An analysis of the total ion-solvent encounter configuration of ClO 4 − and BF 4 − with Na+ and Li+ in water,studied by various nuclear magnetic relaxation times. Part 21

Proton relaxation rates of the solvent water in NaClO₄, NaBF₄, LiClO₄, and NiBF₄ solutions together with some self-diffusion coefficients are reported and interpreted in terms of structure-breaking effects.¹⁹F relaxation rates in⁷LiBF₄ and⁶LiBF₄ solutions in D₂O have been measured, and the relaxation contribution caused by⁷Li⁺ has been evaluated to give a cation-anion model pair distribution function.⁷Li relaxation rates in H₂O and D₂O are also reported, and conclusions concerning the hydration structure of Li⁺ have been drawn. The strong relaxation effects caused by the ions BF ₄ ^– and ClO ₄ ^– on²³Na⁺ and⁷Li⁺ have been subjected to a detailed analysis, and combined ion-solvent encounter configurations are presented which yield an electric field gradient strong enough to cause the observed effect.Part 1 was presented at the Faraday Discussion Ion-Ion and Ion-Solvent Interaction, Oxford, September 1977 (see ref. 1).     

Weak intramolecular proton-hydride and proton-fluoride interactions: experimental (NMR, X-ray) and DFT studies of the bis(NBH(3)) and bis(NBF(3)) adducts of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine

Bis(NBH(3)), bis(NBF(3)), and NBF(3)/NBH(3) adducts 1-3 were prepared from 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine and characterized by the (1)H, (13)C, (11)B, (19)F, 2D (1)H(-13)C HETCOR and NOESY NMR spectra. The structures and conformations of the adducts were established by the variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra, the X-ray diffraction method (adduct 2A), and density functional calculations at different theoretical levels. The experimental and theoretical data have revealed that bis adducts 1-3 prefer trans orientations of the borane groups (1A, 2A, 3A) in solution, the solid state, and the gas phase. The studies have shown that the energetic preference of trans adducts with respect to cis compounds, decreasing as 2A (2.9 kcal/mol) > 3A (2.7 kcal/mol) > 1A (1.4 kcal/mol), is dictated by spatially repulsive interactions between the CH(3), BH(3), and BF(3) groups. The results of DFT calculations agree well with an experimental trans/cis isomeric ratio of 9:1 determined in solutions of adduct 1. The calculated geometry and energy, as well as the topological analysis of electronic densities, show that trans adducts 1-3 should exist in gas phase as twist conformations T-2 stabilized by the intramolecular C-H(delta+)...(-delta)H-B or C-H(delta+)...(-delta)F-B interactions. These interactions are characterized as closed-shell. The energy of one proton-hydride and proton-fluoride intramolecular contact, estimated as 1.9 (1A-T-2) and 0.7 (2A-T-2) kcal/mol, respectively, classifies the "elongated" intramolecular interactions CH(delta+)...(-delta)HB and CH(delta+)...(-delta)FB as weak ones. It has been established that, on going from gas phase to a condensed phase (solution and solid), the twist-conformations T-2 transform to conformations T-1, probably by intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions. The data presented in this work show that despite a weakness of the "elongated" proton-hydride and proton-fluoride interactions, they can play a significant role in the stabilization of conformational molecular states, especially when cooperativity is in action.     

Exo conformers of N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐ and N‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)norbornene‐5,6‐dicarboximide crystals

Two isomeric pyridine‐substituted norbornenedicarboximide derivatives, namely N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐exo‐norbornene‐5,6‐dicarboximide, (I), and N‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐exo‐norbornene‐5,6‐dicarboximide, (II), both C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄, have been crystallized and their structures unequivocally determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecules consist of norbornene moieties fused to a dicarboximide ring substituted at the N atom by either pyridin‐2‐yl or pyridin‐3‐yl in an anti configuration with respect to the double bond, thus affording exo isomers. In both compounds, the asymmetric unit consists of two independent molecules (Z′ = 2). In compound (I), the pyridine rings of the two independent molecules adopt different conformations, i.e. syn and anti, with respect to the methylene bridge. The intermolecular contacts of (I) are dominated by C—H...O interactions. In contrast, in compound (II), the pyridine rings of both molecules have an anti conformation and the two independent molecules are linked by carbonyl–carbonyl interactions, as well as by C—H...O and C—H...N contacts.     

