Toward a consistent treatment of polarization in model QM/MM calculations

The concept of model chemistries within hybrid QM/MM calculations has been addressed through analysis of the polarization energy determined by two distinct approaches based on (i) induced charges and (ii) induced dipoles. The quantum mechanical polarization energy for four configurations of the water dimer has been determined for a range of basis sets using Morokuma energy decomposition analysis. This benchmark value has been compared to the fully classical polarization energy determined using the induced dipole approach, and the molecular mechanics polarization energy calculated using induced charges within the MM region of hybrid QM/MM calculations. From the water dimer calculations, it is concluded that the induced charge approach is consistent with medium sized basis set calculations whereas the induced dipole approach is consistent with large basis set calculations. This result is highly relevant to the concept of QM/MM model chemistries.     

Photophysical characterization of a highly conjugated bipyridyl-based dye synthesized by a unique two-step approach

In this article, we present a new and simple, yet efficient, two-step approach to synthesize 4,4'-bis(dibutylaminostyrylstyryl)-2,2'-bipyridine with high yield, as well as its linear and nonlinear optical characterizations in THF and toluene solutions. We show that its one- and two-photon absorption spectra are similar in both solvents. Nevertheless, the relaxation processes of this compound exhibit dependence on the solvent polarity. The one- and two-photon induced fluorescence signal of this molecule in solution reveals that its excited state is highly stabilized in THF solution rather than in toluene. Analysis of the fluorescence quantum yield, lifetime, and radiative and nonradiative decay rates are in agreement with Lippert's model for solute-solvent interactions. The optical measurements demonstrate that this dye is a promising candidate for multiphoton fluorescence imaging, optical limiting, and dye lasers.     

Syntheses of the Stemona alkaloids (+/-)-stenine, (+/-)-neostenine, and (+/-)-13-epineostenine using a stereodivergent Diels-Alder/azido-Schmidt reaction

A tandem Diels-Alder/azido-Schmidt reaction sequence provides rapid access to the core skeleton shared by several Stemona alkaloids including stenine, neostenine, tuberostemonine, and neotuberostemonine. The discovery and evolution of inter- and intramolecular variations of this process and their applications to total syntheses of (+/-)-stenine and (+/-)-neostenine are described. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction depends on both substrate type and reaction conditions, enabling the preparation of both (+/-)-stenine and (+/-)-neostenine from the same diene/dienophile combination.     

Reaction pathways and kinetic parameters of sonolytically induced oxidation of dimethyl methylphosphonate in air saturated aqueous solutions

The oxidation of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) was examined under ultrasonic conditions (640 kHz) in oxygen saturated aqueous solutions. Acetic acid, formic acid, methylphosphonic acid, phosphate, and oxalic acid have been identified as the major products produced during the sonolytic irradiation of DMMP. The initial rates of oxidation were determined as a function of initial DMMP concentration. The kinetic behavior of the system is consistent with the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model implying oxidative processes occur at or near the gas-liquid interface during cavitation. Mechanistic implications and conclusions are discussed based on the product distributions and kinetic parameters.     

Structural and luminescent properties of micro- and nanosized particles of lanthanide terephthalate coordination polymers

Reaction in water between rare earth ions (Ln = Y, La-Tm, except Pm) and the sodium salt of terephthalic acid leads to a family of lanthanide-based coordination polymers of general formula [Ln2(C8H4O4)3(H2O)4] n with Ln = La-Tm or Y. The isostructurality of the compounds with the previously reported Tb-containing polymer is ascertained on the basis of their X-ray powder diffraction diagrams. The coordination water molecules can be reversibly removed without destroying the crystal structure for compounds involving one of the lighter lanthanide ions (La-Eu). For compounds involving one of the heavier lanthanide ions (Tb-Tm) or yttrium, a structural change occurs during the drying process. X-ray diffraction data show this new anhydrous phase corresponding to the linking of pairs of Er(III) ions through mu-carboxylate bridges. Porosity profiles calculated for the anhydrous phases of Tb(III) and Er(III) show the presence of channels with very small sections. The luminescent properties of all the compounds have been recorded and the two most luminescent polymers, namely, the europium- and the terbium-containing ones, have been studied in more detail. Tb(III)-containing compounds display large quantum yields, up to 43%. Polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles doped with [Ln2(C8H4O4)3(H2O)4] n (Ln = Eu, Tb, Er) have also been synthesized and characterized. The encapsulation of the coordination polymers results in somewhat reduced luminescence intensities and lifetime, but the nanoparticles can be dispersed in water and remain unchanged in this medium for more than 20 h.     

Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry fingerprinting of complex hydrocarbon mixtures: application to crude oils using data mining techniques

Crude oil fingerprints were obtained from four crude oils by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) using a silver nitrate cationization reagent. Replicate analyses produced spectral data with a large number of features for each sample (>11,000 m/z values) which were statistically analyzed to extract useful information for their differentiation. Individual characteristic features from the data set were identified by a false discovery rate based feature selection procedure based on the analysis of variance models. The selected features were, in turn, evaluated using classification models. A substantially reduced set of 23 features was obtained through this procedure. One oil sample containing a high ratio of saturated/aromatic hydrocarbon content was easily distinguished from the others using this reduced set. The other three samples were more difficult to distinguish by LDI-MS using a silver cationization reagent; however, a minimal number of significant features were still identified for this purpose. Focus is placed on presenting this multivariate statistical method as a rapid and simple analytical procedure for classifying and distinguishing complex mixtures.     

Multipolar excitation in triangular nanoprisms

Theoretical studies on the optical properties of gold triangular prisms in solution are presented to determine how structural modifications affect the extinction spectrum. Well-defined trends in the particle extinction are found to depend on the triangular edge length and the prism thickness. Calculations performed on large, thin triangular prisms indicate multipolar excitation and display numerous peaks in the extinction spectrum. The dominant peaks are assigned to different in-plane modes corresponding to the lowest three orders of a multipole expansion. Vector polarization plots are presented to support the peak assignments. Altering the prisms by snipping off the points of the triangular cross section significantly blueshifts the dipole peak, but the higher-order modes are only slightly affected. Snipping off large volumes can lead to the suppression of high-order multipoles in the extinction spectrum.     

Syntheses and coordination chemistry of methylpyridylphosphine oxide ligands with copper(II)

The coordination properties of three heterofunctional phosphine oxide ligands, 2-methylpyridyldiphenylphosphine oxide (L1), phenylphosphino-bis-2-methylpyridine oxide (L2) and phenylphosphino-bis-2-methylpyridine N,N′,P-trioxide (L3) with Cu(II) is described. The X-ray crystal structures of the compounds display a distorted octahedral geometry, which exhibit Jahn–Teller distortions. In compounds 1 and 2, the L1 and L2 ligands react with Cu(BF₄)₂ in a 2:1 ligand to metal ratio, respectively, with the BF₄ anions interacting with the metal center. L3 reacts with Cu(BF₄)₂ in 1:1 and 2:1 ligand/metal ratios to form compounds 3 and 4, respectively. Addition of either 2,2′-bipyridine or 4,4′-bipyridine to reaction solutions containing Cu(BF₄)₂ and L3 produces a discrete molecule (5) and a polymeric structure (7), respectively. The reaction of both bipyridines in the presence of Cu(BF₄)₂ and L3 gives rise to a discrete molecule (6) characterized by two octahedral coppers interconnected by the 4,4′-bipyridine. The electrochemical and photophysical properties of all compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and UV–Vis, as they exhibited no emission or excitation in fluorimetric experiments.     

Regio- and enantioselective intermolecular hydroacylation: substrate-directed addition of salicylaldehydes to homoallylic sulfides

We report a Rh-catalyzed, regio- and enantioselective intermolecular olefin hydroacylation under mild conditions. Hydroacylations between homoallylic sulfides, containing a substrate-bound directing group, and salicylaldehyde derivatives occur in the presence of a spiro-phosphoramidite ligand, (R)-SIPHOS-PE, to give α-branched ketones in >20:1 selectivity and up to 97% ee. Our conditions are also applicable to the asymmetric intermolecular hydroacylation of 1,2-disubstituted olefins.