Cover Feature: Formation of Eigen or Zundel Features at Protonated Water Cluster–Aromatic Interfaces (ChemPhysChem 16/2023)

Interfacial interactions of protonated water clusters adsorbed at aromatic surfaces play an important role in biology, and in atmospheric, chemical and materials sciences. Here, we investigate the interaction of protonated water clusters ((H⁺H₂O)_n (where n=1–3)) with benzene (Bz), coronene (Cor) and dodecabenzocoronene (Dbc)). To study the structure, stability and spectral features of these complexes, computations are done using DFT-PBE0(+D3) and SAPT0 methods. These interactions are probed by AIM electron density topography and non-covalent interactions index (NCI) analyses. We suggest that the excess proton plays a crucial role in the stability of these model interfaces through strong inductive effects and the formation of Eigen or Zundel features. Also, computations reveal that the extension of the π-aromatic system and the increase of the number of water molecules in the H-bounded water network led to a strengthening of the interactions between the corresponding aromatic compound and protonated water molecules, except when a Zundel ion is formed. The present findings may serve to understand in-depth the role of proton localized at aqueous medium interacting with large aromatic surfaces such as graphene interacting with acidic liquid water. Besides, we give the IR and UV-Vis spectra of these complexes, which may help for their identification in laboratory.     

Photoionization of C(4) molecular beam: ab initio calculations

Large computations are performed on the C(4) (+) cation in order to characterize its stable isomers and its lowest electronic excited states using configuration interaction methods and large basis sets. Several stable isomers are found including a linear C(4) (+)(l-C(4) (+)), a rhombic C(4) (+)(r-C(4) (+)) (or cyclic), and a branched (d-C(4) (+)) structure. Our calculations show a high density of electronic states for all of these isomers favoring their interactions. By combining the present ab initio data and those on neutral C(4), the l-C(4)(X)+hnu-->l-C(4) (+)(X(+))+e(-), d-C(4)(X)+hnu-->d-C(4) (+)(X(+))+e(-), and r-C(4)(X)+hnu-->r-C(4) (+)(X(+))+e(-) vertical photoionization transition energies are computed at 10.87, 10.92, and 10.77 eV, respectively. Photoionizing a C(4) molecular beam results on an onset at 10.4-10.5 eV and then to a linear increase of the signal due to the opening of several ionization channels involving most of the C(4) and C(4) (+) isomers and electronic states.     

Accurate theoretical study of PS(q) (q = 0,+1,-1) in the gas phase

Highly correlated ab initio methods were used in order to generate the potential energy curves and spin-orbit couplings of electronic ground and excited states of PS and PS(+). We also computed those of the bound parts of the electronic states of the PS(-) anion. We used standard coupled cluster CCSD(T) level with augmented correlation-consistent basis sets, internally contacted multi-reference configuration interaction, and the newly developed CCSD(T)-F12 methods in connection with the explicitly correlated basis sets. Core-valence correction and scalar relativistic effects were examined. Our data consist of a set of spectroscopic parameters (equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, rotational constants, spin-orbit, and spin-spin constants), adiabatic ionization energies, and electron affinities. For the low laying electronic states, our calculations are consistent with previous works whereas the high excited states present rather different shapes. Based on these new computations, the earlier ultraviolet bands of PS and PS(+) were reassigned. For PS(-) and in addition to the already known anionic three bound electronic states (i.e., X(3)Σ(-), (1)Δ, and 1(1)Σ(+)), our calculations show that the (1)Σ(-), (3)Σ(+), and the (3)Δ states are energetically below their quartet parent neutral state (a(4)Π). The depletion of the J = 3 component of PS(-)((3)Δ) will mainly occur via weak interactions with the electron continuum wave.     

