Concerted and stepwise proton-coupled electron transfers in aquo/hydroxo complex couples in water: oxidative electrochemistry of [Os(II)(bpy)(2)(py)(OH(2))](2+)

Successive oxidation of transition metal(II) aqua complexes (M(II)OH(2) to M(III)OH) is a domain in which proton-coupled electron transfer reactions are extremely common. The mechanism of these PCET reactions-concerted or stepwise-is an important issue in the understanding and design of natural or artificial systems catalyzing the formation of dioxygen by four-electron oxidation of water. Concerted proton-coupled electron transfer from an aqua metal(II) to a hydroxo metal(III) complex requires the close proximity of a proton-accepting group with a pK value between those of the aqua complexes. Otherwise, stepwise electron-proton or proton-electron pathways involving high-energy intermediates are followed. Concerted proton-electron pathways involving water as proton-acceptor or proton-donor group are inefficient. Cyclic voltammetry of the title complex in buffered aqueous solution and re-examination of previous results for the same complex attached to an electrode surface are used to establish these conclusions, which provide a starting point on the route to higher degrees of oxidation, such as those involved in the catalysis of water oxidation.     

High resolution analysis of the ethylene-1-C spectrum in the 8.4-14.3-μm region

Fourier transform spectra of mono-¹³C ethylene have been recorded in the 8.4-14.3-μm spectral region (700-1190 cm⁻¹) using a Bruker 120 HR interferometer at a resolution of 0.0017 cm⁻¹ allowing the extensive study of the set of resonating states {10¹, 8¹, 7¹, 4¹, 6¹}. Due to the high resolution available as well as the extended spectral range involved in this study, a much larger set of line assignments are now available. The present analysis has lead to the determination of more accurate spectroscopic constants, including interaction constants, than were obtained in earlier studies. In particular, the following band centers were derived: ν₀(ν₁₀) = 825.40602(30) cm⁻¹, ν₀(ν₈) = 932.19572(15) cm⁻¹, ν₀(ν₇) = 937.44452(10) cm⁻¹, ν₀(ν₄) = 1025.6976(14) cm⁻¹. Finally a synthetic spectrum was generated leading to the assignment of a number of ¹³C¹²CH₄ lines observed in an earlier heterodyne spectroscopic study.     

Multispectrum measurements of spectral line parameters including temperature dependences of N2- and self-broadened half-width coefficients in the region of the ν9 band of 12C2H6

Ethane is a prominent contributor to the spectrum of Titan, particularly in the ν₉ region centered near 822 cm^?1. To improve the spectroscopic line parameters at 12 μm, 41 high-resolution (0.0016–0.005 cm^?1) absorption spectra of C₂H₆ were obtained at sample temperatures between 211 and 298 K with the Bruker IFS 120HR at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington. Two additional spectra were later recorded at ～150 K using a new temperature-stabilized cryogenic cell designed for the sample compartment of the Bruker IFS 125HR at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. A multispectrum nonlinear least-squares fitting program was applied simultaneously to all 43 spectra to measure the line positions, intensities, N₂- and self-broadened half-width coefficients and their temperature dependences. Reliable pressure-induced shift coefficients could not be obtained, however, because of the high congestion of spectral lines (due to torsional-split components, hot-band transitions as well as blends). Existing theoretical modeling of this very complicated ν₉ region permitted effective control of the multispectrum fitting technique; some constraints were applied using predicted intensity ratios, doublet separations, half-width coefficients and their temperature dependence exponents in order to determine reliable parameters for each of the two torsional-split components. For ¹²C₂H₆, the resulting retrievals included 17 ^pQ and ^rQ sub-bands of ν₉ (as well as some ^pP, ^rR sub-bands). Positions and intensities were measured for 3771 transitions, and a puzzling difference between previously measured ν₉ intensities was clarified. In addition, line positions and intensities were obtained for two ¹²C₂H₆ hot bands (ν₉+ν₄?ν₄, ν₉+2ν₄?2ν₄) and the ν₉ band of ¹³C¹²CH₆, as well as several hundred presently unidentified transitions. N₂- and self-broadened half-width coefficients were determined for over 1700 transitions, along with 1350 corresponding temperature dependence exponents. Similar to N₂- and self-broadened half-width coefficients, their temperature dependence exponents were also found to follow distinctively different patterns. However, while the self- and N₂-broaded widths differed by 40%, the temperature dependence exponents of the two broadening gases were similar. The variations of the observed half-width coefficients and their temperature dependences with respect to J, K quantum numbers were modeled with a set of linear equations for each K. The present broadening coefficients compared well with some of the prior measurements.     

The numerical integration of relative equilibrium solutions. The nonlinear Schrodinger equation

We analyse different error propagation mechanisms for conservativeand nonconservative time-integrators of nonlinear Schrödingerequations. We use a geometric approach based on interpretingwaves as relative equilibria.