Variational transition state theory without the minimum-energy path

In this paper we propose a method for carrying out variational transition state theory calculations without first obtaining a converged minimum-energy path (MEP). We illustrate the method in two ways, first of all by employing an unconverged MEP and secondly by using a dynamically optimized distinguished reaction path. Preliminary tests of the algorithm for the reactions OH+H₂→H₂O+H and C₂H₅→C₂H₄+H are very encouraging. Received: 22 January 1997 / Accepted: 11 March 1997     

Exploration on regulating factors for proton transfer along hydrogen-bonded water chains.

Proton transfer along a single-file hydrogen-bonded water chain is elucidated with a special emphasis on the investigation of chain length, side water, and solvent effects, as well as the temperature and pressure dependences. The number of water molecules in the chain varies from one to nine. The proton can be transported to the acceptor fragment through the single-file hydrogen-bonded water wire which contains at most five water molecules. If the number of water molecule is more than five, the proton is trapped by the chain in the hydroxyl-centered H(7)O(3) (+) state. The farthest water molecule involved in the formation of H(7)O(3) (+) is the fifth one away from the donor fragment. These phenomena reappear in the molecular dynamics simulations. The energy of the system is reduced along with the proton conduction. The proton transfer mechanism can be altered by excess proton. The augmentation of the solvent dielectric constant weakens the stability of the system, but favors the proton transfer. NMR spin-spin coupling constants can be used as a criterion in judging whether the proton is transferred or not. The enhancement of temperature increases the thermal motion of the molecule, augments the internal energy of the system, and favors the proton transfer. The lengthening of the water wire increases the entropy of the system, concomitantly, the temperature dependence of the Gibbs free energy increases. The most favorable condition for the proton transfer along the H-bonded water wire is the four-water contained chain with side water attached near to the acceptor fragment in polar solvent under higher temperature.     

烷基吡啶及氯化铝正负离子结构的密度泛函研究

采用量子化学密度泛函方法对N-烷基吡啶阳离子和阴离子AlCl4-,Al2Cl7-和Al3Cl10-进行了全优化计算,得到了阴阳离子的几何构型和净电荷分布.计算发现,吡啶环上的电子数符合4n 2规则,具有芳香性.吡啶阳离子的LUMO轨道主要由环上原子的2pz所贡献,是反键π分子轨道.AlCl4-,Al2Cl7-和Al3Cl10-的HOMO轨道主要由Cl原子的2px所贡献.推测吡啶阳离子的LUMO与阴离子的HOMO相互作用形成离子液体分子.     

Isomers of C20: an energy profile III

Semiempirical calculations, at the PM3 level provided within the Winmopac v2.0 software package, are used to geometrically optimize and determine the absolute energies (heats of formation) of a variety of C(20) isomers that are predicted to exist in and around the ring and cage isomers. Using the optimized Cartesian coordinates for the ring and the cage isomers, a saddle-point calculation was performed. The resulting energy profile, consisting of a series of peaks and valleys, is used as a starting point for the identification and location of fifteen additional isomers of C(20) that are predicted to be energetically stable, both via geometry optimizations and force constant analysis. These additional isomers were subsequently determined to lie adjacent to one another on the potential surface and establish a step-wise transformation between the ring and the cage. Transition-state optimization of the Cartesian coordinates at the saddle point between adjacent isomers was performed to quantify the energy of the transition state. The step-wise process from one isomer to another, which extends out over the three-dimensional surface, is predicted to require approximately 15% less energy than that of the direct, two-dimensional transformation predicted in the bowl-cage profile. However, the net atomic rearrangement for the step-wise process is about four times greater than that of the direct process. Although less in energy, the amount of atomic rearrangement in the step-wise process would make the occurrence of such a route prohibitive. Utilizing the direct distance separating the three primary isomers (ring, bowl, cage), the method of triangulation is performed to quantitatively position other C(20) structures on the potential surface, relative to the ring, bowl, and cage isomers.     

Role of isoconversional methods in varying activation energies of solid-state kinetics: I. isothermal kinetic studies

Solid-state kinetics was developed from kinetic concepts for reactions in homogeneous phase systems, which has created considerable debate over issues such as variable activation energy. This behavior has been viewed by some as a violation of basic chemical kinetic principles. Variation in activation energy has been detected by isoconversional or ‘model-free’ calculation methods. The relationship between different calculation methods and the occurrence of variable activation energy was investigated in this work by employing model-fitting and isoconversional methods to analyze simulated isothermal data. In addition, these approaches were applied for sulfameter-dioxolane solvate desolvation data. We showed that variable activation energy is of two types—a true variation that results from the complex nature of the solid-state process and an artifactual one resulting from the use of some isoconversional methods.     