Theoretical study of the spectroscopically relevant parameters for the detection of HNP(q) and HPN(q) (q = 0, +1, -1) in the gas phase

High level ab initio electronic structure calculations at different levels of theory have been performed on HNP and HPN neutrals, anions, and cations. This includes standard coupled cluster CCSD(T) level with augmented correlation-consistent basis sets, internally contacted multi-reference configuration interaction, and the newly developed CCSD(T)-F12 methods in connection with the explicitly correlated basis sets. Core-valence correction and scalar relativistic effects were examined. We present optimized equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, rotational constants, adiabatic ionization energies, electron affinities, vertical detachment energies, and relative energies. In addition, the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces of HNP(-1,0,+1) and of HPN(-1,0,+1) were generated at the (R)CCSD(T)-F12b∕cc-pVTZ-F12 level. The anharmonic terms and fundamentals were derived using second order perturbation theory. For HNP, our best estimate for the adiabatic ionization energy is 7.31 eV, for the adiabatic electron affinity is 0.47 eV. The higher energy isomer, HPN, is 23.23 kcal∕mol above HNP. HPN possesses a rather large adiabatic electron affinity of 1.62 eV. The intramolecular isomerization pathways were computed. Our calculations show that HNP(-) to HPN(-) reaction is subject to electron detachment.     

An eco-friendly procedure for the efficient synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes in aqueous media

A new, convenient and high yielding procedure for the preparation of bis(indolyl)methanes in water by electrophilic substitution reaction of indoles with different carbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalytic amount of [Cu(3,4-tmtppa)](MeSO₄)₄ (1 mol%) as a highly stable and reusable catalyst is described. This procedure has also been applied successfully for the preparation of bis(pyrazole-5-ols) and dipyrromethanes.     

A one-pot multi-component reaction for the facile synthesis of some novel 2-aryl thiazolidinones bearing benzimidazole moiety using La(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>·6H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O as an efficient catalyst

A series of new derivatives of 3-benzimidazolyl-2-aryl thiazolidinones, 4a–j are synthesized via a rapid, one-pot, three-component reaction by using La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O as an efficient catalyst from the reaction of 2-aminobenzimidazole, aromatic aldehydes and thioglycolic acid in ethanol at room temperature. These new compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopies. An inexpensive and available catalyst, short reaction time, easy workup, good to excellent yields and nontoxic solvent are the advantages of this reaction.     

A new family of bis-tetrazole (BIZOL) BINOL-type ligands

The synthesis and characterization of 5-(1-(2-(1H-tetrazole-5-yloxy)naphthalen-1-yl)naphthalen-2-yloxy)-1H-tetrazole (BIZOL) as the first bis-tetrazole BINOL-type ligands is described.     

Generalized Littlewood–Richardson rule and sum of coadjoint orbits of compact Lie groups

Let G be a compact connected semisimple Lie group. We extend to all irreducible finite-dimensional representations of G a result of Heckman which provides a relation between the generalized Littlewood–Richardson rule and the sum of G-coadjoint orbits. As an application of our result, we describe the eigenvalues of a sum of two real skew-symmetric matrices.     

One-step Synthesis of PCL-Urethane Networks using a Crosslinking/de-crosslinking Agent

Thermally reversible cross-linked polycaprolactone-urethane (PCL-U) was prepared in one-step procedure. The PCL-U networks were synthesized from a di-isocyanate (4,4′-methylene bis(cyclohexylisocyanate) (HMDI) and hydroxyl bearing macromers and monomers: hydroxy-terminated PCL, glycerol and a di-alcohol Diels-Alder (DA) adduct. This adduct was used to introduce both diene and dienophile functions in the structure and also to protect the maleimide functions from polymerization. The thermoresponsive behavior of the material was characterized by commonly used methods such as solubility tests at different temperatures and differential scanning calorimetry analyses to highlight rDA reactions and also by rheological analysis. The effects of the cooling rate, the molar mass of polycaprolactone as well as the molar ratio [di-Isocyanate]/[PCL-diol] on the cross-linking/de-cross-linking temperatures were also analyzed. The reversible networks obtained have a self-healing behavior.     

A theoretical quest for graphene nanoribbons: effects of nitrogen substitution on the ground state alteration

Abstract  

The effects of nitrogen substitution on the multiplicity of two sets of [X,Y] graphene nanoribbons, including peri region as well as peri-bay region substituted species, are calculated at B3LYP/6-31G* density functional theory (DFT) level. Such substitution on peri regions of [3,3] and [3,5] nanoribbons increases their viability by altering their ground states from singlet open shell (S_OS) to singlet closed shell (S_CS). This effect lessens for the [3,7] case, where the ground state is changed from S_OS to triplet (T) state. Generally, increase of X and/or Y in the peri nitrogen substituted graphenes leads to a decrease in the stability of S_CS with a concurrent decrease in ∆E _LUMO–HOMO. However, peri-bay nitrogen substitution has no tangible effect on altering the ground states of nanoribbons.