A “vertex electron pair” scheme (VEPS) for describing the skeletal electron distribution in borane-type clusters

A predominantly localized electron pair scheme is outlined for describing the electron distribution and bonding in closo borane anions B_nH_n²⁻ and related electron deficient deltahedral clusters, in which a skeletal electron pair is assigned to each vertex, one pair being regarded as delocalized just inside the roughly spherical surface on which the skeletal atoms lie. The scheme gives a clearer picture of the electron distribution than is conveyed by resonating 2- and 3-centre bonds in the polyhedron edges and faces, and allows the bond orders of the polyhedron edge links to be calculated readily. The consequence of formal removal of BH²⁺ units from closo species B_nH_n²⁻ to generate nido species B_n−1H_n−1⁴⁻ and arachno species B_n−2H_n−2⁶⁻ is explored, and seen to allow rationalization of two features of such deltahedral-fragment clusters: (i) why a high-connectivity vertex is left vacant and (ii) why the frontier orbitals of such species concentrate electronic charge around their open faces. Moreover, in the case of D_4‘h B₄H₄⁶⁻ (cf. C₄H₄²⁻) and D_5h B₅H₅⁶⁻ (cf. C₅H₅⁻), the approach leads directly to the familiar picture for aromatic ring systems in which the highest filled, doubly degenerate π-bonding molecular orbital concentrates electronic charge in rings above and below the polygon on which the skeletal nuclei lie. It also leads to the expectation that arachno clusters with non-adjacent vacant vertices will be more stable than those with adjacent vacant vertices.     

Ab initio MRD-CI study of GaAs, GaAs2(±), Ga2As2(±) and As4 clusters

Using pseudopotentials and double zeta basis sets with s, p diffuse functions and two sets of d functions, MRD-CI calculations were performed on As₂^(±), As₄⁽⁺⁾, GaAs⁻, GaAs₂^(±) and Ga₂As₂^(±). This study complements previous theoretical investigations on Ga^(±) to Ga₄^(±) and GaAs⁽⁺⁾. For As₄ tetrahedral symmetry was assumed, and Re of X¹A₁ determined as 4.73a₀. Vertical ionization potentials to several states of As₄⁺ were calculated. For GaAs₂, GaAs₂⁺ and GaAs₂⁻, ground and one low-lying state were geometry-optimized, both in C_2v (Ga-As-As), and linear symmetry (GaAsAs, C_∞h and AsGaAs, D_∞h). The lowest state of GaAs₂ is ²B₂ in C_2v. For Ga₂As₂, the lowest state and low-lying excited states were optimized in various geometries. The most stable state has rhombic structure (¹A_g in D_2h), but T-form and other forms (C_2v, C_∞v, D_∞h) are only 1–2 eV less stable. In D_2h symmetry, several low-lying excited states of Ga₂As₂ were studied. The ground states of Ga₂As₂⁺ and Ga₂As₂⁻ were found to be ²B_2u, and ²B_2g, respectively. Trends in ionization potentials (IP), electron affinities (EA), atomization energies and fragmentation energies for the molecules Ga_xAs_y and the pure compounds Ga_n and As_n up to 4 atoms, were studied. Ga_xAs_y clusters, with x + y even, have higher IP's than odd-numbered clusters. An experimentally observed alternation of EA, whereby an odd number of atoms have higher EA than their even neighbors, is confirmed. The mixed compounds Ga_xAs_y have atomization energies between those of Ga_n and As_n (x + y = n), usually closer to those of Ga_n. Fragmentation of Ga_xAs_y occurs such that As----As bonds are retained, and if possible, also Ga----As bonds, since the dissociation energy of As₂ is higher than that of GaAs, which in turn is higher than that of Ga₂. Calculated fragmentation energies agree qualitatively with experimental observations about the composition of 3-atomic and 4-atomic clusters Ga_xAs_y.     

First principles study of the structure, electronic state and stability of AlnPm cations

Structural and electronic properties of semiconductor binary microclusters Al_nP_m⁺ cations have been investigated using the B3LYP–DFT method in the ranges of n=1,2 and m=1–7. Full structural optimization, adiabatic ionization potentials calculation and frequency analysis are performed with the basis of 6-311G(d). The charge-induced structural changes in these cations have been discussed. The strong P–P bond is also favored over Al–P bonds in the Al_nP_m⁺ cations in comparison with corresponding neutral cluster. With P_m forming the base, adding Al atom(s) in different positions would find the stable structures of Al_nP_m⁺ cations quickly and correctly. Both AlP₄⁺ and AlP₆⁺ are predicted to be species with high stabilities and possible to be produced experimentally.     