聚合物体系散射函数的热力学基础

利用链段浓度和链头浓度的概念，根据热力学涨落理论，给出了聚合物二元共混体系ｄｅＧｅｎｎｅｓ散射函数的一个普遍的热力学证明，指出了这个函数和Ｆｌｏｒｙ－Ｈｕｇｇｉｎｓ共混自由能公式一样，也依赖于忽略构象涨落的假设．     

Thermodynamic molecular switch in sequence‐specific hydrophobic interactions

This communication will demonstrate the existence of a thermodynamic molecular switch in the pairwise, sequence‐specific hydrophobic interaction of Ile–Ile, Leu–Ile, Val–Leu, or Ala–Leu over the temperature range of 273–333 K reported by Nemethy and Scheraga in 1962. Based on Chun's development of the Planck–Benzinger methodology, the change in inherent chemical bond energy at 0 K, ΔH°(T₀), is 3.0 kcal mol^?1 for Ile–Ile, 2.4 for Leu–Ile, 1.8 for Val–Leu, and 1.2 kcal mol^?1 for Ala–Leu. The value of ΔH°(T₀) decreases as the length of the hydrophobic side chain decreases. It is clear that the strength and stability of the hydrophobic interaction is determined by the packing density of the side chains, with Ala–Leu being the most stable. At 〈T_m〉, the thermal agitation energy, $\int^{T}_{0}\Delta Cp^{\circ}(T)\,dT$, is about five times greater than ΔH°(T₀) in each case. Additionally, the thermal agitation energy for the same series, evaluated at 〈T_m〉, decreases in the same order, that is, as the length of the side chain decreases. This pairwise, sequence‐specific hydrophobic interaction is highly similar in its thermodynamic behavior to that of other biological systems, except that the negative Gibbs free energy change minimum at 〈T_s〉 occurs at a considerably higher temperature, 355 K compared to about 300 K. The melting temperature, 〈T_m〉, is also high, 470 K compared to 343 K in a biological system. The implication is that the negative Gibbs free energy minimum at a well‐defined 〈T_s〉 has it origin in the hydrophobic interactions, which are highly dependent on details of molecular structure. In addition to the four specific dipeptide interactions described, we have shown in our unpublished work the existence of a thermodynamic molecular switch in the interactions of 32 dipeptides wherein a change of sign in ΔCp°(T)_reaction leads to a true negative minimum in the Gibbs free energy of reaction, and hence, a maximum in the related K_eq. Indeed, all interacting biological systems that we have thus far examined using the Planck–Benzinger approach point to the universality of thermodynamic molecular switches. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Computed Potential Energy Surfaces and Minimum Energy Pathways for Chemical Reactions

Computed potential energy surfaces are often required for computation of such observables as rate constants as a function of temperature, product branching ratios, and other detailed properties. We have found that computation of the stationary points/reaction pathways using CASSCF/derivative methods, followed by use of the internally contracted CI method with the Dunning correlation consistent basis sets to obtain accurate energetics, gives useful results for a number of chemically important systems. Applications to complex reactions leading to NO_x and soot formation in hydrocarbon combustion are discussed.     

用密度泛函理论研究Lennard-Jones 流体在狭缝中的相平衡

用改进的基础度量理论(modified fundamental measure theory, MFMT)和密度Taylor展开分别表达过剩自由能中的短程作用和色散作用. 流体分子与狭缝壁之间的相互作用以10-4-3势能函数表达. 由巨势最小原理确定Lennard-Jones (LJ)流体在狭缝中的密度分布和过剩吸附量, 所得结果与分子模拟数据吻合良好. 根据平衡时两相温度, 化学势及巨势相等, 计算了LJ流体在狭缝中的相平衡.     

Excess Molar Volume and Viscosity of Isobutyric Acid + Water Binary Mixtures Near and Far Away from the Critical Temperature

The excess molar volume V^E, shear viscosity deviation Δη and excess Gibbs energy of activation ΔG^∗E of viscous flow have been investigated by using density (ρ) and shear viscosity (η) measurements for isobutyric acid + water (IBA+W) mixtures over the entire range of mole fractions at five different temperatures, both near and close to the critical temperature (2.055K ≤ (T−T_c)≤ 13.055K). The results were also fitted with the Redlich–Kister equation. This system exhibited very large negative values of V^E and very large positive values of Δη due to increased hydrogen bonding interactions and correlation length between unlike molecules in the critical region and to very large differences between the molar volumes of the pure components at low temperatures. The activation parameters ΔH^∗ and ΔS^∗ have been also calculated and show that the critical region has an important effect on the volumetric properties.