CO2–water supercritical mixtures: Test of a potential model against neutron diffraction data

Hydrogen activation on N‐doped carbon networks

Fragmentations and reactions of protonated O,O-dimethyl ethylphosphonate and some isotopomers produced by electrospray ionisation in an ion trap mass spectrometer

Abstract The fragmentation behaviour of protonated O , O -dimethyl ethylphosphonate and its isotopomers deuterated in the α- and β-positions of the ethyl group and their fragment ions, particulary EtP(O)OMe + ( IV ), have been investigated both experimentally in an ion trap mass spectrometer and theoretically by electronic structure calculations at the B3LYP level. Of particular interest is the finding that the phosphonium ion IV eliminates ethene with hydrogen/deuterium loss from both the α-and β-positions. The initial step for both routes involves ethyl migration from P to O to form the ion MeOP + OEt which then loses ethene by two mechanisms, both of which lead to the same products. That…

α-d-Glucopyranose Adsorption on a Pd30 Cluster Supported on Boron Nitride Nanotube

Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) as an innovative support for carbohydrate transformation processes was evaluated, using density functional theory. The α-d-glucopyranose adsorption on a Pd30 cluster, supported on BNNT, was used to check both the local activity of topologically different metallic sites and the effects of the proximity of the BNNT surface to the same metallic sites. Detailed geometrical and electronic analyses performed on Pd30/BNNT and α-d-glucopyranose/Pd30/BNNT systems were discussed. It was observed that the deposition of the Pd30 cluster onto the BNNT support gives rise to an electronic rearrangement, determining a charge transfer from the support to the adsorbed metal clus…

Disclosing the emissive surface traps in green-emitting carbon nanodots

Abstract The bright photoluminescence of surface-functionalized carbon nanoparticles, known as carbon nanodots (CDs), has been studied for more than a decade because of its fundamental photo-physical interest and strong technological potential. However, the essential nature of the electronic states involved in their typical light emission remains very elusive. Here, we provide conclusive evidence that surface carboxylic moieties are the key to CD fluorescence. The synergy of nanosecond and femtosecond optical studies, cryogenic fluorescence, computational investigations and chemical engineering of a strategically chosen model CD system, allows to demonstrate that their visible-light transit…

Synthesis and structural characterisation of germanium(II) halide complexes with neutral N-donor ligands.

The Ge(II) complexes [GeX(2)(L-L)] (L-L = 1,10-phen (X = Cl, Br); L-L = Me(2)N(CH(2))(2)NMe(2), 2,2'-bipy (X = Cl)), [GeX(L-L)][GeX(3)] (L-L = 2,2'-bipy (X = Br); L-L = pmdta (MeN(CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(2)) (X = Cl, Br)) have been prepared and their crystal structures determined. The crystal structure of [GeCl(2){Me(2)N(CH(2))(2)NMe(2)}] shows a weakly associated centrosymmetric dimer based upon distorted square-pyramidal coordination at Ge(II) and containing asymmetrically chelating diamine ligands. The structure of [GeCl(2)(2,2'-bipy)] contains a chelating 2,2'-bipy ligand and forms a zig-zag chain polymer via long-range intermolecular Ge...Cl bridging interactions, leading to a very distorted…

Synthesis, chemical characterization and preliminary in vitro antitumor activity evaluation of new ruthenium(II) complexes with sugar derivatives

Abstract Three new complexes of Ru(II), namely [RuCl 2 (Glun-N,O) 2 ]Na 2 ( I ; Glun = glucosaminate), [RuCl 2 (1-Tglu)(EtOH) 2 ]Na ( II ; 1-Tglu = 1-thio-β- d -glucose) and [Ru 2 (EtOH) 6 (AL)Cl 4 ] ( III ; AL = 6′-aminolactose) were prepared from the same Ru(II) precursor, [RuCl 2 (DMSO) 4 ] (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide). The characterization of the complexes was carried out by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ES-MS, NMR, EXAFS and DFT calculations. The effectiveness of the complexes on metastatic melanoma A 375 was investigated. The results show that complex II is the most active species.

Growth of sub-nanometric palladium clusters on boron nitride nanotubes: a DFT study.

A QM/MM investigation is reported dealing with the nucleation and growth of small palladium clusters, up to Pd8, on the outer surface of a suitable model of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). It is shown that BNNTs could have a template effect on the cluster growth, which is due to the interplay between Pd–N and Pd–Pd interactions as well as due to the matching of the B3N3 ring and the Pd(111) face arrangement. The values for the cluster adsorption energies reveal a relatively strong physisorption, which suggests that under particular conditions the BNNTs could be used as supports for the preparation of shape-controlled metal clusters.

Halloysite Nanotubes and Metal Corrosion Inhibitors: A Computational and Experimental Study

Halloysite nanotubes are widely used as a substrate for the controlled release of various types of molecules in an increasing number of applications. In this work, the interactions of halloysite silicic and aluminic surfaces with corrosion inhibitor compounds, such as benzotriazole, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, were investigated from a computational point of view. Two new halloysite compounds with salicylaldoxime and quinaldic acid were designed. Here we propose their synthesis, evaluate amounts of loading, and analyze the adsorption behavior.

Bulk heterojunctions by boramers for plastic photovoltaics

Computational study of metal-free N-doped carbon networks as hydrogenation catalysts

The future development and assesment of an industry more environmental friendly will include the use of metal-free catalysts. Most of the reported metal-free catalysts are homogeneous and often their recycle is difficult; therefore, develop and investigate them is of interest both theoretical and experimental. Recently, N-doped nanotubes and graphene sheets, were synthesized [1,2], and it was demonstrated that the incorporation, within these carbon structures, of nitrogen atoms causes a greater electron mobility and introduces more active sites for catalytic reactions. This investigation is aimed at elucidating the main features of the hydrogen fragmentation over these carbon frameworks. Se…

Poly(naphthalenediimidequaterthiophene):Poly(hexyilthiophene) Heterojunctions. Efficient Polymer-to-Polymer Electron Transfer Interfaces

Organic thin films solar cells and plastic solar cells [1] have attracted the attention of the scientific community especially as regards the performance of new conjugated polymers including their interfaces [2-4]. In this work, poly(naphthalenediimidequaterthiophene) (PNDIT4) and poly(hexyilthiophene) (P3HT) have been employed, for the first time, for engineering planar and bulk heterojunctions by the synergetic use of two techniques: electropolymerization and layer by layer deposition. Electropolymerization has been used for obtaining PNDIT4 thin films on transparent ITO/PET electrodes, starting from the synthesized monomer. Inverse Langmuir-Schaefer technique has been employed for deposi…

Time evolution of size and polydispersity of an ensemble of nanoparticles growing in the confined space of AOT reversed micelles by computer simulations

The time dependence of size and polydispersity of an ensemble of nanoparticles growing in the confined space of water-containing AOT reversed micelles has been investigated by computer simulations. It has been found that, in a wide time range, the mean nanoparticle size can be described by power laws whose exponent is critically dependent on the efficiency of the intermicellar material exchange process while the nanoparticle polydispersity increases with time. From the analysis of all the disentangled effects arising from the variation of internal and external parameters provided by simulations, useful suggestions for a better and rationale control of the nanoparticle synthetic procedure ar…

Radical Cyclization and 1,5-Hydrogen Transfer in Selected Aromatic Diazonium Salts

2-(Methyl(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamoyl)thiophene-3-diazonium hydrogen sulfate 20, 2-(methyl(3-methyl-isoxazol-5yl)carbamoyl)-benzenediazonium hydrogen sulfate 21 and 2-(methyl(phenyl)carbamoyl)-benzenediazonium hydrogen sulphate 22 were synthesized and reacted with a CuSO4/NaCl/ascorbic acid combination to give complex mixtures. The structures of the reaction products were elucidated, depending upon the pathways followed. Compound 20 almost exclusively afforded an Ar-5 cyclization product and trace amounts of the product derived from a competing Ar-6 Pschorr closure. In the case of compound 21, the Ar-6 cyclization was not observed, while the Ar-5 cyclization and 1,5-hydrogen…

