Descripción: This work describes a simple spatial decomposition of the first-order reduced density matrix corresponding to an N -electron system into first-order density matrices, each of them associated to an atomic domain defined in the theory of atoms in molecules. A study of the representability of the density matrices arisen from this decomposition is reported and analyzed. An appropriate treatment of the eigenvectors of the matrices defined over atomic domains or over unions of these domains allows one to describe satisfactorily molecular properties and chemical bondings within a determined molecule and among its fragments. Numerical determinations, performed in selected molecules, confirm the reliability of our proposal. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: We carried out molecular dynamics simulation experiments to examine equilibrium and dynamical characteristics of the solvation of excess protons in mesoscopic, [m:n] binary polar clusters comprising m 50 water molecules and n 6, 25, and 100 acetone molecules. Contrasting from what is found in conventional macroscopic phases, the characteristics of the proton solvation are dictated, to a large extent, by the nature of the concentration fluctuations prevailing within the clusters. At low acetone contents, the overall cluster morphology corresponds to a segregated aqueous nucleus coated by an external aprotic phase. Under these circumstances, the proton remains localized at the surface of the water core, in a region locally deprived from acetone molecules. At higher acetone concentrations, we found clear evidence of the onset of the mixing process. The cluster structures present aqueous domains with irregular shape, fully embedded within the acetone phase. Still, the proton remains coordinated to the aqueous phase, with its closest solvation shell composed exclusively by three water molecules. As the relative concentration of acetone increases, the time scales characterizing proton transfer events between neighboring water molecules show considerable retardations, stretching into the nanosecond time domain already for n ∼ 25. In water-rich aggregates, and similarly to what is found in the bulk, proton transfers are controlled by acetone/water exchange processes taking place at the second solvation shell of the proton. As a distinctive feature of the transfer mechanism, translocation pathways also include diffusive motions of the proton from the surface down into inner regions of the underlying water domain. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: Using molecular dynamics experiments, we analyze equilibrium and dynamical characteristics related to the solvation of excess protons in water-acetone mixtures. Our approach is based on the implementation of an extended valence-bond Hamiltonian, which incorporates translocation of the excess charge between neighboring water molecules. Different mixtures have been analyzed, starting from the pure water case down to solutions with a water molar fraction x w 0.25. In all cases, we have verified that the structure of the first solvation shell of the H 3 O moiety remains practically unchanged, compared to the one observed in pure water. This shell is composed by three water molecules acting as hydrogen bond acceptors, with no evidence of hydrogen bond donor-like connectivity. Moreover, the increment in the acetone concentration leads to a gradual stabilization of Eigen-like [H 3O·(H 2O) 3] configurations, in detriment of Zundel-like [H·(H 2O) 2] ones. Rates of proton transfer and proton diffusion coefficients have been recorded at various water-acetone relative concentrations. In both cases, we have found a transition region, in the vicinity of x w ∼ 0.8, where the concentration dependences of the two magnitudes change at a quantitative level. A crude estimate shows that, at this tagged concentration, the volumes occupied by the two solvents become comparable. The origins of this transition separating water-rich from acetone-rich realms is rationalized in terms of modifications operated in the nearby, second solvation shell, which in the latter solutions, normally includes at least, one acetone molecule. Our results would suggest that one possible mechanism controlling the proton transfer in acetone-rich solutions is the exchange of one of these tagged acetone molecules, by nearby water ones. This exchange would give rise to Zundel-like structures, exhibiting a symmetric, first solvation shell composed exclusively by water molecules, and would facilitate the transfer between neighboring water molecules along the resonant complex. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: A computational scheme was developed for a fourth-rank hyprmagnetizability tensor denoted by Xαβγδ. It was shown that this instrinsic property of diamagnetic atoms and molecules was useful to rationalize their nonlinear response to intense magnetic field. The terms connected with the fourth power of the perturbing field which represent the fourth-rank hypermagnetizability of the H2, HF, H2O, NH3, and CH4 molecules were evaluated at the coupled Hartree-Fock level of accuracy. The Gaugeless basis sets of increasing size and flexibility that adopted two different coordinate systems to estimate the degree of convergence of theoretical tensor components was employed.

Descripción: This work describes simple decompositions of the energy of molecular systems according to schemes that partition the three-dimensional space. The components of those decompositions depend on one and two atomic domains thus providing a meaningful chemical information about the nature of different bondings among the atoms which compose the system. Our algorithms can be applied at any level of theory (correlated or uncorrelated wave functions). The results reported here, obtained at the Hartree-Fock level in selected molecules, show a good agreement with the chemical picture of molecules and require a low computational cost in comparison with other previously reported decompositions.

