A uranyl–di-15-crown-5 complex with a unique slipped sandwich structure was synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy and quantum-chemical methods.
Quantum chemical methods have become a powerful tool for investigating the electronic structure of small molecules in ground and excited states. This is particularly true for species which are not easily accessible by experiment, either because they are short-lived, for example, or unstable under laboratory conditions or difficult to detect since their signals are hidden by other, prevailing molecules. In this sense theoretical methods are of special importance for molecules in atmospheric, stellar and interstellar environments.
The storage of hydrogen is the key technology for a sustainable future. We developed an in silico procedure, which is based on the combination of experimental and quantum-chemical methods. This method was used to evaluate energetic parameters for hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions of various pyrazine derivatives as a seminal liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC), that are involved in the hydrogen storage technologies. With this in silico tool, the tempo of the reliable search for suitable LOHC candidates will accelerate dramatically, leading to the design and development of efficient materials for various niche applications.
Electronic structure and characterization of a uranyl di-15-crown-5 complex with an unprecedented sandwich structure