Theoretical study on the structure and stability of hydrogen-ion clusters Hn and Hn (n = 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13)

Ab initio SCF and CI calculations have been carried out for H_n⁺ and H_n⁻ (n = 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13) clusters with a double-zeta plus polarization basis set. The stabilization energy of negative ion clusters H_n⁻ is very small (less than 1 kcal) and their existence is critical. The structural difference between positive- and negative-ion clusters are discussed in terms of the bonding ability involved. While H_n⁺ is a charge-transfer complex, the stability of H_n⁻ comes mainly from the ion-induced-dipole attractions. The electron correlation effect on the structure and stability of these ion clusters is also discussed.     

Ligand deprotonation significance in the formation of the molybdate ion-malic acid complexes

Using the temperature jump technique, the study of the kinetics of the complexing of oxomolybdate anion with malic acid has been carried out in aqueous solutions of pH 7.15–8.5 at ionic strength 0.1 M (KNO₃) and 25°'C. A reaction scheme for the formation of 1 : 1 complexes is proposed which accounts for the observed relaxation rates.

The significance of the ligand deprotonation on the complexation reaction of MoO₄²⁻ by a single protonated ligand, i.e. MoO₄²⁻+LH^nk→MoO₃(OH)Lⁿ⁻², (where n = 1 -, 2 -, etc), is analysed on the basis of a simple model. A linear correlation between the log k and the pK of the monoprotonated ligand (LH) is found for this reaction when the global process is controlled by the proton transfer from the ligand to an oxogroup, i.e. log k = a - 0.5xpK. It is found that this correlation is satisfied by MoO₄²⁻ and WO₄²⁻. The experimental slopes for these oxyanions are −0.503 and −0.543 respectively, in agreement with the predictions.     

Vibration-rotation spectra of C containing acetylene: anharmonic resonances

High resolution vibration-rotation spectra of ¹³C₂H₂ were recorded in a number of regions from 2000 to 5200 cm⁻¹ at Doppler or pressure limited resolution. In these spectral ranges cold and hot bands involving the bending-stretching combination levels have been analyzed up to high J values. Anharmonic quartic resonances for the combination levels ν₁ + mν₄ + nν₅, ν₂ + mν₄ + (n + 2) ν₅ and ν₃ + (m − 1) ν₄ + (n + 1) ν₅ have been studied, and the l-type resonances within each polyad have been explicitly taken into account in the analysis of the data. The least-squares refinement provides deperturbed values for band origins and rotational constants, obtained by fitting rotation lines only up to J ≈ 20 with root mean square errors of ≈ 0.0003 cm⁻¹. The band origins allowed us to determine a number of the anharmonicity constants x_ij⁰.     

Global minima of (C60)nCa, (C60)nF and (C60)nI clusters

Likely candidates for the lowest potential energy minima of (C₆₀)_nCa²⁺, (C₆₀)_nF⁻ and (C₆₀)_nI⁻ clusters are located using basin-hopping global optimisation. In each case, the potential energy surface is constructed using the Girifalco form for the C₆₀ intermolecular interaction, an averaged Lennard–Jones C₆₀–ion interaction, and a polarisation potential, which depends on the first few non-vanishing C₆₀ multipole polarisabilities. We find that the ions generally occupy the interstitial sites of a (C₆₀)_n cluster, the coordination shell being tetrahedral for Ca²⁺ and F⁻. The I⁻ ion has an octahedral coordination shell in the global minimum for (C₆₀)₆I⁻, however for 12  n  8 the preferred coordination geometry is trigonal prismatic.     

The chemistry of the undecaborates

The formation, structure, and reactivity of the nido-11-vertex species B₁₁H₁₅, B₁₁H₁₄⁻, B₁₁H₁₃²⁻, B₁₁H₁₂³⁻ and of the closo-12-vertex species B₁₁H₁₂⁻, B₁₁H₁₁²⁻ are reviewed. The reactivity includes the behavior towards acids, bases, and oxidants as well as cluster expansion reactions, giving closo-11-vertex species of the type EB₁₁H₁₁ⁿ⁻ or [B₁₁H₁₁M]ⁿ⁻.     

EPR and UV–visible spectroscopic studies of alumina-supported chromium oxide catalysts

The oxidation state, the mobility and the molecular structure of chromium species present on CrO_x–Al₂O₃ catalysts have been studied by combined diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, EPR and reduction–extraction by ethane 1,2 diol. CrO₄²⁻ species exist on the alumina surface in the form of loosely-interacting species on hydrated surface (species A) and in the form of strongly bonded species on dehydrated Al₂O₃ surface (species B). The CrO₄²⁻ species show high mobility and are probably responsible for the formation of CrO_x clusters.     

