Mechanism of a chemical classic: quantum chemical investigation of the autocatalyzed reaction of the serendipitous wöhler synthesis of urea

The detailed reaction pathways for the ammonium cyanate transformation into urea (W?hler's reaction) in the gas phase, in solution, and in the solid state have exhaustively been explored by means of first-principles quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP level of theory using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. This serendipitous synthesis of urea is predicted to proceed in two steps; the first step involves the decomposition of the ammonium cyanate to ammonia and isocyanic or cyanic acid, and the second one, which is the main reaction step (and probably the rate-determining step), involves the interaction of NH(3) with either isocyanic or cyanic acid. Several alternative pathways were envisaged for the main reaction step of W?hler's reaction in a vacuum involving the formation of "four-center" transition states. Modeling W?hler's reaction in aqueous solution and in the solid state, it was found that the addition of NH(3) to both acids is assisted (autocatalyzed) by the active participation of extra H(2)O and/or NH(3) molecules, through a preassociative, cooperative, and hydrogen-transfer relay mechanism involving the formation of "six-center" or even "eight-center" transition states. The most energetically economic path of the rate-determining step of W?hler's reaction is that of the addition of NH(3) to the C=N double bond of isocyanic acid, directly affording urea. An alternative pathway corresponding to the anti-addition of ammonia to the Ctbd1;N triple bond of cyanic acid, yielding urea's tautomer HN=C(OH)NH(2), seems to be another possibility. In the last case, urea is formed through a prototropic tautomerization of its enolic form. The energies of the reactants, products, and all intermediates along with the barrier heights for each reaction path have been calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The geometry optimization and characterization of all of the stationary points found on the potential energy hypersurfaces was performed at the same level of theory.     

Oxygen non-stoichiometry and defect thermodynamics in La2Ni0.9Fe0.1O4+δ

The oxygen hyperstoichiometry of K₂NiF₄-type La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ, studied by thermogravimetric analysis and coulometric titration in the oxygen partial pressure range 6×10⁻⁵-0.7 atm at 923-1223 K, is considerably higher than that of undoped lanthanum nickelate. The p(O₂)-T-δ diagram of iron-doped lanthanum nickelate can be adequately described by introducing point-defect interaction energy in the concentration-dependent part of defect chemical potentials and accounting for the site-exclusion effects. The critical factors affecting the equilibrium oxygen incorporation process include coulombic repulsion of interstitial anions, trapping of the p-type electronic charge carriers by iron, and interaction between Fe³⁺ and holes localized on nickel cations. Due to low chemical expansion of La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ lattice, the thermodynamic functions governing oxygen intercalation, site-blocking factors and hole mobility are all independent of the defect concentrations. The predominant 3+ state of iron cations under oxidizing conditions was confirmed by the Mössbauer spectroscopy. The stability of La₂NiO₄-based phase in reducing atmospheres is essentially unaffected by doping.     

Structural and electronic properties of luminescent copper(I) halide complexes of bis[2-(diphenylphosphano)phenyl] ether (DPEphos). Crystal structure of [CuCl(DPEphos)(dmpymtH

Heteroleptic copper(I) halide complexes containing the bis[2-(diphenylphosphano)phenyl]ether (DPEphos) ligand and the heterocyclic thioamides pyridine-2(1H)-thione (py2SH), pyrimidine-2(1H)-thione (pymtH) or 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine-2(1H)-thione (dmpymtH) have been synthesized and characterized by (1)H-NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and melting point determinations. The complexes can be readily obtained by the addition of the thione ligand to a CuX-diphosphane adduct in dichloromethane-ethanol solution. The molecular structure of [CuCl(DPEphos)(dmpymtH)] complex has been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure features a tetrahedral copper(I) center with two phosphorus atoms from the chelating diphos ligand, one halogen atom and the exocyclic sulfur atom of the heterocyclic thioamide unit. The complexes are strongly emissive in the solid state at ambient temperature. DFT and TD-DFT calculations were employed to study the structural, electronic and photophysical properties of the novel complexes. Electronic absorption spectra show two broad bands in the regions 275-290 and 380-398 nm of mixed MLCT/IL character. Intense blue-green emission is observed in the region 500-558 nm for complexes having py2SH or dmpymtH thione ligands. The emitting first triplet excited state, T(1) is mainly localized on the thione ligand.     

Prediction of 195Pt NMR chemical shifts of dissolution products of H2[Pt(OH)6] in nitric acid solutions by DFT methods: how important are the counter‐ion effects?

¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts of octahedral Pt(IV) complexes with general formula [Pt(NO₃)_n(OH)_{6 ? n}]^2?, [Pt(NO₃)_n(OH₂)_{6 ? n}]^{4 ? n} (n = 1–6), and [Pt(NO₃)_{6 ? n ? m}(OH)_m(OH₂)_n]^{?2 + n ? m} formed by dissolution of platinic acid, H₂[Pt(OH)₆], in aqueous nitric acid solutions are calculated employing density functional theory methods. Particularly, the gauge‐including atomic orbitals (GIAO)‐PBE0/segmented all‐electron relativistically contracted–zeroth‐order regular approximation (SARC–ZORA)(Pt) ∪ 6–31G(d,p)(E)/Polarizable Continuum Model computational protocol performs the best. Excellent second‐order polynomial plots of δ_calcd(¹⁹⁵Pt) versus δ_exptl(¹⁹⁵Pt) chemical shifts and δ_calcd(¹⁹⁵Pt) versus the natural atomic charge Q_Pt are obtained. Despite of neglecting relativistic and spin orbit effects the good agreement of the calculated δ ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shifts with experimental values is probably because of the fact that the contribution of relativistic and spin orbit effects to computed σ^{iso 195}Pt magnetic shielding of Pt(IV) coordination compounds is effectively cancelled in the computed δ ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shifts, because the relativistic corrections are expected to be similar in the complexes and the proper reference standard used. To probe the counter‐ion effects on the ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts of the anionic [Pt(NO₃)_n(OH)_{6 ? n}]^2? and cationic [Pt(NO₃)_n(OH₂)_{6 ? n}]^{4 ? n} (n = 0–3) complexes we calculated the ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts of the neutral (PyH)₂[Pt(NO₃)_n(OH)_{6 ? n}] (n = 1–6; PyH = pyridinium cation, C₅H₅NH⁺) and [Pt(NO₃)_n(H₂O)_{6 ? n}](NO₃)_{4 ? n} (n = 0–3) complexes. Counter‐anion effects are very important for the accurate prediction of the ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts of the cationic [Pt(NO₃)_n(OH₂)_{6 ? n}]^{4 ? n} complexes, while counter‐cation effects are less important for the anionic [Pt(NO₃)_n(OH)_{6 ? n}]^2? complexes. The simple computational protocol is easily implemented even by synthetic chemists in platinum coordination chemistry that dispose limited software availability, or locally existing routines and knowhow. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dramatic effect of NH3 co-ligation on the Fe+-assisted activation of carbon dioxide in the gas phase: from bare metal ions to complexes

The catalytic efficiency of Fe(+) ion over the CO(2) decomposition in the gas phase has been extensively investigated with the help of electronic structure calculation methods. Potential-energy profiles for the activation process Fe(+) + CO(2) --> CO + FeO(+) along two rival potential reaction paths, namely the insertion and addition pathways, originating from the end-on kappa(1)-O and kappa(2)-O,O coordination modes of CO(2) with the metal ion, respectively, have been explored by DFT calculations. For each pathway the potential energy surfaces of the high-spin sextet (S = 5/2) and the intermediate-spin quartet (S = 3/2) spin-states have been explored. The complete energy reaction profile calculated by a combination of ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) computational techniques reveals a two-state reactivity, involving two spin inversions, for the decomposition process and accounts well for the experimentally observed inertness of bare Fe(+) ions towards CO(2) activation. Furthermore, the coordination of up to three extra ancillary NH(3) ligands with the Fe(+) metal ion has been explored and the geometric and energetic reaction profiles of the CO(2) activation processes Fe(+) + n x NH(3) + CO(2) --> [Fe(NH(3))(n)(CO(2))](+) --> [Fe(NH(3))(n)(O)(CO)](+) --> CO + [Fe(O)(NH(3))(n)](+) (n = 1, 2 or 3) have thoroughly been scrutinized for both the insertion and the addition mechanisms. Inter alia, the geometries and energies of the various states of the [Fe(NH(3))(n)(CO(2))](+) and [Fe(NH(3))(n)(O)(CO)](+) complexes are explored and compared. Finally, a detailed analysis of the coordination modes of CO(2) in the cationic [Fe(NH(3))(n)(CO(2))](+) (n = 0, 1, 2 and 3) complexes is presented.     

Deciphering the bonding mode of the trihalide ligands in a series of halogen carrier homo- and hetero-trihalide Cu(II) Schiff base complexes

Electronic structure calculation techniques (DFT) have been used to decipher the bonding of the trihalide ligands in a series of homo- and hetero-trihalide Cu(II) Schiff base complexes formulated as [Cu(RdienR)(X)(XY₂)] (RdienR = Schiff base; R = furan, thiophene or pyrrol; X = Cl or Br; Y = Cl, Br or I). The association of the incoming Y₂ halogen molecule with one of the halide X ligands of the precursor [Cu(RdienR)(X)₂] complexes alters their distorted trigonal bipyramidal stereochemistry which is transformed to a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The bonding mechanism between the halogen Y₂ molecule and the halide X ligand was thoroughly explored by means of various electronic parameters and charge decomposition analysis techniques. The bond dissociation energy of the Cu–XY₂ bond, BDECu–XY₂${\text{BDE}}_{\text{Cu}''–''{\text{XY}}_2}$, was estimated in the range of 61.9–68.4 kcal/mol, while the bond dissociation energy of the X–Y₂ bond, BDECu–XY₂${\text{BDE}}_{\text{Cu}''–''{\text{XY}}_2}$, was found in the range of 10.6–12.5 kcal/mol. It was found that the X?Y₂ interactions correspond to weak hyperconjugative donor–acceptor interactions between a non-bonding n(X) molecular orbital (donor orbital) localized on the coordinated halide X ligand and an antibonding σ^∗(Y–Y) molecular orbital (acceptor orbital) localized on the Y₂ halogen molecule. The n(X) → σ^∗(Y–Y) donor–acceptor interactions are associated with a second-order perturbation stabilization energy, ΔE(2) of 34.5–52.5 kcal/mol. The loose association of the halogen molecules with the coordinated halide ligand renders the [Cu(RdienR)(X)(XY₂)] complexes good halogen carrier molecules.     

