Influence of a silyl group on an allylic position. A theoretical approach

Allylsilanes show in certain cases a behaviour towards electrophiles which is opposite to that of its carbon homologues. Theoretical calculations using Dewar's MINDO/3 method performed on 3-methyl 3-butenyl trimethylsilane and 2-methyl 2-butene show that geometrical optimization leads to a silicon-allylic carbon bond nearly parallel to the double bond π cloud, and both net atomic charges and HOMO coefficients indicate an inversion between these two substrates.     

Substitution effects enhancing the lasing ability of organic compounds

Simple calculations can help to predict which derivatives in a series of organic compounds are potential lasing material. In conjugated systems, a necessary condition for lasing is that there is not less than a specific minimum energy difference between a first excited allowed and a second excited forbidden transition. This order of transition and energy spacing can be obtained by judicious substitutions even in molecules that do not meet these conditions. Lasing action in the near UV has been observed in five new compounds.     

Simulated annealing to locate various stationary points in semiempirical methods

In this work, an algorithm was developed to study the potential energy surfaces in the coordinate spaces of molecules by a nonlocal way, in contrast to classic energy minimizers as the BFGS or the DFP method. This algorithm, based on the specificities of semiempirical methods, mixes simulated annealing and local searches to reduce computation costs. By this technique, the global energy minimum can be localized. Moreover, local minima that are close in energy to the global minimum are also obtained. If the search is not only for minima but for all stationary points (minima, saddle points…), then the energy is replaced by the gradient norm, which reaches its minimum values at stationary points. The annealing process is stopped before having accurately reached the global minimum and generates a list of geometries whose energies (respectively, whose gradients) are optimized by local minimizers. This list of geometries is shortened from the nearly equivalent geometries by a dynamic single-clustering analysis. The energy/gradient local minimizers act on the clustered list to produce a set of minima/stationary points. A targeted search of these points and reduction of the costs are reached by the way of several penalty functions. They eliminate—without energy calculation—most of the points generated by random walks on the potential energy surface. These penalty functions (on the total moment of inertia or on interatomic distances) are specific to the class of problem studied. They account for the nonrupture of either specific chemical bonds or rings in cyclic molecules, they assure that molecular systems are kept bonded, and they avoid the collapsing of atoms. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Si-B chromophore: A joint experimental and theoretical investigation

Silylboranes with aromatic substituents linked to boron and silicon exhibit an unexpected absorption band in the UV-Vis spectral region. When polar groups were introduced, a marked solvatochromic effect was observed in their fluorescence emission spectra, revealing a strong excited state dipole moment. Semi-empirical MNDO/d and AM1 calculations showed that, upon UV excitation, the polarity of the Si-B bond increased and the aromatic π-electrons migrated toward the Si-B bond, consistent with experimental observations.     

C-terminal processing of yeast Spt7 occurs in the absence of functional SAGA complex

Background  

Spt7 is an integral component of the multi-subunit SAGA complex that is required for the expression of ~10% of yeast genes. Two forms of Spt7 have been identified, the second of which is truncated at its C-terminus and found in the SAGA-like (SLIK) complex.     

Lasing ability of naphthyl 1,3,4 oxadiazole molecules in relation with their structures: Application to the design of new UV dye laser

We have shown that the lasing properties of naphthyl 1,3,4 oxadiazole derivatives are directly related to the position of the forbidden transitionS ₀→¹ L _b of naphthalene with respect to the first allowed transitions. The combination of theoretical and experimental results allows us to predict which compounds are most likely to exhibit a laser effect according to the nature and the position of their substituants. We have successfully applied this approach to the following compounds: αNPD, βNPD, αNND, βNND, βNBD, and αNBD. In particular we reported the first observation of a laser effect for αNBD and βNBD in the UV at 3830 Å and 3758 Å.     

Validity of phase space theory for atom-diatom insertion reactions

Phase space theory (PST) is applied to the calculation of state-resolved integral and differential cross sections for the complex-forming atom-diatom insertion reactions A + H(2) --> AH(2) --> AH + H with A = C((1)D), S((1)D), O((1)D), and N((2)D). In the asymptotic channels, vibration motion is quantized while rotation and translation motions are treated classically. The approach is compared to exact quantum scattering calculations and quantum statistical models. Given the simplicity of PST, the agreement with the previous much more refined treatments is very satisfying. Although PST is a well-established theory, this work is, to our knowledge, the first such systematic comparison of its predictions with accurate quantum scattering and quantum statistical calculations.     

Cross sections and rate constants for the C(3P)+OH(X 2Pi)-->CO(X 1Sigma+)+H(2S) reaction using a quasiclassical trajectory method

First quasiclassical trajectory calculations have been carried out for the C(3P)+OH(X 2Pi)-->CO(X 1Sigma+)+H(2S) reaction using a recent ab initio potential energy surface for the ground electronic state, X 2A', of HCO/COH. Total and state-specific integral cross sections have been determined for a wide range of collision energies (0.001-1 eV). Then, thermal and state-specific rate constants have been calculated in the 1-500 K temperature range. The thermal rate constant varies from 1.78x10(-10) cm3 s-1 at 1 K down to 5.96x10(-11) cm3 s-1 at 500 K with a maximum value of 3.39x10(-10) cm3 s-1 obtained at 7 K. Cross sections and rate constants are found to be almost independent of the rovibrational state of OH.     

Mechanisms of Atmospheric Oxidation of the Alkanes.By Jack G. Calvert et al..

Oxford University Press, Oxford 2008. 992 pp., hardcover $ 295.00.—ISBN 978–0195365818