Synthesis of ferrocenyl-1,2-diketones and related compounds: Crystal and molecular structures of 1,2-diferrocenylethanedione and 1-ferrocenyl-2-(4-biphenylyl) ethanedione

Ferrocenyl-1,2-diketones FcCOCOR, 3, [Fc = (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄)] can be prepared by oxidation of acylferrocenes FcCOCH₂R or, more efficiently, by oxidation of the isomeric ketones FcCH₂COR, 2. The ketones 2 are in turn readily synthesized from the salt (FcCH₂PPh₃)⁺I⁻ via the acylated salts [FcCH(COR)PPh₃]⁺I⁻. The haloacylferocenes FcCOCCl_x H_3−x (x = 1, 2, 3, of which the x = 2 example is synthetically equivalent to a diketone) are synthesized by Friedel—Crafts acylation of ferrocene using CCl_xH_3−xCOCl/AlCl₃, but the reaction proceeds via two parallel pathways, one giving the normal acyl derivatives FcCOCCl_xH_3−x and the other giving the reduced products FcCOCCl_x−1H_4−x. Two diketones FcCOCOFc 3b and FcCOCOC₆H₄Ph 3c have been structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Structure and stability of closo-BnHn−2(CO)2 (n = 5–12)

Closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ (n = 5–12), isolobal analogues of closo-C₂B_n−2H_n, have been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G^**density functional level of theory. The most stable isomers of closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ are similar to those of closo-C₂B_n−2H_n in geometric patterns apart from closo-B₆H₄(CO)₂, and closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ is much less strained than closo-C₂B_n−2H_n. Energetic analysis identifies closo-B₆H₄(CO)₂, closo-B₁₂H₁₀(CO)₂ and closo-B₁₀H₈(CO)₂ to be most stable, of which the latter two cages have been prepared experimentally. On the basis of the negative and rather large nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS), closo-B_nH_n−2(CO)₂ are aromatic. To aid further experimental study, the CO stretching frequencies have been computed.     

First principles study of the structure, electronic state and stability of SinCm anions

Structure, electronic state and energy of Si_nC⁻ and Si_nC⁻₂ (n=1–7) anions have been investigated using the density functional theory. Structural optimization and frequency analysis are performed at the level B3LYP/6-311G(d). The charged-induced structural changes in these anions have been discussed. The strong C–C bond is also favored over C–Si bonds in the Si_nC⁻_m anions in comparison with corresponding neutral cluster. Among different Si_nC⁻ and Si_nC⁻₂ (n=1–7) anions, Si₃C⁻, Si₅C⁻ and Si₂C⁻₂ are most stable. Their stability has a decreasing tendency with the increase in the size of these clusters.     

Phosphorescence of biacetyl sensitized by benzene in gas phase pulse radiolysis

The phophorescence of biacetyl induced by an energy transfer to biacetyl from triplet benzene produced in the pulse radiolysis of benzene-biacetyl mixtures has been studied. The time required to reach the maximum intensity of phosphorescence, t_max, after the electron pulse, varies as a function of biacetyl pressure at constant benzene pressure (40 torr), which gives the lifetime of triplet benzene τ = (6.7 ± 3.2) × 10⁻⁶ s and the rate constant of the energy transfer k_{C6H6^*(T1) + biacetyl} = (1.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Coordination geometry of chromium(VI) species. The first example of cis-bridging chromate ions in helically structured catena(μ-CrO4-O,O′)[Ni(HIm)3H2O]

Nickel(II) chromate complex with imidazole (HIm) was isolated from the [Ni²⁺–HIm–CrO₄²⁻] system in various experimental conditions, i.e. reagent molar ratios and nickel(II) salts. The catena(μ-CrO₄-O,O′)[Ni(HIm)₃H₂O] (1) crystallizes in monoclinic crystal system—space group P2₁/n with cell parameters: a=11.784(2), b=8.899(2), c=13.934(3) (Å), β=95.19(3) (°). The unit cell contains two independent helixes, left- and right-handed, stabilized by intrahelical and interhelical hydrogen bonds (HB) and π–π interactions. The cis coordination of the CrO₄²⁻ anions and the HB systems appeared to be the main determinants of the helical architecture. To the best of our knowledge the cis-chromate coordination was observed for the first time. The cis coordination causes the distortion of the nickel octahedron, which was analysed by 4 K single crystal electronic spectra with D_4h symmetry approximation (gaussian resolution and crystal field parameters). This symmetry was also confirmed with the polarised electronic spectra. The magnetic properties of the complex suggest the occurrence of weak intrachain antiferromagnetic interactions between the magnetic Ni^II center. The computational DFT studies of complex 1 assuming three possible isomers mer[(HIm)₃]–cis[(CrO₄²⁻)₂], mer–trans and fac–cis suggested that the main contribution to the stability of 1 might have interhelical and intrahelical hydrogen bonds.     

