DFT study on the geometric, electronic structure and Raman spectra of 5,15-diphenylporphine

The ground state geometric, electronic structure and Raman spectra of 5,15-diphenylporphine (H(2)DPP) have been studied using B3LYP/6-31G(d) method and compared with that of well-studied free base porphine (H(2)P) and meso-tetraphenylporphine (H(2)TPP). Calculation shows that 5,15-substitution causes remarkable in-plane distortion, whereas the resulting out-of-plane distortion is negligible. The calculated electronic structure of H(2)DPP is consistent with the absorption spectra compared with H(2)P and H(2)TPP. The calculated vibrational frequencies of H(2)DPP scaled with a single factor of 0.971 agree well with experimental data (the rms error is 8.0 cm(-1)). The assignment of experimental Raman bands of H(2)DPP was discussed on the basis of theoretical calculation and the comparison with that of H(2)P and H(2)TPP. The splitting of some vibrational modes involving the motion of C(m) atom, such as nu(1), nu(8), and nu(10), was observed and was attributed to the diversification of the environment around C(m) atoms. As the shift of absorption peaks, the shift of some structure-sensitive Raman bands of H(2)DPP form that of H(2)TPP and H(2)P was attributed to the in-plane nuclear reorganization (IPNR) induced by phenyl-substitution, though the contribution of nonplanarity mechanism could not be excluded completely.     

Characterization of cyclodextrin-modified infrared chemical sensors: Part I. Modeling the mechanisms of interaction

To explore the properties of cyclodextrins (CDs) as an optical sensing phase, the behavior of immobilized CD in interaction with analytes was studied in this work. CDs having different cavity sizes were immobilized onto the surface of infrared (IR) internal reflection-sensing element (IRE) to kinetically monitor the behavior of CD in interaction with analytes. Several aromatic compounds having various molecular sizes and functional groups were used to characterize the interaction mechanism. A two-layer modification method was proposed in this work, which utilized a thin hydrophobic film (polyvinyl benzyl chloride) to stick on the IRE and to covalently bond to the CDs through an ethylene diamine linker. The synthesized CD phases exhibited high stability in aqueous solution. To analyze the behavior during the formation of complexes between the guest molecules and the CD phases, we modeled the interaction behavior and treated the kinetic data with the theoretical equations developed in this work. The results indicate that the behavior of the interaction between guest molecules and CDs was explained by considering the formation of two types of complexes: adsorbed complexes and inclusion complexes. The formation of the inclusion complexes was relatively fast, the time required to reach equilibrium could be shorter than a few minutes. The adsorbed complexes were also observed, but their rate of formation was relatively slow; equilibrium could be reached at times greater than 60 min. Based on the signals observed under equilibrium conditions, the concentration of inclusion complexes was approximately three times than that of the adsorbed complexes.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and luminescent property of a novel H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-bridged cobalt(II) polymer with one-dimensional chain structure

The coordination compound [Co(C₁₀H₇COO)₂(H₂O)₃]_2n · 4nH₂O was prepared by the reaction of 1-naphthoic acid and cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate in basic solution, and was fully characterized by X-ray diffraction, element analysis, FTIR, TG-DTA and luminescent spectra. In the crystal the six-coordinated Co(II) centers are linked into one-dimensional zigzag chains by water molecules, which are further assembled into a two-dimensional network through weak inter-chain C–H···π interactions. The solid complex exhibits favorable fluorescent properties similar to those of free ligand at room temperature, which can be assigned to the intraligand electronic transfer.     

Studies on the properties of ionic liquid EMIInCl4

This paper reports that an ionic liquid (IL) has been prepared by directly mixing InCl₃ and 1-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride (EMIC) with molar ratio 1/1 under dry argon atmosphere. The densities, and surface tension of the pure IL were determined at temperature range of 293.15 to 343.15 ± 0.1 K. The volumetric properties and the properties of surface for ionic liquid based on group III were discussed by Glasser's theory and Yang's interstice model.     

Stable and efficient algorithms for Xα multiple scattering calculations

Solutions to some practical problems that arise in multiple scattering calculations on large molecules are discussed. (1) Numerical instabilities near the zero of energy can be removed by rescaling the secular matrix. (2) The calculation of structure factors can be made much more efficient by the application of symmetry projection operators. (3) An energy search procedure is described that ensures that no states are inadvertently neglected. Test calculations incorporating these changes illustrate the improved numerical stability, and show decreases in computation time of 30–60%, when compared to previous codes. The procedures suggested here are applicable to both relativistic and nonrelatitistic calculations.     

Recent advances in single atom catalysts for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels. Single atom catalysts (SACs) are encouraging to catalyze the electrochemical CO₂RR due to the tunable electronic structure of the central metal atoms, which can regulate the adsorption energy of reactants and reaction intermediates. Moreover, SACs form a bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, providing an ideal platform to explore the reaction mechanism of electrochemical reactions. In this review, we first discuss the strategies for promoting the CO₂RR performance, including suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), generation of C₁ products and formation of C₂₊ products. Then, we summarize the recent developments in regulating the structure of SACs toward the CO₂RR based on the above aspects. Finally, several issues regarding the development of SACs for the CO₂RR are raised and possible solutions are provided.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels.     

