Phenol O–H bond dissociation energy in water clusters

We are reporting ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the phenol O–H bond dissociation energy in the gas phase and in phenol–water clusters. We have tested a series of recently proposed functionals and verified that DFT systematically underestimates the O–H bond dissociation energy of phenol. However, O–H bond dissociation energies in water clusters are in reasonable agreement with experimental data for phenol in solution. We have evaluated electronic difference densities in phenol–water, phenoxy–water, and water, and we are suggesting that the representation of this quantity gives an interesting picture of the electronic density rearrangement induced by hydrogen bond interactions in phenol–water clusters. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Determination of trace rhodium by supramolecular catalytic kinetic spectrofluorimetry of β-CD-rhodium-KBrO3-vanillin salicylhydrazone

A sensitive catalytic kinetic spectrofluorimetric approach for determining ng mL⁻¹ levels of rhodium is presented, and the possible mechanism of the catalytic reaction was investigated. The determination is based on the catalytic property of rhodium to enhance the reaction of o-vanillin salicylhydrazone (OVSH) with potassium bromate in a water-ethanol medium at pH 4.80 and 45 °C. The presence of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) obviously sensitized the assay due to its high inclusion ability towards OVSH. Under optimized experimental conditions, fluorescence measurements of the β-CD-rhodium-KBrO₃-OVSH catalytic kinetic reaction system were carried out in its fluorescent band centered at λ_ex = 333 nm and λ_em = 476 nm, respectively. The calibration graph was linear over the concentration range of 0.47–100 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.14 ng mL⁻¹. The effect of interferences was discussed, and the results show that the extraction method can be used to separate rhodium from interference species such as iridium. The proposed method, applied to several synthetic mixtures containing rhodium mixed with varying amounts of metal salts, produced satisfactory results.     

合成气制乙醇的铑基催化剂中助剂铁,锂的作用本质研究

催化活性测试表明,助剂Fe具有显著提高乙醇生成选择性及铑催化活性的双重作用;助剂Li具有显著提高乙醇选择性的作用,对铑催化活性影响不大。基于H_2/D_2同位素效应结果及CO化学吸附、IR、XRD、XPS等的表征结果,认为助剂Fe经活化处理后大部分与Rh形成RhFe合金,使Rh分散度显著提高,从而提高了乙醇的选择性;Rh分散度的提高以及小部分以Fe~(2+)(Fe~(3+))形式存在的助剂Fe促进甲酰基的生成及随后的氢解断C-O键反应是助剂Fe促使铑催化活性提高的两个因素。Li的主要作用在于通过与C_2含氧中间体乙烯酮氧端的弱亲合作用,促进了乙醇前驱体的生成,从而使乙醇生成选择性提高。     

Three-component catalytic method for synthesis of α-amino phosphonates with the use of α-amino acids as amine component

Interaction of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones with optically active L-α-amino acids or their esters in the three-component catalytic one-pot synthesis of α-aminophosphonates was studied. The corresponding α-amino phosphonates are formed in high yields as mixtures of diastereomers. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 768–774, April, 2007.     

Anab initio investigation of Cu2Se and Cu4Se2

Summary Experimentally known copper selenium clusters show extraordinary geometrical features, especially short Cu-Cu distances. We report the first theoretical investigation of Cu₂Se and Cu₄Se₂. Various quantum chemical methods (SCF, MP2, CPF, CCSD, CCSD(T), LDF) are applied to determine the importance of dynamic electron correlation. We find that inclusion of correlation does not essentially change the electronic structure of the clusters but has a strong influence on geometries. To reduce the computational effort we apply effective core potentials (ECPs) in combination with small, but carefully optimized basis sets. The applicability of simple modellings of correlation energies for approximate inclusion of correlation effects in SCF geometry optimizations is tested.     

Mixed-Metal Clusters of Palladium

The importance of palladium complexes in catalytic processes is well-demonstrated by its applications in hydrogenation processes in industry. Mixed metal clusters of palladium are of interest as the palladium ion can attain either a 16- or 18-electron configuration which is an important feature for catalytic processes. Recent developments in the preparation, characterization, chemical and physical properties of these clusters are discussed in this review.     

The electronic structure of small lithium clusters

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations using the STO-6G and STO6-21G basis sets have been performed for the cluster series Li _n ⁺ , Li _n , and Li _n ^– (wheren=2–7). Thirty-two optimized structures are discussed and reported, many of which (especially for the anionic structures) have not yet been considered. The calculations suggest that for all three species the optimum geometries are planar. Of the two levels of theories that were investigated, STO-6G//STO-6G and STO6-21G//STO-6G, the latter hybrid theory was found to be less reliable. In particular, for the anionic structures these calculations should provide a platform from which more sophisticated, i.e., configuration interaction, geometry optimization can be performed.     

Synthese und Struktur von Li3RhH6, einem ternären Hydrid mit isolierten [RhH6]3−-Oktaedern

Synthesis and Structure of Li₃RhH₆ — a Ternary Hydride with Isolated [RhH₆]^3? Octahedra The ternary rhodium hydride Li₃RhH₆ was synthesized by the reaction of lithium hydride with rhodium under a hydrogen pressure of 80 bar. X-ray investigations on powdered samples and an elastic neutron diffraction experiment on the deuterated compound led to the complete structure determination (space group: Pnma, Z = 4). The atomic arrangement is isotypic to the Na₃RhH₆ structure type. The crystal structure contains isolated [RhH₆]^3? octahedra, which are separated by the lithium ions.     

Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoclusters on Molecularly Modified GaAs

The elaboration of closed-packed monolayers of Au₅₅(PPh₃)₁₂Cl₆ clusters on oxidized and non-oxidized GaAs surfaces is reported. The first part of this work describes the use of silanethiol modified GaAs oxide surfaces to trap 18 nm gold colloids and Au₅₅(PPh₃)₁₂Cl₆ clusters. The surfaces characterized by AFM measurements present high-quality coverage on a quite long range for both metallic species. The second part is devoted to the elaboration of Au₅₅(PPh₃)₁₂Cl₆ cluster monolayers on non-oxidized p-type GaAs substrates, functionalized with dithiol molecules. AFM measurements demonstrate the presence of closed-packed two-dimensional arrangements of Au₅₅ clusters.     

Study of Structures and Electronic Properties of Pdn–1Pb and Pdn （n≤8） Clusters

Geometric and electronic properties of Pdn–1Pb and Pdn (n≤8) clusters have been studied by using density functional theory with effective core potentials, focusing on the differences between mono- and bimetallic clusters. The average bond length of Pdn–1Pb (n≤8) bimetallic clusters is longer than that of pure palladium clusters except for n = 2 and 3. The most stable structure of Pdn–1Pb (n≤7) is the singlet where there is at least a Pd or Pb atom on its excited state. The energy gaps of Pd–Pb binary clusters are narrower than those of Pdn clusters, and then the chemical activity is strengthened when Pdn clusters are doped with Pb.