Descripción: This work studies the partitioning of the electron density into two contributions which are interpreted as the paired and the effectively unpaired electron densities. The topological features of each density field as well as of the total density are described localizing the corresponding critical points in simple selected molecules (local formalism). The results show that unpaired electron-density concentrations occur out of the topological bonding regions whereas the paired electron densities present accumulations inside those regions. A comparison of these results with those arising from population analysis techniques (nonlocal or integrated formalisms) is reported. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: The use of neutron inelastic scattering measurements to determine the nature of the solid-state transitions in globular compounds is proposed and exemplified. Patterns were taken of the high- and low-temperature phases of solid cyclohexane, 2-2-dimethylbutane, and 1-4-diazo-bicyclo-(2.2.2)-octane. The first two have broad inelastic scattering peaks in the low-temperature phase. In the high-temperature phase these peaks disappear and the elastic peak broadens markedly. These changes are attributed to "quasi-free- rotation" of the molecules. Inelastic peaks do not appear in 1-4-diazo-bicyclo-(2.2.2)-octane, and the elastic peak does not broaden appreciably in the high-temperature phase. Self-diffusion coefficients D 3=4.5×10-5 cm2/sec for cyclohexane and D3=8.6×10-5 cm2/sec for 2-2-dimethylbutane were determined from the patterns of the liquids at 300°K using the "small motions" approximation. These values are larger than those obtained from NMR measurements, presumably as a result of irreversible rotation of the molecules.

Descripción: Photoactive materials based on dye molecules incorporated into thin films or bulk solids are useful for applications as photosensitization, photocatalysis, solar cell sensitization and fluorescent labeling, among others. In most cases, high concentrations of dyes are desirable to maximize light absorption. Under these circumstances, the proximity of dye molecules leads to the formation of aggregates and statistical traps, which dissipate the excitation energy and lower the population of excited states. The search for enhancement of light collection, avoiding energy wasting requires accounting the photophysical parameters quantitatively, including the determination of quantum yields, complicated by the presence of light scattering when particulate materials are considered. In this work we summarize recent advances on the photophysics of dyes in light-scattering materials, with particular focus on the effect of dye concentration. We show how experimental reflectance, fluorescence and laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy data can be used together with theoretical models for the quantitative evaluation of inner filter effects, fluorescence and triplet formation quantum yields and energy transfer efficiencies. © 2013 The American Society of Photobiology.

Descripción: The title compound, C4H6N2S3, has two very similar molecules per asymmetric unit. The nine non-H atoms in each molecule are coplanar, both having comparable r.m.s. deviations of 0.002 Å. The main interest in the rather simple structure resides in a survey of very weak (in some cases, borderline) non-bonding interactions of various kinds, viz. S···S, C - H·π, π-π [centroid-centroid distance = 3.8958 (13) Å] and C - S- ···π [3.7271 (11) Å], which act as the major driving force for the arrangement of molecules in the structure. The role of long, though highly directional, S···S contacts (d > 3.60 Å), and their relevance to the stability of the structure is discussed.

Descripción: Free-volume integrals for hole theories of liquids were calculated for some special cases by Monte Carlo numerical integration. The dependence of the free volume on the number of nearest neighbors is thus obtained. Only molecules interacting with a Lennard-Jones potential and a temperature near the critical one have been considered. The results differ considerably from those of earlier theories, where spherical symmetry was assumed. However, the introduction of vacant cells (holes) does not improve the thermodynamic functions obtained with the cell theory of Lennard-Jones and Devonshire.

Descripción: By x-ray diffraction, the chemical formula and crystal structure of Pt 3O4 have been established. The crystal lattice has a body-centered cube symmetry. The edges of the cubes are 6.226A long, and there are two molecules per unit cell. A chemical method for preparing this oxide has been given by Jörgensen but Wöhler claims that the compound thus obtained is a mixture of monoxide and dioxide rather than a separate chemical entity, see references 2 and 3.

Descripción: Aims.This paper reports molecular observations towards the bright eastern knot (BEK) in the SNR Puppis A, a feature where radio and X-ray studies suggest that the shock front is interacting with a dense molecular clump.Methods.We performed high-resolution millimetric observations towards the BEK of Puppis A using the SEST telescope in the CO -0 and 2-1 lines (beams of 45 and 23, respectively). More extended, lower angular resolution CO -0 observations taken from NANTEN archival data were also analyzed to obtain a complete picture.Results. In the velocity range near 16 km s-1, which is the Puppis A systemic velocity, our study revealed two important properties: (i) no dense molecular gas is detected immediately adjacent to the eastern border of the BEK and (ii) the molecular clump detected very close to the radiocontinuum maximum is probably located in the foreground along the line of sight and has not yet been reached by the SNR shock front. We propose two possible scenarios for explaining the absence of molecular emission eastwards of the BEK border of Puppis A. Either the shock front has completely engulfed and destroyed a molecular clump or the shock front is interacting with part of a larger cloud, and we do not detect CO emission immediately beyond it because the molecules have been dissociated by photodissociation and by reactions with photoionized material due to the radiative precursor. © 2008 ESO.