Organometallic chemistry, biology and medicine: ruthenium arene anticancer complexes

Our work has shown that certain ruthenium(II) arene complexes exhibit promising anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. The complexes are stable and water-soluble, and their frameworks provide considerable scope for optimising the design, both in terms of their biological activity and for minimising side-effects by variations in the arene and the other coordinated ligands. Initial studies on amino acids and nucleotides suggest that kinetic and thermodynamic control over a wide spectrum of reactions of Ru(II) arene complexes with biomolecules can be achieved. These Ru(II) arene complexes appear to have an altered profile of biological activity in comparison with metal-based anticancer complexes currently in clinical use or on clinical trial.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of integrally oxidized, metal-free phthalocyanine compounds: [H(2)(pc)][IBr(2)] and [H(2)(pc)](2)[IBr(2)]Br.C(10)H(7)Br

The first integrally oxidized metal-free phthalocyanine compounds have been synthesized by chemical oxidation. Phthalocyanine (H(2)(pc), pc = phthalocyaninato) was oxidized with IBr to afford the compounds [H(2)(pc)][IBr(2)] (1) and [H(2)(pc)](2)[IBr(2)]BrAC(10)H(7)Br (2), whose structures were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods: [H(2)(pc)][IBr(2)], P2(1)/c, a = 8.0272(9) A, b = 21.258(2) A, c = 18.1439(2) A, beta = 113.975(2) degrees, V = 2828.8(5) A(3), T = 153 K, Z = 4; [H(2)(pc)](2)[IBr(2)]Br.C(10)H(7)Br, P, a = 8.4724(6) A, b = 13.5794(10) A, c = 13.8403(10) A, alpha = 90.854(1) degrees, beta = 103.417(1) degrees, gamma = 97.049(1)E degrees, V = 1535.61(19) A(3), T = 153 K, Z = 1. The extended structure of [H(2)(pc)][IBr(2)] comprises slipped columns of pc rings stacked along the a axis in adjacent columns at approximately 70 degrees to one another. IBr(2-) ions occupy the interstitial columns. The extended structure of [H(2)(pc)](2)[IBr(2)]Br.C(10)H(7)Br comprises slant stacks of pc rings along the crystallographic a axis with IBr(2-) ions, Br(-) ions, and disordered 1-bromonaphthalene molecules in the adjacent, parallel columns. The overall reaction for the formation of 1 is 2H(2)(pc) + 4IBr --> 2[H(2)(pc)][IBr(2)] + I(2), and the overall reaction for the formation of 2 (not including solvent) is 2H(2)(pc) + 3IBr --> [H(2)(pc)](2)Br[IBr(2)] + I(2).     

Synthesis and properties of novel poly(amide-imide)s containing pendent diphenylamino groups

A new dicarboxylic acid, 2,4-bis(N-trimellitoyl)triphenylamine, bearing two preformed imide rings was synthesized from the condensation of 2,4-diaminotriphenylamine and trimellitic anhydride at 1:2 molar ratio. A series of poly(amide-imide)s (PAIs) with inherent viscosities of 0.38-0.66 dl/g were prepared by triphenyl phosphite-activated polycondensation from the diimide-dicarboxylic acid with various aromatic diamines. All the resulting PAIs were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents and formed strong and tough films via solution casting. These PAIs have useful levels of thermal stability associated with moderately high glass-transition temperatures (259-314 °C) and 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 530 °C in nitrogen or in air.     

Dehydration of tetrafluoropropanol (TFP) by pervaporation via novel PBI/BTDA-TDI/MDI co-polyimide (P84) dual-layer hollow fiber membranes

A novel PBI/P84 co-polyimide dual-layer hollow fiber membrane has been specifically fabricated through the dry-jet wet phase inversion process, for the first time, for the dehydration pervaporation of tetrafluoropropanol (TFP). Polybenzimidazole (PBI) was chosen as the outer selective layer because of its superior hydrophilic nature and excellent solvent-resistance together with robust thermal stability, while P84 co-polyimide was employed as the inner supporting layer because of its good solvent-resistance and thermal stability. The PBI/P84 membrane exhibits superior water selectivity and relatively high permeation flux. At 60 °C, the PBI/P84 dual-layer hollow fiber membrane shows a permeation flux of 332 g/(m² h) and a separation factor of 1990 for a feed solution containing of 85 wt% TFP. The preferential water sorption and the significant diffusivity difference between TFP and water are the main causes of high separation factor. However, an increase in feed temperature will greatly increase the permeation flux but seriously decrease the water selectivity. The activation energy data verify that water can preferentially permeate the PBI membrane due to the strong water affinity of PBI and a much smaller molecular size of water.