Simulazione del trasporto dello ione Na+ attraverso un aggregato tubolare ciclopeptidico

DFT and kinetic evidences of the preferential CO oxidation pattern of manganese dioxide catalysts in hydrogen stream (PROX)

Abstract The oxidation functionality of Mn(IV) sites has been assessed by density functional theory (DFT) analysis of adsorption and activation energies of CO, H2 and O2 on a model Mn4O8 cluster. DFT calculations indicate that Mn(IV) atoms prompt an easy CO conversion to CO2 via a reaction path involving both catalyst and gas-phase oxygen species, while much greater energy barriers hinder H2 oxidation. Accordingly, a MnCeOx catalyst (Mnat/Ceat, 5) with large exposure of Mn(IV) sites shows a remarkable CO oxidation performance at T ≥ 293 K and no H2 oxidation activity below 393 K. Empiric kinetics disclose that the catalyst-oxygen abstraction step determines both CO and H2 oxidation rate, al…

A Multiconfigurational Theoretical Study of the Octamethyldimetalates of Cr(II), Mo(II), and Re(III): Revisiting the Correlation Between M-M Bond Length and the delta-delta* Transition Energy

Four compounds containing metal-metal quadruple bonds, the [M 2(CH3)8]n- ions (M = Cr, Mo, W, Re and n = 4, 4, 4, 2, respectively), have been studied theoretically using multiconfigurational quantum-chemical methods. The molecular structure of the ground state of these compounds has been determined and the energy of the δ → δ* transition has been calculated and compared with previous experimental measurements. The high negative charges on the Cr, Mo, and W complexes lead to difficulties in the successful modeling of the ground-state structures, a problem that has been addressed by the explicit inclusion of four Li+ ions in these calculations. The ground-state geometries of the complexes and…

Matrix isolation studies on the co-condensation reactions of molecular SiO and GeO: the characterisation of the novel cyclic species SiGeO(2), Si(2)GeO(3) and SiGe(2)O(3).

Matrix isolation IR studies, together with DFT calculations, have established that the co-condensation of molecular SiO and GeO in low temperature (12 K) nitrogen matrices leads to the formation of the novel silicon germanium oxide species SiGeO(2), Si(2)GeO(3) and SiGe(2)O(3) analogous to the known dimer and trimer species M(2)O(2) and M(3)O(3) (M = Si, Ge). Controlled diffusion studies in the temperature range 20-34 K result in a significant increase in trimer formation, which implies a very low activation energy for this oligomerisation step. Characteristic IR modes are assigned for all three novel mixed oxide molecules, and the DFT calculations establish that these species have cyclic C…

DFT insights into the oxygen-assisted selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol on manganese dioxide catalysts

Abstract The reactivity pattern of the MnO2 catalyst in the selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol is assessed by density functional theory (DFT) analysis of adsorption energies and activation barriers on a model Mn4O8 cluster. DFT calculations predict high reactivity of defective Mn(IV) sites ruling a surface redox mechanism, L-H type, involving gas-phase oxygen. Bare and promoted (i.e., CeOx and FeOx) MnOx materials with high surface exposure of Mn(IV) sites were synthesized to assess kinetic and mechanistic issues of the selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol on real catalysts (T, 333–363 K). According to DFT predictions, the experimental study shows: i) comparable activity…

Solution structure of R2Sn(IV)-β-N-Acetyl-Neuraminate (R=Me, Bu) complexes in D2O and DMSO-d6: experimental NMR and DFT computational study.

Two diorganotin(IV)-NANA complexes (NANA (1) = beta-N-acetyl-Neuraminic Acid = 5-amino-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-beta-D-galactononulosic acid) with formula Me(2)Sn(iv)NANA (2) and Bu(2)Sn(IV)NANA (3) were synthesized and characterized by (1)H, (13)C and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy, both in D(2)O and DMSO-d(6) solutions. The experimental data in DMSO suggested the monosaccharide bidentate chelation via O1 carboxylate and vicinal O2 alkoxide atoms, which, in D(2)O, can be dynamically extended to a third binding site (O8 atom) of the pendant chain. Coordination at the tin atom is discussed on the basis of experimental NMR data and DFT calculation.

Empathes: A general code for nudged elastic band transition states search

Abstract An easy and flexible interface, Empathes (Extensible Minimum PATH EStimator), that allows to perform Nudged Elastic Band calculation for the determination of transition states is presented. The code is designed to be easily modified, in order to be associated with the user's preferred calculation software, even with those which implement composite approaches. In particular, the interfaces to Gaussian and Siesta programs are discussed in details, being the former only used for testing purpose, while the latter can be productively employed for transition states search with that commonly used density functional theory software for periodic calculations. Program summary Program Title: …

119Sn NMR Ccomputational study of Dimethyltin(IV) - D-ribonic Acid and Dimethyltin(IV) - N-Acetylneuraminic acid complexes

Relativistic coupled cluster calculations of the electronic structure of KrH+, XeH+ and RnH+

Potential energy curves of NgH+ cations (Ng = Kr, Xe, Rn) were obtained by using four-component relativistic CCSD(T) coupled cluster calculations. Dissociation energies, equilibrium bond lengths, electronic properties, such as dipole moments and electric field gradients at the nuclei, and the related spectroscopic parameters of the electronic ground state have been determined. The results obtained for KrH+ and XeH+ are in good agreement with available experimental data, while those for RnH+ have been determined for the first time at this level of theory.

Theoretical study of the interaction between an organic tubular structure and the Na+ ion

ELECTRODEPOSITION OF NOVEL POLY(NAPHTHALENEDIIMIDE-QUATERTHIOPHENE) THIN FILMS AND APPLICATIONS IN PLASTIC OPTOELECTRONICS DEVICES

A novel symmetric naphthalenediimide-quaterthiophene derivative (NDIT4d) has been polymerized on different substrates including glassy carbon and ITO/PET electrodes by means of electrochemical methods. XPS and UV-VIS spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry have been employed for characterizing the thin film chemical features, the band gap and the HOMO and LUMO levels. DFT computational studies were in close agreement with the experimental observables also showing intriguing geometrical effects on the band gap energy values. The comparison of the energy levels locations of the electrodeposited poly(naphthalenediimide-quaterthiophene) derivative (e-PNDIT4) and P3HT thin films transferred b…

Studio della reazione di Grignard su derivati dell'acido ursolico

Butene Isomerization and Double-Bond Migration on the H-ZSM-5 Outer Surface: A Density Functional Theory Study

Isomerization of trans-but-2-ene to cis-but-2-ene and double bond migration of trans-but-2-ene to but-1-ene have been investigated by means of density functional theory calculations on a suitable model of H-ZSM-5 surface. The study has been afforded on outer surface sites by considering the hydroxyl group of either a SiO2(OH)2 or a AlO2H(OH)2 moiety. On these outer surface sites, one alkoxide species occurs as a stable intermediate both along the isomerization and double bond migration pathways. The latter process could also occur via a single-step mechanism, which involves a six-center transition state. The energy barriers of the outer surface processes above do not take any advantage by t…

Hydrogen on palladium clusters: a quantum chemical study

Density Functional Theory Investigation on the Nucleation of Homo- and Heteronuclear Metal Clusters on Defective Graphene

Nucleation of homo- (Ni, Pd, Re, Pt) and heterometallic (Ni–Pd, Re–Pt) clusters on monovacancy sites of a graphene sheet has been investigated by means of periodic density functional theory calculations. It is shown that a vacant site in graphene is an effective nucleation center for both the monometallic and bimetallic clusters, whose characteristics are described in terms of structural distortions, nucleation energetics, affinities between different metal atoms, metal–carbon interactions, and ease of diffusion of metal atoms on graphene.