Descripción: The isomorphous title compounds, [Tr(S4O6)(C 12H12N2)2]·2C 3H7NO (Tr = CdII and ZnII), consist of metal centres to which one tetrathionate and two 4,4′-dimethyl-2, 2′-bipyridine chelating ligands bind. The structures are completed by two symmetry-related dimethylformamide solvent molecules. Each metal-centred complex is bisected by a twofold axis running through the metal centre and halving the chelating tetrathionate dianion through the central S - S bond. The ancillary symmetry-related 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligands act as chelates. This results in a distorted six-coordinate geometry, with similar Tr - O/N distances but central angles differing substantially from 90 and 180°. Both ligands are basically featureless from a geometric point of view, with torsion angles in both coordinated tetrathionate groups suggesting a trend linking metal size (covalent radius) and ligand 'openness'. Packing is directed by (C - H)aromatic⋯O bridges and π-π offset stacked interactions defining chains along [001], further linked by weaker (C - H)methyl⋯O bridges, some of them mediated by the dimethylformamide solvent molecules. © 2013 International Union of Crystallography.

Descripción: Sviluppo e Studi Superior! in Sardegna (CRS4). The geometries, interaction energies, and harmonic vibrational frequencies of water clusters (with up to 8 molecules) have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) at the gradient corrected level. The water monomer and water dimer calculations have been used as benchmarks to investigate different choices for basis sets and density functionals. Our results for larger clusters agree with both available high-level ab initio calculations and experimental information. The calculations of the vibrational frequencies and IR absorption intensities for the larger clusters, for which no other reliable quantum-chemical calculation is available, are presented to facilitate the frequency assignment of experimental spectra.

Descripción: The purpose of this review is to examine and discuss the ways in which water is organized at the interface of a biological membrane. The relevance of this structure to the surface properties and to the adsorption of proteins in membranes is also analized. The approach is based on the idea that cell functions are confined to a restricted water media, the cell interior, in which the proximity of the membrane may be key to regulating the enzyme activity and the cell membrane permeability. As the lipid bilayer is the structural base of cell membranes, the distribution of water in the surface sites of a phospholipid membrane is analyzed by means of Fourier Transform spectrometry. The polarization of water at the surface was looked into through the measure of surface potentials and the dynamics of the surface hydration by cyclic voltammetry. Modification of these properties by the replacement of water by polyol molecules such as trehalose and phloretin and by the insertion of aqueous soluble enzymes, has also been investigated.

Descripción: Two additive schemes for resolving average molecular electric dipole polarizabilities into atomic contributions, based on the acceleration gauge for the electric dipole, are outlined. Extended calculations have been carried out for a few terms of the alkane series to test the reliability of the partition method. Gross atomic isotropic contributions evaluated for carbon, αAvC≈5.7a.u., and hydrogen, αAvH≈2.7a.u., are actually transferable from molecule to molecule, and can be used to predict fairly accurate average polarizabilities of higher homologous molecules in the alkane series. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: A new polymeric phase of zinc(II) oxydiacetate, catena-poly[[[diaquazinc(II)]-μ-oxydiacetato] hydrate], {[Zn(C4H4-O5)(H2O)2] ·H2O}n, isomorphous with the Co homologue [Hatfield, Helms, Rohrs, Singh, Wasson & Weller (1987). Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. Chem. Sci. 98, 23-31], is reported. It presents a chain-like structure, generated by ZnO6 cores which are bridged by carboxylate groups in an anti-anti conformation along the unique crystallographic b axis. The chains are held together through hydrogen-bonding interactions with the three water molecules.

Descripción: This paper describes a matrix formulation for the correlated hole theory within the framework of the domain-averaged model in many electron systems (atoms, molecules, condensed matter, etc.). General relationships between this quantity and one-particle reduced density matrices for any independent particle or correlated state functions are presented. This formulation turns out to be suitable for computational purposes due to the straightforward introduction of cumulants of two-particle reduced density matrices within the quantum field structure. Numerical calculations in selected simple molecular systems have been performed in order to determine preliminary correlated values for such a quantity.

Descripción: We theoretically analyze the multiple-scattering effects that might occur in the ionization of a molecule by the impact of photons or massive particles, by calculating the series to all orders within a muffin-tin description. We find a large sensitivity on the final state and a sizable momentum-dependent distortion of the phase-shift and frequency of the interference oscillations, that are not replicated by non-scattering or single-scattering approximations. Furthermore, our results do not validate the existence of any discernible harmonic oscillations. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.