scholarly journals How Many Electrons Holds a Molecular Electride?

Author(s):  
Sebastian Sitkiewicz ◽  
Eloy Ramos-Cordoba ◽  
Josep M. Luis ◽  
Eduard Matito

<div> <div> <div> <p>Electrides are very peculiar ionic compounds where electrons occupy the anionic positions. In a crystal lattice, these isolated electrons often group forming channels or surfaces, furnishing electrides with a plethora of traits with promising technological applications. Despite their huge potential, thus far, only a few stable electrides have been produced because of the intricate synthesis they entail. Due to the difficulty in assessing the presence of isolated electrons, the characterization of electrides also poses some serious challenges. In fact, their properties are expected to depend on the arrangement of these electrons in the molecule. Among the criteria that we can use to characterize electrides, the presence of a non-nuclear attractor (NNA) of the electron density is both the rarest and the most salient feature. Therefore, a correct description of the NNA is crucial to determine the properties of electrides. In this paper, we analyze the NNA and the surrounding region of nine molecular electrides with the goal of determining the number of isolated electrons that are held in the electride. We have seen that the correct description of a molecular electride hinges on the electronic structure method employed for the analyses. In particular, one should employ a basis set with sufficient flexibility to describe the region close to the NNA and a density functional approximation that does not suffer from large delocalization errors. Finally, we have classified these nine molecular electrides according to the most likely number of electrons that we can find in the NNA. We believe this classification highlights the strength of the electride character and will prove useful in the design of new electrides.</p> </div> </div> </div>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Sitkiewicz ◽  
Eloy Ramos-Cordoba ◽  
Josep M. Luis ◽  
Eduard Matito

<div> <div> <div> <p>Electrides are very peculiar ionic compounds where electrons occupy the anionic positions. In a crystal lattice, these isolated electrons often group forming channels or surfaces, furnishing electrides with a plethora of traits with promising technological applications. Despite their huge potential, thus far, only a few stable electrides have been produced because of the intricate synthesis they entail. Due to the difficulty in assessing the presence of isolated electrons, the characterization of electrides also poses some serious challenges. In fact, their properties are expected to depend on the arrangement of these electrons in the molecule. Among the criteria that we can use to characterize electrides, the presence of a non-nuclear attractor (NNA) of the electron density is both the rarest and the most salient feature. Therefore, a correct description of the NNA is crucial to determine the properties of electrides. In this paper, we analyze the NNA and the surrounding region of nine molecular electrides with the goal of determining the number of isolated electrons that are held in the electride. We have seen that the correct description of a molecular electride hinges on the electronic structure method employed for the analyses. In particular, one should employ a basis set with sufficient flexibility to describe the region close to the NNA and a density functional approximation that does not suffer from large delocalization errors. Finally, we have classified these nine molecular electrides according to the most likely number of electrons that we can find in the NNA. We believe this classification highlights the strength of the electride character and will prove useful in the design of new electrides.</p> </div> </div> </div>


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar A. Douglas-Gallardo ◽  
David A. Sáez ◽  
Stefan Vogt-Geisse ◽  
Esteban Vöhringer-Martinez

<div><div><div><p>Carboxylation reactions represent a very special class of chemical reactions that is characterized by the presence of a carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule as reactive species within its global chemical equation. These reactions work as fundamental gear to accomplish the CO2 fixation and thus to build up more complex molecules through different technological and biochemical processes. In this context, a correct description of the CO2 electronic structure turns out to be crucial to study the chemical and electronic properties associated with this kind of reactions. Here, a sys- tematic study of CO2 electronic structure and its contribution to different carboxylation reaction electronic energies has been carried out by means of several high-level ab-initio post-Hartree Fock (post-HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for a set of biochemistry and inorganic systems. We have found that for a correct description of the CO2 electronic correlation energy it is necessary to include post-CCSD(T) contributions (beyond the gold standard). These high-order excitations are required to properly describe the interactions of the four π-electrons as- sociated with the two degenerated π-molecular orbitals of the CO2 molecule. Likewise, our results show that in some reactions it is possible to obtain accurate reaction electronic energy values with computationally less demanding methods when the error in the electronic correlation energy com- pensates between reactants and products. Furthermore, the provided post-HF reference values allowed to validate different DFT exchange-correlation functionals combined with different basis sets for chemical reactions that are relevant in biochemical CO2 fixing enzymes.</p></div></div></div>


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Valentina Ferraro ◽  
Marco Bortoluzzi

