from MP2 to OMP2.     

Establishing through-bond connectivity in solids with NMR: structure and dynamics in HC(60)(+)

We present a novel nuclear magnetic resonance experiment for establishing through-bond connectivity in solids using scalar coupling-driven correlation. This method, a variant of the popular double-quantum-filtered correlation spectroscopy experiment in liquids, is robust under fast magic-angle-spinning conditions and in the presence of dynamics. In HC(60)(+), where anisotropic molecular motion renders through-space dipolar-driven correlation ineffective, this through-bond correlation method answers a significant structural question by accurately identifying the direct bond between the protonated sp(3) hybridized carbon site and the sp(2) hybridized cationic site.     

Quasiclassical trajectory study of the collision-induced dissociation dynamics of Ar + CH3SH+ using an ab initio interpolated potential energy surface

Classical trajectory calculations have been performed to investigate the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the CH(3)SH(+) cation with Ar atoms. A new intramolecular potential energy surface for the CH(3)SH(+) cation is evaluated by interpolation of 3000 ab initio data points calculated at the MP2/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The new potential energy surface includes seven accessible dissociation channels of the cation. The present QCT calculations show that migration of hydrogen atoms, leading to the rearrangement CH(3)SH(+) <--> CH(2)SH(2)(+), is significant at the collision energies considered (6.5-34.7 eV) and that the formation of CH(3)(+), CH(3)S(+), and CH(2)(+) cations takes place primarily by a "shattering" mechanism in which the products are formed just after the collision. The theoretical product abundances are found to be in qualitative agreement with the experimental data. However, at high collision energies, the calculated total cross sections for the formation of CH(3)(+) and CH(2)SH(+) cations are noticeably larger than the experimental determinations. Several features of the dynamics of the CID processes are discussed.     

Gas-phase transuranium chemistry: reactions of actinide ions with alcohols and thiols.

The laser ablation with prompt reaction and detection method was employed to provide a survey of some gas-phase reactions of actinide (M = U, Np, Pu and Am) and lanthanide (M = Tb and Tm) ions, M(+) and MO(1,2)(+), with alcohols, thiols and ethers. Particular attention was given the changing behavior in progressing across the actinide series beyond uranium. With alcohols, ROH, major products included hydroxides and alkoxides, M(OH)(1,2)(+), M(OR)(1,2)(+), MO(OH)(+) and MO(OR)(+); these products are presumed to have resulted from RO&bond;H and R&bond;OH bond cleavage by ablated M(+) and MO(+). The abundance distributions for these elementary products reflected the decrease in stabilities of high oxidation states between U and Am. Other alcohol reaction products included electrostatically bonded adducts, such as HO&bond;Np(+)ellipsisC(3)H(7)OH, sigma-bonded organometallics, such as HO&bond;Pu(+)&bond;C(2)H(5), and pi-bonded organometallics, such as Np(+)&bond;eta(3)-?C(3)H(5)?. In view of the inability of actinide and lanthanide ions to dehydrogenate alkanes, the exhibition of dehydrogenation of the alkyl chain of alcohols, as in HO-Pu(+)-C(3)H(5)O from propanol, suggests a non-insertion mechanism involving complexation of the reactant ion to the alcohol. Whereas O abstraction products from ROH were obfuscated by directly ablated MO(1,2)(+), S abstraction from thiols, RSH, was manifested by the appearance of MS(+), MS(2)(+) and MOS(+). In analogy with OH abstraction from alcohols to produce metal hydroxides, SH abstraction from thiols resulted in hydrosulfides, including Am(SH)(+) and Np(SH)(2)(+). In addition to several other reaction pathways with the thiol reagents, products presumed to be thiolates included Am(C(3)H(7)S)(+) and NpO(C(3)H(7)S) from propanethiol. A primary product of reaction with dimethyl ether were methoxides resulting from C--O bond cleavage, including Am(OCH(3))(+) and Np(OCH(3))(2)(+). With methyl vinyl ether, more complex pathways were exhibited, most of which corresponded to the elimination of stable organic molecules. An ancillary result was the discovery of several small oxide clusters, Am(2)O(n)(+), Np(2)O(n)(+) and AmNpO(n)(+). The compositions and abundance distributions of these clusters reflected the propensity of Np to exist in higher oxidation states than Am; the dominant binary clusters were Am(2)O(2)(+) and Np(2)O(3)(+).     

Relativistic Jahn-Teller effects in the photoelectron spectra of tetrahedral P4, As4, Sb4, and Bi4

The group-V tetrahedral cluster cations P(4)(+), As(4)(+), Sb(4)(+), and Bi(4)(+) are known to exhibit exceptionally strong Jahn-Teller (JT) effects of electrostatic origin in their (2)E ground states and (2)T(2) excited states. It has been predicted that there exist, in addition, JT couplings of relativistic origin (arising from the spin-orbit (SO) operator) in (2)E and (2)T(2) states of tetrahedral systems, which should become relevant for the heavier elements. In the present work, the JT and SO couplings in the group-V tetramer cations have been analyzed with ab initio relativistic electronic structure calculations. The vibronic line spectra and the band shapes of the photoelectron spectra were simulated with time-dependent quantum wave-packet methods. The results provide insight into the interplay of electrostatic and relativistic JT couplings and SO splittings in the complex photoelectron spectra of these systems.     

Two-body Coulomb explosion in methylacetylene in intense laser fields: double proton migration and proton/deuteron exchange

Two-body decomposition processes of methylacetylene (CH(3)CCH) and its isotopomer methyl-d(3)-acetylene (CD(3)CCH) in intense laser fields (790 nm, 40 fs, 5.0 × 10(13) W cm(-2)) are investigated by the coincidence momentum imaging (CMI). In methyl-d(3)-acetylene, a total of six decomposition pathways in which one of the C-C bonds is broken and a total of six pathways in which an atomic hydrogen ion (H(+) or D(+)) or a molecular hydrogen ion (H(2)(+), HD(+), D(3)(+), or HD(2)(+)) is ejected are identified. It is revealed from the analysis of the CMI data that the migration of two deuterons as well as the exchange between a proton and a deuteron occurs prior to the two-body decomposition of a doubly charged parent molecule.