Density functional theory analysis of CaRgn complexes: (Rg=He, Ne, Ar; n=1–4)

CaRg_n⁺ (Rg=He, Ne, Ar) complexes with n=1–4, are investigated by performing using the B3LYP/6-311+G (3df) density functional theory calculations. The CaHe_n⁺ (n=1–4) complexes are found to be stable. In the case of CaNe_n⁺ and CaAr_n⁺, stable structures and stationary point were found only for n=1 and 2. For n=3 in the C_3V and the D_3h point group as well as for n=4 in the T_d (tetrahedral) point group a saddle point (imaginary frequency) is observed and global minimum could be obtained along the potential energy surface.     

Photodissociation spectroscopy of Mg—Ar

Mg⁺—Ar ion—molecule complexes are produced in a pulsed supersonic nozzle cluster source. The complexes are mass selected and studied with laser photodissociation spectroscopy in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer system. An electronic transition assigned as X ²Σ⁺ → ²Π is observed with an origin at 31387 cm⁻¹ (vac) for ²⁴Mg⁺—Ar. The ²⁴Mg⁺—Ar spectrum is characterized by a 15 member progression with a frequency (ω′_e) of 272 cm⁻¹. An extrapolation of this progression fixes the excited state dissociation energy (D′_o) at 5552 cm⁻¹. The corresponding ground-state value (D″_o) is 1270 cm⁻¹ (3.6 kcal/mol). The ²Π _, spin—orbit splitting is 76 cm⁻.     

Complexes of cationic coinage metal clusters Mn (M=Cu, Ag, Au; n=1–4) and H2S: a theoretical study

Geometries and vibrational frequencies of complexes of cationic coinage metal clusters M_n⁺ (M=Cu, Ag, Au; n=1–4) and H₂S are computed using density functional theory. Thermochemical values for M_n⁺H₂S decomposition channels involving loss of an H atom, H₂ molecule, M atom, or M₂ molecule are also computed. Significantly different results are obtained for closed-shell (n odd) and open-shell (n even) complexes.     

Structures and energetics of C3H6S isomers: a Gaussian-3 ab initio study

Twenty-two isomers/conformers of C₃H₆S^+√ radical cations have been identified and their heats of formation (ΔH_f) at 0 and 298 K have been calculated using the Gaussian-3 (G3) method. Seven of these isomers are known and their ΔH_f data are available in the literature for comparison. The least energy isomer is found to be the thioacetone radical cation (4⁺) with C_2v symmetry. In contrast, the least energy C₃H₆O^+√ isomer is the 1-propen-2-ol radical cation. The G3 ΔH_f298 of 4⁺ is calculated to be 859.4 kJ mol⁻¹, ca. 38 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than the literature value, ≤821 kJ mol⁻¹. For allyl mercaptan radical cation (7⁺), the G3 ΔH_f298 is calculated to be 927.8 kJ mol⁻¹, also not in good agreement with the experimental estimate, 956 kJ mol⁻¹. Upon examining the experimental data and carrying out further calculations, it is shown that the G3 ΔH_f298 values for 4⁺ and 7⁺ should be more reliable than the compiled values. For the five remaining cations with available experimental thermal data, the agreement between the experimental and G3 results ranges from fair to excellent.

Cation CH₃CHSCH₂^+√ (10⁺) has the least energy among the eleven distonic radical cations identified. Their ΔH_f298 values range from 918 to 1151 kJ mol⁻¹. Nevertheless, only one of them, CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺), has been observed. Its G3 ΔH_f298 value is 980.9 kJ mol⁻¹, in fair agreement with the experimental result, 990 kJ mol⁻¹.

A couple of reactions involving C₃H₆S^+√ isomers CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺) and trimethylene sulfide radical cation (13⁺) have also been studied with the G3 method and the results are consistent with experimental findings.     

激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱下的银簇行为

近年来,对金属簇的研究已成为化学与物理学中最活跃的研究领域之一［１］．金属簇被认为是介于单个原子与固体之间的中间相［２］．深入地研究其结构、形成机理及物理与化学行为,对于寻找新的催化剂［３］,重新认识气相化学与凝聚相化学的关系［４］,都有非常重要的意...