Molecular-Level Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalytic Systems by Algorithmic Time Dependent Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo algorithms and codes, used to study heterogeneous catalytic systems in the frame of the computational section of the NANOCAT project, are presented along with some exemplifying applications and results. In particular, time dependent Monte Carlo methods supported by high level quantum chemical information employed in the field of heterogeneous catalysis are focused. Technical details of the present algorithmic Monte Carlo development as well as possible evolution aimed at a deeper interrelationship of quantum and stochastic methods are discussed, pointing to two different aspects: the thermal-effect involvement and the three-dimensional catalytic matrix simulation. As topical app…

The complete basis set Full-CI roto-vibrational spectroscopic constants of AlH, AlH+ and AlH -

The spectroscopic constants of AlH, AlH + and AlH -, as well as their counterparts with H/D isotopic substitution, were obtained at the frozen core Full-CI/CBS limit and corrected for the core-correlation, relativistic and diagonal Born–Oppenheimer contributions, calculated by means of different high-level computational methods. On the basis of the obtained values, some accepted experimental result for these astrochemically relevant species is questioned.

Catalytic Supported System Modelled by Computational Approaches

Theoretical investigation of magnetic properties in Cu(II) complexes with bridging azide ions

Density Functional Theory Investigation on the Nucleation and Growth of Small Palladium Clusters on a Hyper-Cross-Linked Polystyrene Matrix

Density functional theory calculations were employed to investigate the nucleation and growth of small palladium clusters, up to Pd9, into a microcavity of the porous hyper-cross-linked polystyrene (HPS). The geometries and the electronic structures of the palladium clusters inside the HPS cavity, following the one-by-one atom addition, are affected by a counterbalance between the Pd–phenyl (Pd−Φ) and Pd–Pd interactions. The analysis performed on energetics, cavity distortions, and cluster geometries indeed suggest that the cluster growth is dominated by the Pd−Φ interactions up to the formation of Pd4 aggregates, whereas the metal–metal interactions actually rule the growth of the larger c…

Synthesis, Structures and DFT Calculations on Alkaline-Earth Metal Azide-Crown Ether Complexes

The first examples of azide complexes of calcium, strontium or barium with crown ethers have been prepared and fully characterised, notably [Ba([18]crown-6)(N3)2(MeOH)], [Sr([15]crown-5)(N3)2(H2O)], [Ca([15]crown-5)(N3)2(H2O)] and [Sr([15]crown-5)(N3(NO3)]. Crystal structures reveal the presence of a variety of coordination modes for the azide groups including kappa 1-, mu-1,3- and linkages via H-bonded water molecules, in addition to azide ions. The [Ba([18]crown-6)(N3)2(MeOH)].1/3 MeOH contains dinuclear cations with three mu-1,3-NNN bridges, the first example of this type in main group chemistry. The structures obtained have been compared with molecular structures computed by density fun…

In situ ATR-IR studies in aqueous phase reforming of hydroxyacetone on Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/AlO(OH) catalysts: The role of aldol condensation

Abstract In situ Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy was used to study Aqueous Phase Reforming of hydroxyacetone on Pt/AlO(OH) and Pt/ZrO2 catalysts at 230 °C/ 30 bar. Formation of strongly adsorbed aldol condensation products was observed on the surface of Pt/ZrO2 and ZrO2 in contrast to Pt/AlO(OH) and AlO(OH). Peak assignments were supported by DFT calculations of the IR spectra of the condensation products in vacuum and in the presence of water. Aldol condensation of hydroxyacetone leading to compounds with high molecular weight with unsaturated bonds was suggested as a first step in coke formation. Carbonaceous deposits on the surface of the ZrO2 support are oxyge…

HPS-based catalysts: a computational study

Unexpected Structural Diversity in Alkali Metal Azide-Crown Ether Complexes: Syntheses, X-ray Structures, and Quantum-Chemical Calculations

A series of alkali metal azide-crown ether complexes, [Li([12]crown-4)(N-3)], [Na([15]crown-5)(N-3)], [Na([15]crown-5)(H2O)(2)]N-3, [K([18]crown-6)(N-3)(H2O)], [Rb([18]crown-6)(N-3)(H2O)], [Cs([18]crown-6)(N-3)](2), and [Cs([18]crown-6)(N-3)(H2O)(MeOH)], has been synthesised. In most cases, single crystals were obtained, which allowed X-ray crystal structures to be derived. The structures obtained have been compared with molecular structures computed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This has allowed the effects of the crystal lattice on the structures to be investigated. Also, a study of the M-N-terminal metalazide bond length and charge densities on the metal (M) and termin…

Investigation of Polyol Adsorption on Ru, Pd, and Re Using vdW Density Functionals

Biomass-based feedstocks are often oxygenated compounds characterized by large amounts of hydroxyls. As an example, polyols and sugar alcohols are largely employed as reactants for different chemical catalytic transformations such as oxidation, dehydration, and hydrodeoxigenation, which usually occur in aqueous medium. With the goal of gaining new insights into processes that could be industrially relevant, the adsorption of the OH groups on metal surfaces and in the presence of water has to be correctly reproduced and described, within a chosen theoretical framework. Toward this goal, several tests were performed on the catalytically relevant metal Ru, Pd, and Re, benchmarking their bulk a…

DFT calculation of NMR δ(113Cd) in cadmium complexes

Abstract We have tested several DFT protocols, at the non-relativistic and relativistic ZORA (scalar and spin–orbit) levels, for the calculation of the 113Cd chemical shifts, δ(113Cd), for a number of cadmium complexes accounting for both different local coordination environments on the metal center, involving N, O and S ligands, and different geometrical arrangements. Moreover, suitable models as reference compounds for δ(113Cd) evaluation have been set up in order to propose a complete computational approach to calculate δ(113Cd) for cadmium complexes. Inclusion of relativistic corrections did not lead to any sensible improvement in the quality of results and, in this context, non-relativ…

Symmetric Naphthalenediimidethiophene Systems for Electrochromic Devices

Microscopic structure of H2O–CO2 mixtures in supercritical conditions

The chemistry of acetone at extreme conditions by density functional molecular dynamics simulations

Density functional molecular dynamics simulations have been performed in the NVT ensemble (moles (N), volume (V) and temperature (T)) on a system formed by ten acetone molecules at a temperature of 2000 K and density ρ = 1.322 g cm(-3). These conditions resemble closely those realized at the interface of an acetone vapor bubble in the early stages of supercompression experiments and result in an average pressure of 5 GPa. Two relevant reactive events occur during the simulation: the condensation of two acetone molecules to give hexane-2,5-dione and dihydrogen and the isomerization to the enolic propen-2-ol form. The mechanisms of these events are discussed in detail.

π-Conjugated diimidazolium salts: rigid structure to obtain organized materials.

Phenylene ethynylene based diimidazolium salts differing in the alkyl chain length borne on the imidazolium ion and anion nature were synthesized. Their properties were studied both in solution and in the solid state. Salts obtained were able to aggregate in organic solvent solution. Aggregate formation was studied by performing concentration dependent measurements using UV-vis, fluorescence and Resonance Light Scattering. Furthermore, features of the aggregates were also investigated in the solid state by means of fluorescence and Scanning Electron Microscopy measurements. Finally, Density Functional Theory calculations were performed to obtain insights into the interaction geometry in the…

NAOs and vdW‐DF for simulating co‐adsorption of water and polyols on metal surfaces

The computational approach employed in this study is based on the combined use of numerical atomic orbitals (NAOs), which are recognized as highly efficient basis sets, and different parameterization of vdW-DF exchange-correlation functionals, namely DRSLL and KBM as implemented in the SIESTA code.