Mechanism of copper underpotential deposition at Pt(<Emphasis Type="Italic">hkl</Emphasis>)-electrodes: Quantum-chemical modelling

Mechanism of copper underpotential deposition at stepped faces of platinum single crystals Pt(hkl) is studied using cyclic voltammetry, scanning probe microscopy, and quantum-chemical modelling. It is shown that the first stage of UPD is one-dimensional decoration of the (100)- or (110)-orientated steps, then copper monolayer forms at (111)-terraces. The final stage is the secondary step decoration. Quantum-chemical modelling, with the using of long-distance potentials of the Cu-Pt and Cu-Cu pair interactions, allows estimating the energy of copper adsorption at different structure elements of the substrate (steps, kinks, terraces) and revealing the succession of the adatom monolayer formation; it also provides additional information for the identifying of the nature of voltametric peaks for different stages of the copper adsorption-desorption.     

Surface diffusion,migration, and conjugated processes at heterophase interfaces between WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and MeWO<Subscript>4</Subscript> (Me = Ca,Sr, Ba)

With the aid of a complex of methods it is demonstrated that at heterophase interfaces between WO₃ and MeWO₄ (Me = Ca, Sr, Ba) there occurs penetration of components WO₃ and MeWO₄ into one another under spontaneous conditions and after the imposition of an electric field. Experimental data concerning the electrosurface migration in potentiostatic and galvanostatic regimes are compared. It is demonstrated that the amount of WO₃ transported onto inner surface of MeWO₄ is defined by the magnitude of the electric charges passed through the system but does not depend on the I–U parameters of experiment. It is established that the magnitude of the faradaic efficiency of the WO₃ transport in an electric field at 900°C is close for all compounds of the type MeWO₄ (Me = Ca, Sr, Ba) and amounts to 0.42 ± 0.02 for a galvanostatic regime of the process. Methods of x-ray diffraction analysis, x-ray-fluorescence analysis, XPS, and electron microscopy are employed to explore the properties and compositions of regions adjacent to the WO₃|MeWO₄ interface after experiments in spontaneous and field-induced regimes. Data are obtained that confirm the reality of formation of nonautonomous phase MeW-s and its crucial role in the origin and mechanism of processes that occur at the heterophase interface WO₃|MeWO₄. The real architecture of the interface may be portrayed by the scheme WO₃?MeW-s|MeW-s?MeWO₄, which reflects penetration of MeW-s into both initial briquettes. The reasons for the loss of weight of briquettes of MeWO₄ when annealed in contact with WO₃ under spontaneous conditions are analyzed. It is shown that the weight loss may be caused by congruent sublimation of the MeW-s phase, which is directly connected with its low surface energy and relatively low sublimation energy.     

求解复杂湍流的非线性涡黏性系数模型和代数应力模型

非线性涡黏性系数模型和代数应力模型联系了线性涡黏性系数湍流模型和完整的微分 雷诺应力模型.随着它们受到日益关注,其形式也越来越多样化.本篇综述的目的是对这些模 型加以总结并比较它们之间的共同点及不同之处,指出它们与完整微分雷诺应力模型之间的 关系,以及相对于线性涡黏性系数模型而言它们在预报流场上所具有的优势.     

A PIC method for solving a paraxial model of highly relativistic beams

Solving the Vlasov–Maxwell problem can lead to very expensive computations. To construct a simpler model, Laval et al. [G. Laval, S. Mas-Gallic, P.A. Raviart, Paraxial approximation of ultrarelativistic intense beams, Numer. Math. 69 (1) (1994) 33–60] proposed to exploit the paraxial property of the charged particle beams, i.e the property that the particles of the beam remain close to an optical axis. They so constructed a paraxial model and performed its mathematical analysis. In this paper, we investigate how their framework can be adapted to handle the axisymmetric geometry, and its coupling with the Vlasov equation. First, one constructs numerical schemes and error estimates results for this discretization are reported. Then, a Particle In Cell (PIC) method, in the case of highly relativistic beams is proposed. Finally, numerical results are given. In particular, numerical comparisons with the Vlasov–Poisson model illustrate the possibilities of this approach.