Radical-Mediated Photocatalysis for Lignocellulosic Biomass Conversion into Value-Added Chemicals and Hydrogen: Facts,Opportunities and Challenges

Photocatalytic biomass conversion into high-value chemicals and fuels is considered one of the hottest ongoing research and industrial topics toward sustainable development. In short, this process can cleave C_β−O/C_α−C_β bonds in lignin to aromatic platform chemicals, and further conversion of the polysaccharides to other platform chemicals and H₂. From the chemistry point of view, the optimization of the unique cooperative interplay of radical oxidation species (which are activated via molecular oxygen species, ROSs) and substrate-derived radical intermediates by appropriate control of their type and/or yield is key to the selective production of desired products. Technically, several challenges have been raised that face successful real-world applications. This review aims to discuss the recently reported mechanistic pathways toward selective biomass conversion through the optimization of ROSs behavior and materials/system design. On top of that, through a SWOT analysis, we critically discussed this technology from both chemistry and technological viewpoints to help the scientists and engineers bridge the gap between lab-scale and large-scale production.     

The derivatives of equilibrium states

We find some estimates for the derivatives of equilibrium states of subshifts of finite type. We prove the differentiability (with respect to the potential) of integrals of certain discontinuous functions for the equilibrium state of a potential.research supported by CNPq, Brazil     

Formation of simple organic molecules in the interstellar medium

In this work we present a methodology for the synthesis of simple molecules from basic formaldehyde (H₂CO) precursors. We have approached this challenging problem by considering a basic dimerization scheme that eventually leads to diose and methyl formate, using an HCO⁺ proton source. This species was chosen due to its ample abundance in the atmosphere. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

The electronic origin of unusually large nJFN coupling constants in some fluoroximes

SOPPA(CCSD) calculations show that the FC term is the most important contribution to the through‐space transmission of J_FN coupling constants for the fluoroximes studied in this work. Because of the well‐known behavior of FC term, a new rationalization for the experimental ^TSJ_FN SSCC is presented. It is mainly based on the overlap matrix (S_ij) between fluorine and nitrogen lone pairs obtained from NBO analyses. An expression is proposed to take into account the influence of the electronic density (D_ij) between coupled nuclei as well as the s% character at the site of the coupling nuclei of bonds and non‐bonding electron pairs involved in D_ij. In using this approach, a linear correlation between ^TSJ_FN versus D_ij is obtained. The most important aspect of this rationalization is related to the facility for understanding the behavior of some unusual experimental coupling constants. It is shown that, at least in this case, the electronic origin of the so‐called through‐space coupling is transmitted through to the overlap of orbitals on the coupled atoms, suggesting that, at least for these compounds, instead of through‐space coupling, it should better be dubbed as ‘through overlapping orbital coupling’. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the structural and electronic properties of nitrogen-containing exohydrogenated carbon nanotubes: a quantum chemistry study

Saturated nanotubes consisting of 2–10 and 20 layers of cyclic units of six-membered rings, each one having a pyrimidine-like framework (i.e., –C–C–C–N–C–N–), were studied by quantum chemistry methods using Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Four different nanotube (NT) configurations were theoretically studied in this work. They were formed by covalently arranging each layer over the other, with uniform relative rotations of 0°, 60°, 120°, and 180° with respect to each of the layers. Different structures can be created by modulating the relative rotation as layers are added to the main nanostructure. NTs with a relative rotation of 60° showed both greater stabilities and highest potential for catalytic activity. All of them showed band gaps of around 0.2 eV. Charges and other properties can be controlled by appropriate layer arrangement. The studied families of NTs have a very small diameter and could find potential applications in chemistry, physics, and medicine.     

The hausdorff dimension of the harmonic class on negatively curved surfaces

We study the regularity of the Hausdorff dimension of the harmonic class of a surface M of negative curvature as a function of the riemannian metric. We prove that it is a C^{r− 3} function of the metric in the Banach manifold of C^r riemannian metrics on M. We also prove regularity results for some asymptotic quantities associated to the Brownian motion on M.