Adsorption Studies of Molecules on the Halloysite Surfaces: A Computational and Experimental Investigation

We report the results of joint computational and experimental investigations on the adsorption capability of halloysite toward a set of common molecules (water, alcohols, halides, and carboxylic acids). The halloysite system has been modelized by means of a cluster approach choosing a portion of a spiral nanotube; it has a slight curvature, with a convex aluminic layer. The adsorption geometries are described in terms of hydrogen bond network structures; calculated interaction energies invariably indicate that the inner aluminic surface is the place for preferential adsorption of polar molecules. The presence of substitutional defects on the outer or inner surface of the halloysite model ca…

studio della reattività del bromuro di 2-piridilmagnesio

Matrix isolation studies and DFT calculations on molecular alkali metal bromates

DFT and MP2 calculations have been carried out on a series of molecular alkali metal bromates MBrO3 (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs), and the results compared with matrix isolation IR studies on the vaporisation of the solid salts. For M = Na, K or Rb, no ternary molecular species were detected in the low temperature matrix, but vaporisation of solid caesium bromate at 730 K resulted in the formation of molecular CsBrO3, which was identified as having a C3v structure involving tridentate coordination. Additionally, the DFT and MP2 calculations provide estimates of the molecular parameters for all four MBrO3 species, and for the related MXO3 species CsClO3 and CsIO3. The proven stability of MBrO3 molecul…

The characterization of molecular alkaly metal azides

Matrix isolation infrared (IR) studies have been carried out on the vaporisation of the alkali-metal azides MN(3) (M = Na, K, Rb and Cs). The results show that under high vacuum conditions, molecular KN(3), RbN(3) and CsN(3) are present as stable high-temperature vapour species, together with variable amounts of nitrogen gas and the corresponding metal atoms. The characterisation of these molecular azides is supported by ab initio molecular orbital calculations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and for CsN(3) in particular, by the detection of the isotopomers CS((14)N(15)N(14)N) and Cs((15)N(14)N(14)N). The IR spectra are assigned to a "side-on" (C(2v)) structure by comparis…

A joint of experimental investigations about the structural organization of two geminal ionic liquids

Geminal Ionic Liquids: A Combined Approach to Investigate their Tridimensional Structure

Different investigations, such as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, resonance light scattering spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, have been jointly used to achieve a deeper understanding of the degree of structural order in two geminal ionic liquids. In particular, 3,3’-di-n-butyl-1,1’-(1,3- phenylenedimethylene)diimidazolium and 3,3’-di-n-butyl-1,1’-(1,4-phenylenedimethylene) diimidazolium bis- ACHTUNGTRENUNG[bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] have been studied. These geminal ionic liquids were chosen because of the presence of both a rigid phenylenedimethylene link between two imidazolium rings, which should give a high degree of order to the solvent system, and the different sha…

Computational study of water adsorption on halloysite nanotube in different pH environments

Abstract The comprehension of structural and energetic features of halloysite nanotube (HNT) in different chemical environments plays a crucial role in developing new HNT based materials. So far these aspects were investigated by means of laboratory techniques that hardly are able to provide hints at atomistic level of detail. Our investigation aims to obtain such accurate informations through density functional theory calculations on HNT models, in order to figure out the most stable forms of HNT under different pH conditions. It turns out that, at low pH, the preferred protonation sites are located in the inner aluminic surface while in alkaline medium the silicic layer can show delocaliz…

Growth of Palladium Clusters on a Boron Nitride Nanotube Support

We demonstrated that the migration process of a single palladium atom on the BNNT is not highly energy demanding and can be represented as a hopping mechanism between boron and nitrogen. A model was finally found for the interpretation of the growth energetics, showing that the process is generally favoured increasing the cluster size.

Computation of adsorbate IR spectrum by means of ab initio molecular dynamics

Benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde oxidation on MnOx clusters: Unraveling atomistic features

Abstract The catalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol with O 2 is a promising option for the production of benzaldehyde, from both environmental and economical viewpoints. In particular, highly dispersed MnO x systems feature good activity and selectivity in a wide range of temperatures, although deactivation phenomena by over-oxidation and/or poisoning of active sites are generally recorded. On this account, a density functional theory study was performed on cluster-sized catalyst models, namely Mn 4 O 8 and over-oxygenated Mn 4 O 9 fragments, to predict the reactivity pattern of MnO x catalysts in the selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Several pathways concur to determine the who…

DFT calculation of NMR delta(Cd-113) in cadmium complexes

We have tested several DFT protocols, at the non-relativistic and relativistic ZORA (scalar and spin–orbit) levels, for the calculation of the 113Cd chemical shifts, δ(113Cd), for a number of cadmium complexes accounting for both different local coordination environments on the metal center, involving N, O and S ligands, and different geometrical arrangements. Moreover, suitable models as reference compounds for δ(113Cd) evaluation have been set up in order to propose a complete computational approach to calculate δ(113Cd) for cadmium complexes. Inclusion of relativistic corrections did not lead to any sensible improvement in the quality of results and, in this context, non-relativistic met…

The IR spectrum of adsorbates from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

Study of percolation and clustering in supercritical water-CO2 mixtures

The microscopic structure of supercritical water-CO(2) mixture is investigated by neutron diffraction experiments exploiting the isotopic HD substitution. The investigated water reach mixtures are in the liquidlike region of the phase diagram, according to the behavior of the radial distribution functions, yet a reduction of the average number of hydrogen bonds, compared to equivalent states of pure water, is found. As a consequence, the average dimension of water clusters is reduced and the system stays below the percolation threshold. These results, along with the shift of the main peaks of the site-site radial distribution functions, suggest that the excess volume in these supercritical …

A DFT study of the Karplus-type dependence of vicinal 3J(Sn-C-X- C), X=N,O,S, in organotin(iv) compounds: Application to conformationally flexible systems

ZORA relativistic and non-relativistic DFT protocols have been used to investigate vicinal coupling constants, (3)J(Sn-C-X-C), in several organotin(iv) compounds, with particular emphasis on cyclic alpha-aminoorganostannanes. The dependence of the coupling constant on the heteroatom X (X = N,O,S) in the coupling path, and, for X = N, its substituents, has been studied in detail. The electron-withdrawing strength of the N-substituents has been found to strongly affect the magnitude and shape of the Karplus-type curve. The results obtained for the simple model systems, having no or little conformational flexibility, have helped in rationalizing the data concerning real flexible cyclic systems…

Clay nanotubes for designing eco-compatible smart materials

Graph-based analysis of ethylene glycol decomposition on a palladium cluster

The ethylene glycol, CH2OH-CH2OH, decomposition mechanism, occurring on a subnanometric palladium cluster shaped by 12 atoms, was investigated by means of density functional theory. Different reaction routes were identified leading to H2 and CO. The whole reaction network was analyzed, framing the results within the graph theory. The possible decomposition pathways were discussed and compared, allowing one to draw a whole picture of all the parallel, possibly competitive, routes that starting from CH2OH-CH2OH originate H2 and CO.

Structure of Urea Clusters Confined in AOT Reversed Micelles

The structure of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and that of urea containing AOT reversed micelles has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy at different AOT concentrations and urea/AOT molar ratios. For the AOT/n-heptane system, SANS data analysis indicates that AOT molecules form prolate ellipsoidal aggregates, which grow asymmetrically along the major axis upon increasing the surfactant concentration. For the urea/AOT/n-heptane system, the SANS results are consistent with the hypothesis that urea is encapsulated as small-sized ellipsoidal hydrogen-bonded clusters within the hydrophilic micellar core of …

Eterogiunzioni bulk a base di polimeri di borani per celle fotovoltaiche flessibili

Computational Investigation of Palladium Supported Boron Nitride Nanotube Catalysts

A QM/MM investigation is reported dealing with the nucleation and growth of small palladium clusters, up to Pd8 , on the outer surface of a suitable model of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT). It is shown that the BNNT could have a template effect on the cluster growth, which is due to the interplay between Pd-N and Pd-Pd interactions as well as to the matching of the B3N3 ring and the Pd(111) face arrangement. The values for the clusters adsorption energies reveal a relatively strong physisorption, which suggests that in particular conditions the BNNTs could be used as supports for the preparation of shape-controlled metal cluster

Construction and characterization of models of hypercrosslinked polystyrene

A simple algorithm involving classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is here suggested to build up models of hypercrosslinked polystyrene showing macroporous structure. The algorithm is composed by three consecutive stages: MD simulation of a single polystyrene coil, crosslink formation, and finally relaxation of the structure. The models, which are differentiated by the crosslinker concentration in the initial polystyrene chain, can be characterized by employing tools of the small angle neutron scattering analysis and procedures associated to the crosslinking algorithm, which allows one to discriminate among the different kinds of crosslinks between phenyl rings and to calculate the …

Studio teorico della reazione di idroisomerizzazione del cis-butene su cluster di palladio supportato

Computational Investigation of Alkynols and Alkyndiols Hydrogenation on a Palladium Cluster

The reaction path leading to the partial and total reduction of alkynols and alkyndiols with general formula R–CH2–C≡C–CH(OH)–R′ and R–CH(OH)–C≡C–CH(OH)–R′ (R, R′ = H, CH3) on a D3h symmetry Pd9 cl...

