Theoretical Investigation of the Stepwise Hydrolysis of the [Re3(μ‐Cl)3Cl9]3‐ Anion

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Theoretical elucidation of a classic reaction: protonation of the quadruple bond of the octachlorodimolybdate(II,II) [Mo2Cl8]4- anion

The protonation reaction of the unbridged quadruple metal-metal bond of [Mo(2)Cl(8)](4-) anion producing the triply bonded hydride [Mo(2)(μ-H)(μ-Cl)(2)Cl(6)](3-) is studied by accurate Density Functional Theory computations. The reactant, product, stable intermediates, and transition states are located on the potential energy surface. The water solvent is explicitly included in the calculations. Full reaction profiles are calculated and compared to experimental data. The mechanism of the reaction is fully elucidated. This involves two steps. The first is a proton transfer from an oxonium ion to the quadruple bond, being rate determining. The second, involves the internal rearrangement of chlorine atoms and is much faster. Activation energies with a mean value of 19 kcal/mol are calculated, in excellent agreement with experimental values.     

The structure and harmonic vibrational frequencies of the weakly bound complexes formed by HF with CO,CO2 and N2O

The structure and harmonic vibrational frequencies of several weakly bound complexes formed by HF are reported. Theab initio MP2 approach is used with large basis sets for the optimisation of geometries and the determination of harmonic frequencies. COHF and OCHF are examined; both are found to be minima, with the latter being the dominant structure. The linear OCOHF andT shaped OCOFH are studied, but only the linear structure is a minimum. N₂OHF has two minima on the surface corresponding to bent NNOHF and linear ONNHF structures.     

SINGLET OXYGEN INDUCES FRANK STRAND BREAKS AS WELL AS ALKALI- AND PIPERIDINE-LABILE SITES IN SUPERCOILED PLASMID DNA

A covalently closed, circular, supercoiled plasmid was exposed to singlet oxygen by a separated-surface sensitizer. For each exposure, the quantity of single oxygen entering the DNA target solution was estimated by its oxidation of histidine. After singlet oxygen exposure, some DNA samples were treated to disclose occult lesions. Agarose gel electrophoresis was then used to resolve the unrelaxed supercoils from the relaxed circular and linear species, and all bands were quantitated fluorometrically. Exposure of supercoiled plasmid DNA to singlet oxygen induced frank DNA strand breaks, alkali-labile sites (pH 12.5, 90 degrees C, 30 min), and piperidine-labile sites (0.4 M, 60 degrees C, 30 min), all in a dose-dependent manner. Yields of alkali-labile and piperidine-labile sites ranged from one to four times the frank strand break yield. Replacement of buffered H2O by buffered D2O as the DNA solvent for singlet oxygen exposures increased DNA lesion yields by a factor of 2.6 (averaged over lesion classes). Our data for the detection of frank strand breaks is at variance with published results from studies in which singlet oxygen was derived from a thermolabile endoperoxide dissolved in the DNA solution.     

Hydrogen-bonded complexes involving HF and HCl: the effects of electron correlation and anharmonicity

Calculations on the hydrogen-bonded complexes HCNHF, H₂OHF, ClCNHCl and (CH₃)₂OHCl are reported. SCF harmonic values for the HF and HCl frequency shifts are in considerable disagreement with experiment, by as much as 100 cm^–1. Calculations at the MP2 (harmonic) level yield improved agreement with experiment, reducing discrepancies to the order of 10 cm^–1. We have also calculated all the cubic and quartic force constants for HCNHF at the SCF level, so that the anharmonic constants, x _rs can be evaluated. Although x ₁₁ (v ₁=H-F stretch) is large and negative, it is more than compensated by a positive x ₁₆ (v ₆=NH-F bend), so that the anharmonic correction to v ₁ is small and positive. The validity of these anharmonistudies is examined.     

Theoretical study of glass systems using molecular electronic structure theory. 2. Structure and spectroscopy of the B2O3 glass

The structure and spectroscopic properties of B 2O 3 glass are examined from a theoretical point of view by using a model of 20 B 2O 3 molecules at the DFT/6-31G* level of theory and no predetermined constraints. Useful results are deduced regarding the structure, the fraction of boroxol rings, and the infrared and Raman spectra.     

Theoretical investigation of the stepwise hydrolysis of the [Re(3)(mu-Cl)(3)Cl(9)](3-) anion

A detailed study of the stepwise substitution of the chloride ligands in the [Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl9](3-) (1) anion by water molecules is presented using theoretical methods. Ligand lability as well as the structure and relative stability of the various mono-[Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl8(H2O)](2-) (2a,b) and dihydro-[Re3(mu-Cl)3Cl7(H2O)2](-) (3a-f) conformers is examined. Clear preferences for the positions of the incoming water ligands are proposed based on calculated energy and vibrational data, which fully agree with the experimental results.