Self-assembling of nanoscopic molecular rectangles, extended helicates and porous-like materials based on macrocyclic dicopper building blocks under fine supramolecular control

Upon reaction with a dicarboxylate linker, macrocyclic dicopper complexes encode for a selective supramolecular 2 + 2 self-assembly of nanoscopic rectangles, a new class of molecular helicates, and porous-like materials via fine structural control at three supramolecular levels.     

Table salt and other alkali metal chloride oligomers: structure, stability, and bonding

We have investigated table salt and other alkali metal chloride monomers, ClM, and (distorted) cubic tetramers, (ClM)(4), with M = Li, Na, K, and Rb, using density functional theory (DFT) at the BP86/TZ2P level. Our objectives are to determine how the structure and thermochemistry (e.g., Cl-M bond lengths and strengths, oligomerization energies, etc.) of alkali metal chlorides depend on the metal atom and to understand the emerging trends in terms of quantitative Kohn-Sham molecular orbital (KS-MO) theory. The analyses confirm the high polarity of the Cl-M bond (dipole moment, VDD, and Hirshfeld atomic charges). They also reveal that bond overlap derived stabilization (approximately -26, -20, and -8 kcal/mol), although clearly larger than in the corresponding F-M bonds, contributes relatively little to the (trend in) bond strengths (-105, -90, and -94 kcal/mol) along M = Li, Na, and K. Thus, the Cl-M bonding mechanism resembles more closely that of the even more ionic F-M bond than that of the more covalent C-M or H-M bonds. Tetramerization causes the Cl-M bond to expand, and it reduces its polarity.     

Chiral manganese complexes with pinene appended tetradentate ligands as stereoselective epoxidation catalysts

A novel family of chiral manganese complexes Lambda-1(CF(3)SO(3)) and Delta-2(CF(3)SO(3)), have been stereoselectively prepared, characterized and studied as epoxidation catalysts. The complexes are structurally related to [Mn(II)(CF(3)SO(3))(2)(alpha-MCP)] (MCP=N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)cyclohexane-trans-1,2-diamine), recently reported as a very efficient epoxidation catalyst in combination with peracetic acid. Pinene rings have been fused to the 4 and 5 positions of the two pyridine groups of the ligand, giving rise to complexes where the two labile binding sites of the manganese ion are confined in a better-defined chiral pocket than in the parent [Mn(II)(CF(3)SO(3))(2)(alpha-MCP)]. Chirality in these complexes arises from the stereochemistry of the trans-diaminocyclohexane ring, from the pinene ring and also from the topological chirality adopted by the ligand upon binding to the manganese ion. While previous studies have demonstrated that small modifications in the structure of the MCP ligand result in a dramatic loss of efficiency, Lambda-1(CF(3)SO(3)) and Delta-2(CF(3)SO(3)) exhibit comparable catalytic activity to [Mn(II)(CF(3)SO(3))(2)(alpha-MCP)]. In addition, the complexes exhibit a remarkable stereoselectivity (up to 46% ee) in the epoxidation of selected substrates. The results reported in this work point towards modification of the 4 and 5 positions of the pyridine groups as a new strategy towards the design of stereoselective versions of this family of highly active and environmentally benign epoxidation catalysts.     

The Coulomb Hole of the Ne Atom

We analyze the Coulomb hole of Ne from highly-accurate CISD wave functions obtained from optimized even-tempered basis sets. Using a two-fold extrapolation procedure we obtain highly accurate results that recover 97 % of the correlation energy. We confirm the existence of a shoulder in the short-range region of the Coulomb hole of the Ne atom, which is due to an internal reorganization of the K-shell caused by electron correlation of the core electrons. The feature is very sensitive to the quality of the basis set in the core region and it is not exclusive to Ne, being also present in most of second-row atoms, thus confirming that it is due to K-shell correlation effects.     

Dötz Benzannulation Reactions: Heteroatom and Substituent Effects in Chromium Fischer Carbene Complexes

We have carried out a theoretical investigation of the Dötz reaction between acetylene and a series of chromium Fischer‐type carbenes [(CO)₅Cr?C(X)R] with different representative substituents (R=CH?CH₂, Ph) and heteroatom ligands (X=OH, NH₂, OCH₃, N(CH₃)₂) by using density functional theory with the B3LYP functional. We have studied the Dötz and chromahexatriene mechanisms of benzannulation and also the reaction mechanism leading to cyclopentannulation. For the benzannulation, it was found that the most likely mechanism in the case of vinylcarbenes is the chromahexatriene route, whereas for phenylcarbenes, the Dötz route via a ketene intermediate is clearly the most favorable. The reactions leading to the cyclopentannulated and benzannulated products are more exothermic with vinylcarbenes than with phenylcarbenes and also more exothermic with alkoxycarbenes than with aminocarbenes. The relative stability of the cyclopentannulated products as compared with the benzannulated products increases for bulkier X substituents and on going from alkoxy‐ to aminocarbenes. The kinetic data concurs with the experimental product distribution found for vinylcarbenes, by which mainly benzannulated products are obtained, and dimethylaminophenylcarbenes, which lead exclusively to cyclopentannulated adducts.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of orthotropic and prestressed membrane structures

A new methodology for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of orthotropic membrane structures using triangular finite elements is presented. The approach is based on writing the constitutive equations in the principal fiber orientation of the material. A direct consequence of the fiber orientation strategy is the possibility to analyze initially out-of-plane prestressed membrane structures. An algorithm to model wrinkling behavior is also described. Examples of application to a number of membrane structures are presented.     

A pairwise-monotonic core selection for permutation games

In this article, a single-valued solution for permutation games is proposed. If we consider that each agent on the permutation game acts both as a buyer and as a seller, a related assignment game with the same reward matrix is defined. In this two-sided related market, the midpoint between the buyers-optimal core allocation and the sellers-optimal core allocation is considered. Then, each agent in the permutation game merges his payoff as a buyer and his payoff as a seller. This solution belongs to the core of the one-sided market and it is pairwise-monotonic.     

Fast 2D NMR ligand screening using Hadamard spectroscopy

Fast 2D NMR-based screening can be achieved using Hadamard encoded spectroscopy to focus on the signals of interest (e.g., enzyme active or ligand recognition sites). By recording a set of Hadamard spectra (a "Hadamard constellation") with relative offsets comparable to the excitation bandwidth, quantitative ligand-induced shifts can be obtained from peak intensities.     

A model of the chemical bond must be rooted in quantum mechanics, provide insight, and possess predictive power

In this response to the preceding paper by Bader, we show that the core arguments and statements presented in the latter are flawed. We argue that it is insufficient for a model of the chemical bond to be rooted in quantum mechanics. A good model must in addition provide insight and possess predictive power. Our molecular orbital (MO) model of the chemical bond, in particular, the associated energy-decomposition approach satisfies all these conditions. On the other hand, Atoms-in-Molecules (AIM) theory is only rooted in quantum mechanics as far as its mathematical framework is concerned. The physical status of its central concepts is not so clear. In particular, "bond paths" and "bond critical points" are once more confirmed not to be indicators of a stabilizing interaction. Moreover, AIM theory lacks any predictive power. We also address specific questions raised in the preceding paper. Finally, interpreting chemical bonding implies choosing a perspective on this phenomenon. That there are many perspectives is a matter of fact and this is in no way unphysical. What is unscientific is to claim uniqueness and truth for one of these choices, namely AIM, and to dismiss on this ground all other approaches.