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis, Structures and DFT Calculations on Alkaline-Earth Metal Azide-Crown Ether Complexes.

The first examples of azide complexes of calcium, strontium or barium with crown ethers have been prepared and fully characterised, notably [Ba([18]crown-6)(N3)2(MeOH)], [Sr([15]crown-5)(N3)2(H2O)], [Ca([15]crown-5)(N3)2(H2O)] and [Sr([15]crown-5)(N3)(NO3)]. Crystal structures reveal the presence of a variety of coordination modes for the azide groups including 1-, -1,3- and linkages via H-bonded water molecules, in addition to azide ions. The [Ba([18]crown-6)(N3)2(MeOH)]1/3 MeOH contains dinuclear cations with three -1,3-NNN bridges, the first example of this type in main group chemistry. The structures obtained have been compared with molecular structures computed by density functional th…

The Gelling Ability of Some Diimidazolium Salts: Effect of Isomeric Substitution of the Cation and Anion

The gelling ability of some geminal imidazolium salts was investigated both in organic solvents and in water solution. Organic salts differing either in the cation or anion structure were taken into account. In particular, the effects on the gel-phase formation of isomeric substitution on the cation or anion as well as of the use of mono- or dianions were evaluated. As far as the cation structure is concerned, isomeric cations, such as 3,3′-di-n-octyl-1,1′-(1,4-phenylenedimethylene)diimidazolium and 3,3′-di-n-octyl-1,1′-(1,3-phenylenedimethylene)diimidazolium, were used. On the other hand, in addition to the bromide anion, isomeric dianions, such as the 1,5- and 2,6-naphthalenedisulfonate a…

A computational and experimental investigation of halloysite silicic surface modifications after alkaline treatment

Density functional theory calculations were performed in order to investigate the formation of silanol groups on the outer surface of halloysite nanotubes, as possible products of the reactions with water in alkaline environments. The results, discussed in terms of energy release and structural properties of the modified surface, suggest that the formation of various kinds of silanol group constellations, and even the extraction of orthosilicic acid, are highly exothermic reaction in the presence of hydroxide ions. Thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR, XRD and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry performed on halloysite treated at high pH conditions indicate that the adsorption of water on the oute…

Theoretical study of the interaction between sodium ion and a cyclopeptidic tubular structure.

DFT calculations have been carried out to describe the pathway of a sodium ion along the stacking direction of a tubular structure set up by five cyclopeptidic units, which can be considered a suitable model of a hollow tubular structure of indefinite length. A lattice of points inside the tubular structure is defined and the DFT interaction energy values with a sodium ion are obtained. The data allow predicting a zigzag path of the ion inside the hosting structure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007

Geminal ionic liquids: a combined approach to investigate their three-dimensional organisation.

Different investigations, such as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, resonance light scattering spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, have been jointly used to achieve a deeper understanding of the degree of structural order in two geminal ionic liquids. In particular, 3,3'-di-n-butyl-1,1'-(1,3-phenylenedimethylene)diimidazolium and 3,3'-di-n-butyl-1,1'-(1,4-phenylenedimethylene)diimidazolium bis[bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] have been studied. These geminal ionic liquids were chosen because of the presence of both a rigid phenylenedimethylene link between two imidazolium rings, which should give a high degree of order to the solvent system, and the different shapes of the two cat…

Hydrogenation of but-2-yne-1,4-diol on a palladium cluster: a computational study

Characterisation and reactions of molecular cesium azide

Computational investigation of isoeugenol transformations on a platinum cluster – I: Direct deoxygenation to propylcyclohexane

The growing demand for renewable and sustainable fuels, protagonists of an increasingly important research area due to the exhaustion of fossil resources, has oriented our investigation towards the computational mechanistic analysis of the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction of isoeugenol. Having the most com­ mon functional groups, the isoeugenol molecule is actually considered as an experimental and computational model for typical species of biomass origin. The reported computational investigation outlines the energy bar­ riers and the intermediates along the path for the conversion of isoeugenol to propylcyclohexane through a direct deoxygenation mechanims, catalyzed by a subnano…

Ultrafast Interface Charge Separation in Carbon Nanodot-Nanotube Hybrids

Carbon dots are an emerging family of zero-dimensional nanocarbons behaving as tunable light harvesters and photoactivated charge donors. Coupling them to carbon nanotubes, which are well-known electron acceptors with excellent charge transport capabilities, is very promising for several applications. Here, we first devised a route to achieve the stable electrostatic binding of carbon dots to multi- or single-walled carbon nanotubes, as confirmed by several experimental observations. The photoluminescence of carbon dots is strongly quenched when they contact either semiconductive or conductive nanotubes, indicating a strong electronic coupling to both. Theoretical simulations predict a favo…

Selective hydrogenation of 2-methyl-butyn-2-ol on Pd catalysts

Fragmentations and reactions of some isotopically labelled dimethyl methyl phosphono and trimethyl phosphoro thiolates and thionates studied by electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry

In this paper, studies on electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry of organophosphates are extended to a series of dimethyl methylphosphono and trimethyl phosphoro thionates and thiolates and some deuterated isotopomers. Of particular, interest is the comparison of the collision-induced fragmentation of ions from these compounds with those of the non-sulphur containing analogues reported previously. The thiono and thiolo isomeric structures of the sulphur containing ions analogous to I and II (see below) have very similar energies and undergo a ready interconversion. In the case of the phosphono compounds, the electronic structure calculations show that the methyl migration implic…

CO(2)-water supercritical mixtures: Test of a potential model against neutron diffraction data

Abstract A neutron diffraction experiment on supercritical mixtures of water and CO 2 at two concentrations is presented. Data are analyzed within the EPSR framework and the water–water and water–CO 2 radial distribution functions are compared with those calculated by a Molecular Dynamics simulation performed by using the TIPS2 and EPM-M potential models for water and CO 2 respectively. It is found that the Molecular Dynamics simulation reproduces the overall shape of the site–site radial distribution functions, although missing a few subtle changes brought along when the CO 2 concentration is increased.

DFT insights into competing mechanisms of guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation on a platinum cluster

In a scenario of declining fossil resources and increasing demand for renewable and sustainable alternatives, biomass is the only source able to offer an easy and gradual transition in the use of current energy technologies based on the exploitation of carbon derivatives. Its conversion to liquid fuels has oriented our study towards the computational mechanistic analysis of the guaiacol catalytic hydrodeoxygenation, which is currently considered one of the most challenging routes for upgrading biomass-derived bio-oils. For this purpose, a subnanometric Pt10 platinum cluster was chosen as the catalyst model, with Pt as a computational reference element for catalytic hydrogenation, and guaiac…

H2 hitting on graphene supported palladium cluster: molecular dynamics simulations

Dissociative adsorption of impinging gas-phase molecular hydrogen (H2) on a palladium cluster (Pd4) supported on defective graphene (C47) was studied by periodic density functional theory molecular dynamics simulations. The H2 on Pd4/C47 collision dynamics were investigated without any particular constraint, except for the Born–Oppenheimer approximation. The study, which had mostly method-testing aims, provided, anyway, valuable information about the collision kinetics of gas-phase molecular hydrogen. This was treated as an impacting projectile having different kinetic energy values. At lower kinetic energies, sticking was ruled by steering effects imputable to the Pd cluster that easily re…

A new suggested class of organic tubular structures

A DFT study has been performed on monomers and dimers of new cyclic structures, cyclodioxabislactams, which are expected to bring about tubular structures through a stacking process settled by hydrogen-bonding between antiparallel peptidic groups. Different stacking modes have been found with significant effects on the energetics of the assembling process.