The influence of copper(I) halides CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) on the electronic structure of N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DICDI) and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) was investigated by means of computational DFT (density functional theory) methods. The coordination of the considered carbodiimides occurs by one of the nitrogen atoms, with the formation of linear complexes having a general formula of [CuX(carbodiimide)]. Besides varying the carbon–nitrogen bond lengths, the thermodynamically favourable interaction with Cu(I) reduces the electron density on the carbodiimides and alters the energies of the (NCN)-centred, unoccupied orbitals. A small dependence of these effects on the choice of the halide was observable. The computed Fukui functions suggested negligible interaction of Cu(I) with incoming nucleophiles, and the reactivity of carbodiimides was altered by coordination mainly because of the increased electrophilicity of the {NCN} fragments.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Grimme ◽  
Andreas Hansen ◽  
Sebastian Ehlert ◽  
Jan-Michael Mewes

The recently proposed second revision of the SCAN meta-GGA density-functional approximation (DFA) {Furness et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2020, 11, 8208-8215, termed r<sup>2</sup>SCAN} is used to construct an efficient composite electronic-structure method termed r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c, expanding the "3c'' series (hybrid: HSE/PBEh-3c, GGA: B97-3c, HF: HF-3c) to themGGA level. To this end, the unaltered r<sup>2</sup>SCAN functional is combined with a tailor-made <br>triple-zeta Gaussian AO-basis as well as with refitted D4 and gCP corrections for London-dispersion and basis-set superposition error. The performance of the new method is evaluated for the GMTKN55 thermochemical database covering large parts of chemical space with about 1500 <br>data points, as well as additional benchmarks for noncovalent interactions, organometallic reactions, lattice energies of organic molecules and ices, as well as for the adsorption on polar salt and non-polar coinage-metal surfaces. These comprehensive tests reveal a spectacular performance and robustness of r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c for reaction energies and noncovalent interactions in molecular and periodic systems, as well as outstanding conformational energies, and consistent structures. At just one tenth of the cost, r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c provides one of the best results of all semi-local DFT/QZ methods ever tested for the GMTKN55 benchmark database. Specifically for reaction and conformational energies as well as for noncovalent interactions, the new method outperforms hybrid-DFT/QZ approaches, compared to which the computational savings are even larger (factor 100-1000).<br>In relation to other "3c'' methods, r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c by far surpasses the accuracy of its predecessor B97-3c at only about twice the cost. The perhaps most relevant remaining systematic deviation of r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c is due to self-interaction-error, owing to its mGGA nature. However, SIE is notably reduced compared to other (m)GGAs, as is demonstrated for several examples. After all, this remarkably efficient and robust method is chosen as our new group default, replacing previous low-level DFT and partially even expensive high-level methods in most standard applications for systems with up to several hundreds of atoms.<br><br>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Grimme ◽  
Andreas Hansen ◽  
Sebastian Ehlert ◽  
Jan-Michael Mewes

The recently proposed second revision of the SCAN meta-GGA density-functional approximation (DFA) {Furness et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2020, 11, 8208-8215, termed r<sup>2</sup>SCAN} is used to construct an efficient composite electronic-structure method termed r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c, expanding the "3c'' series (hybrid: HSE/PBEh-3c, GGA: B97-3c, HF: HF-3c) to themGGA level. To this end, the unaltered r<sup>2</sup>SCAN functional is combined with a tailor-made <br>triple-zeta Gaussian AO-basis as well as with refitted D4 and gCP corrections for London-dispersion and basis-set superposition error. The performance of the new method is evaluated for the GMTKN55 thermochemical database covering large parts of chemical space with about 1500 <br>data points, as well as additional benchmarks for noncovalent interactions, organometallic reactions, lattice energies of organic molecules and ices, as well as for the adsorption on polar salt and non-polar coinage-metal surfaces. These comprehensive tests reveal a spectacular performance and robustness of r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c for reaction energies and noncovalent interactions in molecular and periodic systems, as well as outstanding conformational energies, and consistent structures. At just one tenth of the cost, r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c provides one of the best results of all semi-local DFT/QZ methods ever tested for the GMTKN55 benchmark database. Specifically for reaction and conformational energies as well as for noncovalent interactions, the new method outperforms hybrid-DFT/QZ approaches, compared to which the computational savings are even larger (factor 100-1000).<br>In relation to other "3c'' methods, r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c by far surpasses the accuracy of its predecessor B97-3c at only about twice the cost. The perhaps most relevant remaining systematic deviation of r<sup>2</sup>SCAN-3c is due to self-interaction-error, owing to its mGGA nature. However, SIE is notably reduced compared to other (m)GGAs, as is demonstrated for several examples. After all, this remarkably efficient and robust method is chosen as our new group default, replacing previous low-level DFT and partially even expensive high-level methods in most standard applications for systems with up to several hundreds of atoms.<br><br>


Author(s):  
Qin Yang ◽  
Marco Mendolicchio ◽  
Vincenzo Barone ◽  
Julien Bloino

Vibrational spectroscopy represents an active frontier for the identification and characterization of molecular species in the context of astrochemistry and astrobiology. As new missions will provide more data over broader ranges and at higher resolution, especially in the infrared region, which could be complemented with new spectrometers in the future, support from laboratory experiments and theory is crucial. In particular, computational spectroscopy is playing an increasing role in deepening our understanding of the origin and nature of the observed bands in extreme conditions characterizing the interstellar medium or some planetary atmospheres, not easily reproducible on Earth. In this connection, the best compromise between reliability, feasibility and ease of interpretation is still a matter of concern due to the interplay of several factors in determining the final spectral outcome, with larger molecular systems and non-covalent complexes further exacerbating the dichotomy between accuracy and computational cost. In this context, second-order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) together with density functional theory (DFT) has become particularly appealing. The well-known problem of the reliability of exchange-correlation functionals, coupled with the treatment of resonances in VPT2, represents a challenge for the determination of standardized or “black-box” protocols, despite successful examples in the literature. With the aim of getting a clear picture of the achievable accuracy and reliability of DFT-based VPT2 calculations, a multi-step study will be carried out here. Beyond the definition of the functional, the impact of the basis set and the influence of the resonance treatment in VPT2 will be analyzed. For a better understanding of the computational aspects and the results, a short summary of vibrational perturbation theory and the overall treatment of resonances for both energies and intensities will be given. The first part of the benchmark will focus on small molecules, for which very accurate experimental and theoretical data are available, to investigate electronic structure calculation methods. Beyond the reliability of energies, widely used for such systems, the issue of intensities will also be investigated in detail. The best performing electronic structure methods will then be used to treat larger molecular systems, with more complex topologies and resonance patterns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel A. Bisong ◽  
Hitler Louis ◽  
Tomsmith O. Unimuke ◽  
Victoria M. Bassey ◽  
John A. Agwupuye ◽  
...  

Abstract This research work focuses on the reactivity, stability, and electronic interaction of pyridinium hydrogen nitrate (PHN)-based ionic liquids and the influence of methyl substituent on this class of ionic liquids: Ortho- (O-MPHN), meta- (M-MPHN), and para- (P-MPHN) substitution. Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations were performed at the density functional theory (DFT) with Becke’s Lee Yang and Parr functional (B3LYP) methods and DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) as basis set using GAUSSIAN 09W and GAUSSVIEW 6.0 software and the most important interaction between donor (Filled Lewis-type NBO’s) and the acceptor (vacant non-Lewis NBOs) were observed. From our natural bond orbital (NBO) result, it could be deduced that the higher the stabilization energy value, the greater the interaction between the donor and acceptor NBOs. The stability of the studied compounds is said to follow the order from O-MPHN > PHN > P-MPHN > M-MPHN based on the hyperconjugative interaction (stabilization energy) of the most significant interaction. The result of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), shows that PHN has the highest HOMO while the substituted derivatives have similar HOMO values between −7.70 and −7.98 eV thus PHN complex is the best electron donor while the substituted derivatives act as electron acceptors due to the presence of methyl group substituent which is observed to be electron deficient as a result of its withdrawal effect from the aromatic ring. Furthermore, the electron density, real space functions such as energy density and Laplacian of electron density at bond critical point (BCP) of the hydrogen bond interaction of the studied compounds were analyzed using Multifunctional Wavefunction analyzer software version 3.7 and it was observed that the hydrogen at position 6 and oxygen at position 11 (H6–O11) of M-methyl pyridinium nitrate with bond distance of 4.59 (Å) gave binding energy with the strongest electrostatic interaction between the cation and anion of the compounds under investigation. We also observed from our results that, substitution at the ortho position enhances the stability and strengthen the extent of charge transfer. This therefore implies that substitution at ortho position is more favorable for inter- and intramolecular interactions resulting to stabilization of the studied molecules.


2009 ◽  
Vol 1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Singh ◽  
Subhash Chandra Singh ◽  
Narsingh Bahadur Singh

AbstractThis work is devoted to a study of the conformational properties of alanine dipeptide. We have studied potential energy surfaces of alanine dipeptide molecule using density functional theoretical approach with 6-311G basis set. For this purpose potential energies of this molecule are calculated as a function of Ramachandran angles φ and ψ, which are important factors for the characterizations of polypeptide chains. These degrees of freedoms φ and ψ are important for the characterization of protein folding systems. Stable conformations, energy barriers and reaction coordinates of this important dipeptide molecule are calculated. Energy required for the transition of one conformation into other are also discussed.


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