Low temperature FTIR spectroscopy and hydrogen bonding in cytosine polycrystals

The FTIR spectra of both the pure NH and isotopically substituted ND (<10% and >90% D) polycrystalline cytosine were recorded in the range 400-4000 cm(-1) as a function of temperature (10-300 K). For the first time, uncoupled NH(D) stretching mode bands of amine and imine groups were observed in the spectra of isotopically diluted cytosine at low temperatures. These bands correspond to the three distinct H-bonds that are present in the crystal, in agreement with the available data obtained by structural methods. At least nine bands were observed below 1000 cm(-1) and, in consonance with their temperature and isotopic exchange behavior, were assigned to the NH proton out-of-the-plane bending modes. Six of these bands were found to correspond to additional "disordered" H-bonds, which could not be observed by structural methods. Empirical correlations of spectral and thermodynamic parameters enabled to estimate the contribution of the H-bonds to the sublimation enthalpy of the crystal, in agreement with independent experimental data.     

Low-temperature FTIR spectroscopic and theoretical study on an energetic nitroimine: dinitroammeline (DNAM)

This paper presents an overview of recent progress in spectroscopic studies of the energetic nitroimine 4,6-bis(nitroimino)-1,3,5-triazinan-2-one (DNAM), based on experimental and theoretical data. The following topics are considered: variable temperature FTIR spectroscopy (4000-400 cm(-1)) applied to the study of natural and isotopically substituted (deuterated) samples aiming to obtain a successful vibrational assignment of the spectra and to investigate H-bonding interactions; extensive theoretical work based on accurate quantum chemical calculations (ab initio MP2 and DFT/B3LYP; harmonic and anharmonic vibrational calculations) to model and help interpreting the experimental findings, as well as to provide fundamental data on this simple prototype nitroimine that can be used as a starting point to the study of more complex related compounds. This work allowed us to reveal detailed features of the IR spectrum of the title compound, presenting, for the first time, plausible assignments.     

Efficiency of high-molecular compounds used as surface-active substances

The dispergation of metal shavings mixed with a destructible high-molecular compound is demonstrated to intensify the grinding process, stimulate metal plasticizing, and protect activated powders against oxidation due to the metal surface plating with organic films.     

Spontaneous tunneling and near-infrared-induced interconversion between the amino-hydroxy conformers of cytosine

Spontaneous and near-infrared/infrared (NIR/IR)-induced interconversions between two amino-hydroxy conformers of monomeric cytosine have been investigated for the compound isolated in a low-temperature argon matrix. Combined use of a laser source (which provides narrowband NIR radiation) and a broadband NIR/IR source of excitation light allowed a detailed investigation of mutual conversions of the two conformers in question. The experiments carried out within the current work demonstrated that upon broadband NIR/IR irradiation (with the IR source of FTIR spectrometer) the population ratio of the two amino-hydroxy conformers changes towards a ratio corresponding to a photostationary state. Evolution of the conformer population ratio towards the photostationary ratio occurred independent of the initial ratio of conformers, which could be prepared by a population shift (in favor of one of the forms) induced by narrowband NIR excitation. Moreover, spontaneous tunneling conversion of the higher-energy conformer into a lower-energy form was observed for cytosine isolated in a low-temperature argon matrix kept in the dark. This process is slow and occurs on a time scale of days. The tunneling process, studied for matrix-isolated cytosine, clearly follows a dispersive type of kinetics rather than the classical monoexponential kinetics.     

UV-Induced unimolecular photochemistry of diketene isolated in cryogenic inert matrices

Diketene (C(4)H(4)O(2)) monomers were isolated in cryogenic Ar (15 K) and Xe (30 K) matrices. The infrared (IR) spectra of the freshly deposited matrices show that diketene monomers exclusively adopt the 4-methylene-oxetan-2-one form. In situ photochemical transformations of diketene were induced by tunable UV laser light. Diketene was found to be photostable when exposed to near-UV irradiations (λ> 300 nm). Irradiations in the middle-UV domain showed different types of photochemical reactivity occurring upon irradiations with 280 > λ > 240 nm and λ = 225 nm. The photoproducts were characterized by IR spectroscopy supported by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. Upon irradiation in the 280 > λ > 225 nm range, diketene was found to decompose in two ways: (i) with production of two parent ketene molecules (O═C═CH(2)), and (ii) with production of cyclopropanone (CP) plus carbon monoxide. For irradiations in the 280 > λ > 240 nm range, diketene exhibited two additional reactions: (iii) decomposition to allene (H(2)C═C═CH(2)) and carbon dioxide, and (iv) isomerization into cyclobutane-1,3-dione (CB). Of the above photoproducts, CP and CB were consumed by the same UV irradiations that resulted in their generation. Positive spectroscopic identification of CP and CB turned out to be possible with near-UV irradiations: CP decomposes to ethylene and carbon monoxide upon irradiation with λ = 345 nm; CB decomposes exclusively to two parent ketene molecules, without isomerization back to diketene or decarbonylation, upon irradiation with λ = 330 nm. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis showed that the two lowest excited singlet states of diketene are almost degenerate in energy and correspond to π* orbitals of C═C and C═O moieties. The NBO calculations helped to establish that the third excited singlet state, in terms of energy, has σ*(3s) Rydberg character, in accord with the literature.     

Sub-THz radiation room temperature sensitivity of long-channel silicon field effect transistors

Room temperature operating n-MOSFETs (n-type metal-oxide silicon field effect transistors) used for registration of sub-THz (sub-terahertz) radiation in the frequency range ν = 53−145 GHz are considered. n-MOSFETs were manufactured by 1-μm Si CMOS technology applied to epitaxial Si-layers (d ≈15 μm) deposited on thick Si substrates (d = 640 μm). It was shown that for transistors with the channel width to length ratio W/L = 20/3 μm without any special antennas used for radiation input, the noise equivalent power (NEP) for radiation frequency ν ≈76 GHz can reach NEP ∼6×10⁻¹⁰ W/Hz^1/2. With estimated frequency dependent antenna effective area S_est for contact wires considered as antennas, the estimated possible noise equivalent power NEP_pos for n-MOSFET structures themselves can be from ∼15 to ∼10³ times better in the specral range of ν ∼55–78 GHz reaching NEP_pos ≈10⁻¹² W/Hz^1/2.     

Conformation-changing aggregation in hydroxyacetone: a combined low-temperature FTIR, jet, and crystallographic study

Aggregation in hydroxyacetone (HA) is studied using low-temperature FTIR, supersonic jet expansion, and X-ray crystallographic (in situ cryocrystallization) techniques. Along with quantum chemical methods (MP2 and DFT), the experiments unravel the conformational preferences of HA upon aggregation to dimers and oligomers. The O-H···O═C intramolecular hydrogen bond present in the gas-phase monomer partially opens upon aggregation in supersonic expansions, giving rise to intermolecular cooperatively enhanced O-H···O-H hydrogen bonds in competition with isolated O-H···O═C hydrogen bonds. On the other hand, low-temperature IR studies on the neat solid and X-ray crystallographic data reveal that HA undergoes profound conformational changes upon crystallization, with the HOCC dihedral angle changing from ~0° in the gas phase to ~180° in the crystalline phase, hence giving rise to a completely new conformation. These conclusions are supported by theoretical calculations performed on the geometry derived from the crystalline phase.