Symmetric naphthalenediimidequaterthiophenes for electropolymerized electrochromic thin films

A new symmetric naphthalenediimidequaterthiophene (s-NDI2ODT4) was synthesized and exhibited the capability to electropolymerize alone or with EDOT affording polymers with controlled donor/acceptor monomer ratios. s-NDI2ODT4-EDOT-based copolymers showed low band gaps, wide optical absorption ranges extending to the near IR region, tuned electrical properties, thin-film surface morphology and hydrophilicity as well as high coloration efficiency in electrochromic devices.

Modeling of the Halloysite Spiral Nanotube

A computational SCC-DFTB investigation dealing with the structure of hydrated and anhydrous halloysite nanotubes with a spiral geometry is reported. The peculiar characteristics of these systems are described in terms of tetrahedral and octahedral distortions, of hydrogen bonds geometries involving water molecules and the surfaces in the hydrated nanotube, and of the interlayer interactions in the anhydrous one. When the properties of the spiral nanotube are compared with those of the kaolinite sheet, a certain degree of intrinsic disorder in the halloysite systems is revealed, due to the intrinsic nature of the spiral folding. This is particularly evident in the hydrogen bonds network occu…

Karplus-Type Dependence of Vicinal119Sn-13C and119Sn-1H Spin-Spin Couplings in Organotin(IV) Derivatives: A DFT Study

The empirical Karplus-type dependence of (3)J((119)Sn,(13)C) and (3)J((119)Sn,(1)H) couplings in organotin(IV) derivatives has been computationally validated by DFT methods both at the nonrelativistic and scalar ZORA relativistic level. A preliminary calibration of the computational protocols, by comparing experimental and calculated couplings for a Set Of Suitable rigid molecules, revealed their high predictive power: in particular, relativistic results for (3)J((119)Sn,(13)C) have a mean absolute error of just above 2 Hz, over a range of values up to about 70 Hz. The latter protocol has then been used to study in detail the influence of substituents and multiple paths connecting the coupl…

ONIOM study on the equilibrium geometries of some cyclopeptides

Abstract The geometries of two octacyclopeptides, cyclo[( d -AmP- l -AmP) 4 ] (AmP=α-aminopentanoic acid) and cyclo[( d -Ala- l -Phe) 4 ] were obtained by DFT and ONIOM methods. The resulting data show a substantial agreement with a computing time about three times lower in the case of the ONIOM procedure. This can be exploited in the study of polymeric structures set up by cyclopeptidic monomeric units.

Structural and Kinetic DFT Characterization of Materials to Rationalize Catalytic Performance

This review shortly discusses recent results obtained by the application of density functional theory for the calculations of the adsorption and diffusion properties of small molecules and their reactivity on heterogenous catalytic systems, in the ambit of the Nanocat project. Particular focus has been devoted to palladium catalysts, either in atomic or small cluster form. Some protocols have been tested to obtain efficient ways able to treat the electronic and geometric influence of supports like zeolites and carbon nanotubes on the catalytic properties of palladium. The hydroisomerization of cis-but-2-ene is discussed as model reaction on supported and unsupported Pd clusters. Some prelim…

DFT studies on catalytic properties of isolated and carbon nanotube supported Pd9 cluster. Part II. Hydro-isomerization of butene isomers

The processes involved in the butene hydro-isomerization, occurring on a small palladium cluster in the presence of dissociated hydrogen, have been investigated by means of DFT and DFT/MM approaches. This study has been performed both on an isolated (unsupported) Pd(9) cluster and on the same cluster when it is supported on a portion of a single-walled armchair(6,6) carbon nanotube. The study follows another investigation which has already been published concerning the adsorption, fragmentation and diffusion of hydrogen on the same metal cluster. The main aspects involved in the parallel reaction steps of the whole hydro-isomerization mechanisms are not strongly affected by the presence of …

Synthesis, chemical characterization, computational studies and biological activity of new DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) specific inhibitor. Epigenetic regulation as a new and potential approach to cancer therapy.

This work deals with the synthesis, the chemical characterization of dibutyltin(IV) complex of caffeic acid (Bu2Sn(IV)HCAF, caf1) and its cytotoxic action on tumor cells. The coordination environment at the tin center was investigated by FTIR, (119)Sn{(1)H} cross polarization magic angle spinning, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy in the solid state and UV-vis, fluorescence and (1)H, (13)C and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy in solution phases. Density functional theory study confirmed the proposed structures in solution phase and indicated the most probably stable conformation. The effects on viability of breast cancer MDA-MB231, colorectal cancer HCT116, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 an…

Synthesis, chemical characterization, computational studies and biological activity of organotin(IV) compounds interacting with enzymes involoved in epigenetic regulation. New and potential methodologies for studying molecular interactions

Our studies deal with the synthesis, the chemical characterization of organotin(IV) complexes of molecules, as caffeic acid, interacting with enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation.

Recent results on DFT calculation of 119Sn NMR parameters for organotin(IV) derivatives in coordinating solvents

CASSCF/CASPT2 analysis of the fragmentation of H2 on a Pd4 cluster

Two reactive pathways are described for the dissociative adsorption of a hydrogen molecule on a Pd4 pyramidal cluster, by using DFT/B3LYP and CASSCF/CASPT2 computational methods. Because of the different spin multiplicities of the cluster in the initial and final states, the reaction proceeds through a spin multiplicity change, which occurs close to the transition states. The activation energy values are very similar when the DFT method is used, whereas the CASPT2 calculations predict that the concerted mechanism is disfavored. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010

DFT calculation of 1J(119Sn,13C) and 2J(119Sn,1H) coupling constants in di- and trimethyltin(IV) compounds

We have tested several computational protocols, at the nonrelativistic DFT level of theory, for the calculation of 1J(119Sn, 13C) and 2J(119Sn, 1H) spin-spin coupling constants in di- and trimethyltin(IV) derivatives with various ligands. Quite a good agreement with experimental data has been found with several hybrid functionals and a double-zeta basis set for a set of molecules comprising tetra-, penta-, and hexa-coordinated tin(IV). Then, some of the protocols have been applied to the calculation of the 2J(119Sn, 1H) of the aquodimethyltin(IV) ion and dimethyltin(IV) complex with D-ribonic acid and to the calculation of 1J(119Sn, 13C) and 2J(119Sn, 1H) of the dimethyltin(IV)-glycylglycin…

Supramolecular complexes formed by dimethoxypillar[5]arenes and imidazolium salts: A joint experimental and computational investigation

To gain more insights into the factors acting on the stability of complexes formed by pillar[5]arenes, we investigated the interaction of dimethoxypillar[5]arene with some 1-(n-alkyl)-3-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-imidazolium based organic salts. In particular, we used salts differing in not only the anion nature ([Cl−], [BF4−], [NTf2−] and [SbF6−]) and alkyl chain length (butyl, octyl and dodecylimidazolium derivatives), but also the presence of a hydrogenated or fluorinated tail (octyl and perfluorooctylimidazolium derivatives). Host–guest systems were analysed in solution, solid state and gas phase, using a combined approach of different techniques like fluorescence, 1H NMR, ESI-MS, DSC and DF…

Studio teorico sul confinamento delle azidi di metalli alcalino-terrosi nella cavità di un aggregato tubolare ciclopeptidico

Adsorption and reaction of small molecules on palladium clusters: DFT studies

Computational Study on Cesium Azide Trapped in a Cyclopeptidic Tubular Structure

The structures and the electronic properties of host-guest complexes formed by a cyclopeptidic tubular aggregate and the species CsN3, CS2(N-3)(2), and CS2N6 have been investigated by means of density functional theory. Taking advantage of the azide property to act as a bridge ligand between two or more metal cations, it may be possible to trap N-3(-) ions inside a confined space. This could be important for the preparation of polynitrogen molecules N-n. Results show that there are significant attractive interactions between the azide ion and the cavity walls, which make the ion stay inside the inner empty space of the cyclopeptidic aggregate. The confinement of the species CS2(N-3)(2) forc…

Structural, energetic and kinetic database of catalytic reactions: Benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde oxidation on MnOx clusters

Abstract Data here reported are connected with the research article “Benzyl Alcohol to Benzaldehyde Oxidation on MnO x Clusters: Unraveling Atomistic Features” Gueci et al. [1] . This work described and discussed structural and energetic results, calculated by Density Functional Theory (DFT). In order to get kinetic information, DFT results were refined by an original approach, which will be shortly described in the following article. The crossed analysis of experimental and computational energetic and kinetic data allowed to (i) reconstruct the complicated lattice that connects the primary and secondary mechanisms of the reaction and (ii) identify alternative process pathways capable of by…

H2 Transformations on Graphene Supported Palladium Cluster: DFT-MD Simulations and NEB Calculations

Molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory were employed to investigate the fate of a hydrogen molecule shot with different kinetic energy toward a hydrogenated palladium cluster anchored on the vacant site of a defective graphene sheet. Hits resulting in H2 adsorption occur until the cluster is fully saturated. The influence of H content over Pd with respect to atomic hydrogen spillover onto graphene was investigated. Calculated energy barriers of ca. 1.6 eV for H-spillover suggest that the investigated Pd/graphene system is a good candidate for hydrogen storage.

DFT studies on catalytic properties of isolated and carbon nanotube supported Pd9 cluster–I: adsorption, fragmentation and diffusion of hydrogen

The processes of adsorption, fragmentation and diffusion of hydrogen on a small palladium cluster have been investigated by means of DFT and DFT/MM approaches. These studies have been performed by considering a D(3h) symmetry Pd(9) in the isolated state as well as when supported on a portion of single-walled armchair(6,6) carbon nanotube. The hydrogen fragmentation process easily occurs on the bare Pd(9) cluster, involving energy barriers of 25-35 kJ mol(-1) and the drop in spin multiplicity on passing from the reactant to the product. The atomic hydrogen diffuses through the cluster atoms with energy barriers, which do not exceed 20 kJ mol(-1), with some positions clearly identifiable as t…

DFT investigation of polyalcohols reforming on palladium cluster

Biomass conversion technologies have recently gained high industrial interest for the production of sustainable fuels and fine chemicals; starting feedstocks for these processes are generally complex mixtures of oxygenated compounds, ranging from lignans, carbohydrates and polyalcohols to carboxylic acids [1]. Framed within this scientific context the entire reforming mechanism of two well-known polyols, namely ethylen glycol (C2) and glycerol (C3), on a small Pd cluster was investigated by means of density functional theory. Among the large amount of reaction pathways that can be followed in the reforming of oxygenates, we discuss here only the route that brings to carbon monoxide and hydr…

Oxygen-assisted hydroxymatairesinol dehydrogenation: a selective secondary-alcohol oxidation over a gold catalyst.

Selective dehydrogenation of the biomass-derived lignan hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) to oxomatairesinol (oxoMAT) was studied over an Au/Al(2)O(3) catalyst. The reaction was carried out in a semi-batch glass reactor at 343 K under two different gas atmospheres, namely produced through synthetic air or nitrogen. The studied reaction is, in fact, an example of secondary-alcohol oxidation over an Au catalyst. Thus, the investigated reaction mechanism of HMR oxidative dehydrogenation is useful for the fundamental understanding of other secondary-alcohol dehydrogenation over Au surfaces. To investigate the elementary catalytic steps ruling both oxygen-free- and oxygen-assisted dehydrogenation of HMR…

DFT study of reduction reactions on a palladium cluster supported on a carbon nanotube

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles: A Fine Characterization to Unveil Their Thermodynamic Stability

Among the plethora of available metal(loid) nanomaterials (NMs), those containing selenium are interesting from an applicative perspective, due to their high biocompatibility. Microorganisms capable of coping with toxic Se-oxyanions generate mostly Se nanoparticles (SeNPs), representing an ideal and green alternative over the chemogenic synthesis to obtain thermodynamically stable NMs. However, their structural characterization, in terms of biomolecules and interactions stabilizing the biogenic colloidal solution, is still a black hole that impairs the exploitation of biogenic SeNP full potential. Here, spherical and thermodynamically stable SeNPs were produced by a metal(loid) tolerant Mic…

Structure Sensitivity of 2-Methyl-3-butyn-2-ol Hydrogenation on Pd: Computational and Experimental Modeling

In the frame of DFT paradigms, the adsorption of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (MBY) and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBE) on a Pd-30 cluster, including both {100} and {111} faces, was studied along with the pathways involved in the hydrogenation, taking place on plane and low coordination (corner/edge) sites of given MBY/Pd-30 and MBE/Pd-30 surface configurations. The calculated energetics, further validated by gas-phase and water-assisted gas-phase MBY and MBE hydrogenation, performed on well-defined size and shape-controlled Pd nanoparticles supported on SiO2, were able to explain the origin of the structure sensitivity and the high selectivity characterizing the title reaction when occurring in aqueo…

Fragmentations and reactions of the organophosphate insecticide Diazinon and its oxygen analog Diazoxon studied by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

The fragmentations and reactions of Diazinon and related compounds have been studied by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry. Several novel fragmentation and rearrangements have been observed, including an intramolecular thiono-thiolo rearrangement. The stability, in the gas-phase, of the protomers of 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinol has been demonstrated. The complexity of the gas phase ion processes observed suggest that, at present, caution Should be exercised in using this approach for the analysis of environmental and other samples until our understanding of these processes increases considerably. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2005, 16, 515-523) (c) 2005 American Society for …

Theoretical designing of new organic tubular structures

Synthesis and characterization of some new ruthenium complexes with ligands of biological interest

COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES EMPLOYED IN THE SusFuelCat PROJECT

CASSCF/CASPT2 analysis of the fragmentation of H2 on a Pd4 cluster

Two reactive pathways are described for the dissociative adsorption of a hydrogen molecule on a Pd4 pyramidal cluster, by using DFT/B3LYP and CASSCF/CASPT2 computational methods. Because of the different spin multiplicities of the cluster in the initial and final states, the reaction proceeds through a spin multiplicity change, which occurs close to the transition states. The activation energy values are very similar when the DFT method is used, whereas the CASPT2 calculations predict that the concerted mechanism is disfavored.

Theoretical Investigation of Aqueous Phase Reforming of 1,2 Propanediol over a Pt catalyst

Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) process is one of the most efficient solution for producing hydrogen from biomass renewable feedstocks, such as polyalcohols. [1] Generally the reaction is catalyzed by supported platinoid metals and among these platinum has been recognized as the most active and selective toward the production of hydrogen. However, due to its really high complexity, the reaction mechanism is today poorly understood. DFT methods can be useful for understanding the APR catalytic mechanism at atomistic level. A detailed mechanistic study was carried out using a Pt30 cluster for the modelization of the catalyst and 1,2 propanediol (1,2PDO) as a model feedstock for the APR. Even fo…

Investigation of the aqueous transmetalation of pi-allylpalladium with indium: some theoretical and experimental evidence about the nature of allylindium intermediates

In this paper we report some theoretical and experimental evidence concerning the nature of the allyl-In intermediate generated by umpolung of allyl-Pd complexes in the Pd(OAc)(2)/TPPTS catalysed allylation reaction of benzaldehyde. The allylic substrate reacts at the substituted terminus, because of the formation of an equilibrating mixture of eta(1)-allyl-In(I) specie with the gamma-substituted regioisomer being more reactive.

A DFT study of the vicinal 3J(119Sn,13C) and 3J(119Sn,1H) coupling constants in trimethyl- and chlorodimethyl-stannyl propanoates.

Abstract We have tested the performance of DFT protocols, both at the Scalar relativistic ZORA and non-relativistic level of theory, for the calculation of the 3 J( 119 Sn, 13 C) and 3 J( 119 Sn, 1 H) vicinal couplings for a series of flexible organotin(IV) derivatives with formula XMe2SnCHRCHR′COOMe (X = Me, Cl; R, R′ = Me, Ph). A satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated vicinal couplings has been obtained by taking into account the conformational behaviour of the compounds investigated. The protocols used, mainly the relativistic one, were found to give a correct picture of the populations and a sufficiently high overall performance in calculating the vicinal couplings, …

Modeling of catalytic materials: advances in studying different supports

Studio teorico dell’interazione host-guest fra un sistema tubolare ciclopeptidico e la cesio azide

Palladium clusters on BNNT as catalysts for biomass conversion

The construction of a heterogeneous catalytic systems by a bottom-up approach is a fascinating strategy well assisted by molecular level characterizations. In this sense, DFT investigations can be used with predictive and descriptive purposes both for the treatment of the catalyst/support and for the substrate/catalyst characterization. This should be particularly useful for highly perspective but scarcely treated systems such as boron nitride based supports. Among these, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) have been demonstrated to have high chemical and thermal stability as well as great mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity.[1] Moreover, a high affinity toward hydrogen [2] as well…

Chemogenic versus biogenic synthesis of Selenium nanoparticles: a structural characterization

Among the plethora of available metal- and metalloid-based nanomaterials (NMs), selenium nanostructures (SeNSs) are one of the most interesting from an applicative perspective due to their intermediate properties between metals and non-metals, as well as their high biocompatibility. In this regard, the capability of microorganisms to biotransform toxic Se-oxyanions – i.e., selenite (SeO32-) and selenate (SeO42-) – into their less bioavailable elemental forms [Se(0)], mostly generating Se nanoparticles (SeNPs), represents as a useful and green alternative over chemogenic synthesis allowing to obtain highly thermodynamically stable NMs. However, their structural characterization, in terms of …

Factors Controlling the Energy of Nitrogen Monolayer Coverage onHigh Surface Area Catalyst Oxide Carriers

Factors affecting the strength of nitrogen physisorption at monolayer coverage on different catalytic oxide carriers (e.g., ZnO, MgO, Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, and SiO2) have been addressed. Isotherm elaboration by the two-parameter BET equation provides C-constant values (80–200) inversely related to the polarizing power (PP) of the oxide adsorbent irrespective of the surface area exposure. The energy of monolayer formation depends on the extent of charge-delocalization characterizing the surface cation-oxygen bond, which determines the acid–base character of the oxide and strength of van der Waals interactions with adsorbate molecules. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on MgO and TiO2…

Structure Sensitivity of 2‐Methyl--butyn-2-ol Hydrogenation on Pd: Computational and Experimental Modeling

Theoretical study of a palladium cluster on carbonaceous supports

Theoretical study of the insertion of sodium ion into organic tubular structures

ORGANOBORON POLYMERS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY FLEXIBLE SOLAR CELLS

A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Approach for Platinum Catalyzed 1,2-Propanediol Aqueous Phase Reforming

Decomposition pathways of 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) on platinum were investigated by means of experiments and quantum-mechanical calculations. Different reaction paths on a Pt(111) model surface were computationally screened. Gas and liquid phase products distribution for aqueous phase reforming of 1,2-PDO solutions was experimentally analyzed. A mechanistic approach was used to trace the preferred paths according to calculated activation barriers of the elementary steps; in this way, the presence or absence of some hypothesized intermediates in the experiments was computationally rationalized. Hydroxyacetone was demonstrated to be among the most favored decomposition products. The competit…

N-doped carbon networks: alternative materials tracing new routes for activating molecular hydrogen.

The fragmentation of molecular hydrogen on N-doped carbon networks was investigated by using molecular (polyaromatic macrocycles) as well as truncated and periodic (carbon nanotubes) models. The computational study was focused on the ergonicity analysis of the reaction and on the properties of the transition states involved when constellations of three or four pyridinic nitrogen atom defects are present in the carbon network. Calculations show that whenever N-defects are embedded in species characterized by large conjugated π-systems, either in polyaromatic macrocycles or carbon nanotubes, the corresponding H2 bond cleavage is largely exergonic. The fragmentation Gibbs free energy is affect…

Theoretical Study of Palladium Cluster Structures on Carbonaceous Supports

DFT calculations have been performed on a palladium cluster adsorbed on two different carbonaceous supports, namely, two stacked polycircumcoronene units mimicking a double layer of graphite and a portion of an armchair (6,6) carbon nanotube. All of the systems have been subjected to geometry optimization and electronic structure investigation. This work, which is part of an extensive computational study on heterogeneous catalytic systems, is devoted to identify electronic and geometrical changes in which metal clusters and supports are involved upon interaction. Such analysis is helpful in designing new heterogeneous metallic catalysts, namely, new metal-supported carbonaceous catalysts. C…

MODELING OF SPIRAL HALLOYSITE NANOTUBES

Tributyltin(IV) ferulate, a novel synthetic ferulic acid derivative, induces autophagic cell death in colon cancer cells: From chemical synthesis to biochemical effects

Ferulic acid (FA) is a natural phenolic phytochemical that has low toxicity and exhibits therapeutic effects against various diseases, behaving as an antioxidant. FA also displays modest antitumor properties that have been reported at relatively high concentrations. With the aim of improving the anti-tumor efficacy of FA, we synthesized the novel compound tributyltin(IV) ferulate (TBT-F). The coordination environment at the tin center was investigated spectroscopically. Following synthesis, chemical characterization and computational analysis, we evaluated TBT-F effects in colon cancer cells. The results showed that TBT-F, at nanomolar range concentrations, was capable of reducing the viabi…

An ab initio and DFT study of the fragmentation and isomerisation of MeP(O)(OMe)+

The fragmentation behaviour of the ion MeP(O)OMe+ has been investigated using quantum mechanical calculations at the B3LYP and MP2 levels to support experiments made with an Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer. Two mechanisms for the loss of CH2O are found, one involving a 1,3-H migration to phosphorus and the other a 1,2-methyl migration to give P(OMe)2+ followed by a 1,3-H migration. In each case an ion-dipole complex is formed that rapidly dissociates to yield CH2O. The relative importance of each route has been previously determined experimentally via isotopic labelling experiments, and the theoretical results are found to be consistent with these experimental results. The mechanisms suggested i…

Computational approaches used in the POLYCAT EU project

Organoboron Polymers for Photovoltaic Bulk Heterojunctions

We report on the application of three-coordinate organoboron polymers, inherently strong electron acceptors, in flexible photovoltaic (PV) cells. Poly[(1,4-divinylenephenylene)(2,4,6-triisopropylphenylborane)] (PDB) has been blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) to form a thin film bulk heterojunction (BHJ) on PET/ITO substrates. Morphology may be modulated to give a high percentage of domains (10-20 nm in size) allowing exciton separation. The photoelectric properties of the BHJs in devices with aluminium back electrodes were imaged by light beam induced current (LBIC) and light beam induced voltage (LBIV) techniques. Open circuit voltages, short circuit currents and overall …

Theoretical modeling of IRMOF-3: a computational approach on a heterogeneous Basic catalyst

Data for: Computational Study of Water Adsorption on Halloysite Nanotube